The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-17

DISOBEDIENCE.-A this depar-
ture, whether secret or public, result
ing from the degeneracy of the people,
was the more offensive to God. because
1t had been expressly forbidden. CVerse
12) Had the nation been gradually
corrupted with false ideas which by
degrees had undermined their faith
and perverted their practice, there
would have been some apology. But
in the Tery law upon which were build
ed all the institutions and In which
centered all the hopes of Israel, in the
law delivered by Moses, the venerated
founder of the civil and ecclesiastical
code, there were commands the most
explicit and positive, forbidding the
things which had been done. CGx. XXX:
81 The people could not be ignorant
on this subject, for they had been in
structed for seven hundred years.
Hev. xxvi: 1.) AS we'll might an
American claim to know nothing OF
the Declaration of independence as
these Israelltes might plead ignorance
of the many statutes against idolatry.
Deut iv: 19.l Theirs was unmistaka-
BILE and fragrant disobedience against
the commandment of God, against the
traditions of the nation, against the
constitution ana genius of the govern
ment, against the religion of their
fathers.
WARNING.--To make matters still
worse these people We're repeatedly
| warned. The God against whom they
sinned did not Immediately forsake
them. (Verse l3) But He raised up
prophets and seers--teachers and those
who foresaw-and sent these men to
the nation to testify against it. This
was a separate and independent order
| of ministers, amenabe only to the
Lord. The priests performed certain
rites and ceremonies and maintained
the stated services of the sacred sea-
sons, but the prophets, inspired for
the work, came with messages direct
from heaven. There was a long line
of these illustrious men. duke /: 70)
Before one passed away another ap-
paared. Samuel. Elijah Elisha, Amos
Isaiah. Hosea and others, all imbued
with one spirit, all Jealous for the
cause of God. had urged Israel to turn
from her evil ways, and to keep the
commandments delivered unto the
fathers in the infancy of the nation.
The world has never seen such self
denying and holy men as those whom
God commissioned to bring back this
wandering people to their ancient 10y
| atty.
| OBDURACY.-An this only increas.
ed the national shame. To the secret
and open offences already described
the disregard of time-hOnored and
well-known law, there was added the
sin of obstinacv. (Vcrscs IA and 15.l
| They hardened their necks," as al
unruly OK resists the will OF it's owner
The calls of the prophet We're resented
They became more determined in theil
course tho more they were urged t.
forsake it. They openly and purpose
ly rejected the very statutes Whicl
they had received from heaven, anC
they would not so much as listen t
the messages of Gods servants. They
became vain that is, trfiing and care
less, and followed the ways of vanity
and sought and courted the friendship
of the heather that We're near to them
AS the child, bent on an evil way, re
sists as an unwarranted interference
with personal liberty, all instruction
and restraint of parents, and even des
pises parental advice and authority, s
did Israel toward the Almighty grow
ing worse and worse, wandering fur
ther and further away from Cod eX
J pecting to break the bonds and attain