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COLUMBIA. S.C., FRIDAY, N0VKMBER 8, 1872.
ism
OLD SERIES, VOL. V.-NO. 217.
Communications.
for the Lutheran Visitor.
Ike Lord * Treasury Box
yy e pie}* to show that tbo system
.uervixonH by “the box *?•<«»"
i<» aoe^Nirof to Scriptsre.
, letm ptt inquire ichat « Mh
, (| - r , a making benefiocnee a duty.
Ito ootid have to ordered by his
videnoe that ws should not always
•» «N »o4 that thus
thw would be «° tor the
„««<* of cb»ri«J- f • huT *
rntbUcM «be «»I>cl *" «r«r erm-
willioot oar aid. He is not at all
rte^mleut apo"
“Envy beast of the forest is nunc,
and the cattle upon a thousand
hills f “If I "ere hangry I would
ho$ tell thee, for the world is mine,
and the fatness thereof “Tbo silver
and the gold are iu ni« 1
Onr agency in the ministry of
help to the seedy, and of giving the
gnapel to the destitute, is designed
for oar good, to overcome that whieh
in wan is most prominent—a selfish
jjatsre—and also to give scope to
tbe excrete of our benevolent a flee
two*. Hence there are so many
forms cflT banian distress pleading at
the portals of our hearts to develop
me highest excellence from nature
-charity. And hence God has or*
(baaed that the evangelizing of the
world shall not advance faster than
^ the saattifleation of his church.
\Heaee we are asked to give of our
mmSsAorenr own good. Now the
Scriptsres teach this, and therefore
the 4 hox system* isf according to
Scripture, as it urges constant giv-
iog. I
L 9te the teachings of the Old Testa-
' mat. There is an account of giving
gifts for religions purposes, ns acts
of homage to God and kindness to
man, long before the time of Moses
and the system given through him.
Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek.
Job offered burnt offerings. The
system of oft brings or gifts is incor
porated in the Mosaic ritoal aud
N&Uws. Tkm required gilts to be
they did not have their funds invest
ed in such a way that they could
command ready money, as many do
now, owning much property, yet al
most or quite congratulating them-
selves that they can not, as they
think, turn it to the cause of Christ
aud flatter themselves that they are
thus excused fioui giving. But they
are renroyed by the early Christians,
who, it Is recorded in the Acts of
the Ajmstles, “sold their posse*
siontf to raise money for the needs
arising. They were, iu other words,
systematic aud constant iu giving
of iheir means according to their
ability.
Again, therefore, we say the sys
tern we advocate is sustained both
by the Old and New Testaments.
And men’s hearts are as depraved
now as ever and need to be exercised
ill the grace of giving and in the
discipline of denying self for the
good ol others. There is still a
world to be brought to the know I-
edge of Jesus. The door is open
everywhere to preach the Gospel
and establish the Ghnrch. For the
love of Jesus and for the sake of
perishing souls whieh may he loot by
our neglect or saved by our exer
tions, let us seek to enter every open
door, show their souls the way of
life—give them the Gospel and
church. Dki.ta.
A Good Way.
Blacksburg, Va., »
Oct 19, 1872. \
Editors of the Lntk. Visitor : It is
perhaps not known to many of the
readers of your paper that this
charge basin contemplation theerec-
tiou of a i>ur*oiiafre-\For many years
Bro. Schaeffer, now gone to his re !
ward, occupied the Montgomery pas j
torate, aud unfortunately (for we call
it unfortunate for the itastor and peo
pie, for the former to be thewowuer
of a little farm) being the owner of
a small form, the need of a parsonage
was not m> apparent. But after his
death, in casting about for a succes
sor it soon became evident that a
parsonage was an absolute necessity to
the well being of the charge, ami the
comfort of him whom they might
call to its pastoral care. It warn
therefore deterniiued to build or buy
one as early as practicable, and a
call was extended to your kuuible
correspondent, with the understand
ing that a parsonage should be
Selections.
Shall ths Preacher be Fakl ?
