The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-20


roadside waiting for news from the field of bat
tie. This white-haired watcher is ninety eight
years old. He is come to the time of life when
men ought to have peace 1t is very pitiful that
man should have struggle, and pain
and disappointment for ninety eight
with care and peltei with the stones
of adverse fortune. A good man, too; a loving
tender, indulgent father. Too indulgent, alas!
pure judge-a who is as unfired by jea-
ousy of others as by ambition for himself
whose character is as white as his hair Yet
here he sits the victim of painful anxiety. His
sons are in the battle to-day, nd it is day of
trial, for the old man is anxious for them. They
have not been good sons, indeed, they have been
very bad sons, and by their disgusting offenses
have scandalized all Israeli and almost broken
their fathers heart Yet they are his sons: he
loves them still. So he sits, and trembles and
waits for news from the boys But this is not
his largest anxiety The ark of God has been
carried out upon the battlefield A few days
ago. as read in the lesson, the people of Israel
had fight with the Philistines and the heather
warriors were victorious. Then Israel said: ''Let
us go to Shiloh and get the ark of God. We will
bring that on the field and then we will see what
the Philistines can do God will defend his ark;
it is the symbol of the Divine presence and the
Infinite arm will shield it and protect u.s. and
enemies will fly before u.s. So thew went to
Shiloh and took the ark from its sacred enclos-
ure and carried it out into the tempest of battle
When the holy thing came upon the field Israel
shouted for JOY until the earth trembled,
because they really thought that the
presence of that symbol of Jehovah's glory, and
power, and covenant, meant victory for them,
and that the shame of their for mer defeat would
De forgotten in the spendor of the triumph which
would surely follow the coming of the ark The
Philistines were dismayed. They heard the
noise of Israel's mighty shouting, and said God
is come into their camp. They asked, 'Who
shall deliver out Of the hands of these
mighty gods" These are the gods which smote
the Egyptians with all the plaques in the wilder
ness But good old Eli did not share the pre-
vailing feeling of either army He had broad
er and deeper view of the Divine Providence
than either Israelite Philistine had; such
view as Christians everywhere should have. He
knew that his sons had offended God, and that
the Hebrews had been guilty Of
sacrilege in carrying the ark out into
the fury and peril of battle He was
not sure that God would not punish his sons and
all Israel by Phiiistine triumph. Eli was
blind, and the messenger he was watching for
ran by the old man into the town. When the
people in the town heard the report of the battle
that the two sons of Eli and thirty thousand of
the footmen of Israel were slain, and the ark
to pass when he made mention of the ark of
God that he fell from off the seat backward
by the side Of the gate, and his neck brake and
he died. for he was an old man and heavy. And
he had judged Israel forty years"
Here a man in the true spirit of prophet.
He loved his people, and when he heard of their
defeat was full of sorrow. He loved his sons
more than his people. and when told of their
death grieved more bitterly still; but when he
was told the ark of God had been taken it was
more than the dear old judge could endure 1t
broke his heart, and he absolutely died Of grief
because the ark of God had been carried away
into the camp of the Philistines. The glory had
departed from Israel 1t is dreadful day for
a ruler who loves his people when battle goes
against them. Lincoln suffered through our ma
tional sorrow until his face became about the
saddest face in the world. AS prophet Eli
doubtless ts;a remembered M the the cause of all all
own sons in doing wrong; not that he had APP
proved, but he had been too indulgent to pun
ish. He had said these boys going wrong
now, but when they get Older after they have had
sees that Gods patience is worn out and he |
knows just why it was worn out.
In these days we do not expect much from |
man OF ninety eight. We excuse him if he drops |
say. We do not expect much of old men who |
are blind Let men stand watch who can sec, |
we say. But the man goes cut to watch when he |
is too blind to see the messenger when he
And So though Eli is too old to see me do it, |
and sit at his feet he sits beside the city |
gate, and one lesson that learn from him is |
that every good man should be solicitous about |
the fate of God scause Every good man shnS,.6 be
solicitous because the religion of God conserves |
the highest personal interests of men. Ellis sons
were much to him, but the ark was more. He |
could live without sons, but he could not live |
without God. So man can live happily with |
out money, without knowledge, without power,
even without friendship and health; but no man |
can live and be truly happy without the favor
of God. He must be pardoned reconcied and |
become new man; otherwise he is out of har |
mony with God, and cannot have peace. 1t passes |
without saying it that man who is an enemy |
of God cannot be perfectly happy man.
Religion gives faith in almighty Providence.
1t subdues wild passion, and fills one with
calmness, peace and love- 1t gives a
hopeful outlook among the glores OF paradise,
SO that one may say, 20 death where is thy |
stngW These people of Israel made one mis-
take What they needed was not the ark in the
camp, but the spirit of obedience in their hearts,
not the sacred symbol of Gods power and fidel |
ity, but the fact Of their own. Let us under |
stand forevermore that religion is not in forms
and symbols. 1t does not follow that we have
the favor of God because we have what we call
sanctuary organ service, genufiexion and
amen. Religion is not in symbols; it has to be |
in the Heart. And when it is in the hearts Of
the people, then they truly great. Piety |
toward God is national bulwark. 1t
can do more to make nation pros |
porous and permanent than army |
or navy, or protective tariff, or any other cum
ming expedient. David spoke not as an enrap-
tured poet, as visionary rellgionist, but |
as King of Israeli "Some trust in chariots and |
some in horses but we will remember the name
of the Lord, our God" He knew that there is |
more national protection in piety than liz police
men; better defense in devotion than in
diplomacy.
There are homes in this city that are so
wretched as to remind one of the abode of de-
spar. Love is dead in them. If hope ever
doomed there it died long ago and dropped from
its stem like an autumn flower. Incidence and
improydence fill it with poverty, drunkenness
and passion. But let true piety come into these
homes and all will change. Industry will Danish
poverty, passion will yield to the mild sway of
peace, and hope will grow again in a soil made
fruitful by love. l pity those who have no rec
election of personal experience in things of God
VINO never knew the sweet pain of godly repent
ance or the sweeter JOY of pardon.
Atone point in his discourse DR.. Bayliss,
speaking with great emotion, and addressing