IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 7 ^ A / V i< w- w. (/. 1.0 M IIIIM ilM ,11 -1 o n ^ 12.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 .« 6" ► V] arise out of the sea with seven heads and ten liorns, and to him the di-ai^on transfers his seat (or throne), his power and great autliority. And hiter on, the same beast is seen with a rider on his l)ack — a lewd woman, and she is drunk with Wood of saints. And next a beast is seen to arise out of tlie earth liaving two horns like a lamb, though he speaks with the voice of the dragon, and exercises all the power of the first ])east. These are all explained by the interpreter in harmony with the system of interpretation, to which refei'cnce has been made. In working out these inter})retation8 the conuuentators have not afforded nuich helj). Having such varying systems for the explanation of the symbols, one of wiiich is sometimes made to represent half a dozen diiierent things, they are all at sea, and seem only to add confusion to the reader's wonderment as ho attempts to follow them through the labyrinths of their imaginary fancies. And the most of them have been hampered by national prejudice, or by their creed, or by denominational influences, or by the bias of educ:»ti(»n. Protestants have sought to concentrate fill the terrible denunciations of the pro])het on the Roman Catholics, as though they were the embodiment of all the mean- ness and wickedness that is foreshadowed by these symbols. And the CatlK)lics have tried to find all of this, and much more, in Protestantism. Now, while it is true that Roman Catholic State-Chui'chism will have to take the lion's sliare, it is e(iu;illy true Moham- medanism and Protestant 8tate-J[^hurchism will both come in for their i>art when the time of retribution arrives, for they are both syndjolized in these prophecies. David Robertson, minister of the Gosjiel at Kilmaurs, Scot- land, gave a series of evening lectures on the Apocalypsn in 1819 and 1820, some of which had been written in 1811, and in 1830 and 1831 he gave a series of evening sermons on the same subject. These discourses were published in three volumes in IV INTRODUCTION. 1833, and were not very warmly received, on account of the radicalism of the author's sentiments, both as regards Church and State. The fact is, the author had ja-ojected himself seventy or eighty years ahead of his time. He will be more appreciated in the next century than he was in his own day. In 1882 this work was presented to me by a son of the author, viz., the late Peter Robertson, merchant, Kincardine, county of Bruce, Ontario. After carefully reading the work, I came to the conclusion that Mr. Robertson had furnished a key to the symbolisms found in Revelation ; and his book has been used as a key in working out the explanations put in the mouth of Mr. Deeming. Now, in conclusion, if "Clothed with the Sun" had been written as a piece of Church history, it would have found but few readers ; and if it had been written as an exposition of the book of Revelation, it would in all probability have been buried under mountains of learned theological criticism. But by putting the work in the form of a historical similitude it is hoped that many readers will be found conning the pages that contain the story of Ecclesia's journey. And it is believed that theological and literary critics will show their gallantry by treating with manly courtesy and gentlemanly consideration the " Woman Clothed with the Sun." Joseph H. Hilts. April, 1891. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Chaptkr I. — Parting Counsel Work to be Done — Words of Love — P^nemios to be Met — A Constant Warfare — Anothci' Woman — Unstable Friends — Not Left Alone — A Sad Parting. Chapter IF.— Friendly Consultation .... Ecclesia Meets Her Attendants- Spirits Dein-essed — Words of (!lieer — Cause of Human Sulferin^' — Successful Effort — Venerable Strang'ers— Valueless Systen)s— Hopeless Prisoners -Mercy and .Justice Meet — Glad Tidings — Offer Accejjted — Many Made Free. Chapter IIL^Encouraging Results Magnified Difficulties — Minimized Blessings — A Rejected Otter — Doubtsome and Fearsome — An Excited City — Fals(^ Imprisomnent — Preacliing in Court — Threats of Officials. Chapter IV. — Clouds Gathering An LTnexj)ected Deliverance — A Mucli-Desired Conversion — Hope for the Gentiles — Palsy Cured — Death of a Needle-Woman — Called liack to Life — Paul's Labors — A Beleaguered City. Chapter V. — The Clouds are Thickening Love of Home— T'le Song of Hope — The Roman Eagles — Unwelcome Visitoi\s — Mr. Braveheart — Dismissed In- truders — Another Sur])rise — Last Visit to the Temple — Farewell Song — (Jethsemaue and Calvary — Judaism and Christianity Compared. . Chapter VI. — Homeless Wanderers Going to the Gentiles— Oft' to Egyi)t — Ccmservatism of the Egyptians — Three Strongholds — More Persecutifms — Boctks Found — The Prophet Comes — Truth's Questions — The Rights of Woman — An Impostor Described. PAOK 9 23 38 63 67 82 i VI CONTENTS. 1 1 Chaptkk VII. — Symbols Kxi-lained Tnitli's I{cs]H(iisil)lt' Mission- A Hook of WoiultTs — Mr. Dct'iiiiiig tlicf Intt'i'i>r('t('r — Kulcs of Tiitcrpictiitioii — Symbols luid l'iiriil)lt's (/oiiiicircd Tliiii|,'s that Now Arc - Trujiin's (Miaiif^'c of Policy — JA'tiiiitioii of the Church— Caudli'sticks and Stars. Chapter VIII. — A Sealkd Book John in Heaven— The Beasts in Heaven — The Now Sonj? in Heaven — WIkj Can Open the Book — The Lion of Judah — Man an Kpitonu; of All Creation — A Visitor from Rome — Nero's Torches — Nero's Song. CHAI'TKR IX. — A CoNQUERINli HoRSKMAN First Seal Opened — A White Horse !Uid His Rider — Chris- tanity as a System — Church Work- Teaching by Sym- bols — A Red Horse - Imperialism — Its Persecuting Work— The sanu^ in All Ages and in All Countries — An Appeal to History. Chai'ter X. — The Dark Horseman The Balances — The Proclamation — The Defection of tli(> Clergy— Spiritual l''amine— The Enemy Named Kccle- siasticism — Tiie Mm of Sin — Test of History. Ciiai'tkr XI. — The Roan Hor.se Another Enemy — Claims Relation to all Three of His Pre- decessors — Kills with Sword, Famine, Pestilence, and Wild lieast- His Name is State-Churchism — Paganized Christianity the Worst Enemy of all Protestants of the Fourth Century — History Again. Chapter XII. —Disappointed People Ecck^sia much affected- Fiftli Seal Broken -Souls lender the Altar — Call for Justice -Characters Vindicated — Servius Comes from the 15islioi)s — ]<'ulsome is Sent by the Emperor — Ecclesia Refuses to Join Hands with the State. Chapter XIII. — Sadne.ss and Lamentation.s Sixth Seal Ojiened— The Sun Darkened— The Stars Fall— The Moon Turns to Blood — The Mountains Remove — The Heaven ] >e])art8 — The Terror of Pagans — Was Constantine a Christian — Ecclesia's Final Decision. Chapter XIV. — Coming Events Foreshadowed Between Two Storms — More Wonders — All Parties B.affled — Sealing God's Servants — Last Seal Opened — Scathing Fire — Seat of Government Moved — A Saucy Prelate- - A Penitent Emperor. PAOB 07 ill 127 142 157 172 186 201 CONTENTS. VU Chaitkic XV. -Kcci.ksia and tmk Df.auon . . . . A Woiidir ill Heaven TIic Dragon- -Coiulitioiis of Cliurcli Mciiilx'islii)) Heaven and the Heaven The Stars 'I'he Moon - (J(instuntine'.s i)( 203 279 2J)4 309 325 341 CONTENTS. Chapter XXIV.— Days of Retribution - - A Square Fight Between Christianity and Paganism Under the Seals — All Changed ])uring the Trunijiets — The First Vial Poured Out Brings the British Revolution — - Second the French Revolution — The Tliird Cleanses the Teachings of Protestantism — Liglit Increases Under the Fourth Vial. Chapter XXV.— The Days of Doom .... Jesuits and the Inquisition — Fifth Vial, a Kingdom full of DarkTiess — A Dried - up River — Armagcnldou] — The Earthquake — The Mountiiin of the Lord, the Stone Mountain of Daniel, and the Gospel Mountain, or Arma- geddon, all the same thing. Chapter XXVI.— The World's Noonday - . . . The First Persecution was in Babylon — A. Wedding Song— A Funeral Dirge — A Coronation Song— The Coming Era — The Letting the Dragon Out of Prison — He Leads the Army of Resurrected Sinners Against the Camp of the Saints — The Final Judgment — Ecclesia's Song of Victory. PAGK 368 378 390 PAGE 368 378 390 I I CLOTHED WITH THE SUN. CHAPTER I. D PARTING COUNSEL. ID I understand thee lightly? Dost thou mean to say that thiouo'li all the coming years of trial I shall have thy presence with me ? Thou didst speak recently of the persecutions and tribulations that I shall meet v/ith in my journey through the wilderness to the home that thou art to prepare for me. Thou didst point out some of the things that will oppose me as I try to do what thou hast com- manded me to do. Wilt thou reallv be with me to encourage me by the way, and to help me in my work, while I persuade as many of my neighbors as possible to go with me to the great city ?" These questions were asked by a most beautiful woman, as, standing on thf; top of an eastern mountain, she looked tearfully into the face of her Lord, who was on the eve of his departure to a far-off country to receive a kingdom, and to prepare a mansion in the imperial city for as many of old Adam's children as would come along with his affianced wife to share in the glories of that home of surpassing beauty. 2 10 CLOTHED WITH THE SUN. Fixing upon the troubled face of the woman an eye that was full of love and tenderness, he answered, in a soft and reassuring voice, saying, ' Thou hast heard correctly, Ecclesia. My presence shall go with thee, j^ut not my corporeal presence ; for however pleasing it might seem to thee to have me always visible to the eye of sense, nevertheless it is expedient for thee that I go away. But, ii' I go away, I will finally take thco to myself, so that where I am, there thou mayest be also. And again I say, thou shalt have tribulations ; but be of good cheer, for I will l)e with thee." " How canst thou be with me after thou hast gone from me ? " inquired the woman. " My words shall be impressed upon thy memory. my image shall be stamped upon thy heart, and my spirit shall commune with thy spirit. Be not troubled about this. I will find a way to comnmnicate witli thee, in all conditions, and under all circumstances, so long as thou shalt remain true to me, and shalt follow my directions." She sobbingly replied, " Oh ! how could I ever he untrue to thee ? Thou art to me the chiefest amoni; ten thousand. Thy favor is more than life to me, No ! no! I cannot think it possible that I should ever be untrue to thee." " Let not thy heart be troubled, l^^cclesia, neither let it be afraid," he replied. " I shall never lose sight of thee, though deep, dark valleys lay across thy path- way, and high and steep mountains intercept tliv course ; still my care for thy safety and thy comfort shall be as ceaseless as my love for thee is undying, "Wilt thou not tell me, my beloved," asked Ecclesia " why is it expedient for me that thou shouldst f; away ? It seems so hard to part with thee now, jii>t at the beginning of a long and tedious and wearisoni' journey through the wilderness, where I do not know the way that I am to travel, nor do I know anythinf^ | tj about the foes that I shall meet with on the road." \ 1 ill PARTING C;OUNSEL. 