I only by the analit sit-in may never
poo—ml David, IVOli the depths of
bis sorrow', prays atari, “Have me,
O God; for the ***** are come in
Tide is about the time iu the year o»to my soul ;* “le* me not aiak."
wheu the question whether the pan* Bwl jet again, wheMtee floods have
tor shall be paid is to be settled in subsided, in a psalm hf thanksgiving
many a heart, class, circuit and *t* he cries oft, “Thou in foitbfulness
tion. It ought to be decided in the hast afflicted toe j it Is good for me
affirmative. To promote this end, | l hat I hare been iAUetcd ; that 1
perhufie we can not do better than ! ®Miht learn th|> sUtetas.”
coll the attention of our people to | Tfwly, an iuimeaatamhje volume of
the following, tahen from the Raleigh *"•«*» »«# inefcy Is the
Christian Adeomie, which shows of the righf<m»; the fldnt*
how some others, as well as our \ ‘“i* riufhl soul may
selves, look upon this quretiou: treasure drop by
Pay up all your pastor’s small * >0<n * Dt *
salary punctually as it foUs dm itself from fleshly
Can you expert your church to live
and prosper wheu you are so dish on
eat as to withhold from your uncom
plaining pastor that which is justly
his, and bring upon him, if not ac
tual starvation, at least serious em
barrassnieiit and suffering f I>o not
deceive yourselves by aeorrUy think
mg that you can prosper well in your
fluancial affairs by withholdiug what
you have solemnly promised tiefure
Go«l to i*ay your minister. For, wl-
though you may lay your project* of
enterprise with prudence, jet God,
as he often docs, can embody and
transform the dispensations of hie
provident** into a canker worm to
gnaw and sap the basis of all your
plans of worldly prosperity, so thaU he saved her.
your cherished hope will never even Frtari, have you
bloom, much lees yield the rich fruit Nwthiug else will
of your vain anticipation. Conae* there is a* other 1
quently, your most prudent course j given among men
is to be honest with God, and
pity your pastor, os well os all other
juat debts. Then, under the favor
aud blessing of God you may reason
ably expect to prosper.
•ver the separation from those dear
as life itself; or, worse still, mourned
over the ruin of some darling one,
who might have been the greatest
blessing and comfort earth could of
fer f Who has not seen bright,
beautiful hopes of happiness or use
fulness blasted in * moment, aud
buried the ruins in his own heart 1
How many are there that have no
graves in them t And think of the
wiany lonely ones to whom God, in
hia providence, bos denied the joys
of kindred and home, and whose
whole lives are a conatant struggle
to submit cheerfully to his decree,
► *0,
riches both of the w
edge of God! how
his judgments, and
finding out r— Chris,
—*—-
Christ ths Bad
A woman wfoo wfh in
trees about her sins, went to a great
many meeting* in tape of getting
comfort, but did m* Aud it. “At
last,* she said, “I fowad that 1 w
going to meeting instead of going to
Christ, sad then 1 go* tight."
She gave ap depettfitog cm tafaelf,
or tar minister, or the |
tug, aad came right to Christ, sad
Christ I
l “For
| that Is oo bound
fully bestowed on others. Barely to
—oh this passage speaks most clo
quently,* “They stall hunger no
more.” No more of these intense
the mountains shake with the swel-
liug thereof; .... God shall help
us, aud that right early.”
The terror-stricken passengers al-
moat felt as if he were a prophet, for
even as he s|»oke the elouds broke,
aad though the rain still fell gently,
a beautiful lion spa 11 tied w the waters.
“Behold P said Father Jieid. “Be
hold the sign of God’s promise, aud
be at peaceand he quietly slipped
out of the cabin, followed by Miss
Porter, who grasped his hand, aud
asked:
“Bir, how cau 1 obtain this rest
aad peace T -j,
fe«hed at Ur witJ^eyes Ml of
love and pity, and said, gently:
I “Jesus said, ‘Come unto me, all ye
j that labor and are heavy laden, and
II will give you rest.’ »
. W “l have beard that often before,”
longings, these unsatisfied craving*, | ^
i4 but it seems uew.”
after taliaess, knowledge, aud hap : “Yea, it ia the old, old story, yet
pirn**. No more struggles for per . ever uew; but it ia all you can do.
feet uitiuiiMtou to, aw1 aofailiux o.l, iron Him „„1 folio* Him ;
iu M,h.,K« r , bat to. *»!«,, 1lhen) lndMd , tlu . {ltMX B{ God
. Does | *kall keep your heart aud
it not a»ke u. feel Uk. crying oat, i tb , u „gi, immi Chrua.’
