Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-12-24

IdI Gt CiltC9 anu u 'P"'V"9 ''""'' 80
sranrly We are led to cyclaim Behoid
The bonefm c0tct Of de$pisiag the c6'rs
Of Sairation!
p,oh.bly these very persons were once
Joyous and happy; their cheeks as bloom
ing as ne bright morn Of spring, and their
cOn.,ierces az mild and pleasant to them
~ the zephyr's breeze. Probably they
were once The delight Of a fond mothers
hesrt, and the object Of her prayers before
The mercy seat; and probably they were
likewise tie fancy Of fathers blssiul
hoi e., bnt alas they have falien from
the stage Of happiness into the gulf of des'
pair. Such representation of the effects
uf sin must sickcn the heart, and lead the,
snul Of rational creature TO a just sense
io( ii. responsibility. TO lis creator. 1t Is
lhen bro"2hr 10 see the inestimabe value
of christianity, and lie nihlIi!y Of unbe-
Ilcf.
! Nothing can be more deporabe thsn to
see man, who may al any moment, tnm-
/ bic into the grave to Join kis kindred dust,
spend the few days of his probation With
out solicituds to secure his future haPpl-
ness.
"Ah how unjust TO Nature and hmSolf
Is thoughtless, thankIess, Inconsistent man ~
| 1t is vain for man 10 boast Of health and
vigor. To-day he is in full enjoyment OF
/ life tomorrow corpse, and ihe next
day he is iaclossd in the cold and silent
grave. The whole human race ia doom
ed to meet deaths fatal blow. All mus,
obey the summons OF that unwelcome vls-
Ii,or. They have no lease Cor their lives,
"But like the tender rose. they soon decay,
They bloom, they withcr, die and pass away.
Time and eternity, although conveying
two distinct ideas, appear TO be lnSepera-
be. As soon as man dl>solves all con
Injections with time lie is in eternity. Ihen
there is no respite given to those who Nv
led IN time needless to the sdmoninons oi
christianity, but they are, IN the l"inEIlng
OF an eve, ushered before the judgment
bar to meet the equitable reIribuuon OF an
Ioffended God. How awful !he thought
Yet, it is but the condition of millions oI
our race. They enjoy The present, aud
are unaware that every passing day brings
them nearer 10 their eternal destiny. Can
anv one describe the feelings OF dying
man who has the 7COrM behind HIM, and
nothing but hCH before him ! His ago
MES mustbe beyond human comprehcn'
sion. How peaceful, on the other hand
IS the death of him who has implicit con
Ifdence in lhe p,omiscs OF the christian re-
Hgion. Christ, says he, is the "strenglf
of my heart, and my portion forever.
Torrents Of ,ribulaton can not sweeT
Iawav the consolalons which christianity
has afforded him. he looks upon the
frail things Of earth with disdan, and find:
home only in tue bosom of his Savior.
ellis pure thoughts are borne
Like fumes of scared incense DER the clouds
Aud waited thence on angels wings, throuGI
ways
or light to the bright source Of all"
Whoever has seen christian die, has
invariably been led TO utter this beautiful
sentiment:
"Surc the last end
OF the good man is peace how calm his exit
Night dews fall rot mere gently to the ground,
Nor weary, worn-out winds expire SO soft ~
Christianity and the sacred scriptures
are so intimately connected HAT The latter
could not have been produced without The
former. OF all the writings that have
ever been presented tn the public the ss-
cred scriptures are certainly the most eX-
traordinary. All other books are trarsl-
tory, setting forth the events OF time only,
but the sacred page. contain the records
Of e,ernilv. "Heaven and earth shall pass
away" but ihe truths of The Bible shall
forever remain inscribed on tie hearts Of
the followers Of Christ. and shall be their
leading star to the realms of bliss. The
Bible is The criterion by which mans al
.,alnmeuts OF christian attributes are Judg
ed. It's m0rG{ powers manifest ,heIr IN
huence in lie civilization which they are
erervw here producing, and their SpiriiH
( al efciencies are especially observed IN
! the illumination and evangeilzauon o.
those nations that are si,ung IN the dark.
ness and gloom of superstition, paganlsm
and death. Every other book Is crcum-
scrihed in lis utility, but the Influence OF
The Bible is boundjess. 1t is adapted to
every age, rank and cond Jon Of mankind.
II eIocts the same dulles from tie mon
arch and tie sutiect God is lis author,
and the salvation OF sinful man Its object.
Its precepls and moxrms' if executed lead
The sinner to a saving acquaintance win
Him who died that man might live. a
perfect acquaintance with Christ and a
luII knowledge Of his intrinsic eXceiien-
cies, enrich the souls Of all true christians
and fill their minds with ths, "wisdom
which passerh understanding. Even
the poorest and most ignohle, who execute
IL Il 4 mo