The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-09-12
Published by request Of the T. B. Society. I
Address Of X. e Allison, ESQ.
DELIVERED JULY 1855.
(coscLUDrp yRou LAST WEEK. !


es, OF whom we have any regular or au
theutic history, tia. SO long as they al
hered to the teachings Of the Holy Scrip,
tures, and followed the religion Of their
Fathers, they continued to be a prosper.
Gus. powerful, and happy people. They
sxcellsd all other nations in learning, and
the arts and sciences-indeed their fame,
In these respects, WAS world wide; for
they were truly great aud powerful. But
80 soon as they Vacated tie fanes and
temples erected for the worship Of the
living God, and betook themselves to su
perstition, and the worship Of idols OF
their own misguided iinagna,ion., then
the star Of tier destiny sunk down to
fise no more TO light them to glory and
renown, until they shalI have turned back
from their idols to tile true Worship Or the
living God. The great ruler OF the uni
verse had pronounced his immn,able de-,
Etees against them, on account Of their
idols'ry and bigotry and he sent bis
curses upon them, and permitted their
eneriiies to wage war Of determination
against them. And the restrlt wa. III at
the entire nstion WAS either destroyed in
dssdiy conflict or captured; and he eau,
ed the captives 10 be scattered to the
winds OF heaven. They thereby los,
the'r nationality they lost their homes
And native land; they lost their great
city, and, beneath its tuins the lives OF a
vast number OF theit citizens, and they
became n bve void aid ieproath for all
nationa. Their national greatness and
grandeuf. which were, at one time. the
admiration Of the world, and dazzled the
ewes OF all mankind, then toppled down.
and their mighty power aud influence
~ere buried in the ruins. And the light
Of their former worth and excellence. "a
the chosen people Of God. was ex,incuish
cd in the wreck; nnd will bs tekiodIed
bhly when the grace Of God shall lead
them back to calvary, and enable them
Nrsceive the light Of that cross. which
their ancestors erected for the crucifixion
O. tue spo,less Son Of God and from which
'hsv turned away only to reap the wrath
OF tho Great Ruler Of nations. The hi.
tory of this remarkable people should be
carefully s,udied by all who desire the
bountiful gifts Of tho Great Creator; and
Il 10 source OF regre, that the rulers and
law eive's OF the nations Of the globe
have so frequently and so clearly misim.
proved the lessons Of instruction, which
their example has given to the world.
The same idea is manifeslly exempli
lied in the history OF ancient Greece
"the land Of sch"lats and nnr,e OF arms"
lie. national Ptowess, spIsador and mag.
nihcencs, for time, overshado~ed the
world. Her sages, philosophers. and
Statesmen. for q considerable time, shed
lustrs on the dark and benighted nations,
with whom she held intercourse. Bu,
she soco lost that spark Of the Divinity
and greatness. which she is now suppo.
cd to have derived from the Hebrews, ITO
Shoft, wefe committed the oracles of
God." when she lost favor with the grss,
Ruler Of destiny. She grew ambitious,
proud, and arrogant. and gave herself Up
TO luxury. bigo,ry, idola,ry and supers,i.
tiop; and God kindlsd strife and di.sep
lion among her people. aud turned loose
her sosmie. in Wild fury upon her. And
the consequence is, that she has long since
lost her nationality, and with It, bes spIen.
dor and magni6oencs, 90 beautifully OK
smpIi6sd in the artistic grandeur OF
Thsbss aud Athens. And all that can
hos he said Of these once splendid cities.
whose spires, for number Of years, had
attracted the eye Of the traveller, they
Uers. but they are not. And Greece has
how none Of hss sscient beauty. .
30 too si,b Rome. eth. mis,s.s. Of III.
world" She became, In her palmisst
days, so sxtensive. that her borders scsrce.
iy knew any limits. She was alike the
terror and admiistios OF the world. Blu,
abe too W" deficient in .hoss great prin
cipies Of ethics. which the Bible alone
can teach. Blinded by superstition. In
tosics,sd BY bigo,ry. and self ,ufiiciency,
and misguided BY idols,ry, she dare.
garded the sta,atss Of the Lord, Incurred
bis wrath, and she was dovmed to des,ruc,
iion. Like tale that is ,old," abe has
passed away 10 the long crowded rsi.s
OF human folly and weakness. Tna cs.s.-
less tide q time. in its irrssistib!s pro. |
grssss and grim "sisagsd war" ~i,h lie |
cruel tread, have swept away every sss.