—
When shall I <mr to thee ? The Bowl of Fellowship with God.
Wheu shall my sorrows have an end T
mind,
Thy joys wheu shall I are r
\Ckristian Weekly.
Ths Pease of Ood.
the full
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that if the heart was exercised in
one gift, the effect would remain till
the act was repeated. The Lord
required the gift of the first-fruits
of the flock, of tire field, the ransom
of the first-born *male child. The
corners of the fields were to lie left
iiitbe harvest; what fell from tf»o
reapers’ hands belonged to the poor.
Every seventh ye«r the fields were
not to be cultivated at all, but left
to produce spontaneously forthe
* poor. The tenth of produce of
the fields was given to the Levjtes,
the ministers of religion. Tbert^
were also trespass offerings aud sin N
oflwiogs, and certain portions of the
animals to be given to the Levttee
every seveuth year; all debts were
to be remitted; three yearly jour-
ueys were to be made by all the
males to Jerusalem to attend the fes
tivals, this being no smaU\jax ui»on
their possessions, besides' iiamerous
gifts to the poor and also the half
shekel for the sanctuary. As God
wold have ordered all this other
wise we must see in the system of
giving God’s design to benefit those
engaged in it. Hence we sec the
system we nrge niton the Church is
according to the teachings of the
Old Testament.
2. A* id the teaching of the Neic
Testament. Here wo sec the law of
the Gospel writtfi^bn the hearts o
the early christianslund manifested
in their conduct. B&w they seem to
have paoght the spirit of the blessed
Master—what a. spirit of self-denial
*®d self-sacrifice for the good of oth-
efB > “Distribution was made unto
every man -according as he had
need.” But there was not an aliena
tion of property or community sys-
teiD as is supposed by some. They
still held property like other people;
hence mention is made of the “boose
°f Mary and Martha,” of John to
w hom our Savioar commended his
, toother, Tabitha; Simon tbe tanner,
and Lydia, and also Peter’s ship.
the declaration of Paul is in
place here, “If any provide not for
his own, and e*i>ectally for those of
•*8 own honse, he hath denied the
^‘th, and is worse than an infidel.”
Bence they had not a common fund
ro,n which they all drew, but so
charitable were they and ready with
- their gifts that distribution could
••ways be made to those in need.
" 0W M the conduct of the early
Christians and as well the positive
precept# of the New Testament are
01,1 8 ui( le, we cau see what is the
aching of the New Testament. Its
spirit is that of ministering to the
“ced* of others. And we find tot>
discharge of pastoral doty here for
about three months, during which
ime the Subject of a }>araonage has
been fully discussed, and some ad
vanee made. We have purchased a
ot of two acres iu Blacksburg for a
onosage aud church as aoou os we
are able to build the latter. The lot
is advantageously located, and cost
$300. We regret that it has In-en
the policy of our chureh in the South
to j»ass around ami neglect the towns
in building churches. Much, we are
satisfied has been lost here, os else
wbefe, by leaving tbe strougholds in
the bauds of other denominations,
and squatting down just outside.
But we are glad that the signs of the
times betoken better things for the
future, ami at some, we hope not fur
distant, day we expect to see a Lu
theron church in Blacksburg. A few
weeks ago Mr. T.'and tbe ladies of
the charge concluded to get np a fair,
in order to raise some of the pur
chase money for the lots. They
went to work earnestly, with wo
man’s determination, u nerer failf
canvassed the country and town,
soliciting fancy articles ami pro
vision*. At this they met with
gratifying success. All gave some,
wherever they went, irrespective of
denominational lines or bias. On the
the 11th inst they met and spread
their table in the Academy, which
was kindly furnished them by tbe
teacher and trustees of the school.
Ami the result was the most bouuti
fnl fair of the kind we ever witness
ed. At night fall tbe door* were
0[>ened, and a large attendance
showed their appreciation of their
efforts. Everything passed off pleas
antly, all seemed to enjoy them
selves finely, and when the treasurer
reported, it waa found that about
$1J0 clear cash had been realized.
