Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-08-06
published BY Reouest.)

(deceased) well known in this vicinity.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARMAGH GUARDIAN.
DEAR SIR: Men in every station of life
should exercise :heir reasoning faculties on |
subjects on which they and the people gen.
orally are interested; and in doing SO the |
Almighty may put into the mind of some
humble person TO light small candle, the
blaze of which may catch some infammable |
matter that may give light t. distant places,
and the means of doing good to many.
At the p:eSent time there seems to be 4 |
heavy cloud ready to burst over our land,
which may do great hsrm and find many
intelligent men who say, 'Tbe anger OF the
Lord is on US. What will be the end of
this weather! Now the beginning OF MAY,
and neither the oats sown nor the potatoes
planted Indeed there appears to be a.
mighty dread on the minds of many. Is
there not a cause for Gsd being angry with
his people! We have read that when the
head of family did what was displeasing
to God, that He visited them with family
guilt. But where the rulers Of nation did
the thing displeasing TO God, He visited that
nation with a national calamity-se that the
high and the low all felt the effects of his
ispleasure. Laiteriy We have been visited
with calamity, beyond comparison from
time immemerial; and it must be that the
rulers of our land had not God before their
eyes in " hat they did--so that all partook
of the sufferings, rom the castle to the cot
tsge; yes the animal creation-ths fowl Of
the air and the fish OF the waterfall shared
in the sufferings.
A short time ago the Almighty gave the
people an opportunity to elect fit and proper
men to represent them in Parliament--to
make laws that would be pleasing to God
and to act for the general good, But alas
how did they do his duty in making the Sc
lection! Was it done in a spirit of love for
general good! or was it done through sell
fish motives! If done for the latter it was
badly done.
At the time of can:assing the people,
many men protesting Christian principles
and stating that they were empowered from
above TO declare the penitents, when dying,
| the forgiveness of sins--some of these
disines left fer their own fie Ids of labour land
went far and near to canvass FOR men who
had done kindness for them or their fami-
lies, without thinking for moment whe-
ther these men would be fit and proper 70
Gll that important Office. And at the same
time look over the fields which these divines
labour, and you will see large plots lying
waste aad producing nothing but noxious
weeds and bramhles, for the want of cuiti-
va,ion and manure; and if you walk round
them, you will see manypar of the fences
broken down. Would it not have been more
consistent with Gods Wotd for these men
to labour their own fields properly lard leave
no waste plots in them-to walk round the
I fences. and fill up everv gap with Gospel
materials. so that the enemy might find no
easy way 10 enter! May say that, after
Parliament was d'ssolved,it was a good time
for all these Gospel preachers to have united
together and appointed day for fasting and
prayer, and to call on the Lord to guide and
direct them Alright in making choice of 81
/ and proper men who would act faithfully to
God and the people! But this was not done;
and when men appointed to such holy Offices
do that which in the eyes Of God and men
is cut of their province tn do-and that
others who are blessed with bright and
4 elear understanding did not take proper
views of the duty which devolved on them
Gas it was partly in their power to make a
good selection)--if they did no. do it such q
way as to stand the test Of Gcd's Word they
are as much to blame as tho Member ol
Parliament who gives his vote for any mea-
sure that is not agreeable to Gods Word;
so that when we connect the Member, tbe
clergymen, and those N humble life-who
all together, did what was not consistent
with Gods Words it not sufficient to
bring this heavy cloud of Gods displeasure
over our Eationt For Sin the beginning
was the Word ,and the Word was with God
and the Word was God, and the same vas
from the begnning'-so that any act or law
made by the rulers of our land, that will not
stand the test of Gods Word will be ca leu
lated, in itself,to bring on national calam-
ity; and it may be that the present appear
ance of Gods anger is sent by Him partly
as warning to The newly elected Members,
to let them see that He is the Lord God
Almighty, and that He will not suffer him.
self or His Word to be trampled on.
Would it not be well for some person in
a more exalted sphere Of life to inform the
rulers Of our land of the loud call there is
from Heavens throne for them to change
their course of legislation for the people
The Lord has said that not a sparrow falls
to the ground without His notice. If,there
fore, Cod careth for the sparrow, does He
not much more care for man, whom He
formed in His likeness? And If those in
authority do the act that will cease Gods
dispeasure on man and beast, and the little
SPAR W that He careth for, what crime dc
tn y comm't!-and how can they atone fol-
it!
Let not those in humble life think that
they are altogether free from Gods disples
sure, as they have duty to PERFORM; for, a
an election, they have no right to say, Il
care not who is elected it is nothing tC
: me- plainly tell such men they are quite
mistaken in saying SO tor they should exer
else their minds on such importan: matters
and explain to those who do not think abou
it, and tell them what men should do. ReaC
what the Hebrew captive girl did in recon-
mendiag Naaman to apply to Elisha the
prophet to cure him Of the ieprosy, and the
good that followed her simple recommends.
tion--so that no one can tell the effect ;
simple word may have on these in high
life.
Would to God that those electioneerine
divines and the rulers ofour land would take
the advice, and 90 and dip themselves sever
times in the Gospel River, whereby they
may be clean!
Hoping these simple observations may b.
read and inwardly digested by many, an
your humble and obedient servant,
AN ELEcToR, wv. T)
Loughgall, May l, 1857.
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