The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-04-29

KIM OF VISION, pIeooh0eo w no' S""
as if they were on the sunny side of some
high mountain, there refreshing them
selves with the pleasant beams of the
sun, while 1 was shivering and shrinking
in the cold, afflicted with frost, snow and
dark clouds: Methought also, betwixt
me and them, | saw wall that did com
pass about this mountain: now through
this wall my soul did greatly desire to
pass; concluding, that if l could, l would
even 60 into the very midst of them, and
there also comfort myself with the heat
of their sun.
"About this wall l bethought myself,
to 60 again and again, still prying as |
went, to see if / could find some way or
passage, by which | might enter therein;
but none could I find for some time. At
the last | saw, as it were, a narrow gap,
like little doorway in the wall, through
which 1 attempted to pass: Now the pas
sage being very strait and narrow, l
made many efforts to get in, but all in
vain, even until 1 was well nigh quite
beat out, by striving to get in; at last,
with great sideling, my shoulders, and
my whole body got in: then | was ex-
ceedingly glad, went and sat down in the
midst of them, and so was comforted with
the light and heat of their sun.
"Now this mountain and wall, ETC.,
was thus made out to me: The mountain
signifed the Church of the living God,
the sun that shone thereon, the comfort
able shining of his merciful face on them
that were therein; the wall l thought
was the world, that did make separation
between the Christians and the world !;
and the gap which was in the wall, l
thought, was Jesus Christ, who is the
way to God the Father. For Jesus said
in his reply to Thomas, Il am the way,
and the truth, and the life, no man CON-
eth to the FatEsr but By me. Because
strait IS the gate and mar~ow IS the vay
Which leadeth unto life, and fen there be
that find 1t. John xiv; Matt. vii: IA.
But forasmuch as the passage was won
derfIl narrow, even so narrow that |
could not, but with great difficulty, enter
in thereat, it showed me that none could
enter into life but those that were in
downright earnest, and unless also they
left that wicked world behind them; for
here was only room for body and soul,
but not for body and soul and SIM
2. This description may be accommo-
dated to the renewed comforts of the
Christian, after a season of inward temp
tation, detection, and Encouragement.
Such conflicts and sorrows often agitate
and cast down the child of God. He is
troubled with gloomy doubts and dis
tressing fears. 1t is said in the 10th
Psalm,
1.-The SORROWS of death compassed me,
And the pains of hell gat hold upon me:
/ found trouble and SORROW"
But when, in answer to the fervent
cries and supplications of the sufferer,
God graciously affords help, relief, and
deliverance, and restores unto him the
joys of salvation, he emerges from the
gloom and cold of winter, and passes into
the sunshine and gladness of spring. He
is able to say with the Psalmist:
Return unto thy rest o my soul;
For the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. +"
3. The passage may be applied to
providential deliverance from external
trials, calamities, and Affections. At the
Exodus Of the children of Israel from
Egypt, the long winter of their bondage
was succeeded by the spring of liberty,
joy, and triumph. The forty years Of
wandering and trouble in the wilderness
were followed by the rest and delights Of
a settlement in the lovely land of Canaan.
The captivity in Babylon was like an
other long, gloomy, and distressing win
ter. But it passed away, and the re-
storation of the exiles to their own land
was like the joyful, welcome return Of
Spring. Often has the Church been sub
ect to the fierce blasts and wintry storms
of persecution. But the angry tempest
has been stilled, and the Church has en-
joyed spring of renewed peace and
prosperity. "Then had the churches
rest throughout all Judea and Galilee
and Samaria, and were edited; and walk
ing in the fear of the Lord and in the
comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multi.
Piled" Acts tx: 81. In like manner
the individual saint exchanges the winter
of persecution, suffering and sorrow for
spring of restored liberty, safety, COM
fort, and joy. Such was the happy ex-
perience of David, who celebrated the
change in his condition in joyful psalm
of thanksgiving and praise. "And Da-
vid spake unto the Lord the words of
this song in the day that the Lord had
delivered him out of the hand of all his
enemies, and out of the hand of Saul. y
4 The passage may be referred TO the