The Tupelo journal., 1908-07-31

the mangled and bleeding body Of
the other, but rather those battles in
which temptation to sinful indulgences
are overcome, and the fight is made
for the maintenance of righteousness.
While yet a tender lad Hosea had
come under the influence of Jonah the
prophet, and had been deeply i'm
pressed with the great mercy and love
of God as manifested in his dealings
with the wicked Nineveh under the
preaching of the prophet. He was ia
miliar with all the history of his Ia
ton and was a close student Of the
current times and conditions.
And because he was such a man as
he was, because he had profited by
the instruction of his father and had
yielded himself to the perfect will and
law OF God, it became known in his
early manhood that God had called
him to fill the place of prophet to
Israel. He knew it because in the
hour of quiet communion he had heard
the voice of God calling him to the
work, and the people among whom he
mingled knew it because the man with
a God-given message is always recog-
nized, even though the message may
be spurned and rejected.
But one thing greatly troubled
Hosea, and that was the self-satisfed
condition of the people. In their pros
perity and the pleasurable ease in
which they lived the people appeared
utterly unconscious of their need of
God. What more could be desired
than ease and comfort and a good
time? So it was that Hosea found
his message to the nation made no i'm
preston. What was there that he
could do to make them realize their
condition and their need?
At such a time as this a strange
thing happened, or rather it was not
such a strange thing, after all, for
love is always mysterious. Hosea had
woman named Conner, but one about
whom there chung the dark stories
of a hayward life. And strange as it
may appear, this beautiful woman
seemed to return the warmth Of his
affection and seemed to find a real
joy in the things that were nearest
and dearest to the heart of the young
prophet.
But the woman's past troubled
Hosea, and his friends urged upon
him the folly and danger Of yielding
to such associations.
"Konwest thou not what God has
said in judgment upon the woman who
plays the harlot?"
Yea" quickly retorted the prophet,
land knowest thou not how the grace
and mercy OF God can exalt such an
harlot as Rahab was and make of her
an exalted name and tribe?"
Strange indeed was the romantic ex-
p%erience of the prophet, but he did
not. understand the purpose God had
in it all until n day in vexation of
spirit over the problem that confront
ed him in reaching the hearts of the
people, and making them realize their
great need of God, there came to him
the thought:
How is it that the holy God can de-
sire to be the God of such a sinful and
hayward people? Surely it is not
what the people can give to God so
much as what God can give to the
people,"
And almost in the next instant there
swept over his heart the thought of
the life of this woman who had so
Unexpectedly and strangely entered
into his life.
Yea, in this shall Israel see an ex-
ample of herself" exclaimed the
prophet as he arose, conscious that the
spirit of God had spoken to his heart
and was leading him.
With unfaltering step the prophet
made his way to the presence of Co
mer, and ere long all the community
about knew that the prophet had
plighted his troth to the woman with
a past.
What could it mean?" asked the
people one OF another, that this man
of God should link his life with such
an one? How can there be anything
in common between the two?'
How is it," retorted the prophet,
when he heard their words, that God
should consider this people who have
gone after other gods and hath forgot
ten him? Why is it, in spite of the
w~ickedness and disobedience of the
past, that God desires union with
thee? What fellowship can be have
with such as you? Think on these
things, and realize that the love and
mercy of God are able to bridge the
chasm which sin has made, and that
he finds joy in bringing the sinner
into union and fellowship with him.
self"