The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-10-14
Fox THE CENTRAL PREsBYTERIAN.
Andrew Hart
(CONTINUEp.l

Hart's store became noted as a place
where business was transacted on Chris
tian principles. Wherever he was, Mr..
Hart remembered he was professed
Christian, and an elder in the Church of
Christ. And that recollection, kept ac-
tive by his firm belief in the Bible as the
revelation from God, wrought in him a
habit which according to his Scotch edu-
cation and his convictions, was not easily
broken. The first promptings were
right; the temptation TO err was second
ary; and conscience and judgment could
rally against temptation. And whatever
exigencies may have arisen to the mer-
chant in the course of his trading, no one
ever knew that he had temptation to
unfairnesS, much less any Inclination
The two principles evident in his trade
were, the Right and the Generous. Of
these, the Right held the first place,
from the fact, that without the Right
the Generous can never exist.
The claim of the Bible as the revela-
ton from God for mans guidance, was
disputed in Albemarle from the time of
Mr.. Hart's marriage till he had reared
his family. Part of this time the rancOr
of politics was in measure able to give a
coloring to the religious struggle, though
very unfairly. For at no time was the
line of division of political parties running
parallel with the dividing line between
faith and unbelief. The Bible had de-
tenders and enemies on both sides of po-
litical parties Mr.. Robinson believed
the dividing lines ran very nearly paral-
lei; and at times his vehement spirit
waxed hot, especially when he thought
of the youth of his charge just forming
their moral aud religious principles and
habits; and his cry was, beware be-
ware of philosophy falsely sO-called
For series of years he was the only
minister in an extensive region that de-
Tended, with ability, the claims of the
Bible. Taking his stand at ROckfsh
Gap, near one Of his preaching places,
and looking southwark to Bedford and
Campbell, separated from him by the
noble river James, and there was no min
lister of ability to plead for the Bible as
Gods Word. And then turning north
ward along the Piedmont till the waters
of the RappahanhOck separated him from
the county of Fauquier, he saw no help
er; for the noble and eloquent Waddell
yielding to the in6rmities of age, had
found his grave under the apple tree,
near GOrdonsville, in the year 1905; and
the young Lumpkin just entering the
field to contest the influence of misbelief,
had passed away as the blossom before
the hoar frost, at Charlottesville in 1909
And then looking eastward, passing over
Louisa, where the voice of Todd had, be-
fore the close of th1 last century, been
silenced in death, the cold feeling came
over him that weighed upon the heart Of
the old prophet, land | only am lef
alone," till in the far horizon he coulC
discern the city of the State, and the col
lege walls of Hampden Sidney. Wha
wonder if he sighed and wept, and CRIED
out, Il am a worm and no man; am unf
for the defence of this great field in tn,
vineyard of the Lord, while the pains o
body were subduing frame never abb
to meet the demands of his ardent sou |
He measured his duty by the vast wOrl
around him; and his deficiencies by hi
want of thought to accomplish the tasl
he felt imposed upon him,
The coming of John Hendren, licen
tate of Lexington Presbytery, to preacl
the Gospel in the beautiful country be
tween the Tye River and the James, il
Amherst county, about the time tina
young Lumpkin died in Albemarle, was
well spring of comfors to Robinson