The Tupelo journal., 1908-08-07

what the heart of God is as he yearns
toward his people,"
Ever since he had peer called into
the prophetic office he had felt the
necessity of trying to understand the
feelings of God in his relations and
dealings with his chosen people, if he
was faithfully to deliver Gods mes
sage. And this was the great problem
which had faced him in the very be-
ginning of his career, as he had met
and loved the beautiful Conner. Then
it was that the struggle came over the
question whether or not he should cast
her off because of her past life of sin,
and then had come the consciousness
of lsraers waywardness and he had
asked himself the question as to what
would have become of the nation had
Goo cast them off as they deserved.
Then it was that he had felt he had
his answer from God and had taken
Conner to his bosom and happy the
years had been that had passed since
then, until the present sorrow had
NNN III oPoh hlo Il
finally in the open rupture with the
Wife n mother of the home and
her fleeing to other parts that she
might be unhampered in her pursuit
of a gay and pleasurable life.
How like the conduct of his wife
was the conduct of Israel. She had
forgotten her VOWS to him as Israel
hn1 fnpnlttAN I@. or- o. -
had forsaken him. She had placed
the pleasure of the moment above the
permanent joy and comfort of the
home. and Israel had sought for tenn
porary satisfaction and prosperity
among the neighboring nations, follow
ing strange gods and forgetting the en-
during blessing which God alone could
confer. and missing the delight of a
heart and conscience that was in har-
mony with the will and purpose of
God.
Once more he burst out with the
cry:
"Oh. Lord. help me to learn this
new lesson of life and to know how
God would deal with his children when
they forsake him."
With this prayer upon his lips anC
the bitterness and hate in his heart
put away. he gave himself up to the
new thought, and was soon planning
how he might follow the erring wife,
and as often as opportunity offered
strive to win her back to the paths of
righteousness.
Thus it was that all unknown to Co
mer Hosea kept track Of her move
ments. More han once when dangers
had threatened her had he shielded
her from harm. and even death itself.
Repeatedly when her were
all gone and she was in dire distress
had he succored her, she believing
that some other hand than his had
supplied her urgent need. Times
there had been when he had beer near
her watching the conflicting emotions
which were fighting within her sinful
heart for mastery, for there were
times when her heart loathed it's sin
fulness and she had warnings for a
better life. And it was for such pc
RODS as this that he was watching
and waiting, hoping that she would
come to herself and be ready to hear
the words of comfort and forgiveness
which he was ready to speak if she
would only turn from her evil way.
Once he had found her when one
of her lovers had proved her wickedly |
false and had deserted her in her dire
mood hnt II uac evident Che lal ,o+ |
drunk her cup of sin to the dregs, for
she turned from his pleadings with a
hooking laugh and had sought to
drown her troubles in a still greater
abandon to the life of sin.
She still had friends she said:
she was not ready to surrender her
will to the will Of another. She would
do as she pleased"
Thus she had plunged on and on in
her downward career until Hosea real.
lied that she must come to the very
depths of wickedness and despair be
fore she would be ready to hear his
message of love and forgiveness.
But is it not ever so with Gods
people?" he exclaimed one day. with
bleeding heart, for as in tender love he
followed the steps of the hayward
wife, and felt the heart stabs which
her conduct inflicted, he understood as
never before how the waywardness
and disobedience of Gods children
must pain the heavenly Fathers
heart.
Yea, | do know now something of
the love and patience of God. know
how he sorrows over the sins of his
l know how merciful he has
been and is willing to be to his people.
Oh, God" he exclaimed, help me to
know thy patience and thy love so that
never while life lasts shall | lose sight
of the n who has left me or forget
| am pledged to win her back to
her home and to thee"
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