Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-08-25

There were many thrilling scenes in the
New England churches during The Revolu
tionary War The following one occurred
in Sharont Conn sunder the ministry Of Rev.
Gotten Mather Smith, 1t is found in.
Headley's HChaplains Of the Revolution
Mr. Smith one Sunday took for his text a
part of Isaiah XXI III. I2;HzssW WatchnAan
whato the night The watehnan said.
The morning Gometh. The question in
the first part of this passage had been the
daily, almost the hourly inquiry for nearly a
month, of every one of chat congregation,
and hence its apprppr1ateness was keenly
felt, by the startling announcement, The
mornings cometh, took them by surprise;
and they could not at first comprehend its
/ significaat,e or hesg II could be adapted to
the present prospect Had he heard any
| good news What had happened that he
| could say SO confidently, The morning
| eometh?' No, he had nothing new to tell
| them, only to proclaim over again his un-
| shaken edafideEee in Gods promises. He
did not attempt to conceal or lesson the ca
lamities taat had befallen the country, nor
deny that fearful crisis was at hand. He
acknowledged that to human appearance
clouds and darkness were round about
God throne; but said that the eye of faith
could pierce the gloom. The throne was
there, though wrapped in impenetrable
darkness. In all the disasters that had sue
cessively overwhelmed them, he traced the
hand ofGod, and declared that to his mind,
they clearly indicated some, striking interpo-
sition of Divine Providence about to take
place IN their behalf. Man S extremity had
come, and now was the time for himto make
bare his arm for the deliveranceof the peo-i
pie.
Prophet-like, kindling with the vision on
which the eyes of his his faith rested, he
boldly dropped the general subject of Gods
faithfulness, and told his astonished hearers
that he believed they were on the point of
hearing extraordinary news of victory to our
arms. He would not wait, for an indefinite
future to prove his faith to be well founded
-he was willing to bring it to the test of the
present They might Judge whether he was
right or wrong, for, said he, The morning
cometh see its beams already gliding
the mountain tops, and you shall soon be-
hold Its brightness bursting over the land.
One cannot imagine the effect of such
time of doubts and suspense. He ceased,
and as he closed the Bible and exclaimed
amen so let it be, - silence profound and
death-like rested on the audience; each one
seemed to feel as if an invisible presence
was there, and some weighty announcement
was Just at hand.
Suddenly the deep hush was broken by
the distant clatter of horse S hoof alongthe
road The sharp and rapid strokes told of
swift riding and Of urgent haste: They
knew at once what it meant. For days and
weeks their eyes had strained up the streets
that led northward, to catch sight of the
messenger of good or evil tidings that was
hourly expected. He had come at last and
al of OF
In 1IrtTuc aha Uef nest INQUIRY MS nelgn
boris face Right on through the place,
straight for the meeting house hasted the
swift rider, and drawing rein at the door,
leaped frem the saddle, and leaving his
foam covered steed unattended, strobe into
the main aisle. On the deep silence that
filed the building ike a sensible presence,
his armed heel rung like the blowsofa ham
mer. As he passed along sudden pale
ness spread over the crowd Of faces turned
with a painful eagerness toward him. But
looking neither to the right hand nor left,
the dread messenger passed on, and, mount
ing the pulpit stairs handed the pastor a
letter.
Notwithstanding the good mans faith,
his hand trembled and an ashy hue over
spread his face as he reached. out to receive
it. sBurgoyne has surrendered, were the
first words that met his eye He staggered
under them as under blow. The next mo-
ment radiance ike that of the morning
broke over his countenance, and he burst
into tears. Rising to read the incredible
tidings, such tide of emotion flooded his
heart that he could scarcely utter them
aloud The audience sat for a moment over
whelmed and stupeied, then, as their pas
tor folded his hands and turned his eyes to
heaven in thankful prayer impslled by a
simultaneous movement they fell like one
man upon their knees and wept aloud
Sobs, sighs, and feryently uttered ''Amens'
were heard on every side, attesting the depth |
Of their gratitude and ecstacy Of their joy.
''The morning" had come; bright and glori-