The Green Forest tribune., 1911-08-25

ian m t1aIndtn m northern Syrla. 1He captives were taken to Babylonia.
 The Route of the captives was not di- rectly east through the desert, but north ward through Syria to the Euphrates, thence southeast down the river to Babylonia.
 ROPHETS.-Jeremiah in Judah and Egypt. Ezekiel on the river Chebar, '"The grand canal.' southeast of the city of Babylon. Daniel in Babylon.
 Nebuchadnezzar was a great gen. eral in eos, in his first seize of Jeru- salem, and became sole emperor B. c. 604. He made Babylon glorious dur ing his reign of 43 years He was in his 18th year when he began this siege.
 Jerusalem was at this time a city of 10000 inhabitants. Against the huge engines of Asiatic warfare the besieged citizens constructed counter engines; and the struggle was worthy of the occasion-a combat or duel not only of courage, but of skill and intel Hgence, between Babylon and Jeru- salem. Houses were demolished, that new walls might be built of their ma terials, inside each spot weakened by the battering-rams.
 The ramparts were vigorously de. tended by archers and singers, equal in bravery to those of the Chaldeans. The rams were caught, when possible, by doubled chains or ropes to weaken their blows, or if it might be, to cap size them. Lighted torches and fire brands were thrown on their roofs and on those of the catapults, to set them on fire. The gates Of the town were zealously defended against the efforts of the enemy to burst them open or to burn them.
 At last there was no food for the people, and famine prevailed.
 The houses were full of the sick and wounded; bloody fights between con tending parties, as to surrendering or holding out, crowded the streets with fresh horrors; the roar of the siege night and day filled the air. A breach was made in the city, at midnight. The princes of the king of Babylon came in, the generals and high off, cials, Nebuchnezzar himself was at Riblah in Klamath and the Chaldeans burned the kings house, and the hous- es of the people. with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.
 The king of the Chaldees slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maid old hfv1o bot e,ta age; he gave them all into his hand. And they burnt the house of God.
 They slew the sons of Zedekiah be- fore his eyes, so that the last things his eyes ever saw, a perpetual mem ory, were the agonies of his sons, and of his friends, all the nobles of Judah. They put out Zedekiah's eyes. He would have no more opportunities of conspiring against his rulers.
 God spoke by the tongue of Ezekiel one of the most mysterious and most curious predictions in the entire Bible. He declared that King 'Zedekiah should be led into Bablon a captive, should there live and there die, and yet he should never see the city. So singular is this record that we must read the verses just as he wrote them out. Now put with this a parallel passage. Jeremiah was thrown into prison by his monarch. While there under bonds, he in like manner pre- dicted the downfall of Jerusalem; and he said that Zedekiah should speak with Nebuchadnezzar mouth to mouth, and see his eyes. The history we have just considered shows how these prophecies were fulfilled and the cap tives carried to Babylon.
 The way of Transgressors is the choice of those who walk in it. God, good men, angels, laws, all are against any mans walking therein. The way of transgressors is hard indeed, be- cause of the awful punishment at the end of the way. Like the human vic tim selected for sacrifice by the Az tees, who for weeks was feasted and honored, but who knew all the time what the end was to be. So the sin ful know that the end of their way is death, and the consciousness of this throws shadow over all the life before. The ruin from sin is an awful tragedy; but whenever sin goes un- punished the sin increases. Murders have greatly increased in this coun- try, where the majority of murderers go unpunished.
 The way of transgressors is very hard, not only on account of the pun ishment at the end, but because so many barriers must be broken down and restraining influences must be overcome in order to go on in sin-the love of God, the conscience and moral nature, the word of God, the Holy Spirit the sense of honor, Gods good ness, early training, the influences of religion
 There is nothing God wants so much as to save men from the way of trans gressors, into the kingdom of heaven. This is not merely New Testament teaching, but Old Testament teaching. Witness Isaiah, and Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. Listen to Hosea's message from God, expressions of Gods loving kindness and unwearied yearning over the people, like the father in the par able of the prodigal son. The father exclaims in infinite pity, How can give thee up, Ephraim?" How shall make thee as Admah?" a desolate ruin. T will heal their backsliding, ] will love them freely"
  mayor asking him to stop all piano. playing and singing at night, especial ly in summer when people had their