The Bossier banner., 1883-08-16
Calamities.

TelnhEkdUA6 IoE tH0 great HuulUeE vi
calamitous events that have surpris-
ed and startled the world. The
newspapers have been simple rec
ords almost of these occurrences.
Que day we read of a terrific cyclone
devastating some portion of the
land, or a railroad accident hnrrying
scores to an Hatiaaeiy end, or an
appalling disaster, like that of the
Tivola excursionists, where many
find watery graEe then again, in
our own or other lands, we read of a
school room or theatre panic, caas-
ing the death of hundreds, perhaps,
withoat a moments warning. The
last horror in the list is the great
earthquake in the island of Iscllia.
These occurrences come with such
startling rapldity, that there is
scarcely tin@ to gather up the details
of one, before another more APPALLING
ia it's nature is reported.
These fearful records ought to
arrest the attention of the most
thoughtless and careless. What.
does it all mean? Some things are
here which men cannot nnrayel-
science is blind, and the wise men of
the earth grope ia darkness in their
efforts to explain. The reason is
/ obvious. As the book OF nature is
above us, SO the book of Providence
is beyond US, and we cannon read
| its secrets, because the volume is
sealed. Sometimes men so far for
get themselves as to charge the un-
fortunate victims of calamity as be-
ing guilty of some sin and are thus
punished. All such opinions are
errcaeous not to say sinful. It is
not mans province to judge here
Our Saviour illustrated this when he
| declared that those men on whom
the tower fell were not sinners above
other men; and He applied their
taking off to those whom he address
ed, and said, Except ye repent ye
shall all likewise PERISH Some ex.
positors and Interpreters of prophe-
cy are of the opinion that we are
now in the Saturday evening of the
worlds history, and that the won
derfal signs spoken Of by cur Lord
and by the Prophet Daniel and by
st. John in his Revelation and by
other writer's in the Sacred Book are
now being manifested. We confess
our ignorance in regard TO this sub
iect; but are firmly pursuaded that
of ssthat day and hour knoweth no
man, Such writer's as Cumming
Seiss and others, believe the final
consummation is near at hand, and
DIR. Adam Clark, In his commentary,
written in 1895, expressed the opin-
ion that the Mohammedan deInsion
would end about the year 1902 and
that this would be followed by a
great change when the nations
would come under the sway oil
Christ, and that the sealed volume
of prophecy would be fully unfolded
in the 20th century. Writers on
,, Prophecy view such manifestations
!, we have experienced this year as
among the notable signs that should
preeede the coming of the Lord
l and the end of the world. AS be
g fore remarked, we confess utter ig
: norance in regard to these things
e but may be permitted to express the
t opinion that the world will survive
n many generations yet.
J, There is, however, another view
+ of this subject which We will present
i The Scriptures teacha that the al
]. mighty reveals His wrath agains
n sin. The terrible displays of diyin,
n vengeance, recorded 10 many place
d in the Bible, were sent because tn
II law had been violated. May not th
g calamities which crowd one upol
# another SO rapidly now, be theToic