The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-09

voted to the study OF the kings and pro-
phcts of Judah we return to q last V'e"
OF Israel. "A succession Of wicked kings lls
all Iii the footsteps Of MAS, occupied the
throne, each seemingly seeking to out
strip his predecessor In the service OF
idols, Several s$of them suffered violent
deaths. Through all the changes the ne, pee,
r {oy con oea he mad exepe th hr
rulers. Perhaps they had forgotten The
predictions OF wrath ana had come !, to
sut God had not forgotten psalm cli.;N.5
although he had mcrcifully waited: living
time for repentance, His purposes hau no e
At ast 1he dq ~ Amos
after Its founding. the northern Kingdom.
a nation. its territory being absorbed ~
the Assyran empire. Our lesson to-day
gives i brief record Of that downfall and
n s H9HsnSez pn ,Hq % Ind plan the
prophets IN writing history were unlike
tho purpose and plan Of secular Writes n is.
lnf soaE c sn u ii s doing hs they
o Of sin 3JaMss lis, Which S rs Important
as to exhibit the varl6us phases Of ia t a1s
that Israel began It's wicked career secret
n Verse .. They practiced nr RI ;,ie
sEh Of fhasS ne Mere M
stance that men vainly imngine they can
deceive the Almighty; that His. eye does 9 ,s,
a. SfhHa hey eef se9
10 do in the darkness what they would
fear. to do H the full light Of & , day
ph yl21 3s only %Ren the
scxxxix:2-3 Is RECEIVED and made operatiye
In human life that secret sins are hated
most ofiall. psalm xlx:l2). us being most o:s
dangerous to the person and most 0ffcn-
s iPuB 81 iaeTi he who practices sin
secretly Is. likely IL time to DO SO openly.
Sst Y does KY Pfe "a tne Bss
What Is done in private quickly dominates
indulgence during which the outward At q
forms of religion were n1an nd
cd others in harmony with the spiritual
conditions oversees 10 and n.y. This was the
next phase in the national developme
@ananE Mn ne o9aKsSd f1 IN fhs W yf
atrous worship was introduced. Images
and groves were set up IN every hill, and
toms Of the heather who dwelt II the II,
land prior to the conquest were adopted
notwithstanding those people had been
consigned to distinctions, !, The reason for
ferrcd to the Institutes OF Moses because
the former satisfied more fully the er1 l2;ng,
ngs Of deprayed hearts and mn'stered e
ID D1soBEDiHScENAl this departure
whether secret or public, resulted from
q the peope 4 Taa btee
expressly forbidden Verse 12). Had the
false ideas, which by degrees had under
practice there would havos been some
apology. But in the very law upon WHICH;
were builded all the institutions, and In
ioI,< al
the law delivered BY Moses, the veneratedI
foEndeA OF the civil and eccleslas tical
which had been done Q1x. xx:3). The peo-
pic could not be Ignorant, on this subject,
for they had been instructed for 100 years
claim 70 know nothing Of. the Declara-
ton of Independence as these ] sruelites
might plead Ignorance Of the many stat
was unmistalSuble and flagrant disobedi-
cnce against the commandment OF God
against the traditions Of the nation,
government, against the religion Of their
WA!R ~ Nc make 4. T., matters stu u,
ssinned did not immedia tely forsaKe them
Werse 13). but he raised UP prophets and
and sent these men othc nation TO testify
against it. This was a separate and indie
order r 3f minSers
6tain rites and ceremonies and maintained
the stated services of the sacred seasons,
but the prophets, inspired for the work,
There was a long line or these illustrlous
men duke 7o Before lone II 2 pa,fsss !, J,
.away another appeared; y, samuel = E Lynn
The cause Of Cod had urged Israel to
from is Ways nd kfbep thS ii
the infancy Of the nation: the world
has never seen such, self-denylng and an,
aohed m e bng MH9 H people
e Ii Gfs,snS lSyl this only
nenEe a aamf o 9s abs dse gns
OF OF S time and well kno wn, law.
there was added the s!n o6stlnuha eir
@sGssF 's1 a. n rhGy sesGfaea S
Of its owner. The calls of prophets Were 3
resented. They became more determines neg
rejected ID the very statutes which they had
from hsayen and hfy Woaa no
Gods servants. They became wanting u
IS. trh!ng and careless-slnd followed ye1 /. th ne
WHayf Of ny q rs the rou
near to them. AS the child bent on an
evil way tessts as an war'T,nten inter ,n,p
ton in and restia a i1G Of parents. and even
! dcspises parental advice and authority,
so did Israel 70 the AmlghtJy Ernwm NJ
further, away from God, expecting I e
break the bonds and suttaln9llnto aDSoulc
and Unlimited license e psalm III: 20 6F
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES hope rel9r N
for sim who increases ~ sin because
wI ssa to ao 1rsaks + sdeh Tia @ M
much as the intellect and affections, llo
IS then .unulterahly Joined to5hls evil way
Nlos ~: * The lnwsaof the fIp u, pr,1
state Induced from Wh!el# there lis l. y ~
escape by any power the man man hnlse 81, !
through centuries Of obdracy,, I, ! r ,ne,
was q complete abandonment Ct. T., the I l,e.
| ton IN its place az II system Of Worship
Gsriyeh lro other a59ms rs
| 16-iD. Tic downward movement OF g
EIroat people ae tfh h Years
passed. ending in, total npostasy How
shocking wercthnir practices the Histories
| UOrtr uS. They CtllSed4 tNGlrAf sons