Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-04-07
EASTER REFLECTIONS
Written by Ex-Gov. Frederick HOl-
brook for the April Number of the
EermOnter.

exclaim with the Apostle: 60 the depth of
the riches both of the wisdom and knowl-
edge Of Cod how unsearchable are His
judgments. and His ways past finding outl
For who hath known the mind of the
Lord! or who hath been His COUNSELLOR"
The Scripture accounts of Christ's birth
in a stable, with the be ists of the STALL"
His beautiful and sublime life on earth, so
wonderfully mingling the Divine with the
human nature His perfect example in
living what he declared TO be the two great
Commandments, with such teachings that
'the people were astonished at His doc
trine" His miraculous works of healing;
His agonizing crucihXion, between two
thieves, with the piercing of
those blessed hands and feet
Which eighteen hundred years ago were nailed
For our advantage on the bitter cross;'
His resurrection from the sepulchre where
mourning friends had laid Him, and His
ascension to heaven, after meeting and
conversing with disciples aud friends and
promising to send the Comforter" to en-
tighten them and the world for all time--
and this the Divine Son of God, foretold
by the prophets: the Redeemer of man
kind! Surely, we find here the mystery of
mysteriesl
But it is our part to accept and believe
the truth of Gods word, however shadowy
and mysterious its outlines to our human
conception. Indeed mystery surrounds
us in every period of our lives, so that in
thoughtful survey of what is past in them,
we see that Providence has led us in ways
that we knew not:
and this should teach us
There's a divinity that shapes our ends
Rough hew them how we will
The Creators designs are often kept in
a sacred reserve that we cannot penetrate
On this Easter occasion, so hallowed by
the Christian church, what special cause
we have to praise and glorify God for the
redemptive work of Jesus Christ, and His
presence for 1900 years. which has done so
much to soften human hearts, to purify
aud elevate human society, and to awaken
the kindly charities and sweet amenities of
life. And thus will succeeding generations
be led, upward and onward, step by step,
to initiate, so far as human nature can imi-
tate, the example of sublime goodness Civ
en- by Christ-recognizing more and more
fully the divine import of His life and mis-
sion on earth, the transcendent majesty of
His intellectual and moral strength, com
bined with an emotional nature overflow.
ing with love and compassion for our race,
as expressed in His dying utterance on the
bitter Father forgive them, for
they know not what they do"
The progress of the human race seems
to be the design and plan of God. The
light which comes streaming in upon us so
fast in these latter days, illustrating in
such increasing fullness the progressive re-
suits of the work and life of beautiful
goodness of Christ, S revealing more and
more clearly to us the all pervading
Fatherhood of God, Gin Whom we live and
move and have our being" Whose indwell-
ing presence is the life and soul of all that
lives, from Whom flow all goodness and
love and mercy, the infinite intelligence
and power which
Lives through.all life, extends Through! all ex.
tent;
Spreads undivided, operates uhspent." -
and compasses and directs all. And Ills
inexhaustible love must lead us more and
more to give Him that return of love.
alteration and worship which it is our great
privilege to render to the Father of our
spirits, and His supreme right to receive
For
There's a Wilderness in Gods mercy
Like the Wilderness of the sea;
There's q kindness in His Justice
Which is more than liberty.
For the love Of God is broader
Than the measure of mans mind
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind"
What convincing proof we have before
our eyes, of the truth of Scripture. of
its prophecies of the coming of Christ upon
earth, and its statements of the design and
effects thereof, the fulfilling of which is so
growingly patent to our observation. And
we have abundant reason to expect that
these softening and sweetening Influences
will increase and multiply in rapid ratio
How much has been done, and is doing, for
alternating the condition of the stricken
and the poor and the physically and men
tally weak and unfortunate, by the found
ing of public and private institutions of va
rious kinds and purposes, for their COM
fort and relief. How much also in bring
ing barbarous tribes and nations Unto the
light and liberty of the gospel, " and lifting
them up to nobler forms of life.
Our Saviour, in so graciously inviting
all that labor and are heavy laden to come
unto Him, added: "For l am meek and
lowly in heart, and We shall find rest unto
your souls" Himself born in a stable and
laid in manger, and through life associat-
ing with the plain, common people, and in
all his sublime teachings illustrating them
so fully and plainly from natural and ia
miliar objects and subjects, which people
of all conditions could the more readily un.
derstand, and then, in offering up his
blessed life upon the cross, "for our advan-
tage," all these conditions and considera-
tions are calculated to draw the stricken
and the unfortunate to Him, and to create
also a nearer and closer bond and more at
tractive influence to bear upon the average
of mankind than if he had been born
and reared among the rich and powerful
and heralded with pomp and patronized by
kings and rulers. And in all this we see
conspicuously the wisdom of the divine
plan of redemption.
And so, in how many a lowly cabin and
humble abode are the teachings of Christ
understood and taken lovingly to heart.
and His presence felt affording consola-
tion and support to humble believers, and
an abiding faith in a new and better life
beyond this, to them, their "vale of tears"
through His redeeming work for them.
A thousand years are with God but as
yesterday. and His designs for mans re-
demption and future life are sure to come
to full completion. And so, at this impress
sive Easter time, we will offer the special
prayer that He will, in His own good way.
hasten the promised time foretold in His
word, when ali men shall acknowledge and
accept the mild reign of the Redeemer. and
when, from the rising of the sun unto
the going down of the same" there shall
be Peace on earth, good will towards
men,"