The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-05-29

river itself. rolling on TO the Dad Sea below
us. stresm through the ages. There 70 no otheI
river vhich hss like influence. In the No
ssjcs Of The primitive churches Of Itsly. n,
Oldest st Rome and RAyennA, works OF Ar or.
ecuted before Christianity had separated itsel
from PAganism, the Jordan 10 represented q I
river god pouring The streAm fross his urn
through al the centuries Of the Christian era
pilgrims have travelled over desert sands
through fso:t and Hood to bsihs In Ia waters
The hrst Christian Emperor, Coustantiue, mos
ardsntly desired TO manifest his faith in the rs.
hgion OF Jesus by being baptized In this stream
desire never Eratihed. Many Christian pa.
rent In England and America, Who has no faith
10 spiritual publication by the application o
us waters, above those Of any other river OF
fountain, yet feels new pleasure In having the
rite OF baptism administered with Jordan Va
ter. IL 10 river which waters, - No may say,
not only the valley between these mountain wall,
but the whole plane Of life-our literature, the
history Of the world, our hopes and aspirations
for time and eternity!
TIE DEAD SEA.
Turning south. an hours ride over . sandy
loan, without shrub or leaf or blade Of grass,
nothing but the bare earth beneath our horses
feet or around US over hundreds Of acres.
brings US to the Dead Sea. have read won
derfal accounts Of this body OF water-that its
waters were always calm no ripple on Ito sur
faee; that no bird could dy scross Il that
nothing green could flourish on is shores; that
over Il Was ever an atmosphere Of gloon. Not
quite thus Was the picture to our.eyes. Waves
were rolling on the beach. Reeds and canes
grow wherever their roots can reach the moist
urc beneath the 50 !. The plain over which We
rode was verdureless, because rsinless, except
at this season Of the year. A lev showers tall
In III inf hat L. e
port vegetable life. Fish are brought down
from the Jordan. We saw one near the en-
trance OF the river, but the water Is too salt,
and contains too much asphaltum to support
life. There 10 an air Of gloom. but Il arises
from the calmness and stiffness. No sounds
break upon the ear. except the FLASHING Of the
waves and the cha6ng Of the pebbles on the
beach. The gorges and de6lss OF the mountains
are dark and gloomy. The mountains them
selves Are bleak, bare, desolaie, and We case
upon them through hssy light, with dim
passing clouds. Besides these. no one stand
ing on its shore can forget the history Of the
destruction Of the cities Of the plain. Up
through this atmosphere rose the smoke OF
their burning. This Was the scene where d.
vine justice could no longer put up with human
wickedness. And 30 the dresriness and desc.
latiou, the absence Of life. the aspects Of nature
and the hcts OF history combine 70 give u Q
gloom peculiarly It's own.
THE WALLET OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH.
About half way from the Dead Sea to Jeru-
salem the path strikes into the Kedron valley,
which, at the convent OF Mar Saba. becomes
what in California 10 kanyon, or what in the
eastern States would be called chasm. II ID
winding. tortuous. deep, dark, gloomy - q
channel worn down through successive layers
Of limestone, four or Ave hundred feet. The
head becomes giddy Is you stand upon the
brink. David. when shepherd boy, tended
his flock and sang psalms In the pastures Of this
region. Doubtless he often looked down into
its profound depths. and Il has been surmised
that the depth and gloom suggested to him the
imagery Of the Valley Of the Shadow Of Death,
for certainly such slmile Is very appropriate.
Up the valley. through smiling 6elds, the
farm lands OF Boar, where Ruth CLEANED, south
Of us-0livet on the north-our horses plash-
Ing through the Kedron-up to the fountain Of
Enrogel-past Sloan, to 81. Stephens gate
20 We reach Jerusalem again. CARLEroS.