The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1864-01-21
FtR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.

FhR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
For ir they 10 these things in green tree what
shall be doue.in The dry r.
Oar Blessed Saviour, on his way to The
bill of Calvary. to be cruc'hed for our sine,
was followed by "a greas company Of PEG
pie" of WHOM the majority, no Doubt, were
under the il huenee Of that strange fascina-
ton which criminal execution has always
had fJr the multitude Among these were
women also, (for even women are present
at such scenes,) who "beRailed and lament
ed Him." They could not but remember
thas the mysterious sufferer, whom they
nov saw staggering and faintjUg under the
burden Of lis own cross, WIS not only en-
innocent man. but man who had spent
His whole aie in doiD: good with a self
sacrificing zeal withoHt parallel in the
history Of the world. And they vept BIT
terl7 But Jesus turning to them said
Daughters Of jerusalem, weep not fer ne,
hut weep for yourselves aud for your chill
6reu. For. o1old, the dGya $40 comires
in the Whica al say, Blessed arc l5e
barren, ard mos that never bare,
end the bre5 ehjcb never gave suck
Then shall they begin 20 say TO tbs noun
tains, Fall on us; and 20 the hills, Cover us.
For if they DO these things in green tree.
what shall be done in the 6ryf' A green
tree. in Scripture. is the symbol of coed
man, dry tree, Of BAD man. See Ele-
Eiel Ky: As, At. The general meaning Of
The question, therefore, Is, ''If such suffer-
inc can befall good moG, under The gov
ernmeut If Cod Of infinite righteousness
end power what mast Sc the suffering which
shall be Inflicted upon the wicked2 If g
green tree, fell of sap and moistore, and
thereby resisting the action of The FIRE, can
ret be SO scared aud datbaged by the FIRE,
what must be tins fate Of q dry tree sea
aoned and fitted fr she Aames2 Let US
consider it little.
When the Judgments Of God are abroad
in tie land, and, to- use the striking Ian
gcoge Of the prophet ezekiel xx: A
tire IS kirdled lin lhe forest of the South"
which is deyouriug both green tree and dry,
the first duty Of every man is TO Werp for
k;ms,T even though the flames should rot
burn aim so aercely as they % others or it
should be hia lot to escape for the present
unscorebed. Let him not say Of those who
t have been slain in the midst az their wor.
ship, whose Blood has been mingled with
their sacrifices. that they we're sinners above
himself or others; bus let him hear the
warning Of tbs Saviour to tie spectators Of
voe.-~Except We repent, ye shall all
likewise perish" luke xii: 1-5} If he
be Cry tree bGuging forth no fruit to the
glory of Gcd, let him see ia the Hemes
which kiaals upon tie green tree in the
scGerings Of good men, sure pledge OF
tbe vengeance which viii, sooner or later,
perhaps in this world, certainly in the rext,
/ oyer'ake him, if he repent not.
IF the bought should come into his mind,
that they, surely, must be strocious sinners
who have been subjected, Under the gov
erpment of a righteous God, to the tyranny
Of fend in human shape like Butler, let
! hm think again that the agony Of the peo-
pie of New Orleans or Of Norfolk is nothing
in comparison with the agony of he'll. Or,
/ if he more wisely regards them simply as
| the victims of misfortune, and weeps for
them as such, let him remember that, if he
be dry tree, the flames which shall con-
sumo him are seYep-foid hotter than any
which have been or can be kindled Upon
any green tree in our whole country.
GCd has cordials and comforts for those
who fear His name and trustln His grace,
which the world knows not of. His green
trees have brought forth the fruits of thanks
giving and praise, even when encompassed
With flames. There is s sanctuary which
the brutal power of the tylant cannot enter:
there are chambers in which the people of
God can hide themselves till the Indignation
be oyerpast. The greatest sufferer in our
I land who krovs and loves Jesus Christ.
ought to be the object OF eary to the hap
piest man who knows Him not. Jesuswent
cbeerfully and gladly to the cross, because
He loved the Father, and His sacrifice was
a.sublime act of praise, doxolOgy which
resounded through all the courts Of HEAVIER,
as it was echoed and re-echOed through all
the shining ranks of "harpers harpiDg with
their harpa." lie might well say to the
poor women VIVA we're weeping fer Him,
Weep not for me, bat for yourselves and
your children g Let tho impeniten. sinner