Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-05-02
From the American Messeuge.
Queen Semiramis and Babylon.

celebrated queen named Semramis. liel
| husband, king Minus. at his death, left hi,
kingdom and treasures in her possession ant
she lRsolvpI rhat her name should he remem
berefin future ages. For this purpose sh,
built the beautiful city of Babylon Situated
in broad rich plain on both sides of the
river Euphrates, very near the centre of hel
vest dominions, the proud queen soon mad,
her favorite abode the wonder OF the world
| Two mill, ms Of men were employed for man,
years in identifying it. The city was laid ou'
in the form of square. fifteen miles long OF
each side. and the whole was surrounded by
wall eighty-seven feet thick and three hu,
dred and fifty feet high. This wall was q
brick, cemented together by bitumen. kline
| Of slime found in the soil of that country
| Outside the wall was broad deep ditch
| filed with water. which helped defend tn.
town, On each side were twenty. i've gates
of solid brass, open through the day, bu,
closed at night. A beautiful bridge oinet
| the streets that were divided by the river
Costly palaces and elegant temples were
found on every side. The inhabitants did
not believe in the true God, bnt worshipped
idols; the most famous of these idols was
| called Basl, and the temple in which he stood
was filled with golden vessels. worth one
hundred millions of dollars. more money
than one person could coun, in u lifetime.
A fter the death of Semiramis. one of the
kings of Baby married princess OF
Media Her own home had been among high
mountains, and the low fiat couhtry whittier
her husband hud brought her, was very dis.
agreeable to her. She pined to see the hills
of her fathers land, and every day grew more
aud more unhappy. At length her husband
caused IA great many banging gardens to he
constructed. that she might fancy herself
once more in her old home. Arches four or
five hundred feet high. were built of solid
stone; over these were spread thick sheets
Of leaG to prevent the moisture from oozng
through; then earth was laid on them so deep
that the largest trees might take root and
grow. These gardens cost nmrnse sums ol
money. and many years uf labor, and yet,
when finished. they were far less beautiful
than the common hill Of our own country.
Mans most perfect work cauuot equal the
simplest creation of God.
When We think of Babylon with its high
walls, its straight broad streets. the beautiful
river winding through il. each bnnk shaded
by the tr"oplng willows. its glittrrirg palaces
and dazzling temples. its high gardens with
their fruits and f"w-rs, We do not wonder
tha, it has been 80 famnus.
We read of il in the Bible as the "lady Of
Kingdoms "teDd-r and delicate" ",hr golden
city," The son of the morning." and. in all
other ancien, history il is spoken of in terms
oi praise. Where is it now? IL we were to
travel in that distant land where this great
city once stcnd We should find almost moth
ing left on the spot to tell US that it has ever
been.
Its inhabitants for many years we're rich
aud prosperous; God blessed them in their
undertakings hut they wonld not see his
hand IN their prosperity. nor bel eve in his
name. Then hp visited the land IN his wrath.
aud destroyed the strong and glorious city
Cyrus. king Of Persia. c;,me with a great
arm, to take possession of it. mora than five
hundred years before Christ came into the
world. Provisions sufficient to Last for 20
years were stored within it. and the walls
were so high ard strong that the inhabitants
only laughed nj his folly. aud spent their time
in leasling aud pleasure. But Cyrus was not
discouraged he ordered large numbers Of
wurkmeu to prepare Il channel into which
they might turn the waters Of the Euphrates
and when. after months Of toll this great
labor was finished. he led his soldiers by
night into the city through the dry bed of the
river, aud surprised and killed the king in
the midst Of hls rrvery.
lf we read the Bible carefully. we shall
find that all this was fureiold more than two
hundred years hefure Cyrus was born. in
the thirteenth chapter Of Isaiah, we are told
that God spoke 10 the prophet. saying, "A nd
Babylon, the glory Of kingdoms. the beauty
of the Chaldees' rxcelency shall be as when
God overthrew SnSom ah1 Gomorrah. 1t
shall never he inhabited. neither shall it be-
dwelt in from generation to generation :
han eh,.n la, A t.h t..nt th..r.
neither shall the shepherds make their fold
there. Bnt wild beasts Of the desert shall
he there and their houses shall be full OF
dolelul creatures; and owls shall dwell there,
and saiyrs shall dance there
These words were written nearly three
thousand years ago, aud they have all been
fulfilled: Babylon is indeed place of wild
beasts aud poisonous serrents: no shepherd
dares TO rest there, no human being fluids bis
home there.
Alexander the Great determined 10 rebuild
the city and reside there, but he died before
his workmen had accomplished. much Of their
difficult task, and no one has since undertaken
it. The curse Of God rests or the spot.
As Gods wnr'i in relation to Baby lon has
been thus proved irne by the events Of histo-
ry, 80 We know that in every other respect it
is equally sure. He that said unto that
wicked city. Evil shall come upon thee, )" has
declared To each of us. "lIe that brlieveih on
the Son hath everlasting life and he that
believeih nu, the Son shall not see life. but
the wrath of God abldrth on him. Oughi
we not Ia learn lesson Of wisdom from this
subject, aud ere II is too late, flee 10y living
faith to Chris; our Saviour and Rrdeemer?
--~~~<-----------------
Coop DoCTRISE.-llave you enemies? Go
straight ia and mind them not II they block
up your path, walk around them, regardless
of their spite. A man who has no enemies
is seldom good for anyihng-he is, made OF
that kind of material which is so easily
worked that every one has a hand it it. A
sterling characIer-une Nho thinks for hinII
self aud speaks what he hnks, is always 10
to have enemies. They ar" as nrr"ve and
him ss fresh air; they keep h'r' who was
active. A celebrated 10 remark, They
SURROUNDED ny enrnU.1u do not blow. they |
are sparks, WHICH galHsSr l''' H"UPS |
will go oui "a w
feeling
seauf
lfy
des,