Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1907-03-06

who strove to stem the popular wide
| open policy. And not only did the
leaders among the liberals speak dis.
paraginSly OF these, but in various
ways they caused prosecutions to be
made upon them.
| Now among those who had re.
NAMED true 10 the precepts and
teachings of Moses and Joshua
and opposed the popular movement
was Othniel, who ia the days of
Joshua had so bravely fought against
the strong cities of Canaan and had
overthrown by his own prowess Kir
philosopher. and had thereby won
the beautiful Achsah as his wife. The
bitter enmity OF those who were
leading Israel astray seemed to
center upon him and he found IL ex
pedient to withdraw from the midst
of Israel and to dwell In a portion
OF his inheritance quite apart from
them.
] When this had been accom-. Dlished
the false leaders congratulated them.
selves that now there was no hin.
| drance TO their undermining the ma
ton OF Israel and making it like the
| great nations about them. In oil Ter
| TO do this it was deemed necessary
TO Introduce some of the social Gus
toms of the other nations. and this
led to inter-marriages. and it was not
long before the strange gods of the
other nations had found their way
into the cities of the Israelites.
And why should they not?" asked
the liberals. DO not these. our
neighbors. sojourn among us to buy
and sell, and why should we refuse
! to let them have their gods TO wor.
ship and serve. even as we worship
and serve our God?"
Then as they became familiar with
the more festive and elaborate serv.
ice OF the heather worship, they be-
gan to feel that the worship OF their
God was too narrow and severe and
unattractive. And so it came to pass
that in time their worship was cor
rupted. until finally 1t was an easy
and natural step to share with their
heather associates and nelghbors in
the festive worship OF the strange
! gods.
More than once Othniel and the
! few who had stood with him had
cried out against this thing. but
had met with such sharp rebuff and
ridicule, that with great sorrow of
heart they ceased further protest,
realizing that they must let the evil
run it's course
And the evil was not long In bring
ing its penalty. for, weakened by
their sinful indulgences, they were
unable to withstand the demands OF
the king of MesopOtamia who. learn.
ing of the richness of the country. de
| scended upon It and placed IL under
! tribute Then was it that the bur
dens of oppression rested heavily
upon the land. The king demanded
! more and more and as the tribute
money was increased. the taskmas-
| ters multiplied to collect the same
| For eight long bitter years did they
serve this powerful king, and they
! found that the friends and associates
| from among the nations about them
were no longer kindly disposed to-
wards them. but sought by many
ways 10 trouble them and rob them OF
! their sustenance
! In these sore straits the people be
| gan to call upon the name of their
God, and repented OF their folly in
going after the gods of the people
| about them and in following their
customs.
One day a group OF men had gath.
cred and were bemoaning their un.
\ happy condition.
"Ah, if we had only listened 10
| Othniel and the few who counseled
/ with him." exclaimed one. Where.
now, is our boosted prosperity?
/ Where now are the friends we made
among the nations about US? Where
| now is the greatness and glory OF
our nation? Gone! Gone, And
what hope is there for us? Where
shall we go for one to help us?"
| AT these words they all shook their
heads sorrowfully and were about to
separate when one Of them spoke MP
and said
Let us go to Othniel. 1t may be
that he will help us"
But what can Othniel do against
this powerful king of Mesopotamia?"
spoke up another. deiectedly.
But nevertheless let MS go anyway"
urged the other.
And even as they went the spirit
Of the Lord came upon Othniel and
he went forth and met them in the
way, and when he had gathered 10
I himself an army he went out and
made war upon the king Of Mesopo.
tamia and the Lord delivered him
into OthnicIs hand. and he judged
the land. and the nation had peace
for 40 years, even during tho life OF
Othnicl
Alcohol a Slow Poison.
A very large number Of people IN
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