Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-01-14
From The n. Y. Christian messenger.
SYMBOLS OF AfFEC ZION.
BY s.. II. LLOYD.

rest upon some memento Of friendship
However small, however Iriiling may
be the gilt; that consideration DOES no,
take from it the power OF cnch ntment
but we retain it as u gem,
Tho il may serve no other end.
But Just Kind memsnio."
The pan gold ring, which was the
gift OF mother, who, when lying upon
the couch of death. had taken it from
her cod, marble finger, TO q Torn that
OF a daughter, is priz d by her; and
when WON by the side ri the Or dial
ring, denotes that the doncr still lives
in her memory.
How often too does the marriage
ring awaken sweet thoughts in the b..
som ofthe married bringing to mind
the gay seasons Of tteir Lourtship, the
blooming bower, or pebbled beach where
the n,me wis first kindlcd upon lly.
mems altar
Thus il is. thai the most irifling to
ken will recall the festivities of our
youth, and touch the pleasant chord of
memory in the harp Of our breasts, re
calling the . Ppy seasons gone by, and
hailowlng the names Of absent or depar
ted friends.
cannot but cherish these offerings
as carnations from the purest heart
All sweet is Il, midst the rcpulsive
irowns of the world, when the looks of
a heartles5 muttude sends n chill
through our veins, and start u tear Fl ON
our eye, to look upon those symbols of
affection, and feel consolel to know tina,
one, there is, upon the tablet of whose
hearts our names are inscribed Then
At IL that hope, with her bIlmy inAuen.
ces, lulls our cares, the love of peace
nestles in our boSoms, while we again
open our eyes to behold the harmony of
nature, to learn that life is somethin >
more than "a feeting show" and to
discover glory even in thu clouds that
open their dark gates upo. us, realizing
that the flood is but the fertilizing show.
ers Of heaven.
Go where we will, we shall behold
some token or monument which is de
signed to recall, or honor the memories
of the loved. The statues Of renowned
men, the majestic pillar reared upon the
breast OF some sage or philanthropist,
or the humble tomb stone marking the
green grave of a relative or friend, are
all true symbols OF affection. And via,
eye has not watched with pleasure the
winged messenger returning to the ark
with the tender twig, and hal ed her as
the blest harbinger Of peace
Nor are these feelings the prompting
Of superstitiou' minds, for they were re-
cognized by Deity himself. When he
would give a pledge to man as a cove
nant with him, with his own hands he
reaches forth his arch, when he would
own Jesus as his Son, he sends his spir.
Il with luminous rays 10 encircle his
brow; and when he would light up the
flame Of Immortality upon the darkness
[ { the tomb, he sends forth his only Son
to die upon the cross. Amazing love is
this which has eonsecIated the cross
an Instrument OF torture-and made i; an
emblem Of Saviour's affection, q beau
teous sign Of universal redemption
Would we have still another token
from Jehovah that we arc the objects OF
his tender regard2 We shall end it in
the placid brow, in the serenity Of a
conIrite heart, and in the ferver Of our
devotions, known by the blissful sha.
dows OF pure conscience
Should we convert every work Of God,
which bears the impress Of his goodness
into proper symbols o. his love, the uni
verse would become one majestic dome
and its arch studded with shining sym
bols, while creation would become Q
storehouse of gems, and the murmerings
ofthe rivulet, the fal Of the cataract
the anthem Of the ocean, and vocal ma
ture, would consPire to raise tho song,
The hand that made Us s divine"
The countless shining hosts which
o'ershadow US, the earth with its tende
blade sRd shooting plants; the rain bow
that gisrens with Che radiance Of hea
venj the cross that was reared upon Cal.
vary's moHnt-all, all are but the sym
bols Of our Heavenly Fathers undying
love to his creature-man