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TRACTS
AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY.
General SeruB.
VOL. VIII.
PRINTED BY THE
NASSAXJ-STREET,
NEW YORK.
CONTENTS.
VOL. VIII.
No.
255.
Pages.
Romanism
Hartwell
By Rev. Thomas
Home, M.
40
A.,
By Rev.
Andrew
259.
Fuller,
By
The Tap-root,
262.
To
those
....
....
.......
261.
Commencing
J.
Fletcher,
Baxter,
a Religious Life,
By Rev. Thos. H.
268.
To
am
....
....
an Infidel,"
269. Shall I
270.
come
to the Lord's
Traveller at the
End
Supper?
Williston,
The Advantages
273.
The Lost
274.
276. Bible
277.
278.
of Sabbath-Schools,
28
....
16
Soul,
Argument
for
8
"
The Young
Temperance.
Christian,"
By Rev. Austin
279. "
By Rev. Seth
272.
275.
By Rev. Richard
of her Journey.
Knill,
271. Prayer.
Skinner, D. D., 16
16
267. "
What have
Done
By Rev.
Wm.
Dickinson, 12
Saurin,
.
Nevins, D. D.,
12
CONTENTS.
Pages.
No.
281.
The Almost
Christian.
By Rev. H. A. Boardman,
....
D. D.,
16
By Rev. Eliakim
Phelps, D. D.,
265.
What
is
ByWm.C.
32
Brownlee, D. D.,
287.
The
General's
Widow.
By W.
C. Brownlee, D. D.,
To
290.
Lady
.32
By
.12
8
in Fashionable Life,
16
Ready]
By Rev. J. Dickinson,
Marks of True Repentance. By Rev. J. Dickinson,
Mistakes of Parents. By Rev. John A. Vaughn, D. D.,
Marks of Saving
16
Faith.
12
16
16
IVo.
253.
'ROMAIISM
CONTRADICTORY TO THE BIBLE
BY REV. THOIUS HARTWELL HORNB,
AUTHOR OF THE INTRODUCTION TO THE
I.
The holy
1.
The
M.A,
BIBLE, ETC.
is
doctrine,
reproof,
for
man
profitable
for
for
and
salvation;"
correction,
of
is
for
God may be
good works."
2 Tim.
3: 15-17.
Now,
is
if
the
"man
to instruct others,
of
and
is
office
from
is
Peter, 1: 19-21
John 20:
Isaiah
must
needful to
in
order
8:20;
31.
made
VOL.
VIII.
1*"
word which
of
God
is
command you."
Add
pure.
Dent. 4
2.
BIBLE.
"Every word
lest
Prov. 30
he
5, 6.
*'
I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the
prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these, God
shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this
book." Rev. 22 18.
:
Agreeably
ever
is
to be required of
any
man
may
that
whatso-
be proved thereby,
it
is
not
should be believed as an
and partly
in
unwritten traditions
is
accursed."
de Can. Script.*
2. Canon of Scripture.
" In the
name
Decret.
of Scripture
we
The
by the Jews,
to
the
Roman
Catholic.
BIBLE.
oracles of
any one doth not receive all these books," i. e. the apocryphal books, which are intermixed with the genuine and canonical books, " with every part of them, as they use to be
read in the [Roman] Catholic church, and as they are contained in the ancient vulgar Latin edition, for holy and canonical,
and
shall
him be anathema."
tions, let
de Can.
4,
Script.
worthy of observation,
It is
why
stated reasons
the above-
that, besides
were
with the canonical Scriptures, but also by the virtual acknowledgments made by some of the authors of the apocryphal books, that they were not inspired. Thus, in the
prologue to the book of Ecclesiasticus, the son of Sirach
entreats the reader to pardon any errors he may have committed in translating the works of his grandfather Jesus
into Greek.
In
Mace. 4
4G, and 9
27,
it
is
confessed
of
Mac-
33,
is
the story,
and meanly,
it is
it is
" If
have done
well,
but,
if
and as
is
slenderly
Fahulous statements in the Apoa-yphal books. 1. Rest of chap10 6. "A little fountain became a river, and there
was light, and the sun, and much water. This river is Esther,
whom the king married and made queen." 14 2.
2. The story of Bel and the Dragon is, confessedly, a mere
ters of Esther,
BIBLE.
Contradictory statements.
Wisdom
1.
The
subjection to their enemies, which was not the case during Solo-
We
mon's reign.
Baruch
2.
is
subdued his
did not take place untU
Solomon.
said, 1
2, to
when Jeremiah
tells us,
The
3.
story in
Esdras, 3
4, besides
is
The
For
good,
was a
came
Avitty cliild,
into a
spirit
BIBLE.
3. Justification
which teach that we are justified or accounted righteous only by faith, is taught in various parts of the apocryphal
books. " The just, which have many good works laid up with
2 Esdras,
thee, shall out of their own deeds receive reward."
3 33. " Prayer is good with fasting, and alms and righteousAlms doth deliver from death, and shall purge
ness
away all sins. Those that exercise alms and righteousness shall
be filled with life." Tobit 12 8, 9. " Whoso honoreth his father,
maketh atonement for his sins." Ecclus. 3:3. " Alms maketh
an atonement for sins." 3 30. " To forsake unrighteousness is
a propitiation." 35 3.
" Riches are good unto him that hath
4. Sinless perfection.
no sin." Ecclus. 13 24. But what say the Scriptures ? " There
is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not."
" All have sinned, and come short of the glory
Eccles. 7 20.
of God." Rom. 3 23. " If we say that we have no sin, we de1 John, 1 8.
ceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
Immoral practices commended in the apocryphal books, which
Scriptures,
Lying.
The
may
also be
adduced
here.
2.
Exod. 20
13,
which
is
expressly forbidden in
41-
in the
we may
This assertion
is
contradicted by
evei-y
Roman
historian, with-
BIBLE.
out exception.
until
hours.
It is
3.
Scriptures, both
to
command
the
you," says
of Jesus Christ.
St. Paul,
"that
The
it
to be
John 5
this epistle
"I charge
39.
be read to
all the
Thess. 5: 27.
them
call
first
The
Cor. 1
2 Cor.
1:1;
Gal.
See Rom.
1:2; Eph.
1.
to the
"twelve
1:1;
the
duty of
all Christians to
live
asmuch
as
it is
it is
thus enacted
if
" In-
the Holy
evil
it"
men
with
will cause
as
much
more
reason
"
it is
on
by the advice
who may,
and
this
'pre8umi:)tion to
he have
Booksellers
first
who
lie
But
read or possess
it
if
it
any
with-
the vulgar tongue to any person not having such permission, shall forfeit the
But
May
also,
is
the Encyclical
"We
and bishops.
away your
flock
all
means,
pastures'''
the
servants of
DeviV
God" had
just before
of season, in all
BIBLE.
if
the sacred
more
evil
rashness of men."
It
is
reading
The new
it.
in Scripture
God, and
faith,
by
at
up unwritten
it.
II.
1.
''Prove
is
so inveterate
of
is
word
all
good.".
Thess. 5
spirit,"or teacher,
God
because
world."
invite
"but
many
false
John, 4:1.
upon
21.
if
we must
all
things
trust,
answer
that
is
to
every
in
you."
man
1
that asketh
Pet.
3:15.
let
pel, and that they ought to do it, and not blindly rely upon
any one no, not an apostle, or an angel from heaven.
many
sense of Scripture
judgment and
Edit, et
Usu
Creed, Art.
BIBLE.
it
so that
all
decisions.
4,
Decret. de
9,
interpret
it
The papal
Romanists,
or antiquity.
in the
diffusive
body
it is
this
pretended
infallibility exists
of
Christians.
Both
pojjes
and general
and
To mention
therefore neither of
only a few
them can be
instances.
infallible.
Gregory, surnamed
the
Great,
call
Pope
Six-
10
Notwitlistanding
long
after,
tion,
pontifTs
BIBLE.
estant divines.
in
whicb he made
fatal variances
claiming
own,
between
infallibility,
cordia Discors Sixti V.," Londonini, 1600, 4to, has pointed out
between the editions of the two infallible pontiffs, SixClement VIII. Specimens of these contradictions may
be seen in the author's Introduction to the Critical Study and
Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, vol. 2.
differences
tus V. and
This pretended
the Holy Ghost
infallibility is
but
how
crown
who have
-vrorn
the
under
death.
"He
lived,"
we
imme-
Liberius,
order to regain his see, subscribed an Arian formulary of faith, which Hilary, Bishop of Aries, designates " a
doxy,
in
blasphemous creeds"
" In looking upon Liberius as a frail and erring mortal, sorely
tempted and beset, banished from home, friends, and country, we
pause before we pass a severe sentence upon him, remembering
that, Avere we equally tempted, our faith might have failed like his.
But when we view him as an infallible pontiff, we are obliged
to look upon his conduct in anotlier light and, while we commiserate the frailty of tlie man, to adduce it as a proof of the unfounded nature of those claims, which rest on the supposition of
an unerring succession of infallible guides.
The historians
arid those strenuous advocates of papal infallibility, Baronius and
Bellarmine, appear verj' desirous of soflening down, as much as
;
ROMANlSftI COiNTRADICTORY
TO THE
BIBLE.
admitted to the
that, if
St. Hilary, bishop of PoicOp. pp. 1158, 1134-1137, speaks of this papal lapse, of v/hich
he was an eye-witness, very plainly and openly not being very
anxious, it seems, to screen the infaUihle chair.^ His language is
'
tiers.
very strong.
panions
unto thee,
anathematize thee,
'I
again
anathematize thee
O Liberius,
;
and
And, among
fall
Keary's
View
Arian.
Vigilius,
who
bishops.
was placed
Roman
consul
this
by
Otho,
who
Resuming
12
his dignity
by means of an armed
force,
and, in
John assembled a
papal
the fulness of
all
that
fell
layman; and
a sacrifice to the
age
Romans
and
after a
temporary resumption
and
title to infallibility
ory VI.
This
deposed
Alexander VI. disgraced his dignity by his ambition, avaand, by a righteous reacrice, cruelties, and debaucheries
;
by mistake taken
some cardinals whom
Not to dwell on other
preeminency
in his
all
kingdom.
"
Ye know,"
he
said,
''
that
BIBLE.
I3
and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But
it shall NOT he so among you : but whosoever will be great
among you, let him be your minister and whosoever will
be chief among you, let him be your servant even as the
;
Son
of
man came
mis-
"I
of dominion.
who
is
church
affirm, or
first
at
by the
joint labors of
all
Rome
ment was
VOL. VIII
there.
Catholic, that
2*
is,
universal, the
Romish
14
IS
BIBLE.
her authority
Romish church
the
to this
is
map
And
by no means
Over the
universal.
Rome
can have
freedom
is
justly maintained.
The
fiction of
papal suprem-
acy
is
chism, where
all
IV.
1.
that
Objects of ivorship).
God
alone
is
Matt. 4 10.
"It is written," saith Jesus Christ,
and therefore it must refer to Deut. 6 13, "Thou shalt
fear the Lord thy God, and serve him ;" and again, Deut.
10: 20, "Him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou
cleave ;" that is. Him only shalt thou serve, and to him
only shalt thou cleave in the way of divine worship for so
serve."
our
it.
Matt. 4
10
"Thou
is
our
ONLY Mediator and Advocate with God, and the only foundation of our salvation.
diator between
" There
is
the
man
Christ Jesus,
Mewho
man
all."
we have an Advocate
sin,
the righteous
and he
is
Tim. 2
ivith the
BIBLE.
15
"If any
5, 6.
sins,
and
not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
1
John, 2:1,2.
for there
''
any other
is
among
foundation can no
also
saints,
who
to ;
and that
landists,
fill
the
Romish
which they
Dulia, and
cross.
But
there is no foundation for this distinction for, not to urge what
we shall soon proceed to show, that all worship of images and of
every thing else, God alone excepted, is most expressly forbidden
;
"
The nature of
religious worship
1.
distinctions.
manner.
It is plain,
The
Fall
'
'
is to
16
BIBLE-
Nothing is
be offered to saints
or angels. An angel refused any kind of worship from St John.
* I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed
me these things then saith he unto me, See thou do it not, for I
Worship God.' Rev. 19 10, and
am thy fellow-servant
there said of an inferior degree of worship
fit
to
The
This is confessed by one of their own writers.
manner in which the church invokes the saints cannot be accounted
'
tinction.
idolatry,
persuading themselves
that,
or, finally, in
independently of a good
life,
the
salvation.' "
into
remarks,
is
It
must,
BIBLE.
17
The
doctors of the
Romish church
Latna, or supreme
ivorship,
and Dulia^ or
inferior worship.
" Many Avriters in that church deny that there is any difference
between the two words, and admit that it is one and the same
If some say that
virtue of religion which containeth them both.
it is idolatry and mortal sin to give Latria to a saint or image,
vv^hich ought only to receive Didia, and if others tell you that these
words signify the same thing, let a man do what he will, he incurs
'
the guilt of idolatry, in the opinion either of the one or the other
of these
parties.'
by making a
distinction
between two
of, which
which the common people cannot
understand, and concerning which their own doctors have disputed, the Protestants have a good excuse for not worshipping
saints or images."
Among
praise
is,
church
and ever
will
never
no foundation whatever in authentic history, civil or ecclesiastical and these accounts are so romantic, that one would
imagine that no sensible Romanist could ever believe there
were such persons. Witness the gigantic Saint Christopher, who is fabled to have carried Christ across an arm of
Saint Amphibolius, who was only the cloak of
the sea
Saint LonAlban, the reputed protomartyr of England
;
ginus, the
Roman
soldier
who
18
cross
Saint George
to be found in history.
BIBLE.
whom
who
no traces are
are exalted to
promoted
own
accounts,
6, p.
2,
322.
rious SINNERS,
them
as
must
who have
left
virtuous mind.
and
known by the
was one unceasing
name
of Hildebrand,
whose whole
life
London
edit.,
fifty
it
BIBLE.
19
damned
He was theretwo or three years after his death. However desirous the pope was to show his gratitude to the memory of so
faithful a servant, the world must first be convinced that the cause
he died in was approved by God; otherwise his canonization
might have been objected against. Nothing was more proper to
infuse this belief into the minds of the people than miracles accordingly, such multitudes were forthwith wrought at the tomb of
the new martyr, tliat, in any other age, the number of these miracles, instead of satisfying the world, would have had a quite contrary effect.
Neither Christ nor his apostles worked the like, or
so many, to prove the truth of Christianity, as this nev/ saint did
to authorize the privileges and immunities of the clergy.
It was
not thought sufficient to assert his restoring dead men to life, but
it was farther affirmed he raised the very beasts.
It was given
out for certain, that being exposed to vieAv in the church before
he was buried, he rose out of his coffin, and went and lighted the
wax-candles which had been put out. It is said, also, after the
funeral ceremony was over, he held up his hand to bless tlie people.
To all these miracles, many others are added, equally unbecoming
the majesty of God.
Meanwhile they were spread with that confidence, that not a man was found hardy enough to show the least
sign of doubt. The pope's legates, sent some time after to exama place in the catalogue of the saints
fore canonized
of the truth of
all
new
saint
was
St.
first
20
miracles became so
common
came
Canterbury
to
at his
far, that
BIBLE.
who
of Christendom,
all parts
new
saint.
of
renowned tomb."
1, pp.
edition.
Queen
Elizabeth,
subjects
to
money to
''
The
rebellion,
Mary
it
was
first
is
introduced
of Bithynia, afterwards
was
first
fifty
first
bishop
of Antioch,
years after."
about A. D. 470,
and
it
and
it
was not
until the
pontiffs
objects of worship,
enly blessings,
" The invocation of saints
is
God
contrary to reason
alone
is
is
is,
for
the object of
for
the
invisible being."
how
all
know
their envy,
is
Thou
serve them."
:
29;
in
21
heaven above,
water under
the earth.
IV
is
BIBLE.
shalt not
Exod. 20
John, 5
bow down
4, 5
Deut. 4
Acts
16;
15,
21.
represent
in kissing images,
uncovering
prayers to them.
cross are
all
and
is
but
sacrifices to God
now no such symbolical
:
the Gospel
presence of
for the
Christ to the
is
woman
of Samaria, "
when ye
shall neither in
is,
when
Father
and
in truth
John 4
shall
On
in
spirit
for the
21, 23.
am
I in
22
Matt. 18
*'
20.
BIBLE.
8,
visit
De
it is
Cult. Sacr.
Among
lib. 3, c. 8.
to
pope?"
2. The Scriptures teach us that
is
people.
" He that speaketh in an
God
intelligible to the
for no
man
understandeth him.
come unto you," says St. Paul, " speaking with tongues,
what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either
by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit
doctrine ?
If I
prayeth, but
my
understanding
spirit,
Else,
unfruitful.
is
how
Amen
shall
In
my
by
my
when
he that occupieth
under-
unknown tongue."
Cor. 14
2,
But
in the
is
celebrated, and
many
language which
is
and with
orio-in, for
wliich
is
no foundation whatever
of Trent, acting as
cil
BIBLE.
in Scripture
*2d
it
8.
The ScrijHure teaches that, by his one oblation of himupon the cross, Jesus Christ has made a full, perfect,
and sufficient atonement and that, since he hath expiated
our sins by his blood, there is no need of any other sacrifice.
*'
If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the 2^ropitlation for om'
sins ; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the
whole world." 1 John, 3 1, 2. " Christ hath redeertied
self
come a High-Priest
of
Gal. 3
good things
to
13.
come
.he
entered
dead,"
Creed of Pius IV., Art. 17. " If any one say, that in the
mass there is not a true and proper sacrifice offered unto
God
or,
that to be offered
be given to us to
eat, let
is
him be anathema."
mass, as
above
it is
cited,
but
is
Cone. Trid.
two passages
arguments
24
BIBLE.
1.
wickedness,"
8:46;
John, 5
19
SIN.
no
is
man
that
that "the
"All we,
18, 23.
filthy
there
none
is
like sheep,
Isaiah
6.
their intention to
The
we
5.
Lord
our
Jesus. Christ,
own
through
faith,
works.
God
is
unto
all,
the law of
tified
by
"By
conclude, that a
man
is
it is
the gift of
Eph. 2
God
8, 9.
jus-
Rom. 3:22-
we
faith
Therefore
faith.
and
not of works,
Consequently,
"When,"
"ye
shall
we
have
done
all
worthy of eternal
against
all
who
life,
BIBLE.
25
by denouncing an anathema
OF THE SACRAMENTS.
Vn.
dumber
all
the sacraments.
of
only two sacraments
1.
See Luke 26
Lord's Supper.
19, 20,
19
and the
and the
parallel
passages.
all instituted
by
Sess.
1,
can.
is
more or fewer
Peter Lombard, a
1.
who
reckons
per these
five,
Pope Eugenius
lY.,
five,
as sacraments
and
in the following
ought to be considered
century the Council of
five
were or could
though
us,
Of communion
that Jesus
kinds, that
is,
in both kinds.
should be celebrated.
VOL. VIII.
it
it,
26
and gave
And
and
to the disciples,
it
according
represents,
said,
'
BIBLE.
Take, eat
this
'my
;
saying,
of the
Drink ye
new
all of
it
testament.' "
for this
is,'
Matt. 26
represents,
'
it
is'
body.'
them,
my blood
26-28.
But the church of Rome has changed what Christ appointed, and has deprived the laity of the cup; and has
anathematized any who say, " that from the command of
in
1.
The testimonies
and
of the fathers
hundred
Articles.
Art. 30.
is
Cor. 10
it
:
not the
communion
of the
body
of Christ ?"
16.
most holy
is
a conversion of
the whole substance of the bread into his body, and of the
tionr
Roman
which convertransubstantia-
BIBLE.
the
first
was
writer
the
first
who
bertus, in
ed
27
maintained the doctrine was Paschasius Radthe ninth century, before it was firmly establish-
and the
public assertion of
first
Lateran Council,
was
it
in the
it
at the third
had been
for
on which the
viz.,
it,
Cor. 11
and
is
also contrary to
in
two
is
many
transubstantiation contams
it
built,
is
contradict
27, but
we
it
So that
is
incredible to all
reason,
Vm. OF MARRIAGE.
" Marriage," the Scripture declares, "
own husband."
spoken universally
Cor.
wife,
2.
is
honorable
in all,
4.
and every
woman
Holy
28
who
who
"Siricius,
can. 9.
Sess. 24,
BIBLE.
was but
little
but
pope
first
it is
probable
ed
till
enth century
writers."
520.
2, p.
The
sinrii of
The Romish
and the
evils
resulting from this prohibition have been often and ably set
forth.
IX.
1.
men
The Scripture
'is
appointed unto
9:27:
and
Sam. 25
in 1
that
day in
'paradise, Yivk^
23
43
*'
and
it
is
the uni-
after this
'Hhere
is
life,
sufficiently
purged here
good men
by the masses,
30
prayers, alms,
The
6,
and
Can.
practice of praying
fully received,
cy of Gregory,
2.
in the
papa-
declare, that
it is
the preroga-
and almighty
God
BIBLE.
29
done
all
unprofitable servants."
sins,
punishment due to
sin
by the decree
of
God. when
its
guilt
punishment are remitted, and which may consist either of evil in this life, or of temporal suffering in the
It is
next which temporal suffermg is called purgatory.
and
eternal
made an
power of indulgences
tvas left
hy Christ
to his
church
and
Art. 22.
of indulgences
is
built
upon the
the saints
that
is,
their
may
That
this doctrine
has no
by Jesus
Christ,
is
1, ch.
1.
sect.
3.
It is a fact,
have been
left
by Christ
it
to his church.
It is
also well
by Leo X. led
to the glorious Reformation, of which, under God, Luther
was a distinguished instrument. Not to repeat earlier testimonies, it will be seen by the following extract from the
bull of Leo XII., for the Jubilee of 1825, dated Rome,
known, that the
May
still
30
of
Almighty God,
this
granting remission of
in
we
year of Jubilee,
BIBLE.
sins.
''During
mercifully in the
both sexes, who are truly penitent and have confessed, and
who have
provided,
if
Romans
have devoutly
communion
the blessed Peter and Paul, of St. John Lateran, and of St.
Mary Maggiore,"
thirty days,
strangers, they
provided
also, that
catholic princes,
tranquillity of Chris-
tendom."
It is curious to see
how the
dressed to
by the R.
all
the faithful
in
the
London
district,
published
is
the visiting of
for
to
the
for the general welfare of all Christian people, both for time
and eternity."
Did
Query.
accommodate himself
it
language above
to the genius of
translated, lest
his holiness,
"the sovereign
order to
Englishmen?
Or
BIBLE.
31
sold,
thereof apphed in aid of rebellion against the lawful sovereign of Great Britain and Ireland, the follomng anecdote
From
his holiness,
sum
of
money
to be speed-
This bull
first
May
to September, hav-
ing repeated the Lord's prayer five times, and once the
apostle's creed,
time,
was
to
tected
The
may be
by the vigilance
32
sold to
BIBLE.
tlie
told
him
to see
some
in Spanish,
all filled
all
sealed with
These
were indulgences or pardons for various sins mentioned in the
Catholic rubric, and the price, which varied from half a dollar to
seven dollars, was marked upon each. They had been bought in
Spain, and ivere intended for sale in South America. At Tortola,
some Dutch merchants bought the whole for *200, with the hope
of being able to smuggle tliem among the Spaniards in America."
Hamilton's Tracts,
X.
Rome.
p. 68.
OF AURICULAR CONFESSION.
church,
is
confession,
which
all
contrary to Scripture.
It is
It
tles.
is
temporal punishments
in the
man
Though,
in
some
by confessing great
crimes,
and the
he
is
not
commanded
whom
he has offended,
subservient to plotting,
an indispen-
How
contrary
made
sin.
may be relieved
penitent is commanded
;:
BIBLE.
33
11.
1., sec.
XI.
The concluding
"
I also,
condemn, and
curse."
Among
length by
III., cited at
The
worthy of
notice.
those
against
who were
its
variously denominated
decree
Cathari,
their defenders,
prohibits
all
or receiving
them upon
p.
1522.
utilitij
The
''
sixteenth
oaths ivhich
the holy fathers, are not to he called oaths, hut rather f:erj\j-
RIES."
VOL.
VIII.
34
BIBLE.
good
faith,
to
shall neglect to
and,
it
he
if
land
from
may
forthwith denounce
their allegiance,
and expose
his
to be
heretics,
may possess it
it
same law
theless, the
is,
1,
the pope,
members
is
;
empowered
and
to pass
its
emanate
and
ratified
abrogated, and
creed was
by the above-cited
made an
article of
manner
in
The pages
of
tolic
Roman
church."
briefly as possible
To
35
God
sassination
was
XIV., and
in the following
effected
by Providence
In 1591, Gregory
pope Clement VII., issued bulls of deposition against Henlife was first attempted by
John Chastel, a Jesuit, then by a monk, and finally he was
stabbed by Ravaillac.
In 1569 Saint Pius V. deposed
Queen Elizabeth, whose Romanist subjects he stimulated to
rebel against her, and furnished some of them with money
to aid their nefarious attempts and bulls of deposition were
fulminated against that illustrious queen, by Gregory XIII.
in 1580, Sixtus V. in 1587, and Clement VIII. in 1600.
Sixtus v., in his bull, styled her an usurper, a heretic, and
an excommunicate gave her throne to Philip II. of Spain,
and commanded the Enghsh to join the Spaniards in dethroning her.
Clement VIII,, in 1600, issued a bull to
prevent James I. ascending the throne of England, declaring that " when it should happen that that miserable woman," Queen Elizabeth, " should die, they," her subjects,
" should admit none to the crown, though ever so nearly
allied to it by blood, except they would not only tolerate
the " Roman " Catholic religion, but promote it to the utry IV. king of France, whose
36
most of
tlieir
power
BIBLE.
In 1643,
ary indulgence.
we have above
II.
money
In 1768,
priving
of
all
all,
who had
to
their privileges,
made
see.
of France
and
to the holy
in the following
and
by entering
when
it
suited his
sees,
marvellous
infallibility,
Rome
to present
receive him.
With
after,
all
who adhered
to
him
BIBLE.
37
in his invasion
which bull he makes the same extravagant pretensions to supreme power which had been
put forth by Saint Gregory VII., Innocent III., and other
in
pontiffs.
The
itself.
German
secularization of certain
in
1805, in which Pius VII. says, that the church had not
only taken care to prohibit heretics from confiscating ecclesiastical possessions,
and
the
This penalty, as
of all proper tij possessed by heretics.
far as concerns the property of private individuals, is deloss
creed, he says,
X. de Haereticis
fiefs, it is
by a
;
XVI. de
are released
allegiance
from
and
all
homage.
"
To be
fallen into
from
all
nor even expedient for her to recall her holy maxims of just
rigor against the enemies of the faith ; but, although she
cannot exercise her right of deposing heretics from their
and declaring them deprived of their property,
lyrincipalities,
moment
What an
VOL.
VIII.
4*
become
to
heretics
38
BIBLE.
and infidels, who, in mocking her grief, ^\'^uld say that they
had found out a way of making her tolerant.'' Essai Historique sur la Puissance Temporale des Papes, torn. 2,
p. 320.
from
is
pretended right
his
be added, that
in the
to
sufficiently intelhgible
may
it
heretics
fallen off
from
to
the
who may
P. 90,
ema.''
taught
in
yet
it
is
not to be
London
edit.
j^oiuer
1687.
And
in the class-book,
is
sup-
amount
Act
7,
Geo. lY.,
c.
79, 11,
"The church
retains
its
j^ower over
all
her-
de Membris,
p.
Evidence, Part
XII.
The
dantly
1, p.
125.
established
by the Council
testifies
how
was
and history abun-
of Constance
Not
to insist
BIBLE.
39
Great Britain, from its establishment to the memorable gunpowder conspiracy, and the Irish conspiracy in 1*729 witness the martyrdom of John Huss, wlio, though he had a
;
safe
emi-)eror
from
it,
after a
human and
divine.
Witness
at
which pious
tidings,
artillery to be
made, ordered the cardinals to return solemn thanks to
Almighty God, and caused a medal to be struck in honor
from embruing
their
hands
in the
To these
instances
may be added
solemn
treaties, in
the soldiers
more,
in
1712,
certain places
princes,
when by
were to be surrendered
Pope Clement
exile.
Once
some Protestant
Emperor
sect,"
degree prejudicial
to,
the
Romish
faith or
wor-
40
to
BIBLE.
and
and that no person is bound to the observance of them, although the same
have been repeated, ratified, or secured hy oathy Digest
of Evidence on the State of Ireland, Part 2, p. 243.
ually to remain hereafter null, unjust, reprobated, void,
evacuated of
Such
all
are the
force
dogmas
of the church of
many
centuries.
riety of
up those securities
upon which their civil and rehgious liberties depend. Have
we any concern for jDure and undefiled religion, for the liberties of our country, and for the welfare of our children
and posterity ? Let us then stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free and " let the word of Christ,''
before Protestants can consent to give
16.
"For
wisdom."
lay than
man
"We
1 Cor. 3:11.
that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.''
have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walk;
IVo.
S36,
POOR SWAIZELAND.
AN AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE.
BY A CLERGYMAN.
was on a
visit at
visit
insensible to pain.
;;
POOR SVVAIZELAND.
When
set,
in this condition
ant
in his bed,
if
lie
it
even restored to health, and could put them fully into practice, they would be of no avail to give peace to his conI endeavored to show him,
science, or salvation to his soul.
from the
own
strength,
and
to
show him, that the effort to appease the wrath of his offended God, by any resolutions, or any righteousness of his
own, would be as vain as those of a poor mutilated, bed-
POOR SWAIZELAND.
money to discharge a debt of a thouhim that the Lord Jesus had paid the
sand pounds.
I told
mighty debt for those who beheve in Mm, and who could
never hope to discharge it themselves that he had, by his
righteousness, fulfilled that holy law of God, which we have
broken that he had, by his precious death upon the cross,
stood in our place, and borne our curse and that the message which he commanded his ministers to proclaim to sinThat, instead
ners, was a message of free and full pardon.
of vainly attempting to work out a righteousness of their own,
perishing sinners should " look imto him and be saved ;" that,
having died for them, they might be delivered from every
terror of death, of judgment, and of hell, and be saved by
his merits that therefore I came to him with these " goodtidings of great joy :" that, though he had been wicked,
and profligate, and \ile, yet the Gospel declares, that " the
blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin ;" that, " though
;
our sins be as
they be red
scarlet,
like crimson,
though
listened to these,
POOR SWAIZELAND.
4
hope, and joy
" 0,
sir,
When
me.
my
mind
debt
and
him how he
out, as soon as
at once
then we
my
if
he has died
for us
he saw me,
now I understand all you have been saying to
I was thinking over it this morning, it came into
he burst
Avas,
if
oiu'selves
it
we may de-
rejoice."
I,
" that
he has died
is
for us,
and we may
rest
I then
fifth
Romans " Therefore bewe have peace with God, through our
Oh
understand
I
went on
"
By whom
we
glory of God."
"
yes, sir," said he,
joice, sir,
we have now
;
it."
and so we
may
also Tve
stand,
''
have access, by
and
that's true,
rejoice, since
we do
faith,
hope of the
rejoice in
we do
re-
have an
whole
It
was
it
pours
this that
its
to understand, but to
along.
light
on
all
comment on
POOR SWAIZELAND.
truly say, that, during all that time, I rather derived in-
from seeing the power of the Gospel so practiand enlighten and support a fellowsinner, under the deep distress of poverty and bodily anguish, than conveyed to him increasing edification, by any
struction
thing that
could say.
I took one
their minds.
rank and
and the prospect of suffering and death that was before him,
and strength, and the titles and riches of
their fathers, without that blessed hope which cheered and
comforted his heart. He smiled at my question, and as his
head and arms were the only parts of his body he could
move, he shook his head, and assured them he would not
make the exchange, with an emphasis which, in his circumstances, poured more contempt on all that the world could
give, compared with the glorious hope of the everlastingfor their health
Gospel, than
all
command.
I was then obliged to leave that part of the country
but after about two months I went down into Kent, and
found him in the same happy frame of mind. He told me,
that no doubt or fear, concerning the all-sufficiency of his
just as
he
still
continued
go on
his
with him, and read over several hymns, which before had
and having stayed with him
criven him particular pleasure
;
VOL. vni.
-3
POOR SWAIZELAND.
God
who had
person
ought to
feel
for sin.
visited him,
sins,
God
but without
" I often strove," said he, '' to feel very sorry but when
I thought I had got myself to be very much grieved for my
offences, I found my heart going back, and taking as much
pleasure in them as ever. This gentleman," said he, " also
;
advised
my
sion
me
God
which he made
peace Avith
but
would not do
means
it."
of
making
An
expres-
and
endeavored to ex-
plain to
of
it
that
it
our offences,
it
into
an idolatrous
superstition.
When
last interview,
lost, after
he ex-
my departure from
POOR SWAIZELAXD.
that helieveth shall be saved."
I set
my
the cottage of
had entered
lasting rest.
attended
ply received into the heart, is not only the power of God
unto salvation, but also transforms the vilest character, and
turns him, who had before been a servant of Satan, into a
We
ing
went on
where his remains were lyby his sister, who had, for some
she was a widow, with five children.
to the cottage
time, attended
him
She
"
me he was dead.
did he die ?" said I.
told
How
POOR BWAIZELAND.
Oh,
"
is
And
''
surely,
if
happy."
die very
" Oh,
how can
joyful confidence,
may
"
I,
of the
pray,
sir,"
my friend," said I,
"
was
it
my
this?"
dear brother,
who
gone."
She then expressed the joy that she felt at having been
him during his lingering illness, and the
blessings which his instructions had conveyed to her soul.
called to attend
I,
*'
several
hymns
me
all
to a gentleman in
on
went
have
of his writing."
and a
had
lent
them
to write, lying
slate.
have recognized
were all
contracted, and shrivelled to the very bone but he had fled
to Him who dwelleth where the inhabitants shall no more
say, " I am sick;" " who shall change our vile body, that
I
his features
I could not
his limbs
;
it
may
to the
be fashioned
like
is
able to subdue
To
all
]Vo.
9S7.
"
BE BORN
WHEN HE
IS
OLD ?"John
4.
H
Esq., is a respectable resident in one of
the most picturesque and delightful villages in the northern
states of America.
He is now, 1833, turned of seventyyears of age is a man of more than ordinary natural powers, and in his youth enjoyed the advantages of a good
academical education.
Possessing an active mind, and an
ardent temperament, he never was an idle spectator of passThis disposition, with a ready utterance, which
ing events.
enabled him to speak on all occasions without embarrassment, led him to engage with ardor in political disputes,
and on every subject his influence was felt. He was one
,
of that class of men who must take sides, and who are constitutionally inclined to do with all their might whatever
they undertake. In
he was always seen
warm
from business
debate with such as were in-
LIFE
at funerals, and lie generally prevented his family from attending public worship.
Thus placing himself beyond the influence of restraint,
casting off fear, and living with neighbors who, in general,
were careless, he indulged in the most revolting use of proThe practice of using oaths became so hafane language.
bitual to him, that he seldom uttered a sentence without
taking the name of God in vain. He spent most of his Sabbaths and evenings in ridiculing religion, and in defending
Sometimes he w'as a Deist
various systems of infidelity.
he would reject the Bible, but profess to believe in the beAt other
ing of a God, and the immortality of the soul.
times he would strenuously urge the probability that death
would be the end of his being. But his sentiments were
more permanently those of a Universalist of the common
stamp. Here was a system peculiarly congenial to his feelings.
It spread before him, in prospect, all that his ardent
mind could desire, while it imposed no unpleasant restraint
Tired, therefore, with being blown about
vipon his life.
with every wind of doctrine, he determined to repose in his
sins, under the soothing prospect that, whatever his life
might be, all would be well with him at the last. But, possessing a mind that was never satisfied to adopt an opinion
without what he considered to be proof, he found it necesHe furnished himsary to muster his strong arguments.
self with books for the purpose, and seized upon all the wit
and ridicule by which the doctrines of universal salvation
have usually been defended and to give his system the appearance of authority, he searched the Bible, and selected
passages, and arranged them with great diligence into a
system. But I liave heard him say, " Miserable comforters
were they all !" Yet, in the common acceptation of the
words, he was an honest man, frank, ingenuous, and openhearted and often congratulated himself, and boasted in
the presence of others, that he was no hypocrite ! But J
had a conscience, from which his early impressions
of religious truth w^ere never entirely effaced
a conscience
too, which, he is now convinced, was often stimulated to the
work of reproof by the strivings of the Holy Spirit. He
was a champion of the system he had adopted, but his mind
was " like the troubled sea when it cannot rest."
Mr.
was now fifty-six years of age. His char;
LIFE
acter presented the melancholy picture of a miin of respectability and influence trusting his own soul to a refuge of
lies, teaching the language of profaneness to a numerous
family, and leading a multitude after him to perdition.
Who
and
" I
was
LIFE FROM
THE DEAD.
series of
of Christ.
LIFE
insensible that he
LIFE FHOM
THE DEAD.
upon his bodily health. He remainabout two weeks, during which time his
convictions of sin were constantly increasing, and he found
no comfort in Christ. At length he called one morning
friends as to the result
ed in
this situation
am
in this
sel."
The minister soon regained his self-possession, and invited his new and Avelcome guest to his chamber, where he
knelt down with him and prayed, and rose up and preached
Christ crucified for the remission of sins.
Mr.
was
" Oh," said he, " there can be no
convulsed w4th grief.
pardon for me I have been such a -wretch, not only in
spurning the offers of mercy myself, but in teaching my
'
LIFE FROIM
THE DEAD.
but his proud heart could not yet consent entirely to give
up
The interview
closed,
portion."
LIFE
" Great
is
And own'd
Thus may " a man be born when he is old," by the regenerating and sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, making
him a new creature in Christ Jesus, a willing servant of the
Lord.
And he, to whom Christ has forgiven much, will
love much, and. strive to do much for the glory of God.
The happy consequences of the new birth of the subject of
this narrative have already been witnessed in the conversion
of five of his children, who, together with himself and his
aged companion, are now members of the same church.
Two extensive revivals of religion have since been enjoyed
in that place, which have added to the number of the professed followers of Christ more than two hundred and fifty
souls.
Many of these will doubtless praise God in eternity
for the fervent prayers and zealous activity of the aged,
but prompt and laborious J
and if the Father
of mercies, in answer to the prayer of the writer, shall deign
to bless this Tract to the souls of its readers, tens of thousands may hereafter be converted through its instrumentality
and " what shall the receiving of them he, hat life
FROM THE DEAD?" RoDl. 11 15.
No. 358.
THREE ClUEEIES
TO
bibe
Nothing
is
own
It is galling
feelings,
whom
he lived
in
the great-
had occasion
the conversation and
for.
writings of Deists ?
Did you
in
not, previously to
its
spirits ?
fruit
Were you
not like a
may
may be
least,
no judgment
to
You
removed by death
control over you.
or
if
they
live,
So now you
it
they
are free.
