Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-01-02
GAZETTE
From The Providence Journal.
THE SCRIPTURES.

guage and conception Of its composition, beau
ty and a subl,mity, far exceeding the most la
buried and highly polished productions OF mere un.
inspired man. | could wish that all might be
brought to regard the scriptures, with the atten.
tention, at least, which their merit, considered
in a literary point of view, would alone seem to
demand. IL appears to me, that the interest at
tached to the mere reading of Holy writ is more
endless, and ever fresh, than that of any other
species of composition. 1t has been we'll obser-
we'd, by an eminent author, that nothing contrI-
butes more towards heshtening, and inyigora-
ting and rendering lively the asination, or to
the clothing the fancy with vivid and sublime
conceptions, than All intimate Knowledge of the
Bible. The introduction OF scripture, by skill
fuI author, always adds grace aud dignity to his
writings. Who that has perused lvANuoE-the
chefd nurre of the Wizard OF the North
but has realized the truth of this remark The
heart beats quicker, as we read the reply Of Re.
becca the Jewess, to the hero's inquiry relative
to the battle, which was raging with irresistible
fury without. Yet what is il which gives that
reply Its great force and beautys 1t is the sub
lime and beautiful extract from the word Of Con
with Nhich it closes. There is voice like
the sound Of many waters-the culver rattleth-
the slitte'ing spear and the shield-the noise Of.
the captains and the shOutnys.
There Is much excellence in the brevity OF ex-
preston which characterzes the scriptures
Where for example, is the life Of man summed
up with such palhUs, and yet in so few words, AS
in job? lie cOmeth forth like flower, aud is
cut down-he neeth also like shadow, anu con-
t'nueth not! His days pass like the swift ships
like an eagle thot hastcueth to the prey! And
Draih--in what language out that Of the Upright
ma" Of Uz. can we find so explicit a descrip-
Il q of Il at deep and dreamIess sleep? 'One
dlrIn in his full strength being wholly at ease and
qniet his breasts are full of milk, and his bones
are moslened with marrow-another dieth in tbs
bitterness of his split and never eatcth with
pleasure. They shall all lie down alike in the
dust, aud the worms shall cover them. God
changeth their c0untenance, and sendeth them
away How simple, aud yet how very touch.
ing. the last sente nee HeChangeth their cuuu.
tenance, and sendcth them away" There is
nothing like the pathos and beauty Of the word
of God--ts sublimi,y inimitable! I never read
the description of the majesty of Almighty, by
Habakkuk. without an involuntary, an almost
shuddering sense of admiration. In the prophe-
cJ of Isaiah, concerning Babylon the beauty
oil the Chaldecs' excelleDcy.' bow subIImely and
eloquently are depicted the desola,ion o! her
destruction, and tine ruin Of her final fall
1t shall never be inhabited, neither shall it
be dwelt in from generation To generations; nei.
Their shall the Arabian pitch his tent there; nei.
Their shall the shepherds make their fold there;
but wild beasts Of the desert shall lie there; and
their houses shall be full of duleful creatures;
and owls shall dwell there, aud satyrs shall dance
there. Thorns shall come up in her palaces; net
ties and bramhes in the fortresses thereof; there
shall the great OIL make her nest, and lay, and
hatch, and gather under her shadow; there shall
the vulturc also be gathered, every one with her
matrn
The history of our Saviour, from his infancy
at Bethlehem, to his suffering on Calvary, is one
continued narration Of intense interest--whether
in youth, instructing the elders in the temple
in maturer years performing miracIes-com
fortn. The afflicted, because they iaotcd, aud
we're scattered abroad as sheep having no shep.
herd'-uttering to simple fishermen his beauoiul
precepts-drinkiug the bitter cup in the solemn
garden If Gethsemane-or calling, in agony, to
his heavenly father on the cross. Nothing could
be more simple than the lamentation of Jesus
over Jerusalem: % Jerusalem, JerusaIem!--
thou that kiiest the prophets. and stonest them
that are sent unto thcc-how often would have
gathered thy children together as hen doth ga
Their her brood under her wings-aDd We would
not!' HIS farewell to bis mourning disciples,
previous to his going away to the awful scenes
of his crucitixion is touching in the extreme
We behold him, about to bear the burden Of
their lquiies-despised and rejected Of men--a
man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, tread
ing the wine press alone: My peace l leave
with you-my peace give unto you: Not as
the world sive,h. give it unto you l never
read this beautiful passage, without calling to
mind scene once witnessed, on sabbath, at
an obscure country church, lew years ago, in
Pennsylvania. Ii was the season of administer
ing the sacrament Of the Lords Supper, and as
the building was small the communion service
was held in an adjoining wood The summer
wind murmured 10 the trees above. and the sun.
light, trembling throug the branches, danced
Aickerinsly Oh the pure white cloth that covered
the table. An old woman. nearly blind, whose
only con was informed, had been killed by an
awful accident but two days before, sat at the
end of the sacred board. near where the aged
minister stood up to break to his little congrega-