The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-12-03

kfXINlNIIFNl IIIIlIUl uWtIluS PioSO ~
&INlIlNlIlLSI Llt43 the midst of His
lMINIll 11l[.lIr people; the scene
IQAptH' NJ of the perfunctory
services of Ell, the
high priest, and the training school and
seminary of Samuel, the novitiate.
There was the outer court with its
great brazen altar for sacrifice. and upon
which the fire burned continually. Be-
tween 1t and the holy place stood the
laver where the priests washed before
entering the temple. Within the temple
was the holy place with its altar OF In
cense, and its table Of shew bread and
the golden candlestick on either side.
Before the altar of sacrifice and within
this holy place the high priest minis
tered daily. Then there was the holy OF
holes behind the vail where rested the
ark of the covenant surmounted by the
cherumbim, and between which there
burned the shechinah glory over the
mercy seat. Into this hottest place the
high priest came but once a year. IL
was to this temple that Samuel as
young boy had been brought by his
mother, and consecrated to the Lords
service 1t was here that he ministered
unto the Lord before Eli. But the word
of the Lord was unknown and unheard
in those evil days OF corrupt priest
hood and meaningless ceremony, and
there was no revelation from God. The
days ministrations had ended; the aged
high priest had laid himself down to rest,
and Samuel, his faithful attendant, had
sought his couch in the apartments ad-
joining. The gentle light of the seven
branched candlestick, burning without
in the holy place kept Its faithful vigil,
and spoke OF Gods presence, while the
souls Of men we're unconscious in slum-
Der.
A H! HOW often we are unconscious OF
~ iod's presence. The body, Gods
chosen temple, Is the place where He
would abide, but we know Him not. Self,
the high priest, is there, to serve and
minister TO the desires and needs Of the
life. The thought is not above the phys
ical and material Gods presence Is not
felt. Samuel, the young novitiate, is
there, In the person OF the gentle, sensi-
tive soul. II serves as best 1t can be-
fore the high priest, self. But 1t is not
given any service above the mere sensual
and material. 1t feels higher need and
obligation even while 1t serves on the
lower plane of the material. The period
of the low spiritual condition prevails
and the lamp OF Gods presence burns
feebly. Such Is the condition, oh, so
often, in the heart and life! Such was
the condition of Israel and in the tenn
pie. 1t was Gods chosen dwelling place,
even as the body of man is Gods APP
pointed temple. Know We not" God
asks, that We are the temple of God, and
that the Spirit of God dwelleth in your"
The temple had its appointed service,
meaningless II the true purpose and
spirit were lacking; 1t had its high
priest to discharge the religious func-
lions, and so the body temple has its ap-
pointed service, its homage to pay to
God, its worship to offer. While self is
the high priest in Office every feature OF
the service is subservient to the DOM
inant, physical, sensual self. The temple
had It's Samuel, the novitiate appointed
Of God to rise to the place of authority
In the temple and to rescue the holy
place and the sacred service from its de-
based and debasing conditions. And so
the body temple has within It the eternal
soul, the novitiate, whom God has ap-
pointed to grow up within and to rescue
the body temple from It's low spiritual
condition.
N URING the still watches OF the night
- voices are heard within the temple.
Gods voice calls: Samuel, Samuel
Samuel's voice Is heard in answer:
Here am l." as he runs to ELS side,
as was his wont when summoned to
minister to his needs. Els voice Is
heard in dull, heavy, uncomprehendin
pevishness. II called thee not, my son;
lie down again." The three voices
heard In the midnight watches OF the
LIES great need. Gods voice calling.
The souls voice In answer, and self
quieting the query Of the soul and bid
ding 1t go and lie down again. Gods
voice 10 calling to you and to me. We
know not His voice. We are unfamil-
lar with the sound thereof. Once, twice,
God has called, perhaps more, and each
time you have settled the matter by
urging the soul to the sleep Of indiffer-
ence and oblivion. Will God call againI
Are you Indifferent as to whether he
will or not? Are you glad that the
conscience OF the soul has been stilled
and its1questioning sllencedf Do you
feel better content within the temple
OF your body that you can minister to
your own need as the caprice and vhim
Of self may dictate? God pity the man
who has stilled the voice Of God to the
soul. Who has so repeatedly turned
the soul away with It's questionines that
| ut last God calis no more, and the light
Of His presence has left the temple in
hopeless dssolationl It d an awful thins
thus to tribe with 0odl Twice Eli