Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-09-07

GOLDEN TEXT am the resurrec-
ton and the life. John II :25.
Elisha takes the office of Elijah
after his translation, and in a milder
but no less effective way does
prophets work. The present lesson
is instructive for its detail of events
that have passed at Shunem where
he and his servant were often enter
tanned by rich gentlewoman who
made him welcome to her home and
made in her house prophets room
for his use. Once when lodging
there he thought of what was due
her and asked if she would have him
present her case to the king and cap
tain of the host, and she replied ST
dwell among my own people, and
said nothing. Gehazi suggested she
was childless and the prophet as
sured her that ere a year had gone
she should have son, a promise
duly fulfilled. 1t grew up the joy of
her home, passed the dangers that
threaten infancy and childhood. On
harvest day be went into the har-
vest field with his father and the
reapers and was Frustrated by sun
stroke, a thing quite common in the
east. His father ordered him car
ried to his mother, and he lay ON her
knees till noon and then died. In
stead of making great ado, she
laid him on the prophets bed and
closed the door and sent word to her
husband to send one of his men and
an ass, that she might run to Elisha
and return. He inquired why, as it
was not the new moon or Sabbath.
She said, cit shall be WE'LL" She
babe her servant drive fast and not
stop unless hidden. The prophet
saw her as she drew near and sent
Gehazi to 60 and ask if it was we'll
with her, with husband and with her
child. She said, sit is WE'LL" and
passed on to the prophet and fell
and caught his feet. Gehazi sought
to drive her away but Elisha said,
''Let her alone. The Lord hides it
from me- In mothers way she
tells her tale of sorrow. Gehazi is
told to grid himself, take his staff
and 60 with all speed and lay it on
the child's face. The mother had no
faith in that order but declared she
would not go home without the
prophet. GAS the Lord liveth, |
will not leave thee" He went with
her. Gehazi's staff was laid in vain
and he went back and reported,
'The child is not awakened. When
the prophet arrived and saw the dead
child he went in, and, closing the door,
prayed. Then he stretched himself
on the child and put eyes to eyes,
hands to hands and mouth to mouth,
and the child waxed warm, and after
walking the house repeated the cere-
mony, and the child sneezed seven
times and opened his eyes. He told
his servant to call the mother and
said to her, 'sTake up thy son." She
went in and fell at his feet, and with
joy too deep for words took him up
and went out.
First, we remark that the child
was given to his mother for love
of and devotion to the prophet. Sec
ond, he died that God and the proph-
ct might be more highly honored in
his restoration to life. Third, it was
even greater JOY to the parents
than if he had not died. Fourth, we
may admire the despair of human
help that the mother showed, and
also her persistence in seeking Gods
help through the prophet. Fifth, we
see that Elisha used all available
means for the child's recovery: &C.
hazi's service, going TO see him.
prayer, and bodily contact. Sixth,
how gloriously the earnest mother
prevailed over death itself.
@ THE LOVE OF GOD.
Tho deNont Kehle in one of his