The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-25

penalty.
 Lesson vI.-Joshuas parting advice.- Jashua sets up s standard Decided him. self. he calls for decision on the part of the people. Once for all. let 1t be deter mined who is God, and let Him be served. If they think the ugly little images sur reptiticusly brought from Haran are gods; if they prefer the filthy deities of the Armorites to the Jehovah of Abra- ham. Isaac and Jacob-to the Wonder worker of the Red Sea, the wilderness. and Sinat-then let them turn to idols. But. like high clarion blast that has kept the air pulsing ever since. comes Joshuas personal decision, ''As for me and my house. we will serve the Lord"
 Lesson VII.-Ths time of the judges. = On the radiant background of Gods faithfulness. which did not permit a syl- labls of the covenant which he had con- firmed with an oath to fail-on that fieckless background, Israers black infi- delity was made to stanl out stereoscop- ically. The national conscience pleads guilty to the indictment, "Ye have not obsysd my voice." It awaits the infiic- ton of the penalty. There is strong com- junction. lamentation. and tears. But 1t seems to have all ended in an emotional rufaA No one cried. Down with the
 
 bit oc pretty sentiment, they called the spot The place of tears"
 Lesson vWI.-World's temperance les- son.-The prophet talks by the book. He is true to physiological science. not of his date only, but of ours. He vividly de- picts the imperceptible growth of the al- coholic appetite; the cord becomes the cart-rope. How soon the bon vivant finds himself in the hopeless treadmill of an uncomfortable passion! Henceforth his might consists in his capacity to drink, and simple wine gives place to fierce con- coctions. Then follows complete perver- sion of moral ideas. The denouement is death and hell. There is a hint to mod ern temperance lecturers in this Old Test ament address. They are sometimes themselves incorporate. Intemperance can show itself also not only in the length of time and vital force wasted, but in the language used; in extravagance, and vim dicrive vituperation.
 Lesson IX.-Gideon and the three hun dred.-Now came the double sitting of the petty army of Israel, already so made Quate. The process reduced thirty-two regiments to three companies. This pal try band had a ridiculous armament each a pitcher, a torch, and a horn. But under Gideons artful manipulation these strange WcdpOHS were lnVluClDio. The flaring torch suddenly uncovered, the in- applicable sound of crashing pottery, the trumpet blast. and the .utterahce of those overlapping names of Jehovah and his captain. Gideon-it is enough! Three companies throw 12o regiments into com pletest panic. Each Midianite becomes his fellows foe. The remnants of that proud army, broken and wrecked, are hot ly pursued Israers deliverance is com plete- With bowed heads the confession is devoutly made that the arm of the Lord hath done it,
 Lesson X.-Ruth and Naomi.-Naomrs pittful state-widowed, poor. ch1ldless and exiled. but possessing a character which displays the traits of resignation. gentle ness and purity to such a degree as to win the uniytng. disinterestsd. enriching love of Ruth. For Naomts sake, Ruth suffers repatriation. She gleans in q har- vest field. and nally does that which taxes her modesty to the extreme. To reinstate Naomi. she lies at Boaz's feet.
 Lesson XI.-Theboy Samuel-The child Samuel was the white flower of a dark epoch. He was of devoutest parentage. In early childhood his mother, in fulfill ment of her vow, left him within the cur tain walls of the tabernacle. His child ish hands began to discharge such ser wees dS they were capaD or, and nlS heart was filled with the purest emotions. Words and visions from Jehovah were rare in those days, because of prevailing wickedness; but the piety of this child led to preternatural tone in the voice with which the Lord called him. The boy was not alarmed. That night he knew the Lord. and became first of the order of prophets.
 Lesson xII.-Samuel the tudge-The era was very degenerate. Israel was cap tive. body and soul. to Philistia. Hope centered around one person. He was known to all Israel because of his con- tinuous residence in the tabernacle at Shiloh from his childhood. The very com munity of his service gave him prestige At his call Israel assembled. Samuel acted as mediator. He presented the peo- ple's confessions to God, and made inter- cession for them. He made oblation and sacrifice. While in these very acts, Is- rael's inveterate foe fell upon him; but Gods thunder struck terror to the Phil istine heart; and a new memorial stone, with praiseful legend, is set upon the spot.