The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-12-30
9aturday Digit
S0IEc ~ Rev. F. E. DAWSON
~ ~SAAS Rutland, VI.
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THE YOUNG MANS BEST ADVls-
ERS.
international Bible Lesson for Jan.
I, '1t-U.Kinps 12:1-24).


his son, Rehoboam, was a fool. Solo
mon built up, through the long years
OF his reign. mighty empire. Reho.
boam split it wide open on the day
of his coronation. Solomon came to
the throne when young in years. yet
he ruled in righteousness for many
decades, until in his old age, his car
nality caused his moral ruin. Reho-
boam was 40 years old when he sue
ceeded to the throne, when men will
show evidence OF wisdom IL they ever
will. yet he proved himself an arro-
CANT, scornful, bigh-headed, pampered
puppy.
Sin is evidently a bad way to
build up a family. Solomon could
preach we'll on the proper way to
bring up children, but he couldn't
practice what he preached. The
vickednsss Of the kings palace was
more influential than the religion Of
the kings temple. His fathers
harem. flled with tho strange wom-
en- Of foreign countries. neutralized
all his pious precepts.
WISDOM NOt InneTIIeO.
Evidently wisdom nor grace runs
in the blood. The companions with
whom Rehoboam had been brought
up had more influence over him than
all the practical teaching of the
1901 proverbs of which his royal
father was the author. Rehoboam
and his hare-brained counsellors by
their hasty folly rent in twain a peo-
pie whom Moses and Joshua, the
whole line Of Judges and Samuel,
David and Solomon had laboriously
cemented together by centuries OF
statesmanship.
And it all came about through the
scorn and contempt Of public opinion
expressed by Rehoboam. The coun.
try which had been burdened with
taxation to support the voluptuous
splendor of Solomon's court and to
carry out his great undertakings re-
solved to have a change when the
coronation of the new king took
place. There was without doubt cause
for improvement, and Rehoboam
knew that the dissatisfaction was
wide spread and deep seated. "Thy
father" said the petitioners, made
our yoke grievous; now, therefore,
make thou tho grievous service Of
thy father and his heavy yoke which
he put upon us, lighter, and we will
serve thee"
Two Sets of counsellors.
Whereupon Rehoboam consulted
two sets of advisers, the old men,
his late fathers counsellors and men
of affairs, and the young men, his
boon companions and fiatterers. The
old men counselled concessions, mod
GRAFTON, promises. They said in ef-
feet, You can at least put forth a
platform that will promise reform.
Do that, and the storm will blow
over. II you do not yield something
to the popular clamor, secession will
surely follow" But the hot blooded
sports who had as little foresight as
the young prince said, Now is the
time to show your kingly quality.
Make the cravens understand that
you rule by divine right. Coerce
that your little finger shall be thick
er than your fathers loins, that you
will add to their heavy yoke, that
you will chastise them with scor-
pions instead of whips" That was
smart, but not polite. 1t tickled the
pride Of the prince, but It destroyed
his judgment. Unfortunately for him
he accepted the counsel Of the young
men, and actually thundered these
presumptious words in their ears.
The result was revolutionary. Ten
of the tribes of Israel on receiving
this violent answer, seeded from
the kingdom, rose up in open revolt
and threw off their allegiance to the
Kingdom OF David. Rehoboam found
himself left with a kingdom OF only
two tribes-Judah and part of Ben
jamin. The magnificent kingdom
over which David and Solomon had
reigned was split asunder, and Re-
hoboam had only fragment left.
Henceforth two kingdoms, Judah and
Israel occupied the land. Instead of
one united people, they became two
nations, Jealous OF each other, and
often at war. And 1t all came about
because Rehoboam rejected the coun-
sci of wisdom and adopted VIC
lent, shortsighted, demagogic advice.
Here is a tremendous lesson for
the young. Who are q young mans
best counsellors? OF course, the
first and most natural are his par
ents. This Is practically universal.
For even bad parents as a rule want
their children to grow up right. The
voice of conscience is the voice OF
God in the soul. Teachers of religion
in pulpit and Sunday School are also
worthy OF all imitation. The Bible
is the supreme guide. "Wherewithal
shall young man cleanse his ways 7
By taking heed thereto, according to
thy word" These are some of the
guides which will lead the perplexed
and troubled soul in peace and Joy
10 final rest, How to manage the
kingdom to which we are called,
how to order our peculiar lot in life,
how to enter upon the heritage trans.
10 from our 30