The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-03-17
For TIE CENTRAL PREsBYrERIAS'
Pc RISH IN G.

That was sad day in the camp OF israeli
when fiery serpents were sent among the
people to execute Gods vengeance upon
them. AS hundreds perhaps of those who
had been loud in their murmurings against
God were bitten. and gasped, and died in
agony, we can well imagine what wall OF
anguish was borne upon the trembling air
from all parts of that vast encampment; and
we can almost see the CONSERVATION and
despair that gathered upon the faces OF the
living, as, here and there when least expect
ing it, they would tread upon the vengeful
viper, and in an instant feel their life blood
poisoned by its sharp and burning sting.
The morning of that day may have dawned
upon thousands of exultng, jubilant hearts;
but when the evening closed, the voice OF
tabret and the viol was hushed, and almost
every tent methinks, was draped in mourn
ing
But what is this picture of wounds, and
CHASTITY faces. and pallid, gasping lips, and
puseless, breathless forms in the camp of
Israel, to the sight of wounded, dying souls
with which every thoughtful, observing eye
is daily and almost hourly familiar? What
is the poison of the Egyptian asp, or that of
the fiery serpent of the DESERT to the poison
of sin,-that fatal plague which has infected
all the natural descendants of Adam! And
| if it is sad to see hundreds and thousands Of
men once robust and strong, but now swollen
in every joint, and racked with pain, and
slowly ebbing their lives away in agony and
Intellectual cries for help, Christian brethren,
have we no tears for the thoughtless world
around us, that is slowly but surely approach
ing death that never dies-an endless fu
ture of clouds and darkness, and dreariness
and despair? And O! impenitent reader,
have yOu no sympathy and sobs for that poor
soul of yOurs, which will soon pass off the
stage of time only to perish forever2
This dreadful work of death is no fiction,
but il silently going on every where. The
destroyer walks with noseless steps, but is
ever on the march. lie invades our sanctu-
aries, and dulls the heart to the quickening
power of the truth, even when the ear with
respectful attention hears the glad tidiDgs Of
the gospel. He steals into Christian house
holds, and then with an unseen hand he
gently murders his thousands. In the very
midst of life souls are dying; yes, preparing
to wrap the winding sheet about their dear
est hopes for ever, and to bury themselve;
in grave from which there shall be no re
surrection. Reader! is this true of your
soul?
Impenitent friend every hour that strikes
is trumpeter for eternity, and tells o
swiftly flying moments that are gone, ant
, of other swifty-fying moments soon to COM
: and 60; and by and by they will all hav
passed away, and your soul will be laid upol
a bier from which it shall never never rise
: And do not suppose that you are safe, be
S cause you see no signs of imminent danger
The greatest perils do not always "cas
their shadows before" The mighty earth
0 quake that made the year 1855 so memora
: BILE in the history of Lisbon, came like al
e avalanche let loose from its fastenings in al
e Instant and in six shor. minutes destroye
e not less than $4,000 lives. And SO it MA.
e be with you. In an hour when you are no
e looking for it, the fatal bolt may fall, an
It strike you down to ruin from which ther
t. is no recovery. 1t was the night on whic
n Belshazzar was feasting thousand of hi
vt lords, that that strange hand appeared an
n traced those mysterious characters on tn
u wall, which told of the downfall of his En-
% pire.
o No, be not deceived by the respite ths