The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-04-14
PULPIT.
MOUNTAINS
SWEPT INTO
THE SEA
I'VE VIII Not Fear Though the
Mountains Be Carried Into the Midst
Of the Sea" psalm XVI, y.

shall be bound will God be the refuge
of his saints, but in all times and I'M
der all circumstances 1.-THE peace of
God which passeth all understanding"
will keep the hearts and minds of his
faithful.
Therefore will not we fear, though
the earth be removed, and though the
mountains be carried into the midst
of the sea-" Fear is the great tor
ment of the majority of our race. 1t
is the lash which the Adversary fire.
quently uses to drive away from God
those who need his sympathy and love
and succor. To such the Lord speaks
tenderly saying. Come. unto me, all
We that labor and are heavy laden, and
will give you rest" And again, God
declares his name TO be Love and says,
"Their fear toward me is taught by
the precepts of men"-not by his
Word isaiah xxx, 13). He would
have us trust him as great, loving,
generous Father, saying, Like as a
father pitleth his children. so the Lord
compassionate those who reverence
him" psalm ciii, 49,. AS love, more
love, perfect love, comes into our
hearts it more and more casts out the
fear which the Adversary would in
culcate and which has burned into
mems minds and consciences the
doctrines of devils" to which the
Apostle refers q Timothy iv, y.
Fear not their fear, neither be
afraid" says the Lord to those who
are his people. let the peace Of God
which passeth all understanding rule
| in your hearts," Be faithful! Be
trustful! Accept the assurance that
"All things shall work together for
| good to those who love God-to the
| called ones according to his purpose"
! (Romans viii. 2S). This class will not
fear when the earth shall be removed
and when the mountains shall be car
ried into the midst Of the sea. They
might indeed be astonished and in
trepidation If these were literal noun
! tains; but they are symbolical. The
people Of the Lord, under his instruc-
ton, will not be in darkness that that
J day shall overtake them as a thief, al
though it will come as q thief and as
snare upon the whole world duke
xxi. 35). In the symbology Of the BIZ
BILE the term earth is used to represent
the social structure, as the mountains
which constitute the backbones Of the
earth symbolic the Kingdoms Of the
world supported by the social order.
AS the earth represents the fixity Of
the social order, the sea represents
the restless. turbulent. dissatisfied
classes which lash against the earth
and continually seek to swallow it up.
The removal of the earth symbolizes
the disturbance Of the social order.
The swallowing up of the mountains
in the seas represents the overwhelm-
ing of some Of the great kingdoms of
the earth by the uprising of the people
in anarchistic rebellion against social
order.
1.-THE Powers That Be Ordained Of
God"
The fact that the Scriptures prophet
ically describe the overwhelming of
the social order and the great govern
ments of the earth must not be under
stood to signify that the Bible coun-
sells revolution or anarchy. On the
contrary, all Of Gods people through
out the Scriptures are counseled to
live peaceably with all men. so far as
possible. They are counseled not to
use carnal weapons. not to take to the
sword for the settlement of disputes
but rather to suffer injury. They are
counseled that God is the great Over
Lord, and that although he is not now
ruling directly amongst men he is fully
the Master of the situation in that he
could at any time overthrow all OPP
ponents. He does not acknowledge
that his will is now done. in the earth
but tells us that it will be done by and
by and encourages us to pray and tC
hope and to wait for it. He tells us
that Satan is now the prince of this
world" by virtue of the fact that he
deceives the minds and hearts of the
majority. God would have his PEG
pie understand something of his grea
Program, but he would keep this hid
den from all others; hence the impos
sibility Of explaining spiritual things
to carnal mind q Corinthians Ii, IA
None of the wicked shall understand
Daniel xii, 10).
The great Creator has contented him
self with such a supervision of human
affairs as leaves much responsibility,
in human hands. He merely inter
feres TO raise up or to cast down OF
occasions when the interest of his
Cause and Program may demand. Fol
: instance, the case of the Pharaoh
raised TO the throne of Egypt. il
Moses day. God there raised to tn,
Throne a man of great determination
and hindered from reaching the throne
other men not so favorable to the car
rying out of the Divine Purposes
Thus, without interfering with thu
free moral agency of the king. Coo
, used the wrath of man to praise hin
, and the remainder he restrained. Sim
ilarly. God previously raised JOSEPH
q 10 the Governorship OF Egypt for hi
own purposes.
The Prophet describes the tumult o
| that day of overwhelming trouble
| J when Gods Kingdom will be estab
a lished. saying of the sea that will
, swallow up the mountains, 1.-THE wa
I ters roar and be troubled: the noun
, tains shake with the swelling thereof
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