Page:In tenebris lux.djvu/10

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

4

and darkness are round about Him.' 'Thy paths are in the great waters: and Thy footsteps are not known.' But he had another faculty in him, which spoke as clearly as his understanding, and with as much command. His conscience told him that right was right, that it had in it and behind it infinite power. He heard through it the Voice divine and eternal, and he confessed and denied not, but confessed 'Righteousness and judgement are the habitation of His seat.' Righteousness, not a pale abstract fairness, but a living, burning, moving force, at work everywhere, holding all things in its hand, very awful, with a fire of judgement in it against evil—'the earth saw it and was afraid;' and yet a blessed thing, a sure help, a strength and shield for all who trusted and obeyed. Sion heard of it and rejoiced.

Such was his twofold faith. It was not an easy one. It could not be always the same. It had its times of darkness or eclipse. Its believer looked out sometimes on the world about him, took the measure of his own little science, and was afraid: 'Lo, these are parts of His ways:—but the thunder of His power who can understand?' And sometimes the trouble came closer home; 'it came upon him and he fainted,' it 'touched him and he was troubled.' The weary weight of all this unintelligible world bore in with some sudden pressure upon