11 an eye jred, in ,t heard th thee, pleasing e to the hee that xke thco ay est be aiations ; > ast gone memory. , and my ■> troubled icate with stances, so lalt follow 1 ever he est amoni; it'e to nic, lould ever neither let ■^0 sight of thy path- ercept thy \y comt'ovt undyinii d Ecclesia. houldst go now, jwst wearisome not know I w anything^ le road." " If I were to remain with thee," he answered, " my liunian .sympathy would prompt me to provide for all thy wants wnth such profusion that thou wouklst not know what want means; and thou wouldst receive all th}' supplies with so little care on thy j>art, that faith would be a thing unknown to thee ; and having such an abundance of good things crowded into the pre- sent, thou wouldst forget to look into the future, and hope would cease to influence thy actions, and would die in thee. And where faith is dormant and hope is dead love can hardly exist, so that thou wouldst be found destitute of these three cardinal graces ; and without the courageous strength of faith, the cheering buoyancy of hope, and the enduring constancy of love to accompany thee, thou wouldst be but poorly fitted for what lies before thee." " What Mdll be the nature of the difficulties that I shall encounter? And who will be my opposers in the wilderness / Will they be open enemies or secret foes :*" (|ueried she. "These difficulties will be of various kinds," he an- swered. "Some of them will result from the weaknesses and intirmities of thy human nature ; .some will ari.se from the instability and uncertainty of everything earthly, and others will be caused by the perverseness and wickedness of those around thee. But by a steady perseverance in the right, and a resolute refusal to become entangled in the sinful or senseless customs and pleasures of the world, many difficulties may be escaped, and others may be overcome. But always keep this in mind, that no trial can be so severe, and no difficulty can be so fjreat that thou ' I/O may est not bear up under the one and overcome the other, by thinking of me and doing as my words direct." " Thy enemies will be numerous and powerful,"he con- tinued. " They will be both human and satanic, visible 12 CLOTHED WITH THE SUN. and invisible, open and secret. Men and devils will hate thee because they hate me, and they will strike at me through thee, for they will know that thcu art dearer than my life to me. When thou art least ex- pecting danger they will be plotting thy destruction. When thou art least prepared for them they will be dogging thy footsteps. They will come to thee singly and in companies. Sometimes they will attack thee by violence and at other times by flattery. When they cannot terrify thee by threats and frowns, they will try to entice thee by smiles and blandishments. If they fail to conquer thee by force, they will try to sub- due thee by professions of ardent friendship. Thou wilt need unceasing watchfulness. Thy safety can only be secured by exercising the patience of a Job, the wisdom of a Solomon, the faithfulness of a Daniel, the courage of a Joshua, and the earnestness of a Jeremiah, for thy enemies are bent on thy destruction in some way." " How can I know my enemies when I meet them ?" asked Ecclesia. He answered, " Whoever or whatever shall in any way influence thy mind against me is an enemy, either openly or in disguise." ENEMIES POINTED OUT. " What classes of society will my enemies belong to, and how will they make their attacks upon me ? " .she inquired. He replied, " They will be found among all classes and in all conditions of life. From the beggar to the prince, and from the slave to the emperor, thou wilt meet with them; and from the huts of mud to the palaces of marble they will come forth to oppose thee in thy work." " But why should I meet with so much opposition i PARTING COUNSEL. 13 and ill-treatment from those whom I have never harmed in any way ? I am sare that I would not, knowingly and willingly, injure any person in the wide, wide world," she said. " As to that," he answered, " it is not what thou hast done that will call forth their hatred and opposition, but they will hate thee because thou wilt not join with them in lighting against me. They hate me and all that is mine." "And why," she in([uired, " do they bear such malice against thee ? What hast thou done to them that so provokes their wrath ? " "Hast thou not heard, Ecclesia," he answered, "of the ancient enmity between my Father and their father, and between my kingdom and their kingdom ? I love light, but they love darkness. I love purity, but they love pollution. I love freedom, but they love bondage. I love holiness, but they lov3 sin. And I love life, but they love death." " How long since this warfare commenced, and how and when will it end ? Canst thou tell me ? " " It commenced when the angels rebelled and were driven out of heaven. It can only end in the entire overthrow of the powers of darkness. But when it shall end has not been told," said he. A HOPELESS WARFARE. " What do they expect to gain by this warfare against thee and thy cause, and why should they con- tinue the strife so long ? " inquired Ecclesia. " At first," he replied, " it seems they hoped to gain the throne of empire from my Father, but being foiled and driven out of heaven, mostly through me, they have been carrying on a hopeless struggle ever since ; and although they know that every rebellious act will only sink them deeper into doom at last, yet they have 14 CLOTHED WITH THE SUX. given themselves up to sin to such an extent that it has becojT^.o a necessity of their nature to run into evil. And is it not a stry nge thincf that man, who was made in the image of his God, will follow such leaders to certain destruction ? They have learned by a bitter experience that 1 am their conquerer. In the last^ conflict they marshalled all their powers and staked everything on the issue, but when they thought that I was over- thrown to rise no more, and just as they were pre- paring to celebrate the victory by claiming my crown and kingdom as their own, I rallied my forces, broke through their lines, and scattered their legions in all directions ; turning what they thought to be a great victory into a disastrous and disgraceful defeat." " Thinkest thou that they will ever try to carry war into heaven again, or will they ever make another attack upon thee personally ?" she inquired, with deep feelin":. He answered, " They will not again get near enough to the celestial city to carry the battle to its gates. And they were so signally defeated in their last effort to conquer me, that they will hardly make another attempt to measure their strength against mine in a personal combat. Henceforth they will make their attacks upon thee, and where thou art will the fiercest battle rage. They will hope to conquer thee since they cannot conquer me." " And since thou only art able to withstand their onsets, how can I expect to stand against them if they came so near conquering thee ? Will they not assuredly be too strong for me ? " she asked, falter- ingly. " Do not be deceived, Ecclesia," he said ; " I did not say that E was almost conquered ; but they thought that I was. They did not know that the arm that they were trying to break is the arm that holds the stars in their places. They did not understand that i'AHTLNG COUNSEL. 15 the hand from which they were vainly trying to wrest the sceptre is the hand that guides suns and planets in their courses. And as to being able to withstand them, thou art not to forget the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. The question as to who is right and who is wrong is vastly n)ore impor- tant in this contest than is the question who is strong- est. God is always on the side of right, and they that are right have God on their side, and they that have God with them are always in the majority." "Will my enemies always remain the same, or will they change with times and seasons ? And if I with- stand them in one mode of attack, will they adopt new methods of hostilities ? " she inquired, with great earnestness. " They will vary their methods, as times and circum- stances change " he replied. " And they will improve every opportunity to worry thee, and persecute thee, and destroy thee. When thy friends are few and poor thy own people will cast thee off. When thou art weak and apparently defenceless, kings and rulers will persecute thee and kill thy friends. When thou art prospenng and thy friends are many and wealthy, the world and its people will fondle around thee and flatter thee ; and when thou art succeeding in thy work and many helpers olFer to assist in the work that thou hast in hand, thy workers v/ill be bribed, by otfers of wealth and position, to neglect thy work and follow after vanities and empty titles and the pomp and glitter of worldly grandeur. And the time will come when those who do the greatest harm will be held in the highest esteem by the world and its people." "And will shall meet in she asked. the world be the only opposer that I the form of human instrumentalities?" 16 CLOTHED WITH THE Stm. ANOTHER WOMAN. " Not by any means ! " he answered. " Numerous forms of opposition and a great variety of agencies shall make thy journey through the wilderness an exceedingly unpleasant and dangerous one ; and when thy work seems to be prospering, and many friends have gathered around thee, an impudent impostor will push thee aside and claim thy place, and the multitude will forsake thee and follow the other woman, because she will offer to them the fullest freedom in the pur- suit of sensual pleasures and worldly objects. She will become great and powerful, and kings and princes, rich men and poor men, lords and nobles, statesmen and scholars, priests and prelates, and merchants and bankers, all shall accept of her and cast thee off.