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lot Um 9t\ T*" i Wi pit*,- IK (Ka sry£ Vitt «f i«a psvvfcs: fte »*• M won M ' merit of acting a* T«t*r, SUt Boils, C»r- fw fai a abort fit * rVtJtl r-Ini- Vi W tGv* Bit I that ever sustained *oo M «~Y t ovk LHD dealer3. 48—3m |KST0R,E street, s a, pa. .itssumetl tlie [above named every vm- ioos, Church , Any books abroad, espe- old and new, to order, to furnishing [also, aids for The or nlents. Teach - ly solicited. GIVEN. Sunday-School *t free. :dekick. 31—3m ism?’ Bvapgtiical L* \Ariurriem. s, 34mo. is now church eight Lnd in this way p the church. ....#1 00 1 25 1 80 ...& 2 00 2 a |n»¥at..- s« .... 5 00 Ixtnk it ions are re Orders at once, |h per cent, is ION. one, gilt |, $4. Ten per kite who buy in [CHAPMAN, ■Columbia, S C r 24—tf lie and Retail C., respectful- customers that establishment, V, on the corner • streets, when* m hand a well irticles belong such as Groce- Ae. * 21 lv d, connecting Sooth Caro also with . r n mth on Char- sta Rail roan. and August* 7 15 a m 9 05a® .10 40 pm . 2 00pm . 3 50pm . 5 30j»m ’ I 7 30 a nt TJP. rrive tl5pm pave 6 35 p m eave 5 50 p m eave 4 50p »> eave 350pW train from on Abbe- esday®* „ 1,, between Tuesday** ml vC ~ ■ jf / .. r/ / Jt . £ S 4 r- # tT? JL. hr f \ 11 k £1 I 11.1 fr! ■t*- - J IK Mi ( T •/ II ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTI8M"—EPHESIANS IV: 5. < y !, VOL. 5 —NO. 4. Pot the Lutlieran Visitor. To th« Backslider, $ COLUMBIA. S.C., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1872. r ■ MBM :jfccr" y .£782 ,4 ttiIoJtO .vcbn'? UyUmrJfr: Ttye Ephesians were admonished to change their minds w d cornice t. And #8 you eviuoo so iitUn interest iu spiritual things, iuay you not wisely )>onder the same *wi- juouitioul Your mind has been too much filled with vforidly matters, aud tcxrseldoiu employed iu |he con templation of the character of God aud His holy laws, aud your obliga tion to honor aud serve Him. Yogr purposes feav^ couiormed too much to the affairs of this world, ami , not enough to the glory of God. Vour conduct evinces but little zeal iu religion, 1; Therefore, having lost your first lace for your God, it is your duty to repent. You ought to mourn over your past unfaithfulness and way wardness, and with ap .humble heart should turn to God again, and earn estly seek His blessing anew. You/ , heart ought to be mrv pained on ac count of your unfaithfulness to Him who died for you. Y0u ought to* re pent, and do the first 1 corks. Do now what you did when you eiyoyed the . spirit of grace. The herd is just as willing now to bless you as He was then, The fault is not His, but jours. You have neglected the first work*. And becoming negligent in the Lord’s service, He has withholdeu from you the special blessings and favors which He was wont to graut onto you in former days. Do the first mrks. Mauilest the same zeal and lore which you fotmerly .evinced in opposing error, aiyl doiug good. Sometimes, when a man has back slidden, he professes to be willing and desirous to return; he knows not hoK to do it—how to revive his ar dor—how to rekindle in his bosom the flame of extinguished love. He supposes, perhaps, that it must be by some supernatural influence, and per haps waits for some visitation from above, to *|jfr V#- «mt *0 re store him to his former joy. The - counsel of the Saviour to all such is, to do the first works. Engage at once in doing what you did in the first aud best days ofe your piety. Read the Bible as you did then; pray as you did then; go forth iu the ae tive duties of benevolence as yoa did . then; relieve the distressed, instruct the ignorant, aud lift up the fallen as you did then; open yoor heart, your hand and your purse to bless a dying world. Do the first works, and nothing perhaps will be better fitted to rekiudle the flame of love in your heart, though it be almost extin guished. Think of the mauner in which piety formerly flourished in yoar heart; the joys which once were yours, and the activity you displayed in the service of God; aud then medi tate also upou your-present unhappy condition. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen ; and repent usd do the first works ;■ or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will re- •sore thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. - ThLws the warning of the Saviour to the Ephesians, if they did not re pent—and does not the same warning come to yon in the same words and from the same God Almighty ! Asa caudle,-the church gave light—the light of gospel to Ephesus. A Christian church is as a light standing in the midst of surrounding darkness. And that which the Lord would do iu that place, would bo like removing a lamp, and leaving a place- iri darkness. There is not the least evidence that the church at Ephesus did repent, and the threatening has been most signally fulfilled. Long since the church has become utterly extinct, and for ages there was not a single professiog Christian there. What a Warning to the lukewarm aud the backslidden I 7‘- - Blow, my dear brother (for such I am constrained to call you still—you are a member of the church, you Imve not been exoommuuicated,) will Jen not once more awake to your ( , aud to your privilege I Bestir .' ourself, and. do for the glory of God •*hat lies iu your power. Think of o happy influences which you l'or- ^rly exerted iu behalf of the church * U1< 1 religion. Reflect upou the pres- evil influences which you are put- g in motiou by negligence and in- , e ^ 0Ce the Christian obligations vn * ^ ou 'bluntarily assumed when •Fr* eU ^ ere ^ 'ntochurch relationship, om these vows you can never ox- Aoursclr. They were wit- meu aiu! aog^j^ey are m heaveu. Q. what au ng weight of responsibility is Ul «J upon -you! Your influence now is against the church and Christ. You are keeping sinners away from the Saviour, instead of bringing them to Him. You are helping to break down the chnrch instead of assisting to build it up. It is true you still con tribe te something of your means to the support of the gospel, and also to general bonevoleuoe 5 but what are your money contributions com pared with your moral contributions ! The latter jure wil in their tendency, bow eon the former then be of auy avail! Shake oil your worldly-minded- ue$s,aml begin anew the service of our Divine Master. I feel the need of your moral influence iu the church. Yon are uceded in the counsels of the church—you are needed at theprayer- meetiugs—you are needed iu the Sab bath school. Rather, where are you uot needed! I trust you will seriously aud prayer fully pouder your ways, aud that you ere loug will awake out of your slum bers to righteousness and trne hoti ness, aud to activity in the service of the church and of your God. Faithfully, your brother, John. For the Lutheran Visitor. The Box System. it is undoubtedly kuovvu to tuauy of your readers that our General Synod, at its last Convention, recom mended this system or mode of raising money for church purposes to the clergy aud laity iu sympathy aud couuectiou with her. 1 see also that the two Synods of Virginia have takeu action on the subject favorable td^its inauguration. Be fore cue of these Synods the plan was fully ventilated, aud the state meuts made by our own aud visiting brethren who had tried it, left no room to doubt its decided advantages over the 1 * old methods by subscrip tion and basket collections. My maiu purpose in sending this communication is to let the church Congregations in managiug the de tails of this system will be governed by their owu views of policy. I will merely state that it was the opiuion of several of the brethren that where the box system is introduced it is advisable to dispense with basket collections altogether. 1 think there is room here for a difference of opiu« ion, at least in some localities. If and spent iny streffeth for nanght,’ none but boxhulders contribute, theu many members of the church besides others ntho attend upou our services will uot give anything, it is deaigued by this plan to raise all mouies necessary to the maiuteuauce of God’s worship, such as fuel, light, sexton’s wages, &c,, also for Synodi cal purposes, missions, education, &c. if thought exi»edieut the pas tor’s salary may Ihj included. The apportionment of the funds so raised to various objects must he left, so far as we ohn see, to the discretion of the Council of the church. This system has been nxtouaivcly. adopted iu the North by our own aud other denominations, and at tended, we are told, with marked re sults. We hope that the churches of the South will give it a fair aud full trial, aud 1 M confident that if this is done the receipts next year of the Virginia By noil wiU double those of the last year. Cavus ltoad. "" ■■""" ■■ , a. a a/init OLD SKRD;\VV0L V.