The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-02-16
inspslas q. liites than Nss. areas IN

where churches have stood since the
days OF Charlemagne. of Constantine,
ana possibly in some cases from the
age of 81. John. Where God had re-
vealed Himself hundreds OF years be-
fore 10 Moses He now shows His glory
te Elijah. What dost thou here. Eli
tahE' The cnswer illustrates m,stak-
EN-. thoughtless zeal. rhe TisLbinte Is
seve. on Israel and caref | for his own
lie, and betrays wrong spirit. Very
good people. even in their religious
opinions. their most pious aspirations,
err greatly. They show overwhelming
| conceit. or unworthy estimates OF 9TH
ers. or the most wrongheaded choice
OF means. or a selfish regard for their
own comfort, and even life. Among
the mistakes OF good men think of the
miserable narrowness OF those who
talk against missions 10 the heather
and refuse 10 contribute: or the cold
ness OF those who discourage under
the term stunning" efforts 10y Chris
tian people 10 fight the devil in his own
strongholds of the brothel and the
rummery. Elijah, though n good man,
made some mistakes. So far has he
turned aside that we are tempted TO
think his estimate is just that he can
henceforth be OF no service To his Lord
But we shall see that heaven can make
abundant use OF even cross grained en-
ergy SO only il have good heart See
His method with this devout, heroic,
but misguided saint.
God showed Elijah the impotence OF
the Carnal. There is no reproach. go
forth and stand on the mount before
the Lord" There came sweeping down
the granite crags OF Sinai gust and
then blast and then hurricane that
uprooted the ancient trees. and rolled
the loose fragments Of rock against one
another till they few in pieces like
millstoneS subjected 80 too swift reyo-
luton. The appalled, saint knelt
breathlesS and as the tornado spent its
force he lifted his eyes for a nearer
view of God. but the Lord was not
in the wind" The earth rumhled. the
cragS We're split. the mount itself
rocked. the ground opened great fis-
sureS, the day OF the dissolution OF ma.
ture itself appeared 10 have come. He
looked again. But the Lord was not
In the earthquake" The lightning
darted out of the clouds. fash follow.
ing flash in the terrible spiendor OF
Oriental tempestS till the atmosphere
seemed charged with continuous fame.
and Mount Sinai and the cave and the
armament itself seemed ablaze. Again
he strained his vision 10 discern I'm the
binding glare One yet more glorious
But the Lord was not in the fire"
As has been finely said Elijah had
conceived God simply rs power. His
own achievements had been wrought
by power. He is now made 10 recog.
nize the futility OF mere force This IL
n needful discovery for us Especi-
ally 70" the worlds great ones. The
man who in finance or industry has
won the greatest success is speedily
convinced Of the impotency Of that
which men ordinarily consider victory.
Whatever teaches us this is good. Fail
IRE, disappointment, sickness. each is a
blessing in disguise If II lifts MS out OF
ourselves and makes us feel that with
all the world can give there is some
thing else needed.
He showed Elijah the infnitude. the
ineXhaustible power and goodness and
glory Of the divine. The cyclone was
stilled, the earthquake spent, the light
nings burned out and yet God came
not Then on perturbcd and torment
ed nature a silence rested as when the
lashed galley slave is permitted 10 rest
as when the Atlantic roaring for days
falls into a calm" The cave. In it's
deepest grotto. was penetrated with
the spirit OF stiffness. No breath
stirred. The seer felt an awe. not less,
Dut greater than before. when there
came voice, mysterious. thrilling his
heart and asking the old question The
old answer was given, we must believe.
with new meaning. for the great les
son of time and eternity had been
taught
In the cave Of Horeb the fundamcnt-
al truth Of the Christian religion IS re-
vealed a truth every mission, however
humble; every church however
adorned; every cathedral, however
magnificent must illustrate Not the
earthquake, cyclone. hurry y-burly. but
the still small voice. Here is the Sc
cret OF God. Not the startling, but the
pleading; not the violent, but the ten
der; not force. but pity; not Sinatic
fury. but gospel grace; mot by might
nor by power. but by My spirit, saith
the Lord" God is love. Not an nm
seen God. but saving Christ. "He
came 10 Horeb a voice. he left il an in.
itiated man." says Il urice.
But rom the living Of the Christian
turn 10 his dying The close Of every
good lie has dignity like unto char
lots OF fire and horses OF fire" But tho
likeness ms OH immeasurably beyond
death. ST. James tells that Elijah was
q man Of like PASSIONS with rs. Then
our inhrmities. thank God, allow us
life that does not end with earth. Tho
thought Of All Saints is Of the steadily
accumuiating honOrs and joys OF re-
deemed souls. We soc Elijah go. But
II is not the last Of him. Malachi said
he would come back on earth. Gem
turtles later the world asked John tho
Baptist If he ;,ere Elijah. Some be-.
lieyrd Jesus must he. q the day OF
TraEsfi fiSu;Jtior, Elijah for moment
was with us, at once on earth and In
glory.
We can trust those dear departed