Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-11-30
REilAGiNVS.

From the (llenderson, KY Columbian, Aug.3
Mr. ABBoTr--Saturday the 9th ult.
and the Sunday and Monday succeeding,
were the first days Of my life that have
been spent in camp, regulated and dis
cipiined by no earthly general, but solely
erected for the inculcation of those mo-
raj and religious sentiments communi-
Gated by the divine creator to man,
through the medium ofthe Bible. There
/ saw no dex,erous swordsmen anxiously
instruc.ing their pupils the quickest way
to abrid. G the short period oil human ex-
islence. There heard no uniformed
soldier tell the triumph of his arms, or
his exultations on seeing the gore OF men
who have the same God and nature, and
are every way alike, save that the line OF
demarcation tha, bounds their respective
nations, runs between lneir homes. How
t,esh warred against flesh, and the weak
bled under the strokes of the mighty.
Such were not the thirsty passions 10 8
love of war and human glory. But yet
there were such battles related as made
the lustre Of Caesar, Alexander and Boz
naparte, seem as the dim and wa,ery me
teors of the morning, when fearful OF
competition, they leave all nature to be
illuminated by the refulgence of the
rising sun. Ii was related how our LORD
aud Saviour, for the present and future
happiness Of man, braved the spirit OF
the devil, the lust Of llesh, and the pridl
Of the world. .t
Our citizens, warmed by the love Of
freedom, have shouted a, The victories
of their friends and coun,rymen which
gave a hope that man would cease to
butcher man. But those who have nevei
been at camp-meeting, will, through
the erring medium Of the imagination,
form very imperfect idea of the deep
gestures that marked the Civilizations OF
the victories of the Lamb. | have seen
female beauty, decorated by the gew-
saw diadem of fashion; but those friyo-
lous trappings Of art had nothing in them
comparable to the seemingly ethereal
sweetness that shone resplendent in those
maidens, whose virgin modesty had been
purified by religion. ! had heard Of Ie-
male eloqucnce, but those tongues, turn
ed to sing Hallelujahs,ot their God, frs
wade me feel its influence. One Of those
virgins (,hough it may seem delusicn
Of tancy) seemed to present the image Of
the mother of our Saviour. Having fell,
The error Of their past conduct, though
some, 1 am sorry to say, doubted that il
was the, Holy Spirit that moved the as
sembly; and said i, reminded them OF
the worshippers Of Bschus, more than
an assembly Of Gods people. Shaks-
pearc says, to the janndiced eye all things
seem yellow. A man calls that fair and
lovely which he loves, and its opposite
TO his view is deformed Sinners love
10 serve Satan, and therefore think those
who serve their God, his opposite, de-
ranged or foolish. l was myself some
times fearful, les, judgnen, should be-
come secondary power, subservient to
the passions. All things have limit.
Passions quickest raised will soonest sub
side. And when they have been raised
to their utmost pitch, they will almost
instantaneously a5ate, and there will be
| in the mind the most perfect composure.
Nov l am really apprehensiye tina, some
mistake this calm for the sunshine ofre-
ligion. But humGnum est evrave, and
this not at all s'Ibstanttales the inutility
OF Camp Meetings The heart that melt
led not at scenes which ] beheld,. must