-NO. 212. Christ; and if we have been placing good works before faith, and have preached them as giving us a title to Christ, and to elvatioo in U\m then we ought uot to wonder, if Inf to hwnent: “Lord who hath believe* our i»ix>rt, anil to jphoin to tho sku of the fjord revcaEd |» or U left k exclaim : “1 have lalKHcd in vain , any other g than the For v&c*iniot cxp»yrt the warm and saving influence oOhe spirit to ac company lor salvi preaching < nnd preaching and Ik* It is the work Holy Spirit to Saviour. “He says Christ, “tor bw shall receive o: mine, and shall sbhw it ;u/ito yon. But the only way fie are anthoinaed to exi»ect iiis sa\1ng oj>eratloim Is through the divinelytustitated meaus. Preaching mlemption through tho blood of Christ, seen, is un der the puwont dispensation of graee, Hit Loving Y i 11 11 ' , In looking at any graud work, we arc apt to be so lost fh wonder at tho magnftdde of tin* whole, that wv overlook, or fail to appf^efuto the xicrfectiou of ^he many WRser beauties that make up ;ts cbtinSl^lfc. rness. So iu thinking of < gift of himself tor the salvation of sinners, we are so absorbed lh‘Con templating the greatness of the sacri fice, that wc do U|Ot'*uffltfently stndy his particular acts of love and mercy. a chief and promhmit means through j jji*auy of iU graver dulu*; luit Jeeus, which the Spirit eperntos savfngfj- with lim welfare of a world upou his and effectually. But if Christ he heart, never let uaas an ounurtimiLv mmm Selections. Faith la a Crucified |Hj Among tbo almost endless diversi ty of rich and glowiug themes which the Bible supplies for pulpit exhibi- tion, there is ouc which I have long thought is too much neglected by tho ministry in our day. Not that they never allude to it. Not that they do not notice it incidentally, or in passing—for this they may do. -Vpd it is of this very thing that wc com plain, viz; that it is only incidental ly that it is noticed, whereas, it not preached, most^ot the Spirit be grieved, and must not precious Hauls per ish ! f)! then, brethren, with a real for the glory of God wording to kziowl edge; with a due appreciation 01 the worth of tho deathless spirit; with a becoming eompaahioii for it, and with the love of Christ constraining you to be “instant fn season, and out ot season,” say to those among whom yon labor : “We have determ ford not to know any thing among you san* Jeans Christ, afcd him cnadftod,** and then shall yon not labor in vain in the I*mb The Purpose of4he Church. 1 r-’ L ^ 1 A church is a home for believing, loving hearts. The purest and strbhg est should there find constant quick ening and culture* Weak natures TUe mve iwri it scheme of. etioii an forgive them, for tlmy know not what they do.” u. •, 1 i„ Even on tl|u tnuaiphnnt resurrec- tiou tnuriring, bo found opportunity to spook toudtdy to tlw weeping Afwry, ami turned bar woiuMing into i«y*.waking her Ui« glad adatoigptr ’ Of thliugs*' Muto tgot» who hb*raoek him. and fled,” and to “IV ter” who had denied him. He ac companied the too on their way to Einmaus, aud ho 4xpounded the Scriptures unto them conceruiug him self, that tkeii “hearth did burn with, iu them” for love to the Master rymjrmi — r . .. RB ditto them. Thurt same a4d« isolated life; hu^ his many tends# j mg what a rich «Mtoimati dhf be pwmcuuoe upon the ussemWed dk ctplew : ami a litrto later* <i*rtr tovidg- ly did 1m condescend tx> ptwvi* Ws idwKity to the still doubting*TlHttm. as. ! jjfjyfM v.f l-vdi»fwr; <leeds of help hud sympathy make us to feel how deeply he was “touched with the feeling pf our iafirmitii-.s,” and aftlsf ou# human hearts as nothing elec-cgutd. *^ ' \\\mi non is mtgavod in any great * He the sorrowing dtoetp^s labor, hq ofroM torgoU not only too 1 wbed he wim part**d fmm them and death of ot# sihife*, uot little courtesies of life, but weji heart, never kt p*a* an oygmitouity fur 4oing gupd. His thougbUul, Uviug kiuduess, was iufiuoeiy good •tol great and . (hue, mid yet how toiler aud atm pin his hostowweut of to A toaelf, a loots, a word, tin