The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-11
"PARTED FROM THEM"
Selected for The Times.)

any and lifted up His hands and blessed
them And it came to pass while He bless
ed them He was parted from inefl an anu
50, OIL.
..He led them" That is what He Is
always doing. There is always point
in life at which visible leading ceases. It
may be at Bethany: it may be at eigh-
teen years OF age: it may be ct nomi-
nal and legal manhood. It may vary
according to individuality, but there IS
the principle. This is education; this is
providence.
We arc sometimes conscious Of mo
ment when standing alone, we
arc to meet crisis in our
destiny. That makes fne point
in Iife-educauonl Some never seem
to get out OF leading strings. They
have no faith, no courage, no spiritual
insight, to enable them to lay hold OF
the unseen Leader.
It is. at this very point, so vital and
SO sensitive that faith comes into full
fruition and gracious operation. That
person has entered upon a higher level
of life, and breathes the air of an Infinite
and sabbatio climate.
HE led them as far as Walking.
With quiet calmness they took there last
journey together. There was no excite
nent or anything out of til usual every
day occurrence as He led Them. and re-
peated once more His farewell instruc-
ton, for teachers and leaders cannot al
ways be with u.s. They lead us out as
far as the same Bethany, and there we
must say Goodbye" We return alone,
and yet not alone; sweet. gracious COM
partnership fills the soul, and we live in
abandonment; it is the ascension OF the
Teacher, that He may become more Of a
teacher STILL
This is true also in the spiritual life.
then He says now do all you can IN your
own strength, and 10! I am with you al
ways, even unto tho end Of the world.
He has gone that He may be nearer to
US: He is higher in the heavens that
He may be closer to the earth. a con-
tradiction?
But they know It to be sweet and true,
who have felt that Christ has gone away.
yet is coming to the soul in every sun
beam, in every CLEAN Of tho evening
stars.
We are led out as far as the Bible. 1t
is the beginning OF the vision; it is the
seed-house, not the garden, nor the or
chard, nor yet the whole forest. Each
century has its own Bible; each man
his own revelation; and so we shall reach
the point at which all men shall say:
1--WE are not divided IN heart, we are
truly one and this Is how God shows
Himself to me-" We shall never have.
perhaps, geometric or mechanical unity,
God forbid! But we shall have Inward
and spiritual urity-God speed the day!
HE led them out. as far as"-the
church The church Is not one institu
ton, it is invisible. It has indeed its
outward indications, but what are these
worth, unless they point to something
higher, immeasureable, ineffable? Mani
fold and infinite is the Church OF the
Cross of Christ; and it Includes men Of
ALL kinds. custom, countries and ages.
HE led the1aout as far as"-the symbol
It has been shown again and again that
God is always leading us out to some
Thus we are led from point to point. and
God has SO arranged the economy of
life that sometimes we seem to be left
to ourselves-for long periods-or periods
which seem long. For when He Is alb
sent a moment we think He has gone for
ever, for we measure time by the hum
ger of the heart
We can never lose those we love. They
may be far out of our sight, but they
are near in sympathy and influence. II
we will only open tho ear of the heart,
we shall hear the music of heaven itself.
Nc. longer may we clasp hands. but for
evermora we are united in heart.
We have not been led cas- far as"-to
change the road. but that he may COM
plete the journey. CO on unto perssc-
ton and persevere along this clear path;
that is the voice of Providence and the
way of blessing. We DO not change the
doctrine but the mode Of representation,
by bringing in old truths from new
standpoints. Let US have larger faith
In one another, in our love OF truth. and
in our love of Christ.
HE led them out as Far as to Beth
airy" He would have taken them fur
Their If it had been for their good. AT
bethany He blessed them" Some places
seem to double the blessing. The places
themselves are holy memories; centers
Of spiritual interest. He led them back
to their first place and blessed them.
I.c led them out as far % 10 the We'd
d.ng altar and bless d ther:. lie led them
out as far as to the end of the journey
and blessed them there. Always from
tn, cradle to the grave, always blessing.
Nothing but blessing comes from His
hand.