Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-04-05
@faama fat Aee1gs sabbat.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
[Orlglnal.
TROUBLES IN ISRAEL.

There are some persons, DOth IN cnurcn
and state, who seem to have no mission to
fill except to keep themselves and Others
in trouble. 1t is wonderful, when we take
their intellectual abilities and moral de-
velopments into consideration, 'how much
trouble they can produce. One single in
dividual of only moderate endowments, Is
able often to disturb the peace of Whole
neighborhood and throw q whole Christian
congregation into confusion. The strangest
thing of all about this thing, is that
these troublers always think, or seem to
think, that every one except themselves
is troubler in Israel. Long ago, the
wicked Ahab charged Elijah the prophet
of the Lord with troubling Israel while he
and his fathers house were the real troub-
lers. 1t is hard to discover what pleasure
any one can find in hurting firebrands. 1t
is impossible to see what pleasure any one
can take in keeping up continued strife in
community. It is told Of some one who
proposed himself as fit person to fill a
vacant office in Christian congregation
that he gave as an evidence of his qualifi-
cation, his ability and inclination to oppose
anything that might at any time be pro-
posed by any one for the good Of the con-
gregation. Paul, or rather the Holy Spirit,
enjoins it upon us, eff it be possible as much
as lieth in us to live peaceably with all
men," Rom. 12: 18. "This Scripture re-
quires nothing impossible. 1t, says not
that we must live in peace with all men,
because that is sometimes impossible. The
verse (Rom. 1a: 18) admits as much. But
as far as things are in our power, we must
live in peace. There is class of men,
who are not satisfied when they have all
their rights, nor even when you make many
concessions. What they seek is strife, a
broil, acontest, law silit. Nor isthe num-
Der Of such very small. When thrown
with them, you can only guard against par
taking of their evil spirit and hateful
ways" DIR. Plumer.
It's surely the duty of those who are con-
tinually in broils, contests and law suits,
to reflect that large amount of the sin
connected with such. things, lies at their
own door, Theyare troublers in Israel.
The Scriptures describe heaven as abso-
iutely free from all broils. The gospel OF
Jesus is peace. In its nature it is peace
producing. To establish peace, Jesus came
into this world, obeyed, suffered and died.
The work Of the Holy Spirit is to produce
peace in the troubled breast. What are we
to think of the individual who delights in
contentious ESurely, such one has need
to fear, that he is making slow progress
heavenward. In addition to this he should
reflect that by giving vent to his conten-
tious spirit, he is preventing the growth Of
grace in others. Zone sinner" say the
Scriptures, "destroyeth much good" This
is especially true of the contentious sinner.
When every one else is for peace, he is for
war. He is ''ike the troubled sea, when it
cannot rest, whose waters cast up nlire and
dirt" To these troublers in Israel the
wise man gives the following advice: "Go
not forth hastily to strife, lest thou know
not what to do in the end thereof, when thy
neighbor hath put thee to shame. Debate
thy cause with thy neighbor himself; and
discover not the secret of another lest he
that heareth it put thee to shame, and
thine infamy turn not away" Prov. 25:
s, 9, 10.