St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-03-18

return. - Will 20 dL once anu ODLalu
counsel in this matter from Father
Enoch. Something must be done, for
not only is the goddess land of Nod draw
ing. away cur people, but the corrupting
practices of that worldly-minded place
are slowly but surely gaining foothold
here (" sas ->ssss,=s-==s--zs-sf
While he was speaking the father had
been busy fastening the leathern san
dals to his feet, and reaching for his
staff he passed out of the door, just as
Lamech, who had completed his prepar-
atoms, started down the road in the op-
posite direction.
As Methuselah strobe rapidly along
he pondered deeply on the conditions
which had come to pass. g..
Where will it end?" he asked him
self. The time was when our people
were proud to be called Gods people,
but now they dislike and despise the
name With the exception Of the aged
heads Of the families, they have quite
forsaken their faith in God and are more
and more completely centering all
thought and ambition in material things.
The corrupting influence of the land Of
Nod is spreading. Our young people
are being drawn away by the glitter
and pleasure Of the world"
The picture grew blacker and blacker
the deeper he went into the situation,
and in despair he at last exclaimed, over
and over again:
ho
done?"
And well might he be sad and trou-
bled, for the religious decline at this
time was serious and rapid. 1t is at
such periods of darkness that God
chooses sometimes to send forth His
brightest light, and to work marvellous
ly, and though Methuselah did not know
or realize it, thing was about to tran
spire which would set peoples ears
tingling and their hearts to bordering.
God was not going to leave His people
without exhausting every effort to turn
them from their evil ways-He never
does
1t is not strange that Methuselah
should turn to Enoch in the present
trouble, for ever since the death of
Adam, 81 years before, he was the
recognized spiritual leader and adviser
OF the people. His fame as an upright
and godly man had spread to the land
OF Nod, for even the ungodly are quick
to recognize purity of life and faithful
devotion to high principles. Ever
since he was boy and at his great
ancestor Adams knee had listened
with absorbed interest to the story of
the creation, of the fellowship with
God in the Garden, of sins entrance
and Gods gracious dealings with sim
full 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 patriarch's bedside as
the end drew near. There was Seth,
whom God had given to Adam and Eve
il the place Of the godly Abel; there
was Seth's eldest son Enos, and Enos'
first born Cainan, and Cainan's eldest
son Mehalaleel, and Jared his son, and
Enoch the sea of Jared, and Methuse-
lab and Met'.uselah'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 cod and lifeless.
At the simple but impressive funeral
service the multitude OF descendants
mad gathered. and a solemn hushEfe
upon all as Enoch pointed the lesson
Of the hour He spoke of death as the
of Gods word To Adam in
the Garden, ct how It was the conse-
quence of sin, and then he dwelt upon
the promises Of God that Satan should
be overcom, and man delivered. and |
ended by pointing to the mystery OF
the sacrifice which God had made and
the covering. which He had provided
for man AS he sinished there came a |
voice out of the Heavens saying:
4 ...God is pleased with thee, Enoch,
FOR thou hast borne faithful testimony |
for Him." 8
And all the people wondered and |
krembled, and from that hour Enoch |
vas recognized ~ leader and adviser.
But the 81 years which had transpired |