The Lutheran visitor. (Columbia, S.C.) 1869-1904, May 03, 1872, Image 1

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ONE LORD, ONE FAIEH. ONE BAPTISM’-EPHESIANS IV: 5 COLUMBIA. S.C.. FRIDAY. MAY 3. 1872 OLD SER1K? jurpose is the promise, “1 will be roth thee note me torever. Yew, will betroth thee io righteousness, aud in judgment, Mid in loving kind ueaa, and io mercies.” 3d. Hi* pow er. Whatever he has promised hie leople be is well able to perform. Sometimes men falsity their promise for want of ability to perform; but God never oat promisee himself, lie What. tohaooo in time of worship, it k right to siuoke anti dip snuff. If it ia right tor one permoi to do so, it is right fur all. Where elders and other pvomiseut tueu of a church indulge in the use of tobacco while in Goifa house, they should accord to all others the same liberty and in which ever mode thereof they prefer, and for the beuelit of stran ger*, and those milk and water meiu ben who atteud worship so very irregular, it would be well to put up posters to this effect, thus: “The members of this church, aud others who worship here, are permitted to ohew, smoke, sud dip snuff in ume houses arc erected,* Bible tiocietie* organised, traveling sud lots) agents appointed, BlaU-* sud comities arc canvassed in order to supply the dee titute with the word of God, and to insure its application to the intend ed nee. God has appointed s living miuistry, sad lias made bis word effectual by joiuiug to it the agency of the Holy Spirit. We may infer their continuance, also, from their wonderful preservation. The truths of God are the same now u* they do it with joy aud not with grief, and hear the Judge of all the earth say, “as ye did it unto out* of these little ones, ye did it uuto me; cuter ye into my joy, and sit down on my throner ia Fulfilling troth aud laTthftiluesa of God , with a peculiar lustre in ac ting the numerous promisee ioe a iu the Holy 8oripturee, that made to Abraham cou £ bis seed, that, after their •ning in a strange land four -cd sud thirty J years, they l oomo out again with great nuee. Moses tells mis, “Aud it to pas* at the end pi four huu "Thuac tiuu*» which are revtoled be long unto ns and to o«r ctuldren forever, that we may «U> all the words of this law ."—Duet, uix: M. The text was origiually s|iokcu of that portion of divine truth which was at that time committed to the Jews, It U equally capable of an application to the whole system of revealed truth. In this light we propose now to rousider it. Filial.—The character of divine truth*. Those things wuicli are iu tlieir uaturc divine. They are not the result of human reasoning, how ever deep or long coutiuued. They arc the proceeds of iufluite intelli geuce. They are surrouuded by ineffable glory. They are the pro duet of infinite mercy. Therefore, the glory of their gpamtestaliou be longs to God who only could reveal them and this he has done. There | is ootbing we know about bis clfar After or attributes, nothing we know 1 about man's »pirttu*l interests either ; as to Ida present uonditiou or future i state, not hi ug wbicli respect* the j great aalratiou, bet what has been ! communicated to us by God lumaelf. Ileucf their transcendent impor tance. They are revealed things. What clearness is thus imparted u» them! “And the Airy ol the lord AT FACTORY, cpn do whatever he pleases. ever the Lord pleated, that did he in heaven and iu earth.” All things are possible with God. This was the foundation of Abraham's faith which kept it from staggering at the thoughts of the improbabilities w hich lay iu the way of the accomplish meat of the promises. Hee Horn, iv: 'liable Nov ember Charleston, S. ^aad thirty years, efen the self floor, the lofty winnowing house, , standing npou its tour tall jiosts, with the broke straw aud dust aud grain pouring in eudlegs stream through its grated floor, aud leaving on the gronud beneath, the round and growing mound of yellow and cleansed grain, the scores of stal wart laborers with flails hovering uncertainly in the air, but descending npou the outspread sheaves with unerring aiui, the wild quavering] solo of the leader aud thundering chorus, keepiug time to the ceaseless ] and regular beat of the flails, the] general activity aud joy, have all indelibly imprinted the most pleas ] log pictures upon his memory. .Similar scenes of rejoicing signa lize in vine growing countries, the gathering in of the grapes aud the treading of the rich clusters in the ] w ine press. Now as the Hebrew husbaudman bail both his grain harvest and his vintage, it is not wonderfal that the Sacred writers should draw lrom such scenes much of the imagery by which they would express the pure and exalted pleasure, religion inspires. Says Isaiah: “They joy before thee according to the joy in harvest.” And alluding apparently to both