Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-09-19
Them Bun without in any sense catch

or them. and with exalted opinion as
TO their importance in the priestly
rank, they felt sort of disdain for
the small details and exactions Of
their duties
Then, too, without realizing It thom-
selves, they had become enamored OF
the wine cup, and in their priestly
function they had found the opportu.
nifty of gratifying their appetite. 90
that more and more they had yielded
10 the enticements OF the sparkling
beverage.
Aaron, their father, had on one or
TWO occasions observed the sparkle in
their eyes and the undue citation of
their spirits, but had dismissed the
thought from his mind that Il was
other than the natural enthusiasm
arising from their priestly service. in
iact, as fathers often are, he was
only too ready to offer excuses for his
sons and accept their conduct without
question. So il was that upon this DC.
casion when they had sighted their
work and had carelessly laid the wood
upon the altar that he was ready to
excuse their conduct, and after his
the matter from his mind, but as we
nave said. Aaron could not altogether
rid his heart of the uneasy, troubled
feeling growing out of this lack OF
reverence and obedience on the part
OF his sons.
They will come more into the spir-
1t OF it as they perform the service"
he said to himself but the remark Of
Abihu kept sounding in his ears:
What matters it, if the wood is there
to consume the sacrifice?" and he
could not subdue the feelings of APP
prehension which arose in his heart
Thus the days sped by and on more
than one occasion following the incl
dent with which our story opens Aaron
found 1T necessary to admonish his
sons as to the performance OF their
duties.
"One would think" Nadab exclaimed
to his brother one day, that no one
knew how to do anything right but
our father, Aaron"
Yes. he acts as though we could
not think for ourselves" responded
Abihu
Have we not been chosen to the
priestly office as well as he?" ex-
claimed Nadab, rising and stretching
himself to his full height as though 1t
was matter of physical measure
ment and priestly robe. why. the
other day when serving in the holy
place and | spoke of the place behind
the veil where the ark has been placed,
he told me that the high priest alone,
and that only once year. could enter
the place. Why should he go there
if we cannot?"
Perhaps he fears lest we under
stand as much as he of the Tabernacle
service"
And why should we not?"
The voice of their father at that mo-
ment cut short further conversation,
and rather ungraciously they returned
to the duties which their talk had
interrupted.
The next day the two young men
CHANGED TO he in the holy place in the
course Of their duties, and their ia
Their had stepped to the outer court to
attend to some details for the evening
service. The latter had been too busy
and preoccupied to notice the flushed
condition of his two sons, and that
frequently they drank from the small
skin bottle which one of them carried
beneath the folds of his robe.
AS they moved about the small
apartment they came opposite to the
veil before the holy of holes. and
paused. The conversation of the day
| before suddenly flashed across their
l IL
they exclaimed:
Why should we not go within?"
But" calculated Abihu. I'VE cannot
go in hther without our burning cen.
sers, and we cannot obtain Goals from
the altar without our father seeing
us
But we may obtain fire here with.
in"
Yea; but that is not "ccording to
the law laid down By Moses"
NO. but it is fire. and what can be
the difference? VIII not the incense
burn as well?'
Satisfied by the declaration, in their
half muddled condition owing to the
wine which they had drunk. they both
entered into the plan and hastily filing
their censers and lighting them they
| brushed aside the curtain separating
the holy place from the holy Of holes
and essayed TO enter
How little did they realize what Il
meant to enter into the presence of
| the Lord. What slight conception had
they Of his holiness. and what pride
| puffed up their hearts so as to plunge
them int this awful act Of presump-
/ ton
But scarcely had their feet been
/ placed across the threshold ere there
was fash Of light beyond the bright.
ness OF the sun at noon day which
/ sped from above the mercy seat.