Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-11-18

place among the SemitcS And there
are traces OF human sacrifices which
under the Christian dispensation have
been offered only by heather. The
Semites living in tribes or clans had
local deity 20 whom they offered sacri-
ice. He sat at the table and partook
of the slain animal.
IL. The primitive Hebrew stage.
This period covers the patriarchal aud
nOmadic epoch. while the people were
still wandering about. IL is not sur
prising 70 discover many pOintS or
resemblance between this period and
the preceding. They were Just emerg-
ing from the ancient darkness into the
later day. God had assigned them
leaders whose work II was 10 lead
them into the truth. but they were
slow 10 follow.
Being nomads they appointed wor-
ship wherever they were. There was
M temple. tabernacle or ark. 4 rude
altar erected out o. the stones OF the
ground was their temple. I'm Jacobs
family were found teraphim or house
hold gods.
Sacrifice still retained the social as
peCt so that it meant little mere than a
family gathering NJ which inc local
deity was present However. by this
time Jehovah was recognized as the
AnNIA Oh AAE AANMAE - OAAAtA nN - "a
worship such as prayer. vows and
dreams were observed.
There were very few II any hymns
at this time. The law had not been
fully compiled and n limited ntera ture.
III This division introduces us 20
the Canaauitish state. Great changes
took place during his epoch. because
the people OF Israel discontinued their
nomadic life and settled down I'm the
promised land among tribes OF foreign
faith. We naturally find that the cho-
sen people suffered 10 little contamin-
alton. of which subsequent history IS
evidence.
Sacred places iucreas ed in numbers
ana the worship OF Raai hOurished.
IL seems Co Doe q time OF degeneration,
for the worship OF Jehovah WAS cor
rupted. Tho ark containing the two
tables or Stone was transported from
one place 10 another. Images We're
I erected O. represent the deity. and the
Trim and Thummim were employed
/ 10 ascertain the viii OF God.
Sacrifice was regarded as communion
+ with the deity. The burnt Offering
I seems go havcbcen used more than any
I other. Prayer. vows. visions were
/ sul observed while sorccry was los
/ inr It's hold.
/ Having discontinued their wandering
/ life they observed the sabbath. the
/ feasts OF tile moon and of harvest. II
I appears. however. that they were not
/ free from corruption.
Music and dancing bad its place. and
+ T. lS said ~ David ais 81 LATER time that
De danced. There were hymns such
aS the exodus song. The song 81 De
/ lOrah and tle song ~ Hannah. Laws
were assuming form as the out-rowth
H.aH
Moses. but compiled or formulated by
linn.
~. Tho prophetic stage. This Pc
Rod is 50 called because OF the number
~ prophets who exercised most
+ wholesome influence ou the life OF the
people. This was done by teaching a
more enlightened conception 81 God.
samuel. David. Elijah. Elisha. Isaiah
and Jonah were among those who
raised the standard OF living
The high places were stlll used for
the worship of BaaL and at ONE time
the worship OF Baal and Jehovah were
consolidated. AT the time OF David the
ark 90 Tle covenant was taken Co Je-
rusalem. and the temple was conn
nictcd in tile days OF solomon. which
produced a more orderly system 81
worship. ld0latrOr, practices were
not. however entirely superseded. Toy
we read OF golden calves az Bethel
and Giigal.
The completion OF the temple made
the most perfect organization and de-
Velopmout OF the priesthood impera-
tive 10 This time no distinction was
known between church and state. hut
the division OF the monarchy I'm 91J
produced a complete separation.
The acts Of worship continued about
lei "H. .l." .H. VI
/ except that certain restrictions were
imposed. Sacrifice was offered 90 es-
fabU>h communion with God. There
was some human sacrifice Praying to
/ God WAS becoming Sd pleasure. and
vows were made hy Nazaritcs. Ora
clcs and dreams We're -.r.el -S chan
neis through which Jehovah commu
nicated His revelations. S0rccry was
. practiced against the protests % tht
prophets. a hymn booS was in pro
= cess OF compilation and the priests
were compiling law.
The attitude Of the prophets toward
, existing conditions viii help as 10 APP
preciate our theme and make It's up
plicatiOn.
The prophets considered the high
places as detrimental TO the religious
. life Of the nation. They maintained
81 that the temple was al they required
for the worship OF the true God.
b The prophets insisted upon purity %
life among the people OF God. espe
( cially the priests. II appears from th'
=. records that the sacred Office was no
? entirely free from corruption.
5 They @"-ther insisted upon the tru
e WORSHIP = the heart. While admit
D ting the place OF forms. they contend
- ed that the forms must be spiritual
P lied.
The Reward Of Earnestness-
2 Christ met multitudes Of men Il