But
still,
some-
thing
in
yoke.
is
into
Was
not
this,
it,
the
REJECTERS OF CHRISTIAMTV.
you
satisfied
with yourself?
II. How is it, that almost all your writers, at one time
or other, hear testimony in favor of Christianity ?
It were easy to collect from those very writings which
were designed
to
of testimonies in
its
religion,
hundreds
favor.
is
it
The Gospel,
in all cases, is
is
and of
universal charity."
this
way
as
any of your
writers, yet
said as Httle in
he has professed
"He
re-
was," says
who
are sin-
How
is
fits
it
with knives
You must
Vicious
men
it
will often
virtuous
timony
men never
retuiTi the
in favor of vice.
We
but
compliment by bearing
tes-
among many
REJECTERS OF CHRISTIANITY.
by
writer,
biographer, Condorcet, a
his
man
after his
own
heart.
1.
were
to
sufiScient
obtaining
priest, to
called in
That in
what
3.
who had
is
whom
called
in the Catholic
faith, in
you
"In the
believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ?"
of God, sir," replied Voltaire, " speak to me no more
name
Why
is it
that so
me die in peace."
many of you faint
in the
day of
trial ?
Deist
up
may
flatter
in the prospect of
brave
out as
it
however, are
it is
rare.
death
said
and
it is
David Hume
possible that he
did.
Such
may
instances,
his
infidelity.
On
of a Christian
VOL.
to
;;
at last deceive
If
till
the last
hear
much
of courage
among
duellists
but
credit
little
is
due to what they say, if, while the words proceed from
their lips, we see them approach each other with paleness
and trembling. Your own writers admit, "the Power that
called us into being, can, if he pleases, and when he pleases,
call us to account for the manner in which we live here
and therefore, without seeking any farther motive for the
belief, it is rational to beUeve that he will, for we know beforehand that he can."
Let this hypothesis be admitted, and that in its lowest
form, that there is only a possibility of a judgment to come
this is sufficient to evince your folly, and, if you thought on
:
many infidels
in their last
like Christians.
ment
to come,
If
it
moments to wish
that they
had
may be
lived
a judg-
Christianity itself
REJECTERS OF CHRISTIAMTY.
it may be a vexation, as it was to Volhim but hear of him you must, and,
what is more, you must appear before him.
I cannot condude this address without expressing* my
earnest desire for your salvation; and whether you will
hear, or whether you will forbear, reminding you that your
Redeemer is merciful. He can have compassion on the
ignorant, and them who are out of the way.
The door of
mercy is not yet shut. At present you are invited, and
to hear of
sinner,
is
in.
And
a full justi-
through
his righteousness
strikes
me
witli
admiration, as the
purity of the
THREE
profound wisdom
what
subtlety,
command
UL'ERIES.
in his discourses
what truth
his
in
Where
is
how
great the
his
ed
midst of agonizing
who
administered
it
but Jesus,
in the
midst of excruciat-
Yes,
if
life
it
it is
more inconceivable
that a
number
of persons
it.
JVo.
339.
A VIEW
OF THE
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY.
BY
J.
FLETCHER
own
blood.
But even while they lived, they confirmed their testimony by a variety of miracles, wrought in divers places,
and for a number of years sometimes before thousands of
their enemies, as the miracles of Christ and his disciples
sometimes before hundreds of thousands, as those of Moses.
These miracles were so well known and attested, that when
both Christ and Moses appealed to their authenticity before their bitterest opposers, mentioning the persons upon
whom, as well as the particular time when, and the places
2.
TilE
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY.
they had been performed, the facts were never dewere passed over in silence, or mahciously attributed
to the prince of the devils.
So sure, then, as God would
never have displayed his arm in the most astonishing manner for the support of imposture, the sacred penmen had
their commission from the Almighty, and their writings are
"vvhere
nied, but
THE EVIDENCES OF
CIIRISTIAXTTY.
by
Christ,
24:2; while
Matt.
culed.
1. To say nothing of the venerable antiquity, and wonderful preservation of those books, some of which are by
far the most ancient in the world, but to pass over the
much
The wonderful
is another
they are faithfully expounded by his ministers, and powerfully applied by his
Spirit, they wound and heal, they kill and malce alive, they
alarm the careless, turn or enrage the wicked, direct the
lost, support the tempted, strengthen the weak, comfort
mourners, and nourish pious souls. As the woman of Samaria said of Jesus, Come, see a man that told me all that
ever I did : is not this the Christ ? a good man can say of
the Bible, Come, see a book that told me all that was in my
heart, and acquainted me with the various trials and dangers I have met with in my spiritual travels
a book where
I have found those truths which, like a divinely-tempered
sword, have cut my way through all the snares and forces
8.
When
of
my
spiritual adversaries
my
soul has happily entered the paradise of divine and brothIs not this the book of God ?
erly love.
9. To conclude, it is exceedingly remarkable, that the
more humble and holy people are, the more they read, ad-
more
self-conceited, worldly-minded,
FOR EVER!
FROM REV. RICHARD BAXTER
Alas, what heart can conceive, or what tongue express,
the pains of those souls that are now enduring the wrath of
God
If thou couldst ask the thousands in hell what madness brought them thither, many of them would answer,
"
thouofht we w^ere Christians, and sure of beinof saved,
till we found ourselves here.
have flattered ourselves
into these torments, and now there is no remedy."
Reader, I must in faithfulness tell thee, that these false
hopes of being saved while thou art living in sin, will prove
There is none of this
in the end but a ruinous delusion.
believino^ in hell.
In this life, thouo-h sinners are threatened
with the wrath of God, yet their hope of escaping bears up
can now scarcely speak with the vilest
their hearts.
drunkard, or swearer, or scoffer, but he hopes to be saved,
notwithstanding all his sins.
It is the most pitiable sight this world affords, to see
such an ungodly person dying, and to think of his soul and
With what a sad change he
his hopes departing together.
Think, then, how it will aggraappears in another world
vate the misery of lost souls, that, with the loss of heaven,
they shall lose all that hope of it which now supports them.
Besides, they will lose also that false peace of conscience,
which makes their present life so easy. Who would think,
when we see how quietly the multitude of the ungodly live,
that they must very shortly lie down in everlasting flames ?
They are as free from fears as an obedient believer, and perhaps often have less uneasiness of mind. In this life, when
they were told of hell, or when conscience troubled their
!
We
We
We
drink,
this in hell
their
there
all
They
FOR EVER
Poor
attended
woe
But the greatest aggravation
ions in
When
their eternitg.
of the eternal
!!
FOR EVER
Why-
FOR EVER
Dost thou then mqiiire, " How can I escape the Avrath to
come ? What must I do to be saved ?" Acts 16:30. Let
me tell thee, in reply, If thou art really sincere, and in
earnest, and dost feel thyself a lost sinner, guilty and condemned before God, and if thou dost really desire to be
" Besaved, then hearken unto the only "vvay of salvation.
lieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,"
Acts 16 31 *'for God so loved the world that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
;
in Jesus.
sins.
15.
JVo.
361
THE TAPROOT.
On a bright and bracing afternoon, early in March, returning from a visit to an afflicted family, I met with one of
my intelligent parishioners sitting on a fence. A gorgeous
sunset was displaying its glories in the west, and my friend
gave true indications that the day closing around us had not
been spent in idleness. " What," said I, in a friendly tone
" I want," said he,
of recognition, " are you doing here ?"
" to transplant that pretty elm into my door-yard, and I
have been laboring here for hours to dig it up, in vain. The
tree, perhaps, is a little too old to be transplanted
but if
removed early in the spring, and with a large root, trees frequently live, even beyond the age of this."
I crossed the fence to take a view of the tree.
I found
it surrounded with a deep trench, and its lateral roots all
cut and feehng that a strong push would lay it on the
Not a twig nor a leaf moved the more
earth, I gave it one.
on that account. I wondered and turning to my friend, I
asked, "Why is it so firm, when so many of its roots are cut,
and when united to the earth by a stem so small ?" "The
taproot,''' said he, " remains, and until that is cut it will
Hearing the phrase for the first time in my
stand firm."
"Allife, I asked, "What do you mean by the tcqrroot?"
most every tree," said he, " has its taproot, which goes as
straight down into the earth as the trunk goes into the air
and until that root is cut the tree stands, and will grow.
And if I should fill up this trench now, the tree would feel
They would
but little the cutting of all these lateral roots.
soon grow out, and the tree would be as strong as ever,"
We soon parted. I pursued my way home pondering
;
and
it
explains
VOL.
VIII.
many
7*
THE TAPROOT.
own
hesitation.
young.
Such is the law which rules in the kingdom
of grace.
"How can a man be born when he is old ?" is a
question of emphatic import to those who have grown up to
mature years without repentance.
Has almost every tree its taproot ? So every sinner has
when
which
sustains
other,
him
all
others
eternal
loss.
How
Why
destroying
But
my
also
THE TAPROOT.
over the soul is the reason why every sinner that hears
the Gospel does not believe it or, that believes the Gospel,
does not at once, by repentance towards God and faith in
our Lord Jesus Christ, seek the salvation of his soul.
And
the remaining influence of a sin whose power has been
broken, is the reason why any Christian fails in consecrating
himself a living sacrifice to God.
Header, are you a sinner convinced of the truth of the
Gospel, without repentance, without faith in Christ ? If so,
how important to know the sin that holds you back from the
work of your salvation. There is some one sin that does
this more than any other; perhaps, more than all others.
;
What
is it ?
THE TAPROOT.
What are the objects that most dehght you ? What arc
the gratifications on which you bestow most time ? Thoughts
The last
as to what, most intrude themselves when alone ?
thing which the sailor throws overboard, in his efforts to
save his sinking vessel, is that which he deems most precious
what is the sin you are most anxious to retain ?
When you think of being a Christian, what is the sin, the
pursuit, the habit, that you feel in prospect would give you
These questions point to your
the most pain to abandon ?
your taproot sin.
Unless cut, you are lost.
besetting sin
But if old trees cannot be transplanted, may not old sinners be converted ? Yes, they may. As to aged sinners, the
difficulty lies in the nature of man, and of sin, and of evil
Grace is all-conquering
habits, and not in the grace of God.
when God sees fit to apply it. Reader, are you an aged
sinner ?
I have seen the man, fourscore and two years old,
who bled in the battles of the Revolution, who learned its
worst vices and continued in their practice until the age
I have seen him brought,
stated, hopefully converted.
trembling with palsy, in his arm-chair to God's house, and
there joining himself to the people of God and having commemorated the love of Christ, lifting up his withered hands
And
to heaven in thanksgiving for the mercies vouchsafed.
his subsequent hfe and triumphant death testified that the
work was of God. But in my experience this stands out a
solitary case, to check presumption on the one hand, and
Take then these thoughts for medidespair on the other.
:
tation
4.
is
vain.
The
tree of evil,
God your
whose
heart
is
changed,
all
is not cut.
aged, or wicked, there
However
to
is
TO THOSE
COMMENCING A RELIGIOUS
1.
Remember
that the
commencement
LIFE.
of the Christian
is
good or
evil prevails.
LIFE.
receiveth," etc.
Do not be afraid of indulging in feelings which may
seem to be right, from the fear of deception. On the contrary, cherish such feelings, and try to recall them often.
Go forward in the strength of God, and do your duty, and
will save
8.
Do
LIFE.
be the happiest man on earth, but he must be a faithand devoted Christian, None are disappointed
in finding rehgion a source of unfaihng peace and joy, but
those who refuse to drink deep from the wells of salvation
unless we except those who, from some derangement of the
nervous system, or failure of health, do not enjoy the clear
and undisturbed exercise of their faculties.
9. Do not make the practice and example of other
Christians the standard of inety at which you aim.
By this
means, a more disastrous influence has been exerted on the
church and on the world, than perhaps by all other causes
that could be named.
Generally, when persons commence
the Christian life, their consciences are susceptible and tender.
They are strict and watchful in the performance of
They have
duty, and are pained even by a slight neglect.
been wont to feel that becoming religious implies a great
change that " old things must pass away, and all things
become new." But when they look among their Christian
friends, and turn to them for aid, as those who have had
experience and have made advances in the Christian life,
they find that they seem to look upon duties and deficiencies
in a very different manner.
They seem to neglect many
things which the young Christian has felt to be very important
and to practise many things which he had supposed
inconsistent with religion.
Then commences the disastrous
eifect.
The young Christian begins to feel that he need
not be more particular than those to whom he has ever
looked up with deference and respect.
He begins to imagine that he has been rather too strict and particular.
He
begins to take a retrograde course, and though his conscience and the Bible often check and reprove, yet after a
few ineft'ectual struggles, he lowers his standard and walks
may
ful, active,
as others do.
into your Bible and see how Christians ought to
See how the Bible says those who are Christians must
live, and then if you find your Christian friends living in a
diff"erent way, instead of having cause for feeling that you
may do so too, you have only cause to fear that they are
deceiving themselves wdth the belief that they are Christians when they are not.
Remember, that the farther your
Christian friends depart from the standard of Christian character laid down in the Bible, the lees reason have vou to
Look
live.
LIFE.
others.
11. Be sure that there exists a marked difference between your appearance and conduct, and that of those who
in
every thing that interests those Avho have no better porRemember that your deportment,
you
you
are a hypocrite.
is
The people
LIFE.
gratitude all the lawful enjoyments bestowed by their heavSuch a gloomy deportment as has been deenly Father.
scribed does not do honor to religion, and causes those
whom we wish to win to the ways of pleasantness and
peace, to feel that religion is a melancholy, unsocial, and
All professors of religion should enforbidding subject.
deavor to have such views of God, his love, his providence,
his care, and should so live, as to be cheerful and happy,
and
to
appear
so.
it is
more
so.
and
affections.
Never for one day omit to read the Bible, with prayer.
This is a most important direction.
It is of the utmost
importance that you should never, for once, break through
this habit.
Prayer and the Bible are your anchor and
your shield they will hold you firmly in the path of duty,
and protect you fi'om temptation. You had better give up
one meal every day, if it is necessar}^ in order to secure
time for this duty.
You had better give up any thing else.
Nothing is a duty, if the performance of it Avill interfere with
this duty.
Remember, that the Bible, under the teaching
of the Spirit, is the bread of your life, and the water of
your salvation and that you cannot live in health a single
day without their strengthening and invigorating influence*
14. Be regulated by a principle of duty in little thinr/s.
8
VOL. VTII.
13.
6
This
way
LIFE.
common
the
light to shine.
that
Few
keep us from indolence, from vanity, from pride, from foolishness, from levity, from moroseness, from selfishness, and
all the little every-day foibles to which we are exposed.
Religion should exemplify its gentleness, in your kind and
affable manners
its purity and propriety, in your conversation
and its consistits benevolence, in your conduct
ency and heavenly tendency, in all your ways.
It is a most excellent method to go to some sincere and
candid friend, and inquire what are your own defects in
temper, character, and every-day deportment and when
you have discovered these, make it the object of your
prayers and efforts to correct them.
One thing ought to be strictly regulated by principle,
and that is the employment of time. Always feel that you
are doing wrong when your time is passing unprofitably.
Have some regularity and method on this subject. Endeavor to ascertain how much time should be devoted to
your friends and to relaxation, and to let the remainder be
all of it employed in the most useful manner you can devise.
Never be satisfied with the manner in which you are spending your time, if you can think of any possible way in which
it might be more usefully employed.
Remember, that time
is the precious talent for which you must account to God
and if you find yourself indulging in listless inactivity, or
tempted to engage in employments of no practical use,
remember your account to God. Be in a habit of inquiring,
when you commence any employment, " Is there any thing
And do not be satisfied
I can do more useful than this ?"
till you have settled the question, that you are doing all
the good you can.
15. Attempt, by your efforts and example, to raise the
standard of piety and activity. If all who are now commencing the Christian life should make this an object, and
not fall into the temptation which professed Christians so
often set before the lambs of the flock, the church would
indeed soon rise before the world, " fair as the moon, clear
as the sun, and terrible as an armv with banners."
;
LIFE.
and
must unite
effort
Lord,
let
At
this period,
when prayer
day
of the
others, as well as to
lift
up
his
own
private supplications.
If we are dissatisfied with our evidence, let us go on and do every thing that a Christian
should do, as the most hopeful way to gain right feelings.
surely cannot hope to bring our hearts right by neg-
perfectly performed.
We
lecting our
17.
as
it
outward
Remember,
duties.
respects others,
is
to excite
them
formance of their religious duty. Jesus Christ has instituted his church in the world, that through its instrumenThere is no Christian
tality the perishing may be saved.
but can find some one mind, at least, over which he can
have some influence and if we can do any thing to save
others from eternal death, nothing should for a moment
;
8
is
we
LIFE.
serve and
please
is
commission of
your own
making, yet he can be " touched with the feeling of your
infirmities."
When He
sees that
in the
find are of
you
i\o.
^63.
INDECISION IN RELIGION,
Hoiv long halt ye between
*'
tivo
opinions
the people"
all
?^^
"if the
said the
Lord be
in his service.
shall take
it
that he recognizes
sin,
and
sal-
own
salvation
is
neglected.
remark, then,
1.
Such
indecision
we
is
criminal.
sustain to
It is criminal,
God and
because
the Scriptures,
never
left
the
submitted to
bosom
all
upon him, and shed his blood upon the accursed tree. To
secure to him the offers of this salvation, no band of apostles
toil
with
still
INDECISION IN RELIGION.
But for us
more destructive ravages of internal conflict.
worms of the dust, guilty and polluted, all this has been
done and it has been effected, too, by God our Creator,
Jesus our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit our Sanctifier.
;
We
whom
been manifested
whom
to
all
this
grace
all this
In
all
And
offered.
Surely, then,
benevolence has
is
And
requires
it
in perfect con-
makes no provision
its
injunctions
it
It anticipates
what
is,
"My
less decisive.
son, give
me
"Remem" God
repent." And the
thine heart."
now commandeth
language of
ren,
St.
all
men everywhere
Paul
*'
is,
to
sonable service."
Indecision in religion
is
The sum
knows what
it
is
is,
that Ave
to be sorry, to
Every one
avoid whatever has been
dif-
plicit
confidence in
all
the record
God
But
if
the claims of
God upon
us, the
manner
in
which
INDECISION IN RELIGION.
our duty, as
we
it, is
he has written
if
it
we do understand
Does
indecision
incur no guilt
upon
What
momentous
it ?
subject,
whom
who
should pay no
And
is
criminal.
Indecision in religion
life
continues, or
life.
it is
is
dangerous.
Our
salvation
It is
dangerous
must be secured
This
life is
short
Still,
when we
frail bodies, to
ment exposed,
suits,
consider
God
not determined to
business, dares
make
presume
to
religion his
hope
for
first,
heaven
Who,
his
that
constant
INDECISION IN RELIGION.
Again, indecision
dangerous on account of
is
its
injluence
soldier, -whose
first
remembers that he
is
upon the
field of
death.
The
Not
impressions.
infinite
tible impression.
He
its
centre,
in sackcloth.
its
But what
less upon
is
the fact
eflfect
of realities.
as his system
But,
it is
is
INDECISION IN RELIGION.
produced no lasting
now
less likely
If this
effects
upon
his
much
is
to leave
person exposed to
mind
all this
itself has,
is
man
He
Though
is
is
moment
obligation
deeply affected.
to obey
he has
But the
not.
always
When
any other
truth
at hand,
a shield
How
cision in
powerful, hoAV
fatal, then, is
it
will ever
renewing grace.
But once more, indecision
less-
in religion is
of
dangerous, be-
cause
it
with man."
of those
the representations of the Bible with respect to the depravity of the heart,
Holy
tion
Spirit
is
we must be
finally
moment
the
his destruc-
inevitable.
is
God
infinite
made
but
in
INDECISION IN RELIGION.
saying, in the
leave us to our
own
hearts' desire ?
And
should he do
this,
No
matter
how much
instruction
we might
receive,
it
tion,
indecision in religion.
An
And
object, in
worlds
that
com-
are but
bubbles.
Suffer me, therefore, to use the utmost plainness, while I
attempt to prevail on you to abandon the dangerous ground
INDECISION IN RELIGION.
is
be excited
will
But
this
suffer
You
are
With rehgious
makes only a
it
his providence, or in
some
con-
you,
sig-
me
to ask,
my
presumption founded?
is
suppose
you
in terror ?
new
come
of
hardness.
you
rise up.
heart
And
unmoved by
way
when you
lie
Revolve them in
down, and when
much
excellence, so
INDECISION IN RELIGION.
it
all
no peace
till
it
unreserved obedience.
shall yield
And
cease not day nor night to cry to the Father of your spirits,
that he would take from you this heart of stone, and give
of flesh.
it
to the multitude
And
who
satisfied
lot in the
And
work,
men ?
Think of the tide of mercy that is rolling through the earth, bearing thousands and millions on
And can you sit at the very gates of
its waves to heaven.
the New Jerusalem, and not make one effort, not form one
the souls of
But
I forbear.
tion to
I cannot
half-formed resolution
I will
become a Christian
is
full inten-
But
in the
momentous concerns
that procrastination
is
is
of eternity,
presumption,
death.
364,
!V.
GEORGE LOVELL
AN AUTHENTIC N"ARRATIVE.
-"-^^^^^^
There
are
some passages
in the
life
of an individual of
my
They deserve
the
name
of
their
co?ifessio7is,
by that name
I will
introduce to
father.
my readers the
was the
for
true history
cliild
of a pious
and
example of his beloved wife, enforcing the Gospel
truth which he heard every Sabbath from the pulpit, wrought,
under God, an entire change in his speculative sentiments.
At the birth of George, his mother, like Hannah, could say,
He was not only consecrated
Fo?- this child I irrayecV
steadfast
'
VOL.
VIII.
GEORGE LOVELL.
2
to
God
in
by a
similar
him
the
to
Lent, that
to
is,
translation.
How many
in glory,
As
Lord.
the
LordT
are
who were
first in
need only mention, as representatives of the brilliant catalogue, such names as Timothy, Augustine, Whitehere.
field,
D wight,
whose infancy
There
is
no feature
in
the pic-
it
may
seize the
It
is
reward.
There
may be
said to be a time
when
mean
that period
objects of pursuit.
when
mother
to the father
in the
edness that
is
"bound
the
The
frail
spirit
bar-
GEORGE LOVELL.
When
his deepest
triumphant
heaven."
by a
rolled on clouds
its
his recollection.
rising storm
and
in the
and repose.
judgment combined. But while
of everlasting peace
its flight
to the region
the scene with a bright and tender ray, and to diffuse consolation throughout the afflicted family.
A class
of the
of sensations entirely
bosom
of George.
He
felt
he knew what it
Death had taken companions from his
the
first
time in his
possession
himself motherless.
life
is
For
to be a mourner.
side,
had laid his icy hand on his heart. Every fibre of that
Can it be, he silently asked
heart shrunk at the touch.
himself, that I have no mother no mother to love me, to
guide me, to pray for me ? Reader, have you ever lost a
mother ? If you have, you understand me when I say it is
then that the man, the woman, becomes a child again not
fore
in
but
in
filial
love.
is
beautiful
sorrow
a sorrow
scarcely relieved
GEORGE LOVELL.
The
He
seriousness of
George
enhanced by
Avas
health
ill
his
vigor.
He had no
solation of those
tomb
the shadow of
me
felt like a
*'
:
Yea, though
staff
evil, for
thou
He
When
tudes.
on the
last
lips of his
came
when
and espe-
cially
when
of the dead,
and more
bell, as
the
first
how
living
home
painful.
toll
to the
home
grow deeper
of the church-
new and
loose earth, as
strange effect.
it fell
GEORGE LOVELL.
undissembled
he had much to do.
jects of
he
At
times he prayed
he wept alone
he confessed on
God. No earthly ear heard one of
no mind suspected that the sadness of
;
He was
anxious sinner.
his
felt
Rehgion, he
on earth
grief,
his
his
He was
treated accord-
He
preached a solemn,
and eloquent funeral sermon, which justly commemorated the exemplary virtues and the triumphant faith
beautiful,
And
this,
too,
at a time
when
aid,
He
own
feelings.
have walked
scarcely
knew
in
it.
He knew
When the
first
effervescence of sorrow
had
in a
measure
keen
GEORGE LOVELL.
mind w^as intent. The shghtest associaup w^ith great force and tenderness, nor
fade from the mental eye, so long as he con-
page on which
tion
did
would
his
call it
begin to
it
tinued near the scene of her death, or the spot of her burial.
With
this
failed to
centrated force of
vailed,
and
my
all
How
crisis
final,
sealed
dying admonitions.
instructions, her
God
a returnless farewell
up
How
hopes of youth
when he was
won-
often has he
a sphere
to leave
home, and
new
entirely
encir-
cled with temptations, not merely to the indulgence of intellectual ambition, but of
it ?
I call
gay companionship,
gregarious indolence,
of fun
and
what
of
folly, of
shall
many
first
life,
things.
The
No
first
the day
when
it
from secular to
influence of an enlightened natural conscience, he regularly
devoted the more private hours of the Sabbath to books of
a strictly spiritual character.
He
GEORGE LOVELL.
amount
to mistake
restrained,
knew
to be the pernicious
amusement
Having
of ^ancing.
once tasted the gay and guilty^ pleasure, his love for
came
excessive.
it.
it
it
be-
mio-ht well
all
up
ac-
me
that
it
consideration.
He
peculiar
is
its
character.
The
knows how
all
stillness
are
working through the social principle, which exists so strongly in classes, and in the tenants of the same room
all these
is
to exert an influence
upon so
money
GEORGE LOVELL.
many immortal
tlie
Would
it
hatred of
against
He
Avas of
which
was the
its
renovating powder.
spiritual
made
a retrograde step
From
reading
of poetiy, such as
dise Lost, etc.
sat-
speare,
Dryden,
etc.
By
the memory
all
kinds.
literary ambition
of his
git
Se-
had
mother ceased
GEORGE LOVELL.
to exert
drift
Bethlehem
my
its
away upon
was about
friend
life,
when
to
the star of
arose.
"
That
Can
He was
devoming a
when
favorite novel,
his
He was alarmed,
He thought he had
God, He expected in a
summons
few moments
to the bar of
He threw
despair.
He
to die.
fearful earnestness
a frenzy of
in
verge of
and
life,
felt all
had
When
in a
him
to
change
in
up the
ness.
soul to
its
inmost centre.
returned home.
secret,
still
He
He
word death
agitated his
afraid of his
of the
sick-
any individual.
When
He
in
to
he lay down
to sleep
At length, by a
he expected to awake in hell
mighty effort, he called a pious sister aside, and with a burst
of tears, which mingled with her own at the recital, he
She threw her arms around his neck,
fold his convictions.
at night,
GEORGE LOVELL.
10
engaged
He
in the dance.
with
It
if,
mdeed,
it
first
still
of
all
God
away many
requires
things from
GEORGE LOVELL.
doctrine,
and there
stop,
revelation of
power.
their
souls to
and temperate
ing Christian.
citizen,
remember
liv-
man,
difficult case,
its
to a sober
have seen,
also, the
gay beauty,
to
whom
by
to
this
lift
I rec-
good
He
ates
his studies
his ambition
life
the heart.
his
Here
He
all
felt
it
crucifixion.
And
GEORGE LOVELL.
12
friend,
"svrote
him a
clear,
mind,
plain,
and
God, and urging him without a moment's delay to comHe read it with eagerness
he dropped
the letter on the floor, sunk on his knees, and poured out
own
athwart
my
soul
such
It tilled
foro:et.
prayer to God.
his
me
as,
while
memory
lasts, I
can never
It
the will of
my
desire."
Such was
time
his
The
living reality.
like
in his
itself
He now
delight.
Its pages,
now
full of light
Not
sus.
and
He
in
loved to spend
He
prayer to God.
He
was
He
ners.
strange
love.
aff'ectionate
new and
felt
much
time in
a peculiar, an earnest
of the excellence
and
loveliness
of Christ.
He
sinall
rose, as
opportunity presented,
brace that Saviour
able."
He
though he
in
felt
God
in-
TEORGE
LOVELI,.
I3
now with
his early
consecration by his sainted mother to the holy ministry of
the Gospel
mother wept
it
in vain."
He
newed
with him to yield to an unholy declension, the faithful reproof of a Christian classmate was blessed in rousing him
from
his
affecting
dream.
sinful
remembrance
Chastised and
humbled by the
wander from
the very
Spirit, he commenced anew the Chrisand gave fresh promise of piety and usefulness.
graduated with the full honors of the best of his class,
tian course,
He
and
at the public
commencement
among
his friends
citizen of the
commonwealth
the post of
istic
civil
whom
of
would have prehe was so proud should seek
,
his
measure per-
He had
great confidence
in his abilities,
he had
also
left
him
for
months
in the sole
charge of his
business.
made
a pub-
at
work
to
pursued
VOL.
which he
felt
He
after
diligence
10
GEORGE LOVELL.
14
work
the
He was
in
is
one thousand
some of whom are themselves preachers of the Gospel, and some also have been, and are eminently useful as
Occupying an important and responsible station
laymen.
in the church, he is still engaged in that glorious work to
AVHICH HE WAS CONSECRATED AT HIS BIRTH BY HIS MOTHER,
and called in the fulness of time by the faithful covenant
instrumental of the conversion of about
souls,
God
of his mother.
is
literal
fact,
which
is
imfolding
day and
night.
Present
at
itself
Breathe over
it
to
it
your
side.
your prayers.
God.
Surrender
Water
Watch
it
it
it
up, not
full
Holy
energy of
Spirit,
it
faith
shall
Of George
year at college,
'
mind on a Sabbath
wish you
may
What
material
fire,
though
it
in his
never be obliged to
such pains as I
felt that
'
the
heart."
knew
all
that Avas,
or
was
day
worm
did.
that
nor
GEORGE LOVELL.
15
" Can 3^ou specify the feelings you then had," said his
" Can
will state
1.
them
"I
in order.
saw the
was going
clearly
supposed
justice of
"I could
not see
to hell.
it
in
sending
me
as
just.
how
God
driven
3.
'
away
in
my
wickedness.'
broken resolutions, violated promises, abused mercies, deliberate delays, disobedience to maternal admonitions, neg-
God,
any sense which could be ac-
or not remembering
him
in
ceptable to him.
4.
"
My
to God.
my
ingratitude
my
believe he
his
GEORGE LUVELL.
16
6.
upon
curse
petual,
who do
not render
'
the law
is
its
chastisement
'whole heart
and
sin revived,
I felt
When
faint.'
was ready
Christ.'
sore with
its
personal, per-
it
Gal. 3:10.
of the truth,
my
those
all
my
this
sick
was
yes,
commandment came,
Had
to die.
hopes of
rod.
its
whole head
been willing
solid comfort
and genuine
my
back upon
all at
once.
darling pleasures in
my
me
to a place of refuge
The
he
are,
1.
The strong
2.
3.
professors, or of friends
who
Neglect of self-examination,
Bible.
6.
ter of
God.
Want
of
lukewarm
4.
JVo.
S65.
DUTIES
CHURCH-MEMBERS,
BY REV. THOMAS
SKINNER,
H.
D. D,
the church of
neglected?
What
members
of
God and yet w^hat duties are more generallyAs this neglect may in some measure arise
;
we
duties,
sideration of them.
Our
subject
is,
viewed
in
become them.
Regarded
citizens
as
members
with saints of
all
what manner
how
peculiar,
how
VIII.
lieth
10*
in
different in
life,
wickedness.
from the
Am
DUTIES OF CHURCH-MEMBERS.
member
heaven
in
Am
first-
God's house-
I of
of the
the prophets
and
fulfilling
is
to
to obtain definite
One branch
of the
in
common with
may
distinctly or-
and we cannot
fail
narrower sense.
He
is
himself a
Nor should
intelligence,
moral worth,
more than
why
the
in
fix
to obtain a
in the larger or
church-member, and
ought
1.
No
upon
all
whom
amongst men
shall I live
of
And
men
another man.
in
him,
special reasons
members
to them,
respect.
He
is
and sanction
in heaven.
by
his
own
people, to be
DUTIES OF CHURCH-MEMBERS.
is
others, the
all
and blood
flesh
including
in season
and out
and
Let Paul,
We
"
respect.
labor
families,
his work.
among
in
Thess.
for they
for
Heb. 13
count."
in this obligation
Let
sary.
it
be
under
2.
Avill
And
''Obey
The
comprised
church-member
and
to
obey him
to
in the
esteem
Lord
this head.
Certain men, in
many
own
itself
spect, so every
and does
it
when
it
church-member
dishonor,
Their
And
will receive
worthy church-member.
is
13.
12,
and he
in this
its
own
as a state
officers in re-
is
who behaves
These
duties,
This only
let
me
say, that
DUTIES OF CHURCH-MEMBEUS.
when
member
when he speaks
of
and
fession,
ble, to
acquaint themselves
in
or carries himself
his pro-
is
The members
3,
as occasion requires, or
it,
them contemptuously,
it is
ivlth
one another.
almost impracticable
all
if
possi-
Some churches
for each member
the rest
as to
difficult
with
whom
liable to
excommuni-
principle, cannot
be questioned.
Associated with them in the same communion, and united
to one another, like the
members
most unnatural.
hope
of interest, of
al-
spirit,
week
in the
communing together
cooperat-
common
cause
monness
ly
had
know each
services,
for its
com-
other's
DUTIES OF CHURCH-MEMBERk?.
nor
is it
to
siicli
and
as idlers
and other
to house,
ill-bred
and unchristian as
as undesirable
is
is
it
stantially separated
and be undistinofuishable
in
rejoice," as being in
"made
among
Chris-
mani-
and
by observing these
must
rules
among
ing, Avhich
for the
all
the
members
prompt exercise
may
of Christian
require,
and gives
easy,
sympathy and
4.
The law
fellow-
among them,
free scope
ship as occasions
less
low,"
Similar-
Thouo-h
and
fitness,
cause,
is
re-
clear
and duty.
sway
mandment
them and
if
it
to all
be so necessary for
and be
guiltless ?
all
whom
love to
principle.
And
members
of the
DUTIES OF CHURCH-MEMBERS.
and strange
be very large,
and confidential
sistent
which
class,
with love, as
be able to form a
one another
to
may be
may not
it
love,
is
in his saints.
restrictions,
if
members
the
of
by the Holy
ure,
Spirit,
and
in
clension.
The
was
love.
It
tians,
that enabled
them
make
to
is
by the
brotherly
first
Chris-
way
their triumphant
of brotherly love
civilized world.
among
And
desolations
until
it
the professors of
and
in the beauty,
The members
They
and whether
DUTIES OF CHURCH-MEMBERS.
one member
or one
with
our sins
for
Him who
little
evidence in themselves
con-
is
6.
incumbent on
is
church-members
overtaken in a
such
fault,
in the spirit of
and sympathy
If
confirm them.
If
If
any be
any be
in spiritual trouble,
to counsel
feeble-minded in the
with
o-reat
tenderness
If
to
any are
be sought
their wanderings, or
And
lest
they
faith,
after
to seek each
edification.
who
they
and
who are
mem-
bers should pray for and with one another, admonish and
and
to
gifts to
their graces
manner and
all
themselves.
Yet,
have we not to
many
who show no
whether
them
tion ?
Some
to desolation
Spirit does
and destruc-
DUTIES OF CHURCH-MEMBERS.
by
false
modesty and
and some by
diffidence
want of the
entire
members examine
and power of
life
but
enjoins, " to
with
all
to the
men,
Christians
and more so
it
is
is
live
peaceably
live
peaceably
all
" Behold,
is
among whom
so
Is
Are
Christians growing
ordinances
when they
are
How
divided
The heav-
It is impossible.
with
keep the
be the duty
it
the
still,
many
If
it is
religion.
such church-
let all
with
some
V,
and now
serious,
how
appearance of wiiatever
first
and
its
authors
There
may
peace
division
may
may
be inconsistent with
But even
DUTIES OF CHURCII-MEMBERS.
in
may
all
When members of
if
pos-
if
be avoided.
;
faults
if
own
their
when they
when
in
government
known
come
to be
unwel-
God and
the ministrations
ordinances.
unlooked-for hinderances,
it
is
as
much
church-member
worship, as
it is
of those meetings.
remark
is
The
instantly manifest.
congregation
pubhc
may be
stated meetings of a
when they
member ought
But when they
all
are not
when
there
is
in all
VOL.
VIII.
11
DUTIES OF CHURCH-MEMBERS.
10
is
deemed
some may
on
all
together, so
may
others,
is
For
if
all
assembling themselves
and so may
all.
They plead
some.
and
societies
but
will in others
engagements
some
cases,
it
is
no case
in
to
be
societies
when
neglected
of
benevolent labors
Our benevolent
received.
in
entirely deserted.
vices
their
if
the ser-
may be performed
of those
services
make
in his house,
The business
and
the peculiar
if
this business
makes us
it
If
will pre-
with duties
in the
;
kingdom
of
God, no
unchangeable and
them
to
be
neglected.
It is the
to
God
that they
who preach
church-member
for
if
one
of the
may
It is the
of the Gospel.
bear his
burden
is
obligatory
falls
on every
exonerate himself, so
may
DUTIES OF CHURCH-MEMBERS.
every one.
ordinance of
worthy of
it
his hire ?
useless to
watch
and
for souls,
spiritual things, is
it
And
if
service
Is
"If we have
a great thing
if
we
shall
church, whence
is
withhold support
in
which recompense
''Who goeth a
Who
Why
the church
thought undue
Or who feedeth a
if
thereof
come
their support to
eateth
flock,
own charges?
ought to be distributed
bers.
The
God
in order,
relief of
in just proportions
among
the
mem-
all
to receive
And
that
member
of the church
who
enjoys the chm-ch's privileges, and bears not his part of her
if
If
it
God,
is
may be
DUTIES OF CHURCH-MEMBERS.
12
truly said of private Christians, they are " the salt of the
emphasis
may
Christian
is
it
If a private
together in a church
number
is
not
of Christians associated
Christians, in their
holy and happy pale, to take counsel with each other, and
devise the best plans for exerting their utmost combined
Avitli
its
spirit of its
it
own
its
proper
formed to aid
to
This
is
now
manifest,
es;
those
among
it ?
societies
in
almost
all
the churches
world
God.
dom
Can the
when
should imitate his example, the efforts of Christenfor the propagation of the
He
end?
When
cannot.
virtu-
ally
But
ary
and precepts
if
of the
They
Bible societies,
uted
spirit
in all the
societies,
how
how
are.
Without
Without mission-
among
the
DUTIES OF CHURCH-MEMBERS.
Without education
nations?
trained in sufficient
numbers
how can
how can
God
sary.
is
member
men be
can
of the ministry ?
And
without Sunday-
work
how
societies,
for the
13
All
be rescued
And
all.
the
demand
of the church
who
of
God
does not
member
every
Finally,
11.
of
ought
church
to
What
quents.
bers to repentance,
if
administered, cannot
power
may be pronounced
against delin-
For church-members
is
mem-
by taking part
And
all
spiritual
is it
worthy
membership
in the
in conclusion,
faithful
1.
some
church of God,
let
me
of the considerations
The
strength, prosperity,
and usefulness of
the church,
VOL.
