The farmer and mechanic., 1915-06-01

from the periodical press Of our time
uaily weekly and monthly, the idea
tnat human society is going to the
ooSs. and that nobody is thinking
upon whatsoever things are true
whatsoever things are honorable.
whatsoever things are just. whatso-
ever Things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely. whatsoever thinks
are OF good report.
Not SO with the Bible 1t pre-
serves proportions and perspective |
Il tells fearlessly the story of King |
DaVid shameful Sin-and also of his |
spiritual aspirations. He is shown in
ms faH-a marred man. punished in
| in his penitence and forgiveness.
Despite the normal lapse which ne
SO bitterly repented. and which hung
as a clanking chain to his life until
the end, David was a man whose
dominant passion was yearning
| after God.
| \ Modern Sin in Olden Times.
Modern photographers can soften
a negative So as to eradicate blem-
ishes in their subject. There is no
retOuchins in the Bibles picture Of
Davids sin. In strong. clear lines
the king is shown idle on his house
top when he should have been off at
battle. He saw Bathsheba, the wife
OF brave soldier. Uriah, who was
off at the front: and he let his eyes
have free reign. He was thereby ac-
cording to the dictum Of Jesus. an
| adulterer before even he possessed
: the woman he desired-aS truly an
adulterer as the feul-minded men
who loaf along our city STR cts, ogling
women and girls.
David yielded TO his vagrlnt wish
es and took Bathsheba. Then. by a
base plot, he put noble Uriah. whose
conduct shames that of tie king, at
the battle front where he would meet
sure death. After period of hypo-
e critical mourning for Uriah on the
part of David and Bathsheba David
t made the woman his wife. 1t looked
i las if the horrible strategem had sue
= ceeded perfectly. But had it? Does
. any scheme succeed which leaves
u God and the moral law and it:
8 inevitable retribution out of the
i Read the classic tale of how th'
: sinful self-complacency of the adul
$ terious king was pierced:
g And Jehovah sent Nathan unt'
David. And he came unto him. am
is said unto him. There were two me1
l. in one city: the one rich and the 9th
d er poor. The rich man had exceed
r ing many flocks and herds; but tn
y. poor man had no thing, save one littl
ID eve lamb, which he had bought an
ns er with him, and with his children
a it did eat Of his own mOrsel. an
er drank of his own cup, and lay in hi
y bosom, ard was unto him as
e. daughter.
And there came a traveller unit
US the rich man, and he spared to tax
m of his own flock and of his own hero
er to dress for the wayfaring man ths
ne was come unto him, but took the poo
is mans lamb. and dressed it for tn
OF man that was come unto him. An
en- David's anger was greatly kindle
a
ct Nathan. AS Jehovah Hveth. the ma
It that hath done this is worthy to die
nd and he shall restore the lamb fou
O. fold. because he did this thing, ar
tn because he had no pity.
ng "And Nathan said to David. Tho
re art the man."
phi The Probe For Today.
TO Timelier story could not be studit
'e- by mature minds today. Here is e
In posed the greatest weakness Of OF
ie- generation. Most observers ayr
he that the social evil is at present
be worse blight upon humanity tn;
even strong drink All about us '
|, see a growing laxity with respect
bi- the Seventh Commandment.
IL The COmmOneSt of current philOS
oes phies is that which defies desire in
do duty. Do as you please if you wou
gs attain highest happiness. says this d
ar vastating teaching. The simple ia
are that person wants a thing max
les his getting it right. Unbridled desi
the is exalted to the throne of life. 7
ug old words, Duty" Self Restrain
''Self-DeniaI' seem to have gone @
ent of fashion in certain circles. T
es- marriage tie rests as lightly as SUI
any mer robe 81 want" has been su
lSs- stituted for Il ought"
hey Bearing down strongly upon IL
ife. contemporary evil comes the Bill
us story of David 1t shows the Sinf
zen, ness and folly and suffering of
rely restrained passion The soverei
Gel laws of Jehovah swing into view. G
ga is concerned in the moral order. a
cad He holds men accountable for tn
am sins. The Nation itself is involved
e the moral misdeeds of men: for nc
,us
pic -
me e1nsss Gn,..