The Prescott daily news., 1918-05-17

I&S A l history of motive h2zzssSaz4zz-z-@ -----=-Sa to right action, we ind that sometimes it is gratitude, sometimes love, sometimes duty, some times prudence, sometimes recogni- ton of mans sonship to God; but here comes the motive of fear, and in these days when mems hearts are fail ing them for fear, it is motive that should receive some consideration without impatience. Some of the mo- tives referred to above, and which seem to have made the motive of fear for long time almost obsolete, have according to the judgment of many gone into the discard. AS we find certain theories as to mankind in its closer brotherhood and assumed son. ship to God being great delusions, we may ask whether after all, the motive of fear may yet have an occasion for use.
 In many American communities vice today is rampant, unchecked, and such communities are living in terror. Why? because the vicious element have no rear or being punished.
 Why not carry the principle into the realm of religion? Never in the his tory of the world, certainly not in the time of those living, was physical pain and damage and loss so apparent as just now. Money is swept away by the billions. Cities and towns are devastated. Countries are overrun and laid waste. Human lives by the millions are laid down, and the things that naturally cause physical fear are now operating as rarely as ever before. Should not this enter somewhat into our consideration as to a religious fear?
 Should We Fear God7
 Let it be fully considered at once that the fear of the Lord as presented in the Scriptures is not chiefly an emotion produced by threatened evils, but rather reverence of God and as motive it should operate along the lines of respect for God because he is holy and reverent. The fear of pain connected with losing the favor or friendship of God is in place, too, but the moment that is admitted there is admission of fear of another kind fear as 1t is defined, "an emotion ex- cited by threatening evil or impending pain, accompanied by desire to avoid or escape It."
 First, because God Is back of every law, the violation of which brings suf- fering or pain. Law does not operate automatically. No evil resulting from violated law Is blind thing 1t is the result of infinite wisdom and inteli- gent provision. God is behind every law,
 Secondly, there are the dearest teachings in the Word of God that evil will he punished by God. From the moment it was said: "In the day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die," to the present moment, sin has been punished. It is specifically said: "The Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness." "The face of the Lord Is against them who do evil, to cut off the remem- brance of them from the earth"
 Anu, Inlruly, tue thought SHOulu De carried to the hereafter. Men are facing the hereafter these days as not before. More people have died in the last three years than any three years preceding, possibly excepting some periods in the history of the world in time of pestilence.
 No Apology for "HeIl."
 When Jesus was speaking to his dis ciples he did not make any apology when he said hell" He meant the abode of the wicked in the other world. The disciples were to fear the God who could cast both body and soul into hell, but they were not to fear man, who could only kill the body.
 The burning city of destruction was a good place to leave, and Bunyans pilgrim left 1t as rapidly as he could We might ask, "Who in these days fears the pain and hopelessness of hell?" But the great fact Is, hell re- mains, and the Word of God is plain as to those who will fall into 1t.