To Firemen!
* Hark I One — two — three — four — five! Yes, it is our district I Here it goes — tkrow mj cap after rae — there is not a moment to be lost I’ So cries the stout and gallant young American, as lie dashes from his door at dead of night, while the street resounds with “Fire, fire, fire I” In less time than jou have taken to read these lines, thousands have poured out, joined their respective machines, and choked with living masses the avenues leading to yonder column of black smoke and towering flame. There is scarcely on earth a scene of greater excitement. The valiant and youthful soul is stirred as the war-horse with the sound of the trumpet. Amidst the thick of the encounter, the din, heat, smoke, shock, and shouting, there is all the excitement of a battle-field without its blood, and all the peril of an assault without its wrath and malice. The true-liearted fireman, lie who is urged on not by fame, or pride, or drink, but bj honor, duty, and humanity, is a soldier of peace. His perils, darings, and achievements sometimes equal those of Waterloo or Lucknow; but he seeks to save not to destroy life.
Hence it is, that we honor the fireman, and look to him as the brave protector of our hearths and our children. When we contemplate a procession of these stout-hearted men and youth, careering through our streets on some gala day, with gay appointments and brilliant equipage, we seem to behold the muscle and sinew of our commonwealth, the defenders of our homes, the sons, and brothers, and husbands who would fly at a moment’s warning to resist invasion or quell intestine violence; and we involuntarily exclaim, Grod forbid such hearts should be the prey of infidehty, drunkenness, or lust I
It is a noble sight to behold a well-built, stalwart, symmetric human form flushed with health and vigor. And it is melancholy to see such a figure rendered partially useless by the loss of an eye or an arm. But the beautiful balance and proportion of the bodily frame is not so much marred by the loss of an 213 eye or an arm, as the inward man, the spiritual and immortal part, is disfigured by moral evil. For what can be more hideous and revolting than to hear words of lying or profaneness from lips of manly grace; to see a powerful arm prostituted to unlawful violence; or to witness the downfall of a fine, graceful form into the kennel of intoxication! Hear, O young man, hear the voice of a friend I The counsel of the loving mother, sister, or wife, in such a case, is safest and wisest. Flee from the snares which would weaken and cripple your powers of manhood. ‘You would scorn a man who should deny that Honesty is the best policy; but do you not yourself reject the equally undeniable truth, that Holiness is the highest happiness f Listen to the voice within; the voice of reason, of conscience, and of the Word; the voice of God calling you to true blessedness.
“Why may not even a worldly man, as yet irreligious, be made to admit that there is a happiness in noble impulses? Why shall he not acknowledge that there is something more exquisitely pleasurable, than the dance, the play-house, the tavern, or the debauch? You know what we mean by noble impulses. See yonder, where the walls of that burning house are trembling towards their fall, while timber after timber plunges crackhng and flaming into the steaming furnace within. Look, where, in that lofty corner, unreached as yet by the consuming element, a figure in white madly stretches forth imploring hands, and seems to shriek, though all voice is swallowed up in the clamors of the terrible hour. There! after baffled attempts, the ladders are set and braced. A brave fellow, amidst showers and clouds of smoke, mounts, enters, seizes that fainting daughter, bears her on his shoulders, just in time to clear the sinking ruin that thunders with a crash, and among acclamations of sympathy and praise, gives the rescued maiden into a father’s arms. Such events are the glory of the fire department; and for one who actually achieves such a distinction, there are a hundred who would attempt it or desire it. Now, who hesitates for a moment to pronounce the delight and transport of this generous and heroic young man to be immeasurably greater than that of a hundred gains, and a hundred frohcs? This is what we mean by noble impulses. And it shows how much soul-pleasures, heart -pleassures, true manlj pleasures, surpass the joys of the body and of sense. But there are other, and even higher impulses of the noble
soul; AND THEY ARE TO BE FOUND IN EeLI-GION. Yes, that Christianity from which you have perhaps turned away as from a dull, sour, long-faced, wearisome thing, wakes up souls to these higher impulses and joys. If there are some who would rather seek money and amusement than go to church; so there are some who would rather sit at low revels, with beer and cards, than risk life and limb to save a fellow-creature. But your soul despises them; and you say: “Give me the nobler pleasure.” Ay, say further: “Grive me the noblest I Give me the love of a divine Saviour, and the love of my fellow-men for His sake!”
The other day a fireman, who fell at his post, was carried forth to burial. Sudden death is no unusual event in these ranks. But men who walk so near the flaming brink of danger should be prepared. Every stroke of the fire-bell, when it booms through the stillness of night, should syllable these words: Prepare to meet thy God I Cast from you the unreasonable and unscriptural belief, that all men go straight to glory when they die. It was not the priests, but the blessed Jesus, meek, and lowly, and loving, who spake of the “unquenchable fire.”^ Take up your neglected Bible, and see if this is not so. Do not rush on blindly, in voluntary ignorance, but place yourself in the light. On this topic, as on others, respect the judgment of those who have given it most attention. Seize the first opportunity of going to the house of God, and keep up the habit. Compare what is there taught with what you read in the Bible. Try to find out whether there is not something real in the attractions which have urged into a religious life some of the purest, loveliest, and bravest of the human race. Brother fireman, do not be duped by men who say that religion is for women and cowards; but read a little about CoL. Gardiner, and IIkdley Yickars, and Henry Havelock. Can any of your scoffing friends live more bravely or die more happily? Oh! if you would have their prize, follow their footsteps.
You have, it may be, enjoyed the instructions of a pious mother. The memory of a
1 Matt. 3: 12; Mnrk 9: 43; Luke 3: 17. 217
TO firem:en” I
mother comes with power over a brave man’s heart; it is a manly tear which he sheds over her grave. Do yoa believe she was sincere? Then follow the path which her gentle wisdom long ago pointed out. Let her Saviour be your ‘Saviour,’ and her God your God. Dread an everlasting separation from her, and from all the holy, and from Jesus Cuxist, at the Day of Judgment.
Reader I Despise not this gentle pressure of a friendly hand. Receive the affectionate advice of these pages. You are a guilty and perishing sinner; and you know it. But Jesus Christ offers you pardon and salvation. Repent and believe the Gospel. Accept the message of one who had been before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
THY FATHER SEES. From the Germa i of Ch. K. L. von PfeiU
Thy Father sees! Be on thy guard:
Thy Father hears! Be still:
Thy Father conies, oh! stand prepared To learn his holy will.
The Lord of Light thou canst not see, Though day and night most near;
Keep thou his Word perpetually,
And say, “My God is here!”
Whatever word thou wouldst not say,
Whatever work would it shun,
If God were by thee, clear as day — Leave thou unsaid, undone.
And if in danger or distress,
Thy youthful heart be brought,
Believe, with constant hopefulness.
That God forsakes thee not.
Know that whatever can displease,
And what thy joy has marred,
Each care and want and woe he see3
With fatherly regard.
To him in faith forever cleave.
As if thou saw’st him nigh;
In trust that he will never leave
The souls that to him fly.
Say to him, child,” My Master, see
Us children, in distress;
To thee, 0 Father, we our plea
In life and death address.”