Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-09-06
EPWORTH LEAGUE. r+l
Topic For the Week beginning Sept.
! -
y ii Kings vi, 15-I7. :,

"And he saw, and, behold the noun
tain full of horses and chariots of fire
round about Elisha"
We see but small part of what takes
place in this world. 1t is not because
we have never Travelled much or spend
much time in sleep that we see so little.
Much occurs directly before our eyes,
but we are gazing on something else
and never behold it until some power
| touches us and we look and see. Some
| things can only be seen after long con-
centration Of attention. But, once seen,
these sights richly repay all the ex-
ertion and waiting One cause why
life seems so dull and monotonous is
,, that we look almost wholly on the
commonplace and rarely penetrate be-
meath the surface and behold the fas-
cinating play of powers which move
and mold life in all it's infinite varieties
of form.
We are closed in at many times by
forces which seem resistless and which
we know are antagonistic. We are
helpless in any conflict with them.
"Alas, how shall we do?" is our cry.
Well for us in such an hour if we have
some teacher of experience to pray for
the opening of our eyes and to greet
our fears with bis faith. Happier still
if some of his insight shall be granted
US and as we look more intently at the
beleaguering hosts we see beyond them
the encompassing ranks of the charots
and horses Of God.
How do these invisible allies help
us? Most frequently their presence is
unknown TO us by any physical sign.
We neither see their banners nor hear
their bugle calls. The rumble of their
chariot wheels and hoofbeats of their
horses do not sound along our hills.
We do not know when or where they
close their battle lines around our en-
emies. Only in some rare moment OF
vision we catch the sight of the noun
tain camp, and forever after the surety
of protecting guards abides with us.
We know as we never realized before
that "the angel Of the Lord encamps
around them that fear Him and dely-
ereth them"
Our vision has not made the fact Of
divine protection more certain, but has
increased our certainty of the fact.
We saw only a glimpse just for mo-
ment. Such sight is not sufficient data
for q scientific conclusion. One in
stance cannot establish a general law
in the realm of material things, but
such a glance is all that is needed in
the realm of grace to give firm asstr-
ance for faith, and we conclude unerr-
ingly from this one instant of revela-
ton that we have had momentary
fash of recognition of an eternal real
ity. We ask no surer basis of conf
1ence. They that be with us are
more than they that be with Them
Faith in Gods protection casts out fear
IF anything man can do to u.s. All
dread of Syrian captivity vanishes, and
with cool audacity we plan TO capture
The host Of the enemy. Without blood
she'd or panic we lead them 10 the very
center of our own camp. feast them in
I'll our capital cities and send them
nome unframed and with all their
of war. And, 10! we have con-
luered, for the bands of Syria come
10 more into the land of Israel"
Elisha conquered with the weapons OF
Christ and for allies had the divine
fathers legion of angels.
If all the forces of hell are closing
'ou round and it is night, you still need
lot fear. This is an opportunity such
s you never before met to learn of
,od's heavenly helpers. Open your
yes and see against the background
+ mountains and midnight the chariots
nd horses of fire. Your faintness shall
i've way to faith.