The prophet Micah was struck with the energy and devotion of the heathen
to their gods. He saw the grip these idols had of their votaries, how no
expense was spared, no sacrifice withheld, for the sake of a filthy lie
embodied in a stone or golden image. While he listened to the songs of
the heathen, his heart warmed as he thought of the greatness of Jehovah,
and so he cried out--"All people will walk every one in the name of his
God, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and
ever."--Micah iv. 5.
Why should we not serve Jehovah with the same intensity that the heathen
shew in their worship? Why should not holiness to the Lord be as
enthusiastic and powerful in the lives of Christians as sin formerly was?
Why should not men be as much moved by the indwelling Spirit, as they
were when full of drink? For instance, you may see, when a man is half
drunk, how his pocket is opened; he will stand treat all round; every one
in the room may have whatever he likes to order, "Give it a name!" says
the drink-inspired heart. Now, we ask, why should not those who are
under the power of the Holy Ghost go to some poor widows and "stand treat
all round," by taking the fatherless children to some shop where their
poor naked feet shall be well shod?
Shall we not have a shout over the perseverance and patient continuance
of the converts? See the worshippers of the race horse, as, whipped and
spurred, the winner draws out from the ruck and passes the post first!
How the mad votaries of the gambling idol make the air ring with their
cries! And shall not we be as interested as we see men and women contend
successfully for "the prize?" Is not the cant sometimes on the side of
those who are so anxious for what they call decorum? Let us like Micah,
say, "WE WILL," too. How hard it is to win the heathen over to leave
their false gods! And shall we not walk for ever and ever in Jehovah's
name? Why should not Satan and all who help him regard efforts to make
apostates as a forlorn hope? O for a strong grip of God! Do some of our
readers feel their weakness, and tremble lest they should go back to the
assemblies of the heathen? Let us remind them of the promise--"I will
strengthen them in the Lord, and they shall walk up and down in His
name." (Zech. x. 12.)
Most of those who serve the devil mean to forsake him before they die.
They are self-deceived in many cases, and die as they live. Let us
determine that "for ever and ever" shall be our motto. "Signed for
life," as the teetotaler sometimes says. "This God is our God for ever
and ever. He will be our guide even unto death." We need a guide all
the way, till we come to the other side of Jordan. After then, no
possibility of falling or loss; but though we shall need no guide, we
shall delight in the Lord for ever. When this paper comes into the hands
of our readers, the CONFERENCE will have begun its Sittings. Let every
Methodist, from Dan to Beersheba, say, "We will sustain the new President
with our prayers, as we did the man of God who went before him." And the
Lord whom our fathers served shall rejoice in the energy and patient
continuance of His people. He shall not complain that we worked harder
and sacrificed more for the Gods we served before, than we do for Him;
but the heathen shall see signs of the greatness of Jehovah in the
enthusiasm and perseverance of His people.
"AS LONG AS HE LIVETH HE SHALL BE LENT TO THE LORD."
Two things are worthy of notice here. First, Hannah brought her son to
God's house and left him there to minister. In this she kept the vow she
had made (see verse 11). If all promises made in days of trouble were
kept as this woman kept hers, there would be some wondrous changes. We
must not suppose that Hannah did not feel the removal of her beloved son
from her own home, but she made the sacrifice, and God honoured her to
all time by recording her gratitude in the Book of books, and made her
son a national blessing.