Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-03-11
From he SowtA<rn Literary Messenger.
SABBATH EVENING THOUGHTS.
BIZ enanlA.LANaAN.

Ever since was u child have always
thought the Sabbath to be one or the most
beautiful of days. In the pilgrimage Of
life il is our resting-place; md as we ap.
proach it we may lay by all our cares,
and prepare the mind for the society aud
converse Of God and holy angels. Who
Is there, in the Christian world at least,
that does not welcome with Joy, the Sab
bath evening To me il comes fraughi
with a thousand pleasing recolIections Of
childhood, and in fancy behold myself
innocent and happy. Ii is the hour best
fitted for calm and sober refection--lor
the veil Of twilight is spread over the land
scape, and seems to hide from view the
busy cares Of the coming week.
| have been standing this afternoon be-
side the mound where lies inferred the body
Of a dear friend. Even beside his grave
| was not sorrowful, for | knew that no
had died Christian; and remembered
that many happy hours we had pnssed 10.
gether, when we were young and stran.
gers to the world. 1t does not make me
sad to think Of the departed, when knuS
they have been cleansed in the blood OF the
Lamb. ! know not why thinking upon
death should make the heart gloomy Is
IT because we wish our friends to live for
ever in this valley Of tears. Are we SO
selfish as to mourn, because they are hap
py in another and better world love
the poet aud the christian who could write
these words
| would MOI live always ak not to stay,
Where storm attes storm fises dark oet ts.e way
Tha few larid mornings thar dawn on here.
Are enough for he's wees, full enough tr its cheers.
Il is twenty short summers ago, this
day, that four hnppy boys we're seated
upon beautiful hill in England. -
The services of the Sabbath were ended,
and they had gathered there TO gaze upon
the setting sun. They looked with plea.
sure at the golden clouds, lingering in the
west, but little did they think those clouds
were emblems of themselves. ! remem.
Der with what fond antieipations each
looked into the future. Before their vi
slons every thing was bright and full Of
promise. One, Il dark haired noble boy,
said, | would BE- a sailor He left his
home to roam upon tha sea but the voice
Of the tempest does not disturb him now
| for his body is beneath the wave. Ano-
| Their said wish to be an opueui mer-
chant He also left his home aud friends,
and became man Of wealth in distant
Cline, among strangers but in the prime
Of manhood he was called 10 die, and the
cypress now signs abovs his grave. Ano.
Their said long for the applause OF
men, Ambition urged him onward, rad
| the world did for time listen to tlie ma
gic Of his name but alas he too is among
the forgotten dead, These three, the
dearest friends of my boyhood, have gone
10 the world of spirits and the fourth, tho
most unworthy one Of all, is still in the
land Of the living. Strange aud mystcri-
Gus indeed, are the workings of Proyi.
dence
la thinking upon a great city, have
often wondered at the carelessness with
which its inhabitants look upon the pass
ing funeral. They are so much occupied
| with temporal pursuits--so anxious to be-
| they seem 10 be ignorant Of tho fact that
they all must die. 1t is strange that men
should be so needless Of that solemn hour,
| when the soul takes leave ofthc body and
wings its flight to Eternity.
That we must die, the works Of the
| whole creation bear ample testimony.
All bespeak change, decay, and death.
We Irvine our affections about the hear
OF young and delicate child wc delight
TO caress it. and we hope the innocent crea-
ture will live lorg, joyous lifei but in
one short hour il is Gu, down by the rude
hand Of death, perishes like flower in the
bud. Ought we to weep because that
| chlc has gone to rest 10 the bosom Of lis
God Every thing that we love must die.
Tho father and mother, the tender hus-
band and wife, and affectionate brothers
and sisters, and ourselves too, must all be
gathered to the cold grave--to that earth
which is the receptacle Of all The grave
yard is silent city. where we shall all re.
pose in peace, and where the beggar is
equal to the king.
In view of these things, to what must
we look for consolation Conscience an
swer--' TO Religion Let us think less Of
the vanties Of earth, and more Of God and
his kingdom. It would be better to lead
beyond the grave. The memory Of a
good man is more sacred than that Of an
infdel or wording, and therefore in this
point Of view we should be gamers. Blu,
there is another world, and there are rich
rewards waiting those who follow the re-
liglon Of Jesus. l. IS a pare and holy
religion. How beautiful when il is the
guardian spirit ofold age How unoar,h.
ly is its influence upon the heart! Look
at il, when the y0ung man, in the yigor Of
life, is guided by It's sweet and heavenly
voice. Far beyond the boundaries ofthis
world he beholds light, and urged by the
happiness which il points out, he pursues,
with strong proud step, the journey Of
life, until at last he reaches heaven, and is
a glad worshipper in the presence Of his
God.