The Detroit times., 1917-08-04
The international Sunday School |
Lesson for Aug. u 10 "Josiah's
Good Reign."-ll chron. "a; 1-13.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS


Like all other wars, the present Is
being fought by young men An old
er authority than Or. Osler says
Young men for war" and II was a
ripe oil oman whose inspired pen
wrote to young men because you
are strong" With age comes eau
ton and conseryatism there Is
something victorious in the very ma
ture or youths impetuous. needless
and dauntleHs courage Heady and
inconsiderate the young man may be
and bound 10 get many bump from
the stones OF experience. but. after
all, he brings things 20 pass. The
one virtue OF the enthusiast. for
which We forgive him many faults.
is that he really achieves.
Anything rs preferable 10 the dead
ly somnolence OF the "stand.patter"
who sits down amid greatest evils
and helplessly inquiries We'll,
what can you do about IT," and then
endeayors 10 get all The profit pos
sible out OF the situation for hin
self The call 20 the deepest and
nOblesi I'm human nature witch has
been heard during recent months by
millions is hailed by many AZ de
liverance from this soul dcadening
selfinterest. Better for "A glorious
fling az the great adventure OF life
than a duh and dreary prolongstion
OF mere existence as cautious.
thrifty. prudential time.seryer.
There is considerable analogy be-
tween the situation In the world or
our time and the conditions which
young King Josiah successfully con
fronfcd In both cases. tremendous
and long entrenchcd evils seemed 10
defy opposition, but the high souled
heralds OF truth persisted ia a seem.
ingly quiXotic course, and today the
high places are being hewn down
and false idols and standards are
topping. even as in Josiah's time.
This Is the iconoclastic wax II IS
shattering idols that have been Wor-
SHIPPED for ages. Were II not for the
general conviction that new and
better order OF existence Is being
ushered in. few OF US would have
heart for tho struggle.
The Son OF His Remote Ancestor
Shining deeds on the part OF tho
boy king were "a reyersion 10 an
older type His own father had
been bad his grandfather. Manas.
sch. save for bfIof period OF re-
pentance AZ the end OF his life. had
been worse Yet Josiah walked in
the ways o. David his father"
There is so much good in the worst
OF US" thai We every one OF Us have
light and power and inherited ten
denotes enough 10 be vastly better
than We are Baby Johns profile
Gets aunts and uncles 20 exclaiming
over his startling resemblance 90
Grandfather Baker. But there Is a
trick OF raising his right eyebrow
which came 10 him straight from
Grandfather Sharp He shares with
Uncle Frank peculiar way OF alb
sently holding on 20 his left ear "He
had my fathers forehead" exclalm
cd Grandmother Sharp. Bahy's faith
or sees that he has n ravishinE way,
OF making love with his eyes such "a
no other mortal except his mother
ever possessed so II goes.
Every one OF us Is compound OF
all who have gone before
Until personality and God enter
herediiy become weak and lnefrec
tive. alongside OF the strong rope OF
Will No Josiah Is bound 10 go his
fathers way he may skip a David
in whose footsteps he may walk
The old Adam IA strong In his sons,
but the new Adam Ia stronger. All
OF Gods plans make provision for a
person following hts nohlest I'm.
pulses and nature We are truest
10 ourselves when We are truest 20
God Josiah best represented tho
royal line when he was most like
David
The Preachers Part
Tho wonder IS that this youthful
king should so enrly revolt against
the idolatry and wickedness 20
which he had fallen heir as Judah's
king bur the wonder abafes when
we recall that n man is made by his
friends. Kingsley's wise explanation
OF all that he had done or become
was sufficient. II had friend"
Josiah was surrounded by many
forms OF evil and evil counselors
but there was also In the land a no
BILE company OF prophets OF the Nv
ing God 20 whop his heart warmed