VIII.
11*
;!
14
Let church-members be
plies.
is
daughters are
the world
is
when her
But
cast out
You
church-members
for
sol-
how
great your
Better
is it
in fools
guilt
if
you
are
not
ratified
and punishment,
if
it
w^ould
in all his
he hath no pleasure
vowed.
walk
to
both
declares
church-member
When
into
Your baptism
"
to perform
How
are
per.
What persons
much harm,
an influence so injurious, or do as
these duties.
that
its
and
to her,
and
living exert
her
feels
and true
saltness,
is
the
is
light of Zion
let it
quenched
The
to one another.
and what
faithless,
it.
The
if it
were merely
You would
not,
even
in
of youi* obhgation.
And
will not
violating
DUTIES OF CHURCH-MEMBERS.
15
Your conduct
3,
You have no
personal piety.
self truly pious,
Lord, Lord,
if
fulfil ?
are
if
know God,
or for professing to
him
if
in
if
you deny
enemy
in example, an
you obedient
in
you not
of
God
member
duties as a
you
power
of your
What
the church.
to
if
to Christ's
its
you
are,
And
are
enemy
practically an
if
you
What good
hold?
Who
who
are wicked,
to all righteousness,
duties of
who make
members?
if
not those
members
AVhat
and a stumbling-block
who are
who have
are unprincipled,
of the church
is
world
in
Of
all
persons the
to both observation
he the
Of
all
and
mockery
to the
who
all
And
finally, that,
most fearful.
They
loill
but perish
DUTIES OF CHURCH-MEMBERS.
16
more
They
kingdom
of
God
**
will
members
is
the
doom
by express
This,
of false-hearted
None
and
sin as
do
"
The
Who among
Who among
fire ?
fearfulness
us shall dwell
LOYE
I love
THE CHURCH.
TO
My
These hands
Her
my
heart forget
And
die.
Till toils
and cares
shall end.
watts.
]o.
206.
BLIND BETSEY;
OR,
may
Her
spelling
was
defective,
own hand.
formed, and the lines more uniform, than those not observant
of the ingenuity of the blind would suppose possible.
A
few extracts will convey the state of her mind.
" The Lord has deprived me of sight to read his blessed
word, but I bless him that he continued it to me so long
and above all, that he has given me a glimmering of spiritAVhen I had bodily sight, I
ual sight, which is far better.
was too apt to think it my own, but it was a horroived faI suffer much pain, but if I have a minute's ease, I
vor.
will ascribe it to the goodness of the Lord."
Betsey's loss of sight was attended with extreme pain
and during the first year of her blindness, she describes
She remarks,
herself as "blind, both in body and soul."
**I knew nothing of divine things, till it pleased God to send
a seizure in my knee the pain was very great, so that I had
:
"
BLIND BETSEY.
all
Have
fixed
my
love,
all sin.'
roving heart.'
to read a
word
and look to the blessed word of God let them praise God
for it, and I will praise God that he applies his own words
to my soul, though he has taken my sight."
She attached great value to the word of God, always
requesting her friends who visited her, to read to her some
portion of that " golden treasury," and uttering most earnestly her desire that they would not neglect to peruse it for
themselves adding, " Oh, I would give all I possess, or ever
:
half hour
can rejoice in
my
pain,
is
s sight, to
read
for
my
affliction.
BLIND BETSEY.
If I
give
pleases."
When
God
this
she looked
like
one
whose
Her
sufferings
BLIND BETSEY.
same progand of as long continuance. It was suggested by her medical attendant, that amputation would be
the most probable means of continuing her life: she listened
with humble desire to know the will of God, and was able
for she
to look to the painful operation even with comfort
says, " The Lord strengthened me, and made me feel his
On the day she was removed
strength in my weakness."
it did not
to the hospital, she says, "I felt myself happy
belong to me to murmur, since the Lord had laid it upon me.
He has said, Fear not, for I am with thee I will sustain
The world was then
thee.'
I left all in my Lord's hands.
nothing to me and when carried into the surgical room, I
The Lord carried me
felt no wish either to live or die.
through, and supported me under the operation in a wonOn this painful occasion not a groan esderful manner."
caped her lips scarcely a sigh and when the operators
whispered, " She does not feel," she calmly rephed, " I
feel, but I have supports you know nothing of."
A young student in the hospital saw and was deeply
he afterwards took every
affected by her great serenity
opportunity of visiting her bedside while she remained there.
She felt great interest in him, and prayed earnestly that
God would give him that light which he needed, to show
him who made he?' to differ, and wherein that difference
She said she ''never felt her heart so much
consisted.
engaged in prayer for another." And what encouragement
The young man died before her,
is there to fervent prayer.
'
but
left
'
;;
BLIND BETSEY.
God.'
glory.
have
to love him.
Therefore
my good
of my legs
for
lost
weak
me
work together
and his
and the
by night and day
;
and
in
to depart
Satan and
wicked heart sometimes threaten to overcome me.
I have many doubts and fears.
I am the vilest of the vile,
and can cry out with the publican, Lord, be merciful to me
a sinner.'
Yet I hope, through the blood of Jesus, I shall
at last breathe my soul into his bosom, and, dying, clasp
is
my own
'
him
in
my
this
the
in a
What
still
am
hotter.
My
knee
hospital.
not, but
my
the Lord
is
lows
will
roll
around.
conduct the
Jesus, the
little
good
Pilot, in his
own
time,
my
peaceful breast
While
;;
BLIND BETSEY.
At another time
my
am
still
my
wearisome
called to experience
was
of ages
death as for a chariot to convey me to glory,
to occupy my heavenly mansion, to see my dear Saviour in
his full beauty, and to have done with sin and every care
eternity,
soul
fixed
I looked for
in infinite
Avill
prove.
name
him
'
come.'
BLIND BETSEY.
am
"I
daily waiting
till
out his alroighty hand, and break the vital string, which I
believe shall be my unspeakable gain.
Though I walk
'
Jesus
Though my
My
life is
as a
stormy winter,
my
winter of
life will
The breaches
soon dawn.
must soon
fall.
My
the heavens.'
eternal
it
the
summer
have 'a
dissolving, for I
eternal in
my
I rejoice to feel
the rod
my
is
afflicts
me.
come with
The heavier
it.
I know
that
burden
abhor myself
in
of grace.
Jesus Christ.
A Christian who
frequently visited
me
to possess
castle built
upon a
cannot reach
its
river,
my
glorious inheritance.
rock, the
top.
am
I neither fear
men nor
devils
like
it,
but
I shall
BLIND BETSEV.
8
feel so serene in
my
soul,
such confidence
in the
God
though
of
my
It is as
I walked not by faith noio, but by sight that promcan more fully comprehend than I ever did, They that
trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, w^iich cannot be
removed, but abideth for ever.' "
;
ise I
'
At
Father's
will.
would
am
willingly stay,
quite resigned to
if
my
might be made
which she endured, she said, *'But I cannot tell you what
I have felt in my soul, or what glorious views I have had,
by faith, of a crucified Redeemer. I have viewed him in
the garden of Gethsemane, sweating great drops of blood.
By faith I view him on the cross, his open side, his crown
of thorns."
When in the agonies of death, and expecting
that she was entering the valley, she exclaimed with good
old Simeon, " Lord,
now
lettest
trimmed.
On
am
quite ready."
when her
Jesus
is
Precious Jesus.
I see
him
face
My
have glory in my soul. Can you hear ?
precious.
I have seen thousands of angels around
I
the throne.
Glory, glory
!"
rVo.
"I
367.
AM AN INFIDEL!"
AN AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE.
narrative, possessed from childhood an active and enterprisIn his early youth he perceived that the self-deing mind.
David Hume.
Henry was of an amiable temper and though he had
got rid of the restraints imposed by a belief in revelation,
and wholly neglected the institutions of Christianity, he still
retained, to a considerable extent, that outward morality
which forms one of the distinct folds in the accustomed draof
VOL.
VIII.
1*2*
AM AN
INFIDEL.
the village of
whose husband was absent from home.
Though there was a powerful revival of rehgion in that
place, Henry had kept himself aloof from what he consid,
AM AX
INFIDEL.
broken spirit.
I inquired of him about the state of his mind,
but only received for answer, " I am an Infidel / have
denied the only Saviour, and am now given up of God to eat
the fruit of my own doings /"
His whole soul was immersed
in agony, while the shiverings of a strange unearthly horror,
which ran througii his manly frame, had so prostrated his
muscular powers that he was unable to stand, or even sit
up without support. After giving him some instruction
from the word of God, and praying for him, I left him under
stronger
till
Henry's case
AM AN
L\ FIDEL.
friends
him a
am an Infidel
it is
When
!"
to
en-
treated to break off from some immoral habit, his reply is,
" I AM AN Infidel !"
And when we would set before him
the injury he is doing to the rising generation by withdrawing our youth from under the restraints of the Gospel, he
meets us with the same self- satisfying justification, and
But what if his
gravely tells us that he is " an Infidel !"
What if the Bible,
consoling doctrine should not prove true
after all, should be the word of God, as the Holy Spirit
taught Henry to believe"? Will his having rejected the way
Infidelity can neither deliver from
of life then save him ?
the guilt of sin, nor from the penalty of a righteous law.
It may, indeed, blind the eyes for a time, and enable the
sinner to vralk with a firmer step in the downward road.
But this blindness must all pass away. If the Spirit of God
does not remove it in this world, it will be dispelled by the
light of his countenance in the world to come.
It is easy for men, while immersed in the bustle of business, or running the giddy round of fashionable amusements,
or listening to the pleasant song, to forget God, and put far
It is easy for them, while sitting at a full
off the evil day.
board and joining in the pleasantries of the convivial circle,
to silence the small voice of conscience by the recollection
But the bustle of business, and the
that they are infidels.
giddy round of fashionable amusements, must be laid aside
the song of pleasure must pass away the full board and
Death's awful bereavements
convivial circle must depart.
must break up the dearest relationships of life the largest
possessions must be reduced to the hmits of the narrow
house ; and even the repose of the grave must be broken by
the noise of the heavens and the earth passing away
Then, impenitent sinner, what will you do ? When the
clarion of the Gospel shall be exchanged for the trumpet
of the archangel, and the sceptre of mercy for the sword of
when you shall stand upon a dissolving world, in
justice
the presence of a righteous God when the history of your
life shall be unfolded, the book of God's law opened, and
the offers of mercy rolled up and laid aside, will you be able
to silence the reproaches of an awakened conscience, or still
the throbbings of an aching heart, by exclaiming, " I am an
'?
Infidel?"
No. 68.
TO
THE CARELESS
It
is
may
when he
he
will
is
included in one of
find
something suitable
TO THE CONFIDENT.
To such I would
The Bible spea]is of
no objection to its
its even assuming
taining
it
say, I
it
to
form at the very outset, and mainto the end of the course
inasmuch as it is the
this
gracious design of
God
And
life.
the case
is
know
that
quite conceivable,
in believers
word
of
produce
that
ened
it
in
fident,
is
God
to prevent
it.
It is
it,
is
themselves to hinder
its
It is not that
It will
we
are strait-
inquiries.
TO THE CONFIDENT,
2
1.
is
error.
the
first
with
all
is
it
is
wrong.
part to understand
This
Examine
reveals the ground of hope
concern.
in
on the sinner's
me
ask you,
Is
in
work
I ask,
Is
3,
mean,
is it
yourself from
all filthiness
of the flesh
call
it
faith,"
by the
it
is
TO THE DIFFIDENT.
To such I would say, let it be well considered, whence
your want of confidence arises. So far from blaming diffidence, w^hen considered as meaning self-distrust or selfjealousy, I would apply to it the words of Solomon,
" Blessed is the man that feareth ahvay."
But there is a
desponding diffidence, which wonders at the cheerful confidence of others, while
it is
itself
TO THE CONFIDENT,
You may
be looking too
much
to
yourself,
in the
it is,
and to keep
When
it.
what imparts to
Does he look forth
ilous tempest,
tranquillity ?
way
to find
is
his
the mariner
firmness of
its
He
No.
it?
its
he
calls to
seas
through in safety.
peace, and security, and joy, in surveying the sufiiciency of
the foundation on Avhich our hopes are built not shifting
and he that
You
as they
will tell
ought
to
be
such
failures, that
would
have peace
To such
Remember,
to Christ
no
you never
sufficiently
to your
will
come
will
with
own
faith
a love at
is
I hope
you love him
no love,
obligations
never be true
is
where there
all
you
for while
and even
in
heaven
live
itself,
on earth,
this
although your
when meas-
it
of. its
it
is
and
would
infinite,
it
many
from
cool,
exposed as
chilling influences.
it
The very
is,
in this world, to so
love,
is
the
is
man
its
included in
that feareth
alwa}^"
3.
How
maintained
is
it
in lively exercise,
How
Is
it
by
sitting
former times, or
thinking of
hi
TO THE CONFIDENT,
strengthen attachment.
heavenly Friend.
It is not
will
who
of
them
to
is,
not setting
will lead
us
to
if
When you
Jesus.
and are
plied
still
conscious
deficiencies,
let
as
who
this
is
not
of sad
and multi-
let
it
still
what
is
is
is
needful, to en-
wantino-. to correct
what
what
what
is
is
corrupt, to spiritualize
earthly, to elevate
TO THE CARELESS.
Some may read this Tract who are careless about their
own interest in the important mattei*s of salvation and eterWho will dispute it?
I call them important.
nal life.
Their importance
is
unutterable.
judgment assents
Men
hear,
settling,
you are
may
enter
To-morrow
itself,
life,
fixed
know
on which you
may to you be
and immutable
Are you,
eternity.
which
tinction
is
may
be professing to believe
But
if
you
knew and
really
remain as you
it
are, careless
it
The
not eternal
life, is
question,
a question de-
There
hath not
given
all
life
life."
He
life
its
They
divine original.
interesting to you.
question,
home.
Have
have this
life, is
to
that
are interesting to
you
eternal life
they are
edness in eternity.
all
is its
May God
in
it,
is
moment
essential to
your
to
both
IVo.
SHALL
369.
COME
TO
"A
to you.
first place, then, when you call this person "pisuppose you mean, not merely that he is thoughtful,
or seriously reflecting, or moral in the ordinary sense of the
term, or even a professor of religion, but that he is one
whose heart you have reason, in the judgment of charity,
to believe has been changed by the grace of God.
Again, you speak of communing as the "duty " of your
and by this I presume you mean, it is an obligation
friend
In a very important sense,
immediately 2)ressing upon him.
indeed, it is the duty of all to whom the Gospel message
is come, to partake of the holy supper, and no such person
But if he
can decline this without incurring great guilt.
come otherwise than God has commanded, he offends. So
If he partakes, he
awful is the condition of such a person
What, then, must he do ?
if he does not, he sins.
sins
There is but one way of safety for him. Let him immediately " flee for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before
him" in the Gospel. Let him repent and believe, and come
In the
ous,'' I
VOL.
viii.
13*
SHALL
to neglect either
is
command.
But they
deemer.
I.
to
With
of your friend.
And
it
now endeavor
seems to me,
these will in a great measure be dissipated by a bare consideration of the nature of the ordinance.
The Lord's supper is spiritual food, designed to sustain and invigorate
sjDiiitual life, even as the symbols of bread and wine therein
Such, we believe,
used, nourish and strengthen the body.
is the simple, scriptural character of this institution.
Now,
the question is, Who ought to sit down to this feast ; the
And when we
friends, or the enemies of the Lord Jesus ?
mention these two classes of persons, we have enumerated
all around us.
For as it regards the cause of Christ, there
" they who are not for me,"
is no such thing as neutrality
says he, " are against me."
If we are not his friends, we
must be his enemies. Which of these, then, are proper
guests at the table of the Lord ?
This is a question, we
conceive, that admits of a ready answer.
Certainly, we
should expect, at the supper of the Lord, to behold none
but the friends of the Lord and the absence of any of
these ought to be as great a grief to us as the presence of
his enemies.
:
Who,
We
lish a
SHALI-
who
newness of life."
as we would not give material food to a dead
man the very fact of his being dead would make this unreasonable and useless
so ought we not to give spiritual
food to those who are " dead in trespasses and sins, who
*'
walk
in
Now,
Not having
unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord,"
the "bread of God" could not profit them.
As, then,
natural food is for living men, so spiritual food
the Lord
Jesus fed on by faith, in his supper is for living souls,
those who have been quickened by the Spirit of God from
the death of "trespasses and sins," and who therefore
*'walk with God."
But only j^enitent believers " vxxlk with
God ;" such, then, are they who have been made " alive
Avalk according to the course of this world."
alive
We
fore
SHALL
and
ity
2.
and
Has a
corruption,
" lifted up, that whoso-
in the
way
of his appoint-
Do you
God
world?"
SHALL
Lord Jesus
my
heart to
Christ,
my
SHALL
6
tliose
we have
of this ordinance ?
It is
who have
And
is
to proclaim our-
the enemies
of Christ.
communion."
SHALL
and
To this we reply, Thou art mistaken, O man
For as the
plainly " writest bitter things" against thyself.
worldly soul has not one "fruit of the Spirit," so every
;
He may
believer has them all in a greater or less degree.
indeed be very deficient in some graces of the Spirit, yet
he is not utterly destitute of any one of them. Hence, to
or of the penisay of the true believer, he is not penitent
tent, he has no humility
or of the humble-minded, he has
no boldness in the Lord or in general, to speak of the
Christian as being devoid of any one grace, is a downright
solecism in religion.
Be assured, the "new creature in
Christ" is a perfect man, though he may be feeble in many
of his members.
If we really have one of the graces of the
Sjyirit in any degree, we have them all, though perhaps
none eminently so. And it is just to nourish and invigorate
the "new man" in the graces of the Spirit, that the Lord's
is
means of grace.
We
Is this right ?
answer decidedly. No. The Lord's supper is indeed a means of grace, but it is spiritual food, and to offer
spiritual food to a dead soul is something worse than folly.
He who has not been by divine grace " made ahve unto
SHALL
God through
and
sins ;"
or, in
Your
friend in the
b. p. a.
]Vo.
270.
TRAVELLER
AT
Miss
is
thought
then, that
she should
But so
visit
came
and in this
became acquainted with her.
It was the unspeakable privilege of this young person
to have a pious mother, whose godly life and scriptural instructions produced deep and tender feelings on her youthful mind.
Her mother prayed for her, and icith her, and
regularly took her to the house of God.
Happily for her,
the preaching she attended was of the right kind, and deepened the impressions which were made at home. It was
similar to that which the venerated Legh Richmond de" It is simple, earnest, scriptural, plain, and interscribes
esting.
The awful condition of a sinner in his natural state,
aild the consolations and promises of a Saviour, are dwelt
upon throughout their prayers and discourses." 0, were
die in a foreign land.
it
to pass,
w^ay I
what a glorious transformation would it produce throughout Christendom, yea, throughout the world
By these means her memory was well stored with hymns
and portions of the Bible, and a grand outline of the way of
Impressions thus made in early life are seldom
salvation.
of such truths,
This I particularly noticed in the experideparted friend and parents and preachers too
may draw great encouragement from this thought, when
VOL. VIII.
14
entirely effaced.
ence of
my
A TRAVELLER AT THE
knowledge of
of
Christ.
with him
in
saint,
my
coffin."
I sat
trying at the
same time
to recollect
if
before
"
''
The
am
this pelisse
when
was
greatly altered.
at chapel
My
illness
my
it is
has reduced
soul outweighs
me
to a shad-
all
my
bodily
pains."
room.
It
She
is
an angel
is
assure
she, that
you
it is
cient for
you
to rest upon,
when you
judgment-seat of Christ?"
"
no," she replied.
''And suppose that you could command all the excellences of all the good people in the world, would all this
together be a sure foundation on which you could venture
the salvation of your soul ?"
"No," she
avail to
A TRAVELLER AT THE
4
Never had
ness.
It is scarcely possible to witness
how it
when we behold
discovers
the vanity of
a fellow-
all
earthly things,
mercy
life
for
pressions of
many who
burden
is
am
greatly distressed."
"Yes," she
but,
my
replied, "it
unbelief, this
is
is
very true
my burden.
know
it
all
the encouragement.
this hard, this
religious impressions,
When
was young,
made me
"
hut
miserable."
How
here?"
''
or in neighboring countries."
"How
No
'
is
is a man profited,
own soul:?' "
and now I am miser-
wliat
his
it,
able."
I replied, " It wovild
be strange if you were not miserabut recollect it is a great mercy that your conscience is
not seared as with a hot iron that God has not said respectthat the Spirit, whom you have
ing you, Let her alone
Yes, I consider
grieved, has not ceased to strive with vou.
ble
'
yoL.
viii.
'
14''
it
TRAVELLER AT THE
so
is
You
much ahve
to the
and you know there is only one remedy for miserable sinTake that remedy. Embrace that Saviour. Flee to
ners.
Trust
that refuge.
in
Christ
is
"
There
a fountain
is
filled
with blood,
Lose
The dying
Wash
At
flood,
guilty stains.
all their
all
my
vile as he.
sins away."
this
ceed no farther.
After a few days I called again, and was happy to find
trusting in her Redeemer to
him the
think
*'
mercy
that
God
''I
hope," said
me
me."
What
Is it because you
leads you thus to hope ?
you are better than you were before ?"
No
am
who have
which hope we
visit
was
to
'
that
we might have
strong
me
"
We
END OF HER JOURNEY.
in
it
at the review.
what have I
been doing
How have I wasted my precious time I
have been grasping at shadows
I have been feeding on
husks
deceived heart has turned me aside."
These words were spoken with much difficulty, in a low
tone, and with long pauses between.
She added, " I have been thinking of others also. The
world is in a dangerous condition. I see it now. Yes
!
but make
my
could I
I can,
am
afraid
we
are too
much
en-
but
Men
The chains
'
is
A TRAVELLER, ETC.
,8
am going
am happy ;" and
its
flight,
on the day
soon be over
six
weeks
am happy
after I first
saw
her,
Standing, as
it
the
life
and dying.
and, alas,
it
is
of sin
and
It is
Mr. Cecil mentions a case of this kind. He had been conversing with an afflicted man about the evils of his conduct,
when his wife interiTipted Mr. Cecil, by assuring him that
" Silence," said
her husband had been an excellent man.
the dying penitent, "it
is all
true
!"
refuge of
lies
in spiritual consolation.
an
]\o.
PRAYER.
BY THE REV. SETH WILLISTON
The above
title
on this Tract.
promote the
will
it
God
spirit of
Without
his
prayer neither
in
A
its
for
due examination of
duty
this
performance.
I.
The Scriptures
1.
By precejJt.
OBLIGATION TO PRAYER.
clearly inculcate the duty of prayer.
Of the repeated
injunctions of the
Lord God,
of Israel, to do
it
for
Old
them."
Ezek. 36
37.
God
here
The
New
earnestness.
"He
pray."
Christ urged
He
said,
it
"Ask
seekknockwatch
always to pray,
Matt. 26': 41.
question.
one of them
Rom. 12 12
Thess. 5:17; 1
:
Pet.
fail
duty
in
and
men ought
and not to faint." Luke 11:9; 18:1;
Paul, Peter, James, John, and Jude, who
John,
PRAYER.
By
2.
example.
all
Gen. 4
described as
83;
men of
Those
Isaac,
prayer.
Gen. 18 23-
illustrious
decendants of
theirs,
Abraham,
26.
of sacred history
represented as
all
What
the
fact, that
such
men
is
with God.
ignorant of
a spirit of devotion
women
as
The worthies
the
of
We
this duty.
himself.
He
and
New
who
garded
of
know
prayed much.
up
late
conscientiously re-
this
To engage
in this duty,
he
all
6:12.
3.
The Scriptures
will," said
Ghost, ''that
of the
Nehemiah prayed
at
pagan empire,
its
claims to
all
Silas, in
classes of
None
freed
Daniel,
both.
felt
poor.
we can never be
men
''I
one
Jo-
the prison.
society to
holy ministry
to
The servant
of
Abraham prayed
to the
same God
to'
which
PRAYER.
From
his
life
is
the
exempt.
" Both young men and maidens, old men and children, let
them praise the name of the Lord." The little child as well
as the aged man, should kneel before the Lord his Maker.
Psalm 148 12, 13 1 Samuel, 1 28 Luke 2 49, 52.
4. The Scriptures represent this duty as essential to
:
Christian character.
God
''
mvinof alms
25
Acts 10
None
2.
certain indications of a
"
What
what
21
is
we
shall
An
have,
immoral
who say,
we should serve him ? and
we pray unto him ?" Job
life
if
is
more
Luke
more
profit
15.
ISTor is it
any
it
will
the
God
and a neglect of
sufficient
duty
is
is
conversion to
considered as furnishing
however promising
Job 21
this
convert the
"Behold, he prayeth,"
it
once
may have
been.
Acts 9
11
10.
II.
prayer, they are very far from approving every thing which
Matt. 5
20
5.
It
concerns us
were more
offensive.
know what
prayer which God
all
to
are
will
;;
PRAYER.
4
our heart before him
Psalm 73
etc.
Heb. 4
28
"
27
Psalm 119
26
62
It has,
16.
Gen. 18
up
Without
is
may be
There
God.
to
no
desires be holy
up
Psalm 25
God.
Prayer
is
of the soul to
1.
It is
poverty and
ignorance,
and guidance weakness,
coming to wisdom
for instruction
is
opened
and uncleanness
for sin
^guilt,
pleading, not for a repeal of the law, but for the forgiveness
of sin through an infinite atonement.
engage
in this duty,
To be prepared to
The pride of our
we must be humble.
We
must have
faith
prayer.
heart, the
Lord
A suhmisslve
will not
sjjirit is
and that he
unless
is
we
exer-
iniquity in our
hear us.
The
is,
cise
God
believing that
is
increased as
much by
the
coi--
faith.
among which
in
faith
God.
Indeed, the
prevalent.
in
rendering prayer
PRAYER.
A forgiving sjnrit
faith
and submission.
very
exjDlicit
"
may
forgive
On
When
is
this point
God
As
injuries.
thankful sinrit
the
is
Isa.
access
we
This
and venture
in his
to
we
name.
Should
It is equally
by
fire
spread be-
we both have
Ephes. 2:18. The
Father.'"
is all
directs us to
Son
necessary
and trusting
in
our
own
lest,
gifts,
we
whom we
the duty.
26
in the
to forgive us,
is
have
in heaven,
is
While we are
if ye,
we cannot
still,
pray.
to render thanks
borne, but
we need
''
help in
it
from God.
by prayer and
affliction to
giving, let
be
Phil.
PRAYER.
We
6.
our
relatives,
and
civil rulers
The burden
14
25
21
Tim.
church
petitions
and
Lord's
Of
six
prayer,
life.
We
all
are written
received,
all
need.
is
If this gift
And when
will
yard,
it
cannot retain
its
moment.
The Scriptures,
as
fruitfulness except
The prayers we
circumstances.
Israel,
which
Isa.
we have
it
32
it
15
by a continu-
27:3.
them
find in
When Moses
any part of
field,
divine watering,
ance of this
cise.
be withheld,
fail
sinner.
is
we
The atonement
11: 13.
prayed
at the first
dedicatory.
The Saviour's
made with
that
;
interesting
John
17.
occasion-
;;
PRAYER.
The prayers
This
is
of
7
abound with arguments.
Abraham, Jacob, Moses,
and
Gen. 18
9-12
Num. 14 13-19
:
Chron. 20
John
5-12
2 Kings, 19
23-33
7:7-9; Psalm 25
Josh.
:
14-19; Neh.
32
11
Dan. 9
17.
arguments, or reasons,
why
be granted.
honor God.
We
selfish.
They
all
redound to
perfectly
his
it is
own
in his
great
we understand and
and
fallen world,
fully
the exercise
son
who
is
leads.
him who
speaking
is
in
Let
is
is
mercy-seat
of adoption,
and a
and
let
and
it
him
at the
cannot
fail
spirit
and language.
Violent gestures, a noisy utterance, and dictatorial and censorious language, are utterly incompatible with the nature
of this duty.
awe
to give pain to
devout
PRAYER.
1.
his being,
dependence on him
God who
It is a practical
acknowledgment of
perfections,
we
for all
By
not glorified.
Is
it
whether town,
2.
Prayer
city, state, or
not on his
call
name ?
ment of
converse
monly
we form
before him,
name.
we
for
Here,
present
also,
we
and the
enjoy-
and perfections
acquaintance
in Christ
and
That immediate
the duty.
is
13-15.
that
such as
such he
not evident to
nity,
entire
Those creatures of
possess.
Hence, prayer
It also
sin.
promotes
faith
all
praise.
Nothing more
friends,
is
of
Nor
for
me
is it less
to
God
nearness to
pared with
cup of
this
affliction.
apostle, "let
it.
was.
said one
is
good
and nothing
is
like
it
" Is any
him pray."
" It
among you
James 5 13.
:
afflicted," says
an
PRAYER.
life
aged
saint,
means
sleepless hours,
for comfort,
to
Prayer
3.
is 'p'^'^^alent
with God.
It
God
is
And
Ye have
not,
consists
in
effectual
fervent
much?"
James
13
prayer of
5
is
to help others
Do
Luke 11
If prayer has
does
it
no
include inter-
why
The
availeth
cession ?
3:1.
2 Thess.
it
who pray
man
righteous
the
16.
most
Has
9:37, 38
Matt.
It is a
to receive blessings.
chil-
again he
made
is
Do we
for them.
them the
not
blessing of health ?
joy
2 Cor.
it ?
1:11; James
Prayer, unlike
God
jects,
himself.
we
all
15
Rom. 10
Renouncing dependence on
all
12.
1.
infiuence on
created ob-
know we what
2 Chron. 20
its
to do, but
That
God
on himself,
is
made
VOL.
VII!._
Let
me
alone."
Exod. 32
15*'
10.
PRAYER.
IQ
many
23 Josh. 10:12
Sam. 1:27; T 9-12 Ps. 18 6-50 1 Kings, 18 36-45
Ezra 8 21, 31
2 Chron. 14 9-15 20 5-30 32 20-23
Neh. 1, 2 Dan. 9 21-23 Esther 4 16, compared with
See Gen. 32
answers to prayer.
1
Ps. 106
The
New Testament
his-
The
And
down such
the power
12
of Satan unto
God throughout
Could we have the
all
of prayer,
ago,
when
all
is
generations.
blessings.
I well
revivals of religion
for the
that
the
months
on
were
nothing peculiar in
God"
to
Avrestle ?"
The
for
w^restling.
this
outpouring
bestowment of
65:2.
it
pour out
the memorial of
Ps.
greatest of
To be the Hearer
5-17.
Zion's
was
a mighty influ-
few
"Do
PRAYER.
Who
can
II
what a multitude
tell
The case
answer
in
of Moni-
was
much
but
in grace,
when
and
remote posterity
in a
And
was followed
known
well
is
to the grave
scendants, almost
of
all
to his fathers,
and
years,
every good
would be found
in
and
in
God
requires,
my heart to
and which
is
dictated
Let
2 Cor. 12
it
which
it
by
his Spirit, is
always
pray
it
is
pref-
7, a.
necessity of an inward
them from
and
radical
feel the
;;
PRAYER.
12
prayers, and
all
their
your
relating to the
life
you
will
wicked
them
him thanks
if
not before,
Mai. 3
IV.
The
of God, or giving
him not."
eth
And
come.
to
have not
18.
all
prayer,"
is,
in all those
feel that
they are
all
Mediator.
one mouth, or
the hearts of
many
all.
using a
No
it
name
of a
common
be pronounced with
common
union
It is a
When
its
prevalence.
Matt. 18
its
19.
inter-
men,
whom
3
;
PRAYER.
him
this secret
God
of heaven concerning
This
whether
true,
is
branches of
this
Sanctuary 2'>rayer.
1.
common
ISTone
be consulted about
and the
tered,
is
is
preached, and
from heaven, or
it
it
with
the
claims to
it.
officers of
26, 2Y
is
It is
He
is
Acts 14
Here,
23.
Avith prayer.
Gospel
also, the
will
And
effect.
surely
we
Psalm 116
14-17;
17-19
See 2 Chron. 30
25-30
Matt. 11
Tim. 2
27
Ezra 9
Acts 6
4-15
1
Cor.
14
its
1.
objects than social prayer in general, but not to the exclusion of a special
remembrance
bly.
it
is
exerted on an asis
often as direct
Prayer -meetings.
God,
for the
advancement of
his
in their
kingdom.
prayers
Such was
PRAYER.
14
the house of
at
liberation of Peter.
may
be either
need
of,
which
is
some
events,
particular
suggested by passing-
which are
wholly composed of
its officers
and
is
it
But,
not desirable
still,
they would
be prayer-meetings.
votion interesting
Nor ought
hearts.
in these exercises.
The reading
of
Scriptures, or
fail
in
who
Let a company of
from some
religious
book or
periodical, brief
may
meeting
is
more
discussion, as
is
votion,
may
may be
But whether
meeting,
it
the
and
When
it
ought ever to be
sanctified
truth.
by the
However
spirit of de-
lightly
many
PRAYEH.
The
every month,
interest.
ligion
15
extends to
It
is
first
is
embraced
all
in its
Monday of
uncommon
came
It
into existence
days
and when
it
is
viewed
now making by
in
the va-
may be
it
dependent on God
Could we see
er interest
could
Christian observed
we have
it,
have ground
for strong
Some
lennial glory.
tians, to
pray
Sabbath-schools
second
we should
Monday
is
somewhat
on the
month.
in the
That for
extensiv^ely observed,
many
of
Praijev
among
select friends.
We
read of Christ's
minded.
In
its
it
resembles the
it
and while
it
in pro-
all saints,
''
The ronunyvion
of the
Holy
Ghost.'*
PRAYER.
16
Under
may
head
this
with prayer,
on
will,
Who
edifying.
An interview
visits.
this
oftener, connect
designed to be closed
Ephesian elders at
Tyre?
is
Acts 20
In
36
21:5.
meet on purpose
to each other,
less entirely
to
and to
When the
Red
hand, and
doubt-
Scriptures nar-
of Israel
all
the
women went
fast,
21
Jews of Shu-
my
Luke
After Esther
Exod. 15
fast likewise.
Judges 21
It is
of their hearts
20, 21
38-56.
Esther
4,
maidens
16.
will
See also
own
and there
is
moment
exerting a very
in
happy
influ-
promoting the
down
the bless-
to call
No
its
family altar.
PRAYER.
who have
of all
wherever he pitched
he erected
and called on the name of the Lord. Joshua
altar,
me and my
resolved,
"As
Lord."
David worshipped
for
returned to bless
Joshua 24
example
17
stances in
we
serve the
will
sanctuary, and
Gen. 12
household.
15; 2 Samuel, 6
is
liis
house,
the
in
his tent,
Our
20.
V,
then
13:18;
Saviour,
whose
permitted.
life
He had no
twelve disciples:
ate, travelled,
and
Luke
36, 37.
18
11
1,
them
At
portance.
children,
place,
God
its
observance, parents,
be assembled
in
one
is
other exercises.
domestic
circle,
When
exercise.
addressed.
in the
all
of the grace of
life,
and
prayers will
Peter, 3
become
heirs
VOL.
is
VIII.
16
PRAYER.
18
ers.
divine truth,
whether
may
sung,
more protracted.
brief, or
which
is
The
state of the
hymn which
read, or the
is
The family
sins
their
All are to be
prayed
and
for collectively,
Such
vidually.
if
circumstances
call for
it,
indi-
In a family
little girl at
was
attention
first
tic
at,
by hearing
when
chamber,
Dr. Cotton Mather had fifteen children, and hved to see the
greater part of
them
When
they were
many
would pray with him and make him the witness of the
child,
ao-onies
and
strono^ cries
This
gives
falls
them opportunity
to labor
is
and
2.
is left
"Wlien
in
it
saltlie
widow-
it
PRAYER.
at our meals
This practice
family worship.
who gave
19
comprehended
is
Luke 9:16;
24: 30.
God
thanks to
presence of them
in
quently renews
its
claims
upon
be neglected, or performed
in
and
us,
Acts 27
all."
brief,
is
35.
one which
fre-
too important to
is
in
is
which the
It is expressly
visits.
required that the elders of the church should pray with the
James 5
sick.
Prayer
14, 15.
under obligation
As
visits.
is
is
prayer in private
visits
church, or by other
6.
Prayer in
members appomted
schools.
Prayer
instiiiction,
as
not
is
officers of
a suitable exercise in
Nothing
greater
acter of
moment
its
is
of
schools.
all
all,
the university
down
without prayer
solemn,
all,
life
and
it
is
should be exerting a
God
the
to this service.
The
by the
by their respective
blessing of
religious
teachers.
com-
From
PRAYER.
20
It
er.
is
Prayer connected
7.
ness.
He
requires that
alone
"the
is
w^ell
as individual capacity.
this requisition
way
the appointed
is
Jehovah,
is
High
ways
and
and
name
our
in all
What
can be more
strictly
hlies
How
come, in
them
and to
own.
ISTor is it less
He
the earth
of
all
;"
"Take heed,"
courts, "
do
now
it
who
for there
is
is
for
Where-
is
2 Chron. 19
6,
and prayer
to
God
will
and counsellors
that witnesses
may
may
be given.
in
every instance
PRAYER
Two
main
21
to be considered.
8.
Ejaculatory grayer.
It
company.
It
may be
sol-
so intense
it
It
was
in
Sam. 1:13.
This
the kind of
is
moment when
Nehemiah 2 4.
holy David seemed so much
of Persia.
The meditations
in
which
his psalms,
all
The
every verse
This
is
can be a stranger
born of God.
increased as to
all
into the
bosom
prayer
Lam.
fill
the business of
at the very
up
all
life,
moment
is
56
Acts 9
Avhen
will
we
VOL.
VIII.
may
who
is
be so
them
cups, even
off.
The
in holy aspirations
It
are drinking
sacrifice.
11.
and sweeten
of his God.
13.
16*
all
which
kindle every
PRAYER.
22
Though
Closet prayer.
9.
a closet
is
a small apartment
word
to
mean
any-
we
or pride of observation,
prayer to God.
The devotions
That
we
matter,
He
in secret, to
view of the
we were about
practised.
tire
And
his
own example
is
proof, that,
door,
At one
any of
we
time
Mark
35
up
Matt. 14
into a
23.
in
it,
he dropped
all
tance
and
at
engage
pray
we have
seen,
own
is
family.
of great impor-
its
To preserve the
secret devotion,
is
distinction
of greater importance to a
life
of piety
Does
its
the
perforrtiance ?
*'are the
breaking
hedge of duty."
down
of the
He
hedge which
incloses
your
field.
PRAYER.
23
duties
to famish.
It
But the
Spirit.
God
divine apis
not
sacrifice, offered
of
unfavor-
God
of Israel,
is
it
is
is said,
made
for
Psalm 72
him
continually,
"Everyday,"
Psalm 145:2.
15.
