Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-01-04
THE BLACK BULL:
Or a ns'c rerssOn Of an old story for all ,eAor IL
moy concern. In two Parts
PART l..

PART /.
Once on a time" date and place want.
ing 10 the chronicle-but ''ouce on time
Certain church got into great difficulty
and commotion, as churches sometimes
unhapply 60. Broherly love gave place
to alienation and coldness md harmony,
TO contention and mutual ciim milton. -
As might wall tie supposed, christian en-
lJoyment was unknown. The spirit Of
prayer was slenced and spirit OF un-
christian bitterness and animosily reigned.
The power Of the church to DO good was
completely paralzed, and the public
means Of grace lost all their proper effica-
cy. Their minister preached, and preach
ed well, but he might as well have talk
ed IN tne midst Of temp, st. When he
inculcated the duties of christianity, and
spoke Of its benign influence and its sub
lJects, some gruce'ess unbelever in the
gallery would dart glance down upon
some OF the members below, and then.
with malicious smile, look the good man
right in the face as much as 10 sly "tont
TRY 10 impose these fct ons on US. Yon.
der SIT fifty staunch witnesses all mem
bers Of your church who testify against
the truth of every word you say" Thus
the word Of divine truth fell powerless a,
the feet Of sinners, like arrows striking
the iron rock. The church often met IN
especial meeting" to consider thtif diff.
cultes. But 0 what contention, pride,
selEwill, luminosity and al uncharliable.
ness were there. In a word they came
together for the worse and not for the bet
ter. Friendship became less known and
enmity became more deeply seated. So
that II became common remark among
the surrounding population-who eyes
and years were wide open-"see how
these christians hate one another. lfthis
be christianity, give Us in preference to it,
the worst form of pagansm, or the most
naked system Of nhdcli,y itself"
Things were rapidly approaching cr-
sis. Appearances poriended the d solu.
ton Of the church as unavoidable and even
desirable. And the pail OF death seemed
likely TO rest on the murdered cause Of
Christ and Heaven. Many loudly exult-
ed. The sons Of Belal in their drunken
orgies and nightly revels INDUCED fend-
like triumph over the bleeding body,
pouring contempt and insult upon these
who had troubled their heads by their pi-
ETY. and their prayers, yet there were
few names even 10 this Sardis whose gar
menls were undeiled- went and
sighed override desolalions OF their below
ed ZIon and who stood daily between
the porch and the altar, crying, spare thy
people 0 Lord; and give not thy heritage
10 reproach. Do good 10 thy good pleas
ure unto Zion build thou the walls of
jerusalem"
Al the instance OF these afflicted breth
rem, the following course was adopted, as
the last resort.
AT no great distance lived an aged min.
is,er,-a father in Israel, whose praises
was in all the churches for his ii ty and
prudence; for his wisdom and goodness.
He had few equals for penetration TO dis
cover and skill to advise ia whatever re-
lated to the affairs of the church &C Christ.
II was therefore concluded by the church
to ask his counsel and assistance in their
trials. letter was accordingly pre-.
pare and sent, stating their difficulties
and asking his advice. The good man
was deeply panied on learning their state,
and with all possible despatch, repaired
suitable answer to their request. We
have no copy Of the letter he intended for
them, but the substance was probably
something like the following :--'1 sincere.
ly lament, my brethren, the unchristian
state into which you are fallen. How
contrary it is TO the letter and the spirit of
that Gospel you profess TO believe. How
opposite to your own covenant obliga.
lions How grievous to that Holy spirit
by which you are sealed And how ruiz
nous to the soul OF men around you, ma
ny of whom no nothing OF the gospel but
what they learn from your walk and con.
vers ton. therefore admonsh you first
OF all, and beseech you, that We walk wor-
thy the vocation wherewith We are call
ed, with all meekness, with all long sui
Iering, lorbearlng ore another 10 love
endeavoring to keep in the unity Of the
spirit in the bond of peace. Let all Bit
terness, and wrath, and anger, and clam.
o., and evil speaking, be put away from
you with all malace and be we kind one
10 another, tender-hearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake
hath Iorgiveg you. Butifye bite and de-
YOUR one another, take heed that We lie
not consumed one Of another. II is as
We thus love one another, that all men
shall know that we are the decipies of
Christ" From this brief specimen, the
render can easily imagine how the letter
went on, and how it concluded. Pity we
think The church never got it. But not to
anticipate.
Now this good man owned good farm
at some distance from his residence; lob
tanned most probably by inheritance or
marriage and it happened that just as he
had folded the above letter, and before he
had directed It, word was brought that
certain mischief was being done on his
farm, and which required his advice
Whereupon he took another sheet Of pa.
per and hastily wrote The following lacon-
&c order for his oyerseer, "Mend the fence
and keep the black bull out" This sheet
he also folded up as the other, and then,
by sheer mistake directed il to-the
church and away it went-and the