Times-promoter., 1909-05-06


Here was the nation OF Israel and
their city of Jerusalem in distress,
and here was the goddess Babylon
holding dominion over them.
Where was God that such things
could be? Are their deeds any better
that inhabit Babylon, that they should
therefore have dominion over Zion?
Such were the doubts and troubled
thoughts which stirred the heart Of
Esdras as he walked alone in the
quiet of the midnight hour.
'I have seen how thou sufferest
them SHINING and has spared wicked
doers, and has destroyed thy people
and hast preserved thine enemies"
exclaimed Esdras.
He spoke not irreverently, but the
anguish of his heart forced him to
give expression as though talking to
God, for he felt if God were IN the
heavens he must speak to him the
thoughts which were in possession
of his heart.
Are they of Babylon better than
they of Zion?" he went on. "Or is
there any other people that are thy
chosen people? For what generation
is there which hath so believed thy
covenants as the children of Jacob?
And yet their reward appeareth not,
and their labor hath no fruit For
have gone here and there through
the heather, and see they flow in
wealth and think not upon thy COM
mandments. Weigh thou, therefore,
our wickedness now in the balance,
and theirs also that dwell In the
world; and SO shall thy name no.
where be found but in Israel Or
when was it that they which dwell
upon the earth have not sinned in
thy sight, or what people hath so
kept thy commandments? Thou shalt
find that Israel by name hath kept
thy precepts. but not the heathen."
AS tie complaining voice of the
scribe ceased and he sat In moody
silence there came a slight rustling
of garments at his side and he shook
with fear, for he knew that he was
not alone.
"Who art thou, and why thy pres
ence here?" questioned Esdras with
trembling voice.
"God hath heard thy questioniRgs
and hast sent his angel. 1t is Uriel
who speaketh and bringeth mes
sage from God, who would say to
thee:
THY heart hath gone too far in
this world, and thinketh thou to com.
prehend the way of the most high?'"
Yea. my Lord, that might under
stand,' faltered Esdras.
Il am sent unto thee to show thee
three ways and to set forth three
similitudes before thee. Wherefore,
II thou canst declare unto me one
will show thee also the way that
thou desirest to see and will show
thee from whence the wicked heart
cometh."
"Tell on, my Lord" eagerly ex'
claimed Esdras, for the yearning in
his heart was after the truth Of God
Then said Uriel the angel:
go thy way; weigh me the weight
of the fire, or measure me the blast
of the wind, or call back again the
day that is past.
What man is able to do that, that
thou shouldst ask such things of me?'
exclaimed Esdras in amazement.
IF I should ask thee how many
great dwellings are in the midst OF
the sea, or how many springs are in
the beginning Of the deep, or how
many springs are above the firma
ment, or which are the outgoings OF
paradise, peradventure thou wouldst
say unto me: I never went down
into the deep. nor as yet into hell;
neither did l ever climb up into
heaven Nevertheless, now have
| asked thee but only of fire and ol
wind and of the day where through
thou hast passed, and of things from
! which. thou canst not be separated
and yet canst thou give me no answer
of them
| A long and painful silence followed
in which there were peculiar stir
rings in the heart of Esdras and {
pricking Of his conscience as hi
realized the wicked blindness of his
own heart. Then the angel agai1
| broke the silence and said: