THE

YOUNG MEN'S MAGAZINE.

No. 25.]

JANUARY, 1839.

[VOL. II]

THE PAST YEAR.

which memory hath recorded, and to resolve henceforth, if possiTHROUGH the everlasting whirl of ble, to avoid them; at the same human affairs most men are borne time to derive hope and comfort along by the mere impulses of nature, from whatever has occurred of a with little more reflection than that brighter character. We live in a which animates the unthinking planet period whose daily occurrences are on which they tread, while it moves enough to awaken the profoundest daily on its own axis, and yearly sleepers from their lethargy; and round the Sun. It would seem im- the year that is past has been full of possible, but so it is, that, with all events which are sufficient to make the enlightenment of the present the ears to tingle. Without referday, a majority of our species are ring to political affairs at all, we may only concerned to perform the daily mention three in connection with the evolutions of eating, drinking, and moral and religious interests of men. sleeping, with the greatest ease and The abolition of Slavery throughcomfort, regardless of all higher con- out the British dominions is the most siderations. The most exciting topics important, perhaps. Notwithstandof discourse-the most alarming ing the opposition of all the Coloevents the perils of war-the des- nists-notwithstanding the British truction of cities-the loss of thou- Parliament and the Government sands of lives will not disturb their united in refusing it-the voice of equanimity, unless these events the British People loudly uttered, should come too near them, and and echoed by a chosen champion threaten to interfere with the round of Freedom, procured that long deof their enjoyments. And there is layed measure of justice and mercy, so much of what is material in all which now spreads its healing wings men, that they have a tendency to over the injured population of our Colapse into that sort of steam-engine lonies. The result has justified the existence, unless they be frequently most sanguine expectations of the moved by appeals to the immaterial friends of the negro, and no sanguinpart of their nature. Hence the ary acts have stained the commenceperiods and changes of time are ment of his liberties-no vengeance valuable to arouse the mental facul- has he taken upon the wrong ties, and to excite them to action- doer. Certainly, never were into draw from the history of the Past juries endured more patiently, or lessons to direct the Future-to resented so mildly. May the God deplore the errors and the follies of mercy and justice protect him from VOL. III.

A

future oppression, and open to him be immense and incalculable. One "the path of life." The disciples of great difficulty in the way of impartChrist turn their attention to that ing to men the knowledge of the quarter as a field for missionary la- Gospel has hitherto been found in bour. It opens new prospects to them, the distance by which they are sepabeaming with hope. As the body of rated from each other, in the barriers the negro is emancipated, they would interposed by hundreds of miles,take off the shackles from his soul, by mountains, continents, deserts, and convert the house of bondage seas,-which by preventing frequent into the Temple of religious and and rapid communication, have rencivil Freedom. A rapid progress dered all attempts to change the in knowledge, civilization, and reli- character of a people transient and gion, may be predicted, as the fugitive, or have confined such influence of Christianity becomes attempts to a comparatively small more diffused amongst them, and as part of the globe. Even the very he efforts of Christians increase in small space which separates us enerous activity. from the sister Island has ope

The next remarkable circumstance rated most injuriously in diminishthat meets our attention is the sailing ing the number, frequency, and of the Missionary Ship, Camden, vigour of our labours on behalf of with Mr. Williams, devoted to Mis- her moral regeneration. Nay, we ionary objects. Such a circnmstance may come nearer home, and assert, has not occurred for a century, and that many remote villages in our own it is to be hoped that it will mark the country would, looking at second commencement of a general revival causes, have been visited again and of religion throughout the churches again by the messengers of Divine of Britain. There is certainly more Truth, which never yet heard it proof the Missionary spirit abroad now claimed in its purity, had it not been than has been manifested for a cen- for the natural obstacles of time tury, and it awaits only the descent and space. The construction of of the Spirit of the Lord to kindle all Railroads removes these obstacles, christian hearts into flames of devotion and opens the way for a flood of to his service. When that shall be the light to pour into the farthest corners case, we may expect the same results of the land. The most eminent ento follow which attended the preach-gineers have given an opinion, that ing of the Gospel in the primitive in a short time 50 miles per honr times, or when Whitefield and Wes- will be the common rate of travelling ley poured out their ardent eloquence on railroads. If the road from in the cause of their Master, and London to Edinburgh may be trathousands were converted in a day. versed in eight hours, all England The other remarkable feature of may be made our neighbours, and we the year is the opening of the rail- citizens of the whole country. What road from Birmingham to London, a wonderful progress in everything and from Birmingham to Liverpool. may be anticipated from this circumThis brings four great cities near stance! What an increase of power, together, London, Birmingham, knowledge, and civilization! but at Manchester, and Liverpool. With the same time, what dangers, if not out referring to the political and attended by a corresponding moral scientific results of these inven- improvement! tions, the moral consequences will

