Mrs. Fabens. It elevated their views, it increased their faith, it
enlarged the sphere of their spirits, and cleared up more of the
mystery of evil. All of that mystery they did not expect to see
unveiled below. It was not a possible thing to make mortal men see and
understand it. But if the dark cloud still spread its dubious dusk on
the sky, more and more of it melted into the rainbow as they gazed; and
while part of that bow was still involved in the cloud, and part hidden
away far below the horizon, enough was still glowing in glory on their
sight, and enough gleaming and breaking through the darkness, to enable
them to know it would burst at last on their blessed eyes, in a perfect
circle of the light of love.
"We should all be happier and more fortunate," said Mrs. Fabens, "if we
had faith to see a blessing of God in more of the things we regard as
evil. It requires great faith, I know, to be reconciled under all
griefs, and see a good design in all that afflicts us. It has been
hard for me to see why God made wolves and foxes, and how they could
minister good to man. They may be evil, for all I know, but if they do
not fulfil a good design, why has it proved an evil to kill them?"
"It does, indeed, require great faith to accept your suggestion; but
that faith must be the true one after all," said the Squire. "They
made incursions on our folds. They took now and then a lamb, or fowl;
but how much less have they taken than enough to pay them for the good
they did. How few of us would do the same good to them for the same
small reward. We are impatient of griefs and vexations. We chafe, and
foam, and champ the bit that curbs in our passions, and reins us around
the wisest way. We think it hard that wolves should sometimes bring us
a disguised blessing. We find it difficult to discover the good design
of apparent ill. But at last we shall see how evil may issue in good.
The end will reveal the good design of all. As I understand it, evil
is the imperfection which necessarily follows our nature. The moral
difference between an imperfect world and a perfect God. The shadow of
the Tree of Life. The cloud that veils the Mercy-Seat. The sad and
the bitter, the dark and dreary, that serve but to reveal the joyful
and sweet, the bright, and glad, and beautiful.
"And we know by experience, Julia, that the evils of this world may be
turned into a high and fruitful discipline; and from that discipline we
may rise to a life of maturer powers, and more ample and energetic
character; with thriftier faith and greener hope; and clustering graces
all around the heart, of juicier pulp and rarer flavor."
XVI.
THE MINISTER.
It was now past the middle of September, and the farmers of Summerfield
had finished their fall seeding; most of them had spread their flax;
some, cut their corn, gathered their pumpkins, and dug their potatoes:
and all were enjoying a September of the soul.
Fabens was enjoying it out on his accustomed seat, beneath a favorite
shade-tree, in the green mown meadow before his home; and indulging one
of those golden reveries that rise in the autumn time. The June-like
lustre of the glowing sky; the beauty of the fields now blooming in
second verdure, like aged souls with new hopes and loves in the light
of Christianity; the affluence of orchards, dropping the burden,
diffusing the fragrance of their mellow fruit; the opulence of
woodlands, exhibiting signs of the first frost, yet still withholding
the wealth of their bright foliage; the pride of his gallant horses,
liberated from the plough, and galloping here and there, on sports of
majesty in the upland pasture; the appearance of fine cattle grazing on
the distant mead; the sight of yellow stubble-fields, sleeping in
remoter view; the neatness and abundance of his farm-yard, proclaimed
by the lordly cock in a rousing and resonant crow; the odor of hay and
grain from his barn near by; the quiet and cosy comfort of his home;
the presence of Julia and Fanny, the one reading David from that noble
old ode called the Sixty-fifth Psalm, and the other at his side,
embracing his neck in a clasp of leaning affection: those pleasant
sights that regaled his gaze, and those ardent emotions of gratitude
that thrilled him through and through in the sweet contemplation,
directed his thoughts to the God who gave them, and he thanked him for
his bounty; attained still more lofty conceptions of his love; and, as
Julia concluded the psalm, repeated the words, "Praise waiteth for
Thee, O God! Thou crownest the year with thy goodness, and thy paths
drop fatness. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness, and the
little hills rejoice on every side. Praise waiteth for Thee!"
As he concluded the pious apostrophe, a stranger, till then unobserved,
stepped before him, and inquired if it was Squire Fabens of Summerfield
whom he had the honor to address. Being answered in the affirmative,
the stranger continued--"I know one Daniel Fabens on the Hudson, at
whose house I have often tarried, and aware that I was about to visit
the Lake Country, he informed me of you, sir, and insisted on my giving
you a call."
