"The Atlantic Cable is Broken,
Was the sad exclamation of many. But, what if it is?—It only prevents the instantaneous communications between two continents. Vastly important and desirable such communications may be, but not absolutely necessary, as there are other channels of intercourse; which, though more tardy, are equally186reliable, and cheaper. But great were the anticipations, and deep the interest felt in having a telegraphic cable through the bosom of the mighty Atlantic, by which thousands of miles could be passed, annihilating both time and space, while England and America could talk together as if London and New York were consolidated in one vast city. The grand enterprise was commenced—the proud vessels, loaded with the precious treasure to connect the two worlds, set out on their voyage, and many hearts beat high with hope and fear. All appeared progressing well, and a sort of confidence was inspired that success was certain. Almost breathless, England and America wait and watch for intelligence from the enterprise. At length the sad echo comes rolling to their shores—“The Atlantic Cable is broken!" What deep and unfeigned regret is felt and expressed by multitudes at the sad news. What disappointment and sorrow. But we have good news to tell them all—“The Cable uniting heaven and earth is not broken. It was a mighty work to stretch it through the almost shoreless ocean of sin and death. Sorrows and sufferings were to be endured; and treasures, which no man could estimate, were to be brought into requisition to accomplish the object. Had any thing less than infinite wisdom, infinite resources and power, been employed, this “Cable” would never have been laid. Finite minds were all too feeble to have explored the horrid ocean through which it must be extended, or to have comprehended the necessary strength of a Cable that could endure the terrible friction, and support itself amidst the awful weight of the dead waters of the poisonous sea through which it must pass to open communication between earth and heaven; and no finite resources could have endured the expenditure. Infinite wisdom found out a way, notwithstanding the mighty obstacles and difficulties that opposed. The purpose is announced from high heaven—the preliminary steps are taken, and preparations go steadily on for four thousand years, till the “fullness of time” came for the Cable to be laid. An anxious world looked for the event—at least, that portion of it which had heard of the design—the time arrives, and the Cable is exhibited in the sight of men. A few said, it is a “good” one; but most pronounced it a deception—utterly unworthy to be trusted—said, it could never be laid, and would surely break in the attempt; and finally, the multitude were so enraged by the meanness of its appearance that they set themselves to break it to pieces, and cried out, “away with” it. Thus determined, they took it outside their city, and laying on it all the dead waters of their ocean of sin and death, they shouted, “The Cable is broken.” The instigators of the deed rejoiced in the feat they had performed: a few only—who had hoped that this was it, which was to unite earth with heaven—“went and mourned” at the deed done: to them the Cable soon reappears, and in their sight—while they beheld—it was carried up into heaven, [Luke xxiv, 51, with Acts i, 9–11] and fastened “on the right hand of God.” Mark xvi, 19. The Cable was laid without a break—it was not broken—it has not been broken, though it has been in constant use these hundreds, yea, thousands of years. It cannot be broken by any created power, for such have already done their worst, and labored in vain. God devised the plan of it; and He saw to it, that it should be laid without a failure; and “it was done,” the awful ocean of sin and death is compelled to yield a passage for it through its bosom, and the lightning Spirit, or electric fire passes and repasses continually, bringing messages of love from heaven to earth, and affording a constant medium of communication to and from the poorest soul of Adam’s race. No “dollar a word” is charged here—no delay in transmissions, waiting for some one else to be served; all may send and receive messages at one and the same moment; and all this free of cost to poverty-stricken men. Wonderful arrangement truly! Worthy of its Author, and demanding the highest gratitude of men, as it was the joy of the angelic hosts, who sang, “Glory to God in the highest; and on earth, peace and good will to men,” when they saw the first “running off” of the Cable, as the work commenced at Bethlehem in Judea. Glorious hour: blessed work. How should it have waked up earth with its inhabitants? The work progressed until it was finished: and though such as hated the enterprise cried, “The Cable is broken,” God demonstrated, the third day after, that the cry was a false one, and that His work was not frustrated. Fifty days more and there came such a flash of the electric fire from heaven, that not only “three thousand” at Jerusalem felt its power, and received the glorious message of the remission of their sins, but the Parthians, Medes, Elamites, dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judea, Capadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, Lybia, strangers from Rome, Jews, Cretes and Arabians, saw and heard “the wonderful works of God,” by means of this first grand display of the magnetic power, as it came pouring through the heavenly Cable! From that day to this, the Telegraph has never been out of order, and never fails of making prompt and accurate indications of the will and wishes of the communicating parties. Those who use it, know its benefit, and cannot but prize it more than any of earth’s inventions. While it keeps up an intercourse with heaven—to all who avail themselves of it—its grand excellency is, that it will, ultimately, utterly destroy the ocean of sin and death, to all who “take stock” in “the line,” and make constant use of it. While those who strive to break this Cable, or wish it broken, or seek to make communication “in some other way” [John x, 1.] or will not come by this medium, will utterly and eternally perish in the miasmatic waters of sin and death, and be found no more at all; Rev. xviii, 21. Many poor deceived children of men have attempted to find some other medium from earth to heaven, or through the ocean of sin and death, but all have miserably failed; and such must fall henceforth and forever; “for, there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby” communication can be had with heaven, or the destroying ocean be crossed, except this one Cable, the name of which is, Jesus Christ; who was crucified, but “whom God raised from the dead, [Acts iv, 10–13.] and who liveth for ever-more, and will surely achieve a complete and eternal victory over sin and death, to all that “come unto God by him.” To an ancient Patriarch this Cable was exhibited in vision, as a ladder, the foot on earth and the top reaching to heaven, Gen. xxviii, 12. To an “Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile,” it was declared to be the Son of God—the Son of man; [John i, 47–51:] to the astonished disciples, it was manifested, on the day of Pentecost, to be their risen and ascended Lord; then exalted, after having emerged from the dark sea of death, “and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, which he shed forth” in glorious power on such as were waiting on earth, at the terminus of the connecting Cable, for heavenly messages. O, that men were wise to use this blessed medium; then of what small value would the most mighty of earth’s enterprises appear, compared with the boundless treasure of holiness, life, immortality, and incorruptibility, which is the sure and certain reward of all such as trade with heaven, through the medium that never breaks, and never disappoints. Let none be bewildered, or drawn away from this source, by the vain show of worldly grandeur, or any of those deceivers, of whatever name or class, who would make them believe, that there are other mediums by which they can escape the certain ruin of the sea of sin and death, or pass safely through or over it. Remember, there is one pass, and only one, by which any of Adam’s race can reach the shore on heaven’s side—Jesus Christ: without him, all sink in the dismal ocean, and disappear forever.—Bible Examiner.