Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-11-18
Parable Of the Unwise King.

" ana 6m1CC1O0 anu sore OAbUIoe AAN
lis people came before him and made
saying we have labored,
md our fields have brought forth, the
earth has given of the fulness thereof,
our flocks and herds have multiplied,
but we have not wherewith to pay the
tribute laid upon US. Our sons ana
our daughters are without raiment;
and our tithes press US sorely, and no
man will buy that which we have.
And the King answered and said, Yea
verify ye have caused the land to be-
come too fruitful, ye have labored too
ye have multiplied too
greatly your cattle and your sheep and
your asses" and the people hung their |
heads in silence.
Then spake the King unto them say
ing: "Oh fools that ye are. cease your
labors and what ye have will increase
ten fold" But the people obeyed not
the King, but went each about his
business and multiplied his cattle and
the fruits of his vineyards. Then the
King called to him his rulers and CEN
turians, and said unto them: "My peo-
pie are preverse and headstrong peo-
pie and murmer against me, what
shall do that may be revenged OF
them?" And the rulers answered and
said. let us lay upon them tribute and
when we have received the same then
will we build buildings and temples,
and employ the multitudes, and bring
prosperity into the land. and we will
send abroad in the land those who will
speak to them, and say, "Lo our King
is great King and loveth his people.
He dispenseth wisdom, and doeth good
that his people may prosper" Let
there be also tribute on all that COM
eth from other lands, let US refuse inter
course with the nations, let US buy and
sell amongst our people only, and
thereby enrich ourselves and be pros
porous. And the King heard them and
said sit is good" Then did the King
cause tithes to be laid. and likewise
upon all merchandise which the Hit
titles and Jebusites brought. and all
that did come in ships, in so much
that they took up their merchandise
and went each to his own country and
returned no more. And when the people
saw this they murmured, because they
had not wherewith to pay their tithes,
and when the King saw that the mer-
chants went away and came not, he
said to his rulers and centurians what
shall we do. my people now have none
who will buy of them?''
But 1t came to pass that a great fam
inc spread over the land of the Hittites
and the Jebusites, and when this was
come to the ear of the King he sum-
moned quickly his rulers and his CEN
turians, and he spake to them of what
he had heard. Then the rulers said,
''indeed hast thou brought prosperity
and happiness to thy people," So the
rulers went out from the presence Of
he King, and they cast about among
themselves and said, let us buy of the
people all the corn and barley and seed
corn in the ear, and the wine and the
fruits of the vineyard, and the focks
and herds, the sheep, the cattle, and
the beasts Of burden, and when 1t
comes to pass that the Hittites and
Jebusitee hum BILE themselves before us
and buy Of our plenty, there shall then
ho h Yyoinaoo tho manila ca
they went each man and bought all
that was for sale in his dominion.
Then came the Utilities and the Jebu
sites, and said to the people let ue
have Of your corn and your barley and
your seed corn in the ear, for a great
famine has spread over our country
and we perish of hunger. But the
people said we have parted with our
herds and the fruits of our fields, men
came and did buy them ALL Then
went the Hittites and Jebusites to
these who had purchased and showed
them their sheckels Of gold and silver,
and prayed them to sell of their abun-
dance. But the rulers would scarce
give ear to their entreaties, and threw
the silver in the streets, they would
have none other than gold. So 1t came
to pass that they sold to those that
had come for many sheckels of gold,
and thereby did the rulers of the King
grow exceedingly rich, but the people
were in want as before.
And when the people saw that the
rulers and centurians did refuse the
silver they murmured and said, when
ye purchased of US ye gave us silver,
why do ye now refuse it And the
rulers made no reply, but laughed
them to scorn. And when the people
saw that they had parted with their
goods to the rulers and their all would
not pay the tithes which were levied
against them, and when it came to
their ears that the rulers had sold to
the Hittites and Jebusites for many
sheckels in gold, that which they had
bought from them for a few sheckels
Of silver, they were exceeding wroth
and murmured loudly against the
rulers and the King. And it came to
pass that the King was sore perplexed
and he called the people about him
and exhorted them to help him for
there had arisen in his land strife and
discord, and persons did cry ont
against the King and his rules. And
mighty and high ruler of the King
did beseech the people, and bemoan,
and cry aloud to them and say, LILO
the king is set upon by his enemies,
they compass him about and seek his
obstruction" But the people stood afar
off and would not hearken to his cries.
And the people were very wroth at
the King and did spew him out of
their mouths.