In the
life
mention
of Christ,
is
made
Family and
duties
who
of his
is
be considered as daily
than moraing
less frequent
and evening.
it
and
to
of the
day
At
top to pray.
a king,
devotion.
far
it
Acts 10:9.
who was
Is
for closet
resolutions of
Psalm 55
17.
This
is
also record-
men who
6:10.
The
recurrence, which
enough
vital
fully occu-
to satisfy the
man
of prayer.
is
so
Dan.
and of frequent
:
In a duty of such
much under
individual
PRAYER.
24
control,
it
state of piety,
who
own
in his
own
much
closet
and
always to
Every man
heart, in his
and
family,
God
And
in prayer.
his
fills
He
Here he pleads
who
Father
tell his
for
God many
brings before
in-
Here he
can
the
is
conclude
many
it
Paul made so
1:3;
he intercedes.
lievers ?
Col.
whom
was principally
Thess.
sketch has
1:2;
15, 16
Phil. 1
3,
4.
now been
is
closet
Between these
Avill
cret duties
are,
in
Sesince,
any heart.
God
His situation
him out
may
be such, at
of the sanctuary
dif-
Ejacu-
a perfect harmon}-.
in the
domestic
and
cir-
but should he
Father
in secret.
There
is
know
PRAYER.
how
not
25
I refer to fasting.
Christ
himself fasted, and his disciples frequently connected fasting with their prayers.
which there
solemn accompaniment, to
It is a
is
in times of
of the
ejection of an unclean spirit, said, " This kind goeth not out
21
who
abroad in
is still
those
who
been
fasting?
Let
by church or
state
but, like
See 2 Sam. 12
2
earth
there
37.
is
Matt. 6
of secret fasts.
You
of the earth
16-18; Zech. 12
my
is
members of
all
and
it is
to be
Yet, in the
The controversy
is
The
side
the side
this practi-
address not
to universal dominion.
how
10-14.
remarks on
conflict in
host;" while
army.
and the
moral
out,,
be a great multiplication
mere members
Christ.
among
Avill
be cast
spirit shall
filled
which
is
approved by
make such
all
and 0,
a choice
PRAYER.
26
*'
These
shall
overcome them
for
he
is
Lord of
lords,
Daniel 7:18.
Christians,
spirit
saints of the
;
and
shall overcome,
such as are
It is
he
''called,
14
are
that
:
20.
under your
the kinordom
Rev. 17
by your instrumentality.
to be effected
As
called,
The
shall
of kings
faithful."
fallen
Lamb
and King
by a
to be followed
Lamb
which the
faithful."
Christian warriors,
p-ayer.
It is a
dividual of
all
weapon
peculiar to yourselves
It
it.
is
not an
in-
the weapon
to their help.
it
shall
be greatly increased.
drawing near,
is
prayer
made
must
Isa.
He
66
is
8.
now
The God
waiting to
Isa.
62
6, 7.
PRAYER
Prayer
is
27
brings
it
prayer to
It is the nature of
even for
things,
all
its
own
feel its
dependence on God
existence
may
you
be 'prayerful.
spirit of devotion.
Cherish
early, or sit
up
late
Prize the
and seek
and
Lord's
it
for prayer.
spiritual.
Frequent
if
interest to the
whole exercise.
more than
to you,
Rise
prayer -meetings,
may be
closet.
tions.
in
for
will, therefore,
liouse
ever, a
become,
of prayer."
Fill
day of devotion
more emphatic
in a
and
let
the
after
you have
God on
its
holy exercises.
engage
in
blessing.
Pray that
that
it
may
may
that
may become
may be effectual
its discipline
that
its
minis-
office
and that
may
its light,
and
spiritual
may be
the genuine
work
of the
Holy
Spirit.
Before
the latter day glory of the church shall arrive, there must
be such a measure of divine influence shed down on Gospel lands as will altogether surpass any thing which has
PRAYER.
28
And
The conversion
would seem
for this
fervor,
such a
in prayer, as
Brethren,
and yet a
have
them add
qualifications,
go
whom God
and
and
there be any,
who
who
they can
who
let
if
us do to
Let those
their prayers.
And
let
all
us be
to their pecun-
those
liberally
let
Let those
it
of Christendom itself
up and
we
way
to prepare the
la-
such do what
let
lib-
accepted.
ISTow,
call
is
may
let
the wicked
man
his
thoughts
near
let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy
upon him and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
and
Note.
premium of
fifty dollars,
offered
by a
friend,
was
jVo.
272.
THE ADVANTAGES
OF
SABBATH-SCHOOLS,
While contemplating "the signs of the times," we have
sometimes thought, that "if the Holy Spirit were again, as
of old, to select twelve
work
direct
them
mankind," and
of converting
for this
purpose should
stant improvement
all
as
onward
the estimate
we have
in its appropriate
imassuming
title
walks of usefulness,
of school,
it is
may seem
and
have been prompt-
to
seem extravagant,
will scarce
we
if
this institution
is
may be
influence
properly estimated,
us glance at the
let
it
We
confers them.
manner
in
which
in
it
by
provides,
its
schools, for
facilities for
and
in
the education of
no one certainly
is
its
yet
Up
unequally distributed.
and
territories
those
And
poor."
who
are willing
its
advan-
to call themselves
"the
generation.
middle
states.
is
According to an
official
and
statement, there
instruction.
members
tion.,
in
of society.
they
ivill
knowledge, or
in
be
educated
ignorance
in
industry or in
as good, or as evil
knowledge whicli is the only safeguard of individual or naand are thus rendered liable to become, at
any moment, the victims of temptation and depravity.
Here, however, the Sabbath-school steps in to redeem them
from degradation and vice, and train them up for intelligence and virtue.
The common-school system, indeed,
aims at the same results, and those results, were it imiversal, it might universally accomplish
but here it stops. Beyond this point its efforts are not even directed. And this
tional welfare,
suggests what
is
aim
is,
moral and
Knowledge
that wisdom
"
in
the woes of
hell.
with
all its
conduct.
to bear
It
throws around
its
motives
sway the
influence the
life,
and
fit
them
to prepare their
minds
for the
;;
Such an education
the individual on
to himself
whom
it is
will
be happy on
in affliction,
flict,
and
life
trial,
victory in con-
character
it ?
What but
to a civilized state
And
opposite directions
is
is
is
to be
found
in early religious
It acts
prospects
if
its
duties and
its
is
it."
Ignorance
is
not the
religious instruction
is
the
Facts
ty.
become
testify, that of
those
year,
a krge
proportion are
in Sabbath-schools.
in
one
district,
Of
within a
In another
and 522
scholars,
of rehgion.
whom
110 entered
during the
first
was 26,393.
be adduced.
scriptural education of
its
its
direct
spirit.
of the Sab-
:Q
bath-scliool system
me/ for
me
all
who
is,
that
it
aims to
2^^'ovide suitable
its
influence.
read*'
Let
server of
human
nature
"
me
let
But
if
how
it
is
how
glory of God.
recommend the
institutions
and pleasing
circle.
instruction,
To
all
There is another consideration which will aid us to estimate the value of these publications, though the benefits
which they confer cannot be fully appreciated until disclosed by the light of eternity.
It is that they take the
place of the silly and worthless books which, half a century
ago, w^ere the sources of youthful instruction and amuse-
ment, and,
corruption.
we may
Who
not only excludes from the nursery and the parlor such
miserable trash as " Tom Thumb " and " Goody Two-Shoos,"
but substitutes
is
in their place
ness in heaven
mind
and happi-
blessings
and,
by the manner
in w^hich
is
stowed.
is
the
memory
is
is
tender, conscience
is
good
dutiful
and obedient."
is
recognized by the
men
of
TFIE
this world,
ADVANTAGES OF SABBATH-SCHOOLS.
are too often " wiser in their generation
who
Roman
Cataline,
when
plotting the
overthrow of the
republic,
be
made
How
important then
is
it,
mould
tal
its
able.
It is
that
its benefits
ashamed
poor," and
Hence
feel
to avail themselves
sary expense,
easily
may be
in
ers,
and that
Sabbath
to
to
fact,
our country not far from 100,000 Sabbath-school teachtheir compensation, at thirty- three cents per
the
3,300,000 dollars
distributed
by
all
sum
is
annually
The place
the teaching, as
The use
we have
of the libraries
seen,
is
gratuitous
all
who
like the
its
money and
without price."
But another
tem
tend
it
that
is,
its
its
Did
Did
its
seek to extend
it
signs
would
state,
"field
is
its
labors, or
human
hensive benevolence.
its
favors
benefits.
is
None
self-sustaining
its
and expansive.
to the east
tire, till,
It
connection;
its
it
delight do
we
and
its
and the
anticipate the
its
notice.
shall
its
All classes,
race.
its
tem, too,
de-
city,
No,
operations.
its
its
share
But a
warmest admiration.
excite our
never cease
all
or a single province,
city,
become universal
day
its
institutions
when every
city,
glory
till
it
its
is
full of
for
an eternal inherit-
glory."
its
In every well-reg-
10
and the
intellectual
is
still
day which, if not thus occuwould in all probability, by many who are now engaged in these schools, be profaned by worldly business, or
How many children, who
wasted in idleness and folly.
otherwise, as formerly, might be seen loitering away the
holy Sabbath, now spend its sacred hours in the SabbathHow many
school and in the study of the word of God.
teachers and parents are thus led to a proper improvement
And how delightful the thought, that
of the day of rest.
through the influence of Sabbath-schools, that day shall
ere long be rescued from long-continued abuse and profanation, and be consecrated to the service of Jehovah; to the
acquisition of those truths Avhich exert the most salutary
influence on the heart and life, and which make the soul
they are held on the Sabbath, a
pied,
imto salvation.
Avise
There
is
in its bearings
and that
ways
dious
method
The
all
of doing this,
sound maxims of
civil
is
civil
society to pass
is
''
and
late
by early
on
is,
is
government
not so
religious education."
abundantly sustained by
much
for the
grand object
to punish crime as to
occuiTence.
its
ci\'il
government.
Now,
as a matter of
by
dredths of
all
hun-
grow up
less likely to
in ignorance
how many
of the five
schools
And who
And
who
Of all the
was ever
Of
five
hundred convicts
in
how many
Sabbath-school
is
it
be very small
and we confidently
believe, that
if
the inves-
would show that Sabbathschools, by their preventive influence, are doing more for the
social and civil order of our country, than all the statutebooks, and dungeons, and gibbets of the land.
Such is the Sabbath-school system the simplest, most
efficient, most rational, and most valuable system of religdistinguished no less by the
ious education ever devised
nature of its blessings, than by the manner in which it consubordinately, in various waj^s, promoting the
fers them
mental discipline and intellectual culture of its pupils, but
seeking, as its chief object, to train them up for the enjoyments and the glories of a holier state of existence. Its
blessings, too, are rendered doubly valuable by being bestowed, as they are, in youth, a season so favorable to improvement AFFECTIONATELY, SO as to secure, by the influtigation
were made,
its
results
12
may
world
may
be their object
freely
receive
school system.
It exerts a silent,
and
interest, in
good
order,
and
estimate
fully
these
whole mass of
Who
society.
can
influences,
?
Hoav often
is
an impor-
home by
own
How many
teachers, surprised
blessing of the
Holy
reflection, and,
Spirit, to a
new
life.
through the
How many
par-
by the volume from the Sabbathschool library, or by the remark of a pious child, have been
awakened to feel the value of the soul, and to seek that rest
which can only be found in believing in Jesus, How many,
ents and friends, roused
in
short, have,
in the
world to
burning."
by the law
and taught
news
childhood to
in
peace.
lisp
who bear
to
who
13
who
them
and
lanthropist,
all
l\\e\Y 2irayers, is
it
made
benefits as
its
obvious.
To the phi-
To
the patriot,
it
affords
which we so much
foundation of which
the Christian,
it
is
indi\'idual
and
church of God.
To
all,
it
befor
in
breathe forth the notes of joy and gladness, and the wilderness to rejoice and blossom as the rose
to
make
oui*
whole
den of God.
many
to righteousness,
14
who
to establish,
Note
awarded
INFLUENCE OF SABBATH-SCHOOLS.
Sabhath-sckools
Every
intelligent
all
as the Sabbath
is
it
of the Sabbath.
the importance of
holy.
away
this truth,
its
powers decay,
and
fall.
its
foundations
fail,
and
its pil-
is
it
not
loitering
about
fields, and revelling in dissiand impress their young minds with reverence for
God's sacred day. This was one of the primary objects in
the mind of Robert Raikes, their founder.
He saw the
overwhelming evils of this crying sin the Sabbath-breaker
pation,
is
Sabbath-breaking as a
we
in crime.
find
By
reference to
mad
career.
Rev-
is
Who
almost extinct.
by Sabbath-schools,
commandment.
in
15
Here the Bible is careand accurately studied its precepts and invitations, its warnings and threatenings, are all intelligently,
Here
famiharly, and affectionately explained and applied.
are imparted
ligion
all
existence of a
God
theu' relations to
him
as their Creator,
Son to die for our redempwas God manifest in the flesh that
he lived here on earth as we, although without sin wrought
many most astonishing and benevolent miracles, such as
that he was perhealing the sick, and even raising the dead
secuted, insulted, and scourged
was basely traduced, and
finally suffered and died upon the cross, as a sacrifice for sin.
They are told the wonderful phenomena attending the crucifixion, all establishing the reality and truth of our glorious
Christianity.
They are taught the terms of salvation, repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The exercises are accompanied with the enhvening, animating, and subduing power of prayer and praise.
Such is the
system of Sunday-school instruction. No wonder that a
on our
tion
race,
and given
his dear
That
chil-
The
instructions
16
own mind
in
Thus we
may
To
and
this source
Samuel, Timothy,
St.
D wight,
parents.
necessarily.
awakened
chance they accompany their
to the sanctuary.
Thus
curiosity
little
it
is
they must.
excited,
Soon
and per-
Here
sit
under the
and in reading the Bible and other books they use, many
have been led to reflection and repentance. Teachers, too,
while visiting their scholars, have full access to the parents,
and by conversing with them upon the solemn interests of
Thus,
their souls, are often the means of their salvation.
through the indirect agency of Sunday-schools, thousands
many have
of fathers and mothers have been benefited
been raised from ignorance to intelligence, many from vice
;
to virtue,
of God.
many from
^o. 273,
my
"
soul,''
/ did not
think
I should
die so soon
/ have
in a
moan-
Poor Ann
the closing scene of whose life is here
though imperfectly described, had pious friends.
From Sabbath to Sabbath the Gospel had been constantly
and faithfully preached to her she had lived through several
revivals of religion
had once and again been moved in view
of her danger as a sinner, exposed to the wrath of God, and
as often had relapsed into stupidity.
Thus sixteen years passed away under the sunshine of
,
truly,
summons be
To him
Is there not distressing reason to fear that Ann's apprehensions were too well grounded ?
In her death, then,
behold a solemn attestation to the following truths.
The soul may be lost. Multitudes, who in the time of
health and prosperity could trifle, perliaps, with the threatenings of the Bible, have left, in the honest hour of death,
Like Ann, they have shuddered in
a similar testimony.
The representations of the word
prospect of their doom.
18*
VOL. VIII.
God have
of mountains
"
The whole
sleep, a little
more slumber"
so shall eternal
"poverty"
thy lifetime receivedst thy good things ;" " but" noiu " thou
art tormented."
Conscious security ivill not ^?rfye?i^ the loss of the soul.
Ann never felt more safe than the moment before she was
In her estimation the evil
seized by her mortal malady.
hour was far away; while, in fact, the Judge was "standing at the door." " When they shall say, Peace and safety,
" Soul, thou hast much
then sudden destruction cometh."
goods laid up for many years," said one. " Thou fool,"
said God, "this night thy soul shall be required of thee."
plead not, as the evidence of safety, that stupidity which,
unless removed, insures your ruin.
Sinners often dance,
Toand jest, and laugh, on the brink of everlasting woe.
niglit, they eat and drink, and are merry
to-morrow, their
THE LOST SOUL
souls are lost for ever.
forth.
chief of sinners."
self- justifying spirit is the greatest
obstacle in the way to salvation.
Christ is the Saviour of
" He came not
such only as feel themselves to he undone.
to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Often do
men go
dom
of
To
God."
God
grant that
pression
a lost soul.
eternity!
"One
Saurin, " passed in a burning fever, or in strugg-ling in the
waves of the sea, between life and death, appears of immense length it seems to the sufferer as if the sun had
forgot its course, and as if the laws of nature itself were
subverted. What, then, will be the state of those miserable
victims of divine displeasure who, after they shall have
;
'
!'
'
devouring flames
crimes and blasphemies over
cruel remorse again
again
"
and over again for ever for ever !'
Said the rich man in hell, "I have five brethren send
'
the mercy of
'
God
in Christ.
While God
invites,
how
How
Soon your day of grace may terminate, suddenly, unexTake warniny from me! To-morrow's
pectedlv, for ever.
gilds the eastern heavens, may bring no light to
your probationary sun may have set in eternity.
Then, dying in impenitence, the lamentation will be yours,
The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am not
Take warning from me!
saved.'
I have lost my soul.
!"
Oh, I have lost I have lost my soul
sun, as
you
it
for
.\o. 1374,
THE
SCOTSMAN'S FIRESIDE
AX AUTHENTIC XAKKATIVE
0(1
"
"
From
"^
Ix the year 1805, durinjr the prevalence of the yellowNew York, the late Mr. B
resided a few miles
from that city.
On his return one evening to the domestic circle, which
then consisted of his wife and four children, and his venerable mother-in-law, the late Mrs.
he said to Mrs. B
" My dear, I fear I have done what will not please you."
' What is that ?"
Mrs. B
" I have met with an old school-fellow and
Mr. B
countryman, and invited him to stay with us while the fever
fever in
prevails."
Mrs.
that?"
"
And why
should
be displeased with
THE SCOTSMAN'S
Mr. B
not agree in
" Because I
FIRESIDE.
know
you
that he and
will
j^oUtics.'"
Mrs. B
''0,
if
that
be
all,
we
will
avoid the
subject."
Mr. B
you
Avill
Mrs. B
''That, indeed, is bad.
How shall we
please him, and yet observe the religious duties incumbent
on us as a Christian family ?"
"
Mr. B
dear, we must not omit one of them,
and you must help me. When the hour for family worship
arrives, you will call the family together, and we will do our
duty as usual. Mr.
is a gentleman, and however
he may be opposed to religion, his politeness Avill, at least,
.
My
He
strains that
glide.
air.
f Selects.
THE SCOTSMAN'S
The
;;
FIRESIDE.
is
the
page
theme
3
:
not,
on
earth,
whereon
Mr.
served to Mrs.
knelt with the family, and on rising, obthat he had not bent his knee in the
for ten years.
This led to serious conversa-
same manner
tion between him and Mrs. Graham, which was continued to
a late hour he, of course, arguing against revealed relio-ion.
Next day, and every day, the subject was renewed, with
much pleasantry and politeness on his part, and great forbearance on the part of those whose minds the Spirit of
God had enlightened. Instead of saying, " Stand by thy;
self, I
am
"Who
was
in his
When
returned to
the fever had subsided, Mr.
resided, to arrange his business previous
to going to the West Indies to visit his brothers, with a view
to procure aid towards embarking in the mercantile Hne.
In the mean time it pleased God to remove by death the
lovely olive-plant who had so often shared in his attentions.
could scarcely
On his return to New York, Mr. B
persuade him to visit the family, as he feared that Mrs.
He,
B
's sorrows, on seeing him, would be renewed.
however, was prevailed on, and again and again religion
became the subject of conversation.
had recently been deprived of an oiSice
As Mr.
under government, his pecuniary means were slender, which
caused Mr. and Mrs. B
to add to his sea-stores such
comforts as in those days were not furnished to ship passengers and each determined to add provision for the soul
Mrs. B
put up a small pocketas well as the body.
Bible, with references in the blank leaf to appropriate texts
Mrs. Graham added "The Rise and Progress of Religion
" The Refuge," with a long
in the Soul ;" and Mr. B
,
letter, superscribed, " Not to he opened till out at sea^
Many months elapsed before the family heard from Mr.
but he was often remembered at the throne of
grace, and his three friends derived some consolation from
the recollection that, during his last visit, he had appeared
more serious, and had courted religious conversation. At
dated
received a letter from Mr.
length Mr. B
at the close of which he remarked that he never
at G
expected to be as happy as they, for his past life had been
spent in such a way as to deprive him of all hopes of ever
enjoying the favor of God.
where he
But we
will let
Mr.
tell
his
own
story.
Two
rebel has
on
made a
THE SCOTSMAN'S
FIRESIDE.
child of grace.
my
self
When
,
of
me V
'
mercy and
felt
'
'
'
'
had no time to retrace my steps, and I theresame course. I took the letter and
out of sight at the bottom of my
them
pushing
iind
books,
of religion from
trunk,' I determined to banish all thoughts
associates.
my
mind.
VOL. VITI.
19
THE SCOTSMAN'S
FIRESIDE.
'
'
'
'
science."
THE
SLOTriMAN'ri FIRE.SIDE.
I
mind.
I opened my long-neglected Bible.
was ruined by sin justly condemned and that
there was no salvation except through the redemption that
my
state of
saw
that I
'
is in
justifier of
''
determined to break off from
I returned to
the world and my former associates and now, clothed
and in my right mind,' never to quit the feet of Jesus.
few weeks after, hearing that the communion was
I resolved that the scene of my
to be dispensed at
former folly should first witness my deep repentance, and
my humble trust in that Saviour I had so long rejected.
There I publicly devoted myself to him, and partook of the
symbols of the broken body and shed blood of him who
loved me, and gave himself for me.'
" And now, my friends, will you not help me to bless
and magnify the name of God, who thus took me from the
the miry clay' of worldlihorrible pit' of infidelity, and
?'"
ness and sin, and set my feet upon the Rock of ages
subsequent
life,
his
of
Avhole
the
during
]\Xr,
proved his faith by his works. Prayer-meetings, Sabbathschools, plans for ameliorating the condition of the poor,
and all the benevolent objects of the day, shared his attenHe became an officer in the church, and by his phition.
n.
lanthropy obtained the name of the Howard of G
His constitution, never very robust, gave way about the
age of forty, when he departed in peace.
Two of his three friends have since joined him he who,
like Abraham, " commanded his children and his household
,
"A
'
'
'
him ;" and the mother in Israel, who saw her children's children following her steps, and ''who, being dead,
after
yet speaketh."
THE SCOTSMAN'S
FIRESIDE.
thou seest he never found it. Take down thy long-negTurn to Psalm 14:1, and read the characlected Bible.
ter of him who "hath said in his heart, There is no GodT
Then turn to those precious words, Isaiah 55 6, 7, " Seek
ye the Lord while he may be found call ye upon himLet the wicked forsake his way, and the
while he is near.
unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the
Lord, and he will have mercy upon him and to our God,
for he w411 abundantly pardon."
And dost thou think thou hast no
Is the reader ^^oo?time to read thy Bible or to attend to the interests of thy soul ?
Turn to Psalm 127 1, 2, and thou wilt see that without the
blessing of God, "it is in vain for thee to rise up early, to sit
up late, and to eat the bread of sorrows." Then turn to Matthew 6 33, and immediately comply with thy Saviour's
command " Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."
Are these pages read by a fireside like that above described where the morning and evening worship are like a
Let the value
foundation and a covering to the dwelling ?
:
.^
incite parents
households, but by every practicable method to proreligious improvement of all the rising generation
contributing to Sabbath and infant-schools, and all charities
for the ignorant and destitute, time, talents, and substance,
according as the Lord hath given them.
Let this narrative also encourage the friends of the Redeemer to be faithful to those w^ho may seem farthest from
the kingdom of God. Let them remember in their prayers
and their kind Christian endeavors, the rich, the infidel, the
gay, and the iwoud.
On all suitable occasions, and in a
proper manner, let the truths of the Gospel be pressed even
on their hearts and let them be exemplified and commended, by a uniformly meek, consistent, and Godly example.
Reader, whoever you are, while you reject the Gospel,
you " spend money for that w^hich is not bread, and your
Hear, then, and aclabor for that which satisfieth not."
cept the invitation, Isaiali 55
1, "Ho, every one that
and he that hath no
thirsteth, come ye to the waters
money, come ye yea, come, buy wine and milk, without
money and without price."
own
mote the
No. 375.
and
CHRISTIAX.
may
rely
upon the
strict truth
Shortly
in the
room were
affected
and she, though evidently moved, endeavored to conceal her feelings.
2
lighted in seeing,
house.
-svith
two or three
my
ally,
upon
this
subject,
Louisa?"
''
I always thought the subject important, sir, but have
not attended to it as I suppose 1 ouoht."
**
Do you now feel the subject to be more important
than you have previously ?"
**
I don't know, sir I think I want to be a Christian."
" Do you feel that you are a sinner, Louisa?"
" I knoiv that I am a sinner, for the Bible says so, but
I suppose that I do not feel it enough."
;
*'
Can you expect that God w^ill receive you into his
favor while you are in such a state of mind ? He has made
you, and he is now taking care of you, giving you every
blessing and every enjoyment you have, and yet you have
lived many years without any gratitude to him, and continually breaking his commandments, and now do not feel that
you are a sinner. What would you think of a child whose
kind and affectionate parents had done every thing in their
power to make her happy, and who should yet not feel that
she had done any thing wrong, though she had been every
day disobeying her parents, and had never expressed any
gratitude for their kindness.
You, Louisa, would abhor
such a child. And yet this is the way you have been treating your heavenly Father, and he has heard you say this
evening that you do not feel that you have done wrong, and
he sees your heart, and knows how unfeeling it is. Now,
To
this
dis-
friends,
" Well, Louisa," said I, as in turn I commenced conversing with her, " I was almost afraid I should not see you
here this evening."
'*
I feel, sir," said she, *' that it is time for me to attend
I have neglected it too long."
to my immortal soul.
" Do you /(?<?? that you are a sinner, Louisa?"
" Yes, sir, I do."
" Do you think, Louisa, you have any claim upon God
to forgive you ?"
" No,
ish.
sir.
I think I
It would be just in God to leave me to perwant to repent, but I cannot. I want to love
afraid not."
plain,
4
renounce
all sin,
appointment
to soothe
and quiet
her.
"But,
sir," said
when
the mind
is
enfeebled,
when
the body
is
restless or
was
still
raging, and
its fires
Her
fever
suffer-
Poor girl thought I, as the first glance of her countenance showed the strong lineaments of despair. I needed
not to ask how she felt. Her countenance told her feelings.
And I knew that while her mind was in this state, restoration to health was out of the question.
" And can vou not, Louisa," said I, " trust vour soul
ing.
"
you
are,
child."
I then opened the Bible at the 15th chapter of Luke,
and read the parable of the prodigal son. I particularly
" When he was
directed her attention to the 20th verse
3'et a great way off his father saw him, and had compassion,
and ran, and fell upon his neck, and kissed him."
" Oh, sir," said she, '' none of these promises are for me.
I have long been
I find no peace to my troubled spirit.
sinnino- ao-ainst God, and now he is summonino; me to render up my account; and Oh, what an account have I to
:
render
The doctor gives me medicine, but I feel that it
does no good, for I can think of nothing but my poor soul.
Even if I w^ere perfectly well, I could hardly endure the
view Avhich God has given me of my sins. If they were
but now Oh !" her
forgiven how happy should I be
w^hich agitated
shuddering,
voice was stopped by a fit of
those around her with the fear that she mio-ht be dvinor.
Soon, however, her nerves Avere more quiet, and I kneeled
to commend her spirit to the Lord.
As I rode home, her despairing countenance was unHer lamentations, her mournful
ceasingly before me.
groans were continually crying in my ears. As I kneeled
with my family at evening, I bore Louisa upon my heart to
the throne of grace. All night I was restlessly upon my
!
swer
"
might
How
is
who opened
" She
is
receive.
I to the
person
the door.
fast failing, sir,
THE A.MIABLE LOUISA.
not recover. We have just sent for her friends to come and
see her before she dies."
''
Is her mind more composed than it has been ?"
"
no, sir.
She has had a dreadful night. She says
that she is lost, and that there is no hope for her."
I went into her chamber.
Despair was pictured more
deeply than ever upon her flushed and fevered countenance.
I was surprised at the strength she still manifested as she
tossed from side to side.
Death was evidently drawing
near.
She knew it. She had lived without God, and felt
that she was unprepared to stand before him.
few of
her young friends were standing by her bedside.
She
warned them in the most affecting terms to prepare for
death while in health. She told them of the mental agony
she was then enduring, and of the heavier woes which were
thickly scattered through that endless career she was about
to enter.
All her conversation was interspersed with the
most heart-rending exclamations of despair. She said she
knew that God was ready to forgive the sincerely penitent,
but that her sorrow was not sorrow for sin, but dread of its
awful penalty.
I had already said all that I could to lead her to the
Saviour but no Saviour cast his love on this dying bed
no ray of peace cheered the departing soul. Youth and
beauty were struggling with death and as that eye which
but a few days before had sparkled with gayety, now gazed
on eternity, it was fixed in an expression of despair.
"
like this."
Late
in restless
8
vividly present to
my
mind
as
it
was when
looked upon
it
for Louisa.
is dead, sir," was the reply to my question.
" At what time did she die ?"
" About midnight, sir."
" Was her reason restored before her death ?"
*'
It appeared partially to return a few moments before
she breathed her last, but she was almost gone, and we
could hardly understand what she said."
" Did she seem any more peaceful in her mind ?"
" Her friends thought, sir, that she did express a willingness to depart, but she Avas so weak and so far gone
that it was impossible for her to express her mind Avith an}?-
" She
clearness."
This
one
who
all
is
" ivished
hefore death,
and then
to
Reader,
"
Be wise to-day
become
'tis
2>ioiis,
madness
and
die
happyT
to defer."
nro.
276.
BIBLE ARGUMENT
FOR
TEMPERANCE.
BY REV. AUSTIN DICKINSON.
Bible requires us to " present our bodies a livingholy and acceptable unto God ;" to " purify our-
The
sacrifice,
even as he is pure ;" to " give no occasion of stumbling to any brother;" to "give no offence to the church
of God;" to "love our neighbor as ourselves;" to "do
good to all as we have opportunity ;" to "abstain from all
;"
appearance of evil ;" to " use the world as not abusing it
selves,
we
we
do, to
do
Being of
infinite
judge us
in the last
day."
Any
shall
ment."
As honest men, then, let us try by these rules the common practice of drinking or selling intoxicating liquor.
The use
mind.
When
years."
taken freely,
fifteen
its
to
perversion
as well
conscience
till
is
being
is
to
And
to ivhich
is incoirqKitihle
by truth,
aff'ected
usefulness.
And
enjoyment of God,
is
perfect,
Avill
this
with that
to aspire.
Be ye
This
perfect."
is
with the
The
even
be the true
will
have no
relish for
any counter-
acting influence.
Is
it
drink"
itual ?
may
This
for sensuality
is
;
am
holy."
His mandate
is
of spirituality an excuse
sin,
universal
"
Be ye
holy,
ARGUMENT FOR TEiMPERANtE.
BIBLE
this end you are charged to " abstain from fleshlywhich war against the soul ;" to "mortify your memwhich are earthly ;" to *' exercise yourselves rather
To
lusts,
bers,
unto godliness;"
to
all
elements of hell
The use
any
A sense
true devotion.
the professor
lusts
who
in
of
shame must
from him
in pity or disgust
affecting, the
Holy
;"
inevitably torment
resist
and, what
is infinitely
more
Thus,
commanded not
clearly
on
spiritual discernment.
On
we may
account, in part,
" Administer
water
that
I may have an
much
unclouded
and
For the same
as a little porter
view.'"
ARGUMENT FOR TEMPERANCE.
BIBLE
who
last
"
And
hours.
who knew
all
it
is
things,"
knew
well
so
it
him
not to be given
in his
dying Sa\iour,
myrrh," ''received
it
not.''''
stu-
pefaction.
ill
never sus-
pecting
it
was
the
whiskey
is
venerable minister,
of the church.
of great experience, gives it as the result of his observation,
that nine-tenths of all the cases calling for church discipline
clisci])line
of charity"
thinor?"
CD
Can
Ave
"Touch not
clearly say,
the unclean
is
certain to
''
It must
bring deep reproach on the church of Christ ?
needs be that offences come, but woe to that man by whom
The use
of alcoholic liquor
is inconsistent ivith
intemperate
by the
the hope of
religious
community
love to souls.
The
life.
He knows
also, that
drinks just so
much
as to
make
BIBLE
who
*feel well;'
control a
unanswerable.
All agree that total abstinence
But
drunkard.
abstain,
if
is
other respectable
it
men
With mind
lost,
drunkard!
man
nature.
No
let
al-
all
the American churches, will s^o from this land of licrht and
freedom to " everlasting chains of darkness." If, then, the
is
**'
t}:ue
now making
glorious effort
is
to
regards our national, character can hesitate to adopt it ? Especially, who that is a Christian, can cling to that which
has darkened the pathway of heaven, threatened our liberties,
us as a "nation of drunkards?"
Is
it
temperance
so-
men esteem
Christians the
more
is
in
But
heaven."
for drinking,
and thus
them
hand,
is
it
for this,
their behalf?
"when he
shall
if
who
BIBLE
He
folloivers.
requires
if
all
mind
of one
who does
;" to
be "of
And how
human
full
a sinful as well
is
lights of the
nature, embrace
Ah,
yet continue a habit viewed by them with disgust ?
the man, however decent, who " will have his glass, not
whom
caring
reivard.''
"
Whoso
it
it ;
were better
for
him that a
mill-
The use
day of
light, is in-
believing prayer.
spiritual,
in
If
the posture of devotion breathing forth the foul, fiery element literally " offering strange fire before the Lord !"
We
down
till
come
we put away
The
loaste
all
the world.
worth of
BIBLE
8
then,
appetite, ponder
them hasten
and blush
for
loith
to the
is
inconsistent
Noth-
heathen.
among them the influence of the Goswe have encouraged them to use.
Several tribes have set the noble example of excluding them
by the strong arm of law and it is only by convincing such
neighbors, and hinder
pel,
The same feeling prevails in some distant heathen naThey cannot but distrust those who use and sell a
tions.
abhorrence.
is
indeed elevating,
and that our God is the true God. For saith Jehovah,
*'
Then shall the heathen know that I am the Lord, when I
shall be sanctified in you before their eyes."
Indulgence
inconsistent with
by the church,
is
it
for a
when intemperance
is
their
organization
may
cease
BIBLE
may
in time
be forgotten or despised
and then drunkenness will again abound. Such an association is found only in ''the church of the living God."
This
will continue while the world stands.
Let the principle of
ENTIRE ABSTINENCE, then, be recognized by all members of
the church, and such others as they can influence and you
have a great multitude to sustain the temperance cause,
"till time shall be no longer."
And can the real Christian,
or patriot, think it hard thus to enlist for the safety of all
;
future
generations
If
parents love
their offspring,
if
hopeless ruin
The use
living, is inconsistent
God's word.
is
to be
And
mon
BIBLE
10
God
shall
in this
book."
of such liquors
is
to
every
to
tree, in
is
upon the
the which
is
face of
all
you
men
The
God
them
benevolent
God
For a man
fire,
BIBLE
downward course
he
he refuses the
he lends his
aid he might give to a great national reform
whole weight against this reformation he is the occasion
of offence, grief, and discord among brethren; he grieves
the Holy Spirit he robs the Lord's treasury he makes
Christianity infamous in the eyes of the heathen
he disregards the plain spirit of the Bible and, in fine, he perverts
even the common bounties of Providence. Such are his
fruits.
And the jnan, surely, who can do all this in meridian lio'ht, while God is looking on, and widows and orphans are remonstrating, does not c/ive satisfactory evidence
He shows neither respect for God nor love to
of piety.
man.
Let conscience now solemnly review this whole argument by the infinitely holy law. Is it indeed right and
scriptural to impair body and mind, to defile the flesh,
cloud the soul, stupefy conscience, and cherish the worst
;
passions
Is
it
the church
Is
treat with
Is
it
perance
new floods
of intem-
God's word
and providence and to convert food to poison ? Is it indeed scriptural and right to sanction habits fraught only
Can real Christians,
with wounds, death, and perdition ?
by example, propagate such heresy ?
Let it not be suggested that our argument bears chiefly
for common obagainst the excessive use of these hquors
servation and candor will testify that the moderate use of
the poison is the real occasion of all its woes and abominations.
Who was ever induced to taste, by the disgusting
Or who ever became a drunkard,
sight of a drunkard ?
Indeed,
except bv moderate indulgence in the beginning?
;
12
this habit of
first
when he
in-
lion,
walketh about."
And
pose.
and a louder
still
eternal Justice.
THE
the infliction of which would be incompatible with his perIf the reality of such a hell as the Scriptures defections.
scribe be inconsistent with the perfections of the Creator,
such a hell would not have been revealed. The infinite
holiness of God will not allow him to terrify his creatures
with the idea of a punishment which he cannot inflict without injustice and, considering the weakness of our reason
and the narrow limits of our knowledge, we ought not to
;
Such a thing
say.
is
unjust; therefore,
we should
revealed
it is
therefore,
it
is
not revealed
is
just.
and
pun-
ishments of hell.
privation of celestial happiness is the first idea of
an idea which we are incapable of forming fully in
hell
We
life.
eves
Represent to yourself a
man
'il
!!
com-
or, to
felicity consists in
in
man who
represent to yourself a
chammag-
triumphant
his
pomp and
his
nificent palace
as felicities
regrets
adorable assemblage of
well-beloved Son
Redeemer
minions
Holy
archangels
Spirit
Eternal Father
body
glorious
cherubim
martyrs
tions
unfading crown
apostles
a soul with
God
its
of pleasure
saints of all
perfect
knowledge
throne of glory
all
of the divine
powers domyriads of
ages and of all na-
seraphim
angels
!
perfections
all
communion
fulness of joy
which
of
rivers
Am
you.
I,
all
your ineffable
are
you
all
terrible ?
To these belong
fire,
all
those
fire
and all these to such a degree that the damned would esteem as an invaluable benefit one drop of water to cool their
tongues.
Luke 16
24.
power
of
pleases
God
if
fire.
But
if
you
recollect the
to this reflection
he
fire
to express the
these
w'hich
unhappy
sufferers literally
men burning
endure torments
in flames feel,
like those
them
to particles of material
in
it
it
is
it,
kindled
fires
un-
This is an
image of hell terrible image
We have no need of abstract and metaphysical ideas.
Who among us could
patiently bear his hand one hour in fire ? who would not
tremble to be condemned to pass one day in this monstrous
machine ? and who, who could bear to be eternally conable infant victims of their cruel superstition.
fined in
it
''and
When we
see a
an executioner of human justice, and just going to be burnt to death, nature shudders
and the cries
the flesh of spectators shivers
at the sight
of the sufferer rend their heart, and excite, in painful comWhat then must it
passion, all the emotions of the soul
up
to
be to be delivered up
What
to
fire
of hell
human body
what
Delicate flesh
will
third idea of
fee-
The
future punishment
is
that of the
remorse of conscience.
