Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1910-07-18

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We see that by the death and resur-
rection of Jesus, the children OF Is
rael were given a second chance, but
we, who have studied further into the
history OF those days, know that they
remained rebellious, and therefore pro
voked God to second punishment,
SO that today they have become scat
tered people, dispersed through the
length and breadth of the universe.
The text was meant to be both an
inspiration and warning to the He
brew people. 1t may just as surely
come to America today, with the same
import.
America, the Child Of Providence.
No two nations have ever had so
much in common as Israel and Ameri
ca. We need but to remember that
Palestine was as completely isolated
by the Taurus mountains on the north,
deserts on the east and south, and the
Mediterranean sea on the west; as
America is separated from the nations
of today by the mighty oceans. to see
how identical they are in situation.
Then, as to history, there can be
traced most wonderful analogy be.
land of superstitution and idolatry and
the call of our Pilgrim fathers under
John Robinson, from a land equally
honeycombed with superstitution and
worse than idolatrous practices: be-
tween that miraculous leading of the
children of Israel out of bondage UNI
der Moses, and that equally miraculous
war for freedom under the father OF
our country" between that further
step OF progress under David, best be.
loved of all 1srael's kings and our won.
derful onward progress under Abraham
Lincoln, the best loved ruler of Amer
lea.
When we see the unprecedented
similarity between the location, the
discovery, the settlement. and the early
history of Israel and our own beloved
country, 1t no longer appears to be a
vain boast to call our own country
"the child of Providence"
Jeroboam the Second and Theodore
Roosevelt.
But when we compare the eighth
century B. C. with the last decade of
our history, we find still more mark.
ed identity. Under Jeroboam, Israel
reached the highest pinnacle of her
material prosperity; her land extend.
ed to the utmost reach of that which
had been previously prophesied as her
inheritance. Her cities were magnifi-
cent. wealthy and luxury was on ev.
cry hand; she was accredited the most
powerful nation of that generation.
and, peculiar as it may seem, her great
ing had Just received ovations from
the monarchs of other nations similar
to those which greeted Theodore Roos-
evelt throughout his recent tour of
Europe.
AS Lincoln once said of America,
"All the armies of Europe with their
Golfers supported as with Napoleon
as commander, could not take a drink
from the Mississippi in thousand
years OF warfare" so with equal truth
Jeroboam the second might have de-
clared Babylon, Assyria and Egypt
under the greatest general
OF that generation, could not take
drink from the Jordan river.
Prophets Of III Omen.
But in the midst of Israel's won.
derful material prosperity. there arose
a body of men, hated by the aristoc-
racy; discredited by the priests; and
misunderstood by many of the com
mon people; who brought strong in
dictments against their country, de.
that she was honeycombed by
and must be doomed to final
overthrow, unless she repented of her
ways. These prophets would perhaps
be called "muck-rakers" if they lived
today. Yet we recognize them as the
greatest and nobest men of their age
The names of Amos. Isaiah, jeremiah,
Ezekiel and Hosea. stand today as rep.
resentatives of the highest moral
grandeur, and truest patriotism of
their day. They were not pessimists.
they saw clearly the true destiny or
Gained by God for Israel; but neither
were they so blind in presumptuous
optimism as to think that Israel could
ever reach her destiny without the
moral integrity demanded by just
and holy God
If America resembles ancient Israel
in her location, history and material
prosperity, does she not likewise re.
semble that nation in having at this
time of her unsurpassed material pres
tige, body of men predicting danger
unless she repents of her sins? If the
history of Israel brings to America a
mighty inspiration because of the sim.
iliarity between her call and ours does
she not also bring to America clear
warning as we mediate on her fall
and dispersion because she needed not
the voice of Gods prophets?
Indictments.