Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-02-25

!
there is an influence there that none of thes
things can bend. The name Of Jezebel Is nc
mentioned in the record. 1t il not needed. In
tutiveIy we discern that only hers is the indomta
| Bile will behind the scenes that oyer-rules an
over-rides all, and viii not quail before God him
self when mems hearts are failing them for fear
Another band must 60 forth. Made wise b.
despair, they reached the scene, and tread among
the ghastiy relics. Those hundred suits of arrnor
They recognize them. They were worn but al
hour since by their own comrades. Those com
rades, a moment since full of life and prowess--
TIL. ashes is all that is left of them.
With face pale as those ashes the captain fall.
on his knees
80 thou man of God!-I pray thee let my life
and the life OF these fifty, thy servants, be preci
GUS in thy sight.' 5.4I-
Thus is the imperous "Come down." exchanged
for an abiect ples for life!
$50 down with him, be no; afraid of him." whis-
pered the ever-present angel Jehovah.
And why, then, when Elijah penetrated even to
the royal presence, and repeated the doom, "I'hou
self on his head. Had it so long treasured itself
up agsnst him now to be thwarted when he
stood helpless in its grasp!
Or was that the fierce incarnation of evil now
for the first time to feel itself met and overmas-
tered by superior presence, spirit lordlier than
her own! Perhaps Jezebei never before met Eli
jan face to face. In that meeting there was
crisis of intense collision between the two master
spirits of the age OF Israel. And she may have
found there was power in his eye, and in his
voice, and in his whole being, not of earth, pow
err as of an infinite presence! And she may have
shrunk appalled, as those spirits before the steps
of Jesus shrunk when they cried "u estin emoi
kai soi!' "What have to do with thee!"
Moreover the heart of the king sunk with the
chill presentiment of certain death. And the
heart of the military band, by sudden revulsion,
may have espoused the prophets side.
AS the Roman centurion by the cross said, "Of
a truth this was the Son of God!"-so these SOL
diers may have said, "This is of truth that pro-
phet!" ~ 81,
Thus the divine power could thurst him like
lamb into the jaws of hungry wild beast, and
bring him out unseathed.
But this was the last contest of that wonderful
mind with the mind Of his nation. His career
was well nigh done; his errand sped. There is a
mystery about Elijah. 1t would seem as if the
collision between his soul and the public mind in
its apoatacy were too great for him. 1t would
seem as If he could not endure it, and as if-for
some occult reason-God permitted him to hand
over his prophetic function to Elisha, and dissp-
pear from the scene.
The next we see of him is at Gilgal on the
-oad southwark from Samaria. Elisha is with
aim.
@Tarry here, pray thee; the Lord hath sent me
% Bethel"
GAS the Lord liveth, and as thy soul hveth, |
will not lerve thee" a
Both speak solemly, with voices full Of emo
on, as if aware Of some impending wonderful
went.
On reaching Bethel; "Knowest thou" say
ome Of the prophetic school, "that the Lord
will take away thy master from thy hand to-
ay!"
''Yes, know it, hold We your peaee.'
"Elisha," said his master, starry thou here /
ray thee, the Lord had sent me 10 Jerco."
"As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liyeth, | |
7ill not leave theeT' d..
At Jericho, the same colloquy with the prophets, |
nd the same dialogue between the prophet and |
is follower was repeated. |
Elijah seemed aware of the approaching crisis. |
oppressed, agitated, his soul swept by the nigh |
= powers Of a world unseen, he hardly dared to
rust himself in human society; he would bid Eli |
la, his only friend farewell before yet his soul |
Ias absorbed, lost in extstic rapture.
So they crossed the sandy terraces towards the
jordan channel, while fifty of the
stood gazing after. The symbolic
urrent is smittep with the prophets mantle. 1t
eases to dow. Dry shod they cross together
'heu, turning to his faithful follower, whom more
ban any earthly thing the prophet had loved; to
Ihom his dessolste heart had chung with the last
,rces of earthly warnings, "Ask what shall do
II thee before be taken from thee!"
Il eras an interesting moment! The youthful
-eaner is suddenly allowed to realize, if he will,
re dreams which he dreamed as he followed the
zen! The pictures and visions of boyhood's fam
? NAV nav assume y e shape of substantial real-
es! Like Solomon. he may choose what he will; |
ing life, ease, wealth, fame, power.
81 pray thee" he cries without moments hest
alton, "let double portion of thy spirit upon
lei"
There smoke at once intense and unlimited per-
,naI love, and high and sacred spirituality. Is
ael The polite and polished circles had OSIRIS
sed him as tie-re bigot, the country, mOrose,
avage, sanguinary. They had set the whole hue
nd cry of popular odium against him as fanati- |
al outcast. His name was scofing and by !
'ord. They made the Obi prophet feel himself |
bnorred Of MS kindred. u despised and refuse |
liug-and now-ss he is about to look bis last
n an ungrateful country, and seek rest in bet
er world-here is vo ee full OF youthful entbu-
iasm that recognizes him for what he is. Elisha
ares not for his unpopuIarity. The odium heap |
4 on him is nothing. Welcome all that cor
not and sycophantic world can say against him
: viudictiye and of bad spirit
There is in him something so pure, 50 true, |
sn.elfsh, so free and noble, and uucompromis |
qlu upright, such deep seorn Of baaeness and
Lac hood, such heavenly faith in God and his |
oritus government, that Elisha recognizes him |
the highest earthly embodiment OF ideal excel |
nee
Let. double measure of thy spirit be mine