Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-04-15
Religious.
A Sketch from Scrintnre Scenes.

IL DACCCH lIUIl scripture GcClltS
"WhO shall roll array the Stone from The Door of the
SPulciue2"
The hour of bitterest pangs had come to earths
great Sufferer and all his disciples had forsaken him
save the beloved one. Should we say all the rest?-
Nay, there another little band whose hearts pre-
cluded fear Of peril whose love for Jesus drew them
close to the Of his last agony. How could they
leave him now2
Christian reader, have you not often thought-O
that had been there; what luxury it had been to
face death from Roman guard or from infatuated
scrbes and priests, If | might only have stood by the
dying Jesus to shed my tears around his cross and
throw my look Of sympathy upon his forsaken anguish
ed bosom; if might have soothed ore pain, or made
him feel that he had yet one friend. Add this,--f
might also have had grace in that hour to STAY all fear
Of death, and quicken into flame my love for the
Man of Calvary For it would have been sad indeed,
to have denied the sinners Friend in such an hour
1t is an honor to the race that certain women had
courage and love to stand by and weep around the
Cruced in his last hours 1t an honor to piety and
to Triumphant grace. They saw him die. Affection
stayed not there; it followed the sleeping dead; watch
ed every movement of those who took the body and
saw where lie was laid Anon they fastened and
made their spices ready, with many tears no doubt
and agtations Of soul unutteable; for they thought
the hope of Israel was gone.
A Sabbath interviewed. Oh what Sabbath was
that Think of those weeping daughters of Jerusa
lem gathered in some upper chamber, keeping Sab
bath-the scenes of Calvary all fresh in recollection
and the morning visit to the tomb to annont the body
in anticipation. What are they doing? Are they in
prayer or in anxious muslng wondering what shall be
the end Of these things? Has their hope fled utterly?
or does some angel from Heaven whisper to their bo-
SONS that all shall yet be well? We do not know
But it must have been a trying, solemn day. Night
came. They woke early, il indeed they slept at ALL
They are fastening towards the scpulchre. At this
moment they remembered the great stone which they
saw rolled against the door How shall this difficulty
staring them IN the face, be Surmounted? Who said
they will roll away the from the door Of the
sepulchre%
Their business required that they should ENTER
They could not be denied the privilege Of going in
and applying their ointment and sweet spices to the
cold remains of Him they loved. What shall they do?
1t was an emergency, such as often occurs in the
Christians e--a mountain barrier straight across
their path-a lion IN the waW what can be done?-
They looked up, and 10 it was gone The Lord had
sent his angel, and the stone was more there; it
was very great but it was rolled away.
SO it commonly happens when Gods people go for
ward in their work Of love- daring to face their diff
culties, and venture to look up
Let not this lesson, my brother and sister, be forgot
ten. When God says, Go forward, be not dlsmayed
fear not the great stone upon the door, The Lord has
angels enough to roll that stone away. lie would
sooner send twelve legons of them than have his work
in your hands TAIL if true love to Jesus is leading you
on, it did those devoted sisters, to pour your tears
upon his cold body, and besow your costly spices and
ointments to honor his sacred memory. lfove to Je
sus thus leads you through peril, cost and TOLL to hon
or your Lord you need not fear the great stone upon
the door. God will send some messenger Of his to
roll it seasonably away
Even feeble woman need not fear. The soldier
may be there with spear and battle-aXe, and visage
stern and temic but Gods Angels are there too. Or,
like the Mays you may find the soldiers gone away
before you reach the place All, more, you may find
tie Lord himself there and the first hint of his beng
risen, may come in that wel-known, heaven-toncd
voice, .M0g! May! 1t would be thrice blessed to
meet Jesus 8o-to meet him while on such an Grand
to his grave,-to meet him while seeking to pay the
last honors to his mangled, buried, guarded, body
OberLin Euqngcjst