harvest aud vintage, David exclaims in the IV. Psalm; “Thou has pul gladness iu my heart more than in the ume that their corn Lie, gtniu aa*l their vine isrrewsod.” It wen* easy to show by abuudaut quotations from Old sod New Testa meat alike, that a joy greater than the highest that the mere worlding knows, ia an integral element or an in separable aooompanimcut of a sound and healthy religious experi ence. / I A*t any who doubts this, read the vast array of Scripture proofs, collected in any concordance under the three headings, “gladness” “joy” and “rejoicing.” Indeed, it is impossible in the nature of things that it should be otherwise. Good news commonly gladdens those w hom it concerns; nay, sometimes awakens such a paroxysm of delight as to take life. How thou is it possible for ooc realty to believe the Gospel, which means, and ia, preeminently , glad Tidings, to credit the angelic day it came to p*)s», gts of the Lord v od of Egypt.” h also was the ae< s promise relative Now permit us to sketch the scene. Owe fourth of the worshippers chew lag tobacco, one fourth smokiug, one fourth dipptug snuff, wrbiic the other fourth would have their olfactories treated to the ordonferous perfume exhaled by these tasteful habits. Could a congregation thus engaged reader aoerptabie worship to the Lord Jesus! No, no, you say. Well then, can any part thereof do sot Can even one peraou do so f If * ilishmeut > the return Bubylouish years. No |>ce ot place — l nce k* 8 ue from the Diviue mind. “He Bjbcred bis holy premise,” and ham his servant. Iu secern ing the promises concerning the Mb it is said, “Grace, mercy and i came by Jesus Christ;” that is, s or mercy in the lamlon of our aud truth and faithfulness iu rd of his holy promise. This ars in performing the promise kristh incaruath u after so many lotions of time, i ud great expec- ds of his coming, and many mry appearances, and long de- I four thousand years after the promise. Yet God made good rord by sending hi« Son into the d, in performing tto promise of leath. God had Passed bis word le church thetJ nis Sou should' r death for thejr sins, aud bav passed his word be would not e> his own Sou, but gave him up offer the puiuful, shameful and i&inious death of tjbe cross, aud wrath of God in his innocent His faitlifuluesA is ap|»areii be promise of hit resurrection I the dead. God had said he W not leave tp* *whl tn bell, (or e state of tliu dead), uor suffer Holy One te see corruption, promise was faithfully fulfilled, k raised him from the dead in nn triumph. IJiigjit angels at pd bis resurrectiou j eaitli treui- aud shook thiougltout as a sigu toiopli andjs token of the grand able to perform.” But though the whole creatiou should go to ruin God is aa able aa ever. Hear what the prophet aaya: “Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be found ou the vine, and the labor. of the olive shall fail, aud the field shall yield no meat. The flocks be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd iu the stalls. Yet 1 will rejoice -■ in the Lord. I will joy in the God of my salvation.” 4th. His holiness. For there is no unrighteousness in God. By reason of the jierfect holiness of his uatove it is i(u|x>sstble for him not to be faithfhl in all his promises. “God is not a man that be should lie, neither the sou of man that be should repent; hath he said, and shall he not do it, or hath be spokea and shall he uot make it goodl” 3th. His justice. God by his prom ise makes himself a debtor, and hia justice obliges him to pay- Hence it is said, “God is faithful and just to forgive us oar sum, he is faithful to |>ardou according go his promise, faithful in keepiug all his promises because he is “Just in all hia ways, bis truth eudures forever, the Lord O do ye bless.” J. B. . aruSHS *rue to the chunk. * -$1 00 1 —- 1 25 • V ~ | 1 60 < ujfo..v.. % oo ' *t * M - - 3 75 per extra Kilt.. 3 00 — 1* ----- f 5 00 mankind. Divine truth has expand ed the intellect, has improved our Mtctal itmditioii, has poured s flood of light npou the darkness of the future, has elevated us to the hope of eternal life. It is our privilege to road, mark, learn, and iuwanily di gest those things that are revealed onto aa Wo may cherish, embrace, and hold feat a biassed hope of ever lasting life given ualu us through Jesus Christ our Lord. We may have aud bold constant intercourse with God. Beloved, have we presented our claims to those thiags ooulaiued in Have we, in new or.U*s at ou«-, of ten per tent, it KDl’ii o\’. to those who bnv u IE to CHAPMaV Be a firm man; don’t say you cao’t quit using it. The Lord Jesus ran make y ou free from this so as easily aa from other aiaa, such aa swearing, tyring, druukenneas, or any sin whmb you oooe practiced ami have now quit. Go to Him. Ask Him to help yon, sod be will do ms He has promised, “Whatsoever ye ask in my name I will do, thmi the Fmtker may be ylorijUd is ms.” Try Him. Again. Let me exhort you to quit the oar of tobacco as a matter of eroooiny. Taxes are high, yet they must be (mid; Ume* are hard, yet you must live. Consuming tobacco don't lessen your taxes, nor help you to pay them; it don't task* tames easier, nor help you to live; it is but a dead expeose, rusting >nu about twenty cents a week—ten dollars a year—(more than you pay your prracberK-or four hundred dollars in forty years. Quit using it, tlieo, and put thi* money to some better use—to some use, of the which you will uot be ashamed to render aa account in the day of judgmeot BOOKSTORE, Sixth Street, j P IF IA , PA. to faith : as it ia Writtou, the just shall live by faith.” What author Uy ! “The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gava,”. *** that iu the langnagr of Holy Writ w« are rua- strained to say, ’Thiur, O Lord, ia the greater**, aiul the |surer, sik the glory, and the victory, sad the majesty ; for all that is in the heaven and ia the earth is ihioc. Thine is the kingdom. O Lord, and thou aT i exalted a* head 4|*ovt all. Both the Holy Mcripturasf so doing felt the prartettsues* of the promises of God in Christ f Do we now feel that we are in |mss»unou of those blawunfs God has gracmuslv given iu in hia word! Having re ceived a knowledge iff (rod's law, let ns d« all the words of this law ami keep them in perfect uiiedieoor. Let ns ever Is* mindful of our duty I, having assumed the id the above named rs for sale every va il. Religious. Church 4 Books. Any books Hiutry or abroad, espe- noth old and new, rnished to order. given to famishing w»lie«; also, aids for d Teachers. The or- iperintendents. Teuch- \ earnestly solicited. hiding of God's face. The melon cbolly Christian aaoierimes need* physic more than prayer. Boston the disturbed physical eqaifibrimn. riches sud bouor couh- tnre, im trttlfcll ^ ihe l^bh- rvmeisbcnng thou reignest over zU, -nd in thine ihv y atv not ours ouly, hat belong to hand ia power and might, aud in oar r bilUrw«i also. They will need thine band it is to make great aud lbr support to tn give strength to *11. enable them to endure the conflicts rtiw o.VDLY.—Os# ilatm to ikon* of life. Let them be catechised, thimy* trhich an n noted.—They be- receive Sabbath school mstrucUon, loug uuto us. The ground of our and, like Timothy, be taught in their claim is this, they are the gilt ol youth the words that are able to God. We are alnuerw. aud as *uch wa kc them wise unto salvation. Let we can have no claims to prov isioti* n » ^ remember that there are like these. They are ftrra uuto us. mwiy who not'd to be informed of The BavKHit is given. Thank* he then intetwat in thia claim, and the uuto God for his unspeakable gilt!; inquiry arise*, who shall show them Bpiritual tuflurner* are given. Let j * n y good ! One regular traveling us use them. The pruaiiscs of God Bible ageut pi a whole Bute ia not are given. Is* us claim them. Con Mifllcient for these things. A local aider the extent of our claim. The agent in every oounty doe* not meet whole system of revealed truth con- the demand. The depositories in ceros us Tbcrv i* nothing revealed our large cities fail to accomplish which was not necessary. To all the desired abject- To do such a that is revealed we have a light work demands the combined and through grace. Every blesstug in muted (Hurts of all Christian church the covenant ia ours Every thing M thiougbout our land. The active, that is said about God’* character zealous, faithful labors of every chria- the earnest |irayers It is the custom in our church, (aud L believe iu others also), iu cold and iuclmnent weather, for as mauy gentlemen, as conveniently cau, to scat themselves around the stove, aud, during the services, desecrate the house of God by die wing to banco and s|iittlng their nauseating saliva over the stove, stove-hearth, and ou the floor ajpuud ; sud at the end of the services, the stove aud its surrouudiiigs present a most disgust ful ap(M>arance. I have known good men, inetuliera of session, (shall I say ministers too), to be guilty of this thing. 1 do not say they intend- There are, however, undoubted in stances, when for wise and bench cent reasons, made dear in the se qoel, God withdraws the light of his countenance from his child, toms it would seem a deaf ear to hi* piercing cries, when Satau assaults and the billows go over him, and bring him into fellowship with hi* Lord in the agonizing cry, “My God. my God, why hast thou for sakeu me.” £ Bat these are excep tional sod transient experiences, of ten immediately followed by the richer manifestations of Divine fa vor, as if the loving Father in the boor of trial repressing with diffi oolty the exhibitions of his tender dcos. rejoiced to give fuller vent than ever, to his affection for his suffering child. 