El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-13

captivity they burned the prophecy
God sent through jeremiah and put
| the prophet in dungeon. But after
the captivity when they read in the
word the laws of international mar
riage so great WAS their care for what
God said that they actually put away
every alien wife.
This suggests secondly, change in
purpose and endeavOr. These men
not only become more Interested In
what the Lord desires, but they pnr-
| posed and endeavOred to do what God
| said for them to do. Nor have we
reason to believe that they waited IN
til their disposition was so changed
that they no longer had any care for
these wives. Nature is powerful and
hard to overcome. They doubtless
felt the pangs of these broken ties for
years to come. But they did not con-
suit their affections and attachments
to these wives, but fixed their faces
like flint against the thing God had
prohibited and regardless of their
feelings cut loose from them. So with
many poor souls who have violated
Gods law and fastened about them
habits and affections hard to be Who'll
ly changed. Many poor soul
has found even after he had
come to care for what
God has said, and to fix his purpose"
and his "endeavOr' in accordance with
God 9 will, that still the old disposition
to do wrong was not wholly destroyed.
1t seems to me this was the hardest
struggle with David He had yielded
to the voice and wish of God and aban-
doned his sin. He offered to bring any |
gift for sacrifice that God would accept. |
He brought him "a broken heart and |
contrite spirit" And yet that old re-
bellious disposition sought to assert it
self. Aud he cries out in his agony,
so God, take it all awsy!' ''Create in
me a clean heart, 0 God, and renew a
right spirit within me.'
This is the desire and hope of every
true Christian, and believe me it is
third change that God works sooner or
later in the heart, complete change
in the disposition, not only q crucit
xion, but b death of "the old man."
Had time 1 might give you numer-
GUS illustrations of this. One will suf
fee to illustrate the process. In my
young lady who was the pride of her
home and city, hut grief to the
church. She was our organist, but pas
found of the ball room, an d
she would dance. The deacons spoke
Rbout her in an officers meeting, and
took her case to God in prayer. After
3 while she became regular attend
aut VI Vic mGeGluS SSTNlCS. |
Soon her heart became burdened for
others and she began to ask that pray
Or be made for herself and these
Then came further talks as to what
God was doing for her, etc. We heard
no more about the old trouble until
0ne day when the pastor made the last
call at her home before leaving the
town. On this day severe temptation
came. A splendid young man, high
IN business and social circles. had just
arrived in the city and sent his COM
Dliments asking to accompany her to
The grand ball. After answering the
note she handed it to me. And 1 said,
well how did you ans ~ err" why"
iaid she, 81 thought you would know.
asked him that he call at another
lime, since l could Tot attend the bail"
And then she added the fact while l
annOt yet see the wrong some see in !
his thing, really do not care for it ,
my more"
'Oh friend, have you felt the c
hange Of care and interest in your ,,
hearts for what God wants; are you !
lxed in your purpose" and consistent y
n your "endeavor,'' and yet find
rouble with that old heart of thine?
Be not discouraged, thousands have
'one for years before their disposition
7as wholly changed. Press forward! Z
nd at Gods own time the work of .
an ctidcation will be complete. 3
LET this be your dailv prayer,
ord. let not all my hopes be vain.
reate my heart entirely new,- =
1hich hipocrites could ne'er attain, +
hitch fales apostates never know n