University of South Carolina Libraries
Ctr Tfct 'the thj fra. ■•hrfou. -^£•5 to the 1 »"d tttil [<»h5u^ Sastt J / At r £ c- t6 . .. * *»• 00 4 t» * 00 I mr L P4r month. ^«ret%ion* u i V * b r 1 ^ifnete <*<> well Uf r Collet*. fZKE, r Ve **«4 |CALS. I ■| .:, ' Izioe. teriiee end ell who de- n’-fxt with jj* day, M ri tutor* to who Mend ter* on So- rature, md rcwi thorough ottered at t of all. NEW. SERIES; VOL, 2--N0. 8. “OlVg hOBD, OWE FAITH, ONE BAPTI8M."-EPHE8IAN8 IT: 5. COLUMBIA, S. C., WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1869. OLD SERIES, VOL. IV.-NO. ®nf|nnti tVririfDt IS PUBLISHED fiVEBY WEDNESDAY BY HUDE & MILLER, TERMS! yj, I^nbavl TiArroa b fumislioJ to *ub- Khhen »t $iW P* r T** r ' tf P* iJ l “ * dT,DCe - (Vnrriaer their WWow*. and Stuileula of iWo*T, «• 9* 00 P" /ear, if paid in hdrance. ryThaae who do not pay wlthiu tlireo widtaof lb! time their year boglna, will, in Vrery caie, be charged fifty cent* additional ilATES OF ADYERTBIXO : Vorooe unarefone loch of column): Bret insertion. 9 !" Oaa month.....,: *“ * 5 - Six® Wire woo Ota. 10 00 tOa adrerUsement* of three square* snd up wards a discount ot 20 per cent, of fire squares **. upwards. 30 per cent, of ten squares and upwards 40 per coat, sad of Pte half column n-l upwards 50 per cent will he deducted from iht shore rates ^ Obituaries witen more than fire lines, ten eatta lor eight words payable in adrance. postage—Fire cento per quarter. [f Please remember all badness leltters iboutd be addressed to Bar. A. R. BfDK, OJmmbia, S. C. Communications. I * . 5». 1 be allowed Thus (bur bw, will be - i quarter at - to any part is a number. Llwmptions Ibcrs. the aboro to receive lor 18 €8. I for or any of korlj, obtain y. 1865, to Magazine 1808, at half | - tor buck le money ia To premiums IlING CO., tr, N. Y. Inpanv also F |ii, and the tiro rois ■ mail, poet iY. AND SIL LY. 46-tf larger boat (at a Pulpft It Book, now oaLUtur. €0., ? ^and Office Comer, Ire ftom tbo biuv, luuibia, a C. ^ For tlie Lutheran Visitor. Greater Church Love—How to Awoken it NUMBER tax. UNIFORMITY OP WORSHIP. Another meatus, less ini|Mirtant but bj aao means to be “overlooker!, is a dietinetire Worship. We have dis tinctive doctrines, and our coitus should be equally so. Our manner of worship, our rites and ceremonies should be symbols and fridges of these "renter ami higher difference*. It is only in this view that they beeome important. Aside from tlieir significance of this fact reflecting men would not led a very deep interest in the modes of service, not directly ordained of God Himself. •Inst so they did not contradict reason, propriety or the Scriptures they would never make them tlie subject of very special attention, and would nue a liturgy' or not, wear a gown or not, or conform to any practices that would secure uniformity and he most conducive to harmony. Bnt when these weightier matters are associated with them they should l>e scrupu lously observed, and will become objects of enlightened affection*. There are many, however, who aw* nnable to appreciate, or, on account of their want of acquaintance with the doctrines, fail to observe the nobler and worthier features of the ehureli, and we can attach them to her only by* the ontside forms. Ity these only the attention of strangers will be attracted, and be induced to search for the tme dividing lines. Indeed all will beeome more or less bound by them. Habit and associa tion, were they rules without signifi cance, would give us all a decided preference, and to some a strong prejudice, for them. While we wor ship just like any other denomination it will be impossible to impress ni»on some minds the difference between ns and them, and onr children by fortuitoun circumstances may be easily stolen from ns. Let there be a different worship; our children and our uneducated or less informed brethren will see more, clearly and, indeed, all of ns will Ik; reminded each time we enter the house of God °f the distinct character of our church. This distinctive worship, if gen- 'eral, must be uniform. The worship, if possible, should in its outlines lie one, ,in all the congregations. We would have it so, not alone for tlie ca * e and convenience of visiting ministers, but that the layman when ever he strays into One of our assem blies may recognize the place and feel himself at home. And that same service wherever he goes, so often relieving him of embarassment wn& enabling