* And of all thy enemies, this pretender will be the most bitter and cruel. She wdll hate thee and persecute thee in all places where she can find thee. Her very brain will be a workshop for inventing instruments of torture with which to torment thee and kill thy friends. Her breath will be like the simoon of the desert, that bligh*^^s whatever it touches. Her home will be the grave of every good and holy aspiration, and her teaching shall be like poisoned waters, in which death is hidden. " By her sorceries and her smiles and enticing words she will captivate her dupes until she gets them in her power, and then she will make them the veriest slaves that ever lived upon the earth ; and when they find their bondage grievous and try to break their chains, she will lash them with a whip of scorpions until they are forced to obey her." " And why will she hate me so, and how can she be so cruel ? " asked Ecclesia, while her voice trembled with deep emotion. ■**■ See Rev. xvii. 4, 5. I'AllTING COUNSEL. 17 " Because usurpers are always cruel and tyraniiical, and by injuring a person, we in time come to hate the injured one. The consciousness of the meanness of such conduct keeps before the mind of the guilty per.^on an image of the injured one, and in time that image becomes hateful, and from the hating of the picture it is an easy thing to learn to hate the person rei)resented by it. "And another reason for this liatred is found in the fact that guilt always hates innocence ; and this woman will hate thee because the lustre of th)^ blameless life, shining on her actions, will make her character appear not only heinous, but odious, even to herself. " But, instead of repenting of her sins and forsaking them, she will try to hide them ; and failing in this, she will deceive herself into the belief that thou art, in some way, the cause of her spiritual leprosy and moral deformity, and hence she will hate thee with an undying hatred. And while thou wilt be a standing reproach to her, she will be a constant menace to thee." He ceased, and Ecclesia replied : " Thou hast told me much about my foes, wilt thou not tell me something about my friends ? Will they always be true and faithful ? Can I trust them at all times?" UNSTABLE FRIENDS. " Yes," he answered, " I will tell thee of thy friends, for I want thee to know just what may be expected in thy journey through the wilderness. Many of thy friends will be true to thee in all things. They will stand by thee at all times, and, when necessary, will die in the defence of thy cause. They cannot be driven from thee by danger or persecution, nor can they be enticed from thee by the prospects of ease or wealth, or high position among men, or ihe pursuit of worldly pleasures or worldly lusts, nor by anything else. IS <'I,0T1IKI) WITfl THK SUN. :it 'I "Tliese will stand by tliee and help thee in thy work. They will he the salt of the earth, a city set on a hill, the liLfht of the world. But these will have to endure much for thee and for the truths which thou wilt teach ; and for the same reasons that thou wilt be hated by that other woman, these will be hated and opposed by the world and its people. Do not forget, Ecclesia, my enemies will be thy enemies, and tlie enemies of thy frientls also. And moreover, these are all the tnendes of my Father, who is greater than all." " But wliy should they be his enemies, since he has always been (food to them, and has never harmed them in any way ? " asked she, in surprise. " They hate my Father because they know that his laws condemn their ways, and they find fault with the law-maker, and justify their actions by complaining that the laws are too strict, and the author of them too severe ; for sinners of all kinds are disposed to throw the blame of their punishment upon the makers and administrators of law more than on themselves, who are its violators. "But while a part of thy professed friends will be true to thee, another part will be false to thee. They will profess to love thee ; they will promise to be very diligent in thy work ; they will pretend to be very active in thy service ; and until the time of trial comes it will be difficult to tell who are the true and who the false. They will seem so much alike in many things that, like thy wheat and tares in the same field, they can be fully known only when their real character is allowed to develop itself. And just when thou wilt need them most, and when thou art hardly able to do without them in resisting the onsets of thy many and mighty foes, will be the time when they will desert thy cause, and show their real character. When their desertion can do the most harm will be the time chosen PAUTINf} COUNSEL. 10 by them to leave thy work and turn their backs upon thee. When their leaving thee and ^ou\(f over to thy foes will help them most, thy false friends will join thine enemies. " " Will those traitors be found amonj( the leaders of my people, or will they be persons of humble posi- tions in the ranks of the workers in my cause ?" she inquired. 'hey will be found," said he, " among all classes ; • '* itly among those in high position, and persons oi '>>' . e or less influence with their associates. Such will be more exposed to the temptations of the world. Being persons of note, special efforts will be made to induce them to desert thee and go over to the enem3''s ranks ; and some of these traitors will be among the most daring and ungenerous of thy opposers. Having turned their backs upon thee, they will do all in their power to lead others to follow their example. And being acquainted with thy people, they will know who the weak ones are, and hence they will be better able to do thee harm than they could have been if they had never been among thy friends." With an anxious and uneasy look, and with a chok- ing voice, Ecclesia answered: "How shall I ever be able to stand in the face of so many difficulties ? Open foes and false friends combined to oppose me and to destroy me, will most assuredly be too much for me to withstand in my long and wearisome journey through the wilderness. Can no other way be found by which the beautiful city may be reached ? Must I and all my friends pass over a road so dangerous, or never reach that home of beauty and delight ? " With tenderness and love manifested in the tones of his voice, he replied to her questions : " My way is the only way by which the city can be reached. And to the true and faithful the way through rit' t B, 20 CLOTHED WITH THE STTN. Mii; the wilderness is not so very dangerous, after all that may be said about it. To be sure, there are rivers to ford, mountains to scale, valle3'S to cross, various foes to meet, and difficulties to overcome. But I shall leave my footmarks all the way through the desert, and by following my track thou wilt be f^afe. And, as to the opposers who will try to intercept thy way, thou must remember that I have conquered every one of them, and they cannot conquer thee so long as thou trustest in me. In my name thoii mayest triumph over all of them, and even death itself cannot harm thee then." " Canst thou not send an escort to protect me and my friends in the times of danger ? " she asked. He answered, " Thy best protection will be found in obedience to my commands, adherence to my cause, and perseverance in my work. Thy safest escort will be the teachings of my word, wh^ch shall be attended by an invisible presence that will go with thee to the end of thy journ<^y. But for thy comfort and con- venience I will give thee a seer and an interpreter. When an thing of importance is to come upon thee, or when some new enemy is about to attack thee, the seer will give thee warning of it by presenting a pic- ture or image of the fresh adversary. And the inter- preter will explain the thing to thee so that thy plans may be laid for safely withstanding the onset. Be- sides the seer and interpreter, I will send along with thee for companions thy four friends. Truth, Faith, Hope and Love. With these for thy companions and daily associates thou canst hardly be lonesome by the way. And with these at thy .side continually, thou wilt be all the better able to keep the right path and to bear up under the burdens that may be laid upon thee. For if, under the pressure of adverse circum- stances thou shouldst be tempted to practise deception, Truth will speak words of caution to thee. If thou !illi PAUTING COUNSEL. 21 shouklst at any time become afraid to trust my words of promise, Faith will speak to thee and warn thee against the sin of unbelief. If, when the clouds are thick and dark, thou shouldst be inclined to yield to despair, Mope will point to the beautiful bow that spans the clouds, and will tell thee that the sun still shines and the worst of the storm is past. And when, in thy intercourse with the cold and selfish world, thou art in danoer of becominor cold and selfish, Love will speak to thee in tones of melting ten- derness, reminding thee of the sufferings and sorrow- ings that surround thee. With these for thy attend- ants thou canst not be unhappy." " Canst thou tell me how long I shall be in passing through the wilderness, and will my lot be a hard one all the way through ? " " The time of thy stay, and tlie length of thy years upon the earth, is one of the secret things that is not fc • thee to know^ Ecclesia," he answered ; " but there will come a time when, to escape thine enemies, thou wilt flee to the wilderness. Thy stay there will be for the period of twelve hundred and sixty days. Thy seer and thy interpreter will let thee know when the time comes for thy flight, and also for thy return. But thy stay on the earth will be a great deal longer than that; thy passage through the world will be more or less hard all the way. But it will not be equally difficult at all times. But thou nnist not forget that thy work in the world will not be done until the time that I shaU come to take thee with me. But when I come I shall find thee waiting for my appearing ; and thy journey through the wilderness will be ended, and thy exaltation to a place beside me on my throne will follow, as the reward of thy faithfulness in doing and suffering my will in this world." " Will the world ever cease to fight against thee and thy Father and me ? " she asked. ■^'Dji; m 22 CLOTHED WITH THE SUN. " Not entirely," said he. " There will be some that will not accept of thy teaching so far as to live in obedience to my laws. But they will be few, and their influence will be small. People generally will be so decidedly in my favor that a sinner will be a disgrace to himself and his friends ; these will look upon him as healthy people look upon a man who is a leper, as one to be pitied but still to be shunned." He con- tinued, " The time has come, Ecclesia, that I must take my departure. Do not forget my parting counsels. Be faithful to the end, and my blessing be with thee. Farewell ! " She looked, and he was disappearing in a mist or cloud that seemed to settle down