The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1911-08-24

Ing country. Nebuchadnezzar was at Rib
Ian In Klamath In northern Syria. The
captives were taken to Babylonia.
The Route of the captives was not d.
rectly east through the desert, but north
ward through Syria to the Euphrates.
thence southeast down the river to
Babylonia
PROPHETS. 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 gem
eral in 605. in his first seige of Jeru-
salem. and became sole emperor B. C..
604. He made Babylon glorious dur
ing his reign Of 40 years. He was in
his 18th year when he began this
siege.
Jerusalem was at this time 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
Eight 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 Chaidees slew their
young men with the sword in the
house of their sanctuary, and had no
compassion upon young man or maid
en-, old man, or him that stopped for
age; h. 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, perpetual MEM
ory, were the agonies of his sons, and
Of his friends, all the mobiles of Judah.
They put out Zedekiahfs 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 lie 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 ACKNOWLEDGMENT mouth to mouth,
and see his eyes. The history we
have JUS 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
tt cs. who for weeks was Toasted and
honored, but who knew all the, time
What the end was to be. So the sim
is death, and the consciousness of
this throws a shadow over all the life
before. The ruin from sin is an awful
tragedy; but whenever sin goes I'M
punished the sin Increases Murders
have greatly increased in this coun-
try. where the majority Of murderers
go unpublished.
AS the angel stood in the path of
Balaam while going on in his stubborn
determination to disobey, so God puts
warnings, and entreaties, and mercies.
and the love of Christ, and trials and
punishments. in the path of the sinner.
as his good angels. to Withstand his
downward course. and to cry out to
him, go back, go back!"
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.
Christ brings new helps, new mo-
tives, new powers OF the spirit. new
reasons for love, but his is the same
cry over the old city. 20 Jerusalem
Jerusalem. thou that killest the proph-
cts, and stonest them which are sent