Page:The Faith as Unfolded by Many Prophets.djvu/54

 dried up, and the flocks lay themselves down to die. He frowns, and a dark shadow blots out the sun at noon-day, and he turns the moon to blood when the thunder hastes to burst upon our heads.

Even so; replied Eber; and the time has been when men said that it must be an Evil Spirit who did these things. When the dews fell, and the sky was calm, they blessed God; but supposed that he had lost his power when the floods were abroad, or the earth became barren. This was impiety: for the Only Ruler can and does make men happier through the very evils which they fear. The plains are made fertile when the floods have passed away; and holy thoughts springs up in the soul when its sorrows are over-past.

All this is true, replied Havilah; and if sorrow were the only evil, I should not fear the Despairing Angel. But what good can come out of guilt?

We know concerning this, little more than men knew of plagues and storms when they worshiped two Rulers in heaven: but thus much we do know, that there may be many purposes which man cannot discern, — that fruits may be ripening above which are planted and watered