The Lutheran visitor. (Columbia, S.C.) 1869-1904, May 24, 1872, Image 1
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31-—3m
WORSHIP.
wiSt/SSf" '•
l> sold, ami in thi. war
■“ t rue to th© church.
11 00
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‘4 73
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►vent* ext in,
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ti» : order* at once
it of :ki» per cent, is
EDITION, j 1
, $2; Arnbesmie, g\\ t
j5*gN*T Tea per
K U> tho*e who bur in
f FIK & CHAPMAN,'"
fhneUew, Columbia. s .
24—tt
CTRED.~
/ ! 1
ical Cure Trass.
ut Pad* Imyet (tons.
uioat effective Iiuki
ie cure aud relief of
Thi* Trns* has ro
of the iuoet eminent
country, who do not
^end ft to those a#Sict«ij
sw» superior to all
p*s that will retain tin
duty, and the wwner
lat he is usinjf a remedy
liiues safe and sflfotaal
1 <)f this we iruarantcc
to all who way conte
lit.
|ic abdominal belts foi
of the womb, and a.-
back aud alsimitin.d
kuee caps and stock-
I'elns. ulcers and weal
tor ladies,' pent* and
tre of stootniiK of the
•heat expander.
Is. the must suuertoi
lit, easily adiustt <1 and
beats for all physical
ue of the spine, bow
[rut’s Celebrated Artiti-
idaU's Patent Mubin i
lltcoek's srilvcr Uterine
L'adsvvorthV Stein i'« ■
fnt with «> * m to
promptly athtniktl to.
S. M AK ,
[W, Baltiim» -Si..
Baltiin . Mil.
iroads.
Railroad.
S. C„ March 1, 1»73.
Iiis date, the following
llw run daily, Sundays
|up.
7 OU a m
.. 0 10 a m
11 15»'»
3 00 p m
.> 00 p ui
ile.‘ 6 30ptu
>WN.
v j. 0 15 « ”«
8 06 a m
10 07am
. 8 15 a m
1 50 pm
4 06 p m»
£‘7 f y 5 SB P
|EAD, General S»v't-
General Ticket Ay f-
lilroad
olumbia, S. tb, ’
June 9,1871.1
e, to ko into effect on
tli instant:
tse timer Train.
^ 7 40 »
......... g 20pm
8 20am
\WI8 40 p m
k/andJccommoda-
\days exeepteii).
7 00p m
i 7 00 a m
7 10 pm
...6 ooa m
odation Twin w*ll
olumbia as fonm*ib
lays and SatiiTtlaj s.
R, Vice-President.
. Ticket A*rt.
IE RAILROAD.
.6 00 p »'
7 00 pm
.7 45 p m
301»»»
.,.3 45a m
90am
.5 80 a m
ao» »
oe hour for the
i on Greenville
LLASbD.
m
1 p
“ONE LORD/ ONE FAITH, ONE BAPT18M”—EPHESIAN8 IV: 6
N j.;W SERIES, Y0L. 4.---N0. 37.
COLUMBIA. S. C., FRIDAY, MAY 24. 1872.
OLD SERIES, VOL. V.-N0. 193.
f
For the Lutheran Visitor.
Kind Earthly Thief* !”
here described, many
look upon with contempt
themselves above snob low
>f pirations, believiug that
animated by higher hopes
by loftier motives.