Still waters are deep water*. High
up on the mountain side, the shallow
stream come* loam mg and tonaiog
down ita rocky pathway, a very pie-
tore of turmoil and unrest. But in
tiie vale below, the full, broad oir-
■ em lotto iwntrif—ij mwh|, tr*e* jag'
ged stone* and sunken rocks, it may
tab but so deep dawn are they
buried as not to affect ita placid
flow.
Tims it is in the experience of *he
Christian It is not tbe enthusiasm
of the “first love,” am) the first aenae
of sins forgiven, that brings those
calm depttia of thought and emotion
with which Ood rewards those who
faithfully otmtiuus in well doing; but
only when the feeble rill of Christian
effort broadens and deepens into the
one life stream does it become the
“still waters,” beside which tbe ten
der Shepherd leads hi* charge.
be saved ’ —Acta iv {JL2.
Your ama need aa atoaemeat;
coma then to Christ, “Who his own
salt bare oar atua ia his awn body
the tree, should live «
Mas.*—!. Peter it: U.
t’oae freely, for he says, “ij
that 00®elk unto B&, 1 will in no
wise east oat.” Jota vi: 37
Come quickly, for “Thou knoweat
not what a day
Pruv. xxvii: 1.
In all men’s deejieat feelings they
| do acknowledge—it is an instinct ir-
1 repress!ble—Giat tbe 00c thing need
■ ful for them la a loving intercourse
—— with God. All other things we need
“The »on ia very hot ou this aide ‘ only qualified!}', as wealth, or friends,
of the boat,” said a portly gentleman, or learning, or the arts of life; bnt
who, wtth two ladies, utn* standing ; thia one thing we do need abaolate-
oa the deck of a large steamboat. | Hy. It were by itself essential Mias ;
“It is boiling,” said one of the * T< ‘ n in th * *«» of *** worldly
They Shall Hi
Rightly
He Hare
tb ta one <
the most beautiful aad comforting
promises in all God's word; but we
are .too apt to lose the force of it,
from the idea generally attached to
it, of its rHerencn to purel> physical
hunger, t here are assay of our Ba-
vfour’s dear children *ta have
known what it is to foe! all the peugs
of nnaaliafled craving for the bread
of life, bat the most of as have had
00 such ex|»erisaca, for from clnhl
ho*al we have sever lacked a sufll
cieoey of good, whidasssae food j aad
00, ia reading these wards a* a pari
of the description of oar future gio
rtous home, we do not feel aa if they
thaa lutsa
ladieo, fretfully raising a tiny parasol.
“It will ruin my complexion ; aud on
tbe other end of the boat it is blow
ing a perfect gale. For my part, 1
don’t see any pleasure in it.”
“Nor I,” said the other. “It ia hoi
low, like the other so called pleasure*.
1 don’t believe there is sack a thing
in the world as Uapjaocss. I would
be glad to And even peace; but the
more you cry, Poore! peaceV the
awire you fod that there is no peace.”
thy peace been as a river.”
Turning, they saw au old man,
leaning heavily on a fane, for be
was evidently past his tbnwwcoee
and ten year*. Ilis garments were
good. That an assured fellowship
witjr God must exercise aud satisfy
tbe exact selfhood of a man is a
very intuition with all men. Where
aa all worldly good, without God,
dqes bat leave us restless aud ach
ing still. All the things thou canet
desire, the passion* gratified, tbe ap-
|ietlle regaled, the inebriation of
|mwer, the mimstiy of art, the won
derw of aeienoe, the glow of thought,
seutisseot and sensibility, enterprise,
dance of the spirits, a froth of joy,
leaving the soul more rapid than
before.”
Serious minded men know it to be
so. Nor is it any mere thinking of
God that will satisfv ns; neither the
rr ' m£ : , !‘ 0U ‘ : »».r«dmlrin K ofhi.
womlerful works, but only the per-
diguilied ju^qing with God. A mau
will give his lifetime to tbe study of
! a butterfly, or a rock, or a star, and
; fondly claim that he is conversing
Iu the valley, too, il flows; far awant far aa, and
removed from it are we when lifted 0 |^, u a^kreding.
up with pride and self conceit. They
who drink of them* life giving water*
must abide in the vale of meekiicaa
and humility.
