The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-05-03
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
A FRAGMENT.

A venerable Elder who has long stood as faith.
full servant in the church of God amid some Of its
most momentous conflicts, but who is now bending
under the infrmities of about ninety years, sends
the following fragment" May his last years be
constantly cheered by the comforting presence ofa
covenant God, who has said, Even to your old
age | am He. Cen. PRES.
1t was midnight; the clock on the mantle
ticked the passing moments; all else was
still, silent almost as the grave. The aged
one turned in his bed and awoke; the clock
true to its time, struck 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, 10, II, -. eyes, yes; another day is
gong; new gift, another day has COM
menced. Ten days in another year has al
ready passed, and I'still live" said the old
man to himself. 'ssSAd here and now O my
Father, with none but Thee to witness my
silent contemplations in this silent, solemn
hour, aid me with Thy Spirit that l may
wisely commune with mine own heart.
The old man was troubled in spirit, for
his days were far SPENT and this was time
when strong men and true must do or die; ;
wars and bloodshed among nations, hatred
and wrongs. among brethren, and Christians
nursing strife. The soothings Of" Thy
will be done" was heartfelt, refreshing ''like
rain upon the mown grass" and as he mused
within himself, he remembered some of the
promises of God, and some Of the threaten
ings of God were not hid from him: ellis
seed also will | make to endure forever, and
his throne as the days of heaven. If his chill
dren fOrsake my law, and walk not in my
judgments; If they break my statutes, and
keep not my commandments; Then will |
visit their transgressions with the rod, and
their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my
lovingkindness will I not utterly take from
him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My
covenant will Inot break, nor alter the thing
that is gone out of my lips. Once have |
sworn by my holiness that l will not lie unto
David His seed shall endure for ever, and
his throne as the sun before me. 1t shall be
established for ever as the moon, and as a
faithful witness nheaven. Selah." Psalm &c.
Precious words to the Saints of God He
will never leave, never forsake his people !;
but that their transgressons are to be visited
with the rod and their iniquities with stripes,
is Just as certain as that the word of
God is true, and that his throne is
firm. People of the living God The
light of the world, the salt of the earth,
what if the salt lose its saltness What
if your light be!S6Ss>- : Are there-not such /;
those who call down the chaStisements of
God upon themselves, aud upon SHINING
world? His judgments must be admins
tered as certainly as that we sin. There is
no punishment for the righteous but upon
earth. Our punishment, is it not here, and
the time now We read the thEeateningS,
and should look for their fulGlment. 1t is
declared that the wicked "shall be utterly
destroyed )" that they shall be turned into
hell, and all the nations that forget God. "
They eat, they drink, they are merry, and to-
morrow they die 0 what doom, and what
prospect is their eternity! But they who
know their Master will and do it not, have
they also not cause to tremble!
The clock ticked on the moments, the mus
ings were solemn, until the heavens were al
unrest. Bright flashed the lightning across
my window, the earth shook, the house trem
bled, and the reboundings of the hollow
thunder was as some mighty ball, jolting
from hill top to hill top, until in the mellow
distance it seemed as if the breathings of the
Almighty alone could be thus exemplifed,
Verify there is God who can reward ant
punish us. Is it true that the peace of the
world, and the prosperity Of Zion depends
under God, upon the faithfulness Of his peo
Pile? Such is indeed the strong, abiding be