Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-08-21
From the American Messenrer.
Escape from Death.

Escape from Death.
Almost every person can recOllect narrow escapes
from DEATH or severe bodily injuries, in one form
or another; and probably our escapes from unseen
dangers are more than those we have seen.
At meeting Of ministers, one of the fathers
spoke with deep emotion of narrow escape on his
way. just as came to the top of long and
steep hh, said he, (which had often descended
without any fear or accident the hOld-back Of the
harness broke. which brought the carriage down
upon the horse, and frightened him so that he start
ed to run with full speed, and expected nothing
but to be dashed to pieces. But it was so ordered
that kept him in the road, and checked him be
fore coming to another hill, without being thrown
out or upset; and here | am in the midst of YOU.
without having experienced any HARM He was
listened to with aheetiOnate interest Every one
felt that it was narrow, prOvidcntial escape. and
all were ready to unite with him in thanksgivings
to God for the deliverance.
But what was their surprise. when another of
their body rose and remarked that it certainly was
striking example of divine protection, which
should be deyoutly acknowledged in prayer but he
had one to mention, which he thought had still
higher claims to their gratitude Every one eager
ly listened. What could it be- Il came said he,
ION the same road as my brother and when got
to the top of the same hil began to descend, and
my harness did not break and my horse did nOf run,
aud felt no alarm. and came on all the way in
perfect safety, and without a moments fear. And
now, brethren. appeal to you which of us has the
most reason to be thankful for divine protection,
our highly esteemed father and brother who so
rOwly escaped, or myself who saw and felt no dan
ger? We are both here, we are all here to-day,
alike living and well. He alone has suffered any
alarm; and while he may well feel that it becomes
him to call upon his soul and all that is within him
to bless God for his sparing mereies, have not We
additional reasons for thanksgiving
While Gods hand forces itself vSibly, as il were,
upon attention. in all deliyerances from Ea-
minent danger, how apt are 10 forget that there
are thousand dangers unseen well as seen, and
that without divine protection We could not be safe
a moment al home or abroad going out or coming
in. If when some great danger has been escaped.
we are bound iervently to acknowledge that pro
vidence which watched over and delivered u.s. how
much more do we owe to our divine Protector, for
his hourly, daily, weekly. and monthly care over
u.s. by day and by night, when no ambush springs
up in our path. and no plague comes nigh our dwell
GngS.
These thoughts might be Illustrated By thOi-
sand examples Two friends are crossing the sen;
in a storm of them falls overheard. and baTey
escapes with his life. 1t is merciful deliyerance-
But which Of the two has experienced the greater
favor, the man who was drawn into the boat half
dead, or his friend who remained safe upon deck.
4 ship coming upon our coast in a dark and stormy
night, is wrecked; the crew. after suffering incTedi
by from cold and hunger at last find food and shell
ter. The next morning, another ship that sailed
in company enters the harbor with a fine breeze,
and the passengers all land in high spirits to meet
their friends. Who have the most occasion for
thanksgiving when they get ashore, the shiPwreck-
ed company. or the Othery
Yesterday the cars with a hundred passengers
were thrown off the track and though many were
injured no lives we're lost. 1t was a narrow and
prOvidential escape. They have certainly great
reason to be thankful; but how much more the
hundred who have passed over the same road to-day
without the slightest accident. a ire breaks out
in a dwelling house at midnight. The family are
barely rescued from the devouring element, and
some Of them badly sOrched; bat praised be God,
they are all saved On either side are large fami-
lies quite out Of the reach Of the fire, and scarcely
awaked BY the alarm. Which have the most reS-
son to be thankful the family that has lost every
thing, but has been almost miraculOusly snatched
from dreadful DEATH or those who have lost moth
ing and suffered nothing? An alarming and mortal
Der. perhaps, Of one family is taken down and
brought near to death; but the great Physician IN
terposes and they all slowly recover. What a
theme for thanksgiving, morning and evening, IN
that house. We shGuld think II strange, and most
ungrateful indeed if they did not look upon it and
speak of IL as a great temporal salvation. The dis
ease does not enter the house of the next neighbOr
at all. Which of these families is laid under the
highest obligations of gratitude to the GIyer and
Preserver Of life? Is it not the latter? And yet,
who takes this view Of the subject? Who does not
feel that the preservation of life and limbs, under
circumstances Of great manifest exposure, calls for
more thankfulness than days and weeks Of health
apd safety,
Let us seriously ponder the subject. Is it not
gnater mercy to be kept out Of danger, to receive
no wound or hairbreadh escapes. than to he snatch
ed from the jaws Of death when just ready to be
swallowed up, great as such a deliverance is? If
so, how far do we. when every thing goes well with
US fall short in thanksgivngs for daily and hourly
protection. H. H.