The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1822-08-07

when the better and deeper nature OF e.
very man must rise up within him; and
when ne must feel, more especially, that
he is spiritual and immortal being,
making covenant with God. He is about
70 take upon himself holy charge to
promise to look alter his child's immortal
soul and to keep its little feet from the
paths of evil, and in those OF innocence
and peace. Such thought elevates the
lowest mind above itself-diffuses addi-
tional tenderness over the domestic reIa-
tons and makes them, who hold up
their infants to the baptismal font, better
fathers, husbands, and sons, by the deep.
er insight which they then possess ip;o
their nature and their life.
The minister consecrates the water
and as it falls on his infants face, The ia.
Their feels the great oath in his soul. AS
the poor helpless creature is waiing in
his arms, he thinks how needful indeed to
human infancy is the love of Providence
And when after delivering each his
child into the arms of the smiling mai.
den from whom he had received it, he
| again takes his place for admonition and
advice before the pulpit, his mind is
we'll disposed to think on the perfect
beauty ofthat religion, of whom the Di.
vine Founder said, "suffer little children
to be brought unto me, for such is the
kingdom of Heaven"
The rite of Baptism had not thus been
performed for several months in the kirk
Of Lanark. 1t was now the hottest,
time of persecution and the inhabitants
4 # hat \, 1sHe
to worship God and celebrate the ordi
nances Of religion. 1t was now the Sab
bath day--and small congregation OF
ahou, hundred souls had met for divine
serv q, place Of worship more mag
ni6ge .ian any temple that human hands
had evUspuil, to Deity. Here, too, were
three children about to be Baptized
The congregation had not assembled 10
the toll of the bell-but each heart knew
!. the hour and observed it for there are
hundred sun-dials among the hills,woods,
moors, and fields, and the shepherd and
the peasant see the hours passing by
them in sunshine and shadow.
The church in which they were assem-
bled was hewn, by Coos hand, out of the
eternal rocks. A river rolled its way
through mighty chasm OF cliffs, several
hundred feet high, of which the one side
presented enormous masses, and the o.
Their corresponding recesses, as if the
great stone glrdle had been rent by a
convulsion. The channel was overspread
with prodigiousfiag ments rock OF large
loose stones, some OF them smoothed and
bare, others containing soil and vcrdure
L mic har
there crowned with shrubs and trees.
The eye could at once command a long
stretching vista, seemingly closed and
shut up al both extremit!cs by the coales-
cling cliffs.-This majestic reach of river
contained pools, streams, rushing shelves
and waterfalls innumerable; and when
The water was low, which it now was in
the common drought, it was easy TO
walk up this scene, with the calm blue
ky overhead, an utter and sublime soil
ude. On looking up, the soul was bow
/ I'd down by the feeling OF that prodi.
gious height OF unscaiable and often over
banging cliff. Between the channel and
ne summit, OF the far extended precipies
were perpetually Gyins ROCKS and wood
pigeons, and then hawk, filling the pro-
found abyss with their wild cawing, deep
murmur, or shriiiy shrek. Sometimes
heron would stand erect and on some
nltle still Island, CT rise up like white
cloud along the black walls OF the chasm,
and disappear. Winged creatures alone
could iphabit this region. The fox, s. the
Wild cat chose more accessible haun,s.
| Yet here came the prosecuted Christians
and worshipped God, whose hand hung
| over their heads those magnificent pill
lars and arches, scooped out those gale
ries from the solid rock, and laid at their
feet the calm water iii It's transparent
beauty, in which they could see them
selves sitting in reflected groups, with
their Bibles in their hands.
Here, upon a sem:circular ledge OF
| rocks, over a narrow shasm, ofwhich the
tiny stream played in murmuring wa
terfall, and divided the congregation into
equal parts, sat about hundred persons,
all devouily listening TO their minister,
| who stood before them Oh what nigh:
well be called small natural pulpit OF
living stone. Up to 1t there led a short
| fight of steps, and over it waved the cano>
py ola tail graceful birch tree. This
pulpit stood on The middle Of the channel,
directly facing that congregation, & sepa
rated from them by the clear deep spark
! ling pool into which the scarce heard wa.
ter poured over the blackened roc k. The
| water, as ii left the pool, separated into