ig their own hearts earn
ing those deceitful depths,
tru ly plead not guilty f Is
iu beaten; their
are they upou spiritual
Are they not overmuch
about the loss of mere
comforts t Are they not
grasp worldly honors I Are
minds devoted to intellec-
the senses of sight
gratified at the expense
duty and seif-sacrifloe t
the cares of life annoy, the
of abilities unappreciated
the rebuffs met with prey
heart! l>o not repining
id entj possess their souls, if pov
aty be their lot! ''If abundance be
jj m pirtioo. are they uoi content
to live i bus forever ! The w orldling
«iU «jr, “*>'? Christians will say,
•Oar duties lie amid earthly thiugs;
, l(ir ^uLb though immortal, rest iu a
fail sal perishable casket, requiring
gLfc <are for its preservation, aud
it ts the will of God that we should
ate i
lawful means to save it from
i, for it is an honored Yes-
used for his glory.” Tis
this be the motive of your
Though bands aud mind
Day, even if the heart
ably, and without self-will,
fiNp not t^aat you will
the coudemni|tiou of the
Take the example of One
led his Deity in flesh, of
i is recorded, 44 fie went about
Hasten on to the con
i of that divine life which is
for those who follow Christ,
those, i
mind* can biend with outward
ispiug by hi* sidt.”
petty cares that U cui
distinction, and there was euough
for all aud the orphans were not left
desolate in their misery. And the
father who distrusted Providence
told the other father in the evening
what lie* had seen. And he replied,
“Why be nueasy T Hod never aban
dons his own. His love has secrets
that we know uot Let us believe,
hope, love, and go on our way in
l>eace. If I die before you, you will
be a father to my childreu ; if you
die before me 1 will be a father
to yours. And if both of us should
die before they are of age to provide
themselves for their necessities, they
will have for their father the Father
whieh is in Heaven.”
For the Lutheran VWtor.
Novel*.
“Why dou’t you read novels f*
said a lady to her friend the other
day. “Now, you are too feeble to
walk out, they will help to pass the
time away. Here is a new oue highly
spokeu of. Wou’t you read itf*
And she laid down a uew book oo
the table?eutitled “Heart Hungry."
The lady smiled at her friend's
earnest manner, and said: “I have
no uced of uovels to pass away the
time. While I am feeble I cau fAisk,
and the great mercies of God to me
till my heart aud sou) so full, that I
am not anxious to understand that
kind of ‘heart buugrmess’ that I
presume the book you mentiou treats
of. I am heart hungry, but it is for
the low of my Saviour, ami 1 have
the sweet promise that those who
hunger aud thirst after God thall be
Jilted*
“Don’t you approve of reading
uovels at all !” said her frieud.
For Hie Lnthenui Visitor.
"Papa, 0 Pips, Carry ms Homs to
Papa.'
Just four years old is our Lucy,
with sparkling black eyes aud cher
ry-colored lips. 8he lias left us to
visit Auntie. Railroad travel, new
the lively street* of a city
lured the little creature from
the thoughts of home, hat trouble
came, and then the cry, *Papa, O
papa, carry tne home to laps.”
1 will tell yon how it happeued. A
frolicsome time was she having with
her Cousin Carrie. Iu childish glee,
looked iu each other's arms, now
here, uow there, round the room
they flew. At last her foot tnpfied,
aud dowu they came on the rug.
Great was the danger, for the burn
ing coals were scattered around sod
over the darlings, so near were they
to the fire. But God took care of
them, and Locy was very slightly
burnt on the hand. Tbeu kind
mother rushed to the rescue. In
those loving anus she took refuge,
screaming, ‘Papa, O Papa, carry me
borne to Papa.” Is it uot often thus
with the children of l*od f Fntiord
by the world’s attraction*, they for
get him and the pleasant mansions
withdrew his counsel from Kau> and
M ■
all Israel bad to suffer. Uow much
mort* will the displeasure of the
Lord come down U|>on that people,
where there are those who siu with
both hands greedily! Aud then
look at ftbehat How mnch injury
did be do the |>eople of God in
the time of Darid! AU was peace
and quiet amoug Israel until he
made bis ap|iearatice among them.
Hut when this one sinner came
along, he caused to spring up a root
of bitterness that destroyed the
peace of Israel. “He blew a*trntu
pet and said, we have no part in
David, neither have we inheritance
in the son of Jesse And
every man of Israel went up from
after David, and followed Bbeba."
And this one sinner rent the people
of God asunder, aud brought down
the displeasure of hesvsn upon them.
And then, too, there was a liyme-
imwi* and Phyletns, a Jan ties and
Jambres, and a Judas Iscariot, in
Apostolic days.