him to join without f restraint in the praises and devo tions of the sanctuary, mast have his love. : Our church has already suffered many losses from the want ^ it Onr members changing homes nsve at first sought out their own church, but finding everything so - unlike that to which they were ac- nisUimed, they felt like “strangers *u a strange land,” and were repelled rather’than attracted. They go to another church, and findiug there something “more like that at home,” fhey return because of the associa tionsagain and again, until at length in the very* shallow of tbeir own chureii, they uiiite themselves with another. It is objected to this that it will become old and stale^thal losing its life it bei-dthe* mechanical, and that it destroys the spirit of religion by the forms. Rut the most unlit ur jfienl have an established form to which they strictly udhere. Each time they come together they have tlie same manner of proceeding. It is impossible to avoid safneuesH in form: Anti if they do become old, they are imbedded just so much the deejier in the uffectious, and expe rience disproves tlie assertion that we lose zest and interest in a form of worship to which we have long been uncustomed. We like the man ners of our native community, of our childhood’s home. We never feel free to depart from them unless they were rude and unrefined. Often do we recall them from the eham tiers of memory. Though our brows may be darkened by the heavy loads of sorrow that weigli down the heart, if by chance we full into a family- doing as we did at the old houiephiee, how soou the sternness of counte nance is relaxed, and a smile plays where the shadow <i r care rested. "How painfully pleasing kite (bad recollection Of youthful connection* sad innocent joy. When bleat'd with parental advice and sficetwn. Surrounded will, sereles, and peace from on high; I still view the seats of my sire mod my mother, Tlie chairs ol their offiqirtng as ranged on each band, And that richest ol books which excelled every other— Tliat family lilble that lay on tht stand." So onr worship will lie loved like the old oak, or the beautiful grove, or the customs and habits of the ucighfru hood, or the practices of our |m rental home. Our service should lie short and simple, not enough to weary, nor yet so little as to tail to excite an inter est. It should be us nearly as ponsi bit- unique. This has so often liecn canvassed there is no necessity of enlarging tijsin it. We have this want most happily met in the Book of Worship. We have here a form of service that must commend itself to the good judgments of all. Though young, it lias to out* |—*r—onal knowledge at tracted strangers into our fold, and wherever it has been used sufficiently long for them to become accustomed to it, we know that H has hound the people more closely to onr altars. The more fnlly and generally it is adopted, the more glorious will lie the fruits. We will conclude the series by re ferring to one more means by induc ing them TO MAKE SACRIFICES FOR TI1K CHURCH. It is a principle in our nature to love that for which we suffer in fast ing. The mother goes down to the grave to bring up life in her halie, and who ran fathom a mother’s love t She turns from her happy offspring, hale and strong, to bend with anx iotis solicitude and deepest affection over the pale and delicate oue for whom she lifts most often wept and prayed, and by whose bed she baa set for weeks in painful attention. We see this same fact everywhere. That for which we lafrir, we arc un willing to sec go down to its grave. We rejoice in its successes, and sigh for its misfortunes and reverses. Tlie very fact that we have worked for and contributed to any enterprise, enlists our sympathies and interests, and the more extensive that labor the deeper the love. It will be so in the church. If we could get our people to give more to her, they wonld love her more. Get them, then, to contribute until they love the church, then they will con tribute because they do love her. Never fear that yon will get too much or call too often upou them. The more they do, the larger the spirit of liberality is engendered, and the more they feel able and willing to do. If we ever could get them to put themselves to inconvenience that would be' felt, theii* love would be irremovAbly secured. Devise plans that will put them to laboring for her, that will secure their own jiersonal exertions; make