The Tupelo journal., 1906-09-07

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arising from their p~riestly service, in
fact, as fathers often are, he was
only too ready to offer Gus for his
sons and accept their conduct without
question. So it 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
| quiet remonstrance sought to dismiss
the matter from his mind, but as we
have 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 into the spir-
it 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 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 it necessary to admonish his
sons as to the performance of their
duties.
Zone 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 it
was a matter of physical measure
ment and priestly robe. "Why, the
other day when serving in the holy
place and I spoke of the place behind
the veil where the ark has been placed,
he told me that the high priest alone,
and that only one a 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 be 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 n 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
minds, and almost simultaneously
they exclaimed:
why should we not so Within"
But" calculated Abihu, I'VE cannot
go in hither without our burning CEN
sers, and we cannot obtain Goals from
the altar without Jul father seeing
us"
But we may obtain fire here with
in"
Yea; but that is not according to
the law laid down by Moses"
tAyz - - T. a. --I -xL1& - IL
the difference? Will 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 filling
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 it
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 into this awful act of presump-
ton.
But scarcely had their feet been
placed across the threshold ere there
was a flash of light beyond the bright
ness of the sun at noon day which
sped from above the mercy seat.
Two forms fell backward, two GEN.
sers went Gathering to the ground,
scattering their burning incense about.
Aaron, the high priest, heard the
sound without. A great fear seized
his heart as he hurried into the holy
| place. Some solemn sense of the
~sacredness of the place restrained the
outburst of agony within, and with
out a sound, he sped to the place
where the two forms lay SO silent and
still. He looked upon their distorted
features, he glanced at the fallen CEN
sers, at the displaced curtains before
the holy of holes, at the bodies rest
ing across the threshold, and he IN
derStOod.
But why should we follow the IA
ther in his grief? Enough to know that
the heart that mourned was raised to
God in submission and faith and yield
ed brave and loyal obedience to the
righteous will, for why should not
the soul be satisfied in the presence OF
Gods manifest holiness and justice?
JEWISH MISSIONS.
Work Throughout the World Shows
Surprising Advancement.