Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-02-13


in Judea, east of Jerusalem, over. which there
was superb covering, and tower; it was a.
place OF great resort for people that had
come hither to battle, and receive the bcne-
mt OF ITS waters, and no doubt much gaiety
and festivity which that climate inspired.
were lnnocently intfdigcd on frequent and Sc,
occasions: it so happened, that in the height
OF their innocent amusement, and regaic-
mcnt in this Tower, being overcharged with
members, the Tower fell, and DESTROYED in
staHtly q number of persons attending these
scenes OF gaiety. and the pharisaical order,
las at this .day) viewed it as the immediate
effort OF the Almighty to infict exemplary
punishment on their aluusements and festivi-
~, and acquicsced in the catastrophe, as O
deserved retribution for their sins here their
lmaginations were alive to develope tho
cause or this sudden and awful EVENT. the
result OF tier deliberations were, that it was
tor some heinous & abominablc crimes which
tney mad committed, But how severely were
they hand!ed by onr Saviour for their I'm
charitable judgment; and they fell under his
Just denunciation, Judge not least We be
judged. And he then goes on to decide and
convince them of their error, which he does
by the two following illustrations: and Jesus
answered their COMMUNICATIONS and said un-
to them (the Pharisees) "suppose We thai
Gatilcans, because they suffered such things
las to havethcir blood mingled witt, their
sacrafices) lstell you, nay !'"Or that those
eighteen upon whom the Tower of Sloan
tel, and slew them, think We that they were
sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusa-
lem, tell you nay % But yet he makes re-
pentance a condition of salvation, which NAV
emomentary-" Ye shall all be CHANGED in
the twinkling of an eye" This gracious de-
claration of our Saviour 20 the Pharisees, at
once Showed the futility, and weakness of
their. dlscernment, their proneness to cen
sure, and condemn without knowledge, and
the gross ignorance humankind in general.
IN the sinscrutabies arcana of Gods. proyi.
Idence "a more striking similarity of ,disas
ters cannot be found in sacred or -profanc
history Here too was public resort! Here
too the gay and innocent come TO mix in So
clety, to socialise, and humanise the rude
passions of the heart, and give an Innocent
hour of mirth and hilY to soften the riaor.
OF care, and regale the ririts from the tolls
and labors ofthe day.
How fortunately hasprovidence dealt with
US, in this vale of tears To shut out thu
knowledge OF fnturity from our mind. To-
day is the limits of mans knowledge, and Il
is given. him richly to:enjey it Toeprv into.
the knowledge OF futurity, is encr0aching on /,
the province of'deity, and if acquired w6uld !.
rerider as inconsolable and miserable!
w hat Comes to-morrUW never seek to know
For he:who seeks viii always light on woe, =
But alh these zgckcd Ricfa1onifes. says
the proud, ,intoleraRt Pharisee, were assem-
bled in Theatre to hear Farces aud Ira
gedes. Oh daring, insulting temel4ityt God
has come down apd avenged his honor His
hre from Heaven has Consumed then,i Bnt
when VIC read the check and chastisemeft
OF these !ypocrites fromthe mouth of our Sa-
vlour, who knew their designs, how were
they COMPOUNDED They were Conference.-The
the seareher of hearts, with an Indignant and
becoming spirit ofreproach twice repeated.
- tell you. nay ;" As if he should saw, do
you, ye weak pharisaical hypoclites, SUP
pose that you know the secret Councils .0f The
Almighty, that you pronounce so perempto-
rily! Have YOU searched out the wear. the
day, the hour of his coming and his manner>
DO yoH know whether it is best to null The
tares from among the wheat, or the precise
tune when the wheat is to be severed from
the tares, and gathered into the garners
solomon lnllis book OF wisdom (Ecclesiastes)
says, Chap. 9th.-fst. al Consider in nv
heart evenito declare all this that the r;aI.
teous and the wise, and their works are in
the hands of God"
Verse I'd. There is one event To tho r;ob
teous and to the wicked, to the good and re
the clean, and to the unclean as is the GOOD
so is the sinner" 90
Verse 3rd +" This is an evil amone.. All ,b;n,..
that are done under the sun. There is one q
vent TO ALL" So unsearchable are the wavs of
rIovldence inrespect to man, in this probation
ry states that the same Solomon, By the sn;r;t
OF God, in his 9th chap. C 11th verse of this
same book of wisdom, says, "that time and
Chance haPpeneth TO all men" Herewith ae-
cords,un the impression of the same Shirt
IN the same. book Of wisdom chap. 9Th, v. 18th.
All tnlngs have | seen in the days of nv va.
nIty. There is just man, that 'perisbetb in
his righteousness, and there Is a wicked man
that Prolongeth his life in wickednsss." So
that no conclusive argument can be draw,
rom the situation OF the sufferers being assem-
oico IN a Theatre to hear Play, ct the time,of
TINS tremendous and awful visitation. or that
their meeting was peculiarly displeasinrto God.
ana II IS here particularly to ~ remarked. with
a high degree Of consolation, to each SURVIVING.
mourner IN Richmond, that no accusation, cor.
sure sure or condemnation were passed by our Sa-
yiour on the m(ortunates. on whom the To,ser; :,
oioam' Tell, but the event seemed ratherto claim
commisseration and sorrow, by our blessed and
ail-merciful Saviour to the disappointnlento gtb.
hypocritcal and sanguinary Jews; they were
struck dumb, and opened not their mouths. n
may seem to the sOberan some that arr. r;e,b.s.
Gus over much, that should attempt in the lesst
degree to Undlcate Plays, / contradict every
doctrine and sentiment of religion, and render
wiat nave wrote totally nugatory and incredi-
Ole 10 every believer IN the morality Of Religi-
on MY sentiments on this subject, do not
lead me to accuse myself OF contradiction. or
oppugn alton TO the doctrines Of Grace, by a ca
su@i reading, or rehearsal Of Play! A PLAY
may be IN ITS DRIFT and design perfectly moral
ana ihstruStng, may open and enlarge our ideas