The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-07-18

Lord really calls US to service He viii
see that we are able for it. He will
not call US if He sees we are not fitted
for or cannot do it, He will see that We
are properly prepared. He does moi
call US to failure but to success. Dc
we doubt our call or ability for the
work imposed, we mistrust God. Moses
argued the case with the Lord, but
there is no evidence of argument here.
1t is case of plain disobedience. He
apparently acquiesced, at least he made
no objection. but went to Joppa, where
he bought ticket to a point 1000 miles
east of his destination and laun ched out
on the deep. Now his troubles began
in earnest. We may have smoother
sailing for time and so fatter our
selves that all is well. but presently the
storm arises and we realize the old
truth "The way of the transgres sor is
hard"
Somehow we can't make much head
way. Worse still we bring trouble on
others; we increase their difficulties.
The .seamen full of superstition were
afraid. Fear led them to cry unto their
gods and naturally they expected Jonah
to cry unto his. But Jonah wasn't in a
mood to pray-who is, when he is run
ming away from duty and the presence
of God. However he was doing some
honest thinking. 1t makes US think
seriously when we see that our actions
have brought trouble on others. He is
facing death, and that makes people
honest, if anything will. He frankly
told the seamen the trouble and how
they could avoid further difficulties. He
has been weighed in the balance and
found wanting. Now he is forced to
pronounce his own sentence. Take me
up and throw me into the sea and it
will become calm to you.
Reluctantly they did as they were
told, with the result as Jonah had pre-
dicted, and went on their way with a
fair sea and favoring wind. But Jonah
went on his way though it was trip in
one of the Lords submarines.
The Lord is supreme, and His will is
law and the sooner we recognize that,
the better for US. Every worker for
the Lord has had to learn this lesson.
To do this he must go to school.
Moses was forty years in his wilderness
school of indian. Paul was in Arabia,
Elijah was by the brook, fed by one of
the Lord ravens. Jonah entered Fish
University as it has been called. He
completed the course in three days, and
he mastered it. In other words he was
subdued. His will was brought into
subsection to Gods. True he was in
close quarters and under sharp disci-
pline, but 1t was effective. He had
paid the fare to Tarshish, but he hadn t
counted on the stormy voyage.
Here we have an illustration of what
is enacted in every day life For ex-
ample "a man has a son who was bit
waYward, somewhat wilful, and not at
all particular to fit himself thoroughly
for his life's work. He chaffed under
restraint and insisted in launching out
for himself. The father started him in
business on big scale. As was to be
expected he failed signally. Money
gone, he came back home to live and
his father took him into his business
and was trying to do what he could for
him. His friend asked him If before
he gave the money the H. S. had not
told him not to do it? Yes he had, but
his wife thought he ought to do it. If
he would show confidence in the boy il
would help him. He did but he disre-
garded the voice of reason, he failed to
heed the decisions of judgment, he dis
obeyed the suggestions of the Holy
Spirit, or Jonah like he bought ticket
to Tarohish instead of to Nineveh, and
he.had to abide by the consequences.
1t is dangerous work not to obey the
commands of God.
JOANNES.