Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-02-10

) dis VIII, while other nations are moi
Another great fact that we observ
connected with this, is that the ns
, tions which were favored with thes
revelations were civilized, enterpris
ing and comparatively prosperou
nations, in proportion to the amour
of revelation and their obedience {,
it. The nations that had no revela
tion from God were idolatrous say
ages, who were sinking down to til,
level of brutes, and perishing off tn,
face of the earth. The ChaIdeans
for instance, the most ancient peopl,
of whom we have any account, il
the early part of their history W,
find them possessed of the knowledge
of the true God. preserved from the
traditions of Noah's prophecies. they
being the immediate descendants oi
Noah; during this period they were
prosperous; bnt we find that they be-
gan gradually to degenerate, gave up
the worship of God, adored the sun
and moon and the stars of Heaven,
and finally dumb idols.
What was the consequence? Chal-
dea has sunk into the tomb of dead
nations, never to rise more, and
Babylon, the glory of the kingdom.
the beauty of the Chaldea's excellen-
cy Isaiah, chap. l3, is inhabited only
by wild beasts and 'doleful crea-
lures.
Let us turn our attention next to
Egypt.
Egyptians were reputed the most
learned creation of earth, and Egypt
was considered the cradle of art and
science. The question now arises,
what adequate causes have operated
to prnduce such market superiority?
Some have attempted to solve this
problem by attributing their results
to mixture OF breeds, according to
the modern method of improving the
races of animals. But we beg leave
to differ from these apostles of wis
dom. If mixture of blood or cross
ing of breeds will accomplish the re-
suit, why is Mexico so far in the |
+ ar in the march of civilization.
The true cause of the superiority of
the Egyptians was, that they were
favored with divine revelation. As
evidence of this we find traces of the |
true religion on her existing mOnu-
ments, hieroglyphic inscriptions, and
tomb painting, &c. These religious
ideas were received doubtless from
the Jews. For hundreds of years
Egypt enjoyed occasional visits from,
or permanent teachings of the proph-
cts, as Abraham, Jacob, Joseph and |
Moses. which accounts for her superi- /
ority over heathen nations. But what |
is the state of Egypt now? A waste
of bowling wilderness, roamed over
by the wild hyena or still wilder
Arab. Egypt! beautiful illustrious
Egypt! the land of science and of
now are thy temples of
learning and philosophy? There she
lies, wreck of nations-naught re-
save some shivered pOstherds |
of former greatness.
We find, also, that other great ma
tions of the East have met similar
doom as that of Egypt and Chaldea.
Now, the question is, from whence
proceed such melancholy revolutions?
For what cause is the fortune of
these countries changed? Why is not
that ancient population reproduced
and perpetuated? We think Solo
mon solves the mystery: "Wbere
there is no visiOn the peopte per
;sh.'
We find these nations gradually de
parting from the true religion. and,
1t every step of their departure weak
ness, decay and death entered into
The very elements of their national
ife. Decay first in the spiritual ele
nentS, afterward by inevitable con-
in the ruder realms of phys
cal life.
But we will now leave past history
md take n brief survey of the world
rs it now is. 1t is generally conceded
hat European races excel those of
,he old world, Asia and Africa. II,
hen, the European is superior, there
must be some very good causes for
such superiority. Our Anti-Bible
voultl-be philosopher comes forth
md attributes this difference to eli
nate, mixture of blood, or cross
Irecding, powder, mariners com
PASS, and the art of printing and
,ther various sort of things. But we
peg leave to differ The climate of :
E Iypt has not changed materially for
,wo thousand years, from whence,
hen, proceed the difference in the
moral and social condition of its in
labitants. On the other hand the
:limate of England for the last thou
,and years has not materially
hanged. But England was Inhabited
hen by barbarous savages, now by
intelligent, civilized and enterprising
people.
Again, can we attribute the march
If England's civilization to gun
powder, mariners compass, and the
lrt of printing. We answer, No!
All these have been known to China
rom remote ages, and what have :
hey availed? Nothing. Should an ,
sink her beneath the
waves. what ocean would miss her /
sails? what science her contribution
What land her treasures2 Again, if !
run powder is civilizer, why does :
France stand so far in the rear in the
march of civilization. There is not
. country where more powder is used. I
But a short century ago gun powder +,
md the goddess Of reason held un-
limited sway in France, and what !.
vas the result? The historian may
cad the result in letters of blood. All! :
nation in order to be prosperous, :
must have a Bible. l care not for
,un- powder, mariners compass, DC, :.
hese things have their uses-nation- !
n L @..k