The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-12-18

"AU this is come upon Us; yet have we
not forgotten thee, neither nave we dealt
falsely in thy covenant. Our heart Is not
turned back. neither have our steps declined
from thy way; though thou hast sore
broken Us in the place Of Affections, and
covered Us with the shadow Of death. y
PSALM Xiv: II, 10.
When this Psalm was written, where
or by whom, no one, it seems, can with
certainty say. This much, however, is
sure That after some occasion or
series Of occasions, of sore atfiictiOn and
grIevOus calamity to the Israelitish PEG
pie, their chosen representative addressed
it on their behalf to their helper, God.
Making mention first of His distinguish
Ing Dsercies in bringing them by his own
hand into possession OF the goodly land.
The PsalmIst then rehearses the SOrrODS
that had come upon the people, telling
OF their shame at being forced to turn
their backs and Zee before their enemies !;
how they We're scattered among the heath
en-, and had become . ~'-..rn and IA derision,
a by word and a Kissing TO all about
them; 50 that their faces were covered
with confusion and their heads bowed
with shame Then follows a a declaration
Of spiritual hea2tb and righteous life
They had not fallen into apostasy, not
become idolaters, but they had remem
bered God and kept to his covenant !;
the heart was still beating as loyalty as
ever, and their Steps took hold upon the
right way in spite Of all that had come
upon them. Lastly, upon this declara
ton of uprightness in heart and life, is
based pathetic appeal for deliverance
and blessing.
1t doth not concern us so much to
know who wrote this psalm, nor when
nor where, Is to be assured that it was
handed down to Gods people as model
OF speech wherewith they may approach
him whenever they are burdeaed with
sorrows. We do not presume to compare
curseIves-tlese three congregations and
this community-with that holy nation
whom the Lord Most High separated to
Himself and distinguished by His favors
above all the other nations of the earth
But We do claim to be His, and as, with
hearts bowed down for the heavy hand
lie has laid upon us, we come today to
weep before Him over our precious dead,
We will make bold to speak with Him
even As dad His own chosen Israel. We
Will tell Him of oar griefs, and of the
gladness that comes to us even in the
midst of them We will make bold to
declare the loyalty of our hearts and the
devotion o! our lives to His service land
and We will stretch our arms heavenward
and cry 10 Him to come to US and bless
US.
l. OUR CRIES. When the Psalmist
said AL this is come upon u.s." he had
catalogued the aft ctions Of Israel; and
this he had done under divine inspira-
uon. This same power from on high,
must needs be given to the man who
shall portray the Affections this Woe
wasted community has experienced with
IN the last few weeks.
-Four months dgo-ah! what words are
these to this audIence!-four months ago,
and these streets were enlivened by the
footsteps and faces and voices Of a busy
and happy people, each one following his
own vocation, and moved by the inspira-
ton of plans and hopes that reached far
into the future Four months ago,
and ne who with poetic eye looked, from
one OF yonder neighboring hill-tops down
upon his sleeping town, curtained in
Inc moonss sweet silvery sheen, might
have fanced his vision filed by the angel
OF peace and protection lowering over the
enchanting spot and folding it beneath
MS beautiful white wing. Four months
ago, and loving eyes of husbands and
wives met as the one turned from house
Mold cares to greet the other coming from
The burdens of the days tolls, and to-
gether they sat, in sweet communion,
about the family board surrounded by
the bright up-turned eyes of children of
their love. And when the Sabbath
that holy and blessed day of rest and
praise-was come and Gods bells Chin
3D. from these church-tops the heavenly
calls to his peace giving service, what
happy souls thronged these sacred places
70 follow his Amounted servants In wor-
lhlp that quickened the spirit into lifel
To-day, who can turn, even so slowly,
The dark dreadful pages of Grenada's his
tory written since that time, written in
1nguished hearts, in groans, in tears, in
Death walls and new-made graves?
Y no can tell the story of the household
that was and is not? Of family-gather-
lgs about the hear b stone rucely broken
Up to-day and renewed In the burrying
grounds tomorrow OF the mothers
agony as hope sitter hope failed her, and
one after another of her jewels was taken
lWayp Of the fathers heart. of the hus
bands heart, OF the wife's heart. of the
daughters heart, of the sons -heaFts Of
NE sisters heart, Of the brothers heart,