Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-07-09
Eventfde.'

Like the music voice Of sweetest prophecy,
these words of ancient promise como down
the weary centuries: g And it shall come to
pass at eventide it shall be light" They
are goldea winged messengers OF hope to the
weary, faintipg ones of earth. They tell no
only of that blessed eventide, when all the
changing lights and shadows of this worlds
history shall be lost in the millennial glory
of the closing scene, when the glory OF the
Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters
cover tie sea and when the Sun OF Right
eousness shall shine firth in cloudless splen-
dor upon a redeemed world; but like q
bright rainbow of blessed hope they span the
clouds OF conflicting hopes and fears which
shadow every true and earnest lite. They
come murmuring through the gloom, pre-
Jude OF the song OF final victory waited from
the golden htrps down the shining way, up
which the triumphant spirit passes from
earth's cventide to Heavens morning.
Not to the last shall the dark shadow rest
upon the weary, iainting pilgrim travelling
ZlOnward. Not in clouds and darkness
shall the sun 60 down in his western sky.
Drear and sunless may have been the long
weary hours. The pitlless storm and desola-
ting tempest, in their wild fury, may wreck
his fondest hopes and cherished plans,
sweeping away in moment the garnered
treasure of a life of toll. Demon spirits may
tempt and harass with fierce assaults and
darkest doubts, while the cup of mental
anguish and physical pain is pressed to the
lips until drained to the very dregs. Cher
shed friends in the day of bitter trial pass
coldly by on the other side, leaving him
wounded, fAinting and alone, to struggle 90.
But amid the wrecks Of earthly hopes and
pleasures, gloomy clouds, sunless skies.
- Faith lifts her tear dImmed eyes, and sees
the tempest passing BY" assured at eventide
it shall be light. The purified vision of the
soul pierces through all the clouds and night
and sees the light breaking in as from the
very throne, the glorions eventide radi-
ant with the far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory that crowns the closing
scene of the Christians probation life.
How the shaded life brIghtens in the mys-
tic splendors of the divine glory, reflected
from the jeweled walls and flashing turrets
OF the - Dear Jerusalem above" irradiating
it's darkest hours and pouring its blessed
light upon every scene OF trial, blending the
whole In one beautiful panorama OF light and
shadow.
1t matters little, then, how far the weary
pilgrim has come, even. though it be withan-
sandaled feet and calloused hands. In the
light OF tue eventide he tastes, in sweet pre-
hbation, the unpaling glories of his heavenly
home. No more weary days or unresting
nights for him. No more throbtiug brow or
ievered brain, No more battling with temp
tation and sin. He catches sight of the open
gates OF the nightless city from which
streams down such food of glory the soul
is forever TRANSPORTED by its power and
changed into the image of the IneHable. o.,
how transcendently glorious the eventide OF
the redeemed and blood washed soul thai
passes from the shadows of time into the
dlmless splendors of the eternal day. All
the shado1ed past grows bright with the ra-
dance Of the closing scene and the soul from
It's exalted standpoint, far above the life
shading clouds, beholds them all silver lined
shields OF divine protection, the a sis of tn
Almighty Father, over-arching US in many
an hour of peril
y grandly glorious moment of final tri-
umph, when, from the hard-fought field Of
our stern probation life, we come up at last
to claim our untading laurels U wondrous
coronal when from the humble station of
lowiy duty, We are exalted to wear evermore
the insignia of Heavens royalty.
y ecsratlc hour p. that leaves It's imprint of
divinest joy and infinite peace upon the
countenance fast paling in death and thrills
the ear, insensate TO all of earth's jarring
dlscords, with the melody of the skies, that
lights up the eye, soon to close forever, with
visions OF such seraphic beauty and entranc-
ing loveliness that earth with It's fairess pos
sibIlties and tondest dreams can charm
nevermore.
y patient, toiling one abiding for lit
tie time in the shadows of earth, the day OF
your full redemption draweth nigh. The
supernal glories of this holy eventide shall
be yours. la the decree of the Uachauga
bic 1t 10 written, - it shall come to pass.
The very hour Is recorded in the DO * of His
remembrance against your name, when the
veil shall be lifted forever and your eyes
shall look upon the King in His beauty, and,
amid the bright Seraphlm, white robed Ell
ders, aud perfected Saints behold the glori-
fed Son OF Man. And mingling with the
raylshing melody OF the celestial harps, and
the welcome bells of the City, thou will
hear iron his own lips the sweet greeting
s~eeter than all the choral symphonies of
Heaven even-" Come, thou blessed of my
Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for
you. '-Me,seagsr.