5. But uot to unduly protract thi$ j article, the little joy some Christians have in their religion is due to their oonfrised ideas on the subject of jnstiJlratioH, their failing to realize i the instantaneous, complete mid per maneut change which it works iu ! the believer’s relation to the law. I or to the feebleve** of their grace or I to their negleet of the dnty of self exa mi notion, so repeatedly pressed in scripture, keeping them in doubt as to their trno state, or lastly to the undecided type of their piety, their want of that religions decision which I would enable them to steer wide [ of all those worldly compliances by | which conscience is offended, the ! Spirit grieved and the ardor of chris | tian love and seal abated. These solutions of the seemingly j contrary experiences of Christians, leave, it will be seen, the truth which we set out with, intact, established. i Joy it an essential element or mea- riable accompaniment of a sound and healthy relipious experienoe. Bandar, | is it of yours 1 If not, why !—& W J Presbyterian. BHT8 GIVEN ue of Sunday-School 1871, sent free. W. FREDERICK 31—3m Victory ever achieved ; by which Christ intimated jto the world that bemd overcome death in hi* own doimnion, and lilted up his bead as aghrioud suid triumphant conqueror ovej all bisandoor spiritnal enemies. Ti»e v promise be should rise frod the dead on the third day; aud it wis faithfully fulfilled. Hs fulfill* premises when great (fiftyxiltie* seeui to be in the way of lieir fulfilluiejiU Thus God prom ised to give Abraham a son, and the Homise was inade’ nod, though d»«| were past age, nod Sarah bar- Pen | -^gam he ^brought bnek the 68 froni though the •hrijgseemed iuiprobahle, and mauy 'i aRultie* lay in the way. Is there soj* thing too hard for. Jehovah! He: is not coofineiii to the road of liuilan probabilities? He will turn Matjire opsitlr (I6wni rather than his vor 1 should liil. f There may be Nuili uiiU'lief ,eve|ij]iii good men — tb< f r fai th (may be : beak. Yet God is tii thful and true. \ Men may ques tioii or doubt tjig promise, but God LSTEB & SONS. )RE, MD, ntiuue serving their oath, will semlBAM- i width and price of The Christian Weekly believes that ministers ore bound to obey the commandment* os well as laymen, and that they Hare no right to work seven day* in the week. Aa they can not take Sunday aa their real day, they should set apart mime oth er day ; “No mau eati work aeven day* ia the week without violating the law of God t and no man can violate the law of God with impunity—even if he is a clergy mau. Settle upon the day—most arinintet* will take Mon day : the wise one* will take Matur day. Lay u*kle all parorbial care*. Tarn the key on the atndyr. fibnt up the Imokn of theology. If you GOODS, and American Mauu- lay Express frei^lit «wi ih amounting to Ld Over, rdera are unaccompa- ithcr Bank Check er bn net pay the Express return of money in biHs. lr doing so, or perba|M they never thought any thing about it at all; but this did not make it guiltlea*. In our opinion it would not be any greater violation of guod taste and refinement to mo* the picture of a sow just returned from wallowing in the mad, hanging iu a ladies sitting room, tliau it is to see the inside of a church stained with tobacco juice. Under the Old Testament di*|*.*usu tiou God required the utinukt clean lines* ill hia hottae. and often chaiged liis people with the sin of defiling his temple. At the commencement of the new dispensation Jesus Christ rid the temple of its defilements. And is tin*re any reaaou now why God would lie more pleased with audeauneas in hia house than for tuerly. Tobacco-chewing ebriatiaus, have you ever eeriously thought about this thing? Can yon worship God acceptably with tobacco in yoar month ? Eating bread is snrely a more commendable thing than chew ing tobacco; yet, when a minister gives ont a psalm, or says, “Let os pray,” would yon dare take a cake or a pie from your pocket and com meuce eating it f Would any minis ter tolerate such a practice T When chewing tohaoco in time of worship are you glorifying God trith your body f are you presenting your hgdy a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God f Wbeu yon enter the handsome parlor of some respected lady friend, would you dare spit your imsty tobacco juice over her hearth, or her sto\e, aud on her floor, ami have any hojws your visit would be acceptable to her! and is “Fear not, for, behold i bnng you glad tidings of great joy which shall be to all iwople, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a 8a viour which is Christ the Lord,” aud yet feel no thrill of answering joy f Furthermore, every disciple, profes ses to have appropriated this Gospel, iu other words he believes, that his sins are all forgiven, bis nature re newed turn minister of every believer