The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-09-23
THE WAY OF TRANsGREssORs is
HARD.

Not only because OF the awful pun
ishment at the end, but because Of the
barriers God puts in the way Of sin.
ners to keep them from walking IL
that way.
THE PROBLEM was TO prepare a ma
ton who would be fitted to carry on
the kingdom Of God. to receive Ii'
truth, to accept the Messiah and pro
claim salvation to the world. There
were now two experiments, one with
the northern kingdom, about which
we have been studying; ana the other
with Judah, which forms the subjec,
for the next quarters lessons.
l. The kingdom opened with the
most brilliant possibilities. Its terri.
tories were much larger and more fer
ollie than those Of Judah. 1t Inherited
much of the glories. the power. wealth
and literature of the kingdom which
had burst into meridian splendor un.
der David and Solomon. But its first
King, a man of large capacity and
great force Of character. but more
s%olitic than religious. put in 1t at the
very beginning the heaven OF sin and
disaster.
.. There were reforms and reform
crs. especially Elijah and Elisha. who
fCarlessiy proclaimed the truth. faced
kings and taught the people.
3. There was q reforming king. Jehu.
jealous and cruel. doing a good work
in a bad way. He rooted out the thorns
that choked the wheat. in the family
or Ahnb and the priests Of Baal.
4. There were schools of the proph
cts. teachers Of truth among the PEG.
Ile. They had no little religious liter
allure.
5. They had examples Of religious re-
vival and prosperity in the southern
Kingdom.
6. Al times God gave them prosper
ity and wealth. that His goodness
might lead them TO repentance.
Z. They had many warnings. lesser
evils coming upon them for their sins.
These were the pains that told them OF
disease within.
s. God sent them special prophets,
Jonah, Amos and Hosea. who in every
way, by words. by deeds. by visions.
by object lessons, warned and entreat-
ed the people.
But in spite OF all things they refused
10 repent; they continued their evil
ways, and at last they 'atc the fruit OF
their own way and were filed with
their own Devices" They "set at
naught all Wisdom's counsel and
would none Of her reproof." till their
fear came as desolation and their des-
o,ation as a whirlwind."
1.-The mills OF Sod grind slowly. yet they
grind exceeding small:
Though with patience He stands waiting.
with e%xactncss grinds He ALL
a National Application.-God has
given wonderful possibilities to our
nation. and we can make the ideal 10
he real If we will. Our only danger is
in sin and irreligion-in corruption,
pride, luxury. oppression. selfshness,
vice. neglect OF duty. God is doing for
the nations of today more than for
Israel. to keep them from the down
ward path. He gives prosperity and
comforts. He let's hard times come,
whose meaning is ever that we should
hoAt WHERE We nave poUt WIOuE. anu
repent and do works meet for repent
ance.
a Personal Application.-"rhe rise
and fall of Israel Is n picture Of what
IS going on continually among indi-
viduals. The whole course Of the his
tory is a magic mirror in which sim
ners may see themselves: a panorama
OF their own lives, the bright hopes
and possibilities. the loving care OF
Tod. the numberless good gifts. the
varied trimming by joys and sorrows,
the sins against Gods goodness. the
troubles that result. the warnings and
cntreaties by pastors and teachers. the
Word Of God; and in some cases the
persistence In evil till the ~irrevocable
ruin a. the end.