The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-02-24

console me in his last moments And even
when just dying, and already gone, as 1t
we're, from us, how his wandering mind Oc-
cupied itself still with his studies Did |
see thine eyes setting-my persisted hope
thy spirit fitting? Oh how could | recall
my breath, how inhale longer the common
atmosphere, when l embraced your cold and
pallied corpse? The fact that | could live
then proves that deserve this anguish, that
| deserve these narrowing memories. Do
survive my loss only to be tor
mented? Well; if the desire of life does
not aveuge you, let my patience do it, for
the remainder of my life, For we vainly re
fer all our calamities to the crime of fortune.
Nobody mourns long, save by his own fault,
But we live; and some method of living must
be sought; and l must yield credence to the
most learned men, who have deemed litera-
ture the only consolation of misfortunes.
Quinctilian then concludes that he will
pursue the composition of his work, as the
only solace of bereavement left him.
This picture of the anguish and despair
of an accomplished Pagan under the sorrows
of life, is doubtless perfectly truthful. How
full of interest and instruction to the Chris
tian We know nothing which can better
teach the pious and thoughtful mind the pre-
ciousness of our Gospel, and the unspeaka-
bic debt of thanks we owe God for its pos
session. Here we see the veil lifted from
the writhing heart of husband and parent,
who had fame, genius, station, wealth, learn
ing, and worldly virtue-p pierced by just such
calamities as all men are liable to feel, but
without any knowledge of Saviour. What
darkness of soul! What proud rebellion
against divine Providencel What deafness
of conscience concerning that sin of heart
and life, which so fully explains and justi-
fes all Gods discipline! What anger and
bitterness What black despair We see
here a heart as tender to all domestic ties,
and as sensitive to their rending as ours
But it knows no treasures save the earthly
and when these are snatched away, it has
nothing left, save miserable consciousness
| of remediless loss. 1t knows no resurrection
unto life eternal, no blessed reunion above
the skies, no exceeding and eternal weight
of glory wrought out by these light and
wholesome affections. Quinctilian deems
that the only natural employment for his re-
naming breath should be lamentations and
curses of the Gods He declares his chas
tisements absolutely unjust, and himself and
his loved ones innocent. He imputes them
to the jealousy of the divinity. He bitterly
scouts the idea of a directing, wise, and
righteous Providence. He recognizes him
self, with a mixture of indignation, terror,
and despair, as the helpless victim of an
angry and unprincipled omnipotence. He
more than once hints at suicide as his proper
refuge, and despises himself for shrinking
from it. Finding himself too weak to en-
brace that gloomy remedy, he says, that the
only other solace of which his learning in
forms him, is literary labor; and to this he
returns drearily and hopelessly. Through
out the remainder of his work, he confines
himself to his professional topic, and pours
out upon it the rich stores of his reading,
acumen, and experience. But, while his
heart utters no audible cry, there is, we
think, the suppressed WEAKNESS, the unutter-
able hopelessness of a secret and everbleed-
ing wound.
What benevolent mind can read this dis
closure without longing that this great,
mourning soul could have known Jesus
Christ, as "the resurrection and the life ?"
Who can refrain from saying, oh that this
tumultuating reason had been Gained, by the
solution which the Bible gives for these
dread mysteries of parting, bereavement,
and death; that this proud heart might have
been humbled in contrition for its sin, at the
cross; that this parentallove had been taught
to resign its lovely and cherished treasures
to that tender Redeemer, who took little
children in his arms and blessed them, say
ing, "of such is the kingdom of heaven ="
How different would have been his chastened
old age! How different his death! No
longer bitter, stoical, despairing; but meek,
Astounding in labours of love to the suffering
and tempted, and glowing more and more
with the purer and unfading light of an ap-
preaching eternity.
Now, the lesson we would impress from
this picture is the benefcence of evangelical
labors. The worlds still full of such bleed
ing hearts, among the modern heather,
among the goddess and unbeleving at home.
The only balm for their anguish is the Cos,
pei. He who carries that remedy to their
wounds is their kindest benefactor. Every
impulse of pity and benevolence then, should
prompt the Christian to send the news of
Christ to the heather at home and abroad.
On the first page will be found in addition to
other articles of interest, the " Financial Plan"
adopted by Rev. Dr. Brooke's church in St. Louis.
We commend it to the special consideration of our
readers. as affording material for reflection among
all our Churches. 1t is drawn up with much