loiftod life nod strt'ugth and hope to uuuty. Iks bc jirt over thxobWl wikl« aopup^jUiy , opul “virtuo" .fm over goyng uot of him tor the help of man,, 1 Hu vnu looveti wkh companion wiiau Ihmww the nmltiitnk “as sheep having au Hhcphord,” and w rought a miracle to supply their waut, whieli no i<i-s«urc qf ntwd could tempt him to do-for ihifltself, „ fThs Spa of man came nofttobe nduistsred unto, hut light of oat dwelling— know that these boxes are sauna- ought to be the great, lead tug, prom would flud the povm' that snvngtk- the pulpit. made sanctifying, tnroSgh wise And But what, you will ask, isthaiueg- practical sympathy. Fnlty and mu just received au iuvoiec of fifty by’ express, through the coarteous atten tion of our amiable*brother, Rev. D. M. Gilbert. They are made of strong pasteboard, and iu size aud form appropriate to tbo purpose; are tastefully covered with tinted paper of various colors, and are really very pretty little money-safes, aud have an opening on top large enough to adnfit a half dime or a half eagle. On oue side of each box is inscribed the following Scripture: “Neither will 1 offer unto the Lord ray God that which doth cost mo nothing,” and on the reverse side: “Upon the first day of the week let every oue of you lay by him iu store as God hath prospered him.” They cost in Stauuton fifteen cents each. The express on mine (seveuty-five miles) was oue cent per box. They are made of more durable material tbau the Northern boxes, are quite as neat, find in my judgment preferable. They cau be bad. on reasonable terms as to time. Such is the box ; aud now a word or two as to the manner of using it, may uot be out of place.' It is in tended that each family so disposed, in or out of the chnrch, shall have in its custody a box’ in which its members aud others may deposit their offerings on each Sabbath as God shall have prospered them dur ing the past week. These contribu tions, as a matter of course, will Vary in amount from week to week, as the donors will be wholly gov erned by the peculiar circumstances of prosperity or adversity that may have attended their business pur suits, the health of himself and fam ily, &c., &c. It is expected that each contribu tor will make some sacrifice at least of life's superfluities, and that they will uot offer unto the Lord their God of that which costs them noth ing. As near as practicable, these boxes will be brought to the church quarterly, on the first Sabbaths in January, April, October and Decem ber, and the contents counted in the presence of the council, and credit given to each box in the column for the quarter just ended ; to this end a roll should be kept containing the name of the holder of each box, with the number and four columus answering to the quarters. The box can be emptied by an opening in the bottom, which, when effected, can be closed by pasting over it a piece of stiff paper, when it will be ready ibr use the next quarter. At the close of the year, if desired, it may be known what amount each box bus contributed to the canse of G0d. 1 ! , lected theme ! Many, 1 doubt not, will bare anticipated me, when 1 say, it is faith, iu connection with faith’s great object, Christ crucifictl for our sins. Yes, faith iu a Saviour, “who died for our sins and rose for oar justification,” this is the great theme for our pulpits, this is the life of a dead world, the hope, the only hope of boud slaves to sin and Satan, this is the good news aud glad ti- diugs brought to perishing mortals wherever the gospel has been pro claimed—this it is that the multi tude of the heavenly host celebrated, tual helpfulness should be things real and common. For the church is meant as’ a sacml circle, where Ignorance may learn, ami * timidity gain real courage, and loneliness find precious companionship, mid self distrust bo taught Christian con fidence, and worldly passions lie made to give place to a royal be- uevolence which interprets the di* viue compassion ami sacrifice, which made Christ the Redeemer, and which still makes his true disciples ever repeat his life of blessing. A chnrch that fails to develop and when they sang ou the plains of Ju-! cement and glorify soul life has dea: “Glory to God iu ‘the highest, and on earth j>eace, good will toward men.” Aud it was