The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-10-21
I'm THE RELIGIOUS WORLD

disobedient. Instead or max
ing the occasion n for increasing
the peoples reverence, ana enhahc-
ing the glory Of Jehovah. Moses n
his brother came struttlng 1ortn' I'D
prideful pomposity. crying contempt
ously to the crowd, with never a
thought of their happiness. but only
of his own dignity-"Hear now. we
rebels; shall we bring you forth water
out OF this ock n Moses lifted up
his hand, and smOte the rock with
his rod twice, and water came forth
abundantly.".
All, Moses, how could you? Knew
you not tina deeds Of grace should
be one g~raciOusly? The manner Of
giving a cup Of cold ate may be as
refreshing as the draught itself, Sour
saints sometimes spoil sweet service
by the nature Of its performance. A
rigid, self-conscious, unloving doing
OF the works of righteousness never
honors God.
In this particular instance, Moses
was robbing God Of the honor that
belonged to Him. Much as he &C
cented the 1--WE" in the miracle. the
fact remained, and the people knew
it, that the praise belonged to Je-
hOvah. Moses behaved like the Of
fice-boy on a newspaper, or a very
yOdng reporter. who frequently acts
as if he were the editor-in-chief. The
people got the water. but they drank
with no feeling Of good will to
Moses. He flung the b~enefaction as
a crust to a beggar: he gave none Of
himself with the gift. A little more
real democracy would have served
Noses Well just then. John D.. Barr!
has a pertinent poem:
mot to be different, Lord,
/ ask. from those that fare
Beside me IN life's way,
But that my spirit shall accord
With their great purpose that my
| share
Wholly I may fulfill, in thought and
will:
And that the simple creed,
Of all mems right within thy sight,
I may affirm by wfrd and deed.
30 save me from the blame
OF those who have forgot
Their brotherhood and boast
OF worth ancestral, and feel shame,
For such as bear h common lot.
Make me, dear God, to see if aught
through me
Find favor in thy ken,
!, IT'S but in part the grace thy heart
POurs richly on my fellowmen."
"And The Door Was Shut"
Wise discipline is not in perpet
ual nagging, but in clear. adequat,
and unmistakable punishment for tn
violation OF well-understood law. w,
never know which offense, even afte
we have been emboldened by long i'm
munity, is going to bring retribution
The arrogant clerk, who presume
$ upon what he believes to be his in
: dispensability to the business. is SUI
r prised wnen he suddenly finds him
self out OF a position. When Nose
petulantly and pr~idefully wrough
the great miracle, and took to him
self the praise which belonged onl
e to God, he never dreamed that swi1
and dire punishment would follow
" His state Of mind had been a gradus
o growth. like that Of the ~conceite
o evangelist, who comes to think thu
y he is the important member Of tn
r firm in the business of soul wiz
a ming.
It Over and over again let it be wri
ten that Il the Lord thy Cod am
le Jealous God" insistent upon his roy;
le prerogatives. God will not be kir
l. at all. unless he is king in ALL" II
t. honor is concerned in maintaining II
y sovereignty. and he will not let AZ
he man or nation fiout him in this. TT
n old phrase should be written on eve
ID heart: DC let God be God,' Mos
'g unsurped Gods place and God
praise. The T. swelled to larg
I'd proportions than the Thou" I'll
Is was a breach Of faith, a failure in 10
ne atty and a lack Of reverence.
or Swift fell the blow. Like the foe
ish virgins who found the door
'ir the wedding feast shut, so Mos
to suddenly was told that the borde
1t OF the Promised Land were clos
81 against him. The hopes Of all t
years fell gathering to the grou,
re out Of Muses. hand. He had fail
lie God: n for his very souls sal
ole as we'll as for the good name Of J
ry hOvah in the eyes Of the people,
must be punished. In an hour a
ak a way that we know not. God vi
tn dicates himself. in the case OF eve
one OF US. The words OF Micah z
good ending: What doth Jehov
is require OF thee. but to do Justly, a
ost to love kindness, and to walk huml
nts with thy God?"
ere -