Crittenden record=press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1907-1909, 1909-06-17

that come OF thee. For what profit
Is II unto us, II there be promised us
an immortal time. whereas we have
done the works that bring death? And
that there is promised US an everlast-
ing hope. whereas ourselves being
most wicked are made vain, And that
there are laid up for us dwellings OF
health and safety. whereas we have
lived wickedly?"
Thus soliloquized Esdras, and even
while he spake the angel Uriel came
and answered his questionings, say.
ing:
This is the condition OF the battle,
which man that is born upon the
earth shall fight: That, II he be over
come, ne shall suffer az thou hast
said; but If he get the victory. he shall
receive the thing that | say. For this
Is the life whereof Moses spake unto
the people while he lived. saying:
Choose thee life. that thou mayest
i've Nevertheless they believed not
Moses, nor yet the prophets after him.
nor me which have spoken unto them.
that there should not be such heavi-
ness In their destruction. as shall be
Joy over them that are persuaded TO
salvation"
Il know. Lord. that the Most High
II called merciful. in that he hath
mercy upon them which are not yet
come into the world. and upon those
also that turn TO his law; and that he
Is Dountiful. for he Is ready to give
where II Is needed and that he is OF
great mercy. for he multiplieth more
and more mercies TO them that are
present, and that are past. and also
10 them which are To come. For II he
shall not multiply his mercies. the
world would not continue with them
that inherit therein. And he pardon
eth; for II he did not so Of his good
ness, that they which have committed
iniQuities might be eased Of them. the
ten thousandth part Of men should not
remain living. And being Judge. II
he should not forgive them that are
cured with his word. and pat out the
multitude Of contentious. there should
be very few left peradventure In an In
Vulnerable multitude" answered
Esdras. a sigh escaping him as he con-
templated the wonder and the mystery
of II all.
Yes" exclaimed the angel. come
with me. I will show you"
Esdras arose at the bidding and fol
lowed the angel on and on and on
thAnah thAxr haA
left the earth and were looking back
upon II az IL lay beneath them. Then
spake the angel. as he pointed before
them:
The sea is set In a wide place. that
IL might be deep and great But note
the entrance that II Ia narrow. like
river. Who. then. could go into the
sea TO look upon u and 20 rule n, n
he went not through the narrow en-
trance"
Look. also" continued the angel.
after pause. and pointing IN another
direction. for a city Is builded. and
set upon a broad field. and is full OF
all good things. The entrance thereof
is narrow. and is set in a dangerous
place 10 fall, Ike as ~ there were me-
on the hight hand. and on the lee
deep water. And one only path ~
tween them both. even be've-~ -
fire and the water. so small that there
could but one man go there at once"
With breathless interest Esdras
watched the scene before him. while
the angel talked. and the angel con-
tinued:
If this city now were given 10 a
man for an inheritance. II he never
shall pass the danger set before II,
how shall he receive this inheri-
tance"
Surely. II is so. Lord" responded
Esdras. as the angel ceased speaking.
Yea. and even so is Israel's por>
ton. Because for their sakes I made
the world. And when Adam. trans