The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-10-24

back from it's sometimes necessary rigors. Right,
that has do with eternity, sacrificed for Wrong
that has but feeting moment to live!
Each one of us knows what is Right and what
is Wrong. What frequently lacks is wisdom
that the purpose of the Right and the power
of character needed TO follow that purpose. Well
being, of body, mind SOUL and temporzing with
Wrong do not go together. We too often imagine
that indulgence in some act-just one-that is wrong
will not be harmful but will add desired sub
stance TO our lives. What sad mistake such
soning is! There can be no middle ground where
these two forces concerned. A thought, an act,
a purpose, ideal, whatever it may be, is Right
it is Wrong-should be made part Of life re-
ected entirely; for it is absolute certainty that
Right will enrich the life that guards and respects it,
just absolute surety that Wrong will debase the
life it touches-however slight the contact may be.
One of the outstanding characters in Bible his
tory is Isaiah. His personality clean cut and
forceful that Christian people will forever feel and
reflect it's influence. He has a personality founded
in the very principles of Right, taking it's growth
and undying power from a Jealous adherence to
those principles. Now mark you, it was wisdom
that revealed to Isaiah the purpose of Right and it
was his strength Of character that enabled him to
follow it.
Tradition tells that Isaiah was closely related to
the royal family of Judah. Such position would
have made him familiar with the ease and splendor
of court life in the oriental world. He brought
up in Jerusalem and naturally became versed in the
political ntrgues of the times and the religious
toms of the people. He could have taken any posi-
tion-and he elected to be messenger of Right to
his people.
Isaiah achieved remarkable military victor
ies He sat upon throne of gold clothed
himself in purple and fine linen. Nor vast
empire the vantage ground upon which he acted his
part He chose none of these worldly distinctions
we remember him for of them. His years were
filled with unremitting efforts to lead his people in
the way of Right. The highways. byways and open
places were his palace scenes laid within the limit
ed bounds of Judah-yet the entire world of his day
felt the power of his precept and example; and the
passing ages have left his utterances unsurpassed in
the grandeur and force with which Right is cham
pioned.
Hebrew history reveals people strangely har-
assed and surrounded by difficulties -veritable cal
antilles times The period that witnessed Isaah's
public life was no exception His ministry probab-
ly began about TAO B. G. and extended through the
regns of the four kings, Uzziah. lothian. Ahaz and
Hezekah. Assyria was the leading world-power
at that time and it was against its evil influence that
Isaiah had to contend But with all his prophecies,
teachings and pleadings he unable to keep King
Ahaz from forming alliance with the Assyrian
King, TigIath- pileser-rather judah became lowly
vassal of that monarch and the Temple Jerusalem
was desecrated by the worship of strange gods
Followed years of vain endeavors of the jude
ans to secure place and position in the world for
themselves. While Isaiah was counseling a retun to
right living and simple trust in Jehovah who had
never failed them the people turned now to Assyria.
now to Babylon and again to Egypt and
shaved and ruined by their neglect of Right and
their dalliapce with Wrong What did they gain?
Toward the close of Hezekiahs reign the Assyrian
Sennacherb, just assembled the throne. marched
against Judah.
The border strongholds surrendered to the As
syrian forces and Hezekiah. proving his cowardice
sent his craven message to Sennacherib: Il have Of
fended return from me- that which thou puttest up
on me will bear" He paid for his pardon trib-
ute so large that it necessary strip the gold
from the doors of the Temple and take the holy yes
sells contained; and among the captives taken back
to Nineveh were the daughters of the King. The
character of the people may be estimated from the
fact that there was wild rejoicing such an ig-
.nominious deliverance
Such was the field Of Isaiahs labors. Unwear-
led he stood amid fallen ideals. broken ambitions,
wrecked purposes vanly striving bring his people
once more under the influence and reward the Right
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