Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-10-01
HIS RICAL.
From the NeV York Observer.
The Sacred MOnntainSmMt, HOreh
BY THE REV. J. T. HEADLEY.


Ararat or Sinai, and hence does not occupy SO
definite place in nature or history One Of
the group that surrounds Sinai, it presents the
same barren and desolate appearance, and stands
amid the same bleak and forbidding scenery
These solemn SUBMITS rise together in the same
heavens, and the silent language they speak has
the meaning. Still, Horeb has less dis
itinguishing characteristics than Sinai, and the
latter overshadows it as much in interest as it
does in nature. The Mount of Terror is mon
arch there in the DESERT and all other summi,s
are but his body guard. They witnessed his
grand coronation when the law was given, and
shook to the thunders that honored the ceremo-
ny.
Mount Horeb has not been consecrated once,
but thrice, and hence has a threefold cRafrB for
place amid the immortal list of Sacred Noun
tains. Moses learned his first lesson around its
base, and amid its solitudes formed the thought
uI, stern and decided character which rendered
him fit to be the leader of Israel When in his
impetuous youth he slew the Egyptian that would
trampIe on his countrynan, he fled thither to es-
cape the penalty Of the deed When the first
gust of Indignation had swept by, and he saw the
Iieless corpse at his feet, alarm took the place
of passion and hastily covering the dead man
i'll the sand, he fled to the desert. Month after
month he wandered about Horeb, thinking Of
Egypt and the royal court he dared not enter
Away from the temptations Of the palace and
beyond the reach Of the conflicting motives that
might sway him there, he rod the desert free
man, With nought but Nature and God to-
teach him. his character must be simple and
manly, and his principles upright and pure A.
mid the grand and striking features of mountain
scenery, he could not but learn to hate tyranny
and love freedom, and when, at length, his char
acter was settled on a broad and permanent ba-
Sis, the Deity sent him back to Egypt to deliver
his people.
Wandering one morning along the slopes of
Horeb, he saw before him a solitary bush bIaz-
ing from top to bottom, but still unconsumed
Every branch was fiery branch, and every leaf
leaf of fire that glowed unwasted in the still
flame. As he stood amazed and awe-struck at
the sight, voice whose tones were yet to be ia
miar to his ear exclaimed "Take thy shoes
from off thy feet, for the place on which thou
standest is Holy Ground" Here Moses receit-
ed his first commission, and here was God first
outward demonstration to him in behalf of his
people.
In the exciting scenes through which hq af-
forwards passed i'll Egypt, he may have entirely
forgotten Horeb But after the plaques, and
death, and flight, and pursuit, and Red Sea pas
sage, and overthrow Of his enemies, had all been
left behind, and the host of Israel entered the
DESERT the familiar scenery he began to approach
must have walked up strange associations in his
heart. At length the aforementioned form of
Horeb rose to view, where he had wandered
seGexiled from his home. gloomy fugitive:
he first saw that desolate mountain in the dis
lance "a leader of mighty people, and the
chosen of God, he pitched his tent the second
time at its base Doubtless his first interview
with the Deity here caused him to expect some
other revelations now that the commission he
had given him had been fulfilled. How much
his early experience had to do with his encamp-
ing on this spot with the host of Israel it is i'm
possible to tell but that he should expect the
God who had first sent him forth should here
give him further instructions was most natural.
His expectations were not disappointed, and ST.
mai and Horeb together became the scene of the
most wondrous events of human history
Twice had Horeb been honored by the pres
ence of Deity, which had So consecrated it that
we find the angel of the Lord afterwards calling
it I" the Mount of Got" 1t was however des-
tined for third baptism. When Elijah, hunted
by Jezebel fled for his life, he wandered across
the desert to this mountain. His prayers had
brought rain upon the parched and desolate
earth but his sword had also drank the blood Of
the prophets of Baa, and Jezebel had sent him
word that she would do to him as he had done
to her prophets, and SO he fled into the wilder
ness and sat down under a juniper tree and
prayed for death. Weary aud discouraged, the
hunted fugitive lay down and slept, when the
angel of the Lold touched him and babe hun
arise and 90 to Mount lIoreb. Elijah started
for the desert, and after travelling for more thar
month, he at length, worn and exhausted
Icame to the mountain, and took up his solitary
= lodgings in cave. How many desolate and
lonely nights he passed there we know Iot lut
, at length a voice from heaven said Go forth
and stand upon the mount" Jehovah was about
to reveal himself But before he reached the