St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-09-11


gument.
The clank Of the chain sounded at
that moment and again the angry
emotions took full possession OF him.
but these feelings gave way to the &C.
cusing voice of conscience which con'
tinued to speak, condemning him for
his sins and the sins into which he had
led the nation.
Would God hear him If he prayed?"
came the thought one day. Moloch,
whom he had served SO faithfully
had not heard him when he had
prayed to him, neither had he come to
his help.
would God do better%
20 Lord, Almighty God of our Fa-
theirs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and
of their righteous Seed" he exclaimed
in the agony of despair one day, look
ing up to heaven and holding up the
manacled hands as though he would
show them to God.
Thou art the Lord God, indeed"
he exclaimed, after a silence, thou
art he who hast made heaven and
earth, with all the ornament thereof;
who hast bound the sea by the word
Of thy commandment; who hast shut
up the deep, and sealed it by thy ter
rible and glorious name; whom all
men fear, and tremble before thy
power" His voice broke as he spoke
the words. WAS this true?" he asked
himself. Then almost fercely as
though he would strengthen his faith,
he cried:
"Yea, it is true, for the majesty of
thy glory cannot be borne, and thine
angry threatening towards sinners is
improbable. But thy merciful promise
is unreasonable and unsearchable;
for thou art the most high Lord, of
great compassion, suffering, very
merciful and repentest of the evils of
men. Thou, o Lord, according to thy
goodness, hast promised repentance
| and forgiveness to them that have
sinned against thee; and of thine in
| finite mercies hast appointed repent
ance unto sinners, that they be
saved"
The thought as it swept over him
and he gave expression to it in words
brought much of comfort and encour-
agement, and he continued his suppl
cation:
Thou, therefore, 0 Lord, thou art
the God of the just, hast not ap-
pointed repentance to the just, as to
| Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which
have not sinned against thee. But
thou hast appointed repentance unto
| me that am sinner: for / have
sinned above the number of the sands
of the sea. My transgressions, o
Lord, are multiplied, and I am not
worthy to behold and see the height
of the heaven for the multitude of
mine iniquities. l am bowed down
with mnay iron bands, that l cannot
lift up mine head, neither have any
release; for I have provoked thy
wrath, and done evil before thee"
Again his voice broke under the
strain of emotion which filled his
heart, for now that the currents of his
life had set in Godward everything
was swept before them, bringing a
realizing sense of the awful sins OF
which he had been guilty.
81 did not thy will, neither kept ]
| thy commandments. / have set IN
denominations, and have multiplied of
lenses. Now, therefore, I bow the
knee of mine heart, beseeching thee
| Of grace. l have sinned, o Lord, !
have sinned, and I acknowledge mine
iniquities. Wherefore 1 humbly be-
seech thee, forgive me, o Lord, for
give me and destroy me not with
mine iniquities. Be not angry with
me forever, by reserving evil for me:
neither condemn me into the lower
parts of the earth. For thou art the
God, even the God of them that re-
peat; and in me thou wilt show all
thy goodness. For thou wilt save me,
that am unworthy, according to thy
great mercy. Therefore will praise
thee forever all the days of my life:
for all the powers of the heavens dc
praise thee, and thine is the glory for.
ever and ever. Amen"
AS he hnlShed, the Query crept INTO
his heart:
Had God heard?"
In silence he sat there, given up
wholly to his thoughts, and he did not
hear the approaching footsteps, or
note that messenger from the king
was standing near.
1.-THE king hath sent to release
thee" spake the voice.
With startled cry of joy, Manassas
leaped to his feet. Could it be true,
or was he only dreaming. Thus did
he wonder while the chains were be.
ing cut to release his hands and his
feet, but on the long journey back to
his beloved Jerusalem, where he was
again to rule, he knew that God had
heard his prayer and had answered.