this, nothing but this, that the great apostle of the Gcutiles determined to kuow iu his preaching. Now, it is Christ who is the Sover eign Lord. It is He who appoints both the end and the meaus by which that end is to be attained. It is He—adored be his holy Name, who wrought out and brought in an ever lasting righteousness for us, and it is His to prescribe the meaus by which we shall be put in possession of the blcssiugs He purchased for us; and very prominent among these meaus, is tho preaching of faith in His blood poured out for us. The world would never have dreamed of it—for “the world by wi&dom knew not God.” “Hath uot God made foolish the wisdom of this world Y For after that in tho wisdom of God— the w orld by wisdom kuew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ* crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishnes; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wixdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than meu, aud the weakness of God is stronger than men.” Now, if we, brethren, have been entertaining our hearers with novel and curious speculations, when we should have been preaching “re demption through the blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of sins accord ing to tho riehes of his graceif we have been making duty the founda tion of privilege, tho foundation and reason of duly—for it is privilege in Christ by faith that makes duty a delight, and renders it acceptable; if we have been insisting on tore, be fore union to Christ by faith, apart from faith, or as giving a right to missed its work and caricatured its professions. For its true atmosphere is full of helpful sympathy and love, as the summer is of mellowing sun beams and fructifying showers. But, after all, it exists then* largely for tho sake of those outside its own pale. It needs to go abroad for werk as well as to come home for .solace and song. It is a ;»oor testi mony which it bears when it can speak of nothing save enjoyable ser mons, and fervid prayer meetings, and glad assemblies. These it needs and should have. But its real work is in life around it. It should look after the poor, the hopeless, the ig norant, the vicious, the profligate. It should aim to rectify trade, ele vate social intercourse, and shame political demagogisniK. This work proves its value to those who can be convinced only thus. There is very little danger that it will imitate tbo Good Samaritan too closely. Such good works ns these, done in behalf of the needy, the dangerous aud perishiug classes, are not very liable to w ork against faith. These prove its faith to be genuine, saving, mas terfnl. Thns it preaches to men who are forced by the sermon to stop their cavils. Never before was the demand for a vital, practical, working Christiani ty so strong us now. Never before was the world so ready to accept such service as proof of a diviue origiu. This going about does good among the most wretched and needy is an argument which convinces aud wius, and at the s^me time it gives vitality and vigor ;to the faith, clears away doubt, broadens the wing of prayer, makes God sfem close at hard, fills the heart with peace aud the lips with singing. Let our church es take-a mdre direct and resolute bold of this sort of service in the surrounding world, aud their mem bers will know more of the Christian triumph iu their sanctuaries aud their secret experience. u> miumfor,” and dm would have his own wants *uppli«*d according to natural agencies, in tutor to foil) sympathize with mau’s; wnakuesa r Hit ear was em uprn t*<U*e cry of Uie needy, anil they "who asked but the crumbs, or touched *H|> A***? lieia of but turn yc a Tull ness or TnFSKTSJg. Tie made the lame to walk, w ho had waited loug or man to help them to the healing waters; healed the flick, and restored junto llrase imssrssed with devils, their right mind. lie unstopped Meal cars,, aud could sU) iu iis journey at the cry of a •li ml K*ggar at the gale of .Jericho, and make his eyes lo behold the “fiion of David," chough 1m* tender mercies of man had bid hitu hold his peace. He who tin* dead to iiie, yet. wept w ith tho sorrow lug aiders at lie grave of Lazarus, until those *etwng exclaimed, “Behold how he oved them.” % How tenderly Jesus reproved the wring, encouraged