The Tupelo journal., 1909-04-23

God with forgetting thenn and OF bless
ing their enemies. 1t was In this spirit
that they came into the presence "
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 as
though to go, the prophet arose, and,
| throwing his mantle around him.
made as though he would go with
| them.
The delegation waited half ex-
pectantly, but Malachi, who had now
finished adjusting his robes, and had
taken up a scroll from the table
where he had been writing when the
company had entered, stood silently
and intently b%eholding them. His gaze
seemed to search to the yery depths
| of their hearts. and they began to feel
nervous and uncomfortable.
They knew his charges against
them we're true. They knew that even
while they tried to justify themselves
that they were guilty as he had
| 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, / change not, there
fore 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 indi-
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 we?" ventured one
of the group, angrily, seeing that he
spoke so harshly to u.s."
Say not So" spoke up another.
quickly; "the prophet speaks the
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 if we would return to God he
would return to us?"
Eyes" 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 m Of the merchants
of 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 conversa-
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.
"Thei. prophet Malachi!" exclaimed
one. "Why, he has summoned the
people to meet him here this evening.
That explains why there were so
many near when the commotion arose
over there"
buL WuGH we lCIC AC uCpdA ~ -
the other direction" exclaimed the
vine dressers.
well, he will be here, you may be
sure. There he comes now" added
the speaker, pointing towards an ap-
preaching figure. The people fell back
on either side as the somber figure
drew into the market place. He passed
straight to a great stone, and without
pausing he mounted it and taking the
scroll from which he had read to the
vine dressers just a short time before,
he turned to the people and said:
Hear We the word of the Lord
which he speaks unto his hayward
and ~disobedient people: Will a man
rob God? Yet We have robbed me. But
We say: Wherein have we robbed
thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are
cursed with a curse; for We have
robbed me, even this whole nation.
Bring We all the tithes into the store
house, that there may be meat in
mine house, and prove me now here
with, saith the Lord Of hosts, if l will
not open you the windows of heaven,
and pour you out a blessing that there
shall not be room enough to re-
ceive it."
Can it be that the Lord will do
even so?" exclaimed the vine dress
arg as thew departed for their homes,