The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-29
oeuIent but Wicked Jericho.

-%-Ntt'''''
 Opulent but Wicked Jericho.
 The traveller in the far east as he roams through the ruins of ancient cities real izes how costly those ancient palaces must have been, even as from broken column of the Alhambra you can infer how beautiful must have once been the palaces of the Spanish Moors. So in imagination you may picture the costly vases of myrrhine. the priceless robes of silk the heaps of Damascus rugs cen ttries old, the sword hilts jewelled with diamonds and other precious stones, the garments woven out of thread of gold and the emptied treasure vaults with their countless prizes scattered about the palace halls in untold profusion on the day that Jerricho fell Jericho was al- ways noted among the ancients as a city of fabulous wealth. But, though Herod the Great afterward erected his palaces in this "City of the Palm Tress," and though 1t was for a time the home of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. yet perhaps in all it's history Jericho was never more opulent than on the day before it's walls tottered before the blasts of the priests rams horns
 But, though the wealth of this captur- ed eastern capital was prodigious. yet not one atom of gold, not one yard Of silk. not one rug, not one diamond, was to be taken by the Hebrew soldiers for their own use God told Joshua that he would give this city into his soldiers hands. but all the spells of war of this city were to be Gods and Gods alone. But the night after the battle one He- brew soldier instead of staying in his own company, and doing what he ought to have done. allowed his sinful curios- ity to get the better of him. He went out among the ruins on his own ac- count and began to explore. Then. as he saw the piled up heap of wealth, his
 cart began to covet what was not his. but Gods When he thought no one was looking. he stole beautiful Baby lonish garment 200 shekels of silver and q wedge of gold and went and hid them in his tent After many days this theft was exposed Swift condemnation fol- lowed and "all 1sreai stoned him with stones''
 What interest can that ancient crime be to us of the twentieth century, It us as a type of the sins of ev- cry age Trace the progression of evil in Achan's lime. and you will find the four stages by which sin still comes to in the lives of the criminals of our day. From it's inception to it's tragic close it is ever the same. and. though in this world it sometimes es- canes detection and punishment. in the end it incurs the righteous judgment of God
 The Lust of The Eye.
 The first stage in Achans fatal course was what the apostle describes as "the lust of the eye" Achan's curiosity was excited He wanted to see the wonder ful treasures which were to be consecrat- cd to the Lord. His first step in the downward path which ended In his des- trlction was taken when he arose from among his sleeping comrades. and. slip ping past the guards. he wended his way among tho shattered walls of the cap- tured city. Tt was one act for Achan with sword and spear and shield to fight lis way into that doomed capital. swarm ing with enemies but 1t was another act after the battle was won, for this brave soldier to arise at night and crawl past the sentinels and begin to examine the spells which were not his and by right never could be his. It Is one act and a commendahle act, for young physician at the call of duty to go down to the place of evil resort in a large city to help some sufferer prostrated by phy- sical infirmty If is another act. and a. very dangerous act. for young man or young woman, actuated merely by an idle curiosity, to join a summing party to look upon vice and gloat over it as a spectacle. Sometimes temptations come to man in the ordinary walks of life. but in nearly every case. as with Achan. temptations to sin most successfully assali a man when that man Is idling in place where he has no business to be.
 Let me illustrate my drought from an old scene in the Bible. How often has the downfall of David been the subject of the pessimist's diatribe, How he exults over the spectacle of the sheDherd hoy who conouered Goliath and climbed to the throne of Isreal. yielding to his infatua- ton for a woman, Yes. yes' he says linen are all alike; the best of men are vile at heart. Here is the sweet psalnist of Isreal the perfect specimen of noble manhood. the man after Gods own heart. so enslaved by his guilty passion for another mans wife that he stays the hus- band to get possession of her. No man Is to be trusted.'
 Why David Sinned.
 Is that your idea of men? Then, my brother and sister. you have not read human nature alright. All men are not bad. But all men will be bad if they do not stick scrupulously to the work God