The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-18

1NTRODUCT1ON.S- - Ezra rehucTeo =.
valuable service TO the JeWs; II lie c mo-.
tlves to Jerusalem, 3. c., iaS, OF wn.e,
NC studied last week. but ne lns.itute g !
Important reforms ate. ms aLrlVn,, M
He is credited with establishing tne
great synagogue, composed ct ennh IN
scholars. He wrote or SUPERVISE ' ~
writing OF four books-l Chr2n,c.ess, oo r..
Chronicles, Ezra and Esther. These DOCKS
Contained an epitome OF history Iroln
Adam to his own time. And yet gre ,atl
as this man was and great as was E, ms
work his proceedings end aDr n, p ~, S the
instability and immortality OF the Jews Jews
or the malice and opposition OF their
enemies. n period elapsed during V's me-
nothing Is known Of MIN. AZ ies's ~ ~, =
shemiah was raised up TO lead third cx-
pedlt .on. B. c.. 444, to supplement s@hn.
Ezra had begun. His work. of which W. We
should study for four weeks, was inc
last, except that Of Malachi. done py IN
oversees e va vas !, q
Gun. Bearer to Artaxerxes (Neh:. HI, the n
same. king who had commissioned Ezra. i,.e
must, therefore, have had poln I. hn ..,,,
of superior ability entered that position
after careful preparation GDan 81
But, Notwithstanding tho high honor a 1l1,i
privilege granted 70 him IN the pup ny
service ne Was ow noe neopIe Il has ever
hann s n 1,oci,inr and comInendablc trait of
the posterity OF Abraham that they have
been loyal to their race i was SO a w,tn
c 1Psalns cxyii:s), and many others. Ac-
cordinRly when a brother and certain oth-
er Jews who had come from Jerhsa.eI,l,;
came to the city Of shushaam; me o Gupti "a.
teryew with him. inquiring after q! ~. tn ne
condition OF those who had r ret, l,,l
from the captivity. showing That ,1,a, ms ms
heart went out In 4tcnders soiic it -
his absent kinsmen. "A
INFORMATION Verse s).-paTr1ous re-
ports may have been previously orougnt;
some Of them possibly contraaictLTilS. NV
none OF them altogether re anii,!GE from
such a source, could not be donbte e., Ne
hemInh learned that Of those who nag re-
turned from captivity only remna ,i,.a re-
NAMED. many liay LIS b bp'e enemies The
ammnritnns and other adversaries pro
uoked at being dispossessed (lSzra, lv:l);f
had opposed the good work al a.te ~ ~
r pS ,nb had cast nnumerabls obstacles
Jerusalem were in great am ctlon, nep phad
ed OF the comforts PIT t 81 ie neighbors The
Walls aild u Of the city were broken and the
gates burned lust as they had been since
Ncbuchadnczzar invaded me lhnn. , Tnf
hundred and sixty. years 'Ifa or nroner.
.t tvein Tie tie sacred city. Whoever would
innnt,n u,ss damnge at pleasure. This con-
nitinn ~ things shows that Ezra's work
h md accomplshed but little.
IMPORTANTLY oversees 4.6).-,Ihls re-
citai filled the heart of nehemiah win
sorrow, proof Of his affection for ms
peoplc. IIe sat down. and Wep1 ana
mourned, probably observing the ORDINARY
methods Of expressing grief, employea
in those days. But his sorrow was no.
like that Of those who nave I1o hopa
Of better things q .Thes. MD. A1ter =
time be turned 10 God for relieI, ana .nat
in q way always appropriate W in g atad
and humbled himself and ack s,, ", g
his own unworthiness' Incn &c
prayed. His first petition was for audi
cncc. as II he feared that the ear OF COD
might not be open unto his cry, or. rath.
make was not worthy to be heard (l'rov.
1928. 1t Is not unusual for burdened
heart to feel that God will he deaf and
indifferent, he approaches this importu-
nifty. however. with most appropriate
pleading. lord God OF heaven, the great
and terrible" he cried, realizing the aw-
iful majesty of the Almighty. that keep
eth covenant and mercy he added, fall
ing bnckion the promises to Abraham and
s't GoSFBssioN VERSES a.D.MSian n IS IS
confession. Whoever seeks the Lord With
out acknowledging his fault will be re-
jacted. This was the offense Of the Phari-
see duke xvili:lD, But he that confesses
his sins shall find mercy II. John. l:9).
Hero Is q fundamental law of the spiritual