reasoning appeals that convince the mind, cor rect the heart and open the purse, and you will ever have them after wards alive to the interest of our beloved Lutheran Church. May the time soon come when our church shall arise in the affections of her people, and shine “as the momiiig, fair as the moon, dear os the snn, and terrible as an army with banners.” F. Ministerial. From tbs A. R. Prssbytsiiu. F»U Proof of tho Ministry. It was commanded of Paul to Tim I i oultl not believe a single asneriloii I men oulv accomplish what they he made, without a “thus saith the chiefly aim at We ought not to Lord for it, and unsigned their reli | complain of a want of success until gious training os an explanation of we are perfectly sure that our aims the fact. There must be a “thus | ami our efforts, as ministers, both .. . ’ | ,hr I*«nl," where there is ftill ; are roiuckleut with the will of God. othy, that be slrnuld make full proof ,«K.f of the mini-try. And wber j When we have had all the aims, all of his ministry. AN hether or not, ever that is tb« distinctive feature Timothy was troubled with that „f preaching, ytui will suon find a | diligence and devotion to the cause gloomy discouragement which we {|ieople rooted, and gnmtided in the often find temperament, he was tlie suited his ease. the *eal, and all the ]irn<lenee and to the cause of God that a minister ought to have. in unniatew of anient; frith; ami not etmily “carried -fruit „„d still fail, then we may begin to t, I dont knot*. But if by every wind uf dortnne, b, the ; doujiom!—hut not till then. . above cilii i uni nd jo * | slight of meu, and running rrafti 5. U.„ v , we cat, not he said to sae It suits admirably ness, whereby they lie in wait to have made (till proof of our ministry the ease of all those of the present deceive; frit spanking the truth in | until we have submitted it to Christ ijr grow jip into him in ail age, who mourn over the apprehen shin that their miuiatry is a Imrren one, and distreas, and discourage, ami actually enfeeble themselves by j in good faith. In natural husbandry, who is the head, even j men oftentimes forget that natural love things, I mM,l “ bare no inde|irmlcnt efficiency .... >. ... ■ . , * 11 w ® w ****luHe greatly to tbe to gain the great ends aimed at, amt atich mourning. I do not reprobate sueee-i fr the m^hrtry to preach, not look more to scieutilk agriculture, adne measure of solicitude .boat the idea, ami doctrines of the to g,„ H | pin* i„g and^frwfrJ^h.TS mini-tonal surceas, ami . prayerful , Bible. Im, the very won!-, as near God. IV. It is po~i!4e for Wk- spiritual anxiety tor the preper friiits of the as we can get them. Pan. give. u. husfrmdman to forget that the in- Christian nnnistry. Imlenl, 1 cannot . gsa.l hint on this -l^ fr L^. ,, hlm Unaimndry must but fear, that tlie miuiater who has « 1-t for. il: 1. 3s “And I, brethren, ft,*, (lo j Wld no such solicitude, no surli anxiety, 1 when I cm ate ta you, came not with is not in loving sympathy with llim cxrUemy of sprecli, or of wisdom, who wept over liis failure to gal tier doclanug unto you tlie testimony of tlie Jews unto Him ns a hen gathers God. And my speech, ami my puewching WUS nut with esiticiag wonts of man’s frit in de tlod.” Be it her IitimmI under her wings. But st the same time, it dors not seem to me. Hint n failure to reuliuMMir. per )im|m, over sanguine anttrqait ions in this de|iurtment, -ImmiM disremr age, and lilfecble ns, as it dia-s some. At all events, Indore we give up, wr I n-iereiH-e f,,r alionld make full pruof of .sir minis luxlrfinesl ren try. “In the morning sow thy and, and in tlie eveuing withhold mu thine hand, for thou know cat not wbellier shall pnsqier, either this or tliat, or whether they both shall In to attach an undue ini|Kirtunre to his zeal and diligence and logic. In such case we may expect failure. When we have done the very beat we could in every rreqiect, ami, in fact, commit ted the question of succeas to Christ, im lustration of the Kpirit, and nf j ami said to him. glorify thvself by isiwer: Thai your faith should not | my humble labors, if lliere is IK! stand iu the wimbsu of man; frit of | fhiil theu, we BUJ give ujx But alike gomi.” Kc. xi: «. . Tlie simple idea of making Mi|M-rstllKsi, or due; Gisl, or Mtnic other uti, crrtaiu it ia, liar j wonh. «rf in-|.inUhai have a weight, ami autfririty with the human wind, that the utmont exeriktae, ami flour i iah of mere human orutory- never- 4“cs have, Tbia fact Paul luidet \ f brut will not fail tin. “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” U. A. Boss. I d.ssL Hence be did not aim to ftill i brow around hi- m-rtnuus, the rfr-t Practical What Will T*« Bay pns.f of tlie ministry, ia giving it a ftill ami fair trial. I*ursuiiig this idea let us saw* wind we must do lie fun* we may give up. I. We mu—t preach the gospel fully ami fairly. Hr this I do not mean -imply that we are to art forth. oncul .