The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1911-03-03

God and he was not. for God took him.
Gen. 64
TIME-P Probably about r. c. 500, six
years after the affair of Naboth's vine
yard, oar last lesson lAssyriHn $50 the
SD year Of the divided kingdom
PLAGE-Aeross the Jordan. opposite
Jericho. from whence Elijah WIS trans
Hated
Elijah's public life extended over not
more than 20 years Tie first Il
were strenuous and heroic, with crises
like thunderstorms. The Methodist
minister, who was complained of for
shouting SO loud In his pulpit, replied:
= am not singing lullabies; | am
blasting rocks Elijah WAS blasting
rocks
But for the last six years since the
vision of God, Elijah had been work
ing more on the plan of the still small
voice Once only cid his fierce woe
unto you" blaze forth, when King
Ahaziah, Ahabs son, sought aid from
Baal instead of the God of Israel He
had been training his successor Elisha
who was full of Elijah's spirit of re-
ligion, but manifested 1t in gentler
ways. Moreover Elijah was the head
of the several schools Of the prophets,
where he could train and confirm the
members in their work Of living and
teaching the true religion thus quiet
ly undermining idoatry
Elijah went with Elisha. as Paul took
Mark with him on his first missionary
Journey Elisha was Elijah's attend
ant and companion, student and friend.
OF these years ii is recorded only that
the young man "ministered' to Elijah,
"and poured water ON his hands" And
Elijah said unto Elisha, larry here, |
pray thee. Elijah. Elisha, and even
the sons of the prophets. evidently
knew that Elijahs departure was at
hand
Elijahs last journey was clear.
ly laid out for him Its object was
'two-fold; natural desire on the part
of the great leader TO revisit the
scenes so dear to him, and his pur.
pose to fix upon his disciples minds
the principles and precepts he held
most important Last words are best
remembered, and the sight of the
sturdy old man still able to make on
foot Journey of more than 30
miles. his kindling chances. his ring
ing voice, must have remained with
them precious memory, nerving them
to greater holiness In the cause of Je
hovah.
And 90 sons of the prophets went,
and stood TO view afar off. The alb
rupt heights behind the town command
ed an extensive view of the river, the
nearest bend of which was five miles
away. With a delicate sense of pro.
priety, the young men kept at dis
lance. but it was fitting they should be
witnesses of the scene. to testify aft
erwssds throughout the land to Ell
jah's favor With God and to the real
ity of immortality, For similar rea-
sons the II witnessed the ascension of
our Lord,
elijah said; ASK what | shall do
for thee. before | be taken away from
thee" So God asked Solomon at the
beginning Of his reign This was
Elijah's last opportunity to do any
and he wanted to make an expression
70 him OF his fatherly love.
Elishas answer was; Let a double
portion of thy spirit be upon me-" The
double portion" was the portion of
the eldest son according to Jewish
iaw--he received double share of the
inheritance. Elisha did not ask TO be.
TIL
lie wanted the same spirit of God
which had made Elijah so powerful. so
useful. What he wished was the
virtues OF his friend He was seized
with an irresistible desire to possess
those glorious characteristics of devo-
ton to duty, courage in danger. 10y
atty to God. This is the longing of
all noble souls, TO catch and retain
something Of the spirit of heroes and
saints. II was not a request of pride.
Or II would not have been granted
There appeared chariot OF fire and
horses OF fire 1t was a glorious body
guard. but Elijah did not so up in a
chariot. he went up by a whirlwind
anto heaven The marvellous effects
of electric light through prisms and
fountains, might give us some idea of
the scene. Il was In this ascent, as
IN the ascension of Christ that his
physical body WAS changed into glo-
rious spiritual body.
And Elisha saw It. The ascension
of Elijah, which was the sign given
him by which he might know that he
was to succeed to his masters office
And he cried, My father, my father"
elijah had been a father to him, in his
care and training. in love. and In
legacy. 1t was the cry of orphanhood
These words, too. may fairly be con-
strued as suggesting an aspect OF Eli
jah's character which is generally
overlooked Those who are most ter.
rible in their denuneiations of sin are
often the fullest of tenderness and