the timid, and Strengthened the weak, llow gra ;iously did hd accept the offering of icr whom the proud Pharisee called ‘a sinner,” and w hen exacting mau ght the erring unto him for demnntio*, be kindly said. “<lo ltd sin no more.” When the disci lea, fearful of troubling the Master, would withhold the children from his notice, be said, “‘Buffer the liktle children to come unto me, and forbid them not,” ami he took them fh his arms and Mefcsod them. He did not rebuke the timid Nico- lemus for earning rnito him by night l»nt patiently explained to him the [‘mystery of godliness* How len ient he was toward the blindness and unbelief of his disciples who had Much great opportunities of learning his character meekly, saying. “Have \l been so longtime with you, and ywt hast thou not kniown me V llow [tenderly he quieted their fears and (strengthened their faithamU'qinforted t heir hearts* When the chosen three, overcome by the glory on the Mount of Transfiguration, fell prone to the fearth, “Jesus tqtudmd them; but how much of help and love was em bodied iu that simple human auk They stood up, and saw “Jesus only,” their tender Brother and Friend, and their fears departed. When bis own soul was “exceed ing sorrowful eveu uuto death,” he comforted his disciples with words of sweet assurance, saying, “Let not your hearts be troubled,” aud prom ised to send them tho Comforter, when hp should depart. He com- passioutely excused the weakness of the sleeping disciples, who left him to wrestle alone in Gethsemane, and even in his last great agony, his suf ferings overcame not his thoughtful ness for the comfort of otbors. Can words express greater love thau his plea for his cruel murders Y He [prayed for those who scourged aud scorned and crucified him, “Father, aSoende# up Into heaven; 1 bnt Ms loviag UmlnewMiai nfifefcem* wftli W* petwo«fiI ridnrtnfcthfflmw fl earth. He fealH! ever ootnpamRm- ate tow ard the erring, fMs eymtwtfiry for the wifering, am! helps the weak by his sustaining grace. He is onr High Priest, hut so “tonehed^th the feeling of our infirmiHOs^ftat be fo evar intertodreg in our behafo aid is 1 pour on TfoTtial out his fu the yeto«rtender,loviug. Elder Brother, give* uo deans or BaLeapjL; fox did Cfirse thte Are liefivjen. or $****« storm, b find ijf Iv'nfl 1 •" 'dT Ljd .j ,, * wsf; Itw a»' - €n let this thopgljL that your friend, yooK'fond husband, jdlMr gentle ctohC or you/ feping im not bew tebeu l* aoifeot or cfotooe, but has {K*tor home* a J^gUfer ^bode> by your gr^ons heavenly; Faster, who U( useless w< m calls us friends, and though be may often ask ns to bear lb* crow, it is but a proof of bis loving kind uens: ter “whom the Lord loveth he ch astonnlfe.” 'mb » l tj ;Y*-te->«* -t Jw'ttyw - «m •*?' mm “W#tp Kot Ssr gftji , , r T TI * -id! hi ^*Jj|powers to relieve VUM^deat^ eutersout hu#^ and Tngf ’ What QOtBtort.your l t We deipre the our friends. Hpw faftfr husband labor to make loves comfortable and , eagefly does le pot Wfh the dearest ol^ect of our earthly lovo r-opr companion in joy. and sorrow f c dil l Wl*'lf then lies silent and lifeless, aye we de- umd the i>oui grivilega of dropping one tour of affection upon that mar ble brow ? When those tins of affec tion, which have twined themaclves m/Wh- » u - d tfeat pgg. are tom asunder, shall the soul be ihtuUxl the relief even of tears Y When uouutlcss tender memories of the loved dead ouiae rushing iuto the mind, filling the throbbing bear! with sorest anguish, must uo sigh escape the lips, uo tear bedew the cheek ? Must we coffin our shrouded dead aud bury them from sight with all the coldness and iudiftereuce of the stoic ! No, no; humanity itself shudders at the thou git, reason forbids it, revelation gives it no countenance, aud the example of Jesus condemns it. Jesus himself wept over the dead souls of Jerusalem and over the dead body of Lazarus. The Apostle Faul speaks of the Christian’s sorrow as different from others who have no hope, yet geuuine sorrow—a true cloud, but lVingotl with the light uf hope, aud encircled with the bow of promise. v,^, r , When the prophet Jeremiah, ad dressing tht\ house of Judah, called upon them to weep not for the dead, ho referred to the pfous kiug JosiaU, who had been taken irow the kiug- dom by death. And