Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-03-10

with absorbed interest TO the story or
the creation, of the fellowship with
God I'm the Garden, OF sins entrance
and Gods gracious dealings with sim
ful man, he had seemed possessed with
a spirit of love and devotion TO God
Thus in purity of life and unselfish
service for others he had walked with
God No wonder that his was an ever
widening circle of influence and that
at Adams death he should be the one
To whom the people would turn as
their leader and counsellor.
The eight generations Of the sons of
Adam in the line OF Seth had gath
cred at the aged patriarchs bedside as
the end drew near. There was Seth,
whom God had given TO Adam and Eve
in the place of the godly Abel; there
was Seths eldest son Enos, and Enos'
first born Cainan, and Cainan's eldest
son Mehalaleel. and Jared his son. and
Enoch the son of Jared, and Methuse-
lab and Methuselah's son Lamech.
Adam had rested his hand of blessing
upon each one in turn. and then
Deaths strange hand had claimed him
and left the body co d and lifeless.
At the simple but impress i've funeral
service the multitude of descendants
had gathered. and a solemn hush yell
upon all as Enoch pointed the lesson
of the hour lie spoke of death as the
fulfillment OF Gods word 10 Adam IN
the Garden Of how it was the conse-
quence of sin, and then he dweit upon
the promises Of God that Satan should
be overcome and man delivered, and
ended by pointing 10 the mystery Of
the sacrifice which God had mads and
the covering whi1h He had provided
for man. As nc .Inished there came a
voice out of the heavens saying:
God is pleased with thee. Enoch,
for thou hast borne faithful testimony
for Him"
And all the people wondered and
trembled. and from that hour Enoch
was recognized as leader and adviser.
But the 81 years which had transpired
since then had brought sad changes,
and the impressions of that hour had
long since vanished before the crowd
ing interests and pleasures of this life.
The memory of all these incidents
crowded upon the mind of Methuselah
as he journeyed, and when at dusk he
drew near to his Father EnOch's door
his heart was filled with a multitude OF
emotions
"Ah that Gods voice might speak
again. he cried, and make His peo-
pie remember Him"
Was it the cry which through the
gathering gloom reached Enoch's ear
or was it the voice OF his own heart
All day his soul haG been singularly
stirred with the thoughts of God and
the needs of His people. And no"
there had seemed to come a voice
Instinctively he turned towards the
door, and father and son met on the
threshold
What brings thee, my son, at this
late hour?" asked Enoch. as he vel
coined him with hearty embrace.
"A sad errand, father" responded
Methuselah after a painful silence
"Adina, drawn by the enticements ol
Nod, has fled thither, and not only i:
my heart heavy over her going, bu
also because on every hand there is Z
forgetting of God and indifference Il
His claims. Lamech has gone in ef
fort TO overtake her and persuade he
| TO return, and have fastened TO YOU
that you might counsel as to the RICH
course to pursue in again turning the
| people to God
Late into the nigs the men sat anC
talked earnestly. EnOch went ovel
step by step the leadings and deal
| ings OF God with His children from
Adam TO the present time, and as they
separated for the night, he said will
| rare sweetness and abiding confidence
God liyeth O. the Heavens, and will
not leave His people without certain
testimony of His nearness and Hi
| power"
Long did Methuselah lie ponderinl
| these words and then fell into a ttfu
sumber in which he seemed TO SCI
whole troops OF angels passing to anC
fro while a glorious light shed by theil
iridescent robes filled all the place
| Then strains of sweet music, the Ike
of which he had never heard before
floated down. and as II ceased voices
were heard in gentle converse Th'
| rhythm of the sound seemed TO lull hin
| into deeper repose, and the voices anC
the light gradually faded and were
gone, when suddenly the Heavens
seemed TO open and a great shaft o.
light shot down TO earth, while voice
said:
Come thou shalt walk with NJ
| in Heaven
The scene was all so real and vivid
the voice SO clear, the words so plain
| that Methuselah sat bolt upright will
start and could not satisfy his OWL
mind whether he had been asleep anC
dreaming or whether awake and haC
seen a vision
The eastern light was just breaking
over the earth AS though impelled by
some unseen hand Methuselah moved
to the place where his father haC
spread his mat
=