Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-08-02

|
CHRIS f. ROBBINS,
Secretary of State.
In complain &c with the foregoing Procla-
nations of the President of the United States,
and the Governor OF this State, tomorrow
will be observed as day ofFasting, Humlli-
alton and Prayer and for the purpose of i'm
p!oring the Almighty Ruler Of the Universe
in his own good time, to stay the destroying
hand which is now lifted up against
From the earliest ages of the world, there
ever have been periods when The wisdom OF
God, in the inscrutbe accomplishment Of
His economy, has seen fit to bring malignant
diseases upon the earth, and to scourge the
children of men with the bitterest of woes
Why this is SO, human ingenuity cannot de-
wise, for his ways arc mysterious, yet He do
eth all things well. There are national as
well as individual sins, and as we progress in
| life, and the world becomes older in years, it
is fact which is too lamertably established
that il also progresses in iniquity. Nations
as well individuals are yearly exhibiting +,
in most marked degree, still greater pro-
fcenc y in all that is depraved, ,--and for this
| may we readily presume that we are afflicted.
\ What commoon has the whole world been in
for the las, fouf years The b!ood-stained
| soil of Mexico, her plains all s,rewn with the
bleachcd bones of our countrymen commlng-
| led with those Of her own sons, all OF whom
| fell in an inglorious warfare, cry aloud to
| Heaven, and invoke the chastisement of just
| God. The sterile soil of Russia, the sunny
| fields of France, the classic and time-revered
| grounds of Italy, all Austria, Prussia, Hun
gary Germany, and in fact the whole surface
| of the earth, ALL all are backened by deeds
| which have wrung the tendrils of the heart,
| and caused even debased humanity to shrek,
and become startled at the consciousness of It's
own pollution.
H For these, and nnumerable other sins, does
| God occasionally bring fearful scourges upon
| the land, as if 10 arrest our strange progress,
| and to arouse us TO sense Of our position,
| and rebellion to his divine commands. lie
| sweeps off hundreds, ay, and in some instan'
ces thousands daily, in one single city, by
| loathsome diseases, which Danish even loving
| friends f,om The dying victim and lie gath
ers them 10 the grave from the prime of life
the vigor of maturity, the bloom of youth, the
innocence of childhood, the evening OF a5e,-
Il all ranks, classes and conditions, in one IN
discriminate confusion. The noble, the hen
ored, the wealthy, the gifted, the beautiful
the lovely, the poor. the ignoble, the mean
the wretched, all, all, are hurled into one gen
eral receptacle, arisocratic and menal dust Il
mirgo in one common embrace.
The devotee of pleasure and the world-ab
, sorbcd worshipper may laugh at such reason
ing but their jests are the results OF weak
ness. 1t requires no abstract philosophy
comprehend truths which are so palpabe, o
II % discover causes, to some extent, for sue
terrible effects. If the services of t6morroN
are generally and properly observed through
out the country, with an appropriate earn ST
ness and sincerity, it will indeed be a solem
and beautiful spectacle great nation al
staining from all secular employment and g
ing up to the temples of God, and there cor
Tossing their manifold sins, and implorlng II
forgiveness beseeching Him to stay the prog
res, of His terrible destroying angel, and
d shed on &C more upon us the benIghtcd smi
J. of His mercy Such prayers, offered by
whole peoTle, impressed with the right fec
u % ings, and devout in the act, would be heard
h the Throne of the Living God, and by the G
IS erlasting promise which He has made, wou
,r Lo ,hundantlv and sperdiIy an swercd