Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-03
ICoMMUSICATED.

COMPENSATED.
1scrrRE.--A season of intellectual en-
;,,ment was afforded on Tuesday evening
,,., by the 9TH Lecture of the Rev. DR.. Har-
,;.,p, a, the Second Presbyterian Church.
Whether intellectually or religiously con-
.j,rcd. the Lecture was one of great merit,
roas.tinr honor on the Reverend Lecturer.
nh. audience seemed absorbed with the
.bcmc. As flashes of truth fell from the lips
,r IN instructor, whose learning and talents
we'll qualify him for the task assigned him.
In the opening remarks, allusion was made
>. ,hc probable emotions of the beloved Dis
riplc. when at that particular point in his
history, while lonely prisoner on the isle
e patmos, he was honorcd by revelation
;r.,m Heaven, and called to view with pro-
nbcric eve the portentous unfoldings of the
future. The explanation of the phrase, ''in
,h, Spirit" was truly misunderstanding
.Le 5;semhodied condition with an attrac-
,;vencss. at once new but animating. In
nnrsuinr the subject, DIR. II. reviewed the
hahn Of prophecy as disclosed in the Lee
,pres on the three preceding seals, showing
,hat the 18th seal under consideration, pre-
,ented combination of all the elements
symbolzed in them.
The symbolic agency of the 18th seal evil
IDENTITY Swallowed forth state of misery,
resulting from the combined effects of the
.word. pcstilence and famine,-of which
,j.ath would be fit representative. The
ouestion then arises. is there q period
that will furnish a fulfilment Of this prophe-
cv? In the opinion of the speaker. there
was such peri"d; and it was found in
that series of years running from the ascent
Of the Monster, Diocletian to the accession
Of Constantine the great.
During this period the Roman Empire was
divided. two Capitals were established, one
IN the East-one in the West-with their
two Augustuses and two Caesars, which an
swered to the plurality of agency implied in
these words of the text, "and power was
given unto them over the fourth part of the
earth" and gave rise to perpetual conten-
tons, signifed by the sword: to support this
state Of things enormous taxation was resor-
Ted to-the resources of the Empire were
exhausted-famine ensued--pestilence. its
natural successor, swept away its thousands
and the grave followed in its train.
According to the rule of symbolic inter
;retation, these events, thus occurring In the
civil or political history of the Roman En-
pire-or Apocalyptic Earth, point to cor
responding order Of things in another de-
partment. And this it was said could be
found in the ecclesiastical history of that
identical period, and a most striking analogy
was exhibited, the details of which OF course,
cannot be given in the brief space allotted to
this notice.
The concluding remarks were as impress
sive as they We're beautiful, being a comment
on the great first Cause whose hand can he
20 closely discerned, as guiding the machine
rv. and ordering the affairs of Earth, so rs ul-
timately to evolve the glory of his grace, and
the perfection of his attributes. Here too,
an aifectionate invitation to the study OF the
scriptures, both prophetic and otherwise, al
transcript Of the Infinite mind, was given to
the young. The study of history, both pro
fame and sacred, being recommended In order
10 perceive the coincidence of the two.
Alexandria has cause for graduation, in
that, such a high order of entertainmentcan
I've furnished by one of her own estimabie cit
liens. 1t was Il source of regret to see one
yacan, seat The young men of the town
should especially always be in their places.
TO gather up the gems of knowledge thus graz
,uitously distributed. We cannot leave this
interesting subject without expressing the
qualification derived from the music of the
occasion. Long will the exquisite melody Of
the deep-toned organ linger on the ear, asso-
ciated with the majestic female voice, OF one
who though unknown to the writer, perhaps
to the public. undoubtedly possesses the tai
ents Of worldwide celebrity. j.