China-India-Siberia-Persia -Arabia-Syria-Judea Jerusalem Turkey - Greece - Russia - - Austria INTRODUCTION. "Will a man rob God?" JEHOVAH gave an answer to his own question: “Ye have robbed me." This was the charge brought upon Israel by a prophet of the Most High God; and it is the writer's present object to show that man has been guilty of this daring crime. In the name of the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, I now You start back with say, "YE have robbed me." horror from the charge, and exclaim, "No; impossible!" Let us look to the facts of the case. We are placed here to glorify God. He, far from being an Egyptian taskmaster, has committed to our charge a mass of materiel to be polished and built up a noble temple to the honour of His name. He has committed to us numerous talents to be improved and consecrated to His service. He has made our very nature a talent. These souls of ours never find a pleasure adapted to B their nature till they find their God. It is true that the pursuits of Science and Philosophy afford delight to the intellectual portion of our nature, and that even animal gratifications satisfy other appetites; but there belongs to each of us a spiritual nature-a spiritual mechanism-which, without the love of God, wants the mainspring of its action. The development of this, the working of this, is THE duty of a spiritual being. Have you faithfully discharged the duties of your stewardship? Have you assiduously cultivated the nobler part of your being, that the Most High may be honoured by the perfection of your nature? Has the glory of GOD been your constant, undivided aim in the employment of all those gifts with which you are favoured? Have you not rather sought, first, those "other things," which are only of minor importance; neglecting" the kingdom of God," whose interests and motives should be the very soul of your action? We are all guilty. Instead of that devotedness to the cause of God which ought to characterise us, conscience tells of enmity and unfaithfulness. We must all confess ourselves unjust stewards, and can make no complaint against the charge, "Ye have robbed me." How different are the feelings produced in the mind of the Christian, to those produced in the mind of the ungodly at the announcement of this fact. Bound to his heavenly Father by a thousand ties of love and duty, he first ponders it with deep, heartfelt sorrow, and then offers his prayer to the great Being whose displeasure he has incurred, that he may receive pardon for the past, and strength more faithfully to dis charge his duties for the future. Looking to those who have fought the good fight and obtained the crown, who have heard the welcome and commendation of the great Captain of our salvation-“ Well done; enter into the joy of thy Lord"-he feels inspired with fresh ardour, presses his whole soul into the contest, that he may be their worthy follower. The ungodly man is under the influence of far different emotions. Conscience brings forth her long catalogue of crimes, of which this robbery forms the very climax. He feels that he has been treasuring up unto himself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; that he, with all those that do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will receive indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish. The dark veil that wraps the future in awful mystery is rent; he sees the ghastliness of death; standing on a Pisgah, he views another world; appears before his Judge; hears the solemn sentence, "Depart, ye cursed ;" and is carried to the confines of that place where are weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth; is enveloped in the smoke which ascendeth up for ever and ever; is tortured with the groans of the lost. He shrinks back with wild horror at once from the question, the charge, and the terrific spectacle they have created. |