"Daniel Fabens?--Daniel Fabens;--Let me see. O, it must be my Uncle
Abraham's son; he had a Daniel; the only one of the name I know of. It
must be he."
"I think he called you Uncle, sir."
"No, cousin. Our fathers were brothers. I am often called Uncle by
cousins and neighbors. But it's of no consequence, sir. You are just
as welcome. I was only casting in my mind what Fabens it could be. I
am glad to see a friend from the Hudson, sir; and what may I call your
name?"
"My name is Lovelight. I am a minister of Christ. I have a message to
your country."
"I took you for a minister. You are welcome to Summerfield; and to a
home with us while you tarry. This is my wife, sir, and that is my
daughter. Walk into the house, walk in; and I will take care of your
horse: you both look weary."
The horse was unsaddled, and washed with cool water from the well, and
turned into a field of fresh clover; and the stranger followed Mrs.
Fabens and Fanny into the house; and, after resting and bathing, a good
supper, with a dessert of peaches and cream, was taken. Evening came
on, and with it a long conversation, and before they retired, the hour
was approaching midnight.
"As you are a minister, sir, will you tell me of what persuasion?"
asked Fabens, while they conversed.
"The persuasion of Christmas I believe," said the minister with a
gentle affability. "I think little of sects. They are too exclusive
and formal. I love the church of Christ. That is catholic and real;
that embraces the good of all sects, and is the mother of us all."
"I agree with you there. A sect is a body too little and low for the
spirit of Christ. But I didn't know but you held to one of the
particular creeds of Christians."
"The Bible is my creed and counsel."
"That is right. But you preach a doctrine peculiar to some one of the
Christian denominations, I suppose? I am not particular to know,
however. It was only my curiosity."
"I am not particular to conceal my views. I would be glad to preach in
your neighborhood, and allow you to judge of my doctrine. I would be
glad to preach next Sunday."
"The only meeting-house in town, I am sorry to say, is occupied every
Sunday. I have no doubt but Mr. Darling, our minister, would be glad
to have the people hear you. He is a good man; and, if he is a
sectarian, he is not so exclusive as many."
"I would not ask him to give up his pulpit to a stranger. It would not
be best, I think, to apply to him. Have you not a school-house, or
barn, that would convene the people with comfort? I am used to such
temples of worship."
"Our school-house is small, and our barns are full; and I am sorry it
happens so, for I want to hear your message."
"Then I will preach in the open air. Fix me a stand under your
shade-tree, and I'll want no better place. I'll be in God's free
temple then--a fit place for God's free gospel."
"It shall be done for you; and I will send around notice far and near.
And shall we hear something against the sects, and their cant and
dogmas?"
"No, not at present, from me. Truth will wage its own warfare when
given fair play; and while I leave truth to conquer, I denounce less,
and invite the more. Set the Infinite Good before the people, and
invite them to rise and accept it; and they are very sure, sooner or
later, to come. This was Christ's way. He opened heaven on earth, and
invited men to prepare and receive its light and joy to their mourning
souls. 'Repent,' said he, 'for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"
"If the people heard more of this preaching," said Fabens, "they would
rouse from their indifference, and live a heavenly life."
"The world has been denounced for indifference," said the Minister;
"but the world is not all to blame. The gospel it hears is too seldom
of the inviting kind, adapted to its wants, addressed to its affections
and reason. Men have been fed on the letter, while needing the spirit
and truth which the letter conceals. Preachers have spun too much
gossamer and tinsel; and woven too little solid bang-up and beaver for
wear and comfort. The people have been served with too many custards
and candies of entertainment, while hungering hotly for the bread of
life."
"Very true," said Fabens. "I have felt this hunger myself, though our
preacher here has given us very good fare."
"In consequence of this error," said the Minister, "many good people
have taken the impression that there is nothing in religion worthy of
their first concern. That it has not a spirit which will act on a week
day; and neither food nor clothing for the soul can be found among its
provisions.--Why, sir, religion is a legacy of infinite love to a world
groaning in sin. It has power to change this earth to a paradise, and
transfigure its inhabitants to angels. It is the one thing needful for
every-day life; the principal requisite for a true integrity and honor;
the actual virtue; the legitimate hope; the perfect charity; the
paramount peace; the kingdom of heaven at hand. As men permit its warm
influence to stream down into their hearts, they will kindle and rise
to a new and noble life, and walk and live in heaven."