How rich the privilege of Mich!
With what choice bleaaing* doea the
Baviour visit them! Such are they ‘
who inherit that heavenly fieaee, the
legacy of tbe dying Isml. The
depths of calm truat and confidence
are revealed to them, of whieh the
PsaTtnist had partaken, when he ex
claimed, “Great peace have they
winch love tby law: and nothing
•ball offend them.” Truly their
“peace i* as a river, and their rigfat-
eousneaa os waves of the sea.”
Through depths of joy, also, do
the still waters flow. Again and
again docs the Bible exhort Chris
tiana to rejoice a* their right. Bongs
of gratitude and praise are ever aa-
liul a htile thought and attention
will eonv inee aa that exemption from
ptijideal hunger is hot a small part
of the blessing promised; and who
of aa is so bfoasad a* sot, at time*
at least, to hangar aadiy in qnrit,; ‘“ft» l<*t 0,1 >«
I and heart f Indeed, we can »amc. 1 would give
were carefully brushed,
lad tew drew bark with a
air. The geatiemau was about toj
order the intruder away, hut hi* gaze
wm fixed afar off, on the calm flow
iug waters of the river, and they
contented themselves with drawing
away.
The lady who had last spoken
leaned over the aide of the bout, aud
looked for a time down into the
water. Then she said:
“That wasn’t a bad <x>m|tariaon of
the old fellow, atmat peace How iug
u a river. Jnst think of it—calm,
but deep, never oeaaing, uevrr end
an ocean of the
the world for
Bo much for tbe energy and enter I ™ ™ ™ F ■ i
prise of the ladies ol Mon tgo.nary J hrevrewazd, an proofs and
charge, and the liberality of those if ho
aided them.
A word now about fhirs. We have
never been an advocate of raising
funds for church purposes by all
sorts of means. We have never sane
tinned the raffle, the grab bag, the
ring cake, anu numerous other little
lotteries brought forth sometimes on
such occasions, and we are happy to
say that nothing of the kind was em
ployed on this occasion. No one
could raise objection ou ground of
immoral means, unless he could raise
objection to the farmer who raises
his wheat, sells it, and gives the
proceeds to the church. The articles
contributed were sold at reasonable
rates, snpjmr, cakes, ice cream, Ac.,
served, and all went home at an
early hour, feeling that they bad con
tributed to a most worthy reuse.
Thus ended the first fair ever held
by the ladies of Montgomery charge;
but from the success with which
they have met, we hope it may not
be the last.
The contemplated parsonage is to
be 36x18, passage 7 feet, kitebeu
Hxlfl, all two stories high. This
will give tbe Montgomery charge
tbe beat parsonage, wo believe, in
the bounua of this Synod. More
hereafter. J- Tuiuut*.
outbursts of this holy joy. And why
should they not ting f To them be
longs no common good; theirs hi the
loftiest theme of song, and never*
foiling are tbe “wells of salvation”
from which with joy they draw. .
Like one of okl, we become amazed
at the fullness of love, with which
tbe repentant and forgiven sinner la
overwhelmed. No transient burst of
passionate devotion is bestowed, bat
the sources of this everlasting love
are hidden from all eternity. The
stream, unaffected by any temporal
accident, neither ebb* nor flows with
drought or flood, but flows silently,
steadily onward, bearing in its un
known depth* a love which many
water* can not quench, nor floods
drown.
Bo metises, it may tie, the “still
waters” torn their courts from the
gleams of peace and joy, and gluts
through the glooms of antic lion and
the valley of the shadow of
scarp be Ckriat’a ihartpiea, if *e do
not know wreethiag of spiritual
banger; the “liangsring and thirst
ing after ngbteoarerre” upon which
be himself pronoaseed a bleaaing.
We moat often loaf for more of bis
grace aad love soft Bp ml ia oar
hearts, lor a greater likeness to hiss,
and holiness in urov aad outer life.
And we hunger far a sight of his
blessed fare, tor “the King ia his
beauty* that we map “eee him as be
la,” crowned ia gfory, yet rear, al
ways onr loving ttmpnlhmng 8a
vfonr. Then shall *w And plentiful
provision for our loigiug souls.
