American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-04-04
MORGANTOWN M0NONGALIA CO, VA, SATURDAY APRIL & 1857
The Camel and the Needles Eve
st Matthew, xix-24. st. Mark x-25.
st. Luke, Xyiii-25. ".-

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st Matthew, xix-24. st. Mark x-25.
st. Luke, xviii-25. .H-
1T IS easier for a Camel to go through
the eye Of a Needle, than for Rich
to enterh the Kingdom Of Heaven.
| can scarcely remember the time in
my early youth when this text did not
excite my curiosity and wonder. In
the days of the Evangelist, as we'll as
our own, needles were of various sizes.
There are the large needles, such as
st. Paul used in making tents, and
such also as are employed in making
the broad sails of some great admiral.
There are the finest points ofsteel US
ed in ancient and modern times in the
most delicate kinds of needlework, fit
to deck the person of q Queen at her
coronation. "@.".'
The camel is beast of burden much
used in Eastern countries. 1t is about
the size Of the largest OK, with one or
two punches on his back, with long
neck and legs, and with feet adapted to
the hot sandy desert. Such is the
general understanding Of the two more
prominent terms of the passage of Ho.
| ly Writ now under consideration.
Some have supposed that a slightly
varied reading in the original word,
which is translated "camel'' might be
adopted, by which the phrase would be
made to mean a "cable," such as is US
ed in anchoring ships in the roadstead.
Then the text would read, ait is easier
for cable to enter the eye of needle,
&C." But the former is probably the
most correct reading, for the whole fl
gure seems to have been a maxim quite
prevalent in the East. 81.
Among the Babylonians, in whose
country Elephants were not common,
the phrase was, San elephant passing
through a needles eye.' But the el-
ephant was u stranger in Judea, while
the camel was well known, and there
fore the latter was used by the Jews
instead of the former. to give force to
the maxim. Obviously the object of
this form of speech was to express q
thing absolutely impossible. ... 5.I
But l have met with another ex-
PLANTATION of the striking figure, which,
to say the least, adds to it's beauty and
force. All the important cities of the
East, in ancient times, were surround
ed by high and massive walls; and so
they are, as the modern traveller in
forms us, at the present day. At GER
tain points these walls were perforated
by large pass ways for the exit and en-
trance of the inhabitants. These pas
sage ways in times of peace were open
by day, but at night thoy were closed
by massive gates, capable of resisting
any common assault. Now, by the side
OF these large entrances were very
much smaller ones, used by foot pas
scngers and by those who had occasion
to 60 forth or enter the city by night.
They were called "thc needles eye"
that is by the small side gate of the ci-
ty. The camel can 90 through the
needles eye, but with difficulty, and
hardly with full load, nor without
STOPPING. ..
/ think this expression the Just idea
ofthe passage, at is easier for cam
el to go through the eye of a needle
than for rich man to enter the gate
of Heaven" 1t is not impossible for
a rich man to enter heaven, for we may
believe there are many already in the
paradise of God who consecrated their
wealth to the service of the Redeemer,
and trusted in him always for saliva
ton. But just as the camel must be
relieved of part of his load before he
can pass through the "necdle's eye,"
so the rich man must divest himself of
large portions of his wealth in the walks
of benevolonce in order to enter the
gates of glory. Our Saviour seems to
have reference to the same idea when
he says "straight is the gate" And
as the camel was compelled to stoop in
order to enter by the low and narrow
gate Of the city, so must the rich man
learn humility if he would "see the
Lord Gin the fullness ofjoy."
Christ. Witness.
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