The pains of the mind are as lively
and sensible as those of the body. The grief of one man
who
afraid of apparitions
third in solitude
sentence of death
him
and spectres
and above
all,
and
which are excited by the most cruel torWhat great effects has remorse produced. It has
ments.
made
tyrants tremble
it
it
has ren-
THE ETERNAL
xAIISERY
OF HELL.
it
worm
Conbe
forced to acknowledge that the motives of the Gospel were
highly proper to affect every man who had not made his
It
face as an adamant Ms forehead harder than a flint.
damned
the
this will
science will do
be the
homage
God
to an avenging
it
will
were
own
it
be constrained to
will
wil-
fully resisted
and
fire
will
tortures.
for truth
God
it
bear
himself
he was happy
am
when the
the author of
sins
am
in spite of
of conscience are
sufferer
my own
is
seeming horrors.
added
to terrible
punishment
I suffer for
my own
A
hell.
fourth idea
How
is
man on
earth
may
he bears
it
charitable
hand endeavors
to
wipe away
his tears
the con-
and charms him under his affliche becomes easy and happy in them. But what
Imagine yourself condemned to
society is that in hell ?
pass all your days with those odious men who seem formed
till
his angels
the prince
an
legions
increase of sin.
the damned by displaying his glorious attributes, their hatred of him will be
unbounded
their
love.
as
many
damned
blasphemies against
God
as the
In
it
we consider
But can we number
is
the length
When
souls.
It
and duration
immeasurable
souls in
his praise.
they utter
happy
and
not eternity
all this is
nity.
I go from our age to the time of publishing the Gospel
from thence to the publication of the law from the law to
the flood, from the flood to the creation I join this epoch
21*
VOL. VIII.
(5
and
imagine Adam yet living. Had
now, and had he lived in misery had he
passed all his time in fire, or on a rack what idea must we
form of his condition ? At what price would we agree to
Adam
lived
I.
till
this is nothing in
comparison
of eternity.
go further still I proceed from imagination to imagfrom one supposition to another I take the greatest
number of years that can be imagined I add ages to ages,
I form of all these one
millions of ages to millions of ages
After this, I
fixed number, and I stay my imagination.
suppose God to create a world like this which we inhabit:
I suppose him creating it, by forming one atom after another, and employing in the production of each atom the
I
ination,
time fixed in
my
calculation just
now mentioned.
What
numberless
asfes
in
comparison of eternity.
Associate
periods
in
multiplying
not eternity
it
is
all this is
it
literally
and
strictly true,
of eternity.
Ah me
struo-orlincr in
in
a burning fever, or in
its
It
seems
course, and as
if
life
and death,
to the sufferer as
if
itself
tion
All this
periods
a
again we must
devouring flames again
suff'er
happiness
How
is
great
insupportable,
it
These irons
this
when
when we are
a misfortune,
how
!
is
for ever
these
it
celestial
of
privation
For
word, even in
is
ever
this life
incapable of relief
this prison
^this
life this
cr's shuttle
life,
this
What,
life,
which vanisheth
like
a sleep
Is this
these
to speak so
will
chargewhen
I think that
warmness
I,
torments when
we
I see, in
are
all
the luke-
of
faintness of
though
it
which
misery, yet I find in the thought a mortal poison,
life, rendering society
of
my
period
every
into
itself
diff"uses
and life
tiresome, nourishment insipid, pleasure disgustful,
of hell
fear
a
that
wonder
to
a cruel bitterI cease
itself
has
by
others
mad
that
it
has
inclined
some
others to
suff'er
we
HEI.L.
more
inex-
are, if
surmounted,
all
it
undertaken
moment
each
of
life
sinful self
in
should be crucified,
Let
still,
our
feet.
But remember,
After this
life,
ance.
no more
for repent-
all
perhaps
you may
these torments.
what God
is
now
he
saith to you,
Be
instructed,
Why, why
will
ye
die,
house of Israel
0,
if
there re-
image of hell
would make the deepest impression on our souls, and give
us no rest till we had full evidence that our feet were plant-
mained the
IVo.
MEANS OF
278.
REVIVAL
BY PRESIDENT EDWARDS.
The
is
first
When God
to remove stumbling-blocks.
is
revealed as
John the
upon us
Baptist's preaching.
And
if
God now
loudly calls
upon us to make
For Christians to
MEANS OF A REVIVAL.
when he who
is the Searcher of
give an account, appears
so remarkably present, is exceedingly unsuitable.
Our business at such a time should be at home, searching ourselves,
condemning ourselves, taking heed to ourselves. If there
all
hearts, to
whom we must
all
Again, there
is
and disadvantages
God under
as to the
means
anij spe-
of grace.
The beginning
We
mands
of God.
difficulty
may
God's peo-
MEANS OF A REVIVAL.
sheep,"
who
all
and while they do this they should wait patiently upon him.
If they do so, they may expect that in his time he will
appear for their deliverance but if, instead of this, they
are impatient, and take the work into their own hands, they
will betray their want of faith, and will dishonor God, and
cannot have such reason to hope that Christ will appear for
them as they have desired. They will rather have reason
to fear that he will leave them to manage their affairs for
themselves as well as they can when if they had waited
on Christ patiently, continuing instayit in ^wayer, he would
have appeared for them much moi'e effectually to deliver
" He that believeth shall not make haste ;" and it is
them.
for those that are found patiently waiting on the Lord under
difficulties, that he will especially appear when he comes to
do great things for his church.
;
tions, as
freely."
God at such
Spirit
of the
full of light as
MEANS OF A
4
fire.
The
Spirit in ministers,
till
REVIVAT..
and
we have obtained
we ought
it.
And
to give ourselves
in
order to
this,
no rest
should
laymen
how much
is
and learning;
expected and
will
be
MEANS OF A REVIVAL.
Rich men, too, have a talent in their hands, in the disposal and improvement of which they might very much
promote the revival and advancement of religion. They
~
have advantages
far
beyond others
men who
to
One would
think that
themselves Christians, might devise or select some glorious object to accomplish with their
money, for advancing the kingdom of their Redeemer and
the prosperity of the souls of men, at a time of such extraordinary opportunities or it.
It seems to me, that in this
age most of us have but very narrow, penurious notions
of Christianity, as it respects the use and disposal of temporal goods.
The primitive Christians had not such limited
notions
they were trained up by the apostles in another
way. And I trust in God the days are coming, when the
great and rich men of the world shall bring their honor and
glory into the church, and shall, as it were, strip themselves
to spread their garments under Christ's feet, as he enters
triumphantly into Jerusalem and when those that will not
do so shall have no glory, their silver and gold shall be
cankered, and their garments moth-eaten for the saints
shall then inherit the earth, and those that honor God he
will honor, and those that despise him shall be lightly esteemed.
If some of our rich men would give one quarter of their
property to advance this work, they would act in some degree as if they lived for the kingdom of Christ, and as rich
men by and by will act, who shall be partakers of the spirGreat things
itual wealth and glories of that kingdom.
might be done by liberal contributions for the support and
propagation of religion; by supporting preachers eminently
qualified by gifts and grace, in more destitute parts of the
country by bringing forward young men of promising abilall
our rich
call
MEANS OF A
REVIVAI..
But
at such a
is
American Tract
MEANS OF A REVIVAL.
in his word, and for which his church has been so long
wishing, and hoping, and waiting.
They that make mention of the Lord at this day, ought not to keep silence, and
should give him no rest till he establish, and till he make
Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Before the first great outpouring of the Spirit of God on the Christian church, which
began at Jerusalem, the church of God gave themselves to
incessant prayer.
There is a time spoken of, wherein God
will remarkably and wonderfully appear for the deliverance
of his church from all her enemies, and when he will avenge
his own elect ; and Christ reveals that this will be in answer
to their incessant prayers, crying day and night. Luke 18:7.
In Israel, the day of atonement, which was their great day
of fasting and prayer, preceded and made way for the
glorious and joyful feast of tabernacles.
When Christ is
mystically born into the world to rule over all nations, it is
represented in Rev. 12, as being in consequence of the
church's " crying, and travailing in birth."
One thing here
intended, doubtless, is her crying and agonizing in prayer.
God seems now to be waiting for this from us. When
God is about to bestow some great blessing on his church,
he often so orders events in his providence as to show his
church their great need of it, and thus bring them to cry
earnestly to him.
And let us consider God's present dispensations towards his church in this land a glorious work
of grace has been begun and carried on
but God has suffered difficulties to arise, and yet does not wholly forsake
the work of his hand there are remarkable tokens of his
presence still to be seen as though he was not forward to
forsake us, and, if I may so say, as though he had a mind
to carry on his work, but only w^as waiting for something
that he expected in us, as requisite in order to it.
And we
have great reason to think that one thing at least is, that
we should further acknowledge the greatness and necessity
of such a mercy, and our dependence on God for it, in
earnest prayer.
There is, perhaps, no way that Christians can do so
much to promote the work of God, and advance the kingdom of Christ, as by fervent prayer. Let persons have
ever so small advantages to do much for Christ and the
souls of men otherwise
yet, if they have much of the
spirit of grace and supplication, they may have power with
:
MEANS OF A REVIVAL,
Him
vail.
promote a revival among a professing peoone proper means, recommended by frequent Scripture
examples, is their solemn, public renewing their covenant
And doubtless it would greatly tend to prowith God.
mote a work of grace in the land, if the congregations of
God's people generally should do this if, at a proper time,
a draft of a covenant should be made by their ministers,
wherein there should be an express mention of those particular duties that the people of the respective congregations have been observed to be most prone to neglect, and
those particular sins into which they have fallen, or of
which they are especially in danger, whereby they may
prevent or resist the motions of God's Spirit and the matter should be fully proposed and explained to the people,
and sufficient opportunity be given them for consideration,
and then they should appear together, on a day of prayer
Finally, to
ple,
and
fasting, publicly to
their
vows
own
to the 'Lord.
Xo. 379.
HAT HAVE
DONE?
The person
into
ALTIMORE
whose hand
What
D. D
this treatise
may
come,
is
designed
it is
to
answer
his question.
much
Nor
much ; you
ters
it
let
is
God
the avenger of
is
a hearing,
It
mat-
should be regulated
which
me
There
he
to learn in regard to
its
is
is
a rule by which
it
There
violations.
a conduct
is
is
displeas-
ing
accountable.
"
exceeding broad
The law
God
own
spiritual
the
all
commandment
work
is
judgment,
the
heart
the
Lord
spirit.''
This language,
"What
have
into
Lord pondereth
weigheth the
is
22*
It asks, in a
what
spirit of self-justification,
At
other times
it
evil
he did not
evil
sin.
nature of which
evil
grief,
"
and mischief of
What have
it,
done
exclaims in
!"
it
become the
You
know
'*
I will tell
you
neither
ing,
What
1.
have
But
so
is it
aye, much.
not loved
God
of your
nothing
all
to do something
glorified
body and spirit, which are his. If you have done nothing,
you have broken one-half, at least, of the law of God. In
so far as its positive requirements are concerned, you are
guilty, according to your own confession.
It was for not
doing that the inhabitants of Meroz were cursed
" they
They
And
hand,
staid at
the
"Inasmuch
final
day,
when he
as ye did
it
bids
not,''
etc.
And
he says
also,
But
done,
cast
to
is
do
to
you away
to insure
evil
to
to
your condemnation.
justify
for ever.
and
is
do wrong
than nothing
Strange, that
condemn men
But,
it would not sustain you, if you
could offer it, you cannot offer, for you have done something.
You have not been idle. You are no mere negative characwhich Christ says he
You have
ter.
will
2.
As
ed innumerable
acts,
less exercises of
such,
number
of times
is
compute
It is impossible to
in
God
and
or wrong.
voked
all
Each
dience or of disobedience.
his displeasure.
if
of God, or pro-
ished.
and
life,
and
in
act,
has
smiled or frowned.
You have
or evil
wrong
which
3.
laid
up a
is it ?
in the right, or
of
very far
good
in the
unreason-
WHAT HAVE 1 DONE
You have
You
You have
transgressed the
soul,
Lord
of conscience.
will
broken
all this
4.
You have
You have
known
it
disobeyed the
but once
this
suppose
was
ed, inexcusable,
one
Even on
sinful.
The
sin.
law
" Cursed
no instance.
You
and undone.
divine
is
tolerates sin in
10.
The law
part, breaks
of
no respect, and
God
is
one,
Gal.
He
that
3:10; James
it all.
in
in all
it
in
any
Why
should he?
In
manner Adam,
ISTow, if
much
you
5.
If
But
is
life
and he will
tell,
sembled worlds.
is
How many
than once.
human
times in your
you
as de-
felt sinfully
and wrong
who
are
can
tell
So many
how many ;
opened" before
as-
matter
if
their
For
them.
fear,
and
is
support derived
There
is
none from
of obedience
and
between
their acts
May
the subject or
allow or excuse
own
its
There
is
It
its
every member.
Does
by
existing
is
it.
stance
either.
should
All analogy
man
till
strict
or rules for
It punishes
more than
its
observance of
regulation,
all its
rules
half of
them
are broken.
Yet men expect that the great and jealous God will
allow them to treat his holy, just, and good law, as no other
law was ever allowed to be treated.
many have
is
built
on
this expectation.
Standing on this
capable of disturbing.
sinned,
and they do not pretend that they have repented and secured
an interest in the atonement. They have not, they suppose,
sinned enough for that.
It is
not every
cessary
sin,
and a
sin, if
according to
satisfaction ne-
their evil
ones
folly,
mortals plunge.
destroys them.
It begins
You
Sin
infatuates, then
first
ivretches.
would
it
avail nothing,
though
you could maintain the ground, that your right doings outnumber your wrong doings. But even this ground, were it
available,
You
6.
than wrong.
know
sentiment that
am
about to advance
ommendation of being
disbelieve
it,
true, if
it is
far as
is
you
evil, if
new
and
all
wrong
of one kind,
it is
instead
now a
you have, so
acts
you
and exercises
When
in
You may
have been
said,
are not
creature,
Your moral
is
it
It is this
it.
this
but
not popular.
of having done
more right
is
it
evil
but
in the
it
most impor-
them
in
which they
will
be explained by
God and
under-
may
whom you
Right
but examine
it
carefully,
have to do.
is that
which
is
conformable
and for
in
remembering with
its object
its
to the
human
God
rule ivhich
conduct
that con-
his glory.
WHAT HAVE DONE?
love,
his glory ?
may
they
God
To do
and
is
God
right,
"They
Christ Jesus."
state, "
imregenerate
is,
to
or done
my
in
we
flesh,
is,
know
in
all
And
fruit
good
all
bedience up to the
So
it is
Well then,
evil.
it
moment he
who
Avith all
first
and diso-
rebellion
deal,
and
has
it
all
it is all
You
hut wrong.
been
it
mission.
an
that in
must go before
in
do what God
him.
stands
to
is
please him."
me, that
them
requires
for
done
To do good, is to do what
but " Avithout faith it is impossible to
pleasing to
it,
It
You
will
entered there
side.
The other
side
own
is
to be
is
not
all
This
is
in
him
as your Surety.
And
now,
Consider
to
Benefactor.
it
to
his law,
which
is
holy, just,
and good
have transgressed
not grievous
is
his
your reasonable
to render to
him
that which
service.
it
in despite of exhortation
ening,
you, and hell uncovered to alarm you, and the cross of the
Son
of
God
in full
such circumstances
evils
all,
The ingratitude !
in-
it.
God
its
inhabitants.
Such good-
love to despise.
The
foot.
intervention of
and
2'>culiar,
He
He
is
God
Son
his
after you.
never before
But
for you,
He
And what
has
How
have you requited God's gift of his Son ? How have you
met the mercies of redemption ? How have you treated
Christ?
Has his story interested you? Has his cross
Have you stopped and gone near to see
attracted you ?
and sympathize
which you
For
he,
who
died
you
you?
if
the last and worst they can do, the resisting and grieving of
the
Holy Ghost.
work the
divine Spirit,
on a
of
visit
soul, of
us
we
for
them.
and whispers
to them,
Who
is
the
we should obey him ?" And he departs, perhe says, " Be instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my
My
What
with man."
I
strives with
Lord, that
haps
mercy
who
know not
but
then
this I
What is
mains no hope
who
It
not be desperate.
person
is
in the
But
there
if
is
Godhead
no refuge
left
there
is
no fourth
Another hour
another
fire
Beware
and
depart for
moment
he
may
ever
I
you
have told you what you have done. Let me now urge
having done so the
great guilt vou have incurred, the deep and virulent devor.,. viir,
'?3
10
have treasured up for yourself, and the utter ruin you have
In
entailed on soul and body, for time and for eternity.
doing what you have done, you have destroyed yourself;
you have forfeited the divine favor, and lost the divine likeThe privilege and dignity of being a child and heir
ness.
and peace is gone, and purity
of God are gone from you
;
is
hope
is
it will
is
all
You have
for eternity.
You have
your prospects
blasted
caused a blight to
w^hat to
and from the Son of God exacted suffering the deepest and
most dreadful.
In
fine,
me what
it is ?
Dost thou,
it
in
am
First.
You must do
wait
wait
which cannot be
you
ivaited for,
clone,
answer
because
A
it
it.
When
nothing
It
something
I will briefly
jailer
is
ask
And,
will
it
And do you
time,
the
"Do
by the way,
is noiv.
Secondly.
command
of
ficulty of
urges you.
what you
Fourthly.
God
for
You
you may
mands you to
avail you any
is
No amount
do.
thing.
word
of
no one of them
may
promise of salvation
Fifthly. There
is
made.
only one thing that you can do to
is
You
What
is
is
will
be disappointed
many
things.
One
if
act,
you
one
it?
now
is
Thirdly.
w^hich
argument
" Behold,
find to do.
now
behold,
make an atonement
you do
for sin,
in order to he saved,
nor
is it
is
not
to acquire, yourself,
title
to heaven
it is
yourself better, or
It is not to
of
do something
quired.
It is
is
for you.
is
re-
this act,
his suitableness
to
These
existing,
12
to trust in him.
and
all is
done.
do every thing
for you.
what you must do. Now do it. It is reasonChrist is altogether worthy of your
able that you should.
confidence.
He is able to save, and he is willing. He
This
is
offers himself to
you
he
upon you.
presses himself
Do
Re-
not be confounded by
be
all
?"
I assure
you
it is all.
you
you do
it
noio ?
a Saviour, then
And you
can do
it
The duty
yea, tetter.
now is ^never
God waits to be
it
Now, while
If
is
noio
will
Will
easier.
gracious, and
when
now,
you
all
in the strength of
your decision
It
is
all
you
known
in
now,
circumstances favor;
heaven.
It is
What
is
recorded
there.
Note.
awarded
A premium of
fifty
dollars, offered
Tract
by a friend was
IVo.
^80.
by Paine
an
to
of
it till it
becomes habitual.'"
He
traced his
own
aberra-
from the path of virtue, and the vices of the " young
persons " whom " his arguments had perverted," to the absence of religious restraints and when he saw the youth
of his beloved country in danger from the same cause, he
bore his solemn testimony against the rash experiment, and
entreated his reckless friend to burn the manuscript before
it should be seen by any other individual.
tions
VOL.
viir.
23*
2
Reader,
if
such a
man
and carefully noticing its effects upon others, deprecated it as the bane of personal purity and social order
and happiness, are you willing to give it currency in our
himself,
great republic
Infidelity,
eternal sleep.''
Nor have
infidels
The
lusts
and passions of men were set free from the reand the bloody history of that de-
straints of Christianity,
to national liberty.
upon a
refined
we now exchange
of all lands.
Shall
Wo. 981.
THE
ALMOST CHRISTIAN
BY REV.
BOARDMAN,
H. A.
D. D.,
PHILADELPHIA.
It
will
once reminded by
at
who
who
is
be
its title
whom
of this subject.
many examples
in illustration
and
vice,
We
whom we
think of
when
we
"Thou
by the
scribe to
whom
the assur-
We
" look
and when we
find
them
reluctant to exchange
2
of Christ and a
are,
may
in this sense
prominent
traits in
whom
be applied
the
life
and though
he belongs to the
1.
They
are
who
class of
it is
life,
perhaps
reads
Almost
more frequently
Chris-
one
character
common.
it Avill
of
name Almost
something
young man
some
;
feel
the
when
it
sufficiently defi-
to determine
whether
Christians.
and
many
religious privileges.
least
of the young.
many
persons
who have
failed
many
of
fruits
education.
4.
They
amiableness of temper
by much
Especially
is
and that
little offices
and
of attention
love, the
The
5.
Holy
class
we speak
Scriptures,
They
revealed.
members
Many
to be seen at social
of Bible-classes.
few of them go so
far as to
up an
They
Their deportment
offer
generally
They
They
is
indispensable to
it
furnishes the
They acknowledge,
Such
are
Christian.
some of the
The sketch
distinguishing
is
marks
of the
Almost
The
reader
applicable to his
he
may
neglect
many even
of
its
external
may have no
who would
solicit
if
to the
will
preceding statement.
now
4
I.
The
and
coexist in
in foxt do,
you
Almost
Christian may,
It
heart with
his
is
to
God
is
one
trait of
It is the peculiar
God
me
against
is
He
"
aversion or hatred.
is
that
is
not
;"
me."
is not worthy of
But you do not even pretend to love God and as
God is the first and great commandment, and *' the
;
love to
fulfilling of
the law,"
it
it
to the thoughts
and
God
is
spiritual,
on a just apprehension of
ence for
it.
reaching even
his authority
is
no external
not founded
private duties,
many
of
its
however commendable
in themselves, are
exceedingly
difficult to
convince
They
many
persons of
words at
upon the heart,
and that every act must necessarily be oflPensive to him
w^hich he perceives is not prompted by an internal principle
the truth of this assertion.
least, that
will admit, in
is
fixed
Still
life
5
so widely different
is
is
which the objector a moment before conceded for no plausibility of statement and no ingenuity of reasoning can invaH;
if
God approves
which
ceptable to him.
young
of the
who
one be found
ruler,
God
It is obvious,
standing
of
all
there
it,
my
then, that
you are
still in
if
you
And
is
no true
"Almost
are but an
unsubdued.
vails,
let
religion will
Christian,"
all
without love to
There
virtue.
where
may
to
Notwith-
God
is
yet
be the semblance
is dreadfully corrupt.
Nothgood can groAv in such a soil as well might
we expect the ground which is shaded by the deadly Upas
ing which
to
is
produce nutritious
11.
ception.
His situation
is
is
sustenance of man.
peculiarly liable
to self-de-
performing
fidelity.
tion of the
which
is
this essential
He
to be found in a Christian
community.
There are
who
a general thing,
VOL. VI ij.
it is
Almost Christian
but, as
24
THE ALMOST CHRISTIAX.
6
in
IN'ot
much
less that
they universally
Still, it
may
fess to be.
sanctified
by grace
is
its
excellence
view
its
true character
is,
will
he
if
is
which secure
if
common
consent, in all
morals.
It
is
nize his
alike
own
by a regard
To imagine
and that he
will
demanded
requisi-
of kindness
and
is
and by the
is
life
by the pure
Jesus Christ.
Considering what
human
nature
is, is it
by the caresses
sur-
of friends
into a
belief.
God
tliat
even
himself looks
complacency?
of
to
He
his
appeals
to
how
God
blameless your
you
It obviously concerns
is
life
fix
may be
not right in
to
of
with reference to
it,
the sight of
know how
is
to deal
your everlasting
be settled.
If
God
has sol-
emnly decreed that " without holiness no man shall see the
Lord," you are running a fearful hazard by building your
hopes of heaven on the favorable estimate which men, frail
and sinful like yourself, may form of your character. You
deny, indeed, that you are trusting to any such foundation.
You assert that nothing is further from your belief than the
opinion that your good works will wholly or partially avail
But beware of yourself. Search deeply into
to save you.
your heart, and see if you do not discover, beneath all your
apparent humility and self-renunciation, an under-current
of pride
and
selfishness,
which
is
silently
fire
and
brimstone."
Nor
is
THE ALMOST
8
in
CHRISTIAN'.
himself that he
flatters
he
If
is
not
mercy of God, he
approaching that point at which
hope
in the
He
practically believes
row way,"
'*'
is
into
it
pursuing,
is
it,
and
and nar-
strait
will in
two paths
sudden calamity,
own
reason enough
He
mo-
perceives
profane, the
that there
is
sensualist
are scattered all over the desert, and in danger of 'being cut
off
by
their foes
why
but
God
heaven
is
is
away the
in its iniquity
veil
who
who
Strange, strange
is
is
that a
throw
is
who
of rebellion against
life
at
Look at
Tear
is
against
him
;"
is
" treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath ;" and that
is
strengthening the
The
state
with
all his
It
apparent amiableness he
still
cherishes bitter
THE ALMOST CHRISTIAN.
that his sin
if
is
of no ordinary stamp.
we examine
This
his
which we recognize
that " unto
taken, the
apply
in all
common
its
him
given, of
to the view
principle
shall
much
which we have
one to
is
the plenitude of
enjoyed the
is
Now, according
Almost Christian
in all
whomsoever much
be required."
be manifest,
"will
meaning.
educated
truth,
heathens
like
and pious
in lessons of virtue,
in the
More than
path of duty.
on eternal things
claims of
dangerous
this,
he
seriously
God upon
acknowledge that
much and
hist
heart;
salvation for
is
and
him only
sacrifice
in
him he must
inevi-
he knows
and
tably perish.
yet does he
still
He
tives to repentance.
nings, he hears
confesses that
its
it is
fuses to render to
He
dience.
him
all this
persevere in resisting
looks
upon
looks
thunders
Sinai
the law
all
is
he sees
its
light-
proclaimed, and he
;"
but he re-
upon Calvary
VOL.
VIII.
24*
10
row
his heart.
thrills
that
^Yill
that he
is
alto-
he died to
He
hears
those
who
He knows
to himself.
that there
it.
He
it
;"
acknowledging
but, while
money
his need,
he
kingdom
of
heaven
he
He
lives
perhaps
power
is
ship
it
may
by jtidg-
side in the
though encased
The same
in iron,
but
prov-
many
permanent impression on
and
by
afflictive
mind.
alike
sits side
idence which
unmoved
by
all
his
bereaved,
and perhaps himself also, in mourning, was mercifully designed to direct his wandering heart to the Saviour.
is
are, in
The writer
spoken of
sovereignty
might seem to be
in the slightest
now
And
at his door.
made
peal be
to his
own
consciousness.
let
me
such an one
If
is
remarks
Bible,
by
own judgment,
that has
all
And
ness
in
is
be
If this
number and
their heinous-
It
is so,
one of aw-
is
effect of his
is
thereby
and he who
and
forti-
rejects a
in this
God
as to
make
their
own
destruc-
tion sure.
in
ye refused
regai-ded
my
would none
of
my
reproof
I also will
It is
"
My
have
God who
Spirit shall
called,
hand, and no
all
my
counsel,
and
man
and
I'HE
12
ity
I -will
ALMOST CHRISTIAN.
fear cometh."
Prov.
" If
1.
he wept over
Avhile
it
"
if
thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto
thy peace
again, "
have been
faithfully instructed,
standing the flood of light which has been shed upon their
path, and the
unnumbered mercies
his goodness,
w are,
lest
you provoke
his WTath,
of
God, are
his
still
Son
abusing
?
Be-
There
is
still
upon
himself.
we have
He
seen,
he
is
constantly practis-
ing
them
to
strong emotion.
His
duct
is
regular,
still
and
but there
is
months and years, which may well excite painful forebodings as to the end of his course.
He often Avishes that he
were a Christian; but he has no wish strong enough to
carry
He
frequently serious
is
sin.
He
rises to
often feels
THE ALMOST
solicitous
to
How
saved?"
little
but
CIIRISTIAX.
lie is
inquiry,
What must
Nor
is it
to
do to be
humanly speaking,
prospect, then,
I3
life,
is
to the realities of
is
be-
We
he
Almost
is
own
Christian,
It is
whether
a small matter,
flattering heart, or of
You
upon
Death hastens on
you
time
of eternity,
is
just before
is
is
God
doom ?
disposed
now
will
You need
vation.
all
in his "holy
If
the terms
you
are, I
your duty.
is
but one
way
of sal-
likewise perish."
''Believe in the
you
Saul of Tarsus
who
God on
word?
as they
were
Christ,
faith are as
Mary Magdalene or a
now for the vilest wretch
You are aware that repentfor a
or as they are
Lord Jesus
Repentance and
14
a forsaking of every
sin,
to give
Jesus Christ,
your Saviour
my own
sinfulness, nor
have
burden
of sin,"
On
this
would remark,
first,
the
Your
own
sins are,
on your
do not
them.
feel
But
again, the
his exercises.
And
when
when
real,
the
of the dust to
work
yet,
of the
this
conviction
vSpirit, it is
is
not for a
itself,
worm
view of his
as
Holy
own
is
depravity.
15
convictions at various
And
it.
again,
it
known
well
is
converted at
all,
that persons
to the descrip-
Almost
Christian,
if
doned and
profligate.
Still, it is evident that until you are
by the Holy Spirit to feel, in some measure, your need
of a Saviour, you will not repair to him.
But why are you not sensible of your need now ? To
this question you have correctly replied, that you have no
led
the
momentous
own
character
no
clear apprehension of
home
to
Were
those
the Spirit of
Should
your conscience with all
to
would
unbelief,
to
instantly
be saved?"
still
remains,'
Why
why
own wickedness
why
are
16
/ will,
MENT,
God ?
yourself to
his
to
If so,
make
this
do
it
And
immediate presence.
solemn consecration of
once done,
in
there be no
let
friends
may
ridicule you.
Regard them
Let
not.
all
the
perplexities of business
marked
Above
let
the garden
bloody sweat
his
crown
his
agony
in
his
of thorns
*'My God,
my
his
piercing cry,
me ?"
his
Think of
in
To. S8!3,
DAVID BALDWIN;
THE MILLER'S SON
The
narrative,
Island.
is
He
who
has
for several
Long
which
The
VOL.
to give
a philosoph-
was only
viii.
that of a
common
25
5,
But breaking
his situation,
he made very
respectable attainments.
of the Latin
The powers
tions.
of his
first
order.
ment
which
was
his attention
given.
In the accomplish-
of his purposes he
tenacious of
nevertheless he
in his habits.
The constant
by the
inhabit-
a position ex-
it
most unhappily, as
and
religion
it
appeared
he embraced
but
his talents,
an impostor.
for
weak.
ful,
he knew
in
the
all
have been
infidels
Over these he
pored
by night
Indeed,
or one
and by day
whole mind,
arguments which
his
who
it is
more thought-
much
care as he
brought against
How
it.
unable to say.
Some
little
we
are
perceived him
THE MILLER'S
He
SON.
were very
As
from mine.
different
cussion,
and knowing
his vigorous
nature too well to believe that he would surrender his opinions without an effort, I requested an interview with
at
To
heart,
were continued
himself,
searches the
found him
Jehovah
him
he assented.
this
in the
we had
travelled, step
These
to time for
by
step, over
Hume's argument,
ceptible of proof, he
seemed
its
soundness, even in
exposed, he would
showing
it
At one
still
sophistry,
its first
its
want of philosoph-
principles,
cling to
it
had been
clearly
to be a cherished favorite.
God even
sustain
"
if
word
it.
Why
ish,
and so much
propriety, that no
man unblinded by
and
superstition or preju-
"What
some
of
He
you name
them ?"
DAVID BALDWIN
he viewed
as the
it
OR,
by
his
comments that
I rephed, that
fact in history,
in
human
soul, there
power
to form.
to
power
that he has
to
he fashioned
If
he
was
able.
again, or turn
it
it
whithersoever
will.
to the doctrines of
Hume,
were
filled
of crows
were beating
ice,
When
with a serious
the roads
this
and trouble,
I arrived,
I said to
air,
a blackening train
way from
in the adverse
and snow
is.
It
came
appears to be so
had concluded
that,
if
the
fill
my young
along,
full of
your views
correct,
it
difficulty
and sorrow
sleep at last
if
so, I
for years,
you
tell
us
it
will only
be a
When
he
replied,
**
We
is
first
bitter
emotions of surprise,
seems
THE MILLER'S
by
to constitute
SON.
cup," I con-
tinued.
it
me
first
you please
to
"Hope," I immediately replied "the hope of blessedness to come sustains us btit you have no hope, you are
;
but
we
compared
At another time
would
be universally embrac-
They produce no hope, but take away many wholesome restraints. Taking away the Bible would be lifting
ed.
know
it," said
he
"the world
is
"Unless," said
dried
I,
"the fountain of
up by the operations
whom
is
the
never arrive."
On
him
He
if
infidels ever
prayed.
did,
"Are
He
infidels, then,
replied,
" Is
common
it
"No."
it
VIII.
whom
is
to perish, and a
25*
man
of wealth
and
DAVID BALDWIN
OR,
what would
you say
to see
him
re-
"
his
benefactor," he replied.
is
"
What would
*'
It
the
would say so
not parallel
common
too.
the Almighty, he
is
any thing
you a
to the
But what
factor.
is
duty
particular question,
well to believe
you
And
now, David,
will deceive
me
wish to ask
integrity too
in the answer.
Do you
"Then
I think
it
I placed in his
cer-
Difficulties of Infidelity,
Deists, etc.
all
Paley's Evi-
me he had
read.
remained inflexibly
as the
good must
be wrong."
Leslie's Short
which,
of all
firm.
He
fill
a large volume, he
appeared
to
still
be as immovable
must be
left to aflSiction
and death to
it
and
THE MILLER'S
SON.
He was
and
af-
finally
During
his
him
respect-
ing every thing else than that which held the deepest place
in
my
From
heart.
dropped
in
As
the
advanced
spring
He had
made alarming
disease
his
strides,
when
On
I called
of the last
taking
am
sinking
fast
dation.
in
it, it
A resignation
must
by the
was.
fate,
or to the
seat
impossible that I
is
it
am resigned to my
God of nature.'*
my
how he
but I
cumstances,
re-
in this sit-
I readily
should recover
hope of
on him.
room
entering the
all
but
rest
in
cir-
order to have
man
nation rests
but
you
if
cast
away the
Bible,
your
resig-
or vain imaginations."
all
I have mine."
" That may be,"
the
Jew has
his,
" but
still
I replied,
some
safe.
of
Moham-
it
As
does not
make
these opinions
and now,
if
you are
just as safe as
What
but
how
us."
!"
at the
all
if
agitated.
son, cried,
will
am
too
weak
you do so?"
What
"
his mother,
not weakness,
is
else
now."
it is
conscience
you
than,
are,
converse for a whole hour upon the promises and the hopes
of the Gospel
you appear
it
to
have but
little
confidence
me no more," said he; ''you could not conme when I was well, it is in vain to think of doing it
now I am sick do not come here to disturb a dying man
let me die in peace."
''Trouble
vince
I told
to argue, I
had come to
way
of
life,
the
good.
you
never have
in all
you pain
felt
came
to seek
am
your eternal
me
manifest any
other feeling."
so," said he, " I never did."
" That
is
"
And
in
peace.
THE MILLER'S
is
utterly impossible.
you now
are,
my
For you
SON.
to die in peace, as
You ought
me
to
it is
have
to
it
my
it
my
Bible declares,
'
if
I could,"
he that believeth
"That
is
my
I continued
power
so to
do
but I
know
of
you have
cast
no way
man
away
you?
entirely
Strong as
beyond
my
is
if it
would take
were
in
my
which a minister
in
*'
away
shall
"
my
power
to offer
How
feet.
desire to
do
so,
can I com-
you place
it
of conso-
lation."
"I hope
He
He
ers.
is
agitated, I desisted.
of nature cannot be
immutable."
"Nevertheless," said
I,
"he has
declared himself to be
He
who
dili-
Af-
I said,
hesitated for a
much
and
it
be opened."
"You may
"but
in
I think otherwise."
10
in
But
you.
He
come
shall I ever
looked earnestly
in
my
leave of
to see
face,
an-
sister's
my
you
will
come and
see
me
as a friend."
"
me
Avish to see
as a minister of the
Gospel?"
with
it
my
him
him
If I
crucified."
come
visit
"I cannot
man
a dying
God hath
I replied,
sense of duty to
provided for
to see you, I
So
adieu.
On
retiring, his
room, to which
who were
and
is
moment
And when
I readily assented.
able to
to
tion to that
me
mother requested
of
all
of indescribable solemnity.
in earnest supplica-
son
in his
will.
It
hands,
was a
a brother
flight
Lord
to
of Satan
give
him
have mercy on
to
subdue
enmity
his
to give
him
light,
and to
life.
We
his soul
my
as lost,
to remain.
was
still
Returning home,
pon-
THE MILLER'S
^
dered upon
arm
of the
that
it
at
who hath
"
self,
had
that
all
and disappointed
cannot save
after
Lord revealed
little
past.
what
SON.
member
is
mythe
arm shortened,
Is the Lord's
said to
whom
it
cannot hear?"
was surprised
at
When
came
in,
his
I perceived,
during the day, that he rolled and tossed from side to side,
groaning as
*
if
David, what
and
the matter
is
?'
'
I said to him,
'
have no
Was
soul.'
morning?
in
this distress
peace, but
wards
now
I find I cannot.'
To
said,
He
for
me, mother
his
I
could die
mother he
after-
Can
have been!
me
?'
which we immedi-
ately did."
When
this
I entered his
room he looked up
in
my
face
and
said,
morning."
"What
much trouble?"
I affection-
ately inquired.
"O,"
"
said he,
you
Saviour
is
necessary.
Is there
DAVID BALDVVlx\
12
answered
in the aflfirmative,
OR,
and began
at
once to pre-
sent the fuhiess and the freeness of the gospel offer, and to
For
many
thirsteth"
"Come,
and
let
saved "
be saved."
as,
I recited
us reason together"
"He
"Let
Lord Jesus
Christ,
only means by
of sinners, the
and condemnation of
sin, I
purpose
this
fifty -third
of Isaiah,
was
He
listened
said.
in spirit
and when
con-
w^ill
you
believe
them ?"
I inquired.
them."
I then asked
you do
We
so."
then united
in
the morning.
we had experienced
We
for his
in
mercy and
earnestly besought
him that the good work, which we trusted was begun, might
be carried on
to perfection
free, adorable,
and match-
less grace.
At
let
it
be."
Amen,
so
THE
When
sister to
13
me
desired
IVULLER'S SON.
me he had
as he
"There
is
present Christ in
all
He
He
seem
his fulness
to
life
and
to
his
to catch every
word with
no
The
fatigue.
infirmities
had concluded, he
Jesus Christ.
his willingness
body appeared
me."
complained of no weakness
my
He seemed
sages of Scripture.
eagerness.
I read
sufficiency to save.
When
To
said,
I continued, as I
did not
he
of the
had
requested his
said, " I
have endeavored to
I can trust to
in
no other."
ness.
I feel that
Jesus Christ
my
is
precious.
in Christ ?
