The Tupelo journal., 1907-02-08
the Jordan. And ii seemed dis { looked

the Jordan. And 1t seemed as I looked
about me as though ! could e 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 fig and olive groves,
there were the stretches Of pasture
land, there were the houses and the
villages and cities dotting the land
scape. And / thought as | 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
us a 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
"As l finished speaking a voice
seemed to speak at my side, although
| saw no man. l had thought | was
alone, and behold here was n al
my side, and speaking. And | knew il
to be the voice of God. And God said
to me:
"sWho knoweth what is in man
save God? Underneath this spirit Of
tranquility and unity on which thine
eyes now look there are passions anG
emotions which when aroused are
destructive
may, Lord l said, has not Israe
learned her lesson yet? Has not the
old spirit yielded to the influence OF
the new land and the new hopes an6
purposes in life?'
"'Yea, for the time being came
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 / was
silent, and while l pondered on these
words the voice came again and said:
Lift up your eyes and look, for il
Israel there shall be shelter for the
fugitive and him that fleeth from his
brother!'
And 10! and behold, as I looked
saw Hebron below me in all her fail
beauty.
Yea, Lord l said, the stronghold
of u enemies hath become a shelter
and h%abitation for thy people,
And it shall be yet more came
back the voice, for it shall become &
refuge for him that feeth from the
adversary. It's gates shall close
neither day nor night. My priesthood
shall rule there and their hands Of
mercy and love will always be extend
ed to help. None shall be turned
away until their case hath been heard
and judgment declared
God in the midst of Isreal to give
succor and to show mercy 1 whis
pered softly, as the new vision Of
Hebron opened up before me. How
wonderful that God should give him
self to watch between men and pre-
serve them from destruction at the
hands of each other
With this thought thrilling me ]
lifted my eyes from the scene below
me and looked up into the heavens
and as l did so it seemed as though
the city rose with my vision and
seemed to float upward and upward
until lost to view within the depths
of the vast beyond.
For a long time I was lost in deer
contemplation and wonder as to what
this could mean. l looked to e il
Hebron were really gone from hel
place into the heavens, and saw that
she had not but was still resting upon
her rugged mountains as before
There was the city of refuge God had
appointed for earth.
"'Was there something infinitely
better hidden from view within the
portals of Gods dwelling placer ]
asked myself, and stirred by the
thought l suddenly awoke.
"And now my brethren, I have come
to you to-day with this story, and you
may well understand why it seemeth
of God that Hebron shall become one
of these Cities of Refuge. And the
vision and the message which ]
thought | heard from the lips of God,
whether real or but a dream, will
surely enlarge our thoughts of God
and his great love and mercy towards
his people And who can fathom the
infinitely greater riches of his grace
which he hath still reserved for u.s.
And a. Caleb ceased speaking a
murmur went round the company,
and they said:
Surely the Lord hath spoken"