"I am confident of that," said Fabens, "and I am glad you are out on a
mission of this gospel. I am sure we need it enough in this
neighborhood."
"Christians should be all on fire with the spirit of this religion
now," said the Minister. "They should give it forth to the world as a
vital heat warming up the temple of the heart like a furnace; a light,
flooding every niche and cranny of that temple with full illumination;
a fountain, watering all its sanctities and graces; and music, filling
it to overflow with the voice of heavenly song."
"Give me that religion," said Fabens, "and I shall be rich and high
indeed. But I cannot hope to enjoy it in such full and actual life."
"The world is like you," said the Minister. "It wants hopefulness. It
wants hope in God, and faith in his providence. Here is the grand
want; hope in God and faith in his providence. God is doing his work
in this world at this hour; his spirit moves on the waters now,
bringing peace out of discord, and light out of darkness; and the
people should know and feel it as a vital truth. When they do, they
will rely on his love, and enjoy his religion."
"I wish you would give us a sermon on this subject," said Fabens.
"I will," said the Minister, and they concluded the conversation,
attended prayers and retired to rest.
Arrangements were made, and notice, circulated for the meeting. The
hour of the meeting came, and it was a placid and splendid hour as ever
gilded a country Sabbath.
XVII.
THE MEETING.
A country Sabbath! who can go out of the city and enjoy that even in
imagination, without bringing the day, and all its placid light, and
all its green and tranquil blessings home with him in his soul? It
steals upon you like the floating raptures of a trance, and O! there
are such smiles and splendors of God in the sky; there is such a spirit
of worship in the hushed and reverent air; there are such songs of
praise from all the temples of Nature rising on wings of holy melody to
heaven; and you behold such comely forms and faces descending the green
hills, and emerging from the woods and lanes: you forget this
prison-durance, and seem to walk in a higher sphere.
The Minister was a little man, of perfect form, lithe as a spirit;
ardent, open, affable; with a high and swelling forehead; a deep, warm,
lustrous eye that darted forth the living fire of intelligence and
love; a long thin nose, winding in a slight and not ungraceful curve
toward the right shoulder; an eloquent gesture, a clarion voice, and a
face benignant and bland as the mild morning star.
A large concourse of people assembled to hear him, and after the usual
service of introduction, he rose, and casting those kindling eyes
around on the audience a moment, in a voice round and clear as a forest
warbler's, he said, "_The Spirit of God moved on the face of the
waters._" This was his text, and,--"I suppose it is commonly
conceded," said he, "that the book of Genesis is the most ancient, if
not most sublime of all the writings that enrich the world. The
learned have cited the first verses of this book as specimens of
sublimity unequalled by any language. And though the prophets, and the
gospel authors outsoar Moses, I think, in the morally sublime; yet
there are two or three touches in Genesis that roll and roar like
Niagara before me, and stir me so strongly, fill me so full, and lift
me so high, I find it an effort to rise to any grander conception than
they give.
"The verse on creation; the void and formless earth rolling off in
darkness; the Spirit of God on the waters; the mandate for light; the
dividing of the floods; the fixing of the firmaments; the lifting of
the sun and moon to the heavens; the arrangement of day and night; the
bringing of the seasons; the making of man: all sweep before our mind
in visions of awe, and might, and gloom; magnificence, glory, peace and
love; and we may study the chapter till we shall seem to be there in
the midst of the awful scene, and find ourselves throbbing and swaying
with a rapt spirit, and a bounding heart.
"'The Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters.' This, my
friends, is an assurance of God's Providence, only surpassed by the
highest announcements of Christ. And the text has moved me profoundly,
and come in a thousand times to exalt my faith amid trials, and sooth
my griefs, and calm my solicitudes, when anguish has pierced me, and
storms have raged. The text finds a thousand illustrations. The world
was called from chaos, and warring elements, and confused and
conflicting principles have not yet been restrained from their fury, or
soothed to perfect peace. There are wars among the waters of nature;
there are wars among the waters of the moral world; there are wars of
passion in our souls, and we lose our confidence often, and often our
peace and rest. But 'the Spirit of God moves on the face of the
waters;' and they who believe this, will never feel forsaken, or lose
their balance or their hope.