-mln-lli-hnu-ul- of liuuuiu w ia dom; frit employed thorn- “words which tlie Hid} Ghost teaefr-th com I Hiring npiriiual thing- w it), spiritual.' l-t t or. ii : 13. Xu doiifr he tfraight I hat the H.dy Ghost ws- luotc likely to honor his own worils, with great dearness mid pn- i-ion. J and use them as the veliiden of the i.icamation. tin--iil.-tilutiou. the ilii me .mil saving itupiMUitNM, thau nt.meuM-ut and |n-rfeet olnsln-liee of iW flllesl “Vlitlls ubtl'll IIUUl’l Wifi- , nnr bir.1 Je-ns t'liriat, and 1-ml.ill , tlolU IfirMk.* TltetC W— tUIM'll * " ' ” '** and lean- through him. These glo- j truth in tin- pious ohl Mcntch lady’s riotts doctrines ar.* giuqs-l, bat they tcuturk that •*1hc ftsldrr was put out are not all that is meant by ‘“gospel," “f reach of tlie I a in I is." This is iu our conimi—i.si. If it ts- allowwl j often «hme liy a style of |ireaM-hing that Paul knew what waa meant liy wlm-h |«.uder- to tfr- i»|ai.i cl ta-tc tin- giN>iM-I, we must conclude that «f mere worldly wisslom. tVam- of it com prebends far more than tlie the most j-qailar |m-arhing of this above doctrines—that it reacfr*s far ! “ge, starves out vital |dsdy, not that While ifo|Nt, a young Baudwich Islamier. was in America, be spent an evening in a rampany where an iufldel lawyer trieil to ]Hiuk> him with dUBctilt questions. At length tlie native said: “I am a |siur heathen boy. It ia m< strange that my tdumb-ra in English should aniunr you. But ■«w there w ill In- a larger meeting than this. We shall nil ho there. an nil one que—tiou. : l*o coa love Use I--si , such tilings, which does not seek to mfyust or care them all, hut covers them aa if it did not, see. Ho a Christian spirit throws a cloak of love over these things. It knows when it is wise not to see. That micro -copic distinction in which sll faults appear to captious men, who are ever Limning, dissenting, complain ing, disappear* in the calm gaze of love. And oh, it ia this spirit which our chriatuui society lacks and which wc w ill never get till each one begins with his own heart. Selections. Latbarat Roma In tlie done of the reign of Jutiu-, I .<■ f lira, riaffiud Itonie. The poor monk worn with .penances and hard .toil, was sent upon some liuaimsw connected with hia convent to the Pu|uil CiKirt. He cmsmsl the A1|m ftill of frith, nnd stirred bjr a strong exeitemeiit. He was aliout to enter the da—ir laud, with whone Jioets and hi-torian- he luul long been familiar; be was to tread the -acrwl anil of Virgil, t'ieero ami Livy. But, toon- than Bit*. In- saw before him, rising in dim majesty, the Holy t'itjr of that Oiureh from whtsie faith lie had ue\er yet ventured to ilejinrt, whose mi]ireme head wa* still to him almost the representa tive of Deity, and whose princes ami dignitaries he had ever invested with sn apoatolic parity and grace. Home, hallowed by the sufferings of tfr- martyra, filled with relic*, ami redolent with the piety of ages, tfr* uututon-d monk still suiqamed a -erne of heavenly rest. “Hail, holy Haute r he exclaimed, as its distant tower- first met his eye*. His finetic dream was rasm di-|--Iled. Scarcely bad lie cntcretl Italy when he was sluwked ami terrifiwl by the luxury ami the license of the convents, and the open depravity of the pric-tliood He fell -irk with sorrow and shame, lie complained that the very- air of Italy -.