Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-08-26
Historic Condolences,

AT the threshold of the majestic Cathedral Of
Old Testament prophecy, it is well to pause and
cast glance or two forth upon the pageant of clas
sic history. Nothing is more agreeable than un-
expected coinc dences. Nothing is more instruct
i've and refreshing than the bringing together by
a sudden discovery of assOciating ties personages
hitherto supposed to be utterly disconnected. Es-
pecially is this the case where We discover that
individuals with whom we are severally acquain-
ted, but whom we have never thought of as in any
way allied, not only contemporaries but SO as
sociated in the drama of the past that once advi-
sed Of the fact, we can never cease to remember
it, and to see certain meaning therein.
For instance, while we are reading of the reign
of good King Asa, in the Old Testament, We never
think of such thing as classic literature and the
glorious bards of Greece. Yet according to the
Par an marbles the great Hesiod was then in his
career, journeying as poets and historians were
wont, in quest of knowledge, singing his songs and
iuditing his chronicles.
So during the reign of Jehoshaphat, while Ahab
and his Tyrian bride were dominating in Israel
we never think Of Homer as living contemporary,
We never imagine him travelling harp in han
through Greece,-ssiling from isle to isle through
the sunny Egean, floating on the inland sea of the
inundating Nile to the very base of pyramids
studying with the priests of EgyPt-or perhaps
seeking wisdom in the schools of India and Baby
lOn-nay, possibly, wandering along the classic
shores of Phenicia, whence came the seeds of Gre
clan earning-and visiting the temples of Tyre
and SidOn.
Yet it is not very improbable idea that Ho-
mer may have sung to Jezebel on the high places
of Samaria, or to Alfalfa on the hgh-pIsces of
Judah. Homer may perchance have seen the bul-
warks of Zion, and his eye kindlcd as he behed the
spendors of Solomon's temple.
Whether Hesiod and Homer ever visited Phe-
nicia or not it is interesting ts associate them with
this era Just before the coming of Isaiah and his
compeers and just after the quiescence Of the harp
of David-whiIe its sublime echoes were yet trem-
ulous on the htops of the oriental world. Greece,
classic Greece, the joy of all scholarly hearts, was
then beginning to be- and the famous era of the
Olympiads was just about to commence.
There is great benefit in chronologc groupings
and associat;onsl tableaux Historians not par
ticularly imbued with reverence for the Bible and
drinking all their inspiration at classic fountains,
have been wont to run history back into fabulous
ages-simply because classic authorities did so
before them. Hence many people have confused
idea of ancient states as coming down somehow
out of dense fogs and chaos, in which all true sue
cession is confounded, and classic literature is i'm
agined to be oldest, politest, best.
Tn qurh hawiIdarad rpirdo ~ ba ,,sof,,I To
see Homer and HesiOd school boys at the feet of
David, and Greek Olympiads beginning to be coun-
ted when the Hebrew monarchy was past its me-
rdian. 1t would be intensely interesting, We
were able to point out the connections between sa-
cred literature and profane, and show how the
mind of God, in the heart of bis people, has been
the real vitalizing energy for all the race. There
are many films and threads of evidence that run
like lines of light through the night of the nations
by which we can feel that this was the case. Yet
the dimness is so great, that we may never be able
fully and connectedIy to discourse upon it, and dc
monstrate the whole problem.
1t is safe, however, to say as a thing which must
be true, and which all future developments will
more and more cOnspire to prove that all proIane
or classic literature has ever been a secondary
growth, to which some mightier phase of divine
revelation has been primary. The sacred litera-
ture is Divine fire kindlng by direct out flashing
from heaven, upon the altar of faith in the heart
of Israel on earth. ...saa
The classic literature is fire semidivine, lurid
combustion kindled by scattering the embers of
Judah's rifed altars afar among the nations
The era between David aad Isaiah is peculiarly
rich in such unexpected condolences as we have
mentioned. Then it was that the Second Assyrian
Dynasty came in upon the Hebrew stage. Then
Babylon was deserted behind the scenes just ready
to enter. Then Greek Oiympiads began to be