Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-04-08
From the Independent
The SyrianS 0utwitted.

,s1 The SyrianS 0utwitted.
THERE was dismay and perplexity in the Syr-
ian host. The king surrounded by his chiefs, was
counselling with gloomy brow on the state of at-
! fairs.
"Wil We not show me which of US is fer the
King of Israeli More than one raid or wasting
foray, have We planned with customary secrecy and
skill. But time after time our plans have miscar-
| ried BY some unaccouLtable means, after select
ing the most unprotected districts and stealing By
forced marches upon the frontier, just as we were
ready to pour in and lay waste with fire andsword,
we have found either an army drawn up TO receive
us, or else fields empty, focks and herds driven
of, villages and cities deserted the whole popula-
tion and their wealth removed to impregnable for
tresses. There must be treachery somewhere.
Some one of US must be in league with the enemy.
Which?"
Dismay sat on all faces. Dolefully did the priE-
css and pachas look upon one another Out then
spoke an old borderer, who was cognizant of Is
raelitsh tactics:
"None of US, my lord o king are for the King
of Israel; but Elisha the PROPHET that is in Is
rael telleth the King of Israel the words that thou
spsakest in the bed-ehamber."
Thus we see how the fame Of Jehovah's rroph-
ct penetrated to the nations abroad. We stand
in the very heart of a heathcn kingdom, and see
how they looked in towards that strange land
where the Divine fire was kindled, and how they
gazed in wonder at the light that glimmered thro
the thick night This is the second shaft Of light
by which the heart of pagan darkness had been
transfxsd within brief space. Once in the cure of
Naaman, now in matter of more public con-
cernment.
Such prophet is more than armies. Such a
presence of Divine power is more than all beacons,
barriers, and battlenents.
He must be got out of the way, or the Syrian
chariots may as well rest on the beautiful banks
of Pharpar under the wall of Damascus
"Go!" says the king, 'spy where he is, that
may send and fetch him." And the council dis
solved, aud straightway the country was penetra-
ted in every direction by subtly disguised spies,
with all the guileful craft of the East.
At length returns spy with speed, and is con
ducted to the royal presence
Behold, o king, he is at Dothan.'
This was the well-known spot where joseph
was sold by bis brethren to the Midanites A place
on the old caravan-track from Syria to Egypt, on
| ly about twelve miles north Of Samaria, the Is
raelitish capital.
| Instantly plan was set on foot to sieze Elisha
| by coup de main. 1t was delicate undertaking
to venture this, under the very walls of the enc
| mys capital. The men were picked. The staun-
| chest steeds were bound to the chariots. And
| away they few southwark under cover of night.
Early in the morning, when Gehazi went out,
he found the village completely surrounded by
horses and chariots and men alarms.
| He rushed back to warn his master, and meet
ing him just saIlying forth, be exclaimed in an ag
ony of terror:
"Alas, my master what shall we do!'
'Fear not" is the composed reply, "for they
that be with US, are more than they that be with
| them"
The idea these words convey is not of somewhat
unusual or special in the unseen world. 1t seem:
rather as if the speaker saw things as realities
which other people could not see. As if he had 6
range Of faculties opened in his SOUL which in or
| dnary men was dormant. As if be were familiar
with a whole economy of agencies, whole scene
of operations behind the veil, and shut out from
ordinary inspection. The man at the masthead
NAV see ships in the distance which never rise Il
the sight of those on the deck. Yet those distant
har,s are not unreal, with all their white wing;
olancing in the summer sun.
II was not as if those eTial forces were an illu
siou, cloudy pageant then and there exhibited
for special end, but rather as if such lofty pow
ers were always "walking the earth unseen" ant
that his eve was able to discern what other mel
could not. As if, in short, it were something
more than poetical fiction that
"The Angel of the Lord campeth round abou
his people,
To deliver them
The prophet was divinsly clairvoyant; othe
men cropping in the blindness of mortal incarcer
alton. Their eyes were shut in the birth-sleeI
His had been reopened. Hence, it sounds per
feetly natural when we hear him eXcaim:
40 Lord, pray thee open lis eyes that he ma
see"
As If he had said, ''This poor frightened yout
does not dream what is continually going on aroun
him what world of power and glory environ
! him every moment; O Lord give him one g|imps
one moments insight Of that august and stab
reality and let the heavenly vision hush his FOOLS
| fear for ever p
At the word change passed upon Gehazi-
slight change easily effected by Him that MAJ
!, both body and spirit, and veiled one within Il
. other. The tie was loosened little. The spir
partially dsenthralled, and allowed to regain son
# of its own primoeyal prerogatives. That nome
;. Gehazi became conscious of spirit-presences al
a able to hold intercourse with them.
Yes. the mountains about that little villa
were full of fiery coursers
Atthis moment, the Syrian detachment, VIII