--med deanlly —id |---tih-utial. Against tbs Bible I Nick ami rovers all those dan-trines enneeming tin- nature of God, tha- full a if man, the penal n-sults of -in anal tlie total depravity of man, tlie iloininion of sin over him, ami hia entire inability to extria-ate himself from the curse of the law—all those lioctrineH which set forth tfr- neca-* sity fair the ina-arnatiou ami via-uriaana aleuth of Christ. Paul was pretu-h- ing the gast|ia-I, ara-airding to tha- great c-ommi—iiHi, w hen. fr-faira- Felix, “be ra-iisama-al aif riglateaitlsnesM, teni liernna-e anal judgment," and when he said, that “what tha* law saith, it saitli nntai them that are under tlie law, that every month might la- stopped, and the whole woriat lie- a-ome guilty la-fore God when he saial, “by the offence of one, jualg ment came iqain all men to condera nation.” Also when he aaitl, “For as many as are of the works aif the law, are nnaler the a-unae; fair it is written, cursed is every one that a-ontinneth not in all things whia-h are written In the book of the law, to alo them.” By preaa-hing the gaaa- pel then fully and fairly, 1 mean lireaa-hing all the doctrines of divine revelation in their due order and proper connection. 2. We must urge tliese alaa-trines as the dia-trines of divine revelation. Hornet imes doctrines are preaa-heal as the alaa-trines of Calvin, of Lu ther, of Armenian, of our church, of our Camfessiain. Great anal, often we think, unalne prominence is given to tln-se high authorities, whilst the authority of God in the doctrine is kept somewhat in tlie bua-k ground. Thin kinai aif preaching may make sjamlative Calvinists, or Lutherans, or Armenians—tpny Rain sia-cuiative adherents to our church, or onr Con fession ; but it aloes not siiccecd so well in making true Inslievero. Faith that saves, rests upou the authority of Gcal in his word, and not n|nn the authority of any man, or any church. Before the doctrines preach ed can take effect, we must ply men's minds and consciences with the au thority of God. To make ftill proof of our ministry, therefore, we must give an assailing prominena-e to the authority of Goal iu wlaat we say ; being very careftil to show wliat tlie doctrine is, aud that it is nBmistake- alily in the Bible. I once heard a politician in this Htute, rather eom plaining that a certain community it is alaar4finally hetenulatx; but he i-ausr it is literally iuraim|Wrfr-n-it>le. to the ina—a-a. It is “the asitramw aif Goal's mini that givrtb light, ami niakea the suiqile wise.” 4. We a-wu not lie said to have given our ministry a fair trial until we have devoted it ftilly to the glory of Gas! iu tlie run version of sinners, ami tfr- califia-atiaai of the saint*. At first thin iusy Item rather a ajlleer itla-a. Haitne one may say : w hut, are tha-re any ministers who have mit religiously devoted their ministry to the service of Gasl! Iks-- not every minister of tlie Prealiy terian onler, at least, ileclare, when be taken up tfr- holy oflkx-, that -*xral for the glory of God ami a desire for la-iug iustrumentai in aslifying his chureh” are the motives which govern him in the premises T and alo they not sailemnly pniuiisa- not -‘to gira- 1 laem-a-lva-M np to a aieteaata- bla- neutrality iu tfr- cause of Gasl f All that is very true. Ami this promise sliotild hind every inemlier to be “iuatant in season ami out of season” in the whole work of hia ministry—should hind him to a sin- gtenesM of aim at the biglier end of the ministry. But it ia to be fan real tliat Hiia*li is not always the earn-. Indeed, it is with pome, I know, tlie hardest thing in the worial to dis criminate between tlie ministry' as a mere livelihood ami as a alevoted service of God. A large class of men look ii|mni ministerial lalior just as they do u|miu agricultural or me chanical, or any other kind of mere secular hifrir, as a means of a live lihotsL Ha-na-a- that odious idea, so rife in these days, that the Uiiuister of the gisqs-1 •• » mere hireling, and that the amount and prompt payment of hia pecuniary liijv ia tfr* great ah-aiilemimn in liis aallinif. Even with ministers theniaelva-s, often and grievously is interne, that the ques tion, how similar make njy ministry fet-d me ami clothe me t is tlie great apiestion—the question which, Rbove •all others, does influence anil deter mine their spirit anal aims anal the character of tlieir labors. How far this may be the result of au invinci ble necessity, in any given case, We need not now stop to inquire. But the fret is, beyond all controversy, one of the great reasons why so much ministerial work has so li»tle spiritual fruit. As n general rule, 4 But be waodimsal on, fee 14c anal Haul, t’hn-lf Now, sir, I think I rail say. 1 until lie ra-tu-ha-d the Holy City, Taw v\ Hat will ywa* say, mil f” and there, amid the inoa-kery of his Wba-n be haal sttqqsxl, all jirvwrut fellaiw masiks. anal tfr- blasphemies were silent. At length the lawyer the impious clergy |M*rfurmcd saial tliat. aa the eveuing was far I with