The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-06-02
The Sacred Mountains.
MOUNT CALVARY.
By J. Z. IIEADLY.

Mount Calvary comes last in the list Of
"Sacrcd mountains" and by its baptism of
blood and agony It's moral grandeur and the
intense glory that beams hom It's summit is
worthy TO complete the immortal group
Its moral height no man can measure, for
though its base is on the EARTH its top is lost
in the heavens. The angels hover around
the dazzling summit, struggling i'll vain to
scale lis highest point, which has never yet
been famed by even immortal wing. The
divine eye alone embraces its length and
breadth, and depth and height
What associations cluster around Mount
Calvary, what mysteries hover there, what
revelations it makes to the awe struck be-
holdcrl Mount Calvary! AT the men
tion Of that name, the universe thrills with
new anthem in which pity and exulla,ion
mingle in strange yet sweet accord. Glory
and righteousness are on that hill top, and
shall be to the end of time but there was
morning when gloom and terror crowned
it, and heaven itself, all but God the Father,
gazed on it in wonder if not in constcrnation
The strange and painful scene in the
garden had passed by, and the shameful
examination in the lighted chamber Of the
high priest was over. Insult and contempt
had marked every step OF the villainous pro-
ceedngs, till at length one wretch more
impous than the rest, advanced and struck
Christ in the face. The cheek Redeemed
to the bow, but not with anger or shame
yet mcthinks, as the sound of that buffet
was borne on high, there was u rus,lng of
myriad wings, us angels started from their
listening attitude. waiting the thunder bolt
that should follow
This too has passed by. and also the Sc
and the uprisen sun was flushing down on
the towers and domes of Jerusalem, and the
vast population was again abroad ,-,hrong-
ing every street. But few took any IN
terest in the fate Of Jesus Of Nazareth, vet
these few were filled with the bi,terest hate
The victim was now in their power-given
up to their willard they commenced the
bloody scene they were to enact, by splitting
in his face aud striking his unresising
check with blow after blow To give
greater force to their insults, they put
crown on his head made Of thorns, and
Knocked him with sarcastic words, and s,rovc
with fendish skill to irritate him into some
sign anger or complaint After having
exhausted their ingenuity, and failing in
every eNucaSot3 'aey Aeu 1liill away W Ue
crucifed.
1t was bright and beautiful day, when
train passed out of the gates of Jerusalem,
and began to ascend the slope of Mount
Calvary. The people paused moment
as the procession moved boisterously along
the streets, then making some careless re-
marks about the fate Of fanatics, passed on
The low and base Of both sexes turned and
joined the company, and with jokes and
laughter, hurried on 70 the scene of excite.
= sshising did nature
{ sB 3 afee shed their fra
''' seze whispered no
nauiiity, while the
lIty gand yerdure the
spfsaaselt aars sssntsd,s ii
The birds wefesin ging.in the gardens all
reckless ofthe roar and jar of the great city
aneag. as Jesus passed by il 'the9midst of the
IS His face was coloriess as marble
here the blood trickled down his
i from the thorns that pierced his tenn
is knees trembled beneath him,
mot with fear, and he staggered on
be heavy timber that weighed him
II at last he tainted. Nature gave
hds he sank to the earth, while the
path passed over his countenance.s
9ess sudden rush around him. caused
bll, had subsidized, the cross. or
which bad carried. was giyen to
hnd the procession again took up
Rfsmarch But suddenly over the.