The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-07-05
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
NOah'S carpenters.

also IN the Gays OF the son OF man.
These words are part of His discourse
concerning the Kingdom of the Mes
sIah. He came to establish Kingdom,
but it was rejected; the King was cruel
fed and hence the Kingdom has been
held in allegiance for the time being,
but it will be established by and by.
The expectation of the time was that
the Messiah would set up a temporal
Kingdom, lover (which He would
reign as a great earthly potentate.
They too would figure prominently in
it. But they rejected the King. so he
turned to the Gentiles and they have
the opportunity of becoming members
of His Kingdom.
The silent, yet powerful influence of
His spirit is felt in the hearts and seen
in the lives OF His subjects. The gospel
of this kingdom must be preached every
where. The way to the crown is by
the cross, and If the founder of the
Kingdom was not exempt from this,
no more can His subjects expect to be.
When Christ came to introduce His
Kingdom, He found the Jewish nation
asleep in calm security and reveling
in sensuality, even as the old world was
in the days Of Noah or as Sodom in the
days of Lot. When the days of the
son of man come the condition of the
world will be the same as 1t was in
Noah's time. But what was their con-
dition in those days? They were eating
and drinking: reveling in pleasure; max
ing provision for the flesh; busy with
the things of this world; buying and
selling and getting gain, thoughtful only
of self, doing those things which,though
proper IN themselves were absorbing
their attention and occupying their
hearts regardless of the threatenings
of God. They had little or no heart to
give diligent heed to the things that
pertain to their salvation, when they
ought to have been like the men of
Ninevah sitting in sack cloth and ashes,
and in the dust of repentance. From
the earnest warnings of Noah and Lot
they turned to debauchery and revelry,
laughing at the preacher, hooking at
his earnestness and making eht of the
message.
The lives and examples of these holy
men were despised and they found
their pleasure in fulfilling the lusts of
the flesh. For many years Noah preach
ed to his fellow men, but his message
seemed like idle tales and they laughed
at those who could be so foolish as to
build an ark to save himself and family.
The idea of flood coming was pre-
posterous.
Even his carpenters who helped him
prepare the ark partook of the same
spirit. What was it to them? They
didn't believe there was any danger of
such flood coming as would destroy
the earth, but it made little difference
to them how many he built. 1t gave
them work They were interested in
their wages instead of their souls. They
were good workmen, for their work de-
clared them to be such. Yet even while
they worked so well on the ark, they
were not in it when the doors were
closed; hence they persisted with the
rest. They continued in their course
of unbelief and wickedness until the
ark was complete.
The last warning was given, the
faithful witness and preacher of
righteousness has gathered his family
into the ark; and the door is closed in
expectation of the predicted event. The
divine word had said it would come and
Noah believed it. Maybe they went in
amid the jeers and SCOTS of the people
who probably thought he was crazy.
Maybe they pitied him, but they laugh
ed at his folly as they went to their
shops, their farms, or their homes,
their pleasure or business. He was
good man to work for, but he was too
Jealous. He was too religious. He
looked upon things of this world as
nothing. Perhaps they would say. I'm
sorry to lose HIM. but every one to his
own mind, so good bye, Noah, Wen see
your ark when it floats
In the midst of their revelry and care
lessness, the heavens overcast, rain be-
ginssto fall, itincreases till it seems the
very windows of heaven arc opened and
the waters are poured upon the earth.
They begin TO say, maybe Noah was
right-at least | wish had taken his
advice and prepared for this. I'm
sure I'd be more comfortable now in
the Ark, than in this place. Besides
there is no prospect of its ceasing soon.
What will become of US if this flood
rises much higher? Still it rises and
spreads 1t is choking the life out of
many. They flee to the huts still it
rises till they feel the angry waters
about them. They climb the trees and
mountains but there is no escape for
the wrath of the Lord is poured out