How
could I
He seemed now
to
and
to look with
at the fearful
if
his
or comfort.
He
replied,
"
Not
any.
26
it."
He
then
14
related to
me
had
''I told
self.
for
whom
for
he had
it
and who
sent,
it
we had
could not
it,
and
if
also."
many who
my
life is
What
shall I say to
them from
you?"
" Tell them," said he, " that philosophy will not sustain
to
man
become reconciled
my
it
contains no support
that
to
life
myself."
On
quitting the
room
his
mother told
me
that he exact-
them
all
his
in
all,
he continued eleven
During
all
who
this
many
individuals,
and
to
wrought
in
the soul.
He
kept his
sister
In
all
in
in
the
THE MILLER'S
He
family.
SOX.
15
After long
him
At
to pray.
he requested
up the
offering
poor
He
worms
sinful
of the dust
God
in behalf of
!"
we
trust, in the
regions of light
soul, as
From this simple narrative the reader cannot fail to perhow utterly unstable the strongest human foundation
ceive
becomes
in view,
in the
it
No
the flood.
God
has
No
laid.
That foun-
deceived.
crisis,
God and
felt in
fearful
the truth of
When
more dear
to their souls.
flesh faints
When
fails,
become
when
confi-
hearts,
name
DAVID BALDWIN OR, THE MILLER'S gON.
16
left to
we
When
is
compass
it,
it,
what can
sustain
it ?
all
life
were irreproachable
it
In view of these
delusive hope
he called to
up."
it
delusion,
in
Jesus Christ.
facts,
why
The language
his
And
if
which
give
if
Give
it
is
the faithful of
God
Give
all
it
up.
If
you
have endured,
If
kingdom
into
freely offered to
up.
all
it
''
and anguish
any reader
say.
indulge such a
sufferings
we would
men
will
this
tained,
whom
Christ, as
he
is
i\o.
983.
said to one
God
look,
2
fancied security
is
and
symptom
would be hope
could he
but this he luill not
:
see,
his indifference
Who
admonished
called for
my resources
become the
to
slave of indulgence
may be
And
know it
such
not.
is
A disease
carelessness.
2. Another reason of alarm is, that this indifference indicates a state of mind in which every blessing is abused,
every warning neglected.
The sinner's heart is represented
may
habit of body
deplorable ?
that would render every thing received for nourishment or
for medicine perfectly useless would be dreadful
what
then must be that moral disease which leads men to pervert
;
ALARM TO THE CARELESS.
"How
Many
shall
we
escape,
if
we
if
alar:.i
tu the
careles;?.
we
to
desire not a
Tracts, while
ALARM TO THE CARELESS.
of sinners.
6. This carelessness is increased hy indulgence, and co7ilong process of hardening the heart is
firmed hy habit.
gone through with, before such a state of perfect apathy is
What saith the Scripture ? " Can the Ethiopian
reached.
change his skin, or the leopard his spots ? Then may ye
also do good, that are accustomed to do evil."
deceived
heart turns the sinner aside, so that he cannot deliver his
soul, nor say. Is there not a lie in my right hand ?
A state
of indifference, induced by the habit of neglecting the Gospel for years, will not be easily broken up. Novelty, which
is a powerful auxiliaiy to truth, is lost upon such.
If the
mighty works which Christ wrought in Chorazin and Bethsaida, but which lost their effect by repetition, had been
done in Tyre and Sidon heathen cities the first impression of such stupendous power had struck every mind
they 2oould have repented. And if the same truths which
sinners hardened under the Gospel reject, were delivered in
the name of Christ to many in the waste places of the earth,
they would doubtless turn to the Lord.
This indifference of which God complains is voluntary.
Go thy way, said Felix to Paul when I have a convenient
season I will call for thee.
He made his seriousness yield
to his convenience. Who will say he was under a necessity
to dismiss the apostle ? He says no such thing.
He might
have taken a different course and so might you have done,
for you were not always as indifferent as
careless reader
you now are. When eternal things were pressed upon your
regard, when the truth of God was felt, or a solemn provi-
dence
They have eyes, but they see not their ears are dull of
hearing, their hearts have waxed gross, so that they will
Woe unto you when God departs
not turn to the Lord.
In ancient times
This is no uncommon case.
from you.
God said, " My people would not hearken to my voice so
If unbelief
I gave them up to their own hearts' lusts."
;
ALARM TO THE CARELESS,
spised, of atoning blood trampled in the dust, of grace rewill it imbitter the soul to dwell upon scenes
jected.
How
fo.
384.
LYDIA STURTEVANT;
OR,
my
acquaintance,
who
D. D.
of an amiable
young
of
relig-
It is certain that,
from her
One morning,
especially,
VOL.
viii,
27
LYDIA STURTEVANT OR
;
expressed
it,
of justice"
that there
Christ
tion
saw
in
full
God
in
Jesus
and complete
salva-
and
She demade up
she reasoned
j^ent
DAY.
she
felt
favorable adjustment.
;
for months.
The next morning her religious impressions were renewed and deepened. She saw, more clearly than before,
the danger of her condition, and the necessity of immediate
repentance.
Sin
exceedingly sinful;
it,
vows
;
she
of the previous
felt
The
was so
resolution
way
and
2;"iven a
She
felt,
to the
it,
overwhelming
She
thinTc of
interest
did,
she had
in the
felt
morning, and
to the cares
About
this
and
I did
lage,
when
was
vil-
called at an early
Her
So
insidious
visit
her
last sickness
It
4
all
filled
her soul.
unpardoned
without
hope
God
impenitent,
death
her Saviour slighted, the Spirit grieved and gone, and the
the next
moment
^just sinking,
as she
At
this
strength
awful
again she
tense for
thouofht
her
soul
aijain
summoned
now
nearly noon.
but
all
vital action
at hand,
mercy
of
in
her behalf.
pray
you keep me
me." We
all kneeled again at her bedside, and having once more
commended her to God, I tried again to direct her to the
Saviour, and was beginning to repeat some promises which
my
me ?
me
0, pray for
can't
for
too late.""
^'
And
it
was
me
to charge
all
the youth of
stifle
"Warn
too
their conviction
by a mere
my
not
resolution to repent.
"by my case"
and
Her
voice
inarticulate, the
frantifc
dimness of
now and
then, in
seemed not
The same effort to pray was manifestly
continued, though it was indicated now rather by
express.
The
VIII.
27*
everlasting
its
flight.
As
I retired
I.
was led
to con-
that lovely-
But a few
whose state
weeks before, she was within the reach of hope, and promise, and Gospel influence, a subject of deep and solemn
female,
The Saviour
conviction.
on a future period
distant,
it
aff'orded
But
she
list-
alas,
The circumstance
that which was sown in her heart."
which quieted her conviction, and perhaps prevented her
repentance, was her resolution that she luould repent ; or,
as she more than once expressed it, " that fatal resolu-
Had
tion."
then, instead of
it,
her
it
become
The
of the
human
heart,
of yielding to conviction
and rep.enting
Instead
at once, she
was
her soul.
Her
The
felt in
made and
removed from
it noiv.
The
a deceptive and dead-
so soon to
of
to
do
it
by
How
same
Why
are
fear, are
going
down
Impenitent reader,
delusion.
you so unconcerned
Is
is
it
Would
could
you
this
unprepared
imminent, perhaps,
probability that
No
be silenced.
resolution
*'
to
you
is
is
will trust in
matter
how
home
of delay,
it
the
will
to be accomplished.
are at
is
it,
at
your house
;" if
it
''
doms would not compensate. It is a wilful delay of repentnow commanded; it may lead to diverting company or
care it may grieve away the Holy Spirit it may be that
ance
all
sin, for
which
It
is
"enchanted ground
ivill
;"
relig-
If its
noiv.
If
The business
one of
It is
of religion
is
a business
It re-
but the immediate surrender of your heart, a cheerful subivill to the word, and Spirit, and holy will
mission of your
of
God
soul
and
above
by the
all,
by the
Him who
REPENT NOW.
has
WHAT
IS
KNOWLES
D.
LETTER
My
dear Brother
subject on which
ing to
my
Gospel ?
we
is
attention.
recently conversed
The
mind.
I.
inquiry, Is
it
my
deeply interest-
is
duty
to
preach the
on
this
topic.
would be most
It
gratefully received
by
Such a
treatise, too,
would
young men
The churches
But
members.
will allow
gifts
which
as such
may
exist
among
their
young
It gives
indispensable qualification.
If I
Saviour
is
the
God.
man who
first
and
in Christ's stead, to
it
my
first
be reconciled to
WHAT
IS
may
be sure that
it
would be pre-
as an ambassador.
ISo
monarch
Much
less will
To such
Gospel.
man
What
shouldest take
my
may be
God saith,
my
statutes, or that
my
thou
seeing thou
exhort
3^ou,
before
in
your inquiries
concerning the ministry, to "make your calling and election sure " by a faithful application to your own soul of the
That
it is
possible to arrive
may
"
that
we may
know
putable.
that
that
enjoy the
assurance of faith"
''full
life
is
we
"
indis-
is
betrayed into
sin,
which
But
He
He
joy.
He
who
is
to
be
satisfied that
he
is
a Chris-
WHAT
tian,
IS
toils
am
and
:
conflicts of the
that
it
must be a
him against
that day."
fully
admit
You
able to keep
is
firm to
is sufficiently
persuaded that he
is,
believe
You do
his enemies.
become a
You
minister.
believe that he
whom God
designs
will of
office.
my
next to examine
May
all
truth.
Afifectionately yours.
LETTER
My
is
dear Brother
a special
II.
While you
call to
no
visions.
You wait
to flash suddenly
in the Scriptures
for
upon you.
:
You do not
You look for
Of
all
God now
knowledge of
where there
A
is
WHAT
IS
this subject
may be
One
of these principles
Redeemer.
tie
of love,
of desire
for the glory of their Lord, " to live, not unto themselves,
but unto him which died for them, and rose again." Christians are in the highest sense the " peculiar people "
that
is,
to place
may
may
where he
pleases, to
whom he
employ
in
whatever service he
No
Christian, therefore,
own taste or
own advantage.
is
at
do?"
in
There
is,
*'
me
to
every service
seeking by prayer, by
call to
the ministry,
much
in its
ministry
is
is
know what
is
the divine
will.
its importance.
The office of the
more important, and therefore requires higher
nature as in
but the minister's duty to live for the Savno stronger, and indeed no other than the obligation
quahfications
iour
WHAT
From
IS
my
decar brother,
any other
in the ministry, or in
of a minister.
ification
you
believe,
continue to influence
am happy to
it may
your conduct.
be a source
It will
you.
My
dear Brother
direct
holiness.
III.
Another
that
is,
Nothing
it is
power
all
may
Affectionately yours.
LETTER
and
Saviour
cherish.
all
we deduce
serve the
to
This willingness, I
sincerely
less
becomes, then, a
It
given to
men
Hoio can
he
is
founded on
As God
most useful?
this principle,
The parable
and
has
he has evidently
it
of the
teaches us the
and rewarded by
or but one.
chapter of
his master,
different offices to
be
who
filled,
and that
different qualifications
them
"
As
members have
not the same office, so we, being many, are one body in
Christ, and every one members one of another.
Having
then
us,
gifts differing
VTII.
all
whether prophecy,
VOL.
in
let
is
given to
28
WHAT
proportion of faith
tering
A CALL TO THE
IS
ftHNISTRY ?
horteth^ on exhortation
simplicity
he that giveth,
We
or he that ex-
him do
let
may, then,
safely adopt
with
it
he that showeth
indi-
work.
waste of power.
In the
is
and growth.
It
God
similar.
is
to be
no-
needful gifts
all
is
In the body of
is evi-
There
appropriate service.
its
her preservation
foi
gifts are
not
The
principle
two important
now under
rules,
which may
assist a
young man
to as-
to he
convinced, on reasonable
who
miiiistei'
than in
ministry.
remarks on a
principle
''
stated, in
it is
whoever
possesses the essential qualifications for the Christian ministry, is called to exercise
may
them."
I will, in
my
next
letter,
WHAT
IS
LETTER
My
dear Brother
mean
IV.
to use the phrase provi-
man,
which he
situation in
placed,
is
of
and
God
body and
his duties
a^
of mind, the
and
relations
to his fellow-men.
dumb man
is
evident.
In
all
God
has
The
constitution of the
mind has a
still
more
direct
such a
cannot
fix in
fit
for a minister.
This degree
little
m practice. A
we
difficulty,
feeble mind,
man
which
to say
will not
study
bad
that
God
The
qualifications
an indolent mind,
mind may be
sition.
tion,
And
which
instructed,
here,
is,
if it
my brother, allow me
I conceive,
to
very unportant.
WHAT
Am I called
tion,
Is
which
it
exists
be
to
my
on
IS
a mhiister
now
duty
to
this subject
preach
among
which often
of the embarrassment
Much
of the eiror
much
minds of
who
is
would seem,
to
not yet
fit
to preach.
This
Yet
may be
need proof.
it
is
too plain,
it
profitable to
illustrate
this
point.
Jer.
1:5.
And
all
who
whom
Gal.
birth.
The same
1:15.
asserted
fact
this is true
Some eminent
he appoints.
ministers,
in childhood.
If Dr.
like
Dr.
Doddridge,
commence preaching
been
his
it
have been
Certainly not.
his
It
duty then
would have
individual
If,
would be
but to prepare to
that
men
preach,
Our
If this reasoning
embarrasses
tion, is
man
is,
them
is
learners,
removed.
in-
to preach immediately,
which seriously
who
is
God
does not
call
incapable of teaching.
WHAT
IS
is
a minister; that
made
qualifications, his
want of educa-
all
to
is,
And
suitable preparation.
is
called to be
assist
when
at this time,
man may,
he
if
will,
obtain a competent
education.
which
often
is
made by
If,
how unfounded
is
the
Christians, to a course of
say they, a
man
is
called to
the point.
If the call
man would
disobey
is
God
young
how
they censure young men, and entice them from their books.
They undoubtedly
field
of reasoning, too,
practice, to give a
is
prepared.
The
before he
shows that
was prepared.
it is
young man a
This course
license to
preach before he
will.
If
call is to
an expression of their approbation of such a course of preparation, reserving the license for that period
have acquired a
sufficient
rience to enable
him
amount
of
when he
to teach.
Affectionately yours.
VOL. VIIL
28=^
shall
WHAT
10
IS
LETTER
V.
My
if
God
may
designs a
connection with others, a variety of circumstances concurring to point out his duty.
The hand
There
may
These
removal of obstacles.
God
of
be
will
from
sin,
and a release from which cannot be obtained from pecuniary obligations from domestic ties and from a great
;
man may
disre-
He may
proceed.
but
if
this
is
must have a
use
all
impossible, he
must submit.
spotless reputation,
and
if
his usefulness.
the difficulty
The
is
He must
way
as to
obstacle, especially
make the
if it
interference of
an encouraging indication of
wait
moval of the
minister
But a
re-
God
manifest,
may
be
ministry.
too, in
is
In the Sabbath-school he
may
fact,
on
be required, by a
In conference
WHAT
may
force
a chm-ch
by
is
him
to
become the
till
and
his
destitute of a pastor, a
bly,
IS
own
heart
Andrew
too
is
Such
Fuller.
much
him
interested to allow
to
among
the
may
Of
judge.
man
is
Respecting
many
of the
interest
If,
is
him come
or
if,
when he mentions
it,
he
finds their
minds
may
con-
God.
He ought
not,
it is
true, to de-
speak
it
may be
On
the other
terial gifts,
which I
in
if
judi-
him minisThere
are,
may
own
sense of duty.
He would
to act
from
WHAT
12
IS
him
to proceed
AflFectionately yours.
LETTER
My dear BrotherI now
most important and
tude, the
The
VI.
difficult
heart,
is,
we
Holy Spirit on
the
we
mode
in
which the
Spirit accomplishes
In both cases,
of the Spirit.
to be thus employed.
*'
This
is
a true saying,
Such a
if
desire
man
but
it is
this,
is
is
a fruit
a decided desire
referred to
by Paul.
There
This willingness
is
in
" this desire shall spring from a pure motive, and not from
It is necessary, in
the love of ease, affluence, or applause.
my judgment," he continues, " that there should be a spe-
that
it
would
kind of
fire
be painful to extinguish."
which usually impels young Christians to be active in religious duties, and to think that it would be a privilege to
preach the Gospel, because they could thus be more useful.
WHAT
IS
13
may have
placed
tlie
But
individual.
if
God
designed
is
The value
man
of the
and the
sinners,
He
warn
an irrepressible desire
will feel
He
wull thus
warn
either in
feels
to
to be awfully responsible
it
him
desirable, because
more widely
darkness to
his
light,
it
and arduous,
appear
will
extend
to
for the
judgment-
day.
But besides
ployed
duty
this earnest
to
The
be thus engaged.
be a conviction of
quiet
mind think
and
affections, that
he cannot with a
The
who
sit in
rest.
He
they are
all
comparatively
trifling.
life in
He
such pursuits.
He
is
willing
and
his
of his fellow-men.
Lord may
direct, yet
Though he
is
willing to
do what
WHAT
14
IS
life
He
But he
counter the
aware
and that
He
not dismayed.
is
and the
toil,
fully
is
is
self-denial
willing to en-
is
and
And
all
is
most
spiritual
w^ith
God, that he
feels
It is
most deeply
work
and
it is
sin-
mayest
I,
Employ me
send me.
as thou
but allow
Make me
wrath
I ask
me
thy presence, in
life
and
sin
and from
in death,
and
no more."
my
brother, are
some
of the feelings
an equal degree by
;
them from
and grant
These,
Holy
but he
it is
his
sires to
is
is
felt
who
does
feel
them, and
who
at
be engaged
in
duty to be a minister.
same time
which the
man whom he
who
all
doubt whether
the
ity or suffering, as
pel
Redeemer,
please.
be to
if it
me
am
ing,
to the sacred
life
in the ministry,
moving him
to the
may be
work
satisfied that
and
if
the prov-
WHAT
God seems
idence of
stacles are
to
IS
promote
same
to point in the
removed from
his wishes
his
path
there
if
if
15
direction
ob-
if
circumstances concur
is
and
especially,
judicious
if
he possesses
His
call is clear.
It
hand.
Let him
service,
aration for the great and arduous, but most glorious office
the
He
life,"
will
and
spiritual
resources, and he
to cultivate his
be guilty
if
he neglected them.
Master
will aid,
If
he cannot prosecute an
him do what he
and
can,
his
LETTER
My
dear Brother
have endeavored,
seem
to
me
YII.
all
in the
preced-
You
which
to your
have mentioned.
mind
in the
form of questions
and may
He who
feel-
ings
o and motives.
Are you
satisfied that
all
and
things.
WHAT
16
IS
Do you
habitually re-
gard yourself as not your own, but as under sacred obhgations to live, not unto yourself, but unto
you and
rose again
And
do you
feel
Him who
died for
an entire willingness
humblest
sta-
Do you
con-
tion
stantly feel
it
and do you
seize
God
is
Are you
and
you
warm your
heart
of Christ
and him
desire springs
work
crucified ?
of spreading the
and do
you may be
knowledge
that this
emolument ?
Are you solemnly impressed with a sense of duty to
preach the Gospel ? Do you find your thoughts and feelambition, nor from a wish for ease and
may be
to
men ?
scene,
if
Do you
life
feel that
a melancholy
the Gospel
spirit
plain,
most
inviting,
WHAT
your own mind
seem
IS
And,
finally,
Are you
17
God
free
and do the
If
you
difficulties in
my
can,
you
disappear
in
may
confidently
own
points, relating to
feelings
and observation.
constitution,
habits, of
way
the
if
You ought
you possess
to
gifts
you have
all
my
believe,
earnestly exhort
you
who
or very useful,
the Gospel.
Such a
and
work.
and
I rejoice
It
is,
still
is
in
indeed, of
;
for
immense importance
doubt respecting
his call to
preach
ignorantly
and
will
is,
either
brother,
internal
office,
it is
or
deportment to be moral,
while he, as
it
my
brother,
man
said,
can travel."
may
If
WHAT
18
IS
God may make you a blessing to his church, and an instrument of turning many to righteousness, is my earnest prayer.
You
But
trials of
has
it
crown
Lord.
"
heaven for
in
all
my
If
precious
many
to righteousness,
and ever."
could reach
voice
many
reserved a glo-
is
the
all
young men
in the
My dear brethren,
in what way will you serve the Saviour ?
How can you do
most for his glory, and for perishing men ? Why is it not
churches, I would
now
Examine yourselves
Lord, what
And
in this
w^ilt
to the
thou have
me
to
do
"
?'
would
You have
You ought
sa}^.
young men who furnish evidence of minisYou ought to converse with them, and to enOften, it may be feared, do pastors and
courage them.
churches neglect their duty on this point. Young men are
left
word of
The more modest they are, and
the more deserving of sympathy, the more reluc-
advice or encouragement.
therefore
sense of unfitness,
all
dis-
men,
it
cannot be doubted,
who ought
WHAT
IS
overcome by these
pel, are
suppose, that
if it
is
and
anxieties, doubts,
19
It is
fears,
and
a mistake to
mind
will
preach, though
probably consider
it
it
of a conscientious
man
will
not.
it is
mind
may be
lost to the
church.
But
if
a young
man surmounts
and discour-
his doubts
is
thrown
so
much
enter
way on purpose
in his
And
zeal.
time
if,
encouragement
wasted, that
it is
is
There
may be
cases, too, in
who may,
make him
useful as a minister.
of pastors
and Christians
in a judicious
ask him
him to
mind a
given
means
reflect
is
why
it
is
not as
in this case, as
God.
would
if it is
ciled to
it is
to
In both cases
No
to
to urge
his
reason can be
us as instru-
May God
our
manner;
It
may
nevertheless,
ments
given,
too late to
own
preserve us
all
from the
guilt of neglecting
May
he send forth
! ! !
WHAT
20
many
and
liis
harvest,
and may
be done on earth, as
The grace
of our
all
Your
Note.
IS
laborers into
his will
it is
his
kingdom come,
in heaven.
who
love
him
BROTHER.
affectionate
premium, offered by a
my
in sincerity.
friend,
was awarded
to the
of peace reveal.
He
How happy
That hear
Which
And
How
this joyful
sound.
for,
That see
this
heavenly light
it
long,
The watchmen
And
And
in songs,
Watu.
DYING TESTIMONY
OF
BY W.
Christianity has
is
"
known and
BROWNLEE,
C.
its
read of
D. D.
men."
its
life,
This evidence
and known
to
be of God, by
hearts to understand.
convincing.
dom
or
VOL.
It exhibits
all
seen
It is evidence, at
an efect
for
VIII.
It is
cause.
It
I>YL\G TESTlMOxNY OF
is
heavenly
traits
We
men
is
life is
same
exhibiting the
And when
by a dying
then complete.
and
The two
honor
ness,
his
ium
may
depart
this life
dying testimony.
of a fever
He may die
mony
it is
true,
but without
bearing a dying
testi-
much
in the spirit of
distress
The
cele-
would give all my learning and honor for the plain integpoor John Urich !" This was a poor neighbor of his,
who usually spent eight hours a day in prayer. When Sal-
rity of
Oh,
sirs,
tian peace.
The deaths
Christ,
sons of Aaron,
of
Korah
of the
two
who
his
own
God, and
life,
God on
who sought
who was
doom was
pel of Christ
but
we
by depriving them of
and the means of education. He avowed it as
religion,
and
show the
temple
be
its
ministry,
and for
rebuilt,
historians relate, he
ino-
their schools
his object to
it
should
But, as
terror.
He
he received a handful of
up towards heaven,
his
it
DYLNG TESTIMONY OF
the sun, the idol of the Persians, which fought against him
;"
cried,
Thou
hast con-
Galilean!''
of God.
he would make
it
He
of the church
utter ruin of
extirpate
in his
In spite of
all
crushed him.
And by
perished
II. of
Spain
man
thou
vilest
me
in secret.
true,
I cite thee to
and
this
answer for
this at the
judg-
ment-seat of Christ."
friar in
ragings of despair.
Scot's Worthies.
and a drunkard.
As
*'
was a mocker
of Glasgow,
when
way to
In 1681,
and crown,
of
this
man
cruelly in-
Mr.
Cargill,
whom
he thus ad-
snow
he
man
of
God
frequently
"Mock
after a
He added,
not, lest your bands be made strong."
solemn pause, " That day is coming when you shall
The
histo-
Lord
Wodrow
rian
!"
was pleased to lay his hands on that bad man. At Glasgow, where he lived, he fell suddenly ill, and for three
days his tongue swelled, and though he seemed very earnest to speak, yet he could not
who
This faithful
folio,
*'
The His-
this passage.''
HoBBES,
first
men
Vol.
3, p.
of the nation,
among some
of the
DYLXG TESTIMONY OF
6
horror, in his hist
moments, "
I am
the dark.''
human
of France,
and
name
at another,
whom
"David Hume
Smith
in his
among
or affected
to
memoir.
do
so.
men who
The former,
mind by
whist,
"the
clerical buffoon,"
he came to be
make
his
in
sworn
Charon.
The
him,
when
calls
is
raising
pretended
But
it is
horror of mind.
fictitious
Simpson
and
as
rage, to have
liisto-
his favorite
the city of
in
fearful
execrations,
alternately uttering
Jesus Christ.
tury,
* See Professor
cent statements.
Silli man's
conscience, and
away
to a skeleton, w^hile
an unquenchable
fire
consumed
his soul.
Thomas Scot,
to the
Roman
priests
who sought
dix, p. 7.
Cardinal Mazarine
moments,
"0 my
is to become of thee?
Whither w^ilt thou go ? 0, were I permitted to live again,
I would sooner be the humblest wretch in the ranks of
Charles
He
old in crime.
young
in years,
but
others
science
and an
aveno-ino-
heaven."
The case
of
DYIXG TESTIMONY OF
8
into his hands.
it
into pieces,
and hurled
of Bolton
He
day
in
tore
after
who
religion.
aorainst the
fell
on him.
of perdition
that
may know
My damnation is
he expired.
may be
the worst of
in the place
Being
it."
in
But the
relio-ion.
until
and soon
William Pope
it
sealed."
This he repeated
son's Plea.
who conducted
II.,
and one of
of religion.
On
gill,
that he
pect of eternity awakened the horrors of his sleeping conscience, the very
cries of
his
piercing
By
his
whom
at his bedside to
pray
for him.
bles
and
out,
"We
officers of state
all
thought
little
of that
man,"
j\fr.
Caro-ill.
"his
But O,
on
my conscience now
and
it
sirs,
I find
me
bind
will
9
it
binding
to all eternity."
were profaneness,
would
infidel,
and drunkenness.
vice,
an eminent mathe-
in his day,
but being an
on
crav/1
his
the fruits of
In his
last
it
days
at
What
a contrast between
same
who
died of the
painful disease.
face,
impatience. ^^
agement indeed
for his
own
schemes.
miserable
to
embark
welfare, to
encour-
man
little
is filled
awake, the
is
and
in
those where
his situation,
no after-reckoning.
give
let
him joy
me
of
it.
owm
an ass be a privilege,
my
it.
is
But
last eiid be
like his.''
We now
some
of the noble
Christians
"
army
of martyrs, confessors,
My fathers, my fathers,
and private
Trinity,^''
work on
Newton
VOL.
VIII.
30
See
DYIXG TESTIMONY OF
10
as they
and
rest
.1.
upon
We
head of them
all,
as a
martyr
made a
do,
by
we must
not
be possible,
my
let
this
soul and
to look to
for imita-
when
wrest-
my
Father,
if
Nevertheless,
He was
will,
ners.
fail
example
not
wc
it
the Prince
for wliilc
him
on them descend
iis.
but
.0, let
guilt of sin-
and
it
O what dignity,
will should require it.
what submission, what self-possession, what meekness did
" He was led
THE Prince of martyrs uniformly display
as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shear"The cup
ers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth."
which my Father giveth me, shall I not drink it?" Looking in the infinitude of his benevolence upon his bloody
persecutors, he set before us the great and divine model
of the forgiveness of enemies: "Father, forgive them;
FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO." And then, kuowiug
all things to be accomplished, he meekly bowed his head,
as he cried with a loud voice, " It is finished," and gave
whenever God's
up
his spirit.
If Socrates died
Let us now turn to the noble band of martyrs and conwho have been imitators of God, as dear children.
fessors,
ing
2. Tiie martyr Stephen was stoned to death while callupon God, and saymg, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
And
asleep.
fell
3.
in prospect of his
am now
my
good
faith
fight
:
departure
have finished
henceforth there
is
is
at hand.
my
course
laid
martyrdom,
ready to be offered,
I
I
have fought a
have kept the
day."
4.
Ignatius,
who succeeded
By the
blood.
edict of the
city of
Rome.
Through
places
all
animate
PoLYCARP, bishop
of
Smyrna,
Avas a
*'
me
I will
did he use
devoted minis-
unkindly
blaspheme
my
DYING TESTIMONY OF
12
Your fire
"O God
and of
all
You
shall be
Polycarp fixed
be spent
will
words:
"
better.''
is
burned alive,"
in
These were
eternal."
of angels,
on him and
his eyes
all
his last
creatures,
that hast
hast
that
saints, a rich
and acceptable
through thy
sacrifice,
onl}^- begotten
6.
fire
will.
I bless thee, I
now and
through whom,
he died
according to thy
thy mercies
all
in the
for
unity of
evermore
;"
done.
"Yes."
why
not
Brooks'
of Gold.
There
w^ords of
is
in the
temple,
who
last
took the
man
Hilary, the bishop of Poictiers, A. D. 355, the fellowlaborer of Athanasius in defence of the truth.
Simeon
'*
''
:
Go
out,
alive
go out."
Brooks.
John Huss,
the
When
A. D. 1415.
he threw liimself on
he came to
13
place of execution,
tlie
knees and sung a psalm, and looking steadfastly up to heaven, he uttered this prayer " Into
his
thy hands,
deemed me,
Lord,
commit
most good and
I
my
Thou
spirit.
hast re-
faithful God.
Lord Jesus
me, that with a firm and present mind, by thy
most powerful grace, I may undergo this most cruel death,
to which I am condemned for preaching thy most holy Gos-
Christ, assist
When
Amen."
pel.
As
sake."
of Bavaria in a brutal
submit.
taught
am
ing kindled,
"Lord
called on
own pure
my
doctrines
blood."
duke
him to abjure and
the martyr; "I take God to wit-
manner
up
and what
The
fire
be-
which
voice,
all
finished the
Jesus, thou
me ;" and
as he uttered this, he
sunk down
in the
flames
and expired.
9. Jerome of Prague, the associate of Huss in
the work
of reformation, followed him to the stake a few months after
this.
himself to
God
in nearly the
whole deportment of
ited
same words
as
Huss
did.
The
unshaken courage, and at the same time holy submisGod's will. When the executioner was about to
sion to
kindle the fire behindhiia, he said, '* Bring thy torch hither
do thine office before my face had I feared death, I might
have avoided it." As the faggots began to blaze, he com;
viii.
30^
DYING TESTIMONY OF
14
When
sixth psalm."
popery to
his detestation of
let
he "bequeathed
last will,
his friends
A
'
in
my life,
and
shall continue to
any fresh
be so
plague of
tlie
in
;"
my death."
little
Pray, pray
much
Gospel
which had
the
God
of truth,"
triumphant death.
11.
in his death-bed,
for us,
who can be
tionate relatives
if
against us ?"
If
God be
affec-
I^otli-
And
fell
asleep in Christ.
12. Beza, the colleague
God had
fully
fulfilled all
me from
hast been
with
every
side.
more
*
'satisfied
me
in secret
when, on the
Thou
thou
field of bat-
his angels
charge over
with a long
life,'
He
"
tle,
how wonder-
me
have no
words of the
Jones^ Hist.
dence
'
13.
I loill
my
him
shoio
15
which
salvation,'' for
in confi-
have longed."
Patrick Hamilton, the Scottish martyr, was refirst nobles of Scotland, and also to King James
lated to the
He was
V.
to receive
He
home
returned
in
and painful
in
While
eternal life."
friar
death be bitter
this
it
is
the entrance to
Campbell disturbed
his
devo-
said, "
and
that I
am no
heretic
seat of Christ."
As
How long,
realm? How long
I cite
the
out,
"
And
up
to heaven,
Jesus, receive
14.
fire
down
my
men?"
words
"0
Lord
spirit."
George Wishart,
man
of apostolic character,
w^ho trained the useful spirit of John Knox, and paved the
w^ay for him in the Scottish reformation,
fell
a victim to the
At
the stake
he cried
out, "
fire.
know
surely,
and
my faith
is
such, that
1^''
ers
and enemies.
As
the
fire
his
;;
TESTIMONY OF
DYLN'G
1(3
mercy on me
my
Saviour of
world, have
the
I commend
''
spirit.
commend my
which
After
spirit
hast
tliou
raise
up
faithful
to his bedside,
rapturous expressions
in these
be merciful,
redeemed
*'
:
pastors."
he broke out
Christ
places,
wickedness
spiritual
in
high
On
peace.
sighs,
he
16.
he w^aved
this
fell
When
martyrdom,
his hand,
asleep in Jesus.
in
own
afflictions in his
!"
He
''
lost sight of
of Christ.
17.
When
the reign of
heaven as the
exclaiming,
18.
"I
fire w^as
believe, I believe."
sumed
fire,
in a
slow
fire,
none hut
19.
distinct voice,
now
flaming with
Christ.''
Lawrence Saunders
suffered
He
martyrdom under
17
Welcome
ever-
life
lasting !"
20.
of ICing
Ed-
my
the
is
find
it.
way
And
now,
life
and
Lord Jesus, receive
;
spirit."
months
Latimer died
at Oxford.
Ridley
fire,
in
body
festly
^'
them.
God
to
Be
luill either
abide
it.''
Latimer replied,
dag
''
Beof good
light such
be
comfort, brother ;
a candle in England
as,
by
put out!"
after
my
spirit."
What
a trium-
24.
said,
it.
may
be with thee.
blessed Saviour,
DYLNG TESTIMONY OF
18
"I
utterable groans,"
in
shall see
rio-ht hand.
I shall follow him whither he
o
come, let us go forth to meet our Redeemer
the Father's
goeth.
his
me."
approached
his
"I rejoice,
now the time
death
that
glorious
God
yea,
my
at last
face to face
me
come, when
whose glory
have w^orshipped,
after
whom my
27.
whom
have by
faith
after
for joy
longed
whom
after,
and
to
religion.
In her
last illness,
her
Christ.
Holy
am
all
joy
full of joy.
I feel
And
an inexpressible tranquillity
John Bunyan,
Christian
death.
them repeatedly
to
life,
all
he called on
in
prayer.
His
last
Weep not
for
19
me, but
for yourselves.
new
Amen."
we shall
happy
ere long
for ever,
Memorial
Inverne}^'s
of
Bun van.
Addison, just before
29.
nobleman
for
whom
he had
said, "
felt
young
Behold
can die."
30.
and a distinguished
Charles IL in 1683.
When
tyranny of
was over
past."
compose me
in
On
any degree.
my
Redeemer,
blessed
joy which
is
in
am
in
whom
alone I trust.
his presence
my
life,
do
And
is
the happiest
it
as the
saddest."
3L George Buchanan,
liter-
ature,
last illness.
in that place
of this
bitterlv.
At the
I shall
hearino-
DYING TESTIMONY OF
20
32.
How
delicious to
men
as
infidels to the
minds to atheism
inclineth men's
"A
saying,
but depths
pages of such
little
.philosophy
in pliilosophy
I find a
prayer of
"
Thy
God,
thee,
33.
fields,
my
creatures,
much
more.
and gardens
have sought
but
have found
in
John Welch,
the son-in-law of
man
of
apostolic
Having preached
he was taken
ill
zeal
immediately as he
death-bed he seemed to
of glory
he was
filled
feel
man were
holy
Lord,
enough,
servant
is
it
The
last
words of
his
On
the pulpit.
left
now enough
a clay vessel,
" It
!"
is
thy
See
Scot's Worthies.
34.
shining light
of that church,
one of the
first
God
to
session.
for the
law by
But he was
his father,
called
by the
Jesus.
;;
He had
21
and feeling
do,
still
"Hold, daughter,
said,
siMit in a
them
few moments
open
to
these words
which
children
my
fell
lost his
God
the love of
"
Now,"
these words
;"
said the
and being
my dear
I shall
sup with
And
saying
this night."
this,
he
King Charles
I.,
asleep.
35.
He
you,
gently
me T'
me from
my finger on
put
**
it
calls
callino' for
venerable man,
told that
Master
but
in
is
be able to separate
shall
life
my
to
On his dying
mind.
He said to
bed he was
at first in
all
much
darkness of
me, brother,
tell
on
tion
it
out.'"
reply, "
'
if
may
of,
Whosoever cometh
me,
to
ivill
my
salva-
in noiuise cast
See,
how he
smiles
Lord good
!
Is
do say
it,
he not
and
infinitely
good?
do proclaim
it."
When
because he stood
VOL.
riTi.
31
trial
his
the parlia-
dying bed.
*'Tell
DYING TESTIMONY OF
22
received a
that
first
said to ministers
none
is
like Christ.
And
pleasing."
fainting
"I
my
he
fit,
feed on
said,
manna
him.
man
all
0, beware of men-
but
Christ
am
Glory, glory to
his.
and Redeemer
for ever.
O for arms to
He continued
embrace him
one in the
man
mine, and I
is
Glory shines
exulting in
God
in
my
did.
Creator
Immanuel's land.
for a well-tuned
harp
!"
full vision of
On
ordering
my
affairs,
and God
is
is
just
it
sealing
now
my
am now
my
charter to
When
ad-
I could die as a
Christian."
38. -Mr.
Roman, but
He was
the lead-
afflictive
ister,
period, and
II.
He met
his
sufferino-s
by Charles
and
;:
He
cheerfulness.
execution
after dinner
his physician
he called for a
"
Now, my
the gravel."
religion
and
little
cheese, which
23
using, as be-
friends, I
am beyond
may
use
the reach of
On
my
righteousness,
desire.
Him,
Jesus
my
is
me
a minis-
and
and all
light
him do
Bless him,
you.
my
to
and
Blessed be
life,
my
soul unto
N'ow,
the
first
victims in
on the
He
and
God
relations
friends
influ-
object
scaffold, in these
intercourse with
His great
made him an
my
for ever.
New
God
Testament
welcome glory, welcome eternal life, welcome death !" And having prayed a
few moments, he lifted his eyes to heaven and cried with a
of
all
of consolations
my
soul,
commend my
spirit
DYING TESTIMONY OF
24
And
while
uttering this
eternity.
40.
last that
was martyred
in
when he
of age
oratory.
On
suffered,
He
to those days.
dying
man be
His
heard."
last
words were,
*'
let
Lord, I
die in the faith that thou wilt not leave thy church, but that
thou wilt make the blood of thy witnesses the seed of thy
church, and return again, and be glorious in our land.
now,
on
Lord, I
am
Then whispering
ready."
