Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-06-21
Preached June I'd, 1861

Preached June I'd, ls6l.I
E.s Elisha was fallen sick of the .icl,s..
7a-'. he '''a' ana Joash, the King Of Israel.
cane wa unto him and wept over his face and
.... my father, IL father, the chariot Of ~
sr tnr h.- thereof
Aal Elisha said unto him: Take bow and srro,v,
tat be took unto him bows and arrows
Aai he slit t. the King Of Israel, pnt ,biro
band upon the bow. And he put his hand na,,
' sra Elisha put his hands upon the
Ana Be aid, pPch the window eastward All
.Y~ueiU. Then Elisha said: Shoot And he sbo,
tui sati: Tho arrow Of the Lords deliversncs
eal '5 arrow OF delivcranco from Syria: For tbon
.6a'' sm-ie the Nyrians in Aphek, till thou have
a-anei them. ""'0
Ari BE said. Take arrows And bc tool .ho..
.s sa'a 'fs'o n's King of israel. Sspf, ,,,,, ~.
.7t And h v1r7'e three and sfaveL
f'4 no "'r ~ Eof lras UrotA wutb him. and ssiT
jH.n 'f7N7st h7rs smtfol fUe or SIR tirne,; then
.alf thou snitten Syria till thou hadst consumed
r " .ereas, now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice
~ hwgs, s'p: l4-l9.
dom Is it the duty OF an ambassador of
t.s Prince Of Peace 70 stand up the advocate
o orIol"nce. As one sent 10 preach good tidngs
unto the mock, he finds his most frequent
ana most welcome commission to be that
lvoclamltioa Of peace and good Will in
which angelic horaidS foretold the end of
strife between Heaven and earth TO comfort
those Who mourn in Zion-to give the gar
m'nt OF praise for the spirit Of heaviness
20 tel the penitent but distruslful prodiCal
a' a Fathers love; to whisper in tie ear of
satan b1nlmen the hope If the liberty of
Gol's children. to utter again the voice.
.. Calvary words which to the diving soul
lAli prove spirit and life: to oppose the tide
e. human Tdsslons-aad By the work of
reacemaker sccure a blessing as the child OF
G3d to invoke His power who from on high
shall hasten the time when the nations shall
learn war no m0re-these are the most fire.
41.nt duties which the Office of the minister
imposes; these are the most welcome privi-
.azcs which it c0niers
The call 10 arms ia the place Of christian
worship, seems 10 make harsh discord with
the lingering echoes of the Gospel Of Christ
Yet every thing is beautiful in its season,
and there asa me Of 'c1r, as well as of peace
That tod, whose one great purpose in his
Tuyldenccs among mCn. Is the redemption
of their souls, has many and varied methods
n working, Sunshine and storm, peace and
var, alternate la the execution OF that plan,
the end of which shall he eternal sunshine
and infinite peace. there is a diversity of
~rerctoRs by the same spirit. He who led
lis people like a flock 10y the hand of Moses
-uI Aaron, gave also 4 military commission
b their leaders and bade them 20 up into
tie battle. lie Taught their hands to war
aai their fingers to Gght.
90 i, q scene of no ordinary interest which
presented in the text The man upon whom
had fallen the mantle Of a translated prophet,
and who for more than three score years had
fulfilled the duties Of his sacred Office, was
iailen sick OF the sickness whereof he died.
His ministry seemed to have been finished,
ami he appeared to be but awaiting the re-
ward Of his fidelity. But as the king of
Israel bcwailed with tears the loss which
bs nation must suffer, when he, who had
'-en the chariot of Israel and the hersemen
hcreof. was no longer on earth, another
emmission was given to the prophet, and
Hc last recorded act of his life was, by the
word of prophecy and command, to strength
"a the king against the enemies Of Israel.
rs the king, in obedience to the prophets
order put his hand upon the implements of
war. the prophet placed has hand upon the
kings hand. Even while his vigor was
wasting before the approach of death, he
could impart strength to the king, for the
power which came through Elisha was a
,raam from the fountain of Omnipotence.
Il knew no lailurc-eyen when the hand OF
The man was well snigh palsied the hand Of
tae prophet was strong. lie bade the king
rr.n the window eastward and shoot and
as the arrow sped towards the camps of
I-racls enemies, the word of prophecy
and Of povcr followed it-and though from
Altering lips, yet in the might OF the Lord
a. hosts. the dying man of God proclaimed
it the arrow of the Lords deliverance-ths
arrow Of dcliverence from Syria Again, that
his message might be more forcibly given,
le badc the king smite with the arrows on
the ground. Ia token Of the subiugation of
the enemy . and as the king smote but thrice
and stayed, the spirit of the old prophet was
reused to wrath, and he fingered at the gates
%. death, to chde the king for hls lack OF
zeal IN the battle of the Lord.
Tins message, by Elisha, seems to have
been the last which he was appointed TO bear,
for Ia the words Immediately following the
narrative. it is recorded that Elisha died,
and they buried him. Thus was ministry
| # sixtv years closed with call to the battle,
and the ue,uliar sacredness investing the faSt
responses from that oracle of God, enforced
lie can. When the man, whose venerable
head had been avenged of its insults by bears
hym the wood, and whose spirit was
Joublv that Of prophet, was bowIng ms
head IN death. tho last emotion OF hls spirit
t0which he gave utterance, was Indignation
with the king at his negligence In war
would not be thought to seek parahei
between the nation Of Israel and the Govern
ment Of these United States; nor would
j rank among the Syrians our infatuated
D brethren Of the South. have referred to
this narrative merely as an illustration OF the
.ac.s tsat God sometimes commands war,
and that when lie commands war, lie would
have it prosecuted with yIgor
When the kings Of Judah and Israel were
threatened lv enemies. they were accustomeO
/ +, enonire of the prophet Of the Lord, wheth
i ,r thew should - up to the battle. In hk'
manner onrbt We. at this time, to seek th'
/ Tor,l-s al IN that revelation which lie ma
10, !, nur own moral sense and IN III
rJ n3triotlsm untested by the primer
/ ,l~s of divine Government, Is a motive 0
/ -hirh thr christian should beware IN
A 4.,..f country. though among the Putes
Il ana uo'l..st ui mere earthly passions nd
i IN me ca-e lead man 10 unhoiY sVii'e' an, an.
/ IN another IL may obscure the hiShoT PrIICi
/ ME of Iovalty to God, and thus renuer W."
l should be .the battle OF the Lord' no'h'''
| better than The contention OF men !.
Ia view Of this fact no apology Is neeoe
/ for s,,eaking of War at this time, ana ainl
.Lo e,cro5 associations that gather around I
IN onr ,laco of worship-oD the contrary,
= ba true that God bids us 60 up to war, Il
,ros her who has no word of approval and
counsel, must be deemed unfaithful in h
offee '' If the God Of peace bids US engage ge
1 var, the preacher of peace must be ready
aive utterance to that command:
/ That we are entering upon riSh @ teous W ",
is | believe, the full conviction OF ever! "
whom | address hut merely rish'e3TT .
warI should have no heart to adv4ca'e. !
gospel Of Christ has no syinPasrS md md
spirit which seeks permission 70 nsnS' S "OT r
content if such PERMISSION be f9una; %
r3I't'te r;rht 70 water the eaIth with blood IS
Sbt nSjcome M privilege. Still less DO We value
,;oSt mejI'tn' to become ministers of death to
Issr5ycn. XII Though our love for that Cove,
,nent which has been the richest gilt OF y
to any nation since His statutes were !.
Constitution OF the Hebrew Common"e cal
4 NAV kindlc a hot Indignation against ,Fe.S