in Jesus, together with s liberal use of those means with whieh men are lutrusted to disseminate the truths of God to all Undo, to every people of every btnguc, so that every mau, woman, and child, shall have a copy of their Heavenly Father’* will, that they may read their title, juveeDt their claim, and in due time, cute* iuto possession of the promised inberi tanor. Let us inquire, have we used this precious gift as wv ought. Do we claim it as the man of our counsel and the«gnide ot our lives! Have we, through it* teachings received the gift of God, eternal life through bis Son? Are we doing all in our power to propagate those things that are revealed! Are any perish ing for lack of knowledge, because of oar indifference or inaction f Are we withholding the means God has given ns to send the Bible over all the load! Do we, aa ministers, ex hort, instruct, beseech with all earn eatneaa of aonl, the members of our respective churches and congrega tions to attend to the things that be long onto their peace, aud urge them to claim their interest in the truth as It is in Jesus. Are we doing w hat we can for the rising generation, that they, too, may claim what God so freely be stows, and that God’s gracious gifts may be handed down to all genera tions, and that in the ages to come God’s truth shall stand firm aa hia throne, so that when the agencies have accomplished their design, and C., March V1872. date, the followiiiK run daily, Sundays i, himself adopted into the family of God and sure of Divine guidance and care while he lives, of victory over death and of beavj'u— the end of life. Human uatnre must have lost all its essential features, ere one may indulge such a hope, without experiencing a joy, greater aud sweeter than any this world cau offer. If all this be true, bow are we to aoconut for the apparently contra dictory feet, that the religion of so many people fails to make them happy l Various answers, suited to different cases, are possible. 1. Some professing Christians do not “enjoy religion,” because they have none to enjoy. Some transient and superficial pleasure, may havy been- experienced, npou a fancied conversion; bat the deep and abid ing gladness, the reflex of conscious faith in Christ, the fruit of actual reconciliation with God, the product of a real renovation of character, God has never pat into their hearts. Cupardoaed and unchanged, their carnal mind, with its unoonquerable dislikes is simply held io check, sym pathy with God Mid truth and right eousness is impossible, hence the commandments mast be felt to be grievous and religious duties irk some. “They have no phmtngr in them.” 6 15*ui .. 8 05am ,10 07 *m 1 50 p m V . 4 05 p hi ”"*71111.. 5 55 P n» AD, General Sup *- reneral Tieket Ay'*- of Bulan to be resisted. And yon will be astonished to find, alter a year’s experience, with what fresh news, sod vigor, aud mental vitality you win assume the duties that yon had laid aside; aud bow the work that bad grown waarfebase will bo olumbio, 8. i-M J June 9,1871. I e, to go into edhc* ° u th testant: tsenger Train. 7 40 a ni :****" **8 20 p w i j 8 20am 40 p m Ikt and Accommoda- 1days e:eeptsd)- ....r7 00pm :*•’• 4 7 00 a m .7 10pm 1 * .6 00 a m inflation Train will olnmWa a* former* lays and Satnniay*. R, Vice-President. 1. Ticket Agt. _ are divers glorious ottri- te* and perfections of the diviue on which hils troth and faith- ness in keeping; promise is bnilt, i 80 oaany strong and unshaken ***• Id* His plcrfect knowledge thing; HKPiorrAHcm nv Death.—He was Patl asked the prayers of the 00- workers, yet for what end t Not that they might be saved from labor and the toils of their profession, but that the gospel which they preached might “ran and be glorified.” He wanted all men to taste of that whioh had brought him so much blearing, and wanted the kingdom of OhrUt to grow into its predestined greatness. What a blessing it is when the Christian ^worker can look beg-oad himself md the oanse to NSf(; Ilia knowledge t of remembrance,” iffinunl presence of f rfote him. Men ord because they >e. 2nd. Hia im- n making prom 111 puri>©*e jto perform them, hopes of oae man who had been condemned to death, and who was most assiduous in the study of a Bible he had giveo him. The chap lain, after great exerttoa, obtained a cointuntat ion of the sentence. “I called to inform him of my auooeaa. Hia gratitnda knew no bounds; be said 1 was his preserver, hia deliver er. ‘And here,’ he added, aa he gras|>ed my hand In parting, ‘here ia your Bible. 1 may a* well return It RAILROAD i' »nay afterward change their not Got hut God i* tii m and unchauge- much i Men are qften inconsiderate house! promise*, and often meet Agai hat they dm not foresee. Bnt^ lining flltK a te eitrnatly. foreseen by 'Snid dij: (b. So all hia promises are all are ”ith infinity wisdom. To thia riafct.