The Newtown bee., 1895-01-25


 THE CORNWALL BRIDGE METHODIST CHURCH.
 Text Heb. Il 9 "Choosing rather to suffer affiiction with the people of God, than to en- joy the pleasures ot sin for & season."
 h the chapter from which our text is taken, the author of the epistle to the Hebrews blends successive scenes in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and others, including Moses, whose whole career is briefly sketched in seven short verses and whose choice, the basis of which was faith, furnishes us the thought of the occasion.
 The book of Exodus which records a large portion of the great lawgiver's life is the inspired record of Israel's de- liverance from Egypt, their bondage un- der Pharaoh and their entering into the theocratic covenant with Jehovah at Mt Sinai. through the law and the ordi- nances connected with the Tabernacle and Priesthood.
 The life of Moses naturally falls into three equal divisions of 40 years each, viz, his life in Egypt, his exile in Ara bia and his government of Israel. Under the first of these divisions (his life Egypt our text finds a place. Moses chose rather to suffer affiiction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for season.
 Itmay not be amiss to notice that the writer of Hebrews has expressed the choice of Moses in very New Testament terms and seems to give the primary in- centive which actuated so important a decision in the illustrious lawgiver's life. The truth in the text is simply a l link in the history of Israel's deliverer | The instrument of this deliverance Moses himself, was chosen from the midst of the oppressed race, and was raised through the very decree which aimed at tn ir extermination. It was the cruel sentence of death on all male children who should be born of the He brew mothers, which led to little Moses being adopted as the very child of th' princess of Pharaoh's palace. Thu, through the darkness of his own heart in the circle of his own family, Pharaol found his master and his destroyer Moses preparation for his great worl consisted, first, in the education and in fluence which he enjoyed in his roya home, and still more in the loving an, faithful teachings of his godly mother which the providence of God permitte, to surround his infancy and childhood Then, after he
 I HAD FULLY MADE HIS CHOICE,
 at the age of 40 years, God Himself be came his teacher, and in the soltudes o Midian, for nearly half century, h was prepared more fully for his grea mission.
 |, At length, when so years of age ar so thoroughly disciplined and crucifie as almost to shrink even from the cal that he himself had anticipated 40 year before, God sent him to meet Pharao and to lead his chosen people fror Egypt to Canaan.
 Many great man, at some telling o , decisive moment in his life, has bee called upon to decide some momentou question or devise plan whereby tn safety and destiny of whole nation 0 even continent must be decided. Ol ten this choice has been forced upon th individual in question by pressur other than the recognized hand of Goo We could cite instances recorded in tn history of both ancient and moder times where the consummation of singl plan of military strategy chosen, an amid multitude of equally we'll seen ing means and ways, yet this singl plan has been the right one and the hero name has come down to us loaded wit honors and the we'll deserved praises c of men.
 In Grecian history we read of the bal tie of Marathon, which took place Ser tember l2, 490 B. c. This brilliant vic tory over the Persians by the Athenian proved what united free people wer capable of achieving. More than that Marathon was one the decisive battle which formed turning points in tn 2 worlds history. It was a mortal COT ffict between the East and West, pe tween Asia and Europe and the outcom of it all depended largely upon the ski and strategy of Miltiades, who success fully attacked the opposing army times as large as his own. Once nor the cause of civilization was staked o the issue of a conflict in the great ses fight of Salamis. By means of devic of Themistocles and the valor of bray Spartan, the proud monarch Xeres wit his army of thousands were utterly de feated. We
 MAY WELL BE AMAZED
 l reading over the life of Moses, nc only in noting the choice he made bu in recognizing the faith which he exel cised in making that choice. I do nc think that God has hidden from us tn faults and sins of Moses any more tha I He has hidden from us the sins of Dayi or the cowardly denial of Peter. How ever we know by the faithful accoun of the life of Moses that his weaknesses faults and sins brought shame, embal rassment and defeat just as it does i our lives; but the obedience and fruit o Moses life brought Gods approya and it's just reward. Born of Jewisl parents, yet the adopted son of roya house, who can tell how many times tha young heart beat with mingled ange and pity as he looked upon the burden of his oppressed countrymen, and wh can tell how many prayers ascended t Isreal's God from this young man wh eolt 1.rx1ix,cr ix,l xroixaa Ina uarxr hlf.f,.