upon the mountain. With a feeling of sadness and eyes red with weeping, Ecclesia slowly came down from the place w^here she would gladly have stayed forever, if only her Lord and Master could have tarried with her. To her the world never had looked so gloomy and creadful before. As she descended the hill-side she sung to herself in mournful accents, and with an inaudible voice : " T must pass through a country so sad and so dreary, I must journey alone o'er this wilderness land, Till I come to a place where the way-worn and weary Find comfort and rest on the heavenly strand. " I must walk through the desert, not hearing nor heeding The growling wild beasts that along my path lay, 1 must pass through dark valleys with hands and feet bleeding, lieing torn on the briars and thorns by the way." ne that live in id their II be so iisgrace on him eper, as He con- ust take counsels, ith thee. mist or ountain. weeping, here she ler Lord ) her the i\ before, erselt' in ary leeding 3 and feet CHAPTER II. FRIENDLY CONSULTATION. WHEN Ecclesia came down from the mountain .she repaired to an old city that stood about a mile from the place where she had parted with her Lord. Here she met her four friends and others who were attached to her. With these she formed an aureement that thev would all remain together until the time should come for her to enter upon the work committed to her hands. Her mind of late had been so preoccupied with the thought of the absence of her beloved Lord, that she had not fully realized the greatness of her task and the weight of the burden that rested on her shoul- ders. She had only thought of the loneliness she should feel when left alone in the world ; but now she had time to think the matter over, and to take a sur- vey of the field that she had been lett to cultivate. And what met her view, as she scanned the scene of toil, was enough to make her feel her inability for such a work. Not only was the field a large one, but it was also a rough one ; and to this must be added the hardness and unevenness of the ground to be broken up. And more than this, there were great difficulties to be over- come before the work of cultiv^ation could be properly commenced. 24 CLOTHED WITH THE SUN. Larjje boulder.s that had been hardeninof in the sum- mer suns of centuries, covered the soil so thickly, that in places they seemed to almost crowd each other. Great stumps of the foruier occupants of the ground stood like monuments of effete and departed systems, uttering their voiceless protests against any invasion of their possessions. Thorns and thistles disputed the right of soil with the groat variety of noxious weeds which covered the ground with a coat of many shades. Som6 of these bore beautiful flowers, which arrested the eye of the beholder, and made it seem almost like vandalism to destroy them. When all these elements of discouragement are taken into account, it is no wonder that Ecclesia should look with feelings of dismay upon the scene of her future struiXijles, and .should shrink back, and say, " Who is able for this work ? All this rubbish to be taken out of the way before I can do anything. Surely my task is too great for my strength." And she sat down and wept as though her heart was crushed and hope was dying within her. Such an array of difficulties as never before had met the gaze of any toiler was enough to dishearten one of more self-reliance than she possessed. And yet this was the work that her inexperienced hands must do.* This was the task given her to perform. For some length of time she sat in her abject grief. Presently a soft hand gently touched her shoulder, and a sweet voice spoke her name. Looking up, she saw a pair of bright eye , that seemed to sparkle with buoyant cheerfulness, fixed lovingly upon her. Hope had stepped up to her un- noticed, and it was her eyes that met Ecclesia's when, in response to the touch and the call, she lifted her head. * A very inade(i[uatc picture of the workl that the Church was tokl to evangelize. ii'ii FRIENDLY CONSULTATION. 25 " We d'-e here," said Hope, " to try and help you. Seeing our mistress, for such we call you, in deep trouble, my sisters and myself have come near to speak words of comfort to you." Church was CHEERING WORDS. " I am sure," said Ecclesia, " that I need some words of cheer to drive away the gloomy feelings that weigh so heavily upon my heart. W hat could be more dis- couraging than is the outlook, when I try to forecast the future and see such mountains of difficulties rear- ing their lofty summits across my way ? " '' Mouutaina and moleliills are the same To Him, who bids the work be done ; And trusting in His <.wy of strangers ; and as the numbers kept increasing .latil some thousands were around them, they entered at once upon their great mission. THE OFFER ACCEPTED. While Truth, who was the spokesman on this memorable occasion, was speaking to the astonished FUIENDLY CONSULTATION. 35 multitude, her words seemed to burn like coals of tire upon the hearts and consciences of his hearers. Noth- ini? like it had ever fallen on their ears before. She told them of the fetters that bound them, and of the long imprisonment of the race. She told them what Love and Mercv had done for them, and of what it had cost to open the door of their prison and to take down its walls. She informed them that the chains that bound them now were mostly those of their own forging, because emancipation from the guilt and thraldom of ances- tral sins had been proclaimed when one of earth's greatest prophets, as he stood on the banks of the sacred river, cried, " Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." Then lifting her voice like a trumpet, she said to the multitude, " Listen to the words of invitation sent to every one of you, ' Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth ; for I am God and there is none else ; ' and again, ' Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest ; ' and again, ' Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.' " Come, now, every one of you. Let the self-suffi- cient Pharisee, who thinks more about tithe and cummin than about faith and forgiveness, come. Let the scheming lawyer, who thinks more about his law-books and briefs than he does about personal obedience to law, come and be saved. Let the har- dened sinner, whose life has been one long series of rebellion, lay down his burden and his guilt, and come and be forgiven. Let the impulsive Peters, the clear- headed Jameses, the affectionate Johns, the meek-eyed Marys and the busy Marthas, come. And ye poor afflicted ones, come. If ye have no feet to walk, ye have eyes to see, and to you he says, ' Look ! ' Ye who have no hands to lift up, yet ye have tongues to speak, m m\ m m\ i!!i:! 36 CLOTHED WITH THE SUN. and to you he says, ' Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you ; ' and if ye can neither walk, nor see, nor speak, you have hearts to feel, and to you he says, ' In the day that ye seek me with all your hearts, 1 will be found of j'ou.' " When Truth stopped speaking the vast audience was swaying like a forest shaken by a mighty wind. Men and women were weeping like children. Some were crying for mercy, others were shouting for joy and gladness. When she sat down, thousands rose to their feet, as if by common consent, to testify their deter- mination to accept the invitation to become free, by renouncing all the hidden things of dishonesty and by following after that which is good. The four old men were astounded at what they saw and heard, for among the crowd of people were some of their own countrymen. These had been carried away by the mighty words of Truth to which they had been listening, so that they were among the num- ber of the new adherents that Ecclesia and her friends gained in this their first effort to carry out the Master's orders, and call the world to a higher and happier way of living, and to a brighter and more hopeful future prospect. Presently the four old men entered into conversation among themselves concerning the things that they saw and heard. Nahor, the Shemite, said, "In all my past life, which is now more than four-score years in length, I have never heard such words as we have listened to to-day. Henceforth my lot, for weal or for woe, shall be cast with these people. My friends have long been look- ing for some wonderful person who should change the aspect of society and redeem Israel, and I believe that what we witnessed to-day is a proof that he is come." Nebo, the son of Ham, replied, "These locks of hair on my head are white with age, yet I have not I ^f * '§ FRIENDLY CONSULTATION. 37 seen and heard anything like this. The pillars and tombs of Egypt give no records of words so strange as we have heard to-day. I have strong hopes that the people of Egypt and Ethiopia may yet be free." Nearchus, the Japhethite, spoke and said, " I have crossed wide oceans, and visited lands far apart ; I have mingled with men of many countries, and heard the languages of different peoples, yet the words that have fallen on my ears this day are the most remark- able and thrilling words that I ever heard ; and the strangest thing of all is the fact that in my own tongfue I hear these new ideas set forth." Ningta, the Mongolian, said, " My mind is eclipsed, my tongue is paralyzed, my eyes are dazzled by the seeing and the hearing of this day. My people have outgrown their religion and are beginning to despise all their teachers, and every man is trj^ing to find out a way of his own and to invent a god for himself. But although among my people are found some very low types of humanity, yet I believe there is hope for them, if what we heard to-day is true." Ecclesia and her friends closed their first day's work by chanting an impromptu song of encouragement : " Tlie Lord who has this work begun, Will make it spread from shore to shore, Till sin and woe are found no more Beneath the eix'cle of the sun. " Then let us all fresh eourage take, And strip and harness for the fight — And lalior on with all our might, Sinee all is for the Master's sake." m Hi f i ;l I CHAPTER III. H ENCOURAGING RESULTS. AVING commenced their work with such en- couraging tokens of success, Ecclesia and her friends resolved to press onward with all possible dili- gence. Feeling that the success of their efforts depended on prompt and faithful service, more than on numbers or personal influence, they committed themselves fully and without reserve to their task. And the effects of their first engajjement with the powfci\s of the world stimulated them to put forth stronger efforts to bring the people out of darkness into light, and out of bondage into liberty. They had already seen enough to convince them that a strange, mysterious influence came upon the listeners while the words of Truth and Hope and Love fell upon their ears; an influence that seemed to take them by surprise and con(i(uer them as by magic. And the strangest thing of all seemed to be found in the transforming eft'ects of this mysterious force. Under it the proud sons and daughters of wealth and affluence became willing to associate with the hard-handed children of toil. The profound scholar could mingle, without repugnance, with the unlettered and ignorant. The master and the servant could kneel at the same altar, and the mistress and her maid could eat at the same table. A persf n who had been known as the Naj^arene had re- i: I ENCOURAGING RESULTS. 