The Tupelo journal., 1904-12-02

NJ I<TA iHU courts Oh the ldu-
A,X A. ernacie of Jehovah,
%4N the place He had
~ Y. appointed for His
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services of Eli. 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 it 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 urmounte 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. 1t
was to this temple that Samuel as a
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
- %LDco oytl Iox,e nf Nnrrnnt nrlpSf-
hood and meaningless ceremony, and
there was no revelation from God. The
days m~inistrations 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 were unconscious in slum-
Der. -
A H! HOW often we are unconscious of
~ Lod'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. l, serves as best it a be-
fore the high priest, self. But it is not
given any service above the mere sensual
and material. 1t feels a higher need and
obligation even while it 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,
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 it's appointed service,
meaningless If the true purpose and
spirit were lacking; it had it's high
priest to discharge the religious func-
tons, and sc 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 s~ubservieDt to the DOM
inant, physical, sensual self. The temple
had its 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 it's 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 its low spiritual
condition.
n UR1NG 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 Ellis side,
as was his wont when summoned to
minister to his needs. Ellis voice is
heard in dull, heavy, uncomprehending
pevishness. Il 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 souA and bid
ding 1t 60 and lie down again. Gods
voice is calling to you and to me. We
Enow 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 jndifer-
ence and oblivion. Will God cal again?
Are you Indifferent as to whether he
will or not? Are you glad that the
conscience of the soul has been stilled
and its questioning silenced?< Do you
feel better content within the temple
of your body that you can mipister to
your own need as the caprice and within
Q self may dictate? God pity The man