Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1855-07-18
FagarlcS.S

THAT U1kiOHSt ike lIlulNluudlSs have tIel
periods of infancy, manhood, decay, ant
death, and as some individuals grow L
manhood much earlier than others, so d.
! they decay much, sooner thus, a tquicI
growth denotes premature dccayand death
lfthis theory is correct as 70 nations
for we believe il is not denied i'm the case
Of the individual man, our nation is fast
approxinating that point when:its "natu'
raj forcef is becoming abated, and the
seeds Of dissolution are sproi,ting in our
midst. History.furnishes no other exam.
pie Of a nation growing as ours Las done,
from so small a beginning to the station
of one of the first in power and Importance
upon earth Some are yet lingering upon
the stage Of existence whose birth dates
back prior to the birth Of their country,
or the time when she assumed an indepcn-
dent station among the nations Of the
earth. r, -. + 49,. - .-;- =.
We will devote this article 10 an exam
inatien of the causes Of this unparalleled
growth, and also to the elements which
tarcat rk,:and If not arrested, viii GER
tainly bring about her speedy downfall
tzand death. And we think that the gui-
ding hand of5an all wise Deity can be as
plainly disferned in all stages Of our pro:
gress, from he.landins of the first pcrma'
nent settlers upon the barren rocks of
!. Plymouth to the present time, as it can be
seen in the deliverence OF the children of
Israel from Egyptian bondage, aud their
preservatio b through forty years jour
neying in the wilderness, down to their
settlement in the land Of Canaan and f.
nal downfall ard dispersion as a nation.
At the time God called Abraham and
ordered him to quit the tents of his fl
theirs and betake himself to a Strange land,
the world was sunk in the depths Of idol
airy, ishoran, g, and brutishneSs; with but
few, exceptions mankind were even be-
low MANY s cciGS of the brute creation--
But God, fl ON the time of the fall, had
promised ddliverance to man, and that at
some time, lie would be freed from the
consequences of the fall, and once more
walk the earth the image of his Makers
and be twhat he was Designed to be--mon
arch Of the world. But this was to be
done at Gods good pleasure, and man
was to be but passive agent in HisIhands,
or rather he was to live up to the'law of
faith in his promises, and He would, a!
His own good pleasure, send a: deliverer
He, therefore, promised to Abraham that,
through him and his seed, should this de-:
sirable end be brought about, But it
seems that men in those days were like
they are now too wise in their own con
ceitss They would get tired waiting Gods,
time, and would go. to work to help Him.
Thus Abraham, when he found that lie
was growing old, and his wife was long
past the time Of child bearing, thought
that God had forgotten his promise, and
there was nothing left for him TO do but
togo to work 70 help him to fulfill it; SO
he took one of his bond maids to his bed, |
at the instigation Of his wife, and by her /.
had child, W ieh he exultingly offered
to the Lord as the one through whom the
promised delivfrance- was to come, But
mark the consequences: God would not .
accept him, and when, in the ful6llment
Of His promise. he tremendously gave to
Sarah a child, she then became jealous of
her bond-maid. kicked up fuss with
Abraham about her, and he, to make
r'eaee, drove he and the child out in the T
wilderness to perish; thus committing the
double crime, frst, of disobeying and dis
believing the promises. of God, and Sc
cond, Of sending out the fruits Of that dis
obedience into the. wilderness to perish. |
But God, for his own wise PURPOSES :: nre. |
served him, and made of him mighty
nation "whose hands have been AGAINST !
every man and every mans hands against
them" from that day to this. And it is
one proof that v enever man trys to help
God 70 fulfil His promises. he always
hotchss the job. We viii give one more
instance: In the destruction Of Sedan
ana tomorrow the cities Of tho plain,
which were destroyed by FIRE from beay.
! en-, for the sins Of the inhabitants, Lo. and
has two daughters escaped, they remom.
bering Che same promise Of the Aimighi,
made TO Abraham. aud thinking that ali
the world were destroyed except them.
selves. turned in, like Abraham, % bell
The Lord 70 do His work: The daughter.
got their father drunk, and while in tina,
condition, induced him "a. commit the hor.
rid crime Of incest that Gods promise
might be fulfilled. This is another IN.
stance where man attempted to help God,
and only injured himself and tho rest d
he human Eimily. Since the crucifxiou