Oxford eagle., 1908-08-27

spoken Gods message he must leave
the matter rest there lie knew that
Gods plans would be carrisd out and
that even the kings willfulness and
wickedness could not thwart the glo-
rious promises which God had spoken
concerning his chosen people
And now the nation had come face
10 face with a grieyous peril The ma
ton Of Israel had confederated her
self with Rein king of Syria and
had come up with a mighty army
against Jerusalem. 50 that there was
neither going out nor coming In of the
people nf the city. Terror filled the
place king and people were panic
stricken. knowing not whittier TO turn.
Fevorishly 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 fullers field.
And 1t was there that Isaiah found
the king one day. and sought audience
ligion that prevailed. and yet still nm
conscious Of vital relationship with
God and a commission from him in
stemming the tide OF evil
And because he did not as Vet feel
the sanctity OF the Divine commission
resting upon him. and did not know
what II 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 a 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
tn have 50 many beautiful visions.
was wont 10 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 a sigh OF relief.
and the halfformed 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 no,
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.satisiied feel.
Ing which Is peculiarly dangerous to
those who know Gods law and strive
to keep IT, Such feeling places one in
thai ''holier-than-thou' class which
cuts on vital contact with the world
about and destroys that tic 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 a vein in the young man Isaiah
To have his career forever blasted by
such narrow and superficial view OF
himself aud the world about him
Goodness was more than mere per.
sonal possession. IL was outfloving as
well as inflowing. just as It must b.
With God. he thought And he half
despised himself because he had been
so weak As 10 think that he was so
good and the world so bad thar he
would just withdraw into little world
OF his own. there TO live In complacent
enjoyment OF the virtues he had ac.
quired
lmpatiently 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 handiwork." he exclaimed,
~ 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 edification and blessing he never
would have known had it 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. /
have felt the cleansing power of his
touch. | have heard his voice calling.
He has heard my cry. Here am |. send
me. | will b. Gods messenger. There
a-e no discouragements to the one
who walks with God to the accom-
pIishment u his certain will"