The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-05-24
send judgments upon US.

SEND judgments upon US.
The nations place today is down be-
fore God to find out the cause of our
troubles. then up and put away the
evil.
The Lord told him how to find out the
thief, and gave him the means by which
to detect him. First the tribe was
chosen, then the family, then the house
hold and last the individual. Achan
was taken and confessed 1t seemed to
be little then, yet it was disobedience
to God. He took godly Babylon wish
garment and some silver to the amount
of Sl25 90. However the principle is
the same, in stealing one dollar or a
thousand. Then too he took a tongue
of gold worth about $500. Here we
see the philosophy of temptation. Ac-
han did not need these articles but de-
sire was excited in his heart. He saw,
he coveted, he took and this it was that
brought defeat to Israel with loss of
36 men. 1t cost him and his family
their lives. This was in accord with
the sentence pronounced by Jehovah.
| All his possessions were burned outside
the camp. A heap of stones was made
over the remains, with the stones con-
trlbuted by the host, an act symbolical
of their detestation of the crime. The
divine favor was restored. Here we
have striking example of the danger
GUS consequences of the violation of
fidelity to God. He was guilty of cove
tousness which is idolatry.
1t is said sin of one should not be
charged to the whole nation. But we
cannot see the divine DEGREES now, so
we should wait for the light of eter-
nifty to show US. While the act was an
individual one, the disposition from
which it sprang was generally diffused
through the nation. The punishment
would have tendency to awake their
pious zeal and hence check the evil in
the beginning. Each one would be
more faithful. The nation must punish
the offender and thus show their horror
of the crime. The lot was cast but
Achan like all criminals remained hid
den until judgment found him. Thus
he showed the hardness of his heart and
81 received no mercy.
The sin that led him to this act pro-
duced discomfort and cried more, now.
1t is never satisfied. 1t destroys the
benevolent affections. When cherished
it grows narrower in its being and the
more it is.indulged In the stronger it
grows. 1t with holds the necessities of
life, or grudgingly supplies the wants
OF the family. 1t regards not poverty
nor heeds the cry of the poor, while the
sufferings of humanity move him not.
1t actuates the food gamblers of the
present day. If a few of the leaders
could have a dose of Achan's medicine
it would be profitable to the masses at
least.
Covetousness confuses the mind,
prevents the judgment as to the right
means of getting and finally cares not
what means it uses. 1t overcomes hest
tation breaks down restraint and dares
all dangers. 1t is the fruitful source
of fool hardy specializing and stock
gambling that keeps society in a for
ment of unsettled trade.
Whence the bold forgeries, highway
robberies, petty pilfering, bold burg
laries and cold blooded murders that
startle US every day. They come from
the desire to get, cherished until it will
not be denied. 1t is an evil that turks
in every heart hence the need of watch
ing against it. Again it is claimed
there was undue severity in Achans
case. But God has various ways of IN
ducing US to forske sin.
Mere forbearance sometimes touches
US, because of the state of mind, while
at other times, the state of mind may
be such that nothing but severity will
affect US. Divine Wisdom always ap-