Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-04-24
BY William T. Ellis.

There are no plaster saints in the bible.
Men who are good and men who are bad.
even as you and l. make up that record
Of human life In its divine relationships.
1t has often been said that one evidence Of
the histor.city OF the bible is the honesty
with which 1t deals with its heroes. Con-
trast the Scripture narratives with the fic-
ton and mythology OF the non Christian
religions. It Is said that aside from
Christ. there are only two biblical char
naught derogatory is said In the inspired
record Since these varied men were
friends Of God. 1t seems easier for the rest
of US poor humans. with all our lin 'ta-
tons, to aspire TO the same goal.
1t IL not saint Jacob that we study to-
day. Instead, we look upon mean, des-
picable, cowardly creature. fleeing from
the consequences Of his own duplicity. He
was helped to haste by the knowledge that
his brave and impulsive brother. Esau.
sought his life.
The Plot That Failed.
N Schemers commonly Oyerreach them
selves. Clear. outspoken integrity is the
most charming trait of character. The
sously marked for her transparent genuine
ness Rebekah had violated all the con-.
sfderations of honesty in order to secure
She had been abetted In this by the dis
honesty OF Jacob and by the weakness OF;
Isaac. Now her home had been scattered.
Jacob had fed for his life toward distant
Mesopotamia.
This time the Journey was not rs his
grandfather Abraham had made 1t. In full
caravan and state. Like hunted crimi-
nal. he fled In real fear of being over
taken by the avenger. He had no cara
van or companions. He was but Zone,
lorn fugitive. making his furtive way
north and east He camped wherever
story discovers him on the stony heights
OF Bethel. where Abraham had once tar
ried and erected an altar.
The Sleep BY the Waysids.
The familiar hymn. Nearer My God
tn Thee" which is built on the imagery
vision OF the ladder. has helped to Inn
press upon our uniformed minds the
hardship OF the fugttive's having to sleep
with q stone for pillow. Now this was
in pastoral pursuits. does not know the
cushioned life or ease of the occident.
The verisimilitude OF the bible lis revealed
by thousand such touches as this. 1t
trained In the open 10 take the nearest
stone for a pillow. remember Korean
home where. In the sleeping rooms, the
pillows were simply round stones. Nor
to Jacob. The oriental knows how to
stand things. have been amazed by the
endurance OF men in this very region tra-
sversed by Jacob. who could sleep on the
ground or on a goard. often In driving
snow or pelting rain Their life has taught
them to endure the buffetings OF nature.
So we find Jacob sleeping amid the rocks
at Bethel with no fictitious accessories. He
was plain runaway, scared and troubled
His anxious days were followed by rest
less nights Not even In sleep could he
find quiet
In these days OF pilgrimage Jacob had
been thinking. Apparently he was learn
ing Of 3 new way OF looking Mt things
Some men have to 90 into q far country
before they can learn the meaning Of
home Il Is bitter school which ex-
perience keeps. Jacob was learning what
the history of the race teaches. that dis
n la does s. not and that that personal rs
preams That Roach Upward.
B The first clear intilnation 81 life be-
yond this present one to be found In
scripture y this experience OF Jacob ut
reachtng 20 heaven.
Daily thoughts are the stuff OF which
our dreams are made. Jacob had been
He was getting spiritual Illumination.
Now IN this dream he saw how near to
earth is the life beyond. Heaven IL not
ter from W. Even the mind sof an in-
dlvtdMAI may bring heaven and earth to-
Kether. In the revulsion from his old
SELF which remOrse had brought to him.,
Jacob had been driven 70 nobler thoughts,
49, progressing towaiu grace. .ss. &
An Old Aqrsemont Ratified.
Like many q man who - walking the
streets today. Jacob found that God was
Nth %as net
TpH1ted hecauso Jacob had fallen 20 FAR
below cticatlons The promise Of Alb
ral,sms seed stili held true. Jacob VS.
VS. the batter Of the two sons which u
Nov With \ III. new vision he ~ God 81
earth "a haayeif He had IN hin drAaY m s.