39 1 cently proclaimed the doctrine of brotherhood amoncf his followers, and had condemned all class distinction.* But to reduce such teaching to practice in every-day life is no easy cusk, until the pride of wealth and posi- tion is taken out of the hearts of men and women. But enough had already been done to convince the candid mind of Ecclesia that in the fulfilment of the command of her Lord she would become a great bless- ing to the world. And being greatly encouraged by what had been done, she determined to call up all her energies and exert all her powers in the ^Derformance of duty. And in order to do this most successfully, she assigned to all of her friends the part to be taken by each. Truth was to show the people their errors and sins ; Love was to convince them that this was done in kindness, and not in a spirit of censoriousness ; Faith was to lift them up out of the regions of doubt into that of belief and trust ; and Hope was to shed light and beauty upon their future prospects. When these plans were announced by Ecclesia, and as her friends learned what was to be expected of them, they HAD SOME FRIENDLY DISCUSSION as to the comparative difficulties of their duties. And in this conversation it was made apparent that none of them fully understood their strength. They had not as yet tested their powers by actual contact with opposing forces ; but they were all agreed that each should help the other in all possible ways, so that their chances of success were much better than they would be if separate and independent action had been determined on. " My work," said Truth ; " will be of an unthankful kind, so far as exposing wrong-doing is concerned. 'M ill * See Matthew xxiii. 8-12, where this doctrine is clearly taught. fl 40 CLOTHED WITH THE SUN. j I : People hate to have their sins and follies pointed out even to themselves. Hence I shall often be blamed unjustly, and censured when I ought to be com- mended. " That is true," replied Love ; " but then, my sister, do not be at all disheartened. Think of the orreat advantaoe it is to know the truth, for the Master said, ' The truth shall make you free.' And he also said that ' when the spirit of Truth has come, he will guide into all truth.' Is it not a blessed thing to lead the people out of darkness into light, and lift them from wretchedness and ruin into joy and gladness ?" " And my work," said Faith, " will be very much affected by the success or faihire of sister Truth. It is my duty to lead men into belief and trust. Now, I could not honestly tell them to believe what I. knew to be false, or to trust in what I did not know to be true. I will stay close to sister Truth in our jour- neyings and labors, and as soon as people show a willingness to listen, I will inspire them to believe and trust." " You will need my help, too,' said Love, " for Truth ' worketh by love.' But my work is so nearly allied to the work of mv sisters, that I seem to have but little to do aside from helping them. And this is all right, for it is my delight to serve others when I can. Whenever people receive the truth ' in the love of it,' they have need of me, and when they find faith springing up in their hearts, they have need of me, for I am Faith's instrument in purifying their natures." " My work," said Hope, " will sometimes be very difficult. I shall often have to fight with a monster called Despair. Ho is old and crooked, and lame, but still he is hard to conquer, for it is wonderful how quickly he can move about, although a cripple, and it is astonishing what a load he can carry, although so old. Always he carries about a load of optical instru- ■«5T ENCOURAGING RESULTS. 41 merits by which to delude people. By placing one sort of a glass to a man's eye, everything will be mag- nified, and by using another kind of glass, everything will be minified. In this way people's trials are made to look like mountains, and their blessings are made to appear like grains of sand. I shall have enough to do in saving men anJ women from the delusions of this monster, because "Men looking through these glasses see Nothing as it ought to be, Till with fainting hearts they say Everything has gone astray. Then the work that I must do Is to try and lead them through All the gloomy regions where They might sink into despair." " And who could ask for a nobler work ? " responded Truth. " I see," said Ecclesia, " more than ever, the impor- tance of the duties that each of you has to perform in helping me to fulfil my mission in the world. Let us all do what we can, and whatever comes, let us keep together and be true to each other and to him who has given us our work to do." " Aye, aye ; let it be so," replied each and all of them. pi. Hit A REJECTED OFFER. Soon after the conversation above noticed, Ecclesia saw two men approaching. They came hobbling along as though their feet were very sore. They both had long staffs, on which they leaned heavily. In fact, they seemed to be unable to stand without something to hold them up. As they came up, one of them said, iQ a low, soft voice, " Fair lady, we have heard of these four lovely maidens and their beautiful mistress. We have been told of the work that you are engaged 41K CLOTHED WITH THE in. We know something of its ^ers, and we have sought you out to ofl'er our friendly oiHces, as we think we can be of great service to you." " Ecclesia and her friends were not prepossessed in favor of the men. They did not like their appear- ance. Something whispered to Ecclesia to beware of alliances with strangers. Truth was the first to speak. She asked them their names and whence they came. One of them answered, " We came from the land of false pretensions, the home of shams and deceptions. We are well informed in all the arts of the hollow-hearted and bare-faced deceivers that are met with in the world. We are twin brothers, and are members of a numerous family. My name is Fearsome, and my brother's name is Doubtsome. You may have already observed that my knees are weak, and I may tell you that my brother has sore eyes, so that he cannot bear a very bright light. So we keep at a safe distance from danger, and never go where the light is too strong." Ecclesia said, " I do not see in what way you could be of service to us in our work." " We would be of great service to those to whom you minister, if not to you," replied Fearsome. " In what way ? " inquired Ecclesia. " I," said Doubtsome, " would keep people from be- lieving too much." " And I would keep them from expecting too much," remarked Fearsome. Here Truth came forward, and with great earnest- ness said, " Dear mistress, do not have anything to do with these impostors. Do you not see how they would embarrass our work. One of them would interfere in the work of Faith, and the other would paralyze the efforts of Hope ; and whatever tends to hamper people in their belief of truth, and to weaken their trust in promises, and to minimize their expectations tJNCOURAGINO RESULTS. 43 of future ^ood-will, in the nature of things neutralize all our etlbrts, and render full and complete success an impossibility." " The younfT woman is too censorious," spoke up DoubtHome. " I think a little more charity for peo- ple's opinions would become her much better than the unfriendly words she has just uttered." " Charity," said Love, " can cover a great many things ; but even charity itself cannot ignore stub- born facts. Your brother has just now told us that you have sore eyes, and cannot bear the light very well. My sister Truth has eyes as bright as a sun- beam, and as strong as the eyes of an eagle. Would not reason say that she can see things more clearly than you can." " We only wish to avoid extremes by taking a mid- dle course of moderation," answered Fearsome ; " and in working out this plan, we teach men to believe nothing that they cannot comprehend, and to trust in nothing that they have not tested. Is there anything wrong in that ?" " Simply this," replied Truth, " if men are to believe only in what they fully comprehend, and trust only what they have fully tested, then there is no place for faith in anything beyond their own knowledge and experience. On this theory, all transactions that de- pend on the words or promises of others would be ruled out ; and faith and hope would be banished from the world. 'But without faith it is impossible to please God.' " * THE CASE DECIDED. "I am convinced," said Ecclesia to the two men, "that we have no need of your assistance in our work. Truth is our chief speaker, she tells the people what they are to believe ; Faith helps them receive the truth, and trust in it; Hope fills them with fond anticipations J'-'!! i''"tfini »!!!: ill 44 CLOTHED WITH THE SUN. of future good, and Love begets in their hearts feel- ings of deep gratitude for unmerited favors freely given. Tliey show their love to the Giver of these ■ mercies by obedience to his laws. They become co- workers wdth him and fellow-workers with us in ful- filling our mission of love and mercy to the world." " Well, lady," said Doubtsome, " if we are not per- mitted to work with you, we will have to do what we can in our own way, and on our own responsibility. You will find out in time that our influence over men is not to be despised. You will hear from us again." " I expect opposers and enemies," she said ; "and if you range yourselves among them and fight against me, that may be my misfortune, but it is not my fault. I have my directions to follow, and it is not left for me to make doubtful alliances or to adopt questionable methods in doing my Lord's work." " Be it so," replied Doubtsome ; " but remember that my brother and I have many friends, and we shall use our influence with them to get them to oppose you in your exclusive notions." With this threat, the two men turned and went away toward the setting sun. " There will be trouble with these men yet," said Truth ; " but it is safer to meet their opposition than accept their help." " Help such as they would render would do more harm than good ; and, if I am not very much mistaken in the estimate that I have put on them, they are the representatives of a band . of very bad enemies who will do all in their power to hinder us," said Ecclesia. " They say that they belong to a numerous family," replied Truth. " Yes," said Faith, " and I noticed the sneering look that passed between them when our mistress declined their oifered assistance, and as Doubtsome said you will hear from us again. It seems to me that the way 1!! ENCOURAGING RESULTS. 