The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1919-11-06
THE PEOPLES FORUM.

SCreLcu himself CUT on II, ana the COW
ering narrower than that he can wrap
himself in it." 1t reminds one of the
common adage ''if you make your bed
you must lie in it."
1t is another way of saying "as you
sow, you will reap" If we make
bed on which you can have no COM
fort or ease, you'll have no rest. Yet
we alone will be blamed for it. Men
think they can do as they please, re-
CARELESS of the future; can live in de-
fiance of God, yet experience no incon-
venience. They can serve Satan in life
yet be with God in glory. In other
words, they can SOW the seed of in
EQUITY, yet reap the fruits of right
eousness.
How little the masses regard the
word of God. His threatenings make
no impression upon them, His warn
ings are unheeded, His admonitions
are disregarded, His word is treated
with contempt. They go on their
course thinking all viii be well, but
not realizing that their bed is too
short and the covering too narrow.
Judgments will come and they will
correspond to our guilt, as if they
had been measured by plummet and
line-deep as the depths of his guilt.
1t will sweep away false refugees, tear
up unholy compacts and compel those
who make shift with success to know
the utter insufficiency of their meas
ures. The day of the Lord will strip
rich and strong of wealth and power.
humbling society or nations in the
dust and causing lamentations, shame
and death. Men build refugees against
the impending judgments of God, but
they are 'refuges of lies" Strange
that mortals should be so foolish. SO
Indifferent to think they can escape
Divine judgments in this way His
nature is against it. He hates lying
and every false way. They may de-
ceive their fellow men, but their well
laid schemes shall be exposed. They
may hide behind falsehoods, or put it
on as cloak, they may count on es-
tablishing themselves by subterfuges.
but the flames of Divine judgment will
overtake them.
Do they imagine they can deceive
the Lord? They may live in ease,
may have friends galore, or run in the
way of folly and crafty self to the
fullest extent; they may make selfish
ness the chief virtue, worship at the
shrine of Mammon, yet all false ref
uges shall be swept away. Ananias
built refuge of lies and was ably
seconded by his wife, but their refuge
was quickly demolished and they got
their reward. However, they have a
large following yet. Righteousness
is the line and judgement is the plum
met.
There is only one safe rule of ac-
ton and that is the Bible. He will
punish persistent evil-doers. HUI
mainly will get its deserts. Such build
on sand and building and builders per-
ish in the ruins. There is only one
safe hiding place-Jesus. He is a
covert in the time of storm.
Suppose we make a covenant with
death. 1t shall be disannulled, cast
aside by judgments.
Scorners of pride, as Hannah, who
are outraged because others may re-
fuse to bow to them, who only refrain
from violence for policy's sake, may
scheme to hang them high in the air,
but they are the ones who usually
stretch the rope and the proud heart
is brought low. There are those who
scorn the instructions of the gospel.
1t must come as they want it and
they would fain dictate the policy for
the messenger, whom they would
crush if he refuses to obey their die
tation. They make light of gospel in
vitations and care more for a yoke of
oxen, a farm, society, dress, sheckles
or fame, than they do for the Son of
God. Miriam spoke contemptuously
against Moses, but leprosy struck
her. Belshazzar's heart was lifted
up against the God of heaven, but he
had to lick the dust.
Some delight to scorn because they
think it is an evidence of a strong in
tellect, whereas it evidences shallow
ness, insolence, ignorance or egotism.
1t is devilish. Do such rely on phys
zeal force? They may have a we'll or
gained ring back of them, or armies,
or the wealth of Indus, but God can
sweep these aside. There may be great
power, strong will, logical acumen,
but rebels are defeated; the treasury
is exhausted; allies fail at the critical
moment; storms rage and earth
quakes shake the earth and mighty
| ones who scorned God and His laws
are without helm hrouUht IN shame