The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-03-04
OUR EVENING SERMON !
"And when he let down his hand ANA
lex prevailed" ."-Ex. II. II.

| lex prevailed" II. II.
We may be pardoned for again refer
ring to the fortunes of the Israelites, for
their bitter experiences are full of inter
esting lessons and useful studies. Moses
had led them, under the kindly provi-
dences of God, out from the Egyptian
yoke, he had in answer to his petitions
received supplies for all their needs, but
now, in Rephidim, it seemed that their
troubles had not yet departed from them,
for now comes Amalek to resist their
further progress. Moses called to Joshua
to choose men, and go out to fight Anna
lex, while Moses was to stand upon the
top of the hill, with the rod of God in his
hand And the two forces engaged in
combat, and when Moses held up his
hands Joshua prevailed, and when he
lowered his hand Amalek prevailed.
There were those present in Aaron and
Hur, who held up the hands of Moses,
and thus bearing up the rod of God, the
signal of victory, assured the triumph of
Israel.
Now let US pause right there, and see
how that beautiful example compares, or
contrasts, with our own experiences.
Nothing is more certain than the fact
that if we lay down our hands the enemy
prevails. God gives us strength to hold
them up, but too often in our mortal
weakness we underestimate that strength
and, feeling that we are fatigued, ex-
hausted, give up easily and permit our
hands to drop, and disaster to overtake
US. If we hold up our hands in the sense
in which that expression applies to Moses
that is in the sense of holding aloft the
symbol of Gods power, He will certainly
give us strength to overcome every diff
Guilty. But we must be certain that the
faith is there-that the love, and the
spirit of obedience, are there No more
was it the duty of Aaron and Hur to
hold up the hands of Moses upon that
hilltop, so long ago, than it is our duty,
now, to hold up the hands of all our fellow
creatures who need help in good works.
1t is not an infrequent thing in these
times of ours, for mems hands to be held
up. But it not infrequently happens that
the holding up is forced by the thief who
robs of earthly treasure, rather than the
warm-hearted fellow creature who would
assist in the laying up of treasures in the
glad world beyond. Men do not say "let
me assist you, dear brother, to bear up
your burden" but "hold up your hands,
or I'll murder your
Men go home in the evening, and Oft
times find the patient wife worn out with
the duties of the day. Men, great, strong
selfish men cannot see or understand how
woman can become tired of doing
nothing" and beneath the blunt remarks,
or gruff answers in monosyllables, the
patient and tired woman goes about the
preparation of the evening meal as
though the Individual burden must be
borne cheerfully. Does the great fraud
and lubber never conceive the idea that
the patient women needs his assistance
in holding up her hands? Does he never
reflect that in all human probability the
conflict of life would go sadly against
him if only that little woman should
cease her petitions, and let the wand of
power fall from her hands? While she is
upon the hilltop of the sacred joys of
home, interceding for him, he is possibly
fighting with worse foe than Amalek
in some dark recess of the world, where
he is fast becoming overpowered. The
rod of mercy has been held aloft, and he
has as yet prevailed, but it may be but a
short time until the poor, weak hands
shall give way, and the enemy prevail.
When those who love you must lay down
their hands, who will assist you? A man
who will not assist his wife in bearing
aloft the cross, and interceeding for the
assistance of Divine Grace in the affairs
of the home life, would be too lazy for an
angel, and the woman who would not so
assist a worthy husband, is not fit for a
wife.
The battle of human existence is raging
all the time. Every soul has its conflicts,
its burdens, its. temptations. We some
times bear the expression "the battle of
life" There is such a thing, literally.
The conflict is going on with varying
fortunes in the case of every soul. The
soul that says it knows no temptations
and cares in this life, speaks from the
standpoint of an insane dream. Nor
tality will always be weak, subject to
temptation, and liable to fall. Some
Moses is bearing aloft the rod for US, and
although we may take no note of that
great fact as being at all important or of
any consequence to us, the consequences
of the lowering of the hand which hold S
the tide of conflict within its grasp might
be fatal-eternally fatal. Do we say 1--WE
EorI+ ha%4 Loo Hoy,
are either ignorant or false. Do we say
1--WE have no needi of any interposition in
our behalf?" Then we dispute Gods
word and mock at the very essence, the
truth, of Christianity.
| We knew man who was very sick
When physician prescribed for him he
declared that he would not take the rem
edies, but would risk death. In vain the
physician held aloft the rod of cure. The
man would not yield because he felt that,
as long as the rod was held aloft, and the
physician was present, he would not be
compelled to give up the physical con-
test. But the physician gone, and the
battle beginning to go against the suf-
ferer, be Immediately called for those
| WIN Woulu SO 4ol JIG HediCl, e'Ho dooIo'
in holding up his hands. The great
struggle is an energetic, pushing, tireless
contest. We must keep the faith stead
fast on Him who stands upon the Holy
Hill. The moment we permit our in
herent laZiness or careleSsness to weaker
Our hands that they relax in the vigor OF
the conflict, that moment will He, after
timely warning, permit his hand to lei
down, bringing forebodings of disaster tt
our souls. The young men of to-day will
find Amalek hidden in dens of horror, al
intervals of but a few rods, in almos
every town and city, and anxiously wait
ing to strike death blow to every Chris