Again, taw monyof as know what
it is to hunger in mind, to thirst
after knowledge V There ia eo much
to be learned, aad eo little time to
Irerti it in! Our mods, at beet, are
■o weak, aad we cm comprehend eo
little of nature’s materie* that we
try ia vaio to solve. And with some
of us the inflrmiSM of the flesh
weigh so heavily, md the days are
so foil of cares for he dror ones at
home, or the utrugfe for bodily sub-
ftiateitce, that thre ia acereelj any
time or strength fa the aequiring of
that knowledge forwhieh we so ar
dently long. Bui friends, let ns
take courage, aud iears all
here, knowing tliu when 1
into tne valley
death; but not with the sunlight do
ita healing virtues sod blessings de- . ,
part Many of iu purest pearls and ,AI »ed years of mennty but knows
•neb a peace as that”
•There is a river, the streams
whereof shall make glad the city of
God.”
Tbe old man waa still gaxiug at
tbe -blue water*, and perhaps was
speaking aloud unconsciously; but
an angiy exdamatiou escaped from
the gentleman, and they walked
hastily away. Meeting the caidain,
the geutleman said—
“Captain, why did you take that
crazy man 00 board T”
“What crazy man, M;
Lr. Porter 1
U!” a* hi* eye followed Mr. Porter’s,
“that »» old Father Bcid. He i* no
more crazy than 1 am. He used to
be a wealthy merchant, but failed.
He paid hi* creditor* iu foil, but he
left himself penniless. He say* it
was a blessed day for him, for it led
him to seek for rest and peace where
alooe they may be found. He is the*
happiest man I ever saw, aud 1 iqpet
with a great many men in my trips
up and down the river;” and the
busy captain bowed and passed on.
In the afternoon a thunder storm
arose, tbo lightuing flashed, the
thunder pealed, the waters foamed,
while the boat shook as if it were a
reed at tbe mercy of the storm. Tbe
we can i passenger* were terrified, ladies
* reach shrieked, and even sturdy men paled.
with God ; but vainly thus will he
whisper peace, jieace to his sonl,
when there is no peace. That but
terfly waa bnt a beaming forth from
God, not God himself. A light from
yonder man*ioti is shining into the
outer darknea*. and a poor, house
less stranger on the street thiuk* it
lieauti^nl, look* at it wistfully, and
nil the more wraps his tatters about
him in tbe shivering bla*t of a win
ter’s night. But see! another wau.
dercr i* in the street. The long lost
•os of the honse ha* returned, his
step i* nt tbe door, he enters, the
shout of welcome greet* him, loving
| arm* are all around him, nnd a fa
ther’s heart is besting next his own.
Wliat a difference between the two
because of that one element of filial
fellowship! Even so he whose religious
consciousness is shut off from a per
sonal embrace with Gcal, is a vaga
bond iu rag* aud darkness, although
iu the midst of the mnrvelouR works
of God; and the sense of responsi
bility to God goes shivering along
hi* life. Besides, if now we stand
aloof from God, ho will hereafter
say to ns: “Depart, ye cursed!”
while if be aud we do come together
now, he wi!l say to us; “Come, ye
blessed.” Oh! surely a present fel
lowship with God is the very chief-
est of our bleaaing*; and how should
we bound forward to it, seeiug that
we can have it by simply drawing
nigh to him by faith in Jesi
— The Witness.
onr Hemal borne,our mind*, frith Loud and dear, iu
every other part of our natures, j tumult, rose tbe
shall be satisfied, nd go on improv
ing from age to sg>
Bat such deprivation* are, after
all, easy to best computed with
hea.it hunger ; and*bo that has al
most precious treaaurea lie hidden in
these shade*, which they who Unger
x'Uu-th.bg
buried H
Of tbM Who
daa Mood or
the midst of the
voice of Father
Reid:
“God I* our refuge and strength,
a very present help iu trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though
tbe earth be removed, and though
the uKHUriains be carried into the
midst of the aeas; though tbe wafer*
thereof roar aad be troubled; though
fesus Christ.
