Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-11-19

What strange experience was this part
ing scene al go away the bridegroom
shall be taken from you" sad words to
loving hearts. But the hour has come
grouped about the Master, hanging on his
lips, looking into his eyes, never did he
seem so gracious, so lovely as now-how
eagerly did they fasten their wondering
gaze upon that dear face Was it silent,
motionless parting? Were there no fare
wells, no tears, no embraces None are re-
corded. But on them he cast benignant
looks; over them he lifted hands in blessing.
With sorrow and awe blended in intense
yearning they waited 10 catch the latest
tones of that charming voice. Then he
looked heavenward as If to some divine
command from the great throne. The sig
nal came. Suddenly the air grew radiant,
angel wings Glove the invisible blue, the
seraphc glow upon his countenance grew to
an unearthly brightness. What a thrilling
moment for all the race. With the pierced
hands still uplifted, the pierced feet no
longer stood on the earth, the mysterious
fight skyward is begun. One last look, "a
cloud received him out of their sight"
Doubtless the chariots of the cherubim
halted for him Just behind that cloud cur
tain. The ascension was mighty miracle.
Science still marvels at it. All bodies within
our atmosphere gravtate to the earth. Christ
was man he possessed a visible, tangible,
real personality. Standing erect on one of
earth's hills, he alone of his race and age
suspended the universal law, bade defiance
to the mundane centripetal force that bound
all others, and without aid from balloon or
wings, or skilful aerial vehicle, was waited
away out of the planet, out of the solar sys-
tenn to the eternal central throne. His
center of gravity was heaven. The mighty
magnet that drew him thithei with such
resstless, stupendous power was God. Con-
travened nature gave place to the interpos
ing supernatural. Secondary force became
subordinate to the Creator. Surely it was
not hard for him at whose feet the turbu-
lent sea-waves had crouched in stiffness, at
whose will the wild winds ceased to blow,
aud at whose word of command the sheeted
dead leaped from the darkness of the tomb,
to bridge the gulf of the sky, and pass from
the foot-stone to the royal seat. To-day, by
the ascension, man has mediator just
where all through the ages he never had one
before, viz, on the throne of omnipotence.
All hail the risen, assembled Lord, the sin
ners' friend, the Goldman, mighty to save.
"Out of their sight" "Though ye see him
not" But he is to come in sight again, and
The first meeting.place is " in the air,
Just where he vanished from human sight
The Scriptures ever couple the ascension
with the descent, the departure with the re
turn, the going to the Fathers house with
the advent at last to the house of the wait
ing virgins. Jesus went away he viii
surely come back. He went to God h,
/ will one day come from God. He wen
, thither personally. He went visibly; h'
will return visibly. He went up literally
, he will come again literally. He went VI
! bodily and corporeally, and the two celestia
9 messengers said he will "come in like man
t ner." He went up in cloud he will re
y turn in clouds. He went away while mourn
ing hearts longed to retain his presence; h
will return, and countless ones will lonl
= to see him. The true church yearned b
f hold him with her she will yearn to hav
4. him come back Our Christianity knows N
love for Christ divorced from a love for hi
% appearing. Twice in each and every thre
s. chapters of the New Testament is that las
II grand glorious coming, and its result
IS written Of. Almost every page glitters wit
adyentual gems. All prophecies culminat
D in our Lords return. All creation groau
u for it. Not TO sigh after the day of tn
l. Lord is mark Of infidelty and apostas.
4 " His coming" writes Rev. +. p Marvil
, ais the great and blessed hope of this di
- pensation, the very pole star of the church
IL at is" says Spurgeon, "the day aroun
l. which our chief hopes must ever center
r. Aud we will add; 1t is the one hope, IL
only hope. There is no other. Lo, he com,
:, in glory. Sand with him all our TRUMP
DER the tomb. Union in Christ.