Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-29

and suitable warning, he could do no
more 1t was not his business to go
and drag the people out of the city, nor
to command the defense of the walls
nor to provide supplies in case of SIEGE
nor to do more than his part of defend
ing the city. He had done his full duty
as Waterman when he had given prop
er warning
But if he saw the danger approach
ing, and delayed giving the alarm until
too late for the commander to give or
ders for properly defending and supply
ing the city, he would be guilty Of the
death of every one whose life was lost
in the siege.
Watchmen were not needed in times Of
perfect peace; it was only in times of
war or threatened invasion that they
were needed. The work of Ezekiel as a
Waterman was to warn his people, not
of the dangers to Jerusalem and the
nation from another Invasion of ANebu-
chadnezzar, for in that case he might
have been guilty of treason; but to
warn them of the danger from an enemy
far wiser and stronger and more de-
structive thanl ACKNOWLEDGMENT could
ever be. He was to warn them of the
danger of rebelling against God and of
failing to yield their hearts obedience
to Him.
The consequences of his doing this
were not his to consider, but the con-
sequences of his not doing it were al
most too awful to consider. He would
be blood guilty for every one who died
without knowing the danger.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
This lesson is a very impressive and
a very serious one. Each one of us
who knows the truth as it is in Jesus is
a&oI,, Il,
we may present every imaginable argu-
ment to our minds to deny it., but we
cannot escape it. Ever since Gains time
men have been trying to shirk respon-
sibility for their brethren; but it is
none the less binding on US. Our re-
sponsibility is like the watchman's,
large but limited We are lot blood
guilty if those we warn do not heed our
message, but we are blood guilty If we
do not warn them. Our responsibility
is to tell the story of Gods love and
of the danger Of not accepting It; their
responsibility begins where ours ends,
when they have heard it.
How large, though limited, is your
responsibility! 1t begins in your own
home. with your relatives, your serv-
ants, it extends to your business and
social life; it reaches out to the utter
most part Of the earth. Oh. God! thai
we may be blood guiltless!
Ezekiel needed repeated visions to en-
able him to do the work Of a Waterman
His mind had to be instructed. his heart
encouraged, his hands strengthened, his
backbone stiffened. This came by con-
stantly repeated communion with God.
We cannot do our work as watchmen
apart from Him. We must see the dan
gers as He sees them, we must speak
His words of warning, we must have
our minds enlightened. our hearts en-
couraged, our hands strengthened, and
our backbones stiffened by constant con-
tact with Christ If we can accomplish
our work of warning others.
Watchmen were needed only in times
of danger; are watchmen needed today?
The answer is seen in the saloon. the
house of evil. the corruption of govern
ment, the greed of commerce, the tricks
of business, in the court house and the
Jail. But we can also find the answer
in the ball room. the drawing room. in
the church, in your own home and heart
The devil was never more active than
today Let me sound the note loudly
and long. Flee to Christ for deliver
ance from impending danger, anu for
strength for service. He alone is able
to help.