The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1909-03-12

pluckad out great handfuls and tho
rent garments. Never would he for
get that voice as 1t demanded in stern
tones that the pledge to this thing be
taken. And he and the other priests
and Levites and the people gathered
there before Ezra had taken the SOL
emn vow that they would each and
every one put away the strange wives
as Shechaniah had promised.
And as Jareb stood out there under
the stars after it was all over, he
wondered how he could ever carry out
the pledge he had made. True he had
taken the daughter of the peo-
pie of the land, but she was
beautiful. and, he loved her and the
child which had been born to them
And now he must put her away. He
had sworn that he would obey the law
of God.
He knew in the depths of his heart
that in thus pledging he had done
light. Anu yCI Oii thC OthOi iidhu siASi -
| was the natural affection and desire
of his own heart. He had permitted
his affections to be cultivated in for.
| hidden and unholy directions. He had
| turned a deaf ear to the promptings
of his conscience, as he had permit
ter the charms of the woman he mar
ried TO enmesh him. Others were do
| ing the same thing, why could not he
| take a wife from among the people OF
| the land? This woman was beautiful
and her father rich. Why should he
| not crafty the desires of his own
| heart?
So the easy pathway of desire and
pleasure had been Travelled, and now
he had come face to face with his sin
| Now he had come to the parting Of the
| ways. The crisis of his life was upon
| him. The conflict between Gods law
| and the desires of his own heart had
| begun
How could he give up the thing
which had come to fill such a place in
| his life and heart? How could he
! DISdh tuC hCNo W tiC WOlAch "AOA''
he had taken to be his wife?
All, the awful agony of that hour OF
struggle. He had pledged his word
and he knew he had pledged Alright
| but oh, how could he carry out the
| cruel decree against himself and the
woman and child in his home?
But l must give up one or the
other" he cried, as he lifted his eyes
| to heaven "Oh, it cannot be my God
the God of Abraham and Isaac and
Jacob! If turn from him / cut my
self off from all the promises of my
people-oh, 1 cannot! And yet, oh
how can l do this other thing?"
but neither your wife nor her PEG
pie believe in your God" spoke VI
his accusing conscience. Yea. more
there is a secret contempt in hel
! heart for your people and your reli
gion, and you know how she would
turn you completely from following
| your God"
Yea, | know" Jarib cried out il
| anguish, but l love her in spite of il
ALL"
and all because you have allowed
| this evil love to grow up in your life
and have not held yourself to YOU
pledge of loyalty to the God of Is
rael," came back the accusing voice Of
conscience
Jarib bowed his head and was silent
He knew it was true. He knew he
alone was to blame.
"Ah sin demands an awful price,
| he sighed. The easiest way to walk
| is the road which leads along the line
of Gods law. Oh, if l had not gone
into the ways Of the world Oh, il
when this temptation had first come
l had only turned from it"
But the past is gone. 1t is too late
to recall it, again came the voice Of
conscience. There is only one way
that leads towards God, and that is
straight ahead You cannot go back
and undo the past, but you can or
der your life now according to Gods
| perfect law"
Yes, | can, and l will, cried Jarib
determinedly. May God help me te
keep my pledge to him, and as far aspos
| sible to make atonement for the great
sin which l have committed in Israel