when he told verse, to ^vyeep sore for bitn that gocth awtiy,” lie refort-ed tb his son Shallum, who had boon carried awaj- captive iuto Egypt, and who was doomed (Mi usee in it of his early wickedness nen^r more to retrtrn, but to die a captive there. For the holy dead—“the dead in Christ”—we are not to weep—that is, wc are not to lament and sorrow for them ns though some evil had happened them, or to grfove for them in a waj* which would uiauifest dissatisfaction with the providence which has taken them. Rather slionld wc weep for those yet living, but living in sin. Or for those who yet have the toils, trials aud temp tfttion8 of life before them. To the weeping womeu who followed Jesus to the cross, he said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children ” This he said in view of the calamities which would soon fall upon Jerusalem. 1. Christian, weep not for your pious dead, because it is the Lord that hath done it—“Uie Lord hath taken away.” Sorrow not “beyond measure do not give w ay to undue grief; do not allow yourself to become unfitted for his servioe by fretting over his dealing with you. : , If death could take place independ ently of God and in opiiositiou to his will, it would be au unspeakable ca lamity. But when we know that “our days are numbered,” that we can uot go . beyond our appointed I ess of dqeethc and <! of bin Many afilictions will not cloud and obstruct peace of mind so much a* one sin : therefore, If ye wonld walk cheerfhlly, be more corefol to walk holily. All the winds obtert the earth, mate no earthquako, hutonh that within. * / bmc, and that ao power cau take away the live* of our friends till God wills it; when we are assured that tho time, manner and place of thefr dfeafb are entirety under his coatroL nmd that he ate ays Bees * mm that to totem as mail «s for tbo* Who areteft* Wr should not fret or ooatend write Um; However hard the stroke, U is front our tewing Father* Ho#hver om-JPS'to&Cacifowui Uwi h(Nrteteteih4B<b a \ * V m thev ft# OfGdd 'tb an eternity^ we 1 grieve at their absence, our grief is selfish, it is not for them, it is for ourselves.. » t 1 ~ -j reavement is designed for your ulti mate good, and will be the means of pi^inotiag it David could say, “It is good for me that ! have been af fiicted.” I know it is hard for us, taking our farewell of the loved dead, committing that dust which is dear to us to the grave, fo turn awaj aud say, “It is good fAr me that I have been bereaved.” With our weak Lath, with our proneaess to look «;)ou the things that are aeeu, we are more ready to adopt the language of Jacob and say, “AU these things are against me.” But wheu we shall sec faoe to face, and know as we are known, cU these dark providences will be clear as noonday. And when we see, m perhaps wc may see, that the good Shepherd took a lamb from our fold to lead us up to tho green of the heaveuly paradise, then we will bless God for a. beroappment that once filled our hearts with ser rovv. / t -w! re*:'» 4. “Weep not for the dead,” for tboy are usefully empfoyed iu , r the service of God, above. God had more nee d of tUeju iu heaven than ou earth. We frequeoUiF hear such expressions as these when em who was youug aud useful in the church pu earth is taken away-: “Hew strange that one so much needed should be taken;” ““Host auy oue efas could have beeu better spared,” &c. But those who are of no use in the Lord’s vineyard ou earth, ere uot needed or wauted iu heaven. Heuce it is that “death loves a shiuiug mark,” aud the angel reaper thrusts his sickle into the graiu that is fully ripe. Those actively engaged in the servioe of God ou earth, do not cease Their activities in heaven. ‘.‘They serve him day and night in hie tem ple,” and for aught that cau be proved to the contrary, they may be of important service to their Chris tian friends on earth. How precious is. the religion of Jesus, which not only prepares the soul for infinite happiness in the mansions above, but also enables the bereaved Christian to bow with meekness to the will of God, to blere his hoty name, even while hie aflKct- ing hand is wringing our hearts with agony, and to look forward with the full assurance of hope to an eternal and glorious re-onion in the land of the blessed l—United Presbyterian.