The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1911-04-14
SUPERINTENDENT
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REYSAMUELM. pURYIS.Dn
JEpHTHAH'S vow.

Jehovah. "--Juda. NJ, 30
It's a thriliingly dramatic story this.
unrivalcd in tragic power by anything
In human literature. This Jewish
hall OF fame hero was an lllegitimate
son. cursed for sin not his own. Like
many such, Jephthah develops rnre daI-
ing and force OF character. Crowded
OUT OF his home, he becomes an out.
law, yet a patriot, loving the country
that did not love him. In a national
emergency, in the face OF q great
enemy, they call the exile home. And
the outlaw OF the desert shows hun.
self born leader. great soldier. skilled
diplomat. He's one OF those coura-
geous men who in dine OF national
panic become popular heroes. Wars
a gigantic gamble at best, with human
lives and national destinies ms stakes
There's an element OF chance as well As
heavy battalions. Rain, muddy roads.
torrents sweeping away pontOons, ny
set all calculations of strategy. so.
diers become superstitious Vows are
registered. Covenants made with the
Almighty. Jephthnh makes one-that
WHICH lTSl NIbSSth HIS uOOI Wutu ne
comes home victorious shall be burnt
Offering.
The warrior returns in triumph. A
nation cheers. Then back home TO
his own hearthstone. But the vow
the almost forgotten vow! Out from
his door comes an exquisite piece OF
womanhood to greet him. Horror,
amazement. self reproach, sit on his
facets his only child, his noble
minded daughter, the victim for his
triumph, the bride OF death! oh, that
vow! bad promises are better bro
ken" says the proverb. What should
the stern warrior do? "HedgeT Lead
out an OF garlanded? And the girl
what of her? Should she rebel7 God
Of nations, send us such patriots! In
language heroic abe bids him perform
his vow. A soldiers word Is his honor
She's a soldiers daughter. What's her
life moro than apother's as a part Of y
price In a great csuse1 This Jewish
Joan q Arc feSls while Bfe IN pre-
otops truth n more so.
The Prioe Of Victory.
All great service demands sacrifice
Great souls seem to recognize that.
eff thou wilt drive Lee from the soil
of Pennsylvania l will free the slaves"
vows the man OF sorrow on his knees
at the White House Antietam is the
answer. No great cause nOurishes
till its soil ia wet with blood. The re
liglous soldier deals staggering blows
A Cromwell. Gordon, Robert f..
Lee, makes a terrible antagonist. His
VOW is with God. His cause. Gods
cause. There's something awfully
splendid in the man who vows to GOO
and cannot go back. even though his
heart breaks and his life is wrecked,
He's willing TO buy his Country's good
at a terrible price know CONNER
tators get nervous when they reach
this story. | know their explanations
and respect them. But how do we
know that the sacrifice was not &C.
ceptable TO God? II he demanded the
cross from Christ. why not a broken
heart from Jephthah? or John the
Baptist he asks death in the dungeon
at MachaeruS. OF Paul martyrdom in
the Mamcrtine prison at Rome. OF the
Nazarene crucifxion on Golgotha. or
his saints he has demanded prison
torture. lives Of insult and physica.
agony; the thumb screw, rack, fagot
and arena were their part Their
greatest attachments were made by
awful sacrifice. 'In the world "
shall have trihulatiOns." they are as
sured. do not know but that the
Aafa.t in InniarI, ralipinn 10 TINT II is
too cheap; that 1t asks no vows, NJ
sacrifice. We ask gifts of God and
give nothing in return. To go TO a
luxurious church on a beautiful Sun
day morning, when the sun is shining
dressed in our best. bow our heads 70
be observed and admired Of all, listen
to A trained choir and an eloquent
minister, drop our smallest coin Cd
the plate-this Is called service"
He that stitch In the heavens laughs.
A true religion not only gives all, but
demands all. Who knows but that
semibarba Jephthah had his cropping
hand on a great truth2
Pay Your Vows.
nver make promises to God? Ger.
y
thought you were going to die. you
promised God II he would spare you
you'd give time, money and service for
him. Says Mr.. Richman, III God pulls
me through this time I'll give half my
fortune to him" He's better. Preacher
| reminds him OF his vow. Then he
hedges. Half? That's too much.
Must make allowance for sick mans
raying." Fourth? Why, NO man ever
gave that much" Fifth, tenth. hun
dredth partT'-a different arithmetic
has 10 be used. "I'll tell you, preacher
I've deal on now. mt comes out as
hope III pony up" The deal goes
Brilliant stroke. he made small
fortune. The check comes-for s..
Shame Give God ungrudgingly your
! CostlieSt, Remember that sickbed