The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-07-25
A Startling Scene in Church.

There were many thrilling scenes in
the New England churches during the
Revolutionary War. The following
.one occurred in Sharon, Conn. under
thc ministry OF Rev. Cotton Smith,
1t is found in Headley's :" Chaplains Of
the Reyelutiop.p ISL
Mr.. Smith one Sunday took for his
text part of Isaiah Xxx, ll-l2:-
Watchman what Of the night? Tho
watchman saith, The morning cbmetb.,'
The question in the first. part Of tbis
passage had been the daily, almost
hourly, inquiry for nearly month, of
every one Of the congregation, and
hence its appropriateness WAS keenly
felt, but the startling announcement,
"The morning cometh," took them hy
surprise, and they could not at. first
comprehend its significance, or how it
could be adapted to the present rloomv
prospect. Had he heard anyrgood
news! What had happened that, he
could say so confidently, "The NOR
ming cometh ?" ~ H 20
No, he had nothing new to tell them.
only to proclaim over again his unshal.
en- confidence i'll Gods promises. eJIe
did not attempt to conceal or lessen
the calamities that had befallen tho
country, nor deny that a fearful crisis
was at hand. He acknowledge that to
human appearance "clouds and dark
ness were round about Gods thrones
but said that the eye of faith could
pierce the gloom. The throne was
there, though wrapped in inpenetrable
darkness. In all the disasters that had
successfully, overwhelmed them, he
traced the hand of God, and declared
that, to his m they clearly Indicated
some strikin Ssmterposition 0f9Diyine
Providence about to take place in their
behalf. "Man's extremity had come.
and now was the time for him to make
bare his arm for the delivery Of the
people," .r nm'7 aE
Prophet-like, kindling with the vision
on which the eye OF. his faith rested,
he boldly dropped. the general subject
of Gods faithfulness, and told his as
tonishod hearers that he believed they
were OH the point of hearing extraor-
dinary news OF victory by our arms
He would not wait for an indefinite
future to prove his faith well founded
he was willingrto brihgit to the test of
the present. They might Judge whetl-
er he was right or wrong, for, said he,
"The morning now cometh. l see its
beams already gliding IKE mountain
tops, and You shall soon beholEits
brightness bursting over the lands
One cannot imagine the effect of
such language uttered by the minister
of God in such time of doubt and
suspense. He ceased, and rs he closed
the Bible and exclaimed, s',Amen! (! so
let it be-" silence, profound aud death
like, rested OH the audience. Each one
seemed to feel as If an Invisible pfes-
ence was there, and somo weighty an
nouncement was just at hand.roI
Suddenly the deep hush, was broken
by the distant clatter of. horses hoof
along the road. The sharp and rapid
strokes told Of swift riding and Urgent
haste. They know at once what it
meant. For days and weeks their eyes
had strained up the streets that led
northward to catch sight of the mes
senger of good or evil tidings that was
hourly expected. N' " '7'
He had come at last, and as nearer.
clearer rang thc sogpd of that gallop
on the listening ear, each, looked in
mute and earnest inquiry into his neigh-
boris face. Right on through the place,
straight for the meeting house, darted
the swift rider. aud drawing rein at the
door, leaped from his saddle. and. leay-
ing his fQan-coycrcd steed unattended,
strobe into tho main sislc. On; the
deep silence that filed the building ike
o sensible presence, his armed heel
rung like the blows of n bamner As
he passed along, sudden pnlcness
spread over the crowd Of faces turned
with painful esgcrness toward him.
But looking neither to the right hand
nor TO the left, the dread messenger
passed on, and mounting the pulpit
stairs, handed the pastorladettor nit
Notwithstanding the goodofinan's
faith his hand trcmbled, and an ashy
hue overspread his face rs hcreached
cut to receive it. "Burgoyne hasasur-
rendered - wero the first words that
met his eye. Hc.ostaggered under
them as under a blow. The next mo-
mcnt a radiencei like that Of the NOR
ming broke over his countenance,l aud
(SRE porrRErf tAcp.l iEp1c