Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-04-30
Abide With Us.
By REV. r. ". BERcHER.

Even a glance Of the sun is cheering, in a
Law of storms, or of clouds that without
torming fill the air with sullenness, and make
twilight even at MONDAY. But what is this
compared with the brightness of unobstructed
Jun all the day long, filling the air above,
overlaying the earth, aud pouring gold upon
every tree, stone, or house, until the eye shrinks
for very brightness!
But the sunlight of singl day brings forth
nothing. Such days come in December, in
January, and amid the boisterous weeks of
February, and the tumult of March. But
nothing springs up. The tree makes no growth.
The light does not enter it. II lies wide
abroad, and indeed most beautiful, but nothing
is created by it, for FURNISHED icicles and
frost-drops are the only stems and flowers
which come from the slant and brightness of
Winters sun.
1t is only when, at length, the sun returns
from its equatorial pilgrimage, and enters into
the earth, and abides within it, that life is
awakened. The earth knows his coming. In
winters, nature lies as the dead. The sun
stretches itself upon it, as did the prophet
upon the woman's son, and from every part
there is rising up and resurrection of root,
stem, bud and flower But none of these
things happen to casual and infrequent shining
They are the fruit of indwclling heat. Not
till the sun enters in, and abides in the soil,
not till days and nights are struck through
with warmth, is there life and glory.
IF this be so of poor and lower Nature,
how more eminently is it true of the human
soul, and of its Sun of Righteousness! 1t is
gladstone thing in toll and trouble to have a
single bright flash from the face of God A
prisoner in dungeon may have but one small
window, and that far up, and out Of the way
of the sun, and for months and months not
one single day does the yellow sun send one
single and solitary ray through the poor little
window. But at length, in changing its place
in the heavens, there comes day in which,
to his surprise and joy, a flash of light springs
through and quivers on the wall. 1t vibrates
upon his heart still more TREMENDOUSLY than on
the wall. Even so much is joy. 1t warns
nothing, and lights but little. But it brings
back summer to his soul. 1t tells him that
the sun is not dead, but walks the heavens
yet. That single ray speaks of fields, of trees,
of birds, and of the whole blue heavens So
is it, often, in life. 1t is in the power of one
blessed thought, in truly Christian heart, to
send light and joys for hours and days. But
that is not enough. 1t is not enough for
Christian growth or Christian nourishment,
that dependency sometimes hopes, and dark
ness sometimes smiles into light. A Christian
is to be child of light, and in the light
The whiteness of heavenly robes is the light
which they reflect from the face of God! A
Christian is to bear much fruit. He cannot
unless he abides in summer. For relief, a
casual visit of Gods grace is potential. But
for fruit, much fruit and ripened fruit, nothing
will suffice but the summers sun.
Now this steadfastness of Gods presence
is both to be prayed for, and to be possessed
There is provision in the Gospel for that very
blessing. 1t is the promise of the Father
and the pledge of the Son. 1t is made to be
a Christians duty to pray for it, and to expec
it. For, in every deed, there can be no tru'
and full Christian ripeness without it.
The soul forms no habits, and comes to NJ
spiritual conformity to God, by the jets an(
flashes of excitement. These have their use
and one to be gladly accepted. But the sou
must lie long in the light; it must abide il
divine warmth. There must be spiritual sum
mer where there is to be much fruit. Ou
thoughts are like our bodies. Men canno
come to good breeding by an occasional en-
trance to good society. tits an habitual com
merce with grace and amenity that fashions
man to politeness 1t is living in study tina
makes a man learned. And even more, it i
abiding in God, and having the indwelling o
God with us, that brings the soul to manner
and learning of divine things.
1t seems an impossible thing, to many, t.
carry the presence and influence of the Spiri
of God through all the whir and occupation
of life! Is it impossible for young soldie
to carry the spirit of love with him, througl
camp, march, and battle? Is it difficult 70
the parent to carry his soul full of domesti
affections through the business of the day ?
Is it impossible, OR even difficult, for us t.
carry any telling which is deep and strong
which we love, within us, in spite of exterio
disturbance?
Nay, do we not see every day that til
heart, by such enthusiams or deep emotions
not only goes unchanghed through the burden
some life, but casts out of itself flood {
radiance, and makes its path light by its ow
!, cheerfulness or joy? Love in the soul is Xix
perfume in the garments. Heat cannot me-
it, nor cold freeze it, nor the winds blow
away. Going forth or coming home, it scatter
, itself, but is not wasted it is forever goin!
but never gone. And the love of God she
abroad in the soul surpasses all fragrance,
inexhaustable diffusiveness. IF men hav
only little love, an occasional spark, it ma
be troublesome to nourish it when the worl
casts down on it green fuel A large fiji
a small fame. 1t is even as St. Peter saith
eff these things be in you, and abound, the
make you that We shall neither be barren NJ
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lor
Jesus Christ"
THR VALUE OF FIVE MMuTEs.-The in
portance of this brief space of time was stril
ingly Illustrated by circumstance which o