Mexico Missouri message., 1909-08-26

more and more the consciousness Of
the utter folly and wickedness of his
course, and remorse filled his soul be-
cause of his horrible sin in Offering up
his beautiful son upon the outstretch-
ed arms of the god Moloch.
What hath he ever done for your"
came the query into his own heart
mo, but he hath robbed you of your
son." continued the inner voice in ar
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 ac-
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 flercely 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
| importable. But thy merciful promise
is unreasonable and unsearchable;
for thou art the most high Lord, of
great compassion, long-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 suppli-
cation:
Thou, therefore, o Lord, thou art
the God of the Just, hast not APP
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 1 have
sinned above the number of the sands
of the sea. My transgressions, o
Lord, are multiplied, and / am not
worthy to behold and see the height
of the heaven for the multitude of
mine iniquities. 1 am bowed down
with mnay iron bands, that l cannot
lift up mine head, neither have any
| release; for have provoked thy
wrath, and done evil before thee"
Again his voice broke under the
strain of emotion which filed 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.
Il did not thy will, neither kept I
thy commandments. 1 have set up
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 I 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 I will praise
thee forever all the days of my life:
for all the powers Of the heavens do
praise thee, and thine is the glory Tor
ever and ever. Amen"
AS he finished, 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 a 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 1t be true,