While these things are going on by

-cer

land, the progress of things at sea is of nature, which are apt to astonish scarcely less surprising. This year is the senses and confound the underdistinguished by the commencement standing of mankind, perhaps none and continuance of regular steam are so rare or so surprising,packet communications with Ameri- tainly none have struck so much ca, in about half the ordinary time terror into the ignorant, or have which it has hitherto occupied; and been regarded by superstitious nathere is every reason to believe that tions,-as such certain and dreadful the various improvements going on in omens of impending wars, revolusteam engines will enable them soon tions, and calamities, as those apto shorten the time of the voyages pearances of spectral armies, marchconsiderably. Thus, while our so- ing and fighting in the air, or in the cial communications are advancing, clouds, and besieging cities, or the the prospects abroad are opening like, of which we find very many in all directions, giving glimpses of accounts in historians both ancient that blessed time," when the know- and modern; although this "frightledge of the Lord shall cover the ful prodigy," as an old writer calls earth as the waters cover the sea." it, is so rare, that a whole generation Our obligations are multiplying of men may live and die, without every day, while our sphere of use-ever witnessing an instance of it. fulness is enlarging immeasurably; So extraordinary indeed appeared and it behoves the young to expand these stories, even to men of science their minds, and open their hearts and extensive acquaintance with nato take in the magnificence of the tural phenomena, that until within the scene that lies before them. Other limits of the present century, they times have been full of interest seem to have been generally negand importance, but these are lected as antiquated fables, or treated ten-fold more so; and the next ten with that sort of scepticism which years will in all probability wit- some half-bred philosophers pride ness a more remarkable change in themselves upon, who discredit or the character and conduct of the disbelieve everything they cannot English people than a century has understand, and thus reduce the accomplished in past times. All boundless wonders of creation to the these things combine to urge the Christian to activity and zeal in his Master's cause, that while every thing else is moving onwards, he may not be found "standing all the day idle." Oh! that we may be found equal to to the duties of the crisis, that "the word of the Lord may everywhere have free course and be glorified."

limits of their own particular capacities; a sort of Procrustean philosophy, which must needs excite our amusement if it did not lead to serious consequences.

not

But this incredulity was confined to half-informed thinkers only. We find, for instance, Jeremy Bentham, a man of distinguished science and acuteness, in his treatise on Judicial evidence, (vol. iii. page 329.) hazarding an opinion, that the stories of this kind were mere fictions.

In the "Nuremberg Chronicle," "two facts are reported in breath; one, that of armies

