Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1908-09-09


message, but always beneath the sur.
face there lsrked . contempt. nay, al.
most hatred. Tor the prophet. And
when the prophet had taken his de-
parture he would always willfully fol
low his own desires.
All this was a source Of deep sor
row to the prophet, but he who would
walk with God and do his service must
learn to patiently labor and then ~ait,
and Isaiah learned early in his feja-
tons to King Ahaz that after he hal
spoken Gods message he must leave
the matter rest there. He knew that
Gods plans would be carried out and
that even the kings willfulness ard
wickedness could not thwart the glO-
rious promises which God had spoken
concerning his chosen people.
And now the nation had come face
to flee with a grievous peril The na
ton Of Israel had confederated her
self with Rein, king Of Syria. and
had come up with mighty army
against Jerusalem, SO that there was
neither going out nor coming in of the
people OF the city. Terror filed the
place, king and people were panic
stricken, knowing not whittier to turn
Feverishly the plans of defense were
carried out. For day and nights now
the king had not had any rest for
the water supply was in danger, and
the entire force of the city under the
direction OF the king was being thrown
around the works at the end Of the
conduit OF the upper pool in the high
way of the fuller's field.
And 1t was there that Isaiah found
the king one day, and sought audience
ligion that prevailed, and yet still I'M
conscious OF a vital relationship with
God and a commission from him in
stemming the tide Of evil.
And because he did not as yet feel
the sanctity of the Divine commission
resting upon him, and did not know
what 1t was to feel that 1t was Gods
battle, and not his, he felt unutterably
discouraged at times and almost ready
to give up.
In such frame of mind one day he
withdrew to that garden spot outside
OF Jerusalem on the side of Mt
Olivet, where centuries later the Lord
and Christ, concerning whom he was
to have so many beautiful visions.
was wont to go for rest. The olive
trees and the grape vines were there
in their luxuriant and fruitful beauty.
and as the young man threw himself
down beneath the branches Of one of
the trees he gave sigh of relief.
and the half-formed resolves vaguely
took shape in his mind that after all
he would let the evils take care OF
themselves. Why should he worry
about them? Why should he carry
burdens that were destroying his
peace of mind? Why should he not
let the nation go it's own way while he
sought In his own way to keep Gods
law? And with the thought came a
sort of complacent, self-satisfied feel
Ing which Is peculiarly dangerous to
those who know Gods law and strive
to keep 1t. Such feeling places one in
that "holier-than-thou' class which
cuts Off vital contact with the world
| about and destroys that tie of sympa!
thy and love which is absolutely es-
sential to effect work for God. And
| such we say was the state of mind of
Isaiah at that particular moment on
that particular day as he sat there
under the olive tree in the garden.
But thanks be to God there was too
serious vein in the young man Isaiah
TO have his career forever blasted by
such narrow and superficial view of
himself and the world about him.
Goodness was more than mere per-
sonal possession, II was outfowing as
well as infiowing, just as 1t must be
with God, he thGght. And he half
despised himself because he had been
so weak as to think that he was so
good and the world so bad that he
would Just withdraw into little world
or his own, there to live in complacent
enjoyment of the virtues he had ac-
CURED
Impatiently he arose and paced to
and fro in deep anguish OF spirit.
The evening shadows began to fall,
but still he paced back and forth.
Then darkness settled down and he
seemed shut into the little space that
just surrounded him save for the
cleaning stars overhead, which as he
lifted his gaze towards them seemed
striving to fash some message to his
soul.
Gods handlwork!" he exclaimed.
reverently. How great is God. Sure.
ly, David hath truly SAID that the
heavens declare the glory Of Cod"
And again he relapsed into silence.
How long he sat there in the rap
lures OF that heavenly vision which
God gave him that night and which
the prophet has faithfully recorded for
our edifcation and blessing he never
would have known had II not been
that as he again became conscious Of
his surroundings and looked towards
the east he saw the sun slowly com.
ing above the line Of the horizon.
so may the Son Of Righteousness
rise with healing in his wings. have
seen the Lord in his glory this night /