And
to his friend
carry
I commend my spirit
God of truth. Amen."
John Paton.
for
Captain Paton,
who
in the
soldier.
He
army
my
of Scotland,
His
last
words on the
my
was a
my
six
God
solemnly
I forgive all
my
to forgive them.
And
tures,
now, farewell
all
sing-
05
Scottish army.
42.
his son
an
and
them
God
to the
of the
only to
" I
widow and
am
fatherless,
he uttered
of God,
in
to
day.
his soul in
prayer
"
How
thankful
am
I for
death
among
die
is
Thou mayest
gain.
Lord,
now
It is
wel-
life.
well be reckoned
to live
is
Christ, to
lettest
in
Glasgow, when dying, thus addressed a younonobleman " You see my tranquilhty and composure it is
versity of
joy,
it is
does
Holy
it
triumph
spring?
Bible.
complete exultation.
it is
From
And whence
It is that,
it
is
that which
makes us
certain
faithful
and de-
distress.
VOL.
viii.
DYING TESTIMONY OF
26
tory
and soon
after expired.
46.
he
said, " I
whom
have believed
committed
am
but I
he
will
faith
not ashamed
upon us
and
for Avhich
Soon
know
to
in
salvation,
have finished
after
have
he
fell
asleep in Christ.
God
has
salvation for
death-bed he exhorted
'*
shown
to
God,
matter."
On
his
God.
through
all
its
its
man
blessed be his
faith in Christ;
me
name
for justifying
and thanks be
to thy
him
name,
Saviour."
48.
Holy Ghost.
he
said,
but
"
have pains
have peace,
there
is
have peace."
"You
are
him,
was
"How
his reply.
are
When
now drawing
"I believe, I
To a
well.''^
thank you,
on him, he added,
were
who
friend
27
**
49.
a triumphant death.
my
" 0,
me. Lord,
why me ?
dying
If this be dying,
bed
is
soft
friends,
is
were
why
sweet.
Let
sweet to me;
What
are
all
human
my soul ?
me
in his blood.
bosom
soon be in eternity
I see
of Jesus.
for
I shall soon
Methinks
to the
I shall
mingle in
And
I shall
me
is
and composure as
DYING TESTIMONY OF
28
When some
frown on the
college,
'
fear.'
"
last
words that
this
great and
The
52.
timent
apostolical
when a
testimony would be
;"
a sentiment per-
fectly in keeping with his zeal, his piety, his fervor, his
New
was known
Jersey,
of death.
to be
proaching, he raised himself up from his pillow, and stretching out his quivering hands, he said, " I have fought a good
fight,
have finished
henceforth
is
laid
up
my
for
me
He
then
and
fell
own
asleep in Jesus.
54. Dr.
death.
He
requested his
chapter of John.
While
life
Some one
recited to
He
replied, " I
iv ill
fear no
hope so."
evil,
for thou
He was
occupied
it
He
and adoration.
praj'er
29
in
struggle or a groan.
As
1821.
He
exhibited an awful
sin,
of the purity
and
And
holiness of God.
enward,
me
Lord, abhor
"though
abJiorrible,
say not,
'
;'
my
*'
Ah,
if
it
A great
he
On
his time
said, "
be God's will."
Posthumous reputation
part of
one occasion
posthumous
thing
desired
that
tcsefIllness
But
indeed some-
all,
children he said,
my
my
Among
me
is
and most of
spirit."
departure?
its
first
"
to
temptation
!"
" This
is
of joy
to
heaven begun
Satan
is
vanquished.
Nothing remains
Jeremiah Evarts,
every friend
so well knoAvn
of missionaries,
died
!"
and beloved by
a triumphant
death.
DYING TESTIMONY OF
30
When
ness his affection for his Saviour and soon after broke out
into rapturous expressions " Praise him, praise him, praise
;
him
in a
him, "
You
derful glory
replied, "
He
praise him."
We
Jesus reigneth
57. Mr.
he
him
praise
Avill
said to
is,
cannot comprehend
Some one
not of."
!"
wonderful glory
glory
Wonderful
of the
most learned
di-
The
Andrews.
is
He
w^as a truly
devoted Christian,
God
triumphant death.
his soul to
his last
the face, in
words
in a
its
do
I see
like
The
'it.
am
Oh,
Lord.
me
on
You
see a
long.
am
long
man dying
is
a miracle.
this rod,
monument of the
Some time after he
which hath
of triumph
when one
I will, if
you a sign
power
"When
I can, give
He
have done,
This
of astonishing grace."
shall
name,
I bless his
beginI
said,
up
lifted
his ha7ids
31
few moments
in a
expired.
Augustus M. Toplady closed a long and emiby a very triumphant death. He said, "
58. Mr.
nently holy
how
life
mine longs
this soul of
bird,
it
longs to take
a dove, I should
to be
gone
away
flee
like
an imprisoned
its flight.
and be
at
long to be absent from the body and present with the Lord."
At another time he said, " what a
this
been to me.
have no words to
my friends, how
good our
Almost without interruption his presence has been
with me." Being near his end, having awakened out of
sleep, he said, "
what delights who can fathom the joys
express
God
it
it is
unutterable.
0,
is.
And
"
said,
Jesus,
59. Dr.
there
no cloud
is
come> Lord
eminent Christian, a
He had
a fine
He
Master.
said he, "
when about
for ever
!'
But
am
is
ivon I
The
victory
eternity."
all
is
lost
ivon for
He was
Christian
'
is
young man,"
The
ever
"A
what
then
Why,
am
heard
"I am
a redeemed sinner
a
a
rebel.
heart.
32
I
am
a Christian
what then
Why,
have viewed
God
On
is
an heir of God,
But now he
and he spreads
am
bliss in
into a
coming
is
Peace, peace!"
tory, victory!
you."
The
last
am
Looking on
going, but
God
his wife
will surely
and
be with
is
that after he
laid
that
is
in his right
"
I
it
RememWAS YET
and
let
my
last
end
IVo.
387.
THE
GENERAL'S WIDOW.
A TRUE NARRATIVE.
BY
Brother,
we
ai-e
only
half
In 1817,
0.
V7".
was
BEOWNLEE,
lialf
and beautiful
ing round
it
of us naore than
D. D.
valley,
God,
to take
a
with a chain of mountains sweep-
in a semicircle
and, for
It is situated in
many
one of the
the country
VOL.
VIII.
32
agriculturists of
When
entered on
my
man when he
had
died.
And
accomplished
women
among
God
of his fathers.
ber
it
Our
ride lay
late
d S
General L
g; laid out in square fields of great
extent, highly cultivated with orchards abounding in eveiy
variety of fruit-trees, particularly of grafted English cher;
ries, of
no
less
of grain, affording
bandman.
We
happy promise
soon
crossed
and luxuriant
fields
the
bridge
THE GENERAL'S WIDOW.
lofty
bank.
is
appreciated."
"Ah,
now
to his son,
approaching.
'
tell
thee,
venturing his
exclaimed,
'
Doubts,
?
Seest thou those
and meadows glowing in their living and
breathing beauty under the present Deity ?
All these
brilliant fields
;;
and
aye,
my own
dom
and mistrust,
and Redeemer in the king-
my God
"
and grace.'
were now entering the long avenue which led up to
the house, lined on each side with rows of cherry-trees,
now in all the magnificent beauty of their white and purple
of his providence
We
blossoms.
" I am not quite sure," said
I,
whether our
*'
A'isit
here
be welcome."
will
"I am
then
We
his
death-bed ?"
"Always
I rather think, as
Christians.
**
And
The
over,
moved
seemed to shake his conLet no man tell me this was the fruit of the infifidence.
del's faith, which, like the reviving and exhilarating hopes
and faith of the Christian, in his creed and in his Redeemer,
was now sustaining the hope and confidence of his soul.
Ah, sir, I knew the contrary. I was his near neighbor
I saw him oftener than the pastor, and in his last hours,
I saw him in the midoftener than his infidel associates.
night hours, and in his unguarded moments I heard him
utter thoughts that came fresh from an unveiled and burnI knew him to be a miserable man
ing spirit. I saw him
Au infidel die
but not more so than any other infidel.
him from
; ;
happy
dies
An immortal
heaven here, and go away into an unknown,
Even on its own principles it cannot
dark, dismal oblivion
die happy, without its firm belief in an incredible miracle
namely, that a great and polished philosophic soul can be
perfectly willing, that is, happy to give up all the heaven
it has, for a dark, unknown, hated, and horrid oblivion.
Another proof that infidels are not only the most credulous,
but absolutely the most duped of all the children of men.
For the general, he would yield to no argument he was
too proud in spirit he never had hitherto flinched.
But,
ah, on that Saturday I saw him yield; and I witnessed the
does not, and cannot himself believe?
self
But
"
*
'
is
well
it
feeling.
time speeds
its
course
must take
my
we
rose to go,
He
leave of you,*
Farewell
I shall
farewell.'
'
group.
'my
question
this
Is
it
or yourself f
" The general looked
first at
if
'
VOL.
VIII.
32*
C
"
'
Then
me
let
offer
up
my
last
And
0,
sir,
in
all
of us wept, except
He
sible to eno^ao-e
She contrived to resist every attempt to direct her attention in good earnest, to the necessary preparation to meet
her Judge.
And
not be miserable.
to
go
And
such a good
visit,
man
could
where he was!"
I had utterly
and at this, and also the
not even the permission was conceded to us of
failed of delivering
second
our sug-
We
all
my
message
As
I felt
my mind
my
third
Here, thought
exceedingly agitated.
visit,
I, is
we
'
He who
is
good and merciful, will by no means clear the guilty.' " And
the argument against universal happiness was closed by
submitting to her vigorous mind these ttvo ideas.
" If you choose to decide the matter by the full and
most complete evidence draw^n from Scripture, then is it
obvious that the inspired writer, who uses the same word
in Matt. 25 46, to express the eternity of the wicked man's
:
;;
is
God and
hate
and
sin against
as sin goes on in
him
they
and ever.
its
for ever
if
he were
unlimited acceptation.
their determination
all
all
and which
eternity ?"
in
THE GENERAL'S
VViDO.V.
my
deportment, which I had not witnessed hitherto.
God, I thank thee that I am not without some hope that
the Spirit of the Lord
her,
is
visiting
her
in
mercy.
Breathe on
blessed Spirit
The following
hand
as I left
her.
1.
can
There
is
efficiently lead
piness.
To deny a communication from heaven, on the supGod has the intention of showing mercy and
favor to us, is actually an impeachment of the divine goodness.
The infidel system is cruel on the face of its very
first principle, it brings a solemn impeachment against the
2.
position that
It is
amination, whether
depravity, that
God
4.
No man
del affirms
tion
we
is
infi-
from heaven.
5.
No man
can
call
visit
declined by her.
duty.
As
I
soon as practicable,
found her
up
in
hastened to renew
my
visit.
sons.
She was fast fading away, like the sere leaves of
autumn, or the snow before the April sun.
THE GENERAL'S WIDOW.
10
my
seat close
even admit
will
let
if
refuge
is
age, utterig
erate opinion
yes,
my
erate
murderer must
from
this
delib-
is
by the
children,
civil
life,
true,
But
then
am I
believe
to
it
sure
Universalism
is
the Bihle
If
false as Satan.
Oh,
I can-
"
not
I
made no reply
Her
self-possession.
until she
fine
to
very natural feelings of one who has unhappily been seduced by the impious sophistry of the infidel. In its desperate efforts, the unsettled mind hurries from one false
refuge into another, plunging deeper and deeper at each
retreat.
salism
in
her confidence
in
Univer-
were owing to her being taught this sentiment the delusion had rapidly vanished under the light of reason, conand the
science, and the plain exhibiting of divine truth
deep current of hatred, quickened by the disappointment,
was directed, in all its force, against the Holy Bible.
I endeavored to draw her attention to the necessity of
a divine revelation, and exhibited in a plain manner the
usual arguments on this point, taken chiefly from Home's
Introduction.
And I concluded, by illustrating the second
proposition, which I had submitted to her consideration at
:
a former meeting.
*'
Do you
beheve that
God
is
good?"
"Undoubtedly
to us one kind
word, or one
basis of
this
horrid scheme."
will, I cannot.
None but the heai-tless infidel can cherish
an idea so melancholy, and so opposed to divine goodness."
" I cannot, I do not believe the Bible it is no revela;
madam,
ume
I shall presently
various translations
No
one
who
the originals, or in
its
12
be reckoned a sensible
to
the evidence of
all
they searched
tian in the
all
world
angels,
and
collected the
for evidence,
even after
all
infidel creed.
you only
until this
You
joy.
beings, and
must, in
fact,
You may
you
imagine a
no
Now,
infinity
But
you must ever be in
you must drown your noble powers in the peryou can cease to
tance."
eye,
13
fire
At
the next
visit I
was grieved
O my
and
thought with
Your goodness
it
is
as
goeth away."
by the
powerful word.
At
this
14
to
men whose
'
15
in
my
dilio-ent readino- of
o
o
*'
:
She has
the Bible
at lena^th
commenced
added he
singular,"
it.
But it
Old
the
Testament.^'
After an affectionate salutation from her, with her permission I proceeded in the examination of the internal evidence of the Scriptures
"The
less purity.
Rome
God and
their conceptions of
never, in
his perfections,
of
God
and never,
in
wicked
man
And most
manifest
their
is it,
own
that no
associates,
16
by even the
Deist.
sin
even
and
desires
war
of extermination against
their
efficacy
irresistible
in
emotions and
subduing
the
divinity.
into a
lamb
the
when
folly,
the mother of
sin.
And
it
expels,
by a single
effort,
which you and I witness weekly as the church has witIn the days of the apostles, hunnessed them in all ages.
dreds of thousands, once vile and debased heathens, but
then clothed in the i*obes of righteousness and holiness,
stood up as the living witnesses of this irresistible power
And from that
of the Gospel, and of its moral miracles.
period millions, in their successive generations, have borne
;
their testimony, Avith all the force of a moral demonstration, to the all-powerful influence of the blessed
Christ.
Gospel of
of
seal of heaven's
testimony
is
set to
17
am
in error."
bring
thy love.
of Christ
my mind
reason
as I rode home.
so congenial to corrupt
and appetites
so subservient
so potent in
se-
its
stinate heart
I present her at the foot of thy throne
O
descend. Holy Ghost, in thy subduing influences renew
her soul O pluck the brand from the flames.
To thee I
:
commit her."
In a day or two
renewed
my visit
and
at her request,
and projjhecy.
She
lent her
the subject.
I studied to
remove her
is
the
name
sins.
VOL.
of
God,
difficulties
to believe the
33*
all
18
dead
And
We
in their
have cured
all
Son
of
we now
lost w^orld
believe in
in Jerusalem.
Jews, and
Introd., vol.
1,
chap. 4, sect.
See Home's
3.
this family,
by
it
scoffing or ridicule,
hajjtism
that this
that
but
I replied that
if
priests,
20
heart,
and
is
spirit
who opposes
Christ.
the one being the minister of Christ, the other the priest
I succeeded in removing much of the odium,
of antichrist
much
of their prejudice.
The "minis-
over the conscience not to persecute not to offer any new sacrifice " for the quick and
the dead :" " Christ, by his one sacrifice, has for ever perit
labors in
There
I
is
blood.
in
their
importance.
Had
'
It is the Christian
community who
call
tion
Now, my
"
main point
friends, permit
and
me
21
to conduct
you
to the
overlooked," said
in his
his times,
and
Moses
and his
times.
last,
admit
"
Will you
this ?"
They nodded
vinced
is
me
that I
Now,
was understood.
went
on,
the national
these facts
monuments
to
his works.
22
The same eyes and the same ears that witnessed the mh-aand thousands witnessed them saw
cles of our Lord
these evangelical monuments set up and coiTesponding
*'Do this in
ye and preach the Gospel to
remembrance
of
"Go
me."
and miracles.
facts
monuments
And,
like
our
own
lican
And
its institutions
end of time.
"Now,
pel
is
let
of course
living
it
In this era, then, they cannot date the age of the fiction.
If a fiction, then it must have been invented in some period
or other after Christ, and after the apostles had departed
this
life.
Now, mark
it
well
if
no public mon-
23
monuments
public
moment, actually
"
On
exist
if the cunning impostor who invented the Gospel, appeared before men simply ^vith the
Gospel as a luritten record, unaccompanied by any monu-
gation
official
charac-
least, as
the national
our Declaration
of
we
1776.
''
And
of the
hence, in conclusion
monumental
actions,
and
this
ofices
it is
just as natural
all
all
possible opposi-
If the chil-
'
jyriest-
24
these monuments.
and
In one word,
in
by
proportion as Satan
who had been with me at the last discussion, whispered in my ear, as we approached the sick chamber,
" Sir, you must shoot lower !'''
I had not a moment to reflect on this hint, nor did I
conceive, at the moment, his meaning; in an instant we
friend,
tear-drops
still
Yet, in the
confidence
in
25
now for
its
its
peculiar doctrines,
now we come
to close quar-
bottomless pit
evil of
And
sin
0,
who
can conceive,
who
describe the
God
hates
!"
sinew of iron
VOL. VIII.
!"
"
He
34
26
lie flatters
he saith in
is
on her
'
that
sin,
him."
we might be made
And,
finally,
its
the righteousness of
Lamb
make
it
"The Lord
perfection.
honorable."
And
God
is
in
well
my
"
now hastened
The
skill
call of
to guide her,
implored of
wound-
to Christ.
!;
27
she should not lose sight of the fearful and just denunciations of the pure law of God.
From the top of Sinai I bade
her hear the law " Cursed is every one that continueth
not in all thifigs written in the book of the law to do them."
:
I pressed
Holy
it
as
the law,''
and that she might " he shut tip to the faith,'' hedged in
on every side, that being no longer left to go after false
refuges, and self-dependence, and legal hopes, she might
be ** shut up" to the one new and living way, " the faith of
Christ," the simple rehance on him alone.
I made a long pause, for my emotions had overpowered
me. I felt as if choked. I could not find utterance for
some moments. I thought of the misery of the sinner, and
her guilt. I thought of the infinite purity of divine justice, with which all sinners do most awfully trifle
I
thought of the horrors of perdition, and the worm that
never dieth. I thought of this most gracious provision of
God's grace by the mediation of his Son.
what misery
what a remedy
blinded and most wilful sinners
they will not come unto him, that they may be saved
O
;
woman
prepared
And
ill
so near the
in a
mental
'
shall
great
be as wool.'
thy
I lay
no
flattering
"
;;
28
his grace to
grace, his mercy is equal to all thy misery
Christ is able to save unto the
thy boundless wants.
uttermost all that come unto God by him.'
The "widow sobbed aloud and I could hear her utter
in a suppressed moan, *' God be merciful to me a sinner
what shall I do what must I do, to be saved ? I believe
;
'
Can
broken heart
Is
it
it
me
lead
to a cure for a
is
quivering like
tell
bow
thyself before
Lord, or
offerings
guilt ?
may
prate,
fiercest
demon
there
is
hope
there
"
is
in eternal
for thee.
But 0,
thy transgressions
Cast away
all
how ?"
THE GENERALS WIDOW.
29
in this family
remorse
too
such a penitent.
She
laid
tell
me how%
in
deep
distress
Most High,
of the
God
of
and
explicit
name
and mercy
be saved."
so also
is
the
call
all
in the
in Christ.
thou shalt
implored her,
rest."
who
speaks this to
me
?"
*'
Christ the Lamb, the dear 'Lamb of God, who taketh
away the sins of the world.'
He bore our sins in his own
body on the tree,' that such sinners as you and I may be
saved, and never come into the second death.
He says
this and his saying is a command.
Come, then, unto him
seek his Holy Spirit, to illumine thee and renew thee.
'
Here
is
the promise."
"What promise?"
from
all
your
filthiness,
and from
1 cleanse you.
A new heart,
new
spirit will I
Baid
Ezek. 36
may
*'
I,
VOL.
your
idols, will
you, and a
25-27.
flesh,
all
own
low moan.
" Hear,"
THE GENERAL'S WIDOW.
30
why you
Ho,
"
the water of life freely.'
" O, my God, and are such promises, are such offers
made
"
to
such as me?^^
yes, to thee
gospel offer;
blessed Saviour
God's own
call.
him
perfect
all
thy other
sins.
Believe in
Her
face
and
let it
is
31
a vessel of mercy
Amen."
We
emotions
travails
rose to depart
it
My
dear
madam,
farewell
may God
you
may
leave.
and prospects
I shall
in the
pray,
bless you.
You
She turned
I take thee as
for ever."
of tears.
The
at her, then at
first
and
in
alive."
32
grace, sought out and brought back the lost sheep from the
And we
day.
God
in
her
devotion
in
Come
unto me,
all
ye that labor
sister,
Holy
;"
Bible.
ing spirit
On
suggestion of
my friend
And
at the
we had pursued
And
in
our
first
who heard
IVo.
288.
FOUR REASONS
AGAINST THE
USE OE ALCOHOLIC
LIClUOPtS,
BY JOHN GRIDLEY,
M. D.
immense
cost to the
consumers.
It is estimated
is
their
from data
spirit,
that previous
were annually
Or,
if
one
upon the
other,
Or
it
all
consumption of
stantially to the
now
of
its
and hydrogen
in
hj fermentation
no
It
The addition
can be generated in no
skill of art
way but
destroy
it,
it,
or, if suffered
and produce an
acid.
A further degree
alcohol,
and
if
cided character
of fermentation, however,
is
generative of
while
still
its
de-
is
lost in vinegar.
As
UDon a
ner of
much
rio-ht
its
is,
hiappropriate here.
them
to convert
into a cheese,
into cider.
when
pressure
He
is
in
order
them up
it.
is
stage, as
called,
it
is
and alcohol
when
is
skill
The prudent
done worJcing, or
casks, and does such
formed.
the juice
is
is
permitted to succeed.
Here, then,
he has perfect
alcohol,
And when
formed.
then
it
is
drawn
off,
the alcohol
by
is
distilling,
is
formed by fermentation,
from its union with the
Alcohol, then,
is
strictly the
alcohol
is
It contains
common
is,
it
must be
for
tem, and for a while the individual feels stronger but this
excitement is always followed. by depression and loss of
;
Thus
momentary personal
effort,
is
it
Hence the
to direct or execute.
a mere provocative to
muscular strength,
etc.,
Were
of spirituous liquors.
and
spirit,
charge, as I would a
wounded
me
my men with
let
them
the
loose
maddenupon the
elephant, or an enraged
But
tiger.
in attaining
But an objector
upon
I can
it.
my body
reply, doubtless
you
How is
moment
all
this ?"
that
We
you de-
scribe
far
of any substance, be
it
it
:;
thus long
if
is
not by death.
So
powers of
yet, as
Again, alcohol
into the
is
as clearly
stomach
state, in quantities of
life,
spirit
one, without
Taken
in-
he feels the
his
we
with the
it is
shown
in
is jyoisonoui^.
etc., it is
modi-
fied
in
its
effects.
ducing immediate
fatal
men
consequences
which, nevertheless,
other poisons,
it
effects.
So
it is
with alcohol
we
life.
in the
And
the
VOL.
VIII.
'io
it
is,
is
The
face,
eyes, the walk, the sleep, the breath, all proclaim the drylife.
And although abused nature
and struggle, and struggle, to maintain
the balance of her powers, and restore her wasted energies,
she
is
The
health,
is
individual
is
undermining
is
An
generally supposed.
but certainly
as
and
whose current
carries
away from
steals alonoits
under
its
foundation,
its
utter ruin.
spirit.
Our hos-
its
When,
then,
how
to relieve
its
man
it
ever so
in-
present wretchedness.
find
peace with
God
this
unholy passions ? How utterly unfitted to perform those duties which are requisite to secure a blessed
tion of his
immortality
hquors
that
at consequences.
man was
JSTo
With
it,
we
are safe
without
it,
nor are
in peril.
we born
And
it,
is
medicines.
the child
when
first
palatable, a^
it,
is
is it,
at
of
it
In proof
the result of
"Taking a
little"
when we
churlishly said,
And
company,
etc., etc.,
"when we have
or as
is
sometimes
a mind to."
little
effects
;
;;
8
increased,
drink
and
still,
all
Thus we see
The
our system
excitahility of
and
by
this
term we mean
is
all living
and
in
ple
is
by the stimulus
clearly illustrated
person unaccustomed to
its
If a
of alcohol.
spirits, it will soon produce symptoms of universal excitement. The pulse increases in frequency the action of all the animal functions is quickened
and even the soul, partaking of the impulse of its fleshly
tabernacle, is unduly aroused. But this is of short duration,
and a sinking, or collapse, proportioned to the excitement,
soon takes place, with a derangement, more or less, of all
The stimulus repeated, the same
the organs of the body.
effect ensues.
We must, however, notice that the same
quantity of any unnatural stimulus, such as opium, spirit,
etc., frequently repeated, fails to produce its specific effect.
Hence, in order to secure the same effect, it is necessary to
increase
its
quantity.
As
believe
it is
in
the
aware,
again he drinks
is
it
again and
he makes himself
it
we have been
speaking, de-
velopes
itself;
more, and still more becomes necessary, and oftener repeated, until without it he
is miserable
his overexcited system is wretched, soul and
body, without the constant strain which the stimulus affords.
Here is a solution of tlie fact that has astonished thouinsure a feeling of gratification
sands
how
the
all
the certain
and
amid the entreaties and arguments of distressed friends,
and the solemn denunciations of holy Avrit sounding in his
ears, and the sure prospect of an untimely grave, will still
It
press on, and hold the destroyer still firmer to his Hps.
is
if
in the face,
may
be allowed
He
and
profit,
shining brilliantly in
He
law
in
oflices
his
10
fail
to impart.
He had
fit.
he recovered, without having sustained any permanent inBeing in company with his physician alone, soon
after, he said to hira, " I suspect, sir, you do not know the
cause of my fit and as I may have a return of it, when
you will probably be called, I think it proper that you
jury.
should be
of life."
He
then
had grown upon him ever since he left college, and that
he was conscious it injured him. However, it was not known
even to his own family what quantity he used. His physician did not hesitate to inform him of the extreme danger to
tice
He
friends,
fits,
His
fits
all in vain.
friends remonstrated,
He
fits
and sickness.
language
is
what
in
show the
popular
him
of her devotion.
Yet,
in spite
of
all
these considerations,
and the most sensible conviction of his fatal career, he continued to drink, and thus pressed downward to the gate of
death and hell.
Now
fair victim to
What
an untimely grave
giant's
Was
it
?
No.
and talents to appreciate
those oblio^ations ?
No. Was it trouble, arisino: from disappointed hopes and blasted prospects ? Certainly, by those
who knew him best, he was accounted a man who might
have been happy. What was it, then, that urged this individual, with his eyes open upon the consequences, and in
the face of every thing most dear, thus to sacrifice his all
upon the altar of intemperance ? It ivas that laiu of which
we have spoken, enkindled into action by his tippling, and
which once developed, he could no more control, ivhile persisting in his pernicious practice of drinking, than he could
have hurled the Andes from their base, or have plucked the
moon from her orbit.
Was
it
We
for the
want
of intellect
who
which leads on
to ruin.
FOUR REASONS,
12
Instances
may
ETC.
which individuals
in
but
only proves
it
is
thousands go down to a drunkard's grave, and a drunkfrom only a few years' indulgence.
ing,
ard's retribution,
We
have thus
briefly
of alcoholic liquors.
We
them
since those
who
drink
he
what he
Who
Temperance Reform ?
will indulge in
calls
when
thousands,
touch
is
poison, and
whose
sting
is
own
day of
light
death
own
0,
whose
who
that
reputation, or his
and
stingeth like
an adder?
TKo.
289.
TO A LADY
FASHIOIABLE LIFE.
My
dear Friend The long and uninteniipted friendship which has existed between us, and the deep interest I
have felt in the best good of your family, will excuse me
for claiming your indulgence, and for speaking with unusual
freedom.
You are aware that I have been led to reo*ard
some of the customs of fashionable life in w^hich we have
indulged, in a new light and knowing my opportunities for
observation, you will, I am persuaded, allow my opinions
their full weight.
You are not without occasional solici;
tude for your own future welfare and you often look with
trembling anxiety on your sons and your daughters and
amid all the temptations that surround you, it is reasonable
;
that
you should.
my remarks at this time to dancing assemblies and the theatre. The Jirst you have considered
as essential to an accomplished education for vour children
and the second, as an innocent, if not a useful recreation,
both for yourself and them.
To secure for your children an agreeable and fashionable indulgence in the first, it often seems necessary to commit them early to the care of men with whom you would
not associate, and whose very profession is a bar to truly
refined and virtuous society.
To such characters, not unfrequently the very refuse of foreign and corrupted cities,
you must send your children to learn ease and gracefulness
of movement and manners. You must send them from your
own home, not unfrequently to places of public and hazardous resort, and this too at an age of tenderest and most
delicate sensibility, and at hours of the greatest exposure.
Is all this exposure warranted by the object to be secured ?
I shall confine
TO A LADY
IN FASHIOxXABLE LIFE.
Your
and our
exposed to vice and ruin and the
fact should not be withheld, that there is no resort of wide
and ruinous debauchery, where the young and unsuspecting are decoyed, to which music and the dance are not conchildren, with all the youth of our city
country, are
more or
less
ling to be disclosed.
There
unquestionably, from the nature of the amuseeven in its most innocent form and limited exercise, a tendency to inflame passion, to poison virtue, endanger purity, and to lead on to. more gross and deadly evils.
If not, then sin and death have seized an innocent recreation, and made it to subserve their cause, in maturing crimes
at which humanity shudders, and in annihilating hopes and
destroying souls beyond computation.
And who that is
ment
is,
itself,
TO A LADY
IN
FASHIONABLE
LIFE.
moment
to eternity.
And why
TO A LADY
IN
FASHIONABLE
LIFE.
TO A LADY IN FASHIONABLE
LIFE.
and lead captive many a victim, who entered with unsullied innocence.
Other departments of this frightful habseize
and with many who are already lost to every sense of shame.
With the great mass whom you here meet, you would not
be known under other circumstances to associate at all.
Will you then train your family to such society ? Will you
expose them to influences which lie wholly beyond your
control ? Let me say to you, that multitudes are here
prepared for the most gross and abandoned characters that infest our city and that so well is this understood,
that seats
in the galleries of some theatres are free to the
most abandoned of our race, and the keepers of dram-shops, of gambling-rooms, of assignation-houses and abodes of infamy,
here resort, to mark and seize their victims, and from this
nursery of death they are gathered in multitudes.
Here
many of our youth of either sex, and from the highest walks
of life, have entered guileless and unsuspecting, but retired
to sink in speedy disgrace and death. Shall your own
sons
and daughters be exposed yet to swell that melancholy
number? Consider the influence of these scenes on the
character and prospects of the ^ounr/ generally, many of
whom have not the securities with which your family are
;
furnished
mined
to the public.
and
circuses,
worse.
TO A LADY
IN
FASHIONABLE
LIFE.
and
thus prepares for the haunts of infamy, and a total destitution of all that is valuable in the mind and character of
women.
" During the progress," he adds, " of one of the most
ferocious revolutions which ever shocked the face of heaven,
theatres, in Paris alone, multiplied from six to twenty-five.
One of two conclusions follows from this. Either the spirit
The
off-
it."
ties against
way
grosser immorality.
They
the
to
customs of society impose restrictions on the female members of respectable families which young men do not feel.
The hour arrives when the one class are handed to their
homes, not indeed in the most favorable circumstances, but
they retire perhaps to the wakeful solicitude of a mother's
love, and it may be beneath the guardianship of a mother's
prayer.
But the other class are now left alone, to review
TO A LADY
IN
FASHIONABLE
LIFE.
tlie evening.
They pass their commendations
and their strictures, not always in the most chaste and becoming manner, for the nature of the subjects under review
does not always admit it. Under the lassitude and exhaus-
the events of
them, and where mere curiosity first led their steps, hope
of gain now binds them, and by the fatal influence of a solitary night,
many
To
walk
may
;;
TO A LADY
FASHIONABLE
IN
LIFE.
low me to add, in the language of a distinguished gentleman, " It is amazing to think, that women who pretend to
decency and reputation, whose brightest ornament ought to
be modesty, should continue to abet, by their presence, so
much unchastity as is to be found in the theatre." If this
astonishment could be expressed fifty years ago, what ought
to be the language of astonishment
now
You
live in a
It is an experiment on your
and shall it be said, that there
is not " shrinking delicacy " enough in your bosoms to repel
and refute their boastings, '' that they hove now nothing to
You may have frowned upon this rude encroachfear?''
ment, which has already been made upon your modesty
and virtue but that frown has not been followed by your
continued absence, and you thus are giving encouragement
to another and more daring experiment.
If you, and the
more respectable and virtuous females of our city and country will not withdraw from these polluting scenes, no one
can calculate the degradation to which we are doomed
and you and they may yet be called to weep when tears
will be unavailing; and the miserable wrecks of your endeared hopes may add keener anguish to your dying hours.
You must die, and then you will not need the anticipations
of an eternal state to harrow up your soul in view of precious seasons lost in folly and in sin.
But there is, my
friend, an eternal state oi just and righteous retribution
and will you longer expose your soul, and the souls of your
offspring, to its fatal issues ?
Tell me, I pray you, in view
of death, judgment, and eternity, are these scenes longer to
be loved ? If there is not a remnant of anxiety for yourself remaining in your soul, will you lead, by the hand of
parental influence, your beloved children to the gates of
death ? You will meet them in eternity and Oh, calculate,
if you can, an eternity of happiness lost to them and to
you an eternity of misery by them and you to be endured
I am sincerely and affectionately your
virtue
FRIEND.
No. 390<
THE
BOLD BLASPHEMER.
A
About
NARRATIVE OF FACTS.
thirty miles
in
which
for a
number
whom
was awful
to hear him."
found there was no hope of cure, he requested to be carried home to the house of his employer,
and here I saw and heard this bold blasphemer. My first
faneness.
When
VOL.
It
J. T.
viii.
36*
remarked, " Yes, I know you are sick, and I came over to
sit a while and have some talk with you."
T. " Well, if you have any news to tell me, speak out
but don't say a word about your cui'sed religion. I hate it."
Mr. G. " Why do you hate religion ?"
T. " I never saw any body made better by it."
Is he the
G./' How is that ? Look at James S
same horse-racer, and fighter, and drunkard, he used to be ?
.
its
preaching."
G. "1 make no question of your superior abilities but
I think God has made me a hcqypier man than some I
;
know."
T. *'/ am not a happy man, God knows."
G. " But I can tell what would make you happy."
T. "I know what you are going to say, but say on."
" This is a faithful sayG. Opens his Bible and reads.
ing, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came
" Beinto the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."
Repent
He was
more
so,
We
to
hear,
We
Oh
am
came.
to hell."
"
G. "You can say, God be merciful to me a sinner.'
T. ''
no I can't.
God will not hear such a wretch."
G. " But my prayers cannot save you ; you must pray
for yourself; you must repent of sin.
You must believe in
'
THE BOLD BLASPHEMER.
offended Creator.
He was
repent
now
is
And now
w^here
he?
THE BOLD BLASPHEMER.
most absurd and Avicked oaths, and now he saw them returning upon his own soul, and ready to sink him to that
world of woe from Avhich he seemed to have borrowed language to express the wickedness of his heart.
"It is too late too late for me," was his cry, when
urged to repent "Too late too late.'' "He knew his
duty, but he did it not."
He knew that he was a creature
of God, who had a claim to his obedience.
He knew that
his laws were holy, just, and good, and that he had wilfully
broken them, and incurred the penalty, " The soul that sin-
neth,
it
shall die."
Reader,
your
find
sins ?
is it
Is
He
soul?"
answer
it
quenched."
Do you
tell
]o.
S91
THE
HORRORS OF HEATHENISM.
is to present the moral condiand the motives for sending them the
The facts are from the most authentic
glorious Gospel.
and the subject is presources, chiefly from eye-witnesses
The
sented with the devout hope, that such compassion for the
miserable and perishing may be awakened as will rouse to
EXTENT OF HEATHENISM.
darkness.
HORRORS OF HEATHENISM.
ica,
In
its
scenery, in fertility of
soil, in
pire of darkness.
n.
and
fro
through
is
this
immense em-
great.
millions
spirits of
More than fifty millions are worshipthe Grand Lama, a deified human being.
More
innumerable
idols.
The
subordinate
and
Pacific isles,
coast.
rivers,
The luminaries
demons.
2. Their religious
In
"The
ped
in the
South Sea
islands.
On
company
of per-
HORRORS OF HEATHENISiM.
woman,
and thrown
pieces,
the sea,
'into
first
person taken
or child,
shark."
gernaut continue.
"The
Yesterday a
the idol.
woman
kill
passed
'
devoted herself to
her instantaneously, as is
a few hours. This morn-
her bones."
Religious rites in some regions are most disgusting.
"Tlie car of the chief Hindoo idol," says Dr. Buchanan,
" moved on a little way and then stopped.
boy of about
if
The
expression and gesture that the god was pleased, and the
multitude emitting a sensual yell of delight, urged the car
along."
as examples of
every kind of licentiousness, and as pleased with correspondTheir images and the sculpture of
ent rites of worship.
their temples are spectacles of impurity.
The whole
idol
way
III.
of acceptance with
him
another affecting feature of their moral degradaThe Chinese and the Hindoos and theirs is the faith
This
tion.
of
is
more than
HORRORS OF HEATHENISM.
suppose the future state a sort of continuance of the present, involving similar wants, and perils, and circumstances.
Accordingly the grave of the Indian receives also his dress,
Retribution to the good will consist of cloudless
arms,
etc.
skies,
all
the
dure
all
we
find
resist the
impression of a future
life,
sal
In respect to character, moral debasement is the univertendency of heathen views of futurity. An anticipated
IV.
Under the
heathen countries
in
prodig-
Our
ious luxuriance.
limits forbid a
The united
who have
dwelt among the heathen proclaims, that none but those
actually present to behold them can have any idea of Avhat
sea of pagan wickedness.
voice of all
eyes.
all control,
and
The whole
rolls its
waves of
the earth,
tims
is full
down
V.
1.
of abominations
to such a frightful
The arm
men
in
an hour of the
2.
Religious customs
great miseries.
inflict
It
has ever
The
which
is
or emaciated by absti-
flesh
fire,
upon
is
cast themselves
deadly wounds
inflict
Some
cars.
The
of self-inflicted misery.
" In the year 1799, twenty-two females," says the London Christian Observer, " were burnt alive with the dead
body of Unutio, a Brahmin. The fire was kept burning
VOL.
VIII.
37*
:;
HORRORS OF HEATHENISM.
fire
more than
havoc of
ful
life
is
By
occasioned.
disease and
want a
fright-
lying by fives, tens, and twenand in some parts there were hundreds to be seen
" I saw one poor creature who was partly
in one place."
eaten, though alive the crows made an incision in the back,
and were pulling at the wound when I came up. The poor
creature feeling the torment, moved his head and shoulders
ties
for a
moment
and recommenced
their meal."
