Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-02-24

should NOT sometimes maiIciousiy wave 1t,
bringing into the heart forebodiugs and
haiiucinations the most appailingi Is it
NOT strange that this mind. which hopes 80
much In its mighty leaps for the attainment
OF its OBJECTS, should not be dashed TO pieces
on It's dlsappointments? Though SO delicateiy
tuned, this Instrument of untold harmony
plays on. tnougn lear shakes it and vexa-
tfons rack 1t and sorrow aud joy and loss
and gain In quick succession beat out of il
their dirge or toss from it their anthem AT
morning and at night. when in your PRAYER
you rehearse the causes of your Thanksgiving
next to the salvation by Jesus Christ praise
the Lord for the preservation OF your reason.
See also in this story of Nebuchadnezzar
the use that God makes of bad men. The
actions Of the wicked are used as instru-
ments for the punishment of wickedness In
others or as the illustration OF some prin-
ciple in the divine government. Nebu
chadnezzar subssrved both purposes. Even
DO will go back with you to the history OF
every reprobate that the world has ever
seen, and will show you how to 4 great eX-
tent his wickedness was limited in its de-
structive power and how God gloriiied Him
self In the overthrow and disgrace OF His
enemy. Babylon is full of abonination, and
wicked Cyrus destroys it. Persia fills the
cup OF Its iniquity, and vile Alexander puts
an end to II. Maceion must be chastised,
and bloody Emilius does it. The Bastile is
to be destroyed, and corrupt Napoleon
accomplshes #. Even so selfish and wicked
men are often made TO accomplish great and
glorious purposes. Josephs brethren were
guilty OF superlative perhdy and mean
ness when they sold him into slavery
for about 81. yet how they must have been
overwhelmed with tho truth that God never
forsakes the righteous when they saw He had
become the Prime Minister OF Egypt!
Pharaoh oppresses the Israelites with the
most dtaboltc tyranny yet stand still and
see the salvation OF God. The plaques de-
scend, the locusts. and the hail; and the de-
stroying angel, showing that there Is God
who will defend the cause OF His people. and
finally. after the Israeites have passed
through the parted sea, behold, in the wreck
Of the drowned army. that Gods enemies are
as chaff In q whirwindi In some financial
panic the righteous suffered with the wicked.
Houses and stores and shops in a night
foundered on the rock OF bankruptcy, and
healthy credit without warning dropped
dead in the street, and money ran up the
long ladder OF twenty-five per cent. to laugh
down upon those who could not climb
after II.
Dealers with pockets full of securities
stood shouting in the deaf ears of bans.
Men rushed down the streets with protested
notes after them. Those who before found
it hard to spend their money were left with
out money to spend. Labortr5 went home
for want of work, to see hunger in their
chair at the table and upon the hearth.
Winter blew his breath OF frost through
fingers of icicles, and sherffs with attach
ments dug among the cinders OF fallen store
houses, and whole cities joined in the long
funeral procession. marching to the grave OF
lead fortunes and fallen commerce. YER
lily the righteous suffered with the wicked.
but generally the wicked had the worst of
it. Splendid estates that had come togeth-
er through schemes of wickedness were
dashed to pieces like potter's vessel. and
God wrote with letters of fire, amid the
ruin and destruction of reputa-
tions, and estates mat were thought
impregnable, the old fashioned truth.
his Bible. 'The way of the wicked he turn
eth upside down" As the stars in heaven
are reflected from ths waters of the earth,
even so great and magnificent purposes are
reflected back from the boiling sen of human
passion and turmoil As the voice of a sweet
song uttered among the mountains may be
uttered back from the cavernous home OF
wild beast and rocks split and thunder
Scared, SO the great hRrmones OF Gods
providence are rung back from the darkest
caverns of this sin struck earth. Sennacherib
and Abimelech and Herod aud Judas and
Nero and Nebuchadnezzar, though they
struggled like beasts unbroken to the load,
we're put into yoke. where they were pom
pelled to help draw ahead Gods great 'spEs-.[
{ects o. mercy. - lrsss
Again, let us learl the lesson that men can
be guilty of poliuting the sacred vessels of
the temple and carrying them away to Baby
lon. The sacred vessels in the temple at
Jerusalem were the cups and plates OF gold
and silver with which the rites aud cere-
monies were celebrated. The laying of
neathen hands upon them and the carrying
them off as spoil5 were an uuhounded offeuse
10 the Lord of the temple. Yet Nebuchad-
nezzar committed this very sacriege
Though that wicked king is gone, the sins
ne inaugurated walk up and down the earth
cursing il from century to century. The
sin of desecrating sacred things is COM
mitted by those who on sacramental
day take the com mnunion cup, while
their conversation and deeds ali show that
they live down In Babylon. How solemn is
the Sacrament 1t is Il time for vows IA time
for repentance. a time for faith. Sinai
stands near with its fire split clouds and Cal
vary with its victim. The Holy Spirit broods
over the scene, and the glory Of heaven
seems to gather in the sanctuary. Vile in
deed must that man be who will come in
from his idols and unrepented fo!lies to take
hold Of the sacred vessels of the temple Oh
thou Nebuchadnezzar! Back with you to
Babylon,
use the Sabbath for any other than religious
purposes. This holy day was let down from
heaven amid the intense secularities of tho
week to remind US that are immortal and
to allow US preparation for an endless state
OF happiness. 1t Is a green spot in the hot
desert of the world that gushes with foun-
tains and waves with palm trees. This is the
time to shake the dust from the robe of our
piety aud in the tents OF Israel sharpen our
swords for future conflict. Heaven,
that seems so far off on other dlys
alights upon the earth. ana the song
Of heavenly choirs and the hosanut of
the white robed seem to mingie with our
earthly worship. We hear th waiIin; in
FAINT OF Bethlehem, and the ha nm-r stroke
Of the carpenters weary son In Nazareth
and the prayer Of Gethsemane. aud the bit
ter cry OF Golgotha. Glory be unto the Lord
Of the Sabbath With that one day in seven
God divides this great sea of business and
gsyety, that so, dry shod, we may pass be-
tween the worldly business OF the past and
the worldly business OF the future.
Just in proportion as men are wrong viii
they be boisterous In their religious conten-
tions. The lamb Of religion is always gen.
tie, while there Is no lion so fierce rs the
roaring lion that goes about seeking whom
he may devour. Let dibraltars belch their
war flame on the sea, and the DardHuelies
darken the HeIlespont with the smoke OF
their batteries, but forever and ever let there
be good will among those who profess TO be
subjects Of the gospel of Rentleness. GLORY
to God in the highest. and on earth peace,
good will to men,"
What an embarrassing thing to meet in
heaven il We have not settled our coDtro-
versies on earth. SO give out for all peO-
pie of all religions to sing John Fawcet's
hymn, in short meter, composed in l772, bat
just as appropriate for 1891
Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love. ~
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.
From sorrow, toll and pain
And sin We shall be free,
And perfect love and friendship reign
Ihrnrlrh Ii ntarnIt,-