Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-12-24

First. The Benefits He Conferred on His
Nation. He raised I2rsel, for time,
TO the highest OF it's national aspira-
tons and showed the possibility of
splendor and authority to which it
might attain.-Farrar.
He stirred the intellectual life Of the
people in new directions. He awak.
ened among them strong desire for
deeper wisdom and higher art, which.
during the stormier ages which fol-
lowed, never wholly died away, and in
some directions constantly developed
itself with more and more power and
beauty.
He enshrined their worship in a
worthy and permanent temple, by
which he influenced their religious life
down TO it's latest days. This temple
was idealized, together with the city,
into type of the Spiritual Temple and
the New Jerusalem, the city of God
which came down from Heaven. II
was TO them perpetual reminder and
visible symbol of Gods presence ard
protection. a strong bulwsrk of all the
sacred traditions of their laws, wit.
study, an inspiration OF sacred song.
He organized the services of the Ie-
vites and placed their position or a Sc
cure basis.
He quickened their sense of national
position, while at the same time He rem
dered them less narrow in their sympa-
thies. lie left them richer in the pos
session of well-fortified city and he
protected their land by towers and fort
resses.-Farrar.
Second. The Evils He Wrougbt.-He
found a people free, he left them en-.
shaved Tin degree): he found them
unburdened, be left them oppressed;
he found them simple, he left them lux
urious: he found them inclined to be
faithful to one God, he left them indif-
ferent 10 the denominations of the heath
en- which they saw practiced under the
very shadow of his palace and his
shrine.-Farrar He was like Nebu-
chadnezlar's image partly Of gold and
partly Of clay.
Solomon lost (for his posterity) tho
kingdom of the ten tribes, and perpet~
uated strife, weakness, debasement and
Superstition, by preferring the attract
i've splendors of this world to that God
liness which would in the end have been
rewarded even in the present Hfe.-F.
w. Newman.
Some Lessons from Solomons Life
1t is never safe to relax our vigilance or
think we have reached the place where
we cannot fail. Age has its own temp
tations and dangers as we'll as youth.
Genius and knowledge alone are not
sufficient safeguards against sin.
The way Of transgressors is very
hard, 4ct only on account Of the pun
ishment at the end, bat because so
many barriers must be broken down
and restraining influences must be
overcome in order to 90 on in sn-the
love Of Cod. the conscience and moral
nature, the Word Of God, the Holy Spir-
it, the sacrifice OF Christ. the sense of
honor, Gods goodness, early training,
the influences of religion.
There is great danger of letting
worldly things come between us and
God
Illustration: The moon. Sc an eclipse.
complained 10 the sun; Why, O my
dearest friend, doth thou not shine up
on me ~ usual?" DO note" said the
sun. II am sure am shining as al
ways do. Why do you not enjoy my
light as usual@" "Oh. | see" said the
moon; "the earth has got between u.s.
This is the trouble With every back
slider.
The Golden Text, EeclesiasteS 1913.