3. And if this on# sinner should
be in the chmreh, as some of those
to whom attention has been directed,
then who can calculate the injury
d«mef Ilow does oue unfaithful
professor cast a Might and mildew
such per
s peculiar
Brotherly Kindnew
First. Afjr mimW and heart must be j
favorably diepoeed toward my brother.
It is the case with some to assume a
neutral attitude toward those broth
reu whom they dislike. When a
brother agree* with us or does uot
oppose, we cau wish him well sud
treat him kindly. If bs offends, a
tender conscience may not permit
us to act harshly toward him. Bat
the seeds of malice arc in the heart
—a coldness toward him or even
positive dislike. And we endeavor
Is the rule too strict! I know that
but few come up to its sublime «►
quirctnents; but it is the rule of tbs
Bible. “Hereby we perceive the
love of God, because he laid down
liis life for ua, and we ought to lay
down our lives for the brethren."
(1 John iii: 16.) In other days the
dum b has witnessed such devotion.
Aquila and Priscilla were willing to
die for Paul. And as we have seen,
the testimonial of heathens was that
Christians were ready to lay down
their lives for each other.
Fourthly. Briefly, some of the
to discharge our duty alien we let advantage# of snch love,
him walk his way aud we ours- 1. It would give peace to Zion,
“having nothing to do with him.*' No rebellions in this w ilderness of
Bat this uegative ground is danger trial. Peace in families,
peace in
out ground. The Gospel of Christ communities, ]»eaoe in states, )>eaoe
does not {lermit us to take our stand | in kingdoms, peace iu each denotni-
there. On the contrary, It require*! nation, and i»eaoc in the Church
universal. . “Behold bow good and
until, driven by some rod of sorrow,, ou # u ^^,,1 y, f A ||
they flee agatu for aafct> to the M>|)g
are expected to be
everlasting anus of their mtebange epistles known aud read of
able Father. a jj men> Israelites indeed, iu whom
■ - there if£tio guile. Ami If the true
Oas Binnsr i Doings grace of life has uot been implanted
| in their Itosoni*. then it wrill uot tie
The wisest man that ever lived 1before the fart is known to all
Tarn t *y with prophetis eye
T'j the* jlory of that dream
Whichi shall never die.” f
Translated ft>t the Visitor.
A Parebli
t
Tbs re were two ueixltimrs, each of
fbottl had a wife add many little
and ho support except what
own labor brought them. Aud
of these two men was of an aux-
iud, saying to hin^iOf, “If I
if I should fall sick, what
e of my wife and chil
li T And this thought followed
fvery where, and it eat into his
as a worm eats the fruit in
it is hiddeu. The same fear
equally to the uiiud of the
father, hut it did uot takiu^ pos-
*isi>n of hita; for, said he, 4 *God,
vlo knows all his creature^ and
watches over theib, will protect
my wife aud my children."
the last lived tranquilly, while
knew not one instaut of
or joy.
day, while working ip the
sad and dejected on accouut
kis fears, he saw some birds
a thicket, then leave it and
itel return. Approaching them, he
two nests placed side by side,
in each several young birds just
aud almost teatlierlees. And
he returned to jhis work from
to time he raised his eyes and
ed at the birds, who went to aud
carrying nourishment to their
Aud, behold, at the mo
t that one of the mothers was
°g with her morsel for her
}'*ang, a vulture pounced upon her
carried her off. The poor moth-
r vainly endeavoring to extricate
1 from bis claw, uttered the
piercing cries. [At this sight
®sn was more troubled than
» for thought het “the death
he mother is tliej death of the
What will become of mine
fail?” And all day he was (lull
sad, and at uigt t lie could not
The next day
’' the fields, he said
*** after those
*f«; many, without
says that “one sinner destroyed!