45 he spoke the word us, it must mean more than two. But let it mean many or few, our business is to go straight forward in our work, and leave our enemies and opposers to be dealt with by our defenders." AN EXCITED CITY. As Ecclesia and her attendants were one day approaching the gate of the city, they heard a con- fusion of voices, and, as they looked up the principal street, they saw people hastening toward a large building that stood on an eminence. Everybody seemed anxious to get there before his neighbor, and all the people were trying to outrun each other in the race. " What has happened ? " inquired Ecclesia of two men who ran past her just after she had entered the city. The men did not stop to answer her question ; but one of them called back to her, after they had gone some distance from her. She could only understand one word of what he said ; that was the word tnirade. Passing on till she came to a street corner, she fell in with an old, venerable looking man. " Rabbi," said she, " could you tell me what the people are running together for ; has anything unusual taken place ? " " A miracle has been wrought on a man that never walked a step in all his life, and the man is well known to all the people of the city, and thousands from all parts of the country who frequently come to the city to attend the festivals. This man is now past middle age, and he has sat at the gate called Beautiful from his boyhood, seeking help from those who might pa^s by. And this morning, about the middle of the fore- noon, two plain-looking men, who were dressed like fisherman, were walking past the cripple. As they did so, he asked for help. They stopped and looked at him for a few seconds ; then one of them said to 'll;it" i 4e CLOTHED WITH THE SUN. 1 ii'' I'll him, ' We have no money to n;ive yon, but we will do what we can for you. In the name of the Master whom we serve, arise to your feet and walk.' And the lame man arose to his feet and began to walk and leap like an athlete, to the astonishment of all the people." The old man continued, " There was one of the rulers of the people who came alont; just when the man told the cripple to rise up and walk ; he rushed up to the speaker, and in anger, said, ' Thou impostor, thou Galilean fisherman, durst thou offer such an insult to a poor helpless creature ? Wilt thou mock his miseries by pretending to remove them ? Does not every one know that the pretended worker of miracles is dead, and has been ever since the last Passover, when the Romans killetl him ? ' " But while the ruler was speaking, the lame man sprang to his feet, saying, ' Impostor or no impostor, I am cured,' and got up and did as I said before." Ecclesia and her attendants went forward in the direction that the throng was moving. Presently they saw the man who had performed the cure on the cripple, and she at once recognized him as one who had acted a very prominent part on the day when she commenced her mission, and so many were led to join with her. She went up to where the men were standing in the midst of a group of friends. When they saw her, they saluted her and sho returned the salutation, and then she said to them, " I am very much delighted to meet with two such honored servants of my Lord, and I hope you may both be spared for a lorig and faithful service in his cause. We are all really workers to- gether with him in tryinsf to save and bless the world." " That is true," said Cephas, " and in suffering, as well as in work, we shall be one. The world will hate us and try to destroy us, because we belong to him whose kingdom is not of this world, and because we w ENCOURAGING RESULTS. 47 have a good hope for an inheritance that is incor- ruptible, iintJctiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us." The people, meanwhile, gathered around the man who had been cured. Many questions were asked of him, which he was unable to answer. But every one knew that he had been a cripple all his life ; and every one could now see that he was cured. While the man was trying to satisfy the people's curiosity, an officer of the Sanhedrim ca«ie forward, and MADE A PRISONER of the man who had cured him, and led him off to prison. The men who witnessed the arrest uttered some protests at the way the man was treated, more especially when a second officer came and took his com- panion and led him away also. The crowd follov/ed the officers and their prisoners to the gaol door. Some of the more resolute ones offered to assist in a forcible rescue. But tlie man Cephas entreated them not to attempt anything of the kind, urging thnt he deserved to be treated roughly as a punishment for his own cowardly ingratitude on a late important occasion, when he not only refused to speak for his friend and benefactor, but he had actually denied being at all acquainted with him. The men were locked up for the niglit, to await the meeting of the Sanhedrim next morning. As the news of the miracle sprea 54 CLOTHED WITH THE SUN. it iik But to return to Cephas. When Ecclesia heard of his imprisonment, she requested a number of her friends to meet her at a convenient place where they might hold communion together and spend the night in prayer. They met at the appointed place, and after securing safety from intrusion by fastening the door, Ecclesia addressed the company to the following effect : *' My cherished ones, we have need of fortitude and firmness in our present time of trial. Dark days have come to us, and I fear darker ones are in store for us in the not distant future. " In the death of Stephen and James we have lost two able leaders, and our cause has been deprived of two very strong supporters ; and the bravest of our brave adherents is in the hands of our enemies. They will show him no more mercy than they did the others. Now the Master told me before he left me that in all my trials I could depend on him for help, even in the deepest gloom of night as well as in the brightest day. What think you of sending up our petitions right here for the deliverance of Cephas ?" " Well-spoken words, dear mistress," said Faith. " While our foes are calling on earthly rulers to help them in their opposition to us, we will call on the great King for help and deliverance, and according to his word he will hear and answer us, for has he not said, ' Call on me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you?'" " Yes," said Truth, " and he further says, ' Whatso- ever ye shall ask in my name it shall be given you.' Now, if we ask for the deliverance of Cephas, the Lord will hear us, and in his wisdom will find a way to fulfil his own promise." Who led that prayer-meeting we are not told. We are simply informed that at the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, many were gathered together praying. And while the fate of Cephas was weighing w CLOUDS GATHERING. oo on their hearts, and while they were lifting their hearts to God in prayer, the wished-i'or, but hardly hoped-for answer came. Even before the amen was said, Cephas stood at the door, knocking for admit- tance. And when the quick ear of the damsel, Rhoda, detected his voice through the door, she forgot to open it in her joy. And when she told the people that their prayer was so soon answered, they said she was crazy.* When Cephas persisted in knocking, they at last allowed the damsel to open the door and let him in. They then saw that the wings of the divine messen- ger that brought the answer to their prayers had so far outstripped the laggard movements of their faith and expectations, t^at the answer came before they believed that the request had reached the ear of the all-loving Father. When Cephas related to them what had been done for his deliverance, they were filled with joy and gratitude to the great helper of the needy, for such a clear proof that he could hear and answer prayer. " This," said Ecclesia, with tearful emotions, " is the fulfilment of the promise that he made to me before he left me ; he told me that in every trial, if I called on him for help, it would be granted. Now, I am more than ever certain that my position in the world is not a hopeless one, although it may be a difficult and trying one." GOOD NEWS. While they were rejoicing over the deliverL ,e of Cephas, a man of Damascus came up to them and said, " I am sent to tell you that the daring persecutor is conquered. Saul is converted and is novv proclaim- ing his adherence to the new religion in the oldest city * See Acts xii. for the account of this. ■ii-r ili 1 5G CLOTHED WITH THE SUN. « in the world, even in Damascus, and hundreds are accepting the new ideas set forth in his wonderful dis- courses. There is a force in his logic that makes his words irresistible, and his fervor of spirit makes his earnest appeals to the people reach the hearts and consciences of many of all classes. He is, in deed and in truth, a burning and a shining light," The news of the conversion of this proud Pharisee, and the fact that he was already making his influence felt on the side of right, filled Ecclesia and her friends with great joy. They clasped hands in token of undying attachment to each other. They pledged themselves anew to faithfulness and fidelity in their work. After many words of congratulation to each other, they joined in a song of praise and thanks- giving to the Ruler of earth and heaven. We give a part of what they sung : ' ' Great Ruler of the world, to Thee We bow the humble suppliant knee, And with our hearts and voices, raise To Thee a song of grateful praise : Happy to know that Thou canst find A way to reach all human kind ; Bring down the haughty, raise the meek, And save all who Thy favor seek." " Who would have thought," said Hope, " that the man who hated us and our cause with such cruel hatred would ever become one of us ? Wi^'i such an able defender of our precepts and practices we shall be able to convince our opposers and subdue the hatred of our enemies." " Dear sister," replied Truth, " do not be over confi- dent in this matter. The more we expect from any- thing in this world, the greater are our chances of being disappointed, and by allowing our expectations to rise too high, the more crushing our sorrow when we fail to realize our anticipations. I know, my sister, CLOUDS GATHERING. 