Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1909-05-12
IF we get no he.p. what Il to be

Gods chosen people and that he has
| given us the land?"
Bah! Surely, God has forgotten
his people. He cares not that we SUI
fer" responded another.
True" broke in another, its the
| goddess nations about us who are pros
pering. and we who have Abraham for
our father and whose God has ,een
our God are left to suffer oppression
| and sorrow"
Thus as they walked they discussed
| the hardness OF their lot, and IL the
hardness of their hearts they charged
God with forgetting them and OF bless.
Ing their enemies. 1t was in this spirit
that they came into the presence Of
Malachi and poured into his ear their
bitter complaint. And the prophet had
turned upon them and spoken sharply
and forcibly the words at the opening
OF our story.
Did they dare complain against God,
demanded Malachi, when they had for.
gotten God and had gone in the ways
OF the heather nations about them?
Did they dare to say that their suffer
ing was Gods fault and not their
own?
After his words and they turned IS
though to go. the prophet arose, and,
throwing his mantle around HIN,
made as though he would go with
them.
The delegation waited half ex.
pectantly, but Malachi, who had now
hnlShed adjusting his robes, and had
taken up scroll from the table
where he had been writing when the
company had entered, stood silently
and intently beholding them. His gaze
seemed to search to the very depths
OF their hearts. and they began to feel
nervous and uncomfortable
They knew his charges against
them were true. They knew that even
while they tried to justify themselves
that they were guilty as he hud
charged
Think you that God has changed?"
demanded the prophet, breaking the
silence at last. Nay, rather it is you
who have changed. Listen" and
taking the scroll which he had in his
hand and unrolling it, he read: "'Thus
saith the Lord, l change not. there
lore we sons of Jacob are not con-
sumed. This is the one proof that
God Is still in the heavens, and that
his promises to Abraham are not for
gotten"
But where is the blessing upon
Israel that was promised?" ventured
one, more bold than the rest.
Blessing! Where can there be
blessing when we depart from God?
Listen!" and again turning to his
scroll Malachi read therefrom: "'Even
from the days of your fathers we are
gone away from mine ordinances, and
have not kept them. Return unto me
and will return unto you, saith the
Lord of hosts.'"
AS the reading ceased Malachi fndi.
Gated that the interview was at an
end, and as his guests passed out he
followed them, and turning walked
rapidly away in the opposite direction
from that which the company of vine
dressers took
Where can he be going?" they
questioned among themselves as they
walked along.
And what care WEI" ventured one
or the group, angrily, Seeing that he
spoke so harshly to u.s."
Say not So" spoke up another.
quickly; the prophet speaks tho
words of truth"
But they bring no hope or encour
agement to u.s." rejoined the other
But did he not read from the scroll
that II we would return to God he
would return to u.s."
Yes" admitted the other.
Then" The sentence was inter
rupted by a commotion in the market
place. through which they were pass.
ing at that moment, and they turned
aside to see what it was all about.
1t proved to be nothing more than a
dispute between one of the merchants
or the place and a customer over the
purchase price OF an article, the lat.
ter claiming that an extra price had
been demanded after he had made the
purchase. The matter was soon set.
tied, however. but the crowds which
had gathered from every side fingered.
the group Of vine dressers among the
rest. The latter fell into converse.
ton with some of those standing near
them, and after numerous questions
had been asked they stated that they
had been to see the prophet Malachi.
THE prophet Malachi" exclaimed
one. why. ne has summoned the
people to meet him here this evening.
That explains why there were so
many near when the commotion arose
over there"
But when we left ne departed IN
the other direction" exclaimed the
vine dressers
We'll he will be here. you may be
sure. There ne comes now" added
the speaker, pointing towards an an.
preaching fiLJre. The people gell back
on either de as the somLer figure
drew into the market place. He passed