much good," and there is a great
deal of truth in the asset tom. Very
tew tueu realise the extent to which
around. This man is a stumbling
Mock and a ruck of u0nim < to all
around him, ami be bring* n re
proarh u|**n the name lie professes
’•their actions lead. “Kind word* to houor. And it la * rare occur
• “No, I do not Let me ask yon never die,” and so, too, it is with renew, if it is ever the one. that
what good you ever knew doue by • actions. Good or bad word* never God Mewses the C'liarch where false
uovel reading r cease to exert their infiucnoe, neither professor* abound, and are permit-
Her friend was silent, aud she i Q this world nor in that which to to ted to go in and out among the
tbeu continued: “I have failed to oome. Good denis, amt laid, too, jicople of God. Of it la an awful
see any beneficial result from them ||y« forever. I thing to stand betweeu ksaveu and
iu my own case. Many years ago I Nothing that God has made main j earth, and turn aatde Urn Meaning
used to sometimes read what was - tains an isolate* 1 or tudepeodetit ex j of God from hts rtiurafc. rioch meu
called a good novel; bat wbeu I mteuce. Every thing beam Mans turn the heaven* above into brass,
bowed in deep anguish of soul over *ort of relatiou to everything else and the earth beneath our teet into
my darling boy, kissed the sweet around it. man lirotk to him
lips for the last time, and folded the man dieth to himself,
waxen hands u|4ou the silent heart, |. By his meyaUee uidueuce the
saw the coffiu lid dose over my ! coorwe of the sinner is rul|mMe in
the sight of God. Kvery one of ua
is respotiftiMe for the good we might
do as well as for the evil whieh
we bare actually doue. “That ser
vant which knew hia lawd's will, and
pleasant n thing it is for brethren
to dwell together iu nuity P
2. It would consolidate ami solidify
the Church against the attacks of
its enemies. The oneness of the
“brotherhood” would terrify their
assailants, aud imralyxe their efforts
like a wall of fire. Trembling and
dismay would {lossess the world, the
flesh, and tlie Devil, when they look
upon the unity of the children of
God. Jerusalem would be impreg-
naMe.
3. It would focalize, gtee energy
and add power to, the action of the
Church. All would move to one
]K>(ul, with one energy aud one ef
fort. And that point would be the
evaugelixatiou of the world. 1m-
precious treasure, nothing I had
ever read in a novel gave me any
comfort then. In my sorrow* I could
only cling to my Saviour’s promise*,
and beliwve that 4 be doetli all things
well.’ Then iu the frequent sickim I prepared uot himself, neither did
that I have had, when lying too cording to bis will, shall Iw beaten
weak to talk, the sweet, consoling w j t b m , nJ *tripe«.” We may sin,
passages of Scripture, aud those then, by absenting ounwlves from
alone, gave me strength to endure. sanctuary, by neglecting the
No remembrauce of auy tragedy or ; Bible, and the means of grace. Ami
love scene depicted iu novels cheered j it U certainly true that we do sin
me then, but the remembrance of j if refuse to repent aud Iwlieve,
the tragedy enacted ou Calvary** , au< | j 0 not gv forward to work iu
brow, and tbe astonishing display of, the vtteynrd of the 1/mL If I. by
Diviue love exhibited on the cross for , standing aloof from God** *rrvtc«
me, gave me courage and faith. 1 ben au<] claim*, am uinttumt-nial in keep-
irou. The Mood of soul* will be
found upou tbe skirts of nil such
siunerw !
i One or two illustration*. It la
said of Johti Newton, when «ni board
the Harwich, that he corrupted a
ua to oooquer this indifference and
cherish toward our brother kind
thoughts and kind feelings. What
ever may be his denominational name,
aud whatever may be his difference
with us or opposition to as, yet, if
be has tbe marks of a true disciple,
we are to be “kindly affectiooed” to
him, aud “in honor to prefer" him 1
to ourselves. “Let each esteem the
other better than themselves.” Such
is the beautifril humility of love! i
Not that 1 am to give up my creed
for hia—our Lord does not require
this. But 1 am to invite him to the
“highest seal"—give honor to his
|M*reou.‘ Your heart and mine are
mysteries shut up from the eyes I
of man, and t*ad truth!) too little!