honest su|M-Estitinfl the minute a-en-mntiial of the t’bun-h. Of all Iiilgrims to that aiesra-rated shrine man- was so devout as leather. He the eveuing was far g*SM>, they haal laettereunclmle it with prayer, ami pru|HMi-al that Hu- native should pray, lie did so; and as be imuml nut his heart to Gisl, Um4whs ileiennineil, In* said, toeacape lawyer rambl not coorenl his feelings. Team started from hia ryes, and he soldieil slonal. All present wejit. too; and when they *r|aarated. the words, “What will gam aay, sirf follaiwed the ]mius of |iurgutairy’, anal win a ph-naty imlulgeuca-; he draggisl his frail form on his knees up the painful am-ent aif the Holy Htairs, while ever in his ears resounded the cry, “The were worse than tha-ir master : tkdprieaata, mock ing unfr-tievart-s; and Heal, lieart- braika-u, Isn-k to his German cell. the laVyer franc, and dial isg leave'jiud sliall live by faith.” He heard him till it I insight him to the Hii with horror that tin- ha-aal of the v iamr. t hureh wa* a monster stuioeal with I vice; that the canliul Tb* Miracle* of tbs Apostles. Jesus haal saial that his alisa-ipla-s should dti his works, aud even great erthan his, when he haal asax-nala-al. We sa-c that his servants' miraa-la-s pn-laimcal his power mane lanially tbun Ids own works. When he was on a-arth iu Imalily pra-senae.* virtue went out alirect from hia adorable |s-naaili. He was provasl by act to la* tfr- iMRtseanair of |a>wer. But when Defer ami tin- rest, through in- voa-atiem of his name brought lieal- ing ami life, theu was .la*siis sliown to he mit only the (Misseasor, hut the inexlmustibla- spring of health and life. It is certain that tlie iqiosth-s could not exert miraculous powalr of their own will, or apply it to whom soever they would. The mention of the existence of human ills ciMitinu- ing in the spostailic times; the fret tliat 1‘aul left Trophirans sick at Miletus, and also the frail health of ‘After Many Dsyx" There is one prayer which we do not greatly like. Men frequently ask, at tlie close of a sermon, that the word preached may lie “as bread cast upon tlie waters, the fruit of which shall lie seen after many day*.' We doubt whether this use of the hitignage which the sacred writer employs with regard to almsgivings, is. wbeu standing by itself, appropri ate. It, at least, seems to surrender all hope of immediate mull* from the proclamation of divine truth. Why should we not expect and seek fruit to-day from the preaching of to-day f Why should wc plead with God, as if “many days” must necessarily run by, before His word takes effect t The prayer is fit aud right only as Timothy; all theae seem to show j an alternative prayer. Let ns first tliat, through the Spirit, there was ask that tlie saving and sancitifyitig always an intimation from Christ ; power of the truth may he straight- whom he would have miracles work way manifested—that, at once, aud ed on, and by this intimation alone the a|snub's exerted their marvellous gift. This fact has lieen forgotten in the rase of supposed mcslern mir acles, wherein daring and unauthor ized hands have laid liold on the -JxmdoH H. K Teacher. plory iff God. M Chrutiah 6ourte*g.—Every man has his faults, his peculiarities. Every one of ns finds himself crossed by such failings of others from hour to hour, and if he were to resent them all, or even notice all, life would be intolerable. If for every burst of| 0 iit without delay, it may bring souls to Christ, or strengthen them iu His services. And then, let us ask, that, even in the eases where this legiti mate n-snlt does not follow, there may still be fruit, though long post- |;Mined by that unbelief of simiers which “puts faraway the” good “day” lot return to the Lord, or that unbe lief of Christians which neither looks nor pleads for an earlier blessing. We should liegin by wrestling for “the grace of God aud the gift by grace” sew, as accompanying, with in terval, the utterances of His hasty tcuqier and for every rudeness that wounds us in our daily ]>ath, we were to demand an aimlogy, require an explanation, daily, intercourse would be impoaaible. Tlie very science of social life consists in that gliding tact which avoids contact with the sharp angularities of char acter which does not argue about own word. Only in subordination to that entreaty, is there any meet ness in the petition for fruits to appear “after many days.”