Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-10-24
coMmUsIcArEn ron THE GAZETTE.


COMMUNICATED ron THE GAZETTE.
1t is a fact which must often have ar
rested the attention Of those, accustomed
10 mark the conguests of death around
them, that he is indeed ''choice 10 bis VIC
TINS. Among the mighty mass that are
daily oblilerated from the catalogue oil
the human race, ii is certainly TO be ex.
pected, that many must perish, whom ge-
MUS has made the objects of admiration, -
many, whose career has dazzled, many
whose widely extended philanthropy has
gained the universal love of mankind.
When such men fall, ii may be said, that
the lament OF nation rises around their
grave ;--atI eyes are fearful ;-all tongues
are loud 10 eulogy ;--wbile the thousands
are forgotten, who have at the same time
descended to the cold and silent tomb.
As when the corse of the hero was ex-
posed on the funeral pyre, the multitude
gazed only upon the illuslrious remains
which the ascending flame was so soon to
raVish forever from their eyes! while
they needed moi the miserable victims
who we're slain TO propltiate the awful
names Of the warrior. But it is a cir
substance of TOO frequent occurrence,
not to strike the most casual observer,
that such men commonly die when their
hopes were fairest-when their honoura-
Bile tolls have obtained glorious success.
When the labour Of ascending the ardu-
GUS path Of their pursuits is overcome;-
when they have gained some landing
place Of existence, and can look back well
pleased on the difficulties they have sur-
mounted. their laurel chaplet attracts the
lightning, and they fall 10 the pleuitude
of their happiness aud their fame -
"Seperate miseri. Gazette feiices,'' is the
solemn lesson incnlcated by such exam
pies. When the minister of the east saw
his ring float buoyant on the waters" be
prophesied the immediate ruin and death
which so soon followed his unparalleled
prosperity Does not the hand Of provi-
dence visibIy manifest itself 10 such dis
pensations, teaching mankind that perfec-
ton belongs not TO their nature :--that the
fair ideal of human felicity, is vision
too bright TO be realized ;--that they can
but view it once, as the patriarch from
the summit Of Pisgah, beheld the land Of
promise land that the first glance Of the
region Of their hope is their last Of earth
and its enjoyments
These reflections were suggested by a
late melancholy event which has bereav'
ed the Christian ministry OF one OF its
brightest ornaments, aud large portion Of
the community Of friend whose loss is
almost irreparable. allude TO the death
of the Rev. SYLVESTER LARNED.
He has been gathered In the harvest Of
the destroyer, as shock fully ripe for the
sickle. The talent that commanded
the eloauence that persuaded, the man.
ners that allured ;--all the happiness thai
The love Of men;--an abundant compe-
sence,--a beloved partner,--a mind ex
hausiIess 10 its own means of enjoyment
could confer ;--al--all we're buried il
his tomb. To man Of the world, bles
as he was with all the objects that make
life desirable, death would have approach
ed 10 tenfoid terrors -
+" Oh more than tears Of blood could tell
When rung from quilts expiring eye,
Were in that word, farewell FAREWELL
But il was not SO with him. In Tx
discharge of what he conceived TO be hi
duty, he met the enemy, confidently, bu
humbly. He bowed to The mandate Q
heaven; ard angels supported his de
seending footsteps, through the dark val
ley of the shadow Of death.
He has left character which caiumny
cannot sully, and eulogy cannot exait =
. character which presents so much iol
our admiration, that it is impossible tc
dwell with distinctness on its individual
projections. Endowed with quick ant
ardent sensibilities, the excitement anc
The ebullitions of which so much contro
Gee Harnd,fuo A fahia If fhe ssiue kind II