The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-02-08


the Jordan AND 4 seemed ~ I looked
about me as though l could see the
length and the breadth OF the land.
Israel lay below me. resting peaceful
iy in the land into which God had
brought them. There we're the vine
yards. and the .hg and oliye groves,
there were the stretches OF pasture
land. there were the houses and the
villages and cities dotting the land
scape. Ands | 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 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 q voice
seemed to speak at my side, although
! saw no man. ] had thought Was
alone. and behold here was one at
my side. and speaking, And ! knew 1t
to be the voice Of God And God said
10 me-:
Who knoweth what is in man,
save God7 Underneath this spirit OF
tranquility and unity on which thine
eyes bow look there are passions and
emotions which when aroused are
destructive
Nay. Lord | said. has not Israel
learned her lesson YETI Has not the
old spirit yielded to the influence of
the hew land and the new hopes and
purposes in Hfe?'
Yea. for the time being came
back the words, but underneath there
lie s~moulderlHg the fires Of sin. The
hand OF brother shall yet be raised
against brother in Israel
Sadness filled my heart and I was
silent and while | 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
fugitive and him that feeth from his
brother!'
And To- 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 habttation for thy people
And 1t shall be yet more came
back the voice, Tor 1t shall become a
refuge for him that fieeth 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 | 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 | did so 1t seemed as though
the city rose w,%h my vision and
seemed to float upward and upward
until lost to view within the depths
of the vast beyond.
For a long time / was lost in deep
contemplation and wonder as to what
this could mean. | looked to see II
Hebron we're really gone from her
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 l
asked myself, and stirred by the
thought | suddenly awoke.
And % my brethren, | have come
to you to-day with this story, and you
may well understand why 1t 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 " 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 as Caleb ceased speaking a
murmur went round the company,
and they said.
Surely the Lord hath spoken"