"THOUGH THE EARTH BE REMOVED."
The traveler Humboldt gives an interesting account of the first earthquake he witnessed. He was at Cumana, in South America. The first shock came after a strange stillness. It caused an earthquake in his mind, for it overthrew in a moment all his life-long notions about the safety of the earth. He could no longer trust the soil which up to that day had felt so firm under his feet. He had only one thought—universal, boundless destruction. Even the crocodiles ran from the river Orinoco, howling into the woods; the dogs and pigs were powerless with fear. The whole city seemed "the hearth of destruction." The houses could not shelter, for they were falling in ruins. He turned to the trees, but they were overthrown. His next thought was to run to the mountains, but they were reeling like drunken men. He then looked toward the sea. Lo! it had fled; and the ships, which a few minutes before were in deep water, were rocking on the bare sand. He tells us that being at his wit's end he looked up and observed that heaven alone was calm and unshaken. Many strange things are yet to come upon the world—earthquakes, overturnings, upheavings. But amid them all, the Book tells us the Christian shall look up to the Heavenly One: "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and forever," and to his heavenly home which cannot be moved.—Selected.