The Kingwood chronicle. [volume] (Kingwood, Va. [W. Va.]) 1861-1861, 1861-02-16
SUNDAY READING

the very turbulence, desolation, and death.
Notwithstanding the promises Of his God,
who had been so very good to him, and in
spite Of the workings Of his well tried faith,
!. the heart of Noah would sink within him,
and the exclamation would often rise TO his
lips, %, Lord, how long! 1t length the
time Of deliverance drew near The ark was
grounded upon the lofty summit Of Ararat.
Noah opened awindow and sent forth dove.
| After traversing the hideous waste until her
tired pinions could no longer sustain her, she
returned to the ark, to the kind and faithful
hand that sent her forth
Noah's dove III her first effort IS a lively
emblem Of the prayer Of faith for Il world over
whemed with the floods Of iniquity 1t cx-
plores the gloomy expallse, but can find no
place upon which to rest the sole of her feet. !
Weary and sad at the prospect, it returns q
the bosom Of him who sent it forth b.
So it is with him who is in Christ, the ark
Of safety, while making the voyage Of life
Like Noah dove he is sent forth to wander
overa sin ruined world but in it he can find
nothing upon which he can rest his hopes o.
his affections Like the dove he returns to
the ark, saying, Return unto thy rest, q :
with thee
Noah also sent forth raven but III the
veStagcs Of death and destruction everywhere
visible upon the troubled surface Of the great
deep it found its appropriate food, and rr-
turned no more to the ark. oh, what .
striking emblem does this foul bird afford
him who for~akes God and gmts his dcpraved
appetite the sinful pleasures and profits Of
this evil world
Again Noah sends forth the dove, as again
the Christian will send forth the prayer Of
faith. What is this She hears back to the
now joyful patriarch? 10 in her mouth she
bears an olive leaf plucked off 1t was
little thing, lti,t glorious harbinger of good
1t spoke Of life and pence. It was like the
angels song, Glory to God in the highest
on earth peace good will to men, Noah
was glad, hope sprung exultingly in his de-
spending soul SO is the Christian glad when
the prayer Of faith brings back on answer Of
peace.
Dear reader, have but glanced at this
beautiful emblem Follow il mp, Let the
example Of Noah stimulate you to send forth
doves over this sin-dcluged world They will
return to yon with blessings with enlblems Of
life and love and peace, peace in your own
soul peacc to a ransomel world
TnE LAST lIouR But let me think some
what Of the future There will come to me
another hour, which like the present, will be
the last-but it will be the last Of all my
earthly years The clock will sound il forth
from the Church tower, when my failing ear
can no longer hear Ill and those only who are
watching besides me count ts strokes Then
my last minutes will begin one by one. to de-
part As they 20, this heart, which nov
beats strongly within n1e, will grow more
feeble uutil the last pulsation il given, and
al i At rest How happy then to feel that
as the old life is passing away, new, better,
nobler life is opening. Just as now it il pleas
ant 50 to think that when this hour il eone,
and the whole past year Of 1860 il sealed up
III the past, there i . new year present, with
all it. opportunities for good, all i'll honrs for
communion with Christ and days ID b 9iven
to the service Of God, 20 after death there will
be new scene, an immortal existcl1pe, through
which my Sonl may mpye in endless md In
conceivable joy, serving God, and enjoying
Him fureycrmore
Saviour, ia the shadows Of the LAST hour,
when my mortal life il ebbing away, giye me
Thy presence, and when its end has eone,
usher my soul, clad il Thy righteousness, md
cleailSed by Thy Spirit, into the blessed hnd
where years. and days, and hours, shall bean
forgotten and nothing known Or felt but IT,
blessings Of eternity.
How brasely man can walk the earth,
bear the heaviest burdens, perform the se-
serest duties. and look all men square in the
face # he only bears in his breast cIesr con-
science, void Of offence towards God Or man.
There il no spring. no spur, no inspiration
like this. To feel that We have omitted 10
task and left no obligation untitled, this lIk
the heart with satisfaction and the soul With
strength.
WHAT are yon doing \? said minister,
as he one day visited feeble old man Who
lived in hoyel, and vas sitting With Bible
open on his knee. oh, sir, I an sitting
under His shadow with great delight, Nd
His fruit il sweet 10 my taste
TIE poor nseth entresties, but the fiek -
swereth roughly.