Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-05-03
The Pendulum.

lie turned and went away in rage" 2
Kings 5 12.) These words are spoken con-
corning Nam al. He had received the
message Of the prophet, curt and clear
Wash, and be Clean" and what is the re-
suit? Submission? Nay, " he turned and
went away in a rage" g He turned :" hith-
erto, from the time that his ear was opened
to hear the words of truth from the captive
mald, his face bad been Forwards Before
him was God, the Jordan, cleansing, saliva
ton; behind, Damascus, Pharpar, and
hopeless grief over his incurable leprosy
But che turned" and thus by his own act
placed Gods cleansing and salvation be-
hind him, and before him diving life and
q speedy death. "IIe turned" from per-
feet recovery: ''he went away" toward in
evitable death.
Thus in. the case Of Naaman we have a
coming and a going. We see him oscil-
lating as it were between Jerusalem and
Damascus, Jordan and Pharpar He comes
because he is needy. He goes because he
is proud. lie comes because he knows he
is leper. He goes because he thinks him
self somebody. He comes because he list
ened to the report Of the little maid
He goes because he listened to his own
| thoughts Thus the heart of Naaman is
like a pendulum, swinging now to the right
| hand, now to the left At last it gives the
! tina! swing, and a blessed swing it is. Its
a swing to the right, and not to the left
to the place Of the sheep, not to the place
Of the goats to the place of the blessed,
not of the cursed.
Each heart on earth is swinging or al
rest. Some are at rest to the right. They
have ceased from their own works, and
have come to rest. They have made the
final swing out of self into Christ, and he
has said, peace leave with you, Ny peace
give unto you" But are there not some
At rest to the lett? Do we not meet witt
some whose cOnsciences seem scared as with
a red hot iron, who, though they lived mos
Lodiess lives are quite at ease? There is NJ
more terrible position out of hell than this
But these are few in number The heart
Of the great majority are not at rest. They
are swinging like pendulum of the clocl
from right to left. Now their hearts ar
influenced by the gospel message; now, b,
their own thoughts Now, they inclin
Godward, now, MAYNARD. Now they ar
seen with their faces toward the New Jeru
salem, now, toward the world. Is not thi
he description OF the case Of many? Is /
your case? You hear the gospel, you wisI
that you were saved. Like Felix, whel
. you hear of righteousness, temperance an
. Judgment to come, you may tremble, yO
nay exclainl, almost thou Persuadest N
to be a christian" Is not your heart swing
I ing Heavenward and GOdward ? But 70
e 10 not decide. Like Felix, you may pu
= It off to a more convenient season. Gradu
n ally your impressions wear off You NEE
5. ,our careless companions. Soon you are
- careless and Indifferent as ever. You hay
: made the full swing back again to the worlC
}. Is this the description of your case? Liste
J, then to a word from the servant of God
i How long halt We between two opinions
Il If the Lord be God follow him; but if Ba;
it follow him" Il Kings Is 2l.) Let this o
u citation come to an end. Decide, and d,
e eide now, for who knows which shall |
l. The final swing. Beader, shall that swir
N and thee in Heaven or in hell > Hcya
st Of Uery.