known by u*. And, because we are'
not open to inspection, Satan may mauael'* banner would float in tri
endeavor to lead us to hypocrisy, utupb, aud “righteousness reign
persuading u* to put oo a fair show from the rivers to the ends of the
of brotherly kindness, wbeu we feel earth.” 1st us pray for tbe grace
it luff. Hypocrisy is not uncommon of brotherly kindness !—Banner of
oo earth. Tbe robes of au angel of Peace
light toa\ cover n demon of dark
ueaa. But let us not be deceived. There is Vething Worth Living For
Tbe eyes of tbe < Hnniarieut on** are i
U|«oo ua, sad be k no wet 11 n* alto
getter. He “diacerueth” tte thoughts , Thw *** th< * exclamation, uot of
and intents of “tbe heart.” IsH ua •»*» °* d uor of one
be so re, then, that lore to our breth i »hoee spirit bad Income soured by
reu lives in tte soul, and that we j floated disappointments, but of a
do.not render the flimsy. lip sen ice young man whose life had been
of mere |»rofesaiou. crowned with Messiug*. He was
Secondly. / must spool wrU of my jost about to enter upon the practice
brother, and act well toward hita. In of l*w, under tbe most favorable
jnnng him, or endeavoring to do ao, circumstance*. He enjoyed good
in |ierwou. reputation, or property, health. His naturally gifted mind
cultivated. He
on returning
o hiinHelf, “I
it Me orphaned
oubt, are al-
wben I and others thought 1 drew
near to tbe shadowy land, and stood
ou the brink of eternity, aud looked
with anxious gaze into the uutried
future, was it a uovel that stayed
my shrinking soul! Ob, no!—
but tbe tender, loving words, ‘Fear
not—I am with thee,' ami k Lo, 1 am
with thee always—I will never leave
nor forsake tbee,' and kindred |m*
sages, came rushiug up to sup(»ort
my soul iu that solemn hour, until | (Hn4 «h>|l9|M ffMif
I almost seemed to see heaven open
liefore me. My friend, I feel no in
terest in uovels; the sensational
stuff that they are filled with can
not save a sinner, nor turn him from
the* errror of his ways. I do regard
novels as the literature of Hatan;
then how cau I spend my time read
ing anything that belongs to his
kingdom. Christ, iu his ministry ou
earth, speut his time in doing good,
and are not Christiana to imitate
\ouih prettoualy free from o|m*ii vice, j wiU accomplish nothing toward bdp^ had Imen highly
and that this > mtug man soon ar tag him to heaven, uor will it give o! » kind and generous disposi-
ri\cd at maturity in guilt, \caraaf- houor and power to tbe name of Christ fion, and courteous and agreeable
ter they met. Newtou wa* changed, in tbe world. Generally, both are!»° his manners. Consequently, be
and desired to rescue his funner worsted. 1 become a back-bitter or admire*d and esteemed by all his
• ompauiou trow the evil luto which , turlNileut fellow in the sight of (tod, acquaintances, and almost idolized
he bad plunged him. As he no and |m-i hap* of men. ami am con- j hy bis friends aud relatives,
longer felt in fidelity to be teuable. demited by him. aud by all right | "> walking together ou the
he strove to uudeeeres bis victim, minded person*. The artful hints, i shore of a beautiful lake. It lay be
lli* ti*ual reply, however, was that sly iosinuatious, malicious exaggeia- f° r *> slnmliering as calmly as an
New tou was the first to gt\e him . tiona, and open mouthed vitu|wra
an iilni of his liberty, which be; tiona, which I would use as no many
would not now loicgo. Aud no he at rows to destroy him. piem* me
g«»l worms an«i spumed all rv*Uaiuta, through with many sorrow s. The
ami gate loose reins to every |»a* *uh which 1 would give him
ing others hack from tbeir duty, am aion. His euwaca thre*w hiui into home thrust to my omu soul.
