Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-07

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10 discomfort his foes. War; famine,
and pestilsncs are results Of mature
causes, yet the Scriptures teach thu
these are agencies BY which God Is carry.
ing forward His kingdom, and executing
His purposes in the world. So Of the
earth quake; they result from nsturs
causes; but these natural causes ere 10
the hands Of God, who Is the FIRST intelli-
gent controlling cause. So the Scriptures
teach in many places. When God de-
scended on Mount Sinai to reveal His
law to man the mountain quaked
greatly ct His presence. BY means OF
an earthquake he assisted His ancient
people to overcome their foes. BY
means of an earthquake He glorified
His Son on the day Of his cruciixion
and on the morning Of his resurrection.
By the same agency He indicated aud
released from prison His prosecuted
and imprisoned apostles; and IN the
future history and triumph Of the
Church, as revealed in the visions
Of John, earthquakes play a large
and conspicuous part.
In the third place, take glance at a
few instances Of these destructive and
alarming visitations. They are scatter
ed oil through history. Between the
years l606 y. @. and 1912 A. d. there
we're between 5000 and 1000 recorded
earthquakes. Many OF these were mere
earth tremors doing no material dam
age. Many others were more severe,
causing greater or less damage to life
and property. Others again were Of the
most frightful and destructive charac-
ter. At Antioch, in Syria. in $40 A.
d. 100000 persons persisted in an
earthquake. In 1856 Lisbon, inPortu-
gal, was visited by an earthquake and
the principal portion Of the city was
epgulfed in the waters Of the bay to
the depth Of six hundred feet, and six
ty thousand persons persisted in six
minutes. The great earthquake OF 1888,
in Calabria, probably caused the death
of hundred thousand persons, and the
shock was felt in great part Of Eu.
rope. / need not call attention to re-
cent events they are fresh in your
hearts and minds.
In conclusion, let us hear the voice
of God in the earthquake:
LIST. This voice bids US "Fear
God and keep His commandments"
even that God who is able to destroy
both soul and body in hell. The angels
in Heaven. who see and know vastly
more of His works than we, cry out,
"Great and marvellous are Thy works,
Lord God Almighty and then they
ask, "Who will not fear Thee, oh
Lord, and glorify Thy name, for Thy
judgments are manifesto" And God
himself makes the inquiry, " Will ye
not fear Ne, and will We not tremble at
My presence?"
Cd. This voice teaches us that he
who fears God and keeps his command
ments has nothing else to fear. While
the earth trembles, the mountains shake,
The seas roar, the thunders peal, 10 the
ear Of faith the voice Of the Father
comes. at is |, be not afraid. "
Therefore will not We fear though
the earth be removed, aud the noun
tains be carried into the midst Of the
sea-"
THE God that rules on high:
THAI ali the earth surveys.
That rides upon the stormy sky
Aud Gains the troubled waves
This awful God is ours,
Our Father and our love;
He will send down His heavenly powers
To carry us above"
Sd. This recent earthquake that has
befallen our sister-city in the South has
touched the springs Of our brotherhood
and taught us all how near we are to
each other. The brotherlY sympathles
Of the whole nation have been tried,
and from every direction material aid,
offers Of assistance, and kindly mes
ssges have been sent to our afflicted
and suffering brethren. Our selfish
Tess, our self-intersst, our sectional
feelings. give way before the sentiments
and .ympathies of our common brother.
hood. We learn, we feel, that we have
a common Father, and that We belong
to one family.
A Number OF other Sermons. I'm Some
OF which tho Earthquake was Men
toned.
The repairs aud alterations Of the
Sunday school room of Park-Place
church were so far completed as 10
permit Of the use Of the chapel for
divine service on Sunday. The morn
irg service consisted Of a sermon and
the administration Of the Communion.
At night the pastor, according to am
nouncement, preached on the subject
Of Earthquakes" The text was
taken from Revelations XII, l3. No
brief synopsis would do justice to the
sermon. The house was full to over
flowing, and the close attention OF the
hearers was a fitting compliment to the
eloquence Of the speaker.
LAUREL STREET.
The pastor, just returned from
brief visit to the hill country, faced a
fine audience on Sunday morning. His
text was taken from the 18th chapter
of Acts, and his theme, " The Earth
quake at Philippi," was in sympathy
with the thought of the hour.
CENTENARY.
DR.. Edwards came to his pulpit Sun
day morning fresh from a rest Of more
than a month. The congregation was
full. The vigor and freshness of the
sermon fully showed to his people the
value OF rest to the preacher. The text
was from the Psalms" BE shall guide
me with His. counsel, and afterwards
receive me to glory" At night an
other large congregation listened to this
eloquent divine.
TRINITY.
The services at this church were con-
Quoted by the pastor, Rev. j. G. Reed,
who made due reference to the recent
quakes, and drew some very practical
lessons from them.
BROAD STREET.
The pastor read and commented on
the General Rules at the morning ser.
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