Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-24
" Their Eyes Were Molden.''

When the flames we're leaping unrestrained
from street TO street in Chicago, and ten
thousand homeless men and women were
fleeing wildly before their fury, IL is said
that an infdel was heard calling out in
mockery Where is God now where are
the angels p
The taunting voice ceased at length, the
roar of the flames subsided, and desolation
seemed irretrievable. But presently asweet
murmur arose; again, as if heavenly hosts
were singing Good will to men," there
came from all parts Of the nation, from
England, even from China-nay, from almost
every civilized landWorls of cheer and
pledges Of help.
That was God. 1t was lie, moving mems
sympathies more widely than the world ever
knew before The angels appeared in no
visible form TO inhdel or to panic-stricken
mulutudes TO quench the flames, but, better
than that, they stirred a hundred million
hearts with love and sympathy which fire
cannot consume--worth more than posses
sions Of warehouses and goods. Wait till
smoke and flame have ceased till disturb
ing forces that confuse and blind our eyes
have spent their fury, and we shall find the
whole world still full Of angelic presence
full Of God.
lie hides himself wondrously,
As though there were no God
lie Is least seen when all the powers
OF ~ are most abroad
Oh, best IL he 10 whom Is given
The instinct that can tell
That God is on the field when lie
ls most invisible
When Christ was taken in the garden,
Peter thought it necessary to use the sword
to defend his Master. His eyes were holden.
aI 81 ....ls
legions Of angels ready at His call More
than this. lie would have been alone even
with legions of angels. lie was not alone I;
the Father was with Him. lie saw the
Fathers face. Angels might strike like
Peter they could not sustain like God.
To every believer He is more than angelic
4 legious He is Emmanuel, >" God with us"
/ We see Him who is invisible " by our faith,
and find His ministries sweet and permanent.
/ Only as our eyes are holden in respect to the
unseen do we love and cling to this life, and
( call that disaster when We fail to realize
earthly desires.
1t is written that Moses endured as see
/ ing Him who is invisible SO he looked
{ upon the wretchedness and suffering of his
/ countrymen, and could endure the sight and
could await the appointed time for action.
! So he believed God had the control Of the
affairs Of men-an interest in those bond.
men. So he was willing to leave the lux
ury and position enjoyed in an Egyptian
palace and Join his fortunes with an op-
pressed people. 1t was seeing Him who is
invisible" that gave, even to the natural eye,
aud to physical strength. such vigor that the
one was not dimmed,' nor the other
abated." So he was content to lie down
and die--Canaan still unpossessed by the
tribes Of Israel.
Grasping by faith the invisible, resting in
Him who holds all things in His power life
assumes grandeur and is crowned with hope.
Looking calmly upon the sweep and mean
ing Of divine counsels, we are content-the
fever and fret Of life vanish from the heart.
Looking upon a shower of meteors, men may
be startled but the sweep of worlds gives
quiet and deep assurance.
With a fai-seeing spirit, the riches aud
honor, OF the world are rightly estimated
lie whose eyes are not holden is not con.
fused by a visible world, but rests in an in
visible God. Impatience to get and enjoy
the things of to-day ceases. But there is
many son who will not wait--must have
his good things now, runs through the whole
round of pleasure, and dies like a beast.
There was only needed for the assurance
of Elisha's servant, that his eyes might be
opened There are toilers in Gods vine
yard oppressed with feverish anxiety, ol
pressing on with strange haste, or burdened
with cankering care-ministers in the study
and in the pulpit, teachers in the Sunday
school, toilers in other Christian spheres
who are wearing out prematurely, are broker
in strength and bruised in spirit, who onl,
need the answering for themselves of Elisha
prayer Lord, pray thee, open his eye
that he may see"
God walks by our sidei We SOW, and toi
with and for Him. We may plan and hope
but better than our wisest plan and true
than our brightest hope, He will provide
harvest. The favor of God is gain. Faith i
victory. The wrath of God is loss. His dis
pleasure is defeat Let not our eyes b
holden, most blessed CONDITIONING Star.