The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-12-28

was the table for shew bred, emblematic
in its stated renewals of thanksgiving for
daily bread. On his left was the sym
bolic seven -branched lamp-stand, the
lamps Of which now dimly lighted the
room. Directly in front of him, nearest
to the curtained entrance to tie holy
place, stood the altar of gold, on which
the newly brought red Goals we're now
glowing.
1t was, to the people in the courts, a
solemn moment. Zacharias, by lighting
new incense on the golden altar, symbol
ically prayed for all the people. The
sacred trumpets summoned all to pray
or. In all the courts, from the outer
court of the Gentiles to the nearest
court of the priests, the multitude with
bowed heads prayed; waiting meanwhile
for the temperance and benediction OF
Zacharias, today their intercessor in the
holy place.
But now, in the holy place, came to
Zacharias the astonishing vision which
meaning. There appeared unto him an
angel of the Lord. standing on, the right
side of the altar of incense. What this
appearance was, Zacharias himself, in
the after years. could never definitely
explain. 1t was, let us note, on the
right side of the altar, in the shadows
farthest from the light. The appar
ition is named Gabriel, who, in the an
cestral faith of the jews, is Gods might
lest angel.
Zdcharids aUas troubled ,Uhea he saiC,
and fear fell upon him. He had been
as priest praying for Israel; but in his
prayer, as was afterward revealed, min
ged the personal petition he had never
ceased to offer. that he might have son
given to his own home.
The apparition startled him; it dazed
him. Had his prayer been selfish and
wrong? He was troubled. Yet he was
spell bound.
3. The Promise to Zacharias,
VS.. 1911.
Then from out the dim light, which
the entranced priest had been taught to
believe was .tremulous with spiritual
presences, Zachariss las he afterwards
reported) heard a voice saying, Fear not,
Zacharias; because thy supplicotiom is
heard, and thy aoife Elizabeth shall bear
thee SON, and thou shalt call has name
John. Thou shalt have jog and glad
ness, and n.any shall rejoice at has birth.
For he shall be great in the sight of the
Lord, and he shall drink no aUine nor
strong drink, and he shall be filled acith
the Holy Ghost. even from has mothers
aoonab. And many of the children of
Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their
God. And he shall 90 before has face
in the spirit and poacer Of Elijah, to
turn the hearts of the fathers to the chill
dren. and the disobedient to aOdlk in the
aoisdom of the Just; to make ready for
the Lord a people prepared for him.
The narrative, beyond our lesson
passage, tells how Zacharias, awakening
lTOM LIS dShcQ LUZ
some token of the fulfilment of this
angely-voucbsafed promise. There
was seeming offence given to the appari-
ton by this doubt. and he was told that
the token of the reality of his vision
should be that he himself should not be
able to speak until the thirgs foretold
were fulfilled.
The multitude without waited for
Zacharias to come forth. as from the
presence of God. and bestow upon them
| the coveted benediction. But avhen he
came out he could not speak to them !;
and they perceived that he had seen q
vision IN the temple.
Thirty years afterwards, when the
child thus fore.old had become mighty
man of God. and the herald of the
| Christ, when he, as John the Baptist,
| spoke to the nation as one only can
speak when he has been with God; when
the conscience of the nation was touched
and even "Herod feared john then
this mysterious prenatal vision and
prophecy did not seem so very strange.
| 1t was then not hard to believe that
| there was angelic foreknowledge of the
| Baptist and his mission.