The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-10-03

THUS saith the Lord: Behold,
will bring evfl upon this place and
upon the inhabitants thereof, even
all the curses that are written in the
book which they have read before the
king of judah. And as for the king
of judah, who sent you to inquire
of the Lord, sc shall We say unto him,
Because thine heart was tender, and
thou didst humble myself before God,
Behold, l will gather thee to thy
fathers. and thou shalt be gathered
to thy grave in peace neither shall
thine eyes e all the evil that l will
bring upon this place, and upon the
inhabitants of the same"
1T is even as jeremiah has said"
exclaimed King Josiah, when the words
of Huldah had been brought to him,
and he had sem for jeremiah, ald
then had begun a closer intimacy be-
tween the two than had existed be-
fore.
But" exclaimed the king one day.
IF the judgment of God against the
nation cannot be stayed, what is there
that can be done to make the blow
lighter?"
1T is the plain word of prophecy"
explained jeremiah, that God has
chosen the Chaldeans as his rod to
punish Judah, and that they shall yet
come into possession of the land and
shall stand in the gates of Jerusalem.
Wnrn II NOT WnlJ fhnrnfnrn 10 Sfriuo
to win their favOr?'
This word of jeremiah had opened
up a new train of thought to King
Josiah, and as bitter as was the
thought that some day the C%haldeans
were to conquer the country and &C
cupy Jerusalem, he knew that Gods
judgments were true and just, and in
humbleness of spirit he sought how
he might tighten the blow.
Not very long after this word came
to the city of Jerusalem that the
king of Egypt had started on an expe-
deans.
IF Necho and his Egyptian army
pass through the land on their way to
Babylon, and we make not his way
hard and give him battle, how else
can the Chaldeans view it than that
we are in league with their enemies?
And will they not later come against
us and trouble us?"
Thus Josiah reasoned and knowing
that his plan would meet the approval
of Jeremiah the prophet, he prepared
him his chariots and his horses, and
putting his men of war in battle ar
ray in the valley of Megiddo sought
to bar the way of the Egyptian army.
1t had been a tender and affection
ate farewell which Jeremiah had
spoken to King Josiah as the latter
had marched forth from Jerusalem,
and a~nxiously the prophet waited for
tidings Of the battle. From the tower
over the gate he watched, and during
those days of anxious waiting there
swept over him a floodtide Of memory
of the splendid life and deeds of the
good king.
We cannot spare him. He must
come back safe" he exclaimed owe
and over to himself.
He lifted his eyes as he spoke and
looked far out Over the plain below.
What was that in the distance? Did
it not look like the kings chariot?
But why did it seem to be moving SO
slowly? Fear seized upon his heart
as he fastened out to meet the ap.
preaching procession.
is the king dead?" he cried, as he
noted the sad looks of the kings
retinue.
By way of answer he heard his
name called feebly from the king
chariot and was soon bending owe
the PROSTATE form and listening tC
his story of the battle and the wound
which had come TO him all SO uneX.
pectedly.
and I had hoped to stay the march
of the king Of Egypt"
Yea, thou hast been faithful and
brave, and the Lord will reward the"
good for thy service
The dying king was cheered by
those words of the prophet, and when
his spirit had taken flight, jeremiah
made great lamentation for the king
and caused all the singing men and
the singing women to recount the
good and glorious deeds of the great
king throughout the nation.