Democratic messenger., 1888-10-06

drove along the coast Of the Netherlands
In black chariot Of storm-cloud. It did
not merely happen so that Luther rose
from the place where he was sitting just In
time to keep from being crushed by q
stone that the instant after fell on the
very spot. Had he not escaped where
would have been the reformation? Il did
not merely happen so that Columbus
was saved from drowning by an oar
floating on the water. Otherwise. who
would have unveiled America? II did
not merely happen so that when George
Washington was at Brooklyn great fog
settled down over all this end Of Long
Island, and that under that fog he and his
army escaped the clutches Of Generals
Howe and Clinton. In q chariot ofmist and
cloud the God Of American Independence
rode along here. On that pillow Of con.
ISOLATION l put down my head to sleep at
night. On that solid foundation I build
when ! see this nation In political parox.
ism every four years, not because they
care two cents about whether II Is high
tariff, or low tariff, or no tariff at oil, but
only whether the Democrats or Republ-
cans shall have the salaried officer. Yea,
when European nations are holding their
breath, wondering whether Russia or
Germany will launch war that will
incarnadine continent fall back on the
faith that my Father still drives. Yea
cast this as an anchor, and plant this as
column Of strength, and lift this as telc.
scope, and build this as a fortress, and
propose without any perturbation to
launch upon an unknown future triumph.
ant in the fact that my Father drives.
Yes, He drives very near. know that
many Of the clouds that you see in the
summer are far oil, the bases of some Of
them five miles above the earth. High on
the highest peaks Of the Andes travellers
have seen clouds far higher than where
they were standing. Gay Lussac, af,cr
he had risen in balloon $4,000 feet, still
saw clouds above him
But there are clouds that touch the
earth and discharge their rain, and,
though the clouds ont Of which Gods
chariot Is made may sometimes be far away,
and often they are close by, and they
touch our shoulders, and they touch our
homes, and they touch us all over have
read of two rides that the Lord took In
two different chariots of clouds, and OF
another that He will take. One day, In n
chariot Of clouds that were mingling OF
fog and smoke and fire, God drove down
to the top OF a terrible crag 1900 feet
high, now called Jcbcl. Musa, then called
Mount Sinai, and He stepped out of His
chariot among the split shelving Of rock
The mountain shook us with an ague, and
there were 10 volleys Of thunder. each OF
the 10 emphasizing tremendous "Thou
shalt" or "Thou shalt not" Then the
Lord resumed His chariot Of cloud and
drove up the hills Of Heaven. They were
dark and portentous clouds that made
that chariot at the giving of the law But
one day lie took another ride, and this
time down TO Mount Tabor, the clouds
out of which His chariot was made bright
clouds, roseatc clouds, illumined clouds
and music rained from all Of them, and
the music was ofa mingling Of carol and
chant and triumphal march: This is My
beloved Son, in whom am well pleased II
TranHguration chariot,
"Ohw say hundreds OF you, u wish
could have seen those chariots-the black
one that brought the Lord to Jebel.
Musa at the giving Of the law, and the
white one that brought Him down to
Tabor" Never mind, you will sec
something grander than that, and i,
will be mightier mingling Of the sombre
and the radia( J and the pomp of 1t will
be such that the chariots In which Trajan
and Diocletian, aud Xenobia, and Caesar
and Alexander, and all the conqucrors, oi
all the ages rode will be unworthy oil
mention and what stirs me the most is
that when He comes in that chariot ol
cloud and goes back lie will ask you and
me to ride with Him both ways. How do
know that the chariot will be made out
Of clouds? Revelation III: Behold, lie
cometh with Clouds" Oh, lie will no,
then ride through the heavens alone IS
He does now. lie is going 10 bring along
with Him escorts of 10 full regiments. In.
spiration says: Behold the Lord comeih
with 10000 Of His sain,sr But these fig.
ures simply mean that there will be a
great throng. And as We shall probably
through the atoncment OF Christ be in
Heaven before that, ! hope that We can
come down In the centre chariot, but
chariCts before Him TO clear the way, and
chariots behind Him, and chanots ON
either side Of Him. Perhaps the prophets
and patriarchs of the old dispensation
may ride ahead, each one chariotcd--
Abraham and Moses and Ezekiel and
Dayid and Joshua, who iorctold his frs,
coming On either side of the central
chariot apostles and martyrs, who In the
same or approximate centuries suffered
for IIim--Paul. Stephen and Igna,ius, and
Polycarp and Justin Martyr. and multi.
iudeS who wen, up In chario, ofhrc. now
coming In chario, OF cloud. while in the
rear Of the central chariot shall be- the
multi,udcs Of latter days and OF our time
who have tried 10 serve the Lord, and
ourselves hope among them. Behold,
the Lord comc,h with 10, 900 Of His saints
Yes. although all unworthy Of such com.