57 that you are apt to paint the future with many beau- tiful shades of color, and make the very best of every- thing that comes within the range of your clear-eyed vision. But, my dear, it is well to mix a few sombre hues with your brighter colors, lest your pictures become too brilliant. And it is best to pluck a few feathers from the wings of fancy, lest it soar too high and get into the region of the unreal and the impos- sible to us in this world.'' " I think," put in Faith, " that if there is a danger in expecting too much, there is also a dangerous possi- bility of expecting too little from the human instru- mentalities that may from time to time be placed in the field as auxilaries in this conflict. We contend with forces that are visible and with forces that are invisible, and the invisible forces operate through instrumentalities that are visible and tangible. The spiritual works through the corooreal, the superhuman manifests itself through the human. We are con- tending not only against principalities and powers in their organized condition of existence, but we contend with spiritual wickedness, or the wicked spirits who are the pervading and moving forces, that urge them on to oppose us in our good work. " On our side also in this conflict, there are spiritual forces working through human instruments. Only ours are mightier than are the invisible helpers of our foes. We have on our side the Great Ruler of all worlds. He can use the weak things of this world to con- found the mighty, so that it is folly to attempt to mea- sure the potency of any instrument, however impo- tent in itself, when it is wielded by the hand of Omni- potence. This being the case, the man of whom we were speaking may become * mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds of the enemy.' " " Oh, I am so glad," said Love, " that the heart of this young man has been changed from hatred to love, 5 *■ . ^i8 CLOTHED WITH THE RUN. and from darkness to light. What he once destroyed he will now defend, and what he formerly pulled down he will now help to build up; I am rejoiced at this." And Love's eyes filled with tears of gladness. "lam told," said Ecclesia, "that the name of tliis young man has been changed from Saul, which means lent, to Paul, which means little. Probably this is be- cause of the low opinion he seems to have of himself. He calls himself the chief .of sinners, and says that he is the very least of all the leaders in our cause.* It seems that the heart that lately had room for a very large amount of haughtiness and self-laudation, now has room for as large an amount of humility and self- abasement. 1 remember reading in an old book that I love very much, that, 'he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.' Now this young man's humility may be only the preparation for great usefulness and high honors. His work, I am informed, is to be among the Gentiles, where he will find no paths that others' feet have made, and where he will find no work that the hands of others have performed. His is to be pioneer work from first to last." " Probably no man among all of our friends is so well adapted to that kind of work as he is," said Truth. "He has in him the elements that command respect and secure success," replied Ecclesia. " He has clearness of conception, fixedness of pur- pose, honesty of intention, fervor of spirit, unflagging energy, and an unbending will, all directed by an intellectual force that has but few equals and no superiors in the world of thought. Such a man is an acquisition to any cause. Such a man is able to defend our doctrines in the courts of princes, in the halls of science, in the schools of learning, in the arena of reli- gious disputation, and in all places where a defence is * See 1 Timothy i. 15 ; and 1 Corinthians xv. 9. w CLOUDS GATHERIXG. 59 needed. I am truly thankful that such a man has oeen given to us at the very time he is most called for." " You spoke of this man going to the Gentiles," said Love." " It fills me with joy to think that they are to he invited to take the journey to the Great City as well as we, who have hitherto considered ourselves as the favored ones. But are you sure, dear mistress, that there is not some mistake in this. Are these outcasts really to be invited to share the glories of that pro- mised inheritance ? " Truth answered, " There can be no longer a doubt on this point, Cephas has already carried the offer to the Gentiles. Some of them have gladly accepted the invitation, and are enjoying the same privileges that we have. What a wide field of operation this opens up before us. The many millions of the Gentiles to be invited will require a great many messengers to go into all the world and tell them the good news." 3li- THRILLING TIDINGS. While the little company were rejoicing over the conversion of Paul, a messenger came from the land of Dan, who told them of what Cephas had done in that country, to the great astonishment of the people livinof there. As Cephas was journeying he came to the city of Lod. There he came across a man who had been laid up with paralysis for eight years. This man had spent much money in trying to get cured of his affliction ; but all to no purpose. Medicine did him no good. He and his friends despaired of his ever being any better. When Cephas came to the man, he asked him if he had ever heard of one whom the Jews and Romans had crucified at Jerusalem, of whom it was affirmed that he was risen from the dead. 60 CT.OTHED WITH THE SUN. iEneas, for such was the man's name, replied that he had been in Jerusalem when he was a well man ; but since he was stricken with palsj' he had not taken any interest in public affairs. There might have been scores of people crucified and he hear nothin^^ about it. But he once heard a man talking to some Egyp- tians about a person called Jesus, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and of whom some strange rumors were afloat a few years ago. Then Cephas said to Eneas, " This same Jesus mak- eth thee whole. Arise, and make thy bed ! " and the man was healed from that moment. Everybody was surprised to see the bedridden man moving about with all the sprightliness of youth. But still strcnger things were about to happen. In the neighboring city of Joppa, the President of the first Dorcas Society in the world, was dead. The needle-women and the widows were very sorrowful at the loss sustained by their sewing circle in the death of Tabitha. They were Christians — Tabitha had been one, too. In their sore trial they wanted a Christian minister. The nearest one they knew of was Cephas, who was still at Lod, where hundreds were being con- verted through his ministrations. A delegation was sent to ask him to come and see the distressed disciples at Joppa. After due consideration, he placed the con- ducting of the revival work into the hands of a com- petent leader, and went with the messengers to Joppa. When he came to the house where the body of Ta- bitha was, he was conducted to an upper room. There he found a number of the women and widows, who had been associated with the departed in the praise- worthy work of clothing the destitute and feeding the hungry. On the faces of these were many tears, and from their lips fell many eulogies of the work and character of the dead. Garments that her hands had made for the children of the poor were shown to CLOUDS GATHERING. 61 Cephas as an evidence of the usefuhieas of her life. And while they wept and talked the heart of Cephas was touched, and he felt a divine impulse come upon liim. He went forward to where the dead w^omanlay, and takini^ the cold and stiffened hand in his, said, " Tabitha, arise ! " And from the home of departed souls the life returned to the pulseless heart, and once more set it in motion, sendinf^ the warm current of blood through every artery and vein of the body. On opening her eyes she saw Cephas, who assisted her to her feet, and presented her to the astonished com- pany alive and well. All the city was moved at this wonderful event, for Tabitha was well known and much respected by her neighbors. As the result of this display of miracu- lous power on the part of Cephas, many were led to inquire into the teaching and the claims of the new religion ; and, as had been the case in Lod, hundreds were converted and joined in with Cephas and his friends. Ecclesia was very much pleased on hearing what was going on in the land of Dan. She began to hope that probably her path through the world might not, after all, be so rough as she had feared that it would. But in this she w^as mistaken, as we shall see further on. to EARNEST LABORS. The same restless spirit that had given so much energy to Saul while he was persecuting the adherents of the new religion, now manifested itself in the young man as Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. After his conversion, on the road to Damascus, he commenced at once to proclaim the doctrines and precepts of the new faith with astonishing success. He commenced his work of building up the cause in the same place where he had intended to tear it down — in the city of n 62 CLOTHED WITH THE SUX. I Damascus itself. Many of the people believed the words spoken by Paul, and became converts to the faith ; but it was there as it is everywhere, when good is being done. The powers of darkness were let loose, and the enemies of the truth commenced the work of persecution, and carried it on with such vigor that Paul escaped with his life by being let down from the top of the walls in a basket by his friends. The gates of the city were watched day and night to prevent his escape, so determined were his opposers to destroy him. When he got out of Damascus, he and his friend, Barnabas, came to Ecclesia, at Jerusalem, to join their lot with her ; but some of her people were afraid of Paul, having known him only as a persecutor, but on learning from Barnabas what he had done in Damas- cus, they willingly gave him a place among them, and for a number of years he was the most prominent per- son in the number of Ecclesia's friends, as w^ell as the most laborious and the most successful. His name became like a household word in the churches of Assyrir , Asia Minor, Phoenicia, Greece, Gaul and Rome. He foui^ded churches in many cities, and was the most scholarly person among Ecclesia's friends. But he was not permitted to go on his way unopposed. At Philippi he had many stripes laid on him, and he and his companion were put in prison. He tells us that he was in stripes and imprisonments — in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent— of the Jews, live times he received forty stripes, save one. Three times was he beaten with rods ; once was he stoned. Thrice he suffered shipwreck. He was a night and a day in the deep. He was in journeyings often ; in peiils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by his own coun- trymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in peiils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren. Such was the story of his toils and sufferings in few words, as he told it to his friend i at Corinth. CLOUDS GATHERING. 