The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1908-11-07

them they had solsmnly pledged. u
obey, saying:
whether It be good or evil. We
will obey the voice Of the Lord our
God. to whom We send thee: that Il
may be well with US. when We obey
the voice Of the Lord our God"
And with these reassuring words
ringing IN his ears, jeremiah had
withdrawn to Q quiet retreat outside
the walls Of Jerusalem, whittier. he
was wont secretly to 80 when desir-
GUS Of perfect quiet. and undisturbed
communion with God. There God had
met him after he had spent ten days
In earnest. agonizing prayer, and had
revealed to him his purpose concern
Ing those who still remained In the
half-ruined city Of Jerusalem. What
was left Of the beloved city OF Zion
should be preserved. II only those who
still remained there would continue 70
abide In tho city and trust God to de-
liver them from all harm and evil.
How 1t had rejoiced the heart of the
old prophet. How he had chung to
the sacred place. When he had had
the privilege of finding ease and safety
under the friendly protection Of Neb-
uzar-adan, one of the chief captains
Of the Chaldean army. II he would
only go to Babylon. he had chosen
rather to return to Jerusalem and SUI.
fer privation and danger with the few
who still remained there. How he had
prayed and how he had worked to
bring order out of chaos and cause
the deep suffering and distress of the
people to turn the hearts OF the peo-
pie back to God. And now God had
given definite word that II the peo-
pie would continue to abide in the
land he would save them and de-
liver them from the hand OF Nebuchad.
nezzar. whom they feared.
Hopefully, therefore, jeremiah had
returned to Jerusalem, and having
gathered together Johanan and his fol.
lowers and the people. he plainly de.
clared unto them all that God had
said. And while jeremiah had noted
the disappointed look on the faces of
the men before him as he spoke, he
was not prepared for the angry out
burst and the brutal condemnation:
Thou speakest falsely"
And with these words ringing the
death knell to all the hope he had had
for better things for Jerusalem, Jere-
miah turned and passed out of the
city and slowly wendell his way
toward his retreat.
Johanan and his followers watched
him, but that bowed head and that
form shaking with emotion brought no
feeling Of regret to their hearts, for
only contemptuous sneers and angry
looks were to be seen upon their
faces. At last when the prophet had
passed out Of sight they, too, turned,
and, with an air Of triumph, were soon |
busy perfecting their plans for the |
flight into Egypt, which had been def
nitely determined upon.
BE you sure" spoke up one, that |
Jeremiah will use his influence to dis |
suade the people from following YOU"
Johanan's eye flashed and a sneer |
was upon his face as he exclaimed:
"The narrow-minded reprobate! 1t |
would serve him right II he were left |
here to suffer the fate which he would |
have the people remain to endure. But
he shall not. He shall go down into
Egypt and eat his words concerning
The evils which he has declared shall |
come upon US II we go thither. Evil! |
Why hath not Pharaoh given every as
surance of help and protection? But
what have we to hope for heref
Naught but privation ami suffering and
certain punishment at the hands of
Yea, Jeremiah shall
90 into Egypt, and he shall eat bread !
and water of affiiction while we enjoy
he bounty of Pharaoh's goodness"
And jeremiah in his retreat was
bowed low in prayer, and while Jo-
lanan and his followers were plot
ing he was pouring out his grief
stricken heart to God. He knew that
God had spoken and that only evil
,ould come to the people should they
20 down into Egypt. Oh, that he
night be able to turn them from their
purpose. Oh, that the people would
listen to him as he warned them
sSoAhpS tho AMY Va gums Will w |
ianan and his followers.
why tarry here!" he cried, impa-
iently, when I should be lifting my
Toice in jerusalem"
And in obedience to the self-imposed
challenge he arose Immediately and
vent into the city. =
Later In the day wcrd reached
Tohanan that jeremiah had returned
Ind was speaking to the people, urg-
ng them to hear the voice OF God and
70 not down into Egypt.
YEA" exclaimed Johanan, We
this very day the prophet
himself shall start on his journey to
Egypt, and there shall be goodly
company following him. Those who
would follow him instead of me shall
,ear the brunt of the journey and shall
20 before US to open the way
And, suiting his actions to his
words, he hurried forth into the streets
Ind was soon directing his men to
'eize the prophet and the people who
TODD with him and to put them in fet-
ara and start with fhom IN the 1oup