Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-01
COMMUNICATED.
pstmos and tho Seven Churches Of Asia.

II. John, who am also your brother and
companion in tribulation and in the kingdom
apd patience of Jesus Christ, Was in the Isle
coll,d Paimos Rev. l-9.
This Island, SO deeply interesting to the
Christian Church. on account OF its sacred
associations with the apostle John, is situa-
ted in the Archipelago on the Western coast
Of Asia Minor, not very remote from the con-
t;pent. 1t is about Is or 20 miles in circum-
ference and il marked by the deep indenta-
tons Of its shores. From its lonely, DESC
late, and barren condition, it furnished, in
the time of the Apostle, suitable and con-
ysnient place for the punishment and BAN
ishment of prisoners. 1t was here, accord
inc to ecclesiastical history, that the Apostle
was sent, in the reign Of Domitian, A. d.,
o. or &c, for the "word of God and for the
testimony of Jesus Christ" Tradition as
signs the particular spot. where,
Being in the spirit, on the Lords day, he
heard a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying:
am Alpha and Omega, the first and the
last and what thou seest, write in a book and
send it unto the seven Churches which are i'll
Asia. Unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and
unto Pergamos. and unto Thyatira, and unto
Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto
Laodicea."
The recollection Of this sacred event ia now
perpetuated by the Grotto, or Hermit's Cell,
and the magnificent Monastery of St. John,
in relation to which traveller has beauti-
fully said, that as he looked from its lofty
summit on the pictured isle of the "Apoca-
lypse" beneath his feet, and abroad on the
waters of the dark blue sea, studded with Its
4 L Il, >la lad IN
wards the east by the coast of ASIA and thought
Of the ages past, when the Apostles John and
Paul and the Evangelsts Apollos and Time
thy, were here publishing salvation. he felt
new and strong desire to impart the Bible to
every family where the first churches of
Christ assembled" A library of several
thousand volumes, with numerous ancient
manuscripts; the carob tree, which furnish
ed the 'husks' mentioned in the parable
of the Prodigal Son, with the mementoes OF
the ever memorable scenes of the Apocalyp-
se-furuish the principal objects of interest
10 be seen at present, in this barren, yet ga
cred isle of the ocean. The church at Ephe-
sus, it is said enjoyed the greatest amount
of written instruction from the Apostles, Civ
en- to the early churches. 1t is frequently
mentioned in the Epistles. and was honored
by the personal ministry of st. John and the
Apostle Paul by whom it is said the gospel
WAS introduced A. d. 81. 1t was here he en-
countered Demetrius the silver-smith, who
complained, That not alone at Ephesus,
but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul
hath persuaded and turned away much pee
pie; and rushing into the theatre, they all
with one voice about the space of two
hours cried out Great is Diana of the Ephe-
sians;'" in honor of whom a temple was
erected GOO years before the Christian Era,
constituting one of the seven wonders OF
the world. To the church at Smyrna,
distant from Ephesus some 80 miles, the
Apostle was also instructed to write Ii
was there the martyrdom of Polycarp the
disciple of the Apostle John. and pastor OF
the Church in Smyrna. occurred, a. ID. 10y,
when he was nearly 100 years old. full and
particular account of the death Of this ancient
Saint is given by Eusebus, who states that
when urged by his enemies to deny the faith
and thus escape the fires prepared for him, he
meekly replied, "Fow score and SIR years
hare I se,red him and he has nerer 9ronged
me: hO,c then can | blospheme my kng and
my .Sariourf" lie died in the full triumphs
of the faith, leaving behind him with many
time) a glorious testimony to the truth OF
that gospel which he had 50 faithfully preach
ed to others. Within quarter of century
past, missionaries have rekindled the Gospel
Fires in this ancient city, so long the abode
of superstition and idolatry.
"To Smyrna's Angel Jesus said
That she should sit while in dust,
Be tried, cast down-yet from the dead.
Restored by him. who conquered first"
Pergamos and Thyatira, the third and
fourth named of the Apocalyptic Churches,
like the former, were distinguished tor the
magnitude of their respective churches, cree
ted, it is said. during the reign OF Iheodo-
sius, in honor Of st. John, the Divine. The
former for the rcputed invention or improve
ment, by one of its Kings. in the manufac-
ture of Parchment its splendid Library and
Temple to Esculapius, and the latter, IA city
of ancient Lydia, for its celebrated Dyes.
"And a certain woman named Lydia,
seller of Purple, Of the city of Thyatira.
which worshipped God heard us-whose
heart the Lord opened, that she should at
tend unto the things which were spoken"
Forty or fifty miles from Smyrna are to be
found all that has been left by earthquake,
tine elPHtnlH, anu vi ''""t''
The remains of the 'Acropolis,' with the
ruins of an ancient church serve to remind
of hor ancient glory, and the denunciations
so feartully uttered against her nearly two
thousand years ago The volcanic indica-
tons found TO exist at Philadelphia and
Laodicea, the last named of the seven
churches of Asia-tell the story of their
destruction. The ancient wall erected tor
their defence, with the ruins of the Stadium.
and other places Of armament for which
there were distinguished. alone remain--the
classic relics of former greatness, or the
still more solemn and impressive memorials
to the inexorable demands of prophecy.
1t was the distinguished privilege OF these
ancient and renowned cities to enjoy the trst
messages of salvation delivered by the Sa-
yiour and his disciples. 1t was here the first
Churches were assembled, and the stern con-
aicts of Christianity with Heather mytholo-
gy. and Greek philosophy, began: 1t was
here the great Apostle of the Gentiles intro
duced the simple, though touching, doctrines
of the cross, and clothing them with the
burning and inspired utterances of his own
voice, witnessed their early xiumphs over
the prevailing dogmas of the GfScian schools
and here, too, the fires Of persecution, 80
early lighted, burned brightly, demanding
r IL at