The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1907-02-08

chosen, as one of the cities of refuge"
what" they asked, in surprise
You want to give up Hebron, which
is SO strong OF location, and cost you
so much to ConQuer?"
That | do, brethren" was the |
ready reply, and l viii tell you WHY
In the silence of the midnight hour
on yesternight there came a vision
to me as lay on my couch. In nv
! dream | was lifted and carried. il
seemed, to very high mountain over.
I fodking the valleys on both sides of
the Jordan. And it seemed as looked
about me as though | could see the
! length and the breadth of the land
Israel lay below me, resting peaceful
ly in the land into which God had
brought them. There were the vine,
yards, and the tig and olive groves,
there We're the stretches Of pasture
land, there We're the houses and the
villages and cities dotting the land
scape. And l thought as l stood
and looked upon the scene, Here are
| vineyards which we have not planted,
! here are houses and cities which we
have not built. Surely God hath given
lis goodly heritage. Each man may
dwell under his own vine and fig tree,
and how delightful it is that all Israel
, may dwell together from henceforth
in the land of peace and unity
? CAS- | finished speaking a voice
seemed to speak at my side, although
; | saw no man. had thought l was
alone, and behold here was one at
: my side, and speaking And | knew it
to be the voice of God. And God said
: to me:
. WHO knoweth what is in man,
: save God? Underneath this spirit of
. tranquility and unity on which thine
! eyes now look there are passions and
. emotions which when aroused are
+ destructive
!. Nay, Lord ! said, has not Israel
! learned her lesson yet? Has not the
!. old spirit yielded to the influence of
! the new land and the new hopes and
!. purposes in life?'
Yea, for the time being came
I back the words, but underneath there
lie smouldering the fires of sin The
hand of brother shall yet be raised
!: against brother in Israel
( Sadness filled my heart and l was
!. silent, and while l pondered on these
! words the voice came again and said;
( Lift up your eyes and look, for in
+ Israel there shall be shelter for the
I fugitive and him that fleeth from his
): brother!
!. And 10! and behold, as / looked
! saw Hebron below me in all her fair
!. beauty.
+ "'Yea, Lord said, the stronghold
!. of our enemies hath become a shelter
: and habitation for thy people,
+ "'And it shall be yet more came
: back the voice, for it shall become &
+ refuge for him that fleeth from the
: adversary. Its gates shall close
! neither day nor night. My priesthood
{ shall rule there and their hands O.
! mercy and love will always be extend
: ed to help. None shall be turned
! away until their case hath been hearC
= and judgment declared
X "'God in the midst of Isreal to give
: succor and to show mercy l whis
\ pered softly, as the new vision o
: Hebron opened up before me. How
i wonderful that God should give him
: self to watch between men and pre-
/ serve them from destruction at thu
+ hands of each other -
+ with this thought thrilling me
( lifted my eyes from the scene below
I: me and looked up into the heavens
( and as l did so 1t seemed as though
/ the city rose with my vision AM
! seemed to float upward and upwar
! until lost to view within the depth
+ Of the vast beyond.
! For long time was lost in dee
/ contemplation and wonder as to wha
7 this could mean. l looked to see
- Hebron were really gone from he
place into the heavens, and saw tina
she had not but was still resting upo
~ her rugged mountains as before
IN There was the city of refuge God ha
II. appointed for earth.
Id Twas there something infnitel
en- better hidden from view within tn
an portals of Gods dwelling placer
Sc asked myself, and stirred by tn
mt thought l suddenly awoke.
ne And now my brethren, have com
n to you to-day with this story, and 20
he may we'll understand why it seemet
or. of God that Hebron shall become on
ad of these Cities of Refuge. And tn
ay vision and the message which
ci' thought heard from the lips of Got
Up whether real or but dream, wi
st. surely enlarge our thoughts of Go
to and his great love and mercy toward
ad his people And who can fathom tn
n infinitely greater riches of his grac
OF which he hath still reserved for u.s.