'3.
HORRORS OF HEATIIEMSM.
try.
"Infanticide has prevailed in almost every heathen coun" Hundreds of helpless children," says Mr. Kingsbu-
ry,
Sometimes
the mother digs a grave and buries her child alive as soon
as
it
on
its
is
born
breast,
"A
that
HORRORS OF HEATHENISM.
and
would give
this
Christian Observer.
his life."
of death
erty,
and
life,
despots.
at
The
effects of super-
"
When one
first
While
On
flow
it
with
is
and
he rushes along with the utmost
speed, avoiding every moment the murderous grasp that
would consign him to death." Discoveries and Adventures
when compelled
to
do
so,
in Africa.
7.
they were
first visited
by
missionaries.
when
Intemperance, an
HORRORS OF IIEATHEiMSM.
mented pagan wretchedness. Envy, and jealousy, and maland remorseless covetousness, contribute also to swell
the tide which sends its bitter waters through a large portion of the scenes of social and domestic life.
Humanity weeps at the
8. The miseries of females.
melancholy picture of their degradation and wretchedness.
" I would to God," said a South American Indian mother,
" that my mother by my death had prevented the distresses
What kindness can we show to our female chilI endure.
dren equal to that of relieving them by death from such
oppression, a thousand times more bitter than death ? I say
again, would to God my mother had put me under ground
Cecil's Miss. Sermon.
the moment I was born,"
"Hindoo females," says the Abbe Dubois, "are in fact
used as mere animals. The men regard them as slaves,
and treat them on all occasions with severity and contempt.
ice,
The object
companion
for
to aid
which render happy the conjugal state, and which distinguish civilized from heathen countries, the wife receives the
appellation, mi/ servant, or my doff, and is allowed to partake of what her lordly brutal husband is pleased to give
her at the conclusion of his
9.
Savage customs.
own
repast."
The system
of caste in India
human
is
one
nature.
It
is
a perfect
mockery
of justice,
and a
HORRORS OF HEATHENISM.
10
The
vices
so utterly
It is said of
the natives of
the South Sea islands, that in their dying agonies they would
often cry to their attendants, " There, there stand the de-
mons watching
it
for
my
unknown
the
ity
there
is
future
spirit
guard
exit
preserve
and alarm.
"Their sorrows
its
We cannot doubt
!"
is
consequently anxiety
voice of
many
shall
We
waters
it
VI.
heathen
them with
chastises
severity
when they
pagan nations
in the
most
He
terrible
terrible facts
HORRORS OF HEATHENISM.
drunk-
whose throat
is
whose
bitterness,
fear of
God
whose mouth
is
full of
shed blood,
cursing and
who have no
live
and die
They do
in just the
moral
and
have pleasure in them that do them. The inference is, that
they inherit "that wrath which is revealed from heaven."
3. But we have express declarations upon this point.
" But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the
condition here described.
obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, triband anguish, upon everj^ soul of man that doeth evil
of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile.''
Romans 2 8, 9.
Thus the heathen are as certainly exposed to perdition as any
other class of sinners no exception is made in their favor.
Moral character is the ground upon which destiny is settled,
and a miserable retribution will follow guilt wherever found.
Again, " For as many as have sinned without law," that is,
without knowledge of revelation, " shall ^er/sA without law,"
Romans 2 12 not by being judged by the requirements
truth, but
ulation
of revelation, but for not following the light they did enjoy.
Nothing can be plainer than that the heathen may sin unto
perdition, though unenlightened by revelation.
4. Upon no principle but the one now advocated can we
account for the conduct of the apostles towards the heathen.
Their earnest warnings, made "day and night with tears,"
their agonizing prayers, their cheerful endurance of every
HORRORS OF HEATHENISM.
12
and
life
to
all this is
madmen on any
like
They acted
other principle.
in
such a heaven,
we know them
be
to
Can the
idolater, the
heathen
and sink
But
death with
all their
upon them. Do
shame and everlasting
pollutions
"awake
to
To the apology,
God
according to the
The word
of
God
is
no
his eternal
him not
as
God,"
etc.
HORRORS OF HEATHENISM.
13
them
ure in
that do them.'^
nature* pour as
much
light
now
was then.
apology has no ground. Twilight is not noonday, but it may, nevertheless, be sufficient
to show which is the right and which the wrong path.
The
leading principles of the moral law have never yet been
entirely effaced amid all the darkness and depravity of the
world.
"At a very early age I was employed," confesses
a distinguished pagan, " by my father to perform various
bleness
2.
is
as just
as
it
their
an idol temple.
I hardly remember the time when
mind was not exercised on the folly of idolatry. These
idols, I thought, were made only by the hand of man, can
move from one place to another only by man, and, whether
treated well or ill, are unconscious of either.
So affected
was I once by these considerations, that, instead of placing
the idols according to custom, I threw them from their pedestals and left them with their faces in the dust."
Missionoffices in
my
ary Register.
It
is
more
in
whose indulgence
but
to those passions
away by the
sway
they
to be borne
current.
They
are
condemned
HORRORS OF HEATHENISM.
14
do enjoy.
Their voluntary
alone,
If
cry,
unto salvation."
Vn.
The
1.
wants.
It
Gentiles."
way
the
all
Gos2yel
is
the
meets them
all.
It
is
"a
their
Jehovah, unfolds
man
present
every worldly
lust, to
and active benevolence, and by which they are qualified for a holy and happy immortality.
And the Gospel is
the only means by which these glorious results can be accomplished.
Its Author's name is the only one under heaven
given among men, whereby they can be saved.
The Gostience,
pel
is
the light of
life
therefore are
we bound
to
send
it
The triumphs
it
diffusion.
ferocity of
swords
numerous savage
into ploughshares,
tribes, that
and
its 7iniversal
it
HORRORS OF HEATHENISM.
hooks.
15
It
It
hearted despotisms that have ever scourged our race.
has erected hundreds of temples to the Hving God, and from
them
now pouring on
is
It
inspir-
It
Here
is
The moral
artil-
triumph.
Let
world.
3.
it
peal on every
human
ear.
No
many.
lamp
it
life
would
we can pour
By
a thousand channels
And
appeals
to
us on their behalf
As
of
moral
They seem
are shaken.
their
own
corruptions.
benighted, as
if
The mind,
some supply
of
its
immortal wants.
is
The
HORRORS OF HEATHENISM.
IQ
"
Come
is
is waxing louder
pagan woild. How
bread of
without deep
Whose
guilt.
knew,
But
ousness, or lukewarmness could make to its diffusion.
he makes no reservation. " Go, preach the Gospel to every
creature."
island
and continent
creature hear
its
preach
glad tidings.
in
it
every language
No
evasion
is
every
let
possible
none
uttered
last,
that
it
might
to
its
solemnity.
And
it
it
if
divine
who have
You
Reader, the claims of the heathen are before you.
cannot now refuse them the aid Providence enables you to
give,
and be
If
mind
prayer,
by every needed
influence, bear
inor
your part
sacrifice of time,
in
By
fervent
io.
a03,
"
do you mean by
its
There
this question?'''
arrival
is
certain
but
is
it is
ut-
terly
arrive.
delays.
still
it
it
This
is
it
a most
long,
it
has
moment-
sent
to
is
DEATH
Who
"
in his
ume
is,
This event
are
it
One of the grand objects of that blessed volenable you to give it an affirmative answer.
By
word.
is
to
of this world
way out
VOL.
Vlil.
3"^*
vigor to-day
to-morrow
"
corruption.
is lifeless
it
The worm
thy
is
sister
irreversibly settled
filthy, " filthy
*'
And
still."
it
Beware of unpreparedness
other voice
and,
reader,
if
still,"
the
But there
is
yet an-
drown
sinful
minds as
it
it
Why
is
may have
totally neglected.
person of
all
living
what
Beyoic
God by
the grow-
ing power of
murderer, the
thief,
of
God sweeps
liar,
a larger circle
still,
in-
indeed every soul which has not been ^vashed in the blood
of Christ, and
one of
tion
all
now
is
Not
urged.
arrival, if
them wath
Not one
of
them
is
ready to
own
Death's
die.
condition,
would
fill
inexpressible consternation.
How momentous the result If, after all, you can humbly
hope you are accepted in Christ, then honor with the warmest zeal, and in every possible manner, the Author and Finisher of your faith. Let all men see that your hope pmifies,
and your faith works by love.
Let them see that your
whole character has been cast anew in the mould of the
Gospel.
By every energy you can employ, endeavor to
!
not being
now ready
It im-
" But I
am
my strength, why
asked
He
ready.
He
now
man
if
he
is
reluctant soul.
it
of
man
cometh.'^
]o.
393.
ELIZA,
THE CJIIPPEWAY INDIAN.
autumn
It
was
in the
nence, although
it
life,
and- of her
own
wigwam
of distinction,
them the
dreams.
This
among
On
the great.
drinking whiskey,
till
living
when
we
miserable scene
witnessed.
found her
little
boy and
could induce her to allow her son to join the mission school.
But going the second time, and the boy himself being willing, she at length gave her reluctant consent.
About two years after she began to pay a serious attention to religion, but for some time was very fluctuating.
While under the sound of instruction she would be affected
sometimes to tears. This was often the case at our adult
Sabbath- school though afterwards, as she says, she would
throw the subject off, and become, in a measure, indifferent.
Again, impressed with the idea that there could be no
mercy for such a creature as herself, and the thought of
her religious state making her unhappy, she would avoid
;
gone
to the
felt
look to
felt
it
God
as
if
God
woman
pious Indian
and, as before,
thought herself
unfit to
be there.
at times to
relief.
The next autumn Eliza and her son Joseph were both
The child had profited by the instructions retaken ill.
but she said she was like
ceived, and spoke to her much
one who had lost her senses, and nothing seemed to move
her feelings. Joseph became dangerously ill, and showed
the influence of religious instruction on his mind in the time
He had a long conversation with her he told
of affliction.
her that he should die soon, and that he wanted her to
promise him never to drink any more whiskey, to remain
;
was really gone, the tears rolled down her face, and
she exclaimed, in Indian, " My son my son !" but further
than this not a complaint or groan was heard to escape
spirit
her
lips.
I sat
Among
conversation.
she had, as
is
common among
now
God
be right."
is
affliction.
good, and
I feel
She
said
no
"
that
for
man-
God
the love of
feelings Avere
and
if
a thought came to
me about
Joseph,
it
seemed
like
drawn out of this way, and I longed to get back imWith these feelings towards God and Christians, she now became very anxious for the souls of her
own people, and said, " 0, if they could only see as I do,
hoAv happy they would be !"
When asked about the state of her mind afterwards, she
The
said, " I have always been happy in God since then.
more I have seen of the love of God in Christ, and the
loncrer I have lived, the more I have desired to love him,
and to love him more and more, and to be more and moi-e
I do not know that I have since ever
like him in my soul.
had any sorrow of soul so great as I have had for those
who are ignorant of God. Sometimes, when going into
church, or while there, it has made me weep to think of
There has never been anv
those who do not love God.
beino-
mediately."
God was
my
soul,
when
with me.
About two years since, she was reduced quite low, and
one evening was thought to be dying but expressed joy
" I long to be
in the prospect of being soon with God.
gone," said she, "I want to have the time come." After;
wards she
felt
that she
it
account of
At
it.
had not slept long, when she awoke and felt a desire
She arose and knelt, but in a few moments fell
This occurred again but awaking
asleep on her knees.
the second time, she feared that her love to God was decaying.
With tears and a burdened heart she set about
prayer in earnest her soul was so full she could not sleep,
and she spent the remainder of the night in prayer and joy
in God,
poses,
to pray.
you
was
felt
you
many months
often prayed
''From what
felt to
be so great a privilege.
When
be
for
great
It was
but she was uniformly patient and happy.
member of the family to take
to her.
On
said, " I
her.
She then
weep
3'esterday for
my
God was very near. I did not rest while he was so near,
but prayed all the time." To her heathen sister, who was
sitting by, she then turned and ^id, " You must not Aveep
for me when I am gone
I am going to a better country."
As we were daily expecting her death, I took the little
girls of the mission to see her.
While they were viewing
her emaciated frame, she faintly said, " Listen to instruc;
tion
in
heaven."
I shall go to-day."
the Indian hymn, "
be sung.
After
it
was
*'
I think
And must
this
body
fail," etc.,
might
if it
said, "
She
seemed to
say, I
in the evening,
thrust out.''
"What
own
sihle
trice
j^lciin
distinction between
I answer,
realizing
and
sen-
whereas a dead
Faith, as deit.
" the substance of things hoped
for, and the evidence of things not seen;" that which brings
eternal things into a near view, and presents them to the
faith
is
is
weahimself, and brought to see and feel the danger and misery of
his state by nature, is then brought in earnest to look to
He then
Jesus, as the only refuge and safety to his soul.
soul as realities.
is
in
no confidence
is
MARKS OF SAVING
FAITH.
These appear to him but distant futuwhich do not engage his solemn attention, nor give
any effectual check to his inordinate appetites and passions.
Or if, as it sometimes happens, any awakening dispensation
alarms the conscience of such a person, drives him to external reformation, and makes him more careful and watchful in his conduct, he has yet no sensible, impressive view
of the eternal world.
rities,
of the
way
of salvation
by Jesus
Christ.
He
either en-
is
a sufficient Saviour.
He
allows
it
to
"by
rity or
and
activity.
receiving
of
the
received him, to
MARKS OF SAVING
FAITH.
him a
and
clear
The
by
any reformations or moral performances, and that he has
cause to be ashamed and confounded in his own sight for
liis
righteousness ;" repairs to him, and to him only, *'for Avisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption ;" and
builds all his hope of acceptance with God upon what Christ
The
true believer
is
heavy
laden with the sinfulness of his nature, and longs for entire
victory over his corrupt affections, appetites, and passions,
for pure spirituality in his duties,
and for perfection in holiand therefore heartily desires and accepts the Lord
Jesus as his Sanctijier as well as Saviour, and earnestly
seeks the renewing, strengthening, and quickening influness,
The
He
acters.
sees
him
to
his offices, relations, and charbe just such a Saviour as his soul
all
He may
of the
tion
power
of
his state
to the exigencies of
to consent to the
MARKS OF SAVING
FAITH.
oft'er ?
to be
ralities,
always be found
will
affections, duties,
He
recommend himself
God
mo-
endeavors
and on account of
Or if he
feels ever so strong a desire of salvation by Christ, yet he
is driven to it only hy fear and self-love, and will renew his
affections to his other lords as soon as his awakening appreHe does not feel his want of Christ's
hensions are worn off.
enlio^htenino^ and enlivenino- influences, for he knows not
what they mean. He " submits not to the righteousness of
Christ ;" for he is still endeavoring to procure acceptance
with God by some good qualifications of his own, some duties which he performs, or some progress which he makes,
He cannot subor designs to make, in his religious course.
mit to Christ as his Lord, for there is some slothful indulgence which he cannot forego, some darling lust which he
cannot part with, some worldly idol which his heart is set
upon, or some difficult duty from which he must excuse
by these
to
to
himself.
There is nothing more apparent than the distinction between these two sorts of believers. The one comes to Christ
destitute of all hope and help in himself, but sees enough
the other is full in himin Christ to answer all his wants
The one looks to Christ to be his light the other
self.
The one makes mention
leans to his own understanding.
the other hopes
of Christ's righteousness, and that only
for an interest in Christ and his salvation on account of his
own attainments and, in effect, expects justification by his
:
own
guilty, polluted,
in
the
fire,
that he
may
be rich
for eye-salve,
may
see
will
own
stating.
saving faith
is
faith
is
way to him,
by a "trusting
in
the
And
perfections, he
may
own
righteous.'*
dreadful im-
hands
and depends upon him, that he will not leave him
to a soul-ruining deceit, but will "guide him by his counsel.
of Christ,
MARKS OF SAVING
FAITH.
On
believe?'
i7i
himself.
do not
find
save sinners
Thus many
and cry ^jewce to
their souls, until the flood of God's displeasure sweeps away
Others there are who, by means of a
tlieir refuges of lies.
better education, or from some awakening sense of guilt and
go on quietly
danger, cannot but see that these beds are too short to
stretch themselves upon, and therefore their faith
torment.
They
is
their
anywhere
else.
The
MARKS OF SAVING
FAITH.
hopes of grace and glory, upon the faithfulness of the gospel promises and the infinite mercy of God
ests,
and
all his
The
in Christ.
how to
by
make the
A. saving
isiith.
"he
but a dead
hope"
true
;"
and
even
life
of conformity to
God
is
very
partial, defective,
in all
?i
false
affections.
MARKS OF SAVING
is
Or
if,
FAITH.
of an
by the lashes
awakened
all
known
all
known
sin,
and
to
much
at so
and
by
cient
and
life
God.
to
In
of his
The
life.
fine,
it
tendency
the endeavor
approve himself to a pure, holy, and omnisother rests in endeavors to quiet conscience
The
A saving
faith
works by
falls
love to
short of both.
;" and the true believer " keeps himGod, looking to the mercy of the Lord
life."
He
delights in contemplating
God
If he can
God
him precious
to his soul.
and
live in
and
difficulties,
trials
and
aflflictions.
means
He
takes peculiar
all
the appointed
communion with
hiai.
He
and
heavily
own deadness or worldliness, which sepabetween God and his soul, and can find no true rest
This is the ordinary
or satisfaction till he returns to him.
course and tenor of the believer's life and if at any time he
grow foi'getful of God, and have the prevalence of a dead,
carnal, worldlv frame in his soul, this darkens the evidence
complains of his
rates
MARKS OF SAVING
FAITH.
is
all
men, he has,
in a special
who
manner,
These he delights
divine image.
He
of God.
company
is all
loves
of the saints
his delight."
if
He
He
concert with
them
and studies
of a dead faith
The
whom
in religion.
just view,
in,
for their
imitation of
to equal,
them
will
appear that
God.
fall
short of every
may
false believer
to
it is
God
in
him
but,
imagine
upon a
ture of his
love
is
an imaginary being of
infinite
justice or holiness.
If,
MARKS OF SAVING
10
engaged
may
in
FAITH.
And however he
he can never
He
tion.
having
The same
in
God
life
of spiritual-
God.
If
God. The other retains his delight in his lusts and idols,
and repairs to God because he dare not do otherwise. The
one, like God himself, takes pleasure in doing good to all
men and takes special delight in all, without distinction,
;
The
man
influenced
by
vile in its
own
eyes
whereas a dead
other, at the
selfish principles.
makes
it loio
and
mind with vain apprehensions of some sufficiency or excelThe true believer has a deep sense of the
its own.
greatness and aggravation of his sins, loathes himself on
lence of
louff-suffprincr of
God
to-
MARKS OF SAVING
FAITH.
He
hell.
so sensi-
is
life,
and
most deep and sensible impression that it must be a Avondermere sovereign grace if he obtains salvation.
It is always true, that the greater manifestation of God's love
is made to his soul, the greater sense he has of his own
nothingness and unworthiness, and the more he admires and
ful display of
is.
Though the
hopeth
himself,
all
and
to censure his
ward performances,
own inward
religious duties
condemn
He
God in Christ.
On the contrary,
it
its
own
at-
tainments, makes
am
it
men
;" or else,
MARKS OF SAVING
12
of Christ as a free
gift,
it is
FAITH.
offered.
You must
accept
To conclude with
still
shorter view.
When
a realizing
exceeding joy.
393,
i\o.
MARKS
TRUE REPEITAICE.
BY REV. JONATHAN DICKINSON^
FIRST PRESIDENT OF PRINCETON COLLEGE.
You
ical repentance.
name some
first
To
consist.
A
God,
deep
is
distress of
common both
mind on account
to legal
in betraying innocent
groan out
of sinning against
blood
;"
of soul,
'*
have
sin-
was ''no
rest in his
common to both
may make "sinners
Mere
sorts of penitents.
the hypocrite
;"
in
such despairing
God may be
in as great reality,
infidelity, as to
may
VIII.
a ter-
a Cain or Judas.
humbled
may be
legal convictions
and went
things, as well as
40*^
Ahab
softly;
and
from every
his feet
way."
evil
It
is
awakened conscience
it lasts,
Men may be
An
may
men
brings
*'
to
lift
up
in-
their hearts
and
their
hands to
God
in the heavens."
mercy
is
people,
"trust
God's ancient
penitents.
in
their impiety,
in lying
all
The
these abominations."
We
would
in the
are deliv-
Israelites in the
lips,
their
and
lied to
him with
my
fess
me
may
the iniquity of
In short,
it is
my
their tongues,
And
Lord
'*
and
their
sins."
it is
not the
of
life
it is
man
all
sincerely penitent
been attained
by mere
made our
may
be,
and have
;;
now proceed
way
made
of precaution,
these remarks,
mourning
for sin,
When
Hence those
frights
awakened
to
Their
sinners.
They
acknowledge
them from
like
sins, especially
them
ruin.
some grosser
in the face,
are brought
upon
with their
their knees
their sins,
And what
mere
true, the
it
terror
is all
It is
ners to Christ
it.
is
peculiar aggravations.
God
a true
before
is
in
and fear of
and conviction of
sin,
sin-
out of
it;
and a sinner
may
spirits
the world," and yet have "his latter end worse than the
beginning."
If,
lead to
its
exercise, they
it.
though such
legal
do not belong
Sin
itself
**
nor
may
terrors
to its nature
soul.
"0
"I
hate,"
wretched man
that I
body of
the
burdened
this
but from an
affecting,
Mine
before me.
hell,
it
transgressions,
all
my
Let not
transgressions.
Innumerable
for
me.
my sin is
my head
Deliver
my sins have
up
as a
me from
about: mine
I
am
ever
dominion over
me
have compassed
it,
His language
iniquities
to look
evils
and
gone over
iniquities are
me.
me from
my
"I acknowledge
is,
shall deliver
death?"
''who
apostle,
not able
my
head
therefore
dehver
supplies of
sin,
sin.
There
''
abomination."
difference
ties
self-love,
in
our
own
The former
fly
soul from
sin,
opposition to
2.
fruit of
in
a continued
it.
gelical repentance
I
our iniqui-
merely the
is
is
is
effected
by
fear-
apprehensions of
Has not
ror?
And whence
hell.
this fear
and
ter-
Is not
and
oflfered
efits ?
all sin,
however aggravated
refuge
is
hope
it
them ?
set before
The law
conscience joins
it,
of
from
cheer-
Alas,
God condemns
some
The
^uiet conscience.
ors;
some respect
new endeav-
not of
They may,
faith,
it is
law of
but as
true,
it
have
They
sake.
while
they dare not depend upon the merits of his blood for the
remission of their
And what
is all
of Christ will
sins,
this
to their frights
penitential appearances
and
fears,
for their
all their
unbelief.
The
Though he
God.
is
his
But then he
forced to acknow-
6
ledge that
God
if
forgiveness, that he
there
is
may be
to
He
plenteous redemption."
away
I shall be clean
all,
his sins to
and long
and cleanse
This
them
numerous and
his
psalmist's language,
iniquity,
and imbitters
is
sins,
I shall
there
aggravated
God
before him, he
him
the prospect
is
mercy,
for dehverance
from them
" Is
all.
God
infinitely merciful
"and have
soul,
Is sin so hateful to
must
crown of
How
vile,
how
God, that
his
own
am
justice, that
my
head to the
my
soles of
guilt,
feet
Has
my
from the
^nothing but
the blessed
sins ?
Have
they nailed him to the cross, and brought him under the
agonies of an accursed death
ciled to
God
my
afresh
lusts
May
that
me
'
my
God
so
much
sin
corruptions
free
ored
and
I obtain strength
both resolve
life in
and
them, and
shall I not
lie
at his feet,
Christ Jesus
may make
and death
already, loaded
?*
my
Have
I dishon-
precious Saviour
many
with so
utter defiance to
mies to
and brought
indignities,
upon myself
guilt
God and
and
is
not
it
7
weight of
sucli a
to bid
an
my most darling lusts, the greatest enemy own soul ?" Such is the language of
a gospel repentance.
You
between a guilty
trariety,
Adam after
to
his fall,
soul
flight of
from God,
like
the prodigal,
between
when
return-
slavish,
legal,
like
flio-ht
self-
make our
from
for cleansing
all sin
between mourning
infinite
own
resolutions
mercy and
new
life
by
condemnation.
3.
his holy
The
God and
to both.
God and
want some
his
covert,
presence.
his
wrath
and therefore
They might
before,
perhaps, have
some
hope
mercy without
for pardon,
and yet
justice
his holiness
and
justice,
But,
now they
he appears an
8
infinite
They
some way
to be at peace with
They
their destruction.
resolve
masters
directly con-
is
Were
it
their
ly.
is
who wear
off
their convictions
standing
all their
lives,
*'
enemies
in their
God and
law by their
his
expresses
it,
sinful
show themselves
life
of holiness, and
how much he
very far he
is
divine nature.
He
is
sen-
how
it.
is
Hence
it is
He
is
so strict, or the
commandment
that though
der sin."
*'
He mourns,
make no
good
is
but he mourns,
so contrary to God,
living to
is
;"
is
God.
He
in
want
his heart
and hfe
There
nothing he so
is
"O,"
God.
heart have
I,
holiness,
and a
that
law
his righteous
life
sin,
of fellowship with
"what
a wicked
What
a guilty w^retch
God.
will of
freedom from
is
I been,
law and
desires as
and
much
does not
but to have
his corruptions,
proficiency in faith
He
to
to the
depraved
aff"ections
my
of
soul.
heart,
and
to sanctify these
Create in
'
spirit
me
a clean
Let
within me.'
me
God, whatever
else
be denied me.
'
that
my ways
were
aspirations
of sincere repentance.
Thus the
ror,
his distance
The one
still
is
the
The obedience
of the one
is
God and
by mere con-
tinual grief,
and he
is
straint
ter-
mourns
other hates
YITI.
41
in the service of
find
God
no
th^
10
way
4.
of his
in obedience than in
any thing
by
is
ac-
how
else.
from discourage-
a legal repentance
and
terrors of conscience
is
fearful
Some, indeed, by
their
God
will never
been
life
of
it.
They
svich rebels as
they have
judge
their souls
from sinking
And
what
all
is
this
and an
whole Gospel of
may
may
guilt than
he dare not
own
its
progress
yet
all
doubts
all
against the
Holy Ghost
away
;
and
which are
raised before
own
mis-
he
Thither he will
And
and comfortable
lively
and abased
his
life
of
hope
is,
the more he
the more
humbled
is
deavors after a
and there
fly,
new
his en-
obedience.
my sins
are like the stars of the firmament, and like the sand on the
sea-shore, for multitude
crimson dye
and that
it is
mercy
is
is still
therefore, cast
my
out of
as are
sufficient to
greater than
But
hell.
my
sins,
sin.
O how
my greatest
How
Christ,
my
account.
will
and
I will,
God
I will
all
sins as mine.
ever I
am
me no more add
distrust of
all
sins.
How
the merit of a
saved.
yet, great
infinite
will
God
is
number and
my
Let
sins,
by
his
to the
guilt of
invitations.
5.
A legal repentance
is
it
but an evan-
12
gelical repentance
is
tian,
We
same course
terror
their impressions,
all
of impiety
And
early dew."
their distress
and
was but as
for
and yet
which occasioned
sin,
*'
seem
to be
some who
having been
in distress
and terror
from their
think,
and there-
have no great care or concern about either their former impieties or their daily transgressions.
may
These
and secure.
think,
mourning
careless,
may be blown up
state,
loftily
with joyful
after pardon,
no groaning under
They perform
their duties in a
their
formality.
minds
and
all
their religion
is
a mere cold
are unconcerned
On
volves a continual
sins,
sin,
for-
self- abasement
life.
is
13
in his conscience,
God
reconciled to
and a
but the
more
more
vile
own
sin,
the
eyes,
sense
come
The
after him.
He
foils
by the
finds so
Repentance, therefore,
''Have
Christian.
God
has pardoned
ing mercy
is
this
is
is
in this tabernacle."
still
yet doing so
Ah,
he cannot but
little
vile, sinful
ing goodness
for him,
heart
for
fire
What
Christ,
and
VOL.
my
VIII.
me ?
corruptions
more
need have
for
to such amaz-
my
for
Am
much
so
And am
spirituI,
every
the blood of
his intercession
Not a
step can
14
am
whom is all
man that I am who
my
shall deliver
me from
wretched
body of death
this
in
"
?'
Thus the
And
he goes."
and joy,
will
for
The
difference
sorts of penitents is
like that
occasion
it,
war with
6.
is
which
external reformation
only
3.
par-
life,
to G-od.
As some
lead the way
of the
more
to that distress
and
wears
most commonly
gi-oss iniquities
is
tained,
the
life
of
so a reformation of those
change.
any further
some
right
hand or
may
he be more forward
worship, he
may
still
some sweet
if
sin.
sm
terrors
and
tial
in the duties of
still
known
duty.
If
Or,
God's immediate
be
live in the
he shows some
zeal
and
and
and
and pursue
it
15
If he avoids all
open
he yet
sins,
little
and
delight.
or
lief,
He
unbe-
finish his
may make
still
The character
to this.
To
sin.
have
lie
in re-
going
is still
finds, indeed,
directly contrary
is
and accordingly
life,
is
striving against
ing,
attained, nor
his
all
He
first
he "rejoices
and godly
"knows
is
sincerity, not
fall
under
with
his con-
nor
and he
tion,
any thing
in a life of
and
holy
all
can he rest
He
of vital piety.
lust
the
life
watchat,
is
short of a
is
aiming
already
is
He
ofi^'."
Him who
16
and
affections
among men
and, in a
word, his repentance produces heavenly-mindedness, humeekness, charity, patience, forgiving of injuries,
mility,
self-denial
and
is
accompanied with
" It
evil
fect heart.
heart
my
''
to
is
God.
would
have to do with a
legal repentance
is
is
feet
God who
trieth the
willing
mind."
True repent-
accompanied with
all
God,
my
with a per-
ance
my soul,"
refrain
my house
know
all
the desire of
a change which
is
much
religion as will
keep
spiritual
rests in
no degree of attain-
ments whatsoever.
Reader, I have thus laid before you some of the
distin-
sin,
Christ,
and practise
repented
of.^^
you
Spirit,
life,
not
io.
396.
MISTAKES OP PARENTS.
BY REV. JOHN
A.
VAUGHAN,
D. D.
The attention of parents is here invited to the consideration of their pecuHar mistakes, duties, and encouragements principally the first.
;
The Sabbath-school
in training his child for
apprehended.
is
God; but
its object is too often misIn practice the parent seems to say, " My
much
MISTAKES OF PARENTS.
upon them, illustrate and apply what you find useful, and
examine your children in what they read. By these means
you will interest them, and check that sad propensity to
seek for novelty rather than improvement, unhappily promoted by the present system of Sabbath-school reading.
Says a learned judge, "I read every book my children bring
into the house, even to the penny sheet."
INQUIRY AT A SABBATH-SCHOOL AS TO PREVIOUS PREPARATION.
1.
Was
at
home?
2.
Were
MISTAKES OF PARENTS.
upon
it,
their attention.
If
it
really
common
mSTAKES OF PARENTS.
''it
means that he
ing."
will
may sometimes
is
the use of
God
some
in
you seek
to arrest
MISTAKES OF PARENTS.
not,
many
KNOWLEDGE OF SINCARELESSNESS
The
sparrcws."
IN FORGIVING FAULTS.
may
be applied success-
upon a
men have
sinned,
Urge
and un-
science,
his parent
MISTAKES OF PARENTS.
The
child
must be
You must
at
first
talk of
ALWAYS EVIDENT AT
THE TIME.
Parents often seem to think that the religious character
of their offspring must receive its whole impress in some
Struck by extraordinary cases of youthful consingle act.
version, and trusting that the special influences of the Spirit
will cause the light suddenly to shine fully in the heart,
there is a strong leaning to the belief that this favored mo-
may
MISTAKES OF PARENTS.
thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it
Cometh or whither it goeth." No you must be stead}^ and
unceasing in your influence, your instructions, your means.
God may work with them or without them, as he shall see
" In
fit; but your labor in the Lord shall not be in vain.
the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not
thy hand, for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either
this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good."
;
MISTAKES OF PARENTS.
"behold, he prayeth."
SIN
WHILE DISTURBING A
SABBATH-SCHOOL.
since a young man of Bellows Falls deteradd to his Sunday sports and amuse his ungodly
associates by a visit of intrusion to the Sabbath- school. He
had scarcely obtained firm footing within the room, when
this reflection came over him, he knew not how, but to
shake it off was impossible: "What motiv^e can influence
so many teachers to spend their time, their means, and unceasino: toil in the relimous instruction of others ?
It must
be something very different from that which actuates me in
disturbing them.
Their reward is not here mine is the
wages of sin." He is for some time riveted to the floor,
and when a teacher approaches with a friendly invitation,
he suff'ers himself to be led like a lamb, and joins a class.
His ungodly companions are his no longer, and he joins,
shortly, the great company of those who are rejoicing on
Some time
mined
to
their
way
to heaven.
Now, in each of the above cases, who will say that other
means, applied faithfully, might not have availed, and saved
But who will say, in view of
years of sin and sorrow ?
such cases, that there is ever ground for despair ? Still
more, when we see, in ten thousand other cases, sorrowful
warnings against delay, what parent, whose heart has been
warmed with the hope of the Gospel, will venture to omit
His hope of suca single act of fidelity to his off"spring ?
cess will rest only upon such a conscientious and unremitting faithfulness, that he can joyfully leave the result with
God, confiding in his promise. Do your duty, and " hope
that your child will be a Christian."
MISTAKES OF PARENTS.
CONTRAST.
and sin will often defeat its own designs, by bringing out in glowing colors its affecting contrast.
When a
portrait of impiety has been in vain presented, and the truth
is resisted or evaded, then show him what he should be,
what he may be, but what he is not. It may suit his peculiar temper and excite inquiry, though not a word may have
been said in personal condemnation. No one can describe
to another his heart so well as himself can see it, provided
he will but look and this looking may be induced by means
as various as the tempers of individuals.
Says Cecil, that
devoted man of God, "Parental influence hangs on the
wheels of evil. I had a pious mother, who would talk to
me, and weep as she talked. I flung out of the house with
an oath, but wept too when I got into the street. Sympathy is the powerful engine of the mother."
reverse,
voL.
vm.
42*
MISTAKES OF PARENTS.
10
YOUTHFUL
There
no
will
DIFFICULTIES.
difficulties,
and
than in other
These difficulties should be considered, and every
things.
proper means taken to remove them. It will not do to treat
all the children even of one family alike in all things
a
less in the formation of religious character
make home
Well has
it been
should feel convinced that they may be
more wicked elsewhere, but that they cannot be more happy.
If this conviction is strongly fixed at an early age, there
will be little desire for the false excitements of distant pleas-
interesting
ure.
There
is
must receive
MISTAKES OF PARENTS.
term of preparation for the scene bebut it has been correctly observed, that
his
;
is
in
many
ence over his son after he is fifteen even before this period
the busy occupations of life leave the burden chiefly upon
the mother, who can scarcely control an unruly spirit over
If, then, she would have her son a shining
ten or twelve.
light in the regions of grace, she must think nothing of her
ten years of labor and care for him, in comparison with the
fearful loss to be avoided, and the more than worlds to be
O think how much one Christian mother does in
gained.
training up for God some devoted servant
a Whitefield, a
or who even o-ains over a WashingrScott, or a Chalmers
ton, or a Wilberforce, to the pure and disinterested love of
She sets at work a moral power which
his fellow-man
goes on accumulating for ever.
:
PATERXAL CARE.
growing family also remember,
pressing as his business may be, that very much depends
upon his devoting systematically some portion of his time
to that instruction of his family which no money can proLet him by no means plead ignorance if he begins
cure.
in time, he can at least grow Avith his children in their
attainments.
He should remember that in a course of years
a large family, brought up on sound and conscientious
principles, will cost less than one child of expensive and
But
MISTAKES OF PARENTS.
12
evening
There is an apparently trifling but very pernicious practice which often prevails, of hiring children to do their
duty, especially when of that description which is plainly
commanded by God. If you pay them for obeying you,
for attending upon religious instruction, or performing any
religious duty, you lay the foundation for an inveterate
Ev^ery worthy motive
perversion of heart and character.
is thus shut out, and a low feehng of selfish barter introduced. The plan may be less questionable, when occasionally
applied to encourage any system of industry, or perseverance, or self-denial not so obviously required by moral
obligation
but the simple fact that God has commanded,
should silence every selfish inclination, and be felt in all its
;
singleness.
DISSIPATING
AMUSEMENTSVICE.
it is parental
which, to be complete,
requires the aid of religious principle from the foundation
If
MISTAKES OF PARENTS.
13
with injury at every step, they begin to see the sad effects
of errors in judgment, even where the best intentions may
have existed. They now reverse the system, but too late
and, passing from one extreme to another, all is difficulty
The elder pervert the younger and the
It
difference in plan adds perplexity to the whole scene.
is the part of wisdom to avail ourselves of the experience
of others, and yet how hard to acknowledge that we need
it
Otherwise, how is it that most lamentable mistakes in
education, after having been often and clearly pointed out,
are still followed in so many families, leading on to disappointment, disgrace, and ruin ?
and anxiety.
To encourage parents
IT.
education of their
children, God has said, " Train up a child in the way he
should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
So far, then, as a parent fails in what he might perform, if
rightly instructed in his work, he is accountable for the
And when there are
result, and for the prevalence of evil.
striking instances of success, they should be published and
examined by others, and the best modes of proceeding
should be sought out, and adopted systematically by all
around.
few plain books of direction should be in the
hands of every intelligent parent. Take a family as an
example the facts can be vouched for. The parents of
the children (seven in
this family are of exemplary piety
number) all intelligent, well informed, and well educated,
cheerful and active in the cause of their Redeemer, being
The five sons
all apparently of decided and winning piety.
Is there nothing to
are in the ministry, or preparing for it.
be learned from such parents ? Go one step further. Says
the father of this family to a female friend, "To you,
madam, we are largely indebted for our success." " How ?"
" By lending us, many
says the astonished acquaintance.
years since, a copy of the little work. Elementary PrinciNow, although this Avork is by no
ples of Education."
means a sufficient guide in Christian education, yet its usefulness to these parents proves that all justifiable means
are to be sought for gaining an influence over the young.
in the religious
MISTAKES OF PARENTS.
14
PIOUS.
MISTAKES OF PARENTS.
and
you
we must
15
will
part,
'
'
'
own
Christian character, by their unceasing instructions and prayers, set in full view before their youthful
dependents the difficult but sure path of life, and glory,
and immortal blessedness
their
We
immortal, owing
; :;
MISTAKES OF PARENTS.
16
joy in the world of light, who but a parent can tell the
rejoicings unspeakable that swell a parent's bosom, when
that sinner is a beloved child, a child now willing to devote
body and soul, free and vigorous, to the service of a Saviour, where every name before had fallen as an unmeaning
you
soul,
be on thy guard,
Ten thousand
foes arise.
And
The
Heath.
Date Due