The farmer and mechanic., 1911-02-28

THE FARMER A
end: he had not been Elijah's disciple
these years for naught
The WOrdy Comforters.
Few persons are masters OF the fine
art or keeping silence. Elisha's fell
low students belong 10 this large class.
Ihey intruOed their blundering well
meant sympathy where they should
nave stood ASIDE in reverence for
grief 1 once visited a homo where
The only daughter had nled few
hours before. Other neighbors were
there, and l had to listen to their
punghng woros, which must have
oeen to the bleeding hearts as sand
paper upon an open wound. l fed al
most before 1 could decentiy offer such
services as might be possible to
4riend: That experience was too har-.
rowing
'knOwest thou that Jehovah will
take away thy master from thy head
today?" choruSed the curious students
at Bethel and Jericho. What sopho-
mores they Were Much there re-
inained for them to learn if they were
to exercise the delicate offices of the
minister to human souls. Press
your neighbor's hand in his grief, and
run his errands tor him, and DO Wnat
ever else tact may suggest, but do
not wound his sore spirit further with
clumsy words. Every theological
seminary should hold up before its
Students the case of these sons Of the
prophets as an evil example of how
DOT to behave Oh occasions Of funer-
ais.
The Last Long Walk.
Throughout the busy years that fol
lowed, the younger mans thoughts
doubtless turned often in the night
watches to that memorable walk from
Gilgal to Bethel, and then down to
jericho and Gilgal and across to the
East side Of the Jordan. What was
said when at intervals the Older man
broke the silence? Did he recall the
story Of Jacob and his vision at Bethel,
and the wonderful persistence of God s
providence in fulfilling through thS,
iong centuries, the promise then
made?
Every foot of the way was full Of
thoughts of Gods dealing with israel,
and with Elijah himself. AS they
came down the rocky edge OF the
Brook Cherith, did Elijah tell again
he story Of the ravens to hearten his
disciples faith? At Jer cho was the
conversation all OF the affairs of the
school of the prophets, a few parting
adm onitions and practical directions.
or did it so back to the wonderful
fall of Jericho before the trumpets OF
faith? On the slippery slopes of the
slime pits Of the kings were there
stories of Abraham and his victory?
AS the Jordan was crossed, and Elijah
snote the waters, had he a word con-
-erning Joshua's similar crossing? On
the other side did they journey up to
Mt NebO, where Moses mad his glorl-
Gus exit, Elijah speaking the while
the great lesson Of faith in the God
Of untaiiing promises? Much could
IL
thirty or folty miles. Would that
more Of the last works Of the prophet
who was to come again, on the Mt
of Olives, which they could see clearly
from the hills beyond Jordan, to COM
.ort the Greatest Of the Prophets.
In this instance we have the rare
combinat ton of a person with discern
ment close to a great man. Elisha,
despite his nearness, had eyes to see
the real significance Of Elijah Prob
ably some of the other sons Of the
prophets gOSSiped about their master
unconventional attire. his uncouth
mantle and leather girdle, his lack of
small talk and ease in conversation.
Elisha saw the prophets soul, and
coveted its likeness in himself.
The Chariot of Fire.
Literature is full of stories of op
portunities Of choice--the princess
three caskets, Aladdin in the cave,
etc, and this is one Of the most dram
attic Of them. Elijah gave his friend
the liberty to make his choice Of a
final bequest. What chance FOR an
am bilious man: Elisha's love was
without alloy: he wanted his teachers
self and not his bestowals He asked
for a double portion Of the spirit OF
Elijah; the passion that had con-
strained him to follow the master
burned undimmed in his breast. Love
always asks for a personality, and not
for material gifts A bride rejoices
in her husbands gifts only because
they represent the giving Of himself
to her.
The choice Of Elisha, who coveted
earnestly the best gifts, illustrates
Martineau's fine paragraph: