On earth, on heaven, there's darkness spread But darkness seen, for the steamer's flash, And hot on the walls is the fire shower pouring; Evangelical Lutheran Synod of the||The monarch shrinks on his throne in dread; State of New-York, will be held in the Evan. Luth. Church at Ghent, Columbia county, on Friday the 10th of September next. Poetry. From the Rochester Craftsman. THE FALL OF SODOM. Not in his wild soft robes of light, Smiling on vales and mountains, On fields of green and on clouds of white, Or rippling rills and fountainsBut high on his car of flaming gold, Over Mamre's plains the red sun roll'd. Mamre slept, like a yellow lake, The flame of the sun returning; No wave was there for the wind to wake All life was crushed by the burning: No shadow there but the sun dried palm; Deathlike and sear was the breathless calm. Laughter rung from Sodoma's walls O'er the plain as across the waters; And the tabret swelled in her princely hails To the steps of her gentle daughters Light hearts and joyous were mingling there, Not a sigh or breathing of shadowy care. But smiles were wreathing glad and still On the lips of the joyous dancers, In every heart was a stirring thrill From the flash of their burning glances; And time passed on with a hasty wing, Like a breath with a frown, from revelling. The proud king sat on his golden throne To the arch of the lofty dwelling In a full rich cadence swelling; To calm dark rage was its volumed breath, For his smile was life and his frown was death! Feasting and mirth and revelling, With laughter and shouts of gladness, The frenzy of wine and madness; But wake ye, awake your reckless souls, And from Heaven to earth is streaming, O'er the hell black cloud comes the piercing crash Of the maddened thunders roaring! Crushed like a mist are Sodoma's walls, In ruins and ashes her princely halls. Above and around her rolls the cloud, With the sounds of the hot wind railing;The serpent glare is her lighting shroud; And fearful the voice of wailing. Now tyrant turn thy blear red eye To the fearful forms that war on high. And tremble thou, for thine hour of doom Hath come in wrath-in its wild wrath burning! Thine hour has come, and thy Lava tomb But waits thy dust-to its home returning. Where now is the sound of laughter-where The revels that banished shadowy care? And where are the beautiful ones, whose voice Softer than music's gentle breathing, Bade man from his inmost soul rejoice As their magic spell o'er his heart was wreathing? Their path was on flowers--but the throne was there They sleep with the rest, the vain yet fair. Sodoma sleeps-but no earthly foe With the spear and bow and bright sword gleaming, No mortal arm laid her structures low Sodoma sleeps-and the deep dark wave, A HYMN. Thus was the Lamb of God And for his murderers pray'd. Thus the good Shepherd said, That we his sheep might live,"To all who follow me, Eternal life I give. "Thus I lay down my life, Because my sheep I love; And those who serve me here, Shall reign with me above." All communications, containing manuscripts for insertion, printed Journals, lists of subscribers, payments of subscriptions, or which are in any way connected with the work, must be addressed to the "Editor of the Lutheran Magazine, Schoharie (C. H.)" Donations and letters, relating to the pecuniary concerns of the Board of Directors, are to be addressed to the Rev. JOHN D. LAWYER, Treasurer of the Society, Troy, Rensselaer co. N. Y. Annual meetings of the Domestic Missionary and Education Society of the Lutheran Church in the State of New-York, at Schoharie (C. H.) on the first Wednesday in May. Stated meetings of the Board of Directors, at the same place, on the first Tuesdays in February, May, August and November. Lost numbers can be furnished to such subscribers, as wish to have the Magazine bound. A few of the preceding volumes, entire, remain on hand, and can be furnished to those who wish to obtain the work from the Commencement. The Numbers will be transmitted by mail, or otherwise, as subscribers may direct. In all cases, the names and residence of subscribers must be given. LUTHERAN MAGAZINE. VOL 4.] SEPTEMBER, 1830. Original. For the Lutheran Magazine. PRAYER MEETINGS. [NO. 5. But these things are no longer so. Instead of that strong opposition once manifested, there are, perhaps, but few churches which have not their The time was, when Christians supporters and advocates for prayer received almost a general opposition meetings. In many places they have in our church, for uniting together||been established, and our people are in social prayer. Many, who had actively engaged in promoting them, felt desirous to see this practice, so and they have been attended with frequently enjoined in the Scriptures, the greatest success. Indeed, an and once so customary in our church, evident change, on this subject, has again introduced and encouraged; lately taken place in the minds of feared to mention the subject to their the members of our church, and we brethren, on account of the decided][rejoice to hear, that many are returnstand which, by fear, the greater ing to the "old religion" of their part had taken against it. There forefathers, and seem to say to their was danger even in expressing a brethren of the faith, this is "the private opinion in favor of Prayer good way;" these are "the old Meetings, lest we should be consi-paths." And we do sincerely hope dered as inclining to enthusiasm, or and believe that the work is fast inbeing suspected of a greater attach-creasing, and that the time is not far ment to some other church than our distant, when there will be a general own. What greater proof could we effort, and one heart and one voice have than this, of the low state of exist on the subject. religion among us at that time?— Notwithstanding a great change When men not only neglect prayer, has been effected in the minds of but oppose it as a work of confusion, many, and that it is no longer consipride and ostentation, and yet pro-dered a shame and disgrace for a fess the religion of Christ; there Lutheran to pray; yet there are difcan be no hesitation to grant to them ||ficulties which exist in some places, all which they claim of the chris-and with some people, which in a tian's character, a profession, and not great measure, prevent prayer meetany thing more. It is worldly-mind-ings from being more extensively and ed professors, who indeed may have generally encouraged, although they the "form of godliness," but know feel otherwise favorably disposed toAnd it is to this state nothing of the power thereof in their wards them. hearts, on whom prayer must be of affairs, which we wish particularurged as a duty. ly at this time to advert. Many of our members think it their duty to||ged to conform to their mode and pray, they know that it has been too practice of worship farther than we much neglected, and would now glad- see fit, and believe it agrees with ly unite with others, in social pray- Scripture. We hope, therefore, this er; but they object to the manner in will no longer be an obstacle, and which some of these meetings are that soon, prayer meetings may be conducted. It has frequently been held in every church, and those althe case, that persons of other deno- ready in operation, continued, so that minations, residing within the bounds" all things be done to edifying," of some of our congregations, have and that all will unite without rebeen in the habit of holding prayer |garding the practice of others. meetings; and there are instances, Prayer meetings have often been where sincere members of our church || attended with a blessing, and we have united with them, and as it is most heartily approve of them; but natural, or at least to be expected, have glided rather too far into their habits and practices. They entertain fears that our meetings, if established, would partake too much of a noisy and disorderly character, and therefore, many pious men of our church, withhold their influence and encouragement, for no other reason than this. They are opposed, and justly so, to all meetings which tend not to spiritual edification-where all is confusion and noise-where two or more speak or pray at the same time. They believe, according to the injunctions of the apostle, "let all things be done decently and in order," "that all may learn, and all may be comforted"-" for God is not the author of confusion, but of peace." This is all right, and agreeably to the practice of our church; yet the abuses of others should not prevent any from encouraging and We are expressly commanded to promoting these useful meetings ac- pray for one another, and to "exhort cording to the mode adopted by us, each other daily." And how can and confirmed by Scripture. We we discharge this duty better, than would say to such, let every one in our social meetings; for when manage their affairs in their own we pray among a select society of way. We have nothing to do with christians, we draw near to God other denominations, nor are we obli-ll with a holy boldness, something like disorderly meetings of any kind, we never have nor can approve, and they have been condemned by christians of different persuasions. Dr. Adam Clarke, in his commentary, on the words, "God is not the author of confusion," &c. speaking of such meetings, expresses himself as follows: "Let not the persons who act in the congregation in this disorderly manner, say that they are under the influence of God; for He is not the author of confusion: but two, three, or more praying or teaching in the same place, at the same time, is confusion; and God is not the author of such work: and let men beware how they attribute such disorder to the God of order and peace. The apostle calls such conduct, tumults, seditions; and such they are in the sight of God, and in the sight of all good men. |