Transcribed from the [1862?] John Stabb (Tract 272) edition byDavid Price,
THE GATHERING OF THE NATIONS.
There is something especiallyimposing in the sight of great multitudes; hence, apart from thebliss, the glory, and the joy which the happy hosts arerepresented as possessing in the Apocalyptic vision, there is apeculiar sublimity in the description given in Revelation vii. 9,10: “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, whichno man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people,and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothedwith white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loudvoice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon thethrone, and unto the Lamb.”
The solitary traveller excites no attention; the ordinaryconcourse of even crowded cities soon becomes familiar; but whenlarge masses of humanity are congregated together for any commonobject, it is impossible to be an unconcerned spectator of thescene. We may have little personal interest in the purposethat has led them to assemble; we may be perfect strangers to themighty host; but by some mysterious law we identify ourselveswith them, and that not only when they are actually present, buteven when they have but an imaginary existence on the graphicpage of descriptive narrative.
These emotions were powerfully excited on the occasion of theExhibition in 1851, when such vast numbers visited our metropolisto inspect the contents of the palace of glass. Theaccumulated treasures of art and skill excited the astonishmentof the observer; but it was the countless millions of ourfellow-men, who were continually moving in our midst, thatcommanded the wondering observation of the most unreflectingmind. And now we are called to witness a similar influxfrom all parts of our country and the world, to examine anotherdisplay of the varieties of international skill. p. 2Europe,forgetful for a time of the agitations of political strife, ispouring forth her thousands who are intent on the encouragementof those arts which tend to the promotion of peace. Asia issending her representatives to inspect those accumulations oftreasure before which the boasted magnificence of Orientalsplendour grows pale. America spares some from herfratricidal struggle to admire the far more harmless andhonourable competitions of industry. Even Africa and theinhabitants of the beauteous islands of the vast Pacific have aninterested share in the general gathering; while our coloniesafford, by their contributions, and the number of visitors,pleasing indications of the rapidity with which they arefollowing us in the race of civilization. From the sunnydales, the fertile fields, and the rural villages, as well asfrom the busy towns and cities of our own land, our countrymenare also flocking to share in the peaceful rivalry of theassembled nations. Who can look with indifference on thiscontinually increasing aggregate of active, living men? Imagination cannot but speculate concerning the various emotionswhich are throbbing in these countless bosoms; on the differentobjects each is pursuing; on the diversified impressionsindividuals will receive as they survey our busy streets, ourever flowing tide of population, our temples of religion, ourgovernment, our virtues, and our sins. Piety, too, willanxiously inquire, as she surveys the mighty throng, “Whoamong them feareth the Lord? Whither are all these immortalspirits te