"_The Spirit of God moves on the waters as they flow in the course of
Nature_; and at this very hour He is present in all her stirring
scenes, commanding her mighty forces, preserving her general harmony,
and leading all her rushing rivers of motion, power and life, into one
wide ocean of purity and peace. And this is that gracious Providence
asserted in the text, and announced so often by the Savior. It
requires a lofty faith to discover that Providence, at all times; to
detect its personal presence, and rest in its parental love. What a
time it was in the beginning, while the earth was formless and void,
and darkness brooded over the seas that embosomed her--if we could have
witnessed the scene--what a time to shake and shatter this faith! And
during long ages afterward, while the land was forming in little
islands above the waters, how impossible it would have been for one of
us to see the Divine Presence on the waters, look for harmony, beauty,
life and peace to be brought out of all!
"And then in times of confusion, we have seen, when storms have fallen,
when winds have howled, and the waters roared with trouble; what an
effort was required to believe the Lord was in the storm speaking
peace; and the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters!
"Then, there are storms we know of, but cannot see at all times.
Electric and magnetic storms, when all the vital forces of nature are
in commotion, and wars are waged from pole to pole: when the thunders
growl, and lightnings flash, and the ruddy aurora dances and flames.
What apparent confusion reigns! You think the thunder, lightning and
aurora, are announcements of war and commotion scarcely yet begun, and
you fear and tremble.
"But how will knowledge and faith disperse these terrors, and reduce
their confusion to harmony and rest! The very war of waters at the
creation was their effort after peace. When the world stood in islands
above the lonely seas, the Spirit of God was on the waters, bringing
forth continents in order and beauty, and preparing for these times of
wide-spread lands, and gay-green verdures; and nations on all, with
intelligence, commerce and joy. And the terrible storms we have
witnessed, were the movement of God's Spirit, restoring equilibrium in
nature; while, instead of announcing conflict and trouble to come, the
lightning and aurora were the reports of peace; saying, the electric
and magnetic storms were over, and their forces were at rest.
"Again; '_the Spirit of God moves on the waters as they flow in the
course of History._'
"We study history with trifling purpose, if its high philosophy does
not raise us behind the scenes of strife and peace, advance and
retreat, rest and revolution, to discover that God moves on the waters
controlling their general course."
The Minister cited a few great epochs and movements of history, as
illustrations. Some were secular, and some were sacred. He pointed to
the wars of Alexander, in which the oriental nations must have seen
nothing but chaos, desolation, and woe. Yet, over all those warring
waters the Spirit of God moved, and the races of men rose ennobled from
them. Horrible sins were committed by that warrior, and God brought
him and them to a terrible judgment. Yet God turned the curses to
blessings. The young, warm, vigorous blood of Greece, and her splendid
literature, and magnificent arts were carried into the heart of Asia,
and raised those old dotard nations to a second youth; inspired them
with power and light; flooded their lands with new and noble ideas, and
brought sluggish and unsocial peoples into commerce, unity, progress,
and hope.
"And pass to another scene," said the Minister, rising with his subject
and kindling to a glow. "Pass to another scene. Enter Jerusalem. Go
about Judea after the martyrdom of Stephen, and see what chaos, terror,
and despair succeed. Even the Jews are divided into cliques and
juntos, at war with each other, and enraged at their rulers. And where
are the poor trembling Christians, that on the day of Pentecost flocked
in such thousands and such joy to the lifted banner of the Cross? And
how stands their faith in this terrible hour? It is sorely tried and
belabored. Persecution kindles her fiery torches, and a wild tumult of
warring evils reigns. They are scattered abroad. They flee for their
lives to distant cities, and many lie down in despair and death.
"And yet what seeds of blessing were blown about by those wicked winds;
and what love was brought from persecution! The Christians were
scattered all over the Roman empire, and every one became a missionary
to the Gentiles, to give the word, and diffuse the power of eternal
life. And thus was Divine Providence manifested in defeating the
designs of evil; in commanding the waters of rage and fury, and
bringing harmony, truth, and blessing out of all. And signs of a like
Providence have been repeated throughout the whole course of history,
and man has risen from every conflict wiser, stronger, and more mature
in the graces of many-sided life.