I uot respousihle ? Tin* lamentation a malignant fever, of which he died • east iiito the lowest depth*, and
of our Lord over Jerusalem was without hope ami without mercy, i Christ and his church, through me.
couched iu language terrible to cou One drop of filth will pollute a are dishonored,
template, “And ye woold not."— whole cup of fair water, lull a foul My brother, it may be, is not uu-
There is no neutral ground as to cup could not be cleansed by the hurt. Slander, nays s great |>oeU
matter* spiritual ami eternal. We mixing of a tliousand drt>|M of clean “out venoms all the worms of Nile.”
can not serve God and Mammon, water. A sharp palu in tte tooth Tin* whisper of malice leaves upon
He that is not for ('krist Is against or tor will sometime rack the w hole him its blight. It is but the bot
tom. Either wa are walkiug in tbe body with torture*, but one or a
broad road or tbe narrow path. My d<aeu sound teeth or toe* will avail
nothing if there be one in paia.
2. Aud what shall we say ot tlie One dead fly iu the cup of the
positive influence of the wicked ! I a|N>tbecary will ruin tin* oiutaient,
am |M*rsonally acquainted with a and so it ia true that one stutter
breath of the simoom laden with
death. And though he may bo an
infaut on its mother's breast. On
the opjiositr side was a dark back
ground of forest trees, while in tbe
other directiou, a prairie stretched
is « j as far as the eye could reach. This
1 am i *clotted over with molt* or thick
clusters of trees and undergrowth,
which appeared like islands on au
ocean. There were also horses and
cattle grazing, and flocks of wild
geese aud ducks, aud a few deer.
The shore of the lake ou the side
where we were walking was dotted
over with a half dozen houses. There
dwelt six Presbyterian families, all
chosen by the minister who first set
upright, faithful man I may paralyze tied that beautiful spot. These
community where, year# ago, there
lived an infidel of wealth and loose
moral*. By his word* ami deed* he
scattered broadcast over the coramu
nity
will
so
destroy elk much good. (Hie seed
of a thistle carried by a bird to
some distant isle or contiueut will
S|>rend till tbe whole lie covered.
his usefulness with those who know
him not; and thus I dog tte wheels
of Zioti and retard her triumphant
march. Tte falseness of Judas led
our Lord to tte Cross. If 1 act to
ward him. a* if 1 thought him a
hod man, tlie slander is still the
be
5 went on
id looking
ig ones were
to-
in.
IEJ % dead”; And
ids the thicker. 4
* that tte yoiflug
/!; ^'dy ; not one ^icetued to have
flvred. Being astonished, he hid
-If t-o see what would liappen.
after a little nine he heard
»t cry, aud iNireeihed tlie second
bringing in hjaste the food
•he had gathered, aud she
him ? lad me tell y ou, that wbeu
you stand on the shore of Time, and
bid farewell to earth and frieud#,
uothing you have ever read in nov
els will assist you upon your untried
journey which lies liefore you. Tlie
Bible, its promises and truths, can
then alone*sustain the soul. Bring
your reading, my friend, to that sol
emn test, and you will do as 1 have
doue—throw away such false sensa
tional, iierniciotiM trash, that can
never do auy good here, aud itufits
the sou) for com in union with God.
E. H.
Whiter than 8now.—What can
possibly lie whiter than suow ! We
are almost ready to say there is no
thing. Yet there is something that
is whiter than snow. It is the heart
that is washed iu the blood of Jesus.
