The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-06-26

itighs although u ied apparently away
from lheir destined country They in-
dulged no halncds toward the Egyptians
but ihey woald bo free aud would carry
out that grand destiny which the Az
mighty appoints TO souls. There we
have the great qualities Of all noble minds
al religious hearts, all men of the Abra- .
hamle purity Of heart, devotion to
duty, and reliance on God They APP .
poared indeed Ia rough state there they
were shining like stars Of the morning 10
welcome the national daY Never were
a people 50 situated TO bring out the mo.
tive Of life as we've they. Perleet2-they |
could not be, they need not be, The
many quailed under the touch Of The 1
trial. It's breath was SO like the tongue
Of flame II may be that only the heart
Of Moses was unmoyed as they saw them
selves within the clutches OF the sea, the
desert, the mountain and the ehariots of
Pharaoh We speak no word Of blame
Man may be strong when be sees himself
In danger; Ne eau be resolu,c when he
alone Is called 10 sntier; and he can sink
IN the trenches, ask the boys who fought
with face like flint; but when the
mothers, the wives and children, are In
volved, those whom to protect, God made
Il his nature, II is then putting not the
body but the soul on the rock of torture
Is there one who has not yet learned
what will break the stoutest heart2 Some
time perchance heavy hand will be laid
on his own household will he
know There the Isrselites. What could
they do? The trial hour came upon
them with the crushing force Of storms
and The serpent tongue Of fire. What
could they doY They lifted up their faces
white with the awful trial toward the
heavens; there they stood with pain
lighted eyes looking above humanity for
help In the fearfulness of the moment,
we can clearly discern the spirit Of the
men. There, while the cloud which had
led them to the sea rises dazzlingly float
ing like an angels form, and shuts down
between the pursued fugatives, and their
pursuing foes in the light of which both
are seen, tell me friends, il you will,
whether the trial hour has not indicated
Itself in the threatening ardor of the
/ Egyptians and also ia the upturned brow
OF the lsraelites? 1t is, indeed, certain
that when God touches man he must re-
spond, not in jests, eyasions or fslSehoods
but he will answer according TO the in
ner structure of his lite and show what is
the true basis to apprehend the dealings
of the Infinite Judge!
Fourth--Onr thought compels an ad-
vance and an end Our line Of movement
has led us TO contemplate the presence of
God in human complications to the point
that it signifies trial-scene of souls We
come to still more emphatic manlfes-
tation of the Divine interference. Those
upturned faces were quickly bathed with
the Sight Inefflble, while the intense
Egyptian found one stronger than his
wrath. We look closely to the portrayal.
The connection between the soul of the
multitude and the Almighty was fastened
in the link of faith. 1t is a grand sight to
turn even from the hushed multitude to
Moses as his mystic rod was lifted while
the winds came down and the waves roll
led back. The surging of the masses
heaved also like the tremulous wave as
there through the depths rose pathway
of deliverance. Was it not strong,
proud step that they, a rescued people,
planted OIL the farther shore while the sea
drank the life of their foes? Alas, Pha-
raoh, the pathway OF the just is not for
your feet, or your chariot wheels, The
waves which were lsrael's friends will be
merciless on you. All the creation Of
God, even your own conscienccs, mast
conspire to execute your sentence oTgmu.
There was something tragic in that de-
suucton as well as mysterious in the de-
iyerance. Material objects became the
ministers of Justice. The waves rescued,
and the waves drowned. What shall we
say theni There was an intimacy in re-
lationship which brought the hatred that
would destroy but that drove TO its own
ruin; there was also the same phase OF
justice in the deliverance and in the de.
struction. How closely related and yet
how far apart! A word divides, a SEN
tence separates, cloud lntervenes, and
quickly the one rejoices in an opening
. liberty, while the other floats corpse by
, the shore! Nor is the full weight Of the
i Ayengiug Hand fully realized at this
point Of the scene. We must more than
, look for il in exterBais. We perceive
that the Egyptian's sense Of right and
! wrong, the consciousness OF the enormity
Of his intended act against Israel, wa.
| deadened by the very passion that be in
dulged; but the moment of reflection
! came to him at last as Il must come to ns
. all. We do al sometimes turn prayeriuI
| faces toward the heavens; If not with the
pure hearted lsraelite, it must be with the
burning hearted Egyptian. Ills reflective
, moment came only rs the waves swept
bin 10 ~, death There i something
fcarlully suggestive Ia the testimony ot
those vino have barcly escaped death by
drowning. Yon may have read Of late
, the statement 81 the individual who was
rescued from The water at the fall Of the
Dixon bridge The events Of lifetime
came up "a real form Oh the soul with al
. their original power 10 move, bot witi
, none to remedy o. restrain. The mind il