The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-03

thorn in their side, and that out of him would
come forth a fire which would utterly devour
them. There is political lesson here to which
a minister of the gospel may properly refer
without being considered either a politician or a
partisan. Namely, this: That the highest place
in the state should be given only to the best
men; that the bramble should never be psrmit-
ted to usurp the place of the olive or the vine,
and that the vine and olive should not shrink
from the duties which their position and eharac-
ter impose upon them.
When men of noble character withdraw from
public life, anu leave the administration of pub
lie affairs to the ignorant and INSCRIPTIONS, and
when men who are worthless as BRAN
bles are thrust into seats of honor and
responsibility, then we may predict, with
lothian, that a fire will break forth from them
in which much that we love will be consumed.
If Gideon will not rule aud Abimelech will or,
If we are mad enough to prefer base Adm
elech before noble Gideon, we may be very
sure that evil will come of It, and not good We
shall not gather grapes off briars, nor tgs OIL
thistles We may confidently look for thorns
and flames in lieu of wine and honey.
The three classes with whom this parable
deals have an interest for us both as citizens
and Christians Abimelechs, base and shame
less, may be found craving power and authority,
and bound to have it at any cost so eager are
they to obtain the object of their" ambition, that
they are ready to sacrifice every principle of
honor and of manhood on their unholy affairs IN
their eagerness to grasp the reinS OF pc wer
l0eS6 ADlnelecnS are WllDS u Alt6 AoNU
fellows of the baser sort, who, for less than
three-seore and ten pieces of silver, stand ready
to blast the reputation of high-minded and hon
orabe men. Surely such conduct merits and
receives the condemnation of all good
men, irrespective of creed or party
The Shechemites too, are abroad in the
land ready to aid these vile Abimelechs. They
will use their influence and give their votes in
order to put such men in power. These modern
Shechemites have their price. They need the
shadow of the bramble and the bramrle needs
them But let such persons be sure that their
sin will sooner or later find them out. There
will come a time when some faithful lothian
will make his appearance greatly to their dis
comfort, and hurl at them the arrows OF truth
with such precision and show them their char
acter in such light that their time of joy will
become season of sadness, and their pride and
hopes will be dashed to pieces. God does not
forget such workers of iniquity.
But thank God we have Jothams, goodly
number of them, men who are bold enough and
honest enough to speak the truth-nen who
will not attempt to purchase their way to power
and who cannot thus be bought men who love
their country and their God, and who do what
in them lies to help their fellow men to know
and love the truth. These are the olives and
figs, and vines of our land who honor God and
man, and Who in the end, will thus be highly
honored.
DR.. Mcleod then showed how the fable APP
piled to spiritual things and concluded with an
admonition to reject the shelter of the bramble
and seek that shelter which only TO be found
beneath the cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