68 After this, Paul was sent from Jerusalem, as a pri- soner, to Rome, where he died as a martyr to the faith, under the Emperor Nero. By this time the new faith had gained many adhe- rents, both in Asia, and Europe, They were found ahnost everywhere, and in all classes of society. From Eoypt to India, and from the Persian Gulf to the British Isles, there were to be found more or less of those who, by this time, were called Christians. They were hated everywhere, and still everywhere the num- bers increased. They were hunted from place to place, and still the}' became more influential as time passed on. Hated by the Jews, despised by the Greeks, and execrated by the Pagans, but still they were every- where gaining ground. Opposed by fire and sword on every hand and at every point, in spite of all they went on their way, caring for none of these things. From all directions came the tidings of success on the one hand, and of the most determined opposition on the other. Ecclesia was in doubt often as to what would be the final outcome of all these conflicts. While she and her friends were in consultation one day on the prospects of final success to their cause, a man was seen on the wall of the city, crying at the top of his voice, '•' Woe ! woe ! woe to the city ! " People ran in all directions. The confusion became so great that the Sanhedrim was called together to consult on the strange occurrence. Ecclesia went into the temple. There the multitude were startled by a man crying out in a loud voice, saying, " A voice from the east, a voice from th^ west, a voice from the four winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the holy house, a voice against the bridegroom and the bride, and a voice against the whole people." * The people became much disturbed by this man's cries, which is said to have been continued for seven \m ^i H * See .Tosephus, ' ' Wars of the Jews, " Book VI. , chap. 5. 64 CLOTHED WITH THE SUN. I years, and they commenced when the city was in perfect peace. Up and down the streets and lanes of the city, by day and by night, this solemn cry was heard. Many other strange signs were seen just before the commencement of the war that terminated in the destruction of the city, and a number of false prophets arose and deceived the people, making them believe that God, who had so often in times gone by rescued their fathers from their oppressors, would help them to throw off the Roman yoke. One day the inhabitants of the city were astonished and frightened to see a flaming sword suspended over the temple. One night, when the city was full of people from the country, who came to the feast of unleavened bread, at the middle of the night a great light shone around the temple for half an hour, making everything look as bright as day. On another occasion, as the priests were going into the inner temple to perform their sacred duties, they heard a great noise and many voices, saying, " Let us move hence." These and other sigfns were the harbino-ers of coming woe upon the devoted city, as subsequent events showed. Ecclesia called her friends around her for consulta- tion, and to determine on some plan of action in view of what seemed, in the near future, coming upon the city. That the city was doomed to destruction was the opinion of persons who best understood the old prophets, and that the time was near at hand seemed evident from the signs of the times. "I think," said Ecclesia to those around her, "we will do well to be prepared for whatever may occur in regard to the fate of the city. I have just heard that the Romans are coming with an army, and that they are within a day's march of the city. They are incensed at the conduct of the rulers of the country, and it is not likely that any favors will be shown by them to Christians more than to the Jews." w CLOUDS GATHERING. 65 " What do you propose to do, dear mistress?" inquired Hope, " We will listen to what Truth has to say on the subject before we decide," said Ecclesia. Truth spoke as follows : " The latest prophecy con- cerning Jerusalem in this : ' Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.' " " I remember," said Ecclesia, " that the Lord said before he left me, ' And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them that are in Judea flee to the mountains ; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter therein. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.'"* " Yes," said Truth, " and did he not once weep as he looked on the doomed city?" "He did," replied Ecclesia; "he wept, saying, 'If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the day shall come upon thee that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground and thy children within.' "-|- " Our duty, it seems to me," said Faith, "is to watch the signs of the times, and when the time comes, act upon the instructions given, and leave the place before we are shut in so that we cannot escape." " That is well said," replied Truth, "we must do as our dear mistress has been directed, at all hazards." " If we do so," said Hope, " we shall escape the destruction that seems to be coming on the city." * See Luke xxi. 20 and following versea. t See Luke xix. 42 and following verses. I ! t ) w i: il 66 CLOTHED WITH THE SUN. " I am so sorry," said Love, " for the people who are to be so severely punished for their sins. I cannot help it ; though it is just, after all that they have done." " It is hard, sometimes," replied Ecelesia, " for us to get our feelings to harmonize with our judgment and conscience. We are not responsible for their sins, nor are we accountable for their punishment." The next morning after the conversation above mentioned, the inhabitants of the city saw a sight that made many a heart sick, and made many faces to turn pale. The Eagles of Rome were fluttering in the breeze and glinting in the light of the morning sun in all directions. Down in the Kidron valley, up on the hill of Gareb, out on the potter's field, away down the Damascus road toward Bethany and Jericho, and along the roads to Bethlehem and Joppa, everywhere were the hated emblem of the world's enslavement, which told but too plainly that the Romans were there in large numbers. When Ecelesia saw the Roman Eagles, she said to her attendants, " We must leave the city and make our way to a place of safety, where the Romans will not be likely to follow us, or where we will escape the destruction that may come upon the city." Just then a man came up to them, and said every gate is guaraed, and every road barricaded, so that there is no way to get out of the city or to come into it. We are besieged, and no one can tell how long it may last, or what will be the end of it, said the man, as he ran away to tell others the unpleasant news. " Truly," said Ecelesia, " dark days are upon us ; but he has promised that no trial can be too hard for him to help me through ; and I am sure just now I feel, as I never felt before, the need of his help." " Never fear," said Faith, " his promise cannot fail to them who trust in him." Hope said, " Darkness may be for a night, but light returns with the morning." 1 liji CHAPTER V. THE CLOUDS ARE THICKENING. QTANDING one day on the threshold of an old v3 homestead, I saw coming up the walk a vener- able looking man accompanied by a lady. They were past the meridian of life, as was evidenced by the sprinkling of silver that glistened among the tresses of the one, and in the closely cropped hair of the other. That they were nearly related would appear to the most casual observer. That they were children of the same parents was the conclusion that I came to as they drew near to me. I had never seen them before. Bowing to me as he approached, the man said, "You, I presume, are the present owner of this place ? " I assented, and inquired what I could do for them. He answered, " What we want will cost you but little. To us, however, it is worth a good deal. We have come many miles, and we have crossed seas and mountains to reach this place, so that our eyes might once more look upon the scenes that were once so familiar to us. We were born in this house. Our baby voices once echoed through the rooms of this old home. Our childish feet once pressed these walks, and our youthful footsteps often wandered among the shadows of these spreading trees. But five and thirty years have passed, and carried a generation with them, since last we stood where we are standing now. For 68 CLOTHED WITH THE SUN. reasons that need not now be explained we left this place when we were grown to maturity, and went to a distant country. My sister and I have each a good home, a kind companion, and loving children. But as the time passed by we felt an increasing desire to come and see our old home once more. Would it bo asking too much to solicit the privilege of staying here a day and a night that we may on this, to us, sacred spot, commune with the memories of the past?" As a matter of course, the privilege was granted, and highly appreciated and greatly enjoyed. But the incident may be taken as illustrating that feeling in our common nature, that is almost as undy- ing as is the consciousness of our identity — love of home, especially the home of our childhood. Some feeling kindred to this had kept Ecclesia lin- gering around Jerusalem. She knew that the city was devoted to destruction from the day that the Master had said to the Jews, " Your house is left unto you desolate." She made her home in this city, even though she felt that she was not recognized as one who was entitled to the rights of citizenship. Perhaps she thought that her presence in the place might do ^ little good to some of the doomed people. Whatever was her reason for remaining so long, she now found her- self in a very trying position. As has already been said, the Romans had come and the city was so com- pletely invested that escape now seemed out of the question. And what made matters worse for Ecclesia and her friends was the fact that the Romans made no distinction between the Jews, as such, and tlie Christians. And although the latter had nothin