GOING TO THE FOUNTAIN HEAD.
By J. Clarke.
In seasons of greatest difficulty, when human aid seemed at the farthest remove, when the help of man was apparently futile, at such times the people of God have forsaken every earthly resource, and have applied to God as the only stay and support of his children; and at such seasons, God has graciously answered his praying Israel, and has seemingly taken just such opportunities, to manifest his wondrous power. The history of ancient Israel abundantly shows that God has ever been ready to manifest his power in delivering them (when they called upon him in faith) from the most imminent peril, and the history of nations confirm the same fact; and often when nations have been in the greatest danger from internal or external causes, then was the very opportunity for God to display his power, in answer to the cry of his chosen people. Just so in the life of individuals, when the sky seemed most heavy and lowering, and sullen despair had almost settled upon the heart, then, when hope had almost fled, at that critical moment, the poor soul has bethought herself of God, and raising her eyes to Jesus, involuntarily cried out, "Oh that I had wings like a dove, then would I flee away and be at rest;" then while looking away from earth, away from the arm of flesh to the good Shepherd, found solid bliss, being led by him among the green pastures, by the still waters. He who would drink of the cool waters of the gushing spring, seeks them not afar from their source, after they have wandered by a circuitous channel, beneath the burning sun, until they are tepid and unfit for use, but with labor and perseverance, he seeks the fountain-head, where the cool sparkling water issues from the rock. So the Christian who depends upon human aid for spiritual refreshment, gets his help mixed with weakness and imperfection, and perhaps with error, or other impurities, while his inmost life is dying for the pure, the holy influence of the Spirit, fresh from the most holy place, where Jesus pleads, and he sinks in lukewarm formality, while Satan weaves fatal nets to entrap his unwary feet. Not so the struggling, praying one, who looks upon human aid only as a means, a spur to action. Early and late he repairs to the fountain-head, no matter if hill and valley and mountain intervene; to the fountain he will go, however difficult the way; and then when the labor is overcome, how sweet the waters of life! how wholesome, how invigorating! How they clear the sight, and sharpen the spiritual senses! Now he has ears to hear, eyes to see, a heart to feel, and his taste is corrected; for these waters when first bursting from the rock, have a miraculous power to renovate the man, and restore the health. Christianity has been diluted, corrupted, almost annihilated. The saints have been worn out, for a time, times and the dividing of time, (1260 years of papal rule) and are troubled with all sorts of diseases, and many of these maladies are of the chronic form, and all of them incurable by any human aid. None but the waters of the fountain can eradicate these diseases and restore the health of the soul. Vain is the help of man, vain all the worn out forms of the worn out saints, worn out doctrines, threadbare errors; vain all sectarian zeal for party, and church. Old bottles will not do for new wine, neither will old garments bear new cloth for repair; and the third angel's message cannot be planted upon any of these antiquated, worn out foundations. It stands, a monument of Jehovah's power, forbearance and love to a lost world, and his providence will soon dispel the clouds which hide its beauty. It will shine out more and more brilliantly, as time unfolds his wondrous plan, and every honest soul will stand firmly upon the topmost stone of truth and there view Jehovah's wonderful wisdom, justice and mercy, as he sounds the knell of departed time. There too, in such solemn mood as man has never before known, will they view the funeral of earth. Oh fellow pilgrim, would you see the grandeur, the sublimity of the scene now just begun, and passing before you; would you stand with all the saints upon the foundation Jehovah has laid, when all other foundations shall rock and quake and shiver in the general109din of the execution of the judgment; would you see the certainty of these things and with telescopic eye pierce the future, by the books of prophecy; would you know the hidden meaning of the Scripture, "understand a proverb and the interpretation," the words of the wise and their dark sayings; would you fully comprehend that which "the wise shall understand;" would you know what besetments and sins dim your eye, so that your vision is beclouded; would you understand what disease enfeebles your spiritual frame, and unfits you to see, or hear, or taste, or feel; would you understand what blunts your moral sensibilities, and warps your judgment; or would you even see your need of all things, the fine gold, the white raiment, the eye-salve? Haste then to the fountain. Its waters are medicinal; they open the eyes, the ears, the heart. Wonderful, miraculous are they, when pure from the fountain. Drink freely, and often. The Rock is at your door, near at hand. Be not afraid of surfeit. In season and out of season, they are always new, they will heal all your diseases.