—/ittter. Human nature is a bad clock. It may go right now and then, or be made to strike the hour, frit its in ward frame is to go wrong. We reprint, says the Bible Society Hrrortl, Home eloquent passages from a volume of sermons, lately issued, by the llev. Charles Wadsworth, D.U., of Han Francisco, California, from the press of A. lioman & Co. Heldom do we we find more glowing ami powerful presentations of truth, and in a style so attractive to all classes of readers. The extracts which follow are from a sermon on “Prejudices against Christianity,” from John i, 46: “And Nathaniel said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth t Philip saith unto him. Come and see.” IS TDK BIBLE AN INSPIRED BOOK f I* the Bilge an inspired book ! I* Christ fruity a divine revelation t This' is the question. And hark! how the universe lifts all voices in attention. “Y*a,” cry all material things. For so wonderfully are nature and reve lation in analogy, so manifestly ooon. terparta in one great system, auto graphs of the same Divine hand, that a child’s wisdom accords them the same common Author! “Tea,” erics prophecy, pointing to manifold ever fulfilling and fulfilled predk- ttoM! “Yea,” cries the yearning houI of man, “for its blessed truths jii«t fr-flt my wauts ; it instructs my ignnranee, it reveals my immortality, it purifies ray nature, it dries my tears, it woos from the trifles of t i me, and wings me for the grandeurs of eternity V “Yea," cry su]ienuitu- ral voices. And behold! stilled seas, and healed diseases, aud the risen dead, aud revealed angels, appear as its witnesses*. “Yea,” cry the living nations of the earth, quickened by ita divine power into life and liberty am) joy advantaged every way by the jMMHCKsinti of three “oracles of God!” “Y're,” cry all higher orders of immortal life—ungri and arch angel, principality aud power, sing ing morning star and shouting Son of Gfrl! “Yre,” God the Father, ao guarding it by providence. “Tee,” eritjuGod the Holy Ghost, attending it ^rer in outni|iotetKt* from conquer ing to conquer, until verily there ia no true voice in God’s universe that gives not glad testimony in behalf of our frith. And unto all this what says the infidel t Alas, Bike Nathanael by the Jordan, he sets it all aside with a pitiful cavil! He gets a glass and looks heavenward, and fiuding that the sun and stars do not actually revolve around the earth, looks wise, aud says, “Aha, Moses does not say anything about this law of gravita tion; surely he was not an inspired mah P He explores the strata of the earth, and finding a fish’s tail in the rodk„or monster’s vertebra? in sand stone, lays his hand solemnly on his heart, having, Moses speaks not of ‘ these old fossils. Iteally this is a tremendous fact against revelation." He dram s a line from ear to nos tril on an Ethiop’s skull, or ]mlls a lock of hair from an Ethiop’s skull, and, wise with all ethnologic gifts and grace, cries “Ah me, bow many facts there are against revelation P lie runs the line of his reason into tbe, sphere of immensity and eternity; or fiings himself from the rocks of faith into the infinite ocean of God head, and, finding himself slightly beyond liis de]itli, struggles back, half drowned, but still buoyant in bis self-conceit; and because the revelations of God are too large for bis logic, wonld settle the question with preten t ions del i veranoe: “Verily Icon not comprehend all this, and m.v arithmetic and logic are both against revelation P Now, before God, this is not cari cature. It is a fair representation of infidel objections to Christianity. And I ask if Nathanael’s against Christ had a greater seeming of prejudice! “Can the Christ come out of Nazareth t Cometh he not of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem !” Alas, foolish Israelite! Why, there is not a matronly mother in all the coasts of Bethlehem, that can not lead yon to tiro grave of her slaughtered babe, and prove to you by death’s dread testimony, that your objection is a poor cavil—that this very Jesns of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem. * And we say as well: Alas, foolish sceptic! Why there is no tone of your sophisms against Christianity which lias not been answered so often, that a Sabbath-school child can meet you for our God; and shame you, if you have shame, of this pitiful dishonesty.—Xational Ckrit- tian Adroeate. | .To suffer from liAving acted well is itself a sjieciesof recompense. * j