Elizabeth-Town gazette., 1819-01-19
and qusrrelled about doubts and queries

picscHtcu " titfr uiSedSe0 Souls, udy
after day, medicine safe and sure but
they doubted the skill, or prudence of the
Sovereign Physician; they cried, it is
bitter pill and cannot heal and with
fatal seIf-compiacency they 6 rolled the
sweet morsei under their tongues" To
thousands / have closed the booi. for ever
from thousands have FOR ever Withdrawn
the healing balm.
! have also kept Thy servants in con-
stant employment. In order that might
cffectualw display to mankind what shad-
ows they are and what shadows they
pursue; that / might stamp insignificance
upon their impotent Importance, and folly
upon the wisdom of the wise, have sent
death into the august apartments of royal
magnificeDce, whose splendor aud pride
would seem to secure them from the in
Iirusion Of the rude ill-bred messenger
He aimed a resistless blow at the fairest
flower that met his view, and with the bud
that was now shooting from the stalk, it
faded and dropped to the dust. The
stern Destroyer stalked out, in deadly tri-
umph, aud found nation in tears.
1 have sent disease upon errands with
out number. Around some ofhis subjects
have ordered him to finger, and with
merciless fidelity he has obeyed. The
devoted victim was missed at places Of
mifth and enjoyment. In gradual sue
cession he retired from society to the
parlor, from the parIor TO the chamber,
from the chamber TO the grave, and the
tplaces that knew him know him no more.
Others he has consigned more rapidly
taken them off 10 the blossom of their
sins, and made the sick-bed, which they
had reserved as the place Of reflection
and repentance, the resting place but of
mcment, between the bosoms of the world
and the tomb. have left many in his
hands, concerning whom, my successor
Emust direct.
From time to time I have exhibited to
man Thy might, wisdom and providence,
lcontrasted with his own weakness, depen-
,ldence and short sightedness. In storms
and tempests, in thunders and lightnings
have spoken but in most instances
have left him untaught and unmoved He
has attributed the mercies of protection
land preservation to his own strength and
prudence, forgetting alike their source
land their uncertainty.
have Witnessed the commission Of
crimes Of every kind, and dye; and some
of the blacklist are attached to the cata-
ogue of that mans sins whom the world
calls honest and upright.
/ herewith transmit the real state of
every heart upon the earth as it was when
II resigned my commission. l offered
leach man the fair and leisurely perusal OF
the statement that concerned himself-but
most were disgusted at the proposal, and
turned away, without look many were
Indifferent, or discovered an eager and
rowing curiosity to read the others first
some heard me boldly, smiled at my offer,
ran the eye cursorily over it, aud reeIed
back into the busy world, and very fen
lscrutinized the document with deep hui
mility, and passed it back TO me with a
blush and tear.
| / have sent to the Throne of Thy mer-
|cy some precious testimonies of Redeem
ling Love-but have sent thousands to
the bar of Thy justice, who fond9 and
confdently anticipated an acquaintance
with my successors for a great while to
come. The measure Of their iniquity was
full and despatched them.
When the time Of my departure arri-
lved, I was insulted in various places,
with the noise of revelry, drunkenness
and debauchery: The world seemed to
think the administration of my successor
would be more acceptable to them, and
they hailed its approach with much re-
Iioicing-Dreadful delusion have seen
his commission, and were | permitted to
unfold its secrets, should dash with Bit
terness many pleasant, but poisonous
draughts of hope--I should throw gloom
into the habitation of peace and joy
should palsy the sinew that grasps the
treasure of the world-despair and woe
would sit on the fair and smiling counte-
nance; the cunning plan would be dis
concerted aud the sullen enemy would be
UNEXPECTEDLY found lurking 10 ambitions
path 10 honour, wealth and fame.
i As | was about leaving the world
called upon its inhabitants to listen to my
voice, but the most deafened their ears.
| cried aloud" Never can you reproach
me with having refused you the oppor-
tunity to save yourselves from ruin. |
have fulfilled my commission l have
passed before you in judgments and mer-
cies, in menacies, admonitioDs and entrea
ties. For Judgments you have returned
curses and blasphemies mfrciss have
repaid with studied ingratitude nrenacies
you have mocked adnaonitions you have