The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-09-07

| Ing the spirit Of the service exacted
OF 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.
linen, too, without realizing it them.
selves, they had become enamored Of
the wine cup. and in their priestly
function they had found the opportu.
nity OF gratifying their appetite, so
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
tnelr eyes and the undue elation of
their spirits, but had dismissed the
thought from his mind that it was
other than the natural enthusiasm
arising from their priestly service, in
TACT, as fathers often are. he was
only too ready to offer excuses for his
sons and accept their conduct without
question. So it was that upon this &C.
caslon 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
quiet remOnstrance sought to dismiss
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 1t 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 sacrifce?" 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 it 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 we'll as he?" ex.
claimed Nadab, rising and stretching
himself to his full height as though it
!, was a 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 so 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.
J. 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 be in the holy place in the
: course Of their duties, and their IA
{ ho1 ct tn q
7: 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 thai
: 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, ant
" paused. The conversation of the day
before suddenly flashed across theil
minds, and almost simultaneously
l. they exclaimed;
Z why should we not go Within
D. But" calculated Abihu, I'VE canno
y go in hither without our burning cen
Il sers, and we cannot obtain Goals from
il the altar without our father seeing
u u.s."
II But we may obtain fire here with
- in"
Il Yea; but that is not according tt
IL the law laid down by Moses"
- NO, but 1t is fire, and what can b'
- the difference? Will not the incense
~ burn as well?"
- Satisfied by the declaration, in thel
y half muddled condition owing to TIT
~ wine which they had drunk, they boil
- entered into the plan and hastily filling
their censers and lighting them the!
=, brushed aside the curtain separating
7, the holy place from the holy OF holes
~ ~ and essayed to enter.
~ How little did they realize what
meant to enter into the presence o
iS the Lord. What slight conception ha'
70 they of his holiness, and what pride
n,,seoa nv, tboir HEARTS 81 as to Dlungi