"The period succeeding the fall of the Roman empire was another chaos
of upheaval, confusion, war, and night. The Christian element had been
poured into the Roman, which had long effervesced with the leaven of
Greece and the oriental world. Then wave after wave of barbarian
power, fury, and life, came pouring into all, and threatening to drown
the world, like another flood, and sweep away the monuments,
institutions, and ideas of all past time. The rolling in of those
savage waves was like pouring rivers of acid into seas of alkali, and
the waters of society rose and roared in foaming strife. Yet, black as
was the sky, through all the dark ages, the light of the Lord shone
above the darkness; and wild and terrible as was the war of waters, the
Spirit of the Lord moved upon them, and brought to our times the social
life, liberty, and harmony we see.
"And some of the grandest characters of history have been called out in
times of conflict and revolution; and this shows the revelation of the
Lord in all. Milton, Washington, Patrick Henry, were not the weakly
blossoms of a hot-house, nor the stately flowers that decked a velvet
lawn, or blushed in a sunny garden. No! they were live, indomitable
oaks, that grew amid rocks, and from warring winds, and dashing waters,
received strength to deepen their hardy roots, and lift to heaven their
green and magnificent branches.
"And as in Nature and History," said the Minister, "_so in Individual
Life we may say the same_. The Providence of God regards the sparrow's
flight and the insect's joy; it clothes the grass, and arrays the
lilies in glory, and therefore is mindful of you and me, and works for
our good. 'The Spirit of God moves on the waters,' as they flow in the
course of Individual Life.
"We often see darkness above us. We often hear the powers of apparent
chaos roaring like hungry dragons around. We are often the sport of
whirling eddies, and the rage of furious rapids and falls. We wind our
cold, dark way at times, as if passing under the falls of Niagara,
roofed over with roaring waters, and startled with bursts of spray, and
shrieks and whistlings of sound from chasms and gulfs beneath; where
one false step would send us to destruction.
"And yet, as we have trusted our faith and hope, we have heard the
voice of the Lord above the noise of waters; and felt that his Spirit
moved near us, breathing love and speaking peace. We have said with
George Fox, 'There is an ocean of darkness and death; but withal an
infinite ocean of light and love flows over the darkness.'
"And what if we cannot always behold the light above the clouds? What
if the time frequently comes in trials, bereavements and disasters,
when all around and above, is dark, dark; and we see not how our
prayers for light can be answered, or in what way God can educe a good
from evil? Experience and faith assure us that the light will come,
and the good be made manifest.
"I may safely assert," said the Minister, "that the highest and
sweetest of all the blessings God his poured upon me, have rained down
in storms of affliction. That the brightest days have dawned on the
darkest nights. That the roundest and ruddiest rainbows have beamed
from the gloomiest clouds. I have had the profoundest sense of the
love of God, and the nearness of His Spirit, not in days of sunshine
and pleasure, when the waters have flowed in placid, tranquillity, and
there were slumber and rest on the world. But in hours of trial and
trouble, I have felt most of His love, and seemed most lovingly folded
in His Spirit; in hours of sickness, in hours of need, afar from all my
kindred, cut off from the staff and stay of worldly pleasure and joy.
Then, O, then, the Spirit of God has moved on the waters, and spoken
peace! And from afflictions, I have risen to higher faith, and more
strength of character, and broader aims and views of life.
"And this has been the experience of others I have visited and heard.
It has not been amid affluence, it has not been on the smoothly-rolling
current of worldly prosperity, that I have found people most keenly
alive to a sense of God's goodness, or the presence of His Spirit. I
have found great faith and gratitude; I have found warm and devoted
Christians amid affluence; but I think on the whole, I have found the
profoundest sense of the Divine Goodness and Presence among the humble,
among the poor and afflicted; and I am often reminded of an apostle's
words; 'God hath chosen the poor of this world rich in faith.' * * *
"And this reminds me of Job, and the faith that led him to hear the
voice of the Divine Spirit in the whirlwind, and on the stormy flood;
and from whirlwinds and floods, to get messages of love and peace.