Turn to the fifty-first Psalm and the
seventh verse : “Purge me with hys
sop, aud i shall be clean ; wash me,
R to -all ot them without [ aud X shall be whiter than omow J
his pestilential doctrines, that j One oath from a thoughtless mau same—pnqiagated by deeds instead
may corrupt a dozen l»y» into i*ro
fsutly ; and so, too, of almost any
sinful act. No man livetb to him
self, uo man dieth to himself. The
rich mao, no doubt, was coaftteHed
to meet bis five brethren in torment,
though lie begged that it might twit' infidelity smiles st ths lust of gain
be so. My frieud, are you living for
felt for score# of years to
cotne. And these iuflueuces will
work on and on until thousands will
go to hell through the influence of
that one mau. And who does not
remember the case of Acbaii! A
man that had all the appearance
of a good uiau, but yet says of him
self, “When I saw among tbe spoils the everlasting good of those around
a goodly Babylonish garment, and you, or will your conduct bring ruin
two hundred sbeckels of silver, and iijKin yourself and them! O! it is
a wedge of gold, then I coveted a aolemo thing to live! let ns nil
them and took them.” And did not live as weoughL— Christian Observer.
all the people suffer with this man • nm »■ - ■ -
for his sius! It is true that nil Is- Kvery word we wpeak for Christ is
reel stoned him with stones, but so of 5”*!^ ' U
. it * it t ,« u. ji.-r '«ii , ofn heart, and will make them
Al40 llitl nil I*IHol fl> from tilt* llt % O | M1ffn iritli an anlftr nthftrvifl#> nn
Ai, mid lost many lives iu the con
fliet because of the sins of this one
of word*. The consequences would
be tbe same in attempts to iqjurc
hi* person or property. Surely we
would uot tight or defraud ! And
yet, I fear we should act more ms
brethren toward each other. How
born with an ardor otherwise un
known. The Christian will find that,
while before be commenced this
course he hail a thousand question
ings aud difficulties, after ho bad
doue so, be will scarcely have ao
hour’s trouble xflth himself. The
truth seems to be this: Christ Is so
man. One man kind ta^gen of tte
accursed thing, hut nil the romp suf
fered for it.
Look at Joonthau, tbe son of Haul.
His father Jisd said, “Cursed be the j kind and uitexactiug a master that
man that enteth any food until *vr be will not let his servants fight two
uing. r But this man knew nothing
of bis fitter’s command, and put
among God’s professed children !
. But being innocent of attempt to
injure my brother, is not my whole
duty toward him. I must defend
him when attacked. Thu# 1 would
do for my own family. *1 must do
it for (tod’s. Our Captain’s host
should move onward in serried col
umn, and attacks from every quar
ter should be repelled by every
soldier ca|*able of offering resistance.
I must not only defend an assaulted
brother, but 1 must help him, when
be falls into straits. Tbe strong
should help tte weak. How beau
tiful, simple, and pure, the Christian
rule, “Hear one another’s burdens
and so fulfill the. law of Christ P My
forth his rod aud did sat. Fur this
one s»iu,ind a sin of ignorance, Gad.
battles i\i oace ; if tbqy will take ihc, brother, do we fall under the rule f
•word and go into tbe enemy’* camp, Thlrdly flow much mast I
p the citadel for them; if . / # . 1
will set their lioptu onuroly at net. i ly ttet 1 am wiflagrko dm fist htetXpnd xxi
owned forms and ranches, with thou
sands of cattle ou rivers which were
iiiauy miles distaut. Around their
owu beautiful homes were orchards
of iieach and fig trees, aud yards
and gardens where bloodied all the
varieties of roses, aud many other
sweet and beautiful flowers aud rare
plant*. At a little distance out ou
the prairie stood their church like a
seutiuel on guard.
To sum up tbe description iu oue
seutenoe, this sweet lake was the
abode of beauty, taste, inteiligenoe,
refinement and piety. And it might
at oue time have been truly said:
“If there i* an Elysium on earth it is
here, it is here.”
It was on this charming spot T. J.
exclaimed with a heart full of sad
ness, “There is nothing worth living
for here." What could have induced
such a young man under such qf-
cumstAnces to make such an exclama
tion ! That highly favored spot had
just “passed under the rod.” A dark
cloud had rolled over their sky and
draped everything in mourning. Two
gentlemen, the beads of two of those
families, had suddenly died. Each
was in the prime of life, and ®or-
rOandcxi by an interesting family.
