240 MIRAMICHI DESTROYED BY FIRE. 



take place, with " the crush of matter and wreck 

 of worlds." St. Paul drew such a vivid repre- 

 sentation of that day, that Felix as a wicked 

 Prince, trembled upon his throne. His mind 

 bore testimony to the fact of a future judgment, 

 which is described by St. Peter, with the con- 

 flagration of the earth, in such majesty of style, 

 that we almost see the flames ascending into 

 the midst of Heaven, feel the elements melting 

 with fervent heat, and hear the groans of a 

 world expiring in universal ruin. 



What must have been the apprehensions of 

 those who witnessed the tremendous scene, 

 whilst standing in dread alarm, lest they should 

 fall victims to the fury of the devouring flames ! 

 Surely indifference must have been roused to 

 consideration, and infidelity turned pale with 

 astonishment and terror. Under such circum- 

 stances of dismay, how heart-cheering and 

 supporting must have been the belief and con- 

 templation of a refuge from this, and every 

 subsequent infliction of divine vengeance, a 

 refuge which that God " who rides in the whirl- 

 wind and directs the storm," has himself pro- 

 vided in the mediation and atonement of Jesus 

 Christ. How strongly is the contemplative 

 mind which dwells on the distressing tale car- 

 ried forward to a more tremendous event, to a 