says he, Of all the eccentric phenomena the same

fighting in the atmosphere, to which, The first instance which will occur at present, no well-informed mind to the reader's mind, is that famouf will afford, the other, that of stones one related by Josephus in his Jewfalling from the same region, to ish Wars, (b. 6, c. 5,) as occurring which none will refuse, its belief. during the siege of Jerusalem by Why this difference? The reason is Titus. After relating a number of obvious and convincing. The fact extraordinary signs, presaging, as disbelieved, is a fact unconformable he tells us, the destruction of that to the known course of nature; and fated city, he continues thus:to such a degree unconformable, "Besides these, a few days after that the better a man is acquainted that feast (of unleavened bread), on with the ordinary course of nature, the 21st day of the month Artemisius and the more close the attention (Jyar, i. e. April-May), a certain which in this view he pays to it, the prodigious and incredible phenomore strongly he will be persuaded, menon appeared; I suppose the that the reporter or reporters, (be account of it would seem a fable, they who they may,) were either were it not related by those who deceived or deceivers, rather than saw it, and were not the events that that such a fact should have been followed it of so considerable a natrue. The fact believed, is a fact ture as to deserve such signals; for conformable to the course of nature; before sunsetting, chariots and in former times not known to be so, troops of soldiers in their armour but of late years ascertained to be so were seen running about among the by a multitude of examples, many clouds, and surrounding of cities." of which have undergone the most This is not the only instance of attentive and scientific scrutiny." the kind, which is related to have Yet notwithstanding these re- astonished and affrighted the inhamarks of one of the greatest phi- bitants of Jerusalem. More than losophers England has ever given two centuries earlier, we find a simibirth to, it is certain that the exist-lar occurrence recorded in the 2nd ence of these two phenomena, viz., book of Maccabees, (c. 5, v. 2—4.) of stones falling from heaven, and which, though not canonical, is a of contending legions appearing in the book of considerable historical value. air, were previous to the present cen- "And then it happened," says the tury attested by exactly the same kind unknown author)" that through all of evidence; and that most of the the city (Jerusalem) for the space historians, ancient and modern, who almost of forty days, there were have related the former, have also seen horse-men running in the air, given instances of the latter pheno-in cloth of gold and armed with lanmenon; not so many in number it is true, but only differing so far as a shower of aerolites is more rare than a shower of hail, and the spectral armies of the sky still rarer than either.

That we have not gone beyond the truth in this assertion, we shall prove at some length, trusting that the interesting nature of the subject will plead our excuse.

ces, like a band of soldiers, and troops of horsemen in array, encountering and running one against another, with shaking of shields and multitude of pikes, and, drawing of swords and casting of darts, &c. &c.; wherefore every man prayed that that apparition might turn to good, &c." And from v. 5. we learn that the city was then in a state of siege, and was immediately afterwards ta

ken by Jason by assault. This was Obsequens, a Latin writer of the about the year 170-B. C. Al- 4th century-but as their accounts though this account bears obvious marks of traditional inaccuracy and exaggeration, such, for instance, as the forty days' endurance of the spectacle, yet we shall soon see that the substance of it may be perfectly true. It is impossible to forget, while we are upon Jewish history, the amazing vision exhibited to Elisha's servant, at the prayer of the prophet, when they were surrounded by the troops of the king of Syria in Dothan, near Samaria.

eyes

"And when the servant of the man of God was risen early and gone forth, behold an host encompassed the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas! my master, what shall we do? And he answered, fear not; for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed and said, Lord, I pray thee open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the of the young man, and he saw; and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." 2 Kings, c. 6, v. 15-17. Perhaps, before the conclusion of this article, we may see reason to conjecture, that God might condescend to employ the same natural means to produce this extraordinary vision, as gave rise to those apparitions which terrified the besieged inhabitants of Jerusalem.

If we turn to the Pagan historians of antiquity, we shall find them bearing witness on the same side.

are too brief to afford any new features in the case, we shall pass them over, with this general reference, in order that we may have space for the more particular relations of modern writers. Let us observe, once for all, that the greater number of the Greek and Roman historians bear testimony to the fact in question; as is well known to those who are familiar with their works. And Plutarch in his life of Julius Cæsar, although in recounting the signs which were said to have presaged the death of that great man, he casts discredit on several minor prodigies, yet delivers himself thus concerning that of which we treat :

"But some attention (says he) should be given to Strabo, the philosopher-for, according to him, there were seen in the air, men of fire encountering each other."

Let us now see if the modern writers agree in the same story.

The famous Machiavelli in his Discourses on Livy, (c. 56,) speaking of the time before the return of Charles the 8th of France, into Italy, says, "It was reported all over Tuscany, that armed men were seen fighting in the air over the town of Arezzo, and the clashing of their arms heard by the people there."

So D'Avila, in his history of the Civil Wars of France, (p. 116, 117,) relates a battle in the air to have been witnessed by the whole French army, before the battle of Ivry, which terrified them beyond measure.

In the Roman History of Livy, (a writer abounding in prodigies, nine-tenths of which are merely in- Gaffarel, a learned Frenchman, accurate accounts of eccentric na- in his Curiositéz Inouyés (published tural phenomena,) several instances in 1629, c. 12, s. 2,) relates that, of this kind of appearance are met" of late years, while the king conwith; and the same may be said of tinued his siege before Montauban, the "Prodigiorum liber" of Julius there appeared at Caen, at the be