Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-05-12
NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE


On Mount Olivet Jesus stands in a
group Of Galilee fishermen. They had
been together in many scenes of sad
ness and persecution and had been the
more endeared by that brotherhood of
suffering. They had expected him to
stay until the day of coronation when
he would take the earthly throne and
wave a scepter mightier, and rule
dominion wider, than any Pharaoh,
than any David, than any Caesar. But
now all these anticipations collapse.
Christ has given his last advice. He
has offered his last sympathy. He has
spoken his last word His hands are
spread apart as one is apt to do when
he pronounces a benediction, when
suddenly the strongest and most stu
| pendOus law of all worlds IS shattered.
1t is the law which, since the worlds
were created, holds them together 1t
is the law which holds everything to
the earth, or, temporarily hurled from
earth, returns it; the law which keeps
! the planets whirling around our sun,
and our solar system whirling around
other systems, and all the systems
whirling around the throne of God
| the law of gravitatiOn. That law is
suspended, or relaxed, or broken, to
let the body of Jesus 60. That law
! had laid hold of him thirty-three years
! before, when he descended 1t had re
! Taxed it's grip of him but once, and
! that when it declined to sink him
from the top of the waves on Lake
! Galilee, on which he walked, to the
| bottom of the lake. That law of gravi
| tation must now give way to him who
! made the law. 1t may hold the other
stars, but it cannot longer hold the
Morning Star of the Redemption. 1t
may hold the MONDAY sun, but it can
not hold the Sun of Righteousness.
The fingers of the law are about to
open to let go the most illustrious Be
ing the world had ever seen, and
whom it had worst maltreated. The
| strongest law of nature which philosO-
! pliers ever weighed or measured must
at last give way. It will break be-
tween the rock of Olivet and the heel
of Christ's foot Watch it, all We dis
ciples Watch it, all the earth! Watch
it, all the heavensl Christ about to
leave the planet. How? His friends
will not consent to have him 60 His
enemies catching him would only
attempt by another Calvary, to put
him into some other tomb l will
tell you how. The chain of the most
tremendous natural law is unlinked.
The sacred foot of our Lord and the
limestone rock part, and part forever.
CHRISTS ASCENSION TO HEAVEN.
Leaning back, and with pallid cheek
and uplifted eyes, the disciples see
their Lord rising from the solid earth
Then, rushing forward, they would
grasp his feet to hold him fast, bu1
they are out of reach, and it is too late
to detain him Higher than the tops
of the fig trees from which they hac
plucl1ed the fruit. Higher than the
olive trees that shaded the mount
Higher, until he is within sight OF the
Bethlehem where he was born, anc
the Jordan where he was baptized
and the Golgotha where he was slain
Higher, until on stairs of fleecy clout
he steps. Higher, until, into a sky
bluer than the lake that could not SIM
him, he disappears into a sea of glory
whose billowing splendors hide him.
The fishermen watch and watch
wondering if the law of nature will no
reassert itself, and he shall in a few
moments come back again, and the.
shall see him descending; first hi
SCARED feet coming in sight, then tn
SCARED side, then the SCARED brow
and they may take again his scarre'
hand But the moments pass by, ant
the hours, and no temperance. Con
out of sight of earth, but come within
sight of heaven. And rising still, no
welcomed by one angelic choir Xix
those who one Christmas night escorte
him down, but all heaven turns out t
greet him home, and the temples hav
especial anthem. and the palaces e: