Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1908-08-06

what the heart OF God is as he yearns
toward his people
Ever since he had been called into
the prophetic Office he had felt the
necessity OF trying 10 understand the
feelings Of God in his relations and
dealings with his chosen people. IL he
vas faithfully TO deliver Gods mes
sage. And this vas the great problem
which had faced him in the very be
ginning Of his career. a he had met
and loved the beautiful Conner. Then
II was that the struggle came over the
question whether or not h should cast
her OF because OF her past life Of sin.
and then had come the consciousness
Of Israel's waywardness and he had
asked himself the question as 10 what
would have become of the nation had
God cast them OF as they deserved
Then tt vas 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
broken in upon his life. eliminating
finally in the open rupture with the
wife and mother Of the home and
her fleeing to other parts that she
might be unhampered in her pursuit
u a gay and pleasurable life.
How like the conduct OF his wife
was the conduct Of Israel She had
forgotten her VOWS to him a. Israel
had forgotten her vows to God and
had forsaken him. She had placed
the pleasure Of the 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 range gods and forgetting the en-
during blessing which God alone could
confer. and missing the delight Of n
heart and conscience that vas in ha-
mony with the will and purpose q
God
Once more be burst ii with the
CRY
Oh. Lord. help me 10 learn this
new lesson Of life and 20 know how
Cod would deal with his children when
they forsake him
With this prayer upon his lips and
tho bitterness and hate In his heart
put away. h. gave himself mp 20 the
new thought. and was oou planning
how h might follow the erring wife
and as often as opportunity offered
strive 70 win her back 20 the paths Of
righteousness
Thus IL Eas that all unknown 10 Co
Hosea kept track OF her move
ments More than once when dangers
haf threatened her had h. shielded
her from harm. and even death itself
Repeatedly when her were
all gone and she was in dire distress
had h s~uccured her. she believing
that some other hand than his had
supplied her urgent need. Times
there had been when he had been near
her watching the conflicting emotions
which were fighting within her sinful
heart for mastery. for there were
times when her heart loathed its sin
fglness and she had ~yearnings for a
better life. And IL was for such De
RODS Is this that he vas WATCHING
and waiting. hoping that she would
come 70 herself and be ready 10 hear
the words OF comfort and forgiveness
which h was ready to speak il she
would only turn from her evil way
Once be had found her when one
% her lovers had proved her wfckedly
false and had deserted her in her dire
need. but il vas evident she had not
drunk her cup Of sin to the dregs. for
she turned from his pleadings with a
hooking laugh and had sought 10
drown her troubles in a still greater
abandon to the life Of sin.
She still had friends. she said
she was o ready to surrender her
VIII 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 10 hear his
message Of love and forgiveness.
But is it not even so with Gods
people2 he exclaimed n day. with
bleeding heart. for as in tender love he
followed the steps of the wayward
wife, and felt the heart stabs which
her conduct inflicted. he understood as
never before how the waywardness
and d~isobedience Of Gods children
must pain the heavenly Fathers
heart.
Yea. I do know now something of
the love and patience OF God. | know
how he sorrows over the sins of his
people. 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 ne or forget
that am pledged 10 win her back TO
her home and 10 thee.