Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-02-13
CRUMBS OF COMFORT FOR THE,
MOURNERS OF RICHMOND

WANT compassion ana open afreSh the
HOOD. gates OF sorrow, is not my design ;-to
check Its how, and arrest its torrent, is a
duty owe to sincere grief, and demands the
oil of consolation, and the aids of sympathy.
t1 u, heal the wounded heart Happy should
De, II 1 could administer in this to effect,
put feel inadequate to the irresistible duty
imposed upon me. If could ease the heart
icit pang OF father, mother, husband. a
WIFE, a child; if could stop one glistening.
solitary tear on their furrowed cheeks If
could give one dawn of reyiying hope. one
spice OF comfort to their aching bosoms. I
would willingly pour sacrifice to sorrow.
ana become the companion Of grief! But
company can give little or no relief TO real
sorrows, 1t often inhances them; the benefit
generally results to the sympathising, whose
heart is moralised: Tie Catastrofhe Of Rich
mond, will never fade in the minds OF the iv-
ing, It is an extended calamity, nor will it be
ever forgot; it strikes home to the present
age, ana the piteous tale, will be rehearsed
I'D after ages: There Is a Voice heard in Rich
Siona' whole city mourning for its children,
because they are not" but the effects of this
awful calamity are astonishing Ihaye noted
Its progress, and feel sorrow for the hard,
hearted Observation-Disclosures of MANY who class
themselves among frofessigs Christians !; a.
mong whom, even some of their 7deehers are
not exempt from censure when hear such
expressions and denunciations "a these fan
from the lips ofthe proud Ph2riSce !: 80 This is
GODS work he has come to inflict deserved
justice, and avenge himself of this wicked
people. o X. chow often would have ga
thered you, SIC. and we would not?" Tho,
sister of Babylon the righteous Judgments
of God are deservedly poured upon Won rs
Poor, weak, short-sighted mortais did ne
yer calamities like this happen beforcs His
tory announces many, and their Bible which.
teaches them {" that without charity they are
nothing } places these .calamities in quite a
different point OF view: Gods purposes. are
not pke mans; he works by the inscrutable
designs OF bis providence, and his WAYS, and
attributes are unsearchable! ancient and mo-
dern history give accounts of similar calami-
ties, many hundreds havebeeH crushed by the
TAIL OF Churches, and their Towers, in the
act OF alteration TO the Father of Mercies
God sees his own time to take his children
be made them, and will have mercy on them
and their cries, and tears of sorrow, were IN
stantly heard, and no doubt were usherel 10
the, throne of grace, and accepted, through
the all-sufhcieht merits of Him who sealed
their pardon. on an iguominious Cross How
little do people, and even some, who assume
the Character ofteachers, attend to what thev
readf They raslily judge, that sudden and
unforeseen calamities, even while we are in
the'way ct duty, or innocent amusements. are
tokens OF immediate and divine vengeance
and that he is come down IN great wrath "a
take it, and that his characters Of gracious,
mercitul and long suffering (Which he has ei-
ven OF himself) arc no longer his darling at
tributes: and they often cruelty excel. in the
untathomable dispensations Of his providence
toward man, and make him a God of on
preston and cruelty, instead Of compassion
and love, in which delightful characters he
exhibits himselfto fallen man; and arc al
most willing to aid the Almighty to carry his
punishments into effect not ore adyertinp Ia
that sharp reproof Of our Saviour to the pna-
rasaical Jews, who prefaced their supposed
sanctity with an inhibition, Stand of. come
not near me, for l am boiler than thou. "
Ihey seen, to have considered themselves.
as Gods vicc-gerents on earth, and are al
most willing to carry his purposes into exc
cution but how must these, fierce Christians
feel, when they read St. Luke, ChauN a.