Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-10-01

entrance Of his cave he heard roar louder than
the sea, that arrested his footsteps and sent the
blood back to his heart. The next moment there
came blast of wind as if the last chain that
bound it had suddenly been thrown off and it
had burst forth in all its unrestrained and limit
less energy. In the twinkling Of an eye the sun
was blotted out by the cloud of dust, and the
fragments that filled the air were whrled inE
fierce eddies onward. It shrieked and howed
around the mouth of the cave, while the fierce
Kissing sound Of its steady pressure against the
heart OF the mountain was more terrible than Its
ocean like roar. Before its fury ana strength
rocks were loosened from their beds and hurled
through the air--thc earth rent where 1t passed,
and before its fury that steady mountain threat
ened to lift from its base and be carried away
Amid this deafening uproar and confusion and
darkness and terror the stunned and awe struck
Elijah expected to see the form Of Jehovah NOV
ing but that resstess blast, srewug the sides
of Horeb with wreck and chaos was not God in
motion:
"'Twas but the whirlwint Of his breath,
Announcing danger, wreck and DEATH"
The hurricane passed by, and that wild strife
of the elements ceased but before the dlrken-
ed heavens could clear themselves Elijah heard
a rumbling sound in the bowels of the mountain,
and the next moment an earthquake was on the
march. Stern Horeb rocked to and fro like a
vessel in a storm, and its bosom parted with the
soHnd OF thunder before the convulsve throbs
that seemed rending the very heart of nature.
Fathomess abysses opened on every side, and
huge preciplces, topping over the chasns at
their base, went laundering through the dark
ness. The fallen prophet lay on the floor of his
cavern and listened to the grinding, crushing
sound around and beneath him. and the steady
shocks that seemed to reach the very seat Of ma
ture, thinking that Jehovah at last stood there.
Surely it was his mighty hand that lay on that
trembling, lettering mountain, and his strong
arm that rocked it so wildly on its base. No,
"God was not in the earthquake"
"'Twas but the laundering of his car,
The uampling of his Steeds from far"
The commotion ceased, and Nature stood
and Gained her rulTled frame :" but in the
sudden ominous silence that followed, there
seemed foreshadowng of some new terror, and
10, the heavens were suddenly on fire, and a
sheet of fame descended, Its lurid light pierre
ed to the depths of Elijahs cavern till it glowed
like an oven, and from base to summit of Mount
Horeb there went up a vast cloud of smoke, fast
and furious, while the entire sides flowed with
torrents of FIRE. The mountain gowed with a
red heat, and stood like huge burning furnace
under burning heaven and groaned on its an
cent seat as If IN torture But God was not in
the fiery storm.
"'Twas but the lightning of his eye"
that had kindled that mountain into blaze, and filled
the air with fame
But this too passed by, and what new scene
Of terror could rise worthy to herald the foot
steps of God-what greater outward grandeur
could surround his presence! The astonished
prophet still lay upon his face wrapped in won
der, and filled with fear at these exhibitions OF
Almighty power. watag Tor the next scene in
this great drama, whm suddenly through the
&eep quiet aud LrcathIeeo Gaeh that had succeed
ed the earthquake and the storm, there arose ga
still small voice." the like Of which had never
met his ear before. 1t was " small and STILL
but it thrilled the prophets frame with electric
power, and rose so sweet and clear,
"That all in heaven and earth nigh. hear
1t spoke of peace-it spoke of love,
1t spoke as angels speak above"
And God was in the voice The prophet knew
that He was nigh, and rising up, wrapped hi'
mantle about his face, and went to the mouth o
the cave, and reverently stood and listened. Oh
who can tell the depth and sweetness of thu
tones of that voice which the Lord OF lMt
deemed worthy TO announce his coming, a
ransomed spirits harp-an angels Iute--a ser
aph's song could not have moved the prophe
so. But while his whole being, soul and bod
trembled to its music, a serner voice met hl'
ear, saying, q" What doest thou here, Elijah p
The prophet poured the tale of his woes aud o
Israel's sin into the Infinite bosom. Ills wrong
were promised redress and Israel deliverance
and the hunted exile went boldly back to hi
people, and Horeb again stood silent and alone
in the desert
The Mount of Cod needs no other title Il
make it the fourth Sacred Mountain on thu
earth.