Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1909-06-02

receive the thing that say. For this
is the life whereof Moe: spake unto
the people while he lived. saying:
Choose thee life, that thou mayest
live Nevertheless they believed not
Moses. nor yet the prophets after him.
nor me which have spoken unto them,
that there should not be such heavi-
ness in their destruction, as shall be
JOY over them that are persuaded tn
salvation"
II know, Lord. that the Most High
Is called merciful, in that he hath
mercy upon them which are not yet
come into the world, and upon those
also that turn to his law; and that he
Is bountiful, for he is ready to give
where it is needed; and that he is OF
great mercy, for he multiplieth more
and more mercies to them that are
present, and that are past, and also
to them which are to come. For II he
shall not multiply his mercies, the
world would not continue with them
that inherit therein. And he pardon
eth; for II he did not SO OF his good.
ness, that they which have committed
iniquities might be eased Of them, the
ten thousandth part of men should not
remain living. And being Judge, ~
he should not forgive them that are
cured with his word, and put out the
multitude OF contentious, there should
be very few left peradventure in an in
Vulnerable multitude" answered
Esdras, a sigh escaping him as he con
templated the wonder and the mystery
of it all.
"Yes," exclaimed the angel. "coms
with me. 1 will show you"
Esdras arose at the bidding and fol
lowed the angel on and on and on
until it seemed as though they had
left the earth and were looking back
upon 1t as it lay beneath them. Then
spake the angel, as he pointed before
them:
THE sea is set In a wide place, that
1t might be deep and great. But note
the entrance that IL is narrow, like a
river. Who, then, could go into the
sea to look upon 1t and to rule It, II
he went not through the narrow en-.
trance?"
Look, Also" continued the angel,
after a pause, and pointing in another
direction, for city is builded. and
set upon broad field, and is full of
all good things. The entrance thereof
Is narrow, and is set in a dangerous
place to fall like as II there were fire
on the right hand, and on the left a
deep water. And one only path be-
tween them both, even between the
fire and the water, SO small that there
could but one man go there at once"
With breathless interest Esdras
watched the scene before him, while
the angel talked, and the angel con.
tinued:
IF this city now were given to a
man for an Inheritance, II he never
shall pass the danger set before 1t,
how shall he receive this inheri.
tance?"
Surely, 1t is SO, Lord" responded
Esdras, as the angel ceased speaking.
yea, and even so is Israel's por.
ton. Because for their sakes I made
the world. And when Adam trans
crossed my statute, then was decreed
that which now is done. Then were
the entrances to the world made mar
row, full of sorrow and travail. They
are but few and evil, full of perils and
very painful. For the entrances of the
elder world were wide and sure. and
brought immortal fruit. If then they
that live labor not to enter this
straight way, they can never receive
those things which are laid I'D for
them"
Esdras, who had followed the words
of the angel without taking his eyes
on the scene before him, now turned
70
angel continued, almost reproachfully:
Now, therefore, Esdras, why dis
quietest thou thyself, seeing thou art
but a corruptible man? And why art
thou moved concerning these myster.
les, seeing thou art but a mortal man?
Why hast thou not considered in thy
mind this thing that Is come, rather
than that which is present."
20, Lord" exclaimed Esdras, lifting
his eyes now and speaking as though
addressing the God whose angel was
before him, thou who dearest rule.
thou hast ordained in thy law that the
righteous should inherit these things,
and that tho ungodly should perish.
Nevertheless, 1t does seem that the
righteous shall suffer and be straight.
ened and yet hope for the wide. They
that have done wickedly have suffered
the straight things and yet shall not
see the wido."
Listen" interrupted the angel. "for
1 must now leave thee. Remember.
that there is no Judge above God, and
none that hath understanding above
the Highest. For this reason there be
many that perish because they d..
spise the Lord and his law"