The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-05-21

3. The text suggests that Gods re-
lation to this dual condition is that Oh
perfect knowledge. He preceired that
they reasoned in their hearts" He did
not guess. HE needed not that any
man should tell him, for he knows what
is in man. And this he knows (al as
mans creator; He made the mechanism
which thihks. ID Experimentally; He
has put man to the test; tried the mech
anism under oil conditions, knows what
lt viii do. (c) Sympathetically; has
himself been tempted and tried In nll
points like q man. Hears his heart
beat; searches him through and through.
Tries the reins OF the children or men,"
"Knows his thoughts afar OFF, We
speak of plasms and bioplasms rising in
to understandable expressiveness. We
call this evolution. So God knows you
thoughts 'the plasms Of it, Not to
understand this great truth and live and
walk in the light Of it, is 10 live a FOOLS
life. 10 die ignorant Of it is to die a
fools death. This is one OF the things
TO know which 10 to know God and his
Son, which is life eternal. To this
higher life every man is called. Will
you undertake to attain to it? win
you sue for pardon and believing receive
it?
M. Il. CHURCH.
Morning Theme: "Balaam's Error"
Text, Jude IL. BALKAN was bible
beacon. The bible furnishes us bright
characters to admire and emulate, and
dark ones to shun. Who and, what was
BALKAN? Three chapters of the Old
Testament and about as many verses Of
new, tell us all we know Of him. The
son Bosor, q native of Pethor, q village
OF Mesopotamia. His name signifies
3glatton." He had q great reputation as
soothsayer and prophet. He vas q
monotheist. He probably held to the
remnants OF the Abrahamic religion,
though somewhat corrupted. Baiak,
king of the Moabites is much concerned
about the Israelites who are camped up
on his borders, and sends messengers to
Balaam to come and "curse this people,
for him. He offers reward, and ap-
proaches with flattery. BALKAN is
strongly tempted, and after a second visit
and larger offer by the kings messengers
he yields. This, Jude calls Balaam's
error. Notice the steps that led him in
to it.
!. Entertaining the temptation.
While Balaam could not have helped it
that the temptation was presented to
him, he need no: have urged the mess
engers TO lodge here this night, etc"
He had an itching palm; was greedy for
reward. Character is no stronger than
its weakest place. The first step IN a
wrecked character, is entertaining the
temptation. Neither give place t o the
Devil" Satan gets the advantage when
We allow him TO come in. Troy was
quickly captured when a few Grecians
gained entrance into the wooden house.
Adam entertained the tempter and fell;
Christ resisted him and stood fast.
2. Lack OF candor. BALKAN did not
tell the visitors all that the Lord showed
him. There 10 nothing like frankness
and sometimes emphatic plainness TO
settle things with the tempter. Joseph,
Moses, Daniel and the three worthless
dealt frankly with their a~dyersaries.
True character with strength and pro.
portions is angular; clearly defined.
Under some circumstances, at least, it is
as bad TO be dishonest with the Devil AS
with God; with ourselves as with others;
TO act, as speak a lie; to Withhold a truth
as TO tell an untruth.
3. Reconsideration. The messengers
of Balak return; or others still more
honorable and with greater offers. The
temptation 10 stronger this time. 1T al
ways is when the first ID reluctantly re-
sisted. Why should Balaam ask God
again! God had told him plainly, sthou
HheIt not" There il such q thing as
wilfully praying until . wrong seems
right. God sometimes lets us have our
own way. He permits what he does not
approve OF. IL il an unwise and often
dangerous thing to tease God. Better
say .thy will he done."
The outcome WIS practical dis
| obedience. God made condif;ona ,lnon
which Balaam could 90, but he ignored
the conditions and hurriedly went on
his way. Gods anger was kindlsd
against him. He met with trouble by
the way. BALKAN was two lives
at the same time. HIS ,4@..s,er was OF
the Chameleon type. As frank the cup
of the Lord and the cup of the devil.
He pretended to be right today Ia seek