The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-16

tervency those for spiritual mercles; at the
same time ic is not to be denied that there
has been and is still discernible a general
and most unusual sense of dependence up
on God, and q constant recognition Of the
favor and the chastisements of divine and
experimenting Providence. The influence
of the war upon us has been profound and
couplex. While it has drawn off the bulk
of our fighting population from their homes,
their ayocations and the sanctuary of God,
it has thrown upon our watchful care great
numbers of those who have been driven be-
fore the hurtful sword of the invader
This circumstance has modified if it has not
increased our opportunities, and has added
to our obligations and responsibilities in the
sight of God.
Much of the attention of the church has
been directed to the work of Chaplaincies
in the hospital, the camp, and the field, and
the blessing Of our heavenly Father has
rested abundantly on these labors of self
sacrifice and love. At the same time there
has been nothing like a widespread revival
of religion, and there has been sad room
for Improvement in the frequency and char
acter of the efforts that have been put forth
by the servants Of the Lord Jesus to bring
about this glorious result.
In the retrospect of the year which has
thus drawn to close, there is much to
cause the heart of the believer to I" bow
the head as bullrush " and weep amidst
the willows and the streams of Babel. There
are symptoms in some quarters of declen-
sion and decay. There is not TO be seen
as in the days of DID," -" the years OF
the right hand of the Most High" the
spectacle of those who 8" fly as a cloud, and
as the doves to their windows" The ways
Of Zion have often seemed to languish
apostacies have been frequent; and the
providence no less than the word, of God
has proved "a discerner Of the thoughts
and intents of the heart"
But if the war has brought with it its pc
culisr suferings and temptations, so also
mas it conferred its peculiar blessings
Blessed be God, we have much to en-
courage as well as to depress US, in this our
annual review. He has, in the evolution of
his inscrutable and holy plan, opened to us
many "wide doors and eff9ctunl," which
before were barred at our approach and
even in this time of rebuke and tSibulation
has g commanded his loving kindness in the
daytime, and in the night his song has been
with III"
The past year has been a year not only
of sadness and of trial, bat of bereavement.
The number Of reyered and dearly beloved
ministers Of the word who have been trans
/ lated from the church on earth to the church
in heaven, is absolutely without example
''These all & d'ed in faith" aud in the con-
solations and triuuphs Of the Holy Ghost.
We are moreover called to mourn the
decease of an unusual number of theolog-
cal students, matriculates of our own cher
ished institution in Prince Edward, and it
is the wish of Synod in this public manner
7 to give PcrPetG@J0E 10 ,SC- neuIes. me
/ following is the blood-stained roll:
Samuel NJ. Lightner who was wounded in
the first battle of Manassas, but recovered
and re-entered the army, where he died of
a fever.
J. W. McCOwn, who fell asleep at home,
never having connected himself with the
army.
Hugh A. White, who was smitten on the
high places of the field in the second battle
of Manassas.
James NJ. Lynch, who had nearly COM
pleted his theological course, and fell a VIC
tim to disease contracted in the camp.
And Edgar W. Darlington whose prom
ising career was cut short at tae battle of
Seven Pines. BLESSED be the dead which
die in the Lord, for they shall rest from
their labors and their works shall follow
them"
In view of our grieyous shortcomings in
the past, We would in humble reliance on
his mercy, and the virtue of his obedience
and dying blood roll the heavy burden oi
our guilt and sorrow on the breast of Jesus
the friend of sinners and the great Head Of
the Church; and forgetting the things which
are behind" would press forward with re-
doubled activity and zeal, in anticipation oi
the day when the sacramental host of the
Redeemed now militant shall return trium-
phant, 'fair as the moon, clear as the sun,
and terrible as an army with eternal ban
ners."
With renewed expressions Of our graft
tude to God for his unnumbered and un.
merited mercies, we would once more ''set
up our Ebenezer, and say hitherto hath the
Lord helped US" And ''now unto the King
Eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise
God, be honor and glory forever and ever
Amen"
SIN NOT WEAKENED BY AGE.-I know
scarce anything that calls for a more Sc
rious consideration from men than this; for
still they are apt to persuade themselves
that old age shall do that for them which,
in their present fullness of health, and
strength, and youth, they have not the rea-
son nor the heart to do for themselves
Whereas the case is directly the reverse
for nothing will grow weak with age but
that which will at length die with age
which sin never does. The longer the blot
continues, the deeper it sinks. Vice in re-
treating from the practice Of men, retires
into their fancy South.
SERMONS ON SABBATH Mr.. Jay was a
mortal enemy to preaching or hearing three
sermons on the Sabbath. "Two," ne said,
care enough, and the third reduces the
whole to chaos" He mentioned that when