Each possessed wealth, and. used.it
for the improvement aod the happi
ness of hit family, aod for the pro
of tte causes of fedooMM*
and hospitable as a prince, especially
to those who went from their owu
native State. Among otters, T. J.
and myself had shared largely in
their kindnesa, and spent many
happy hoars in the society of them
and their familiea. Within an inter
val of only thirty hours, oue bad
followed the other to tbe spirit world.
It was indeed a sad sight to behold
those heart-broken wives and chil
dren too much distressed almost to
weep. At that time T. J. was not
the only one who was impressed with
the brevity of human life, and tte
vanity of all earthly things, aod con
sequently, that “There was nothing
worth living for here." There is no
e^rsinm on earth, no place where
unalloyed haziness may be enjoyed.
There are none, who have lived for
many years, who have not expe
rienoed afflictions similar to tte one
above mentioned, and whose hearts
have not had tbe same sad feeling
which oppressed T. J. on that ooca
sion. Why are clouds so often
sent to darken oar’ sky ! Why are
our prospects of happiness so often
Masted! Why are those we love
most fondly so often taken from ns !
Is not tbe Disposer of all events
infinitely kind and good ! Is it not
written, “He doth not afflict will
ingiy !» Why, then, does he afflict
us so often and so sorely ! He chas
tens ns for^ our profit, that we may
be partakers of his holiness*. The
Father of our spirits afflicts us for
the good of our immortal spirits.
He darkens earthly things that we .
may look heavenward. He reveals
to us the vanity of earthly things,
that’our hearts may be raised to
that bright world where there is
real, substantial and eternal Miss.
He shows us that there is nothing .
worth living for here, in order that
we may direct our eyes to some
thing that ia.
Samuel Rutherford wrote, “Buikl
no; your nest on any tree on the
earth, for the whole forest is doomed
to destruction.” A curse vests upon
the whole earth, and on all that it
rontains. Not only is it doomed to
be burnt np, bat all that is on it is
much more short lived, uncertain
and unsatisfying. Pleasures, even
the best of them, are like fair, sweet
flowers, *which soon wither in our
grasp. Tbe same voices which to
day cry, “Hosanna," may on the
morrow cry, “Crucify him.” ‘‘Riches
certainly make themselves wings;
they fly away as an eagle towards
heaven.” Should all that we value
be retained, we ourselves may, hear
at auy hour the same voice which
the rich fool in the parable heard,
saying, “This night shall thy soul
be required of thee,"
* It is therefore folly to choose the
world for our portion, and to live as
if we were created for no higher
purpose. If wc were made to cat
and drink, and sleep aud dress, aud
toil and make money for we know
uot’whom, aud to say and write aud
do smart things to win the applause
of perishing worms like ourselves,
and then to pass out of existence
and be heard of no more, we were
made iu vain. If this were all, it
were better for all of us if we had
never been born. But it is not ail.
This life is only the beginning of our
existence. This world in its present
state is only a place of preparation
and training room. And our main
part of this training is by afflictions.
Auctions reveal to the soul that
there is nothing of an earthly nature
that is worth living for, and then it
hearkens to the word and looks
heavenward, and seeks for “the one
thing needfbl," which is worth living
for aud worthy of our noblest efforts.
And when one is led to secure
this better portion, aud to set his
affections on things above, where
Christ reigoeth, and can say with
the Apostle Paul, “For me to live
is Christ," then he can confidently
exclaim, “There is something worth
living for here." A life animated
by the Spirit of Christ, constrained
by the love of Christ, cheered by
the presence of Christ, devoted to
the service and honor of Christ, and
destined to enjoy tte image and
bliss of Christ through eternity, this,
this is a life worth living, and here
is an object every way worth living
for; and not only worth living for,
but worth toiling for and suffering
for, and even during for.—Central
Presbyteuan.
Men’s lives should be like the
day, more beautiful in the evening;
or like the summer, aglow with
promise; and like autumn, rich with
thr*ak&a sSswves, where good
works and (foods have ripened on the
field.
t