The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-10
The Teachers Lantern.

At the institution of the Christian Church God struck two people dead They were doing just what Nadab and Abihu did--a religious thing in an ir- religious way and spirit. Severityi Yes. But mercy too. It was the nip ping in the bud a sin that might have caused the staying of thousands. The punishment was exemplary in both in- stances like the shooting of a de- serter as he sits upon his cofln-lld in full view of an entire army.
 If we, too. are priests. offering spir- itual sacrifices and the incense of prayer, 1t is a living question wheth- CT there is any strange fire offered to God in our day. Priests of old must needs use Gods own fire only. So our hearts must be kfndled in worship and service by the Spirit. or else it is only sounding brass and tinkling cYmbal.
 Religious responsibility Is ever pro- portionate to religious privilege Where much Is given. much is required Much was given to these young priests Their return was worse than nothing
 The priestly function was intended to be a reasonable service" Aaron s eldest sons made it an irrational one through intoxication.
 The very force of nature, sunlight, which makes the plant grow when 1t is rooted to its place in the earth, with CTS and kills 1t when 1t is out of it's place. The very fire which, if they had had 1t in their censers. would have swathed the priests in incense. slew them instead. God is a consuming fire to the wicked, while there Is healing in his beams for the righteous.
 Aaron appears in far better form in this crucial hour of bereavement and disgrace than at the time of the mak- ing of the golden calf Compare his inane and spiritless answer to Moses then with his dignified and reasonable response now. He has grown rapidly in grace and knowledge In the nine months intervening.
 He could refrain from the outward tokens of grief; but his sorrow-racked nature revolted at the sight of roasted meat He who knoweth our frame did not require Aaron to eat festive meal while his sons were being carried to an unhonored burial.
 The honorable burial accorded to dis honorable persons is a scandal of our time. Fulsome eulogles, attributing to the deceased virtues they never pos eessed. the use of emblems of honrs inc bereaved have no adequate grounds for entertaining-the whole grows gro tesoue. and would be honored in the breach.
 The instances of severe penalties are comparatively rare in Scripture. The stick gathering Sabath- breaker; 'Iz- rah' steadying the ark; the rebellion of Korah: Ananias and Sapphira-these with the one under consideration. were epochal as to time, exemplary as to use.
 Our day abounds in dangerous re- sembIances to the proffering of strange fire to God Bishop Hall says God mates both altar, fire, priest. and sac rihce.
 Gods order is right and just ,nd good. To alter. add. or omit. is alike ofrensive to God He stands watch and ward over his "divinely-revealcd econ omv. to guard it against any human and vain intrusion.
 Incense was the divine symbol Of prayer This one appalling scene ought for all time to impress the race with the solemnity of prayer, and The necessity of offering 1t in the manner God has prescribed. and with emo tiona becoming his presence.