The Tupelo journal., 1903-11-20

that block the entrance to the promised
land, and gives them possession-and
yet, despite all this wonderful leading,
despite this faithful protection, the peo-
pie are stubborn, and persist in going
their own way and doing as their feelings
prompt them. Why did He not utterly
forsake them? Why did He not de-
stroy them as He did the people OF
Noah's time? We thus ask, as we view
all the marvellous history of Israel and
Gods dealings with them. We think it
the mystery of the ages how they could
be so blind and stubborn, but oh! we
forget that with a more awful blind
ness, with a more determined stubborn
ness, we are standing out against God to-
day and refusing to have Him rule over
us! The light of the twentieth GEN.
fury is thought sufficient to walk by, and
God is despised and forgotten. If the
revelation of God to Israel was remark
able, if it was positive and clear, what
think you is the revelation of God to
the world to-day, which has had the
God Man dwell among them and fulfill
all of Gods wonderful plan of salvation
by which man may get back to God? Is
rael's God lowered over them in the
cloudy pillar, He dwelt in the Holy
of Holes in the Temple, but now the
veil of that temple is rent, and God de-
sires to find a dwelling place in the hui
man heart. Israel is a monument of
Gods mercy and patience, but redeemed
mar to-day is the browning glory of His
great love and mercy and patience.
EXTHY are you not consumed, oh man!
w oh, woman! as you stubbornly
rlsh headlong in your own doing? Why
il it that the judgment of GOD does not
fall and crush your stubborn neck and
grind you to powder? Is it because your
evil doing and stubborn way have not
merited the punishment? No! for "all
have s%inned," and Gods judgment
against sin is death. "The soul that sin
meth it shall die" ''The wages of sin
is death" Then why does God
wait? 1t is because God will
have all men to be saved and to
come unto the knowledge of the truth"
THE Lord is not slack concerning His
promise, as some men count slackness;
but is longsuffering to usward, not will
ring that any should perish, but that
all should come to repentance" The
rich man never got into the torments
of hell until God exhausted every eff
fort to have him turn from his own way
to Gods way, and yield his own will to
the will of God. While we have turned
every one to his own way" the Lord has
laid the sin of our Righteousness and
.stubbornness upon His well-beloved Son,
and offers through Him forgiveness and
salvation. John Wesley once had occa-
sion to reprimand his travelling compan-
ion and secretary, John Bradford, and
when the latter ~stubbornly refused to
yield, Wesley said: Then you and l
must part" Very good, sir" replied
Bradford. Thus the matter rested until
the next morning, when Wesley accost-
ed his old friend, and asked him if he
had considered what he had said, that
they must part" yes, sir" replied
Bradford. And must we part?" in
quired Wesley. please yourself, sir"
was the reply. "Will you ask my par
DOM" rejoined Wesley. mo, sir" You
WON'T" mo, sir" Then will ask
yours!" replied the great-hearted man.
And Bradford melted under the exam
pie, and wept like a child. And how in
finitely greater is the mercy and love and
forgiveness of our God towards man!
While we were dead in ~trespasses ana
sins, Christ died for us. While we are
in rebellion against God, He extends to
us a pardon. signed with the blood Of
His dear Son. Oh, this ought to melt
the hardest heart.