TV* tunlttl bj- . vok*, U v friMHWiip, ta-ily, «J» Stale-all
to my iXMuroaodmeuts! then had
The strongest argument in favor
of religion, as addressed to men, is
that of a pure and holy life. Logic
which can establish a system infalli
bly, may fail to convince a man, but
the pious life of a devoted follower
of Jesus Is more than he can with
stand. The most violent infidels
have acknowledged the power of
religion on men’s lives. In reading
Paul, we are made to trust his logic,
because we see the effect of what he
teaches upon himself. That great,
noble, Mlf-Mcrificing haro of the
faith proves by his character that
religion i« a power and blessing.
Logic is good. The system of theo
ry, upheld by consistent reasoning,
is of great value. But it is only
when argument is illustrated by a
beautiful life, that it is powerfully
convincing— United Presbyterian.
Family Worship.
Family worship is a most impor
tant doty, and one that I fear is
lamentably neglected these times.
If aakod why I believe it to be a
mush neglected duty among profess
ing Christian*, my an*wer j*, I judge
it to be so from tbe ungodliness of
our youth, from seeing the little
influence which the public ordinances
of religion have upon them, and
from seeing so many of them wan
dering away from the religiou of
tbeir fathers. From the numerous
motives enforcing this duty, I will
mentiqfi at tow time only a few, and
these noto&e noticed. '
L So plain is the obligation to this
duty that even unassisted reason
urges a* to It We can not neglect
it without sinning against the light
of nature as well as against the
teachings of the Bible. Now, is it
not a plain dictate of reason that
God is to be acknowledged in all
those relations which be has estab
lished for the good of the human
family f No one can deny that God
is tbe author of that oldest of all
human rehit ions, the family. That
as he is the author, so be is the
preserver of families. Should he
not, then, in this relation be acknowl
edged and adored t You dare not
say God has indeed created and
preserved me, but he has not cre
ated aud preserved mine, has no
right or authority there.
2. Is it not a plain dictate of rea
son that, if there be blessings which
the family needs, it is right and
proper for tbe family as such to
pray to God for them t And there
are many mercies of this class, such
as preserving mercies, supplying mer
cies, delivering mercies. Now, since
these family mercies flow from the
kindness and liberality of God, is it
not reasonable that we should ask
him for them f
3. Is it not a plain doctrine of na
ture that those, who have a com
mon interest in favors received,
should together express their thanks
to tbe bestower of these favors! Look
>rtvileges
which God has given yoo, and then
say is it reasonable that, unitedly os
a family, you should give thanks to
the giver f If some indigent family
were supported by a generous bene
factor, would not the head of that
family, as the organ of the rest, be
chargeable with base ingratitude if
he did not express the thanks of the
family to this benefactor T
4. Is it not a plain dictate of rea
son that they who sin together
should before God make humble
confession and together ask pardon !
And where is ths family that is not
chargeable with family sins! Surely
if personal sins require personal
confession, family sins also demand
family confession.
These reflections sh >w that un-
perverted reason teaches us the ne
cessity of family prayer. Lastly, the
conduct of tbe heathen folly estab
lishes this doctrine. Amidst all their
darkness, errors and superstitions,
this practice of family religiou has
not been entirely lost sight of. They
are found to have their household
gods, or family divinities, to which
worship is paid in their family ca
pacit.v. Now, my dear readers, shall
these benighted heathens pay higher
honors to their vain idol deities
than we bestow on tbe liviug and
true Godf Shall Tyre and Sidon
and the whole heathen world rise up
iu judgment agaiust us at the last
day for our neglect of this most
reasonable aud most necessary duty t
Thiuk of this, ye neglecters of family
worship.
Plaoe and Work for AIL
Let it be for the encouragement of
such among us as are conscious of
no high powers, and who sometimes
wonder for what service in Christ’s
church we are fit, that in a great
structure all the component portions
are not equally great There is not
only the solid and the costly, the
rock and the timber; not only the pre
cious and ornamental, the gold and the
silver; but likewise the humble and
subsidiary—yea, even the otherwise
valueless and the minute; for not
even mortar and earth can be spared
from the construction.
The Great Builder has some lowly
crevice in his house which the mean
est and feeblest of us may occupy.
We may not be called to bear up
buttresses, or to crown turrets, or to
adorn the carved work of the sanc
tuary ; but it should satisfy os if in
some remote recess and unknown
shade we fulfill the office which the
Master has laid upon us.—James “ *
Alexander. , j. ,