The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-06-25

IuGy Saw uOG OuG dllOGu6l, uelGI6l
rose any from his place for three days.
Elk. X-23.
| There is fine study in the manner Of
the Lord in treating the perverseness of
Pharaoh, in his treatment of the Israelites
The great trouble with the Egyptian
King was that he could not believe even
the evidence of his own senses regarding
the Divine Power. Though made the
victim of many manifestations of dis
pleasure of the Almighty One, the lesson
was only impressive so long as it's force
was upon him. Upon the hardening of
his heart and his refusal to let Gods peo-
pie go, the plague of frogs was sent upon
his land. The whole land Of Egypt was
turned into veritable game of leap-frog.
In fact, from the number of chops" raised
it might seem to have been a good place
to start a brewery, for Pharaoh was about
the kind of an old fraud to run one.
Pharaoh Immediately kicked on the frog
business-so did the frogs. Upon the
promise of the wicked Pharoah to do
better, the frogs were removed. But no
sooner had the frogs l9ft for other ponds
than Pharaoh repudiated his promise, and
held on to the Israelites.
Flies were tried, but even that scourge
only caused temporary depression on
the mind of the wicked King, and these
pests have signally failed, ever since then
to be terror to mankind-especially if
he has occasion to frequently stop at a
Railroad Restaurant And man will
now drink down his stale beer as though
the six or eight dead flies in the mug
really added to the flavor of the drink.
In this connection we are reminded of an
incident happening a few years ago in
this County, as indicating the carelessness
of mankind with regard to these small
matters: A party of men were engaged
in seining for fish, in a creek. One of
them in preparing against the evil effects
of the chilliness of the water, procured a
bottle of whisky No attention was given
to the bottle for some time, but one of
the men finally asked for it, and it was
handed to him. Just as he was placing
the bottle to his lips, friend bade him
stop, and called his attention to large
spider lying in the whisky, at the bottom
of the bottle. "Oh,' said he, "that will
not hurt the flavor or effect of the liquor %
If a deadly, poisonous spider could be
considered harmless when soaked in the
beloved beverage, what terror-save a
temporary inconvenience-cOuld the Wis
itation of flies have had for the King.
,,+ hn r,,1o SC. f~>
let Israel go. So that he must have
another scourge visited upon him. This
time something new is to be tried-a
scourge of lice. And did we not know
that God is infallible we should be in
clined to think that he made a great mis-
take in sending lice to scare men. For
the record is not very clear that Pharaoh
ever kicked very strongly upon the lice,
while it is fact that many men take as
kindly to lice as lice do to men. And, no
matter how thick the lice came, Pharaoh
and his crowd managed to scratch
ahead" somehow, even though it seemed
like the "crack" of doom. The frogs
were driven out, but the lice were too
closely allied to mankind, and have
Crowned" him with their beauty and
life ever since. Not for this visitation
would Pharaoh grant his bondsmen slice
nse" to leave.
But, Notwithstanding the fact that
there was afterward a great deal of stub
bornness displayed by Pharaoh, the Lord
knew best how to treat him, and at last
sent visitation upon him which literally
knocked him out of time, in such manner
that he was not able to open his eyes to
the situation-a visitation which, though
it did not altogether. cure Pharaoh OF his
Wickedness, was one of the most trying
in the history of man.
The Lord sent total darkness upon
Egypt. So dense was this darkness that
the inhabitants could not see one another,
and though the skating-rinkS were not
in operation, the Egyptians could not see
whether their wives were flirting with
strange Professors and dudes or not.
And as Pharaoh attempted to get up and
look out of the window, and fell over
seven rocking-chairs, four Wash-tubs and
trundle bed, he began to realize that
the Lord was i'll earnest about this busi-
ness. There was not even talloW can
die, a pine-knot, nor amatch in the whole
neighbOrhOOd. On the other hand the
Israelites had an abundance Of light.
Phaaroh could do nothing, because he
was blind. And he was blind through
his own perverseness. He was the first
illustration, perhaps, of the man who was
"blind because he would not see." In this
condition, although the result of his folly,
he realized his utter helplessness, and his
dependence for help upon the same pow
er which had sent the darkness. In fact,
| Pharaoh actually blew out the light IN
his own household, and throughout the
entire community, because he was not
willing to acknowledge the power and
wisdom of the one who gave the light.
The world is full of Pharaoh's. There
are to be found on every side men who
! living within the sound Of the church