Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-01-12
SEVEN SLEEPING CHRISTIANS.


In volume Of sermons b. Bishop Heber,
be Introduces one Of the discoursss with this
story. for ibe purpose Of calling attention 70
the great concerus Of eternity and Of the prsc-
Teal religion His text y, , Cor. Nv. 10, ave
look nut st the things which arc seen, but a
things which are nod SEEM
There is an ancient fable, told by
the Greek and Roman churches; which.
fable rs Il is. may. for lis beauty and
singularity, well deserve 10 be remem-
bcred-That in one Of the earliest per-
secutions TO which the Christian world
was exposed. seven christian youths
sought concealment in lonely cave |;
and there, by Gods appointment. fell
into . deep and death-like slumber.-
They slept. the legend runs. two thou
sand years, till The greater part Of man-
kind had received the faith OF the Cos
pei. and that church, which they had
len q poor afflicted orphan. bad king.
for her nursing fathers. and queens for
her nursing mothers" They then Of
length awoke, and on entering into
their native Ephesus, so altered now
that its streets were altogether unknown
TO them, they cautiously inquired il
there were any christians in that city.
" Christiansp' was the answer, eve
are all christians here % and they
heard with thankful Joy the change
which had. since they had left the
world, taken place ia the opinion Of its
inhabitants. On one side, they were
shown n stately fabric. adorned with a
gilded cross. and dedicated, as they
were told. 10 the worship Of their cru
CITED Master; on another, schools for
the public exposition Of those gospels.
Of which, so short q time before, the
bare profession was prescribed and
deadly. Bot no fears were now 10 DO
entertained Of those miseries winch
had encircled the cradle Of christianity;
no danger now Of the rack. the lions,
or the sword the Emperor and bis
projects held the same faith themselves;
all the wealth Of the eastern, and all
the valor and authority Of the western
world. were exerted 10 protect and en-
dow the professors and teachers Of their
religion.
"But joyful as these tidings must
at first have been, their further enqui-
rics are said 10 have me- with answers
which very deeply surprised and pain.
ed them. They learned that the gre ater
part Of those who called themselves by
the name Of Christ. were strangely re-
gardless Of the blessings which Christ
had bestowed. and Of the obligations
which he had laid on his foilowers.-
They found that, as the world had be-
conc christian, christianity itself had
become worldly; and. wearicd and sor-
rowful. they besought Of God to lay
them down asleep again. crying out 70
those who followed them. you have
shown us many hcaihens who have
given up their old idolatry. without
gaining any thing better in It's room;
many who are OF no religion at ell; and
many with whom the religion Of Christ
is no more than e cloak Of licentious-
ness; but where, where ara the chris
tians9 And thus they returned to their
cave; and there God had compassion
on them, releasing them once for all.
from that world for whose repFoof their
days had been heightened, and reu,ov-
ing their souls TO the society Of their
ancient friends and pastors. themartyrs
and saints Of an earlier and h~sASa- gen.
erafinp /" --ESoAdon ReUfrGkisf.