The Delawarean., 1900-07-14

following text on Sunday, July LIST, es-
pecially to the ladies': Woe to the
women who sew pillows to all arm
holes" A synopsis of the sermon fol-
Dowss
The time of Ezekiel was a serious
period in the history of Israel The
degeneracy and sin of which Moses in
his last charge, had warned. Israel had
aroused Gods displeasure. Warnings
were uttered and exhortation to repen-
tance by faithful prophets told that
God delighted not in the death of the
sinner. jeremiah and Ezekiel each
had faithfully warned the people
against impending doom. The reason
of Israel's insensibility and false secur-
ity was in the fact that false prophets
and lying pretenders assumed the pro-
pretic office and withstood jeremiah
and Ezekiel with the cry of peace. It's
against these pretenders that the pro-
phet is lifting up his voice.
Jeremiah is warming them that Neb-
uchadnezer is coming, whose hordes
would beat down the walls and destroy
the city, but these pretenders said the
walls are strong and high, no army can
destroy them, likewise the women pre-
sumed to be prophets. They too as
sumed to prophecy when God had not
called them. Ezekiel pronounces a
woe upon them. "Woe to the women
who sew pillows to all arm holes" The
text refers to the custom of Ezekiel's
time. In these as in later times in the
East chairs were unknown. Mats on
which the people sat or reclined were
used, to add comfort to the guest pill
lows were pinned or sewed to the
sleeveless gown on which the elbows
rested. The figure denotes content
ment. The prophets meaning is clear.
The woe is against the women who
joined the prophets so-called in deceiv-
ing the people into a false security by
winking at the Nations sins and
mocking the warnings of faithful prop
in the awful doom that fell on Jerusa-
lem When deceiving priests and de-
luding people were carried amid sobs
and wailings to the slime pits and
brick kilns of Caldea. The subject
has lessons for us to-day. The first is
that God has to do with Nations. That
he lifts up and casts down. That God
still DEGREES that righteousness ex-
altheth Nation, but that sin is re-
proach. No student of the ages past
can fail to see Gods footprints. The
history of Nations, Babylon, Ninevah,
Rome--aIl are evidences that sin de-
stroys. Two things brought abonf
this sad condition. First-false teacn-
4 ings The prophets were pretenders.
I The shepherds We're hireings. Assum-
ing the role Of prophets andseachers for
the honors and em0luments, and not
I for the good of the Nation. or she glory
of God, and when we remember the in
/ huence the prophets and priests eX-
/ erted over the people, we are not sur
prised at the result. for as man
thnketh in his heart 50 is he. A Ma
zion is largely what its ministry and
rises no higher than it's faith, its faith
is moulded by it's teachings Ameri-
cas- destiny is in the hands of the min
istry. the press and the public teacher
A hireling ministry that prophesies
smooth things. that is silent on national
sins and social evils. that compromises
with the devil is to the Nation what
Sampson. with his head in Delilah's
lap. and her shears in his locks, was
to Israel. subsidized press that
winks at all its party's sins. that caters
to The passions and vanities of its pa
irons. The yellow sheet that's run
for the dollar. will soon bring our own
country into disgrace and ruin Jeru-
saleum's ruin was brought about by
the false teachings and ungodly exam
pies Of priests and kings The dark
middle ages were the result of false
teachings decadence of the spirit
ual life Of England in Wesleys time
was because her clergy failed to preach
and practice the New Testament. All
praise to the ministry that thunders it's
anathamas against sin in high places
All honor TO the press that unmasks
social and National wrong doing, and
that brings the conduct of our public
officials to the bar of justice and hon
esty. Let the Nations curse and God s
anathema be upon the power that
would silence the pulpit or censor the
press Another factor I have purpose
ly omitted is the womanhood of Amer
lea. Women have always been an i'm
portant factor in the Nations mora
and social veal A study of the past
history of nations show her influence
wherever her powers have had exer.
else. To what may we largely attrih.
ute the low state of morals, the savag
cry and harharism of China India anf