The Lutheran visitor. (Columbia, S.C.) 1869-1904, April 04, 1873, Image 1
Editors
Oil LORD. OIE FAITH, Oil fiAPTISM. "-fitBISUIS 17:5
COM'MBIA, S. C.. Fk|)AY. APRIL 4, 1873,
to
he had grown in the knowledge of
J«mm Christ
This leaf from ft pastor’s note
book may encourage some to labor
for the modt hardened; and to show
how simple the troth is that saves
which it is said, “i
when jro« think joa’ve got It, whf
jron bava’t.” Boom one may sag,
“Go you give It op r if so I SMfth
If nqdy, “that’s so." Thing* that
are iueeiuprehetiMbie ought to ho
’> * W*«7 ”
!*.* U« at tbe
wta* l»» “*»'r
lb* mUm mho lur*
•Mtaa la D4t«m tkla«a,
oa the; found In the
lie member, that chiistianitjf^inot
a »ew system of tbeologieal reason-
tog, nor a new assortment of phrase
otogy, nor a new circle of acquaint
aaoe, nor even a new line of medita
it ia not the likeoeas or history of a
tiring thing, it to itself alive! And
therefore, to examine its evidence is
not to try Christianity; to admire its
martyrs to not to trjr Christianity; to
com pars and estimate its teachers to
faith i 1 would however pander long
before trusting mysstf within the
intricately involved eisehn of “merti
A-atuuu in policy *
Foitoil to the attempt U» Valve an
ittsornubie phrase, so pregnant with
words of doubtful import, a Isgrii
of relief is experienced to hashtog
oat from so fomiilibii an antagonist,
and tturoing our attsatioo from ths
estop*?!* " or *
ilton ** wUl devoted
t migffifofei curt ex pres
gfel efeMlft** may have ex-
-nad lheCtotort* 8fl«M to sccoiu
“* ** » r
Sk. & » “P-«NP“* ,al **“«
tauntingly applied to the General
Synod, way be had in ths opinion of
your oorvespondest, by considering
walking boa* from charch.
“Cwtaidj," I answered, “nod at
once. Where dose he lira T
44 J net beyoad ths bridge, ia ths
white baane with green blinds; you
rites and services more than Mahout
etna punctuality to not to try or know
Christianity. Bat far one week, for
one day, to have lived ia the pore
atmosphere of feith and love to God,
of tenderness to mao; to rejoice in
the felt and realized presence of Him
who is described as “coming np from
the wilderness,” supporting His be
loved; to bave beheld earth annlhi
lated and earth open to prophetic
gam of hope; to have seen ever
more revealed behind the com plica
ted troubles of this strange, myste
rious life, the unchanged smile of an
eternal Friend, and everything that
is difficult to reason solved by that
reposing trust which is higher and
better than reason; to have known
and felt this, 1 will not aay for a life,
bat for a tingle bleated hoar, fiat, to
indeed, to to have made experiment
of Christianity .—A rcker Butler.
to divftae
|; i S«—I
and chi!
Const their syiupa
id their attention,
of all who take a
racticable view of
|her arising from
Hhtioa to the proper
between <m»se and
parity of
family, had become mixed up with
OMtato thefts which had raorntly oc
curred, sad was altogether a pretty
OBJECTS or HMliL ST WOO
1. What then ware the pwyew
had In view by the organisation of
the General Synod ? Thto queano*
only from want of
, but because do
ted hopes out run
e judgment. All
ire |nl the dreamy
nthUbfeat, without
e lute the “baseless
“He to not likely to lire until morn
lag.”
And ho to dying without Christ!”
I etrialbmm! ibvoluntarily.
VV* harried on and aeon reached
the a*« k room, where a good brother
of the Methodist Charch waa anting
as we entered.
1 went to the bedside aad intro
duced layer If to the dying man. He
was a ftidendid lookinx fellow, ilto
features clean out, hto eyes still
bright aad piercing, and hu self
command remarksb4e, to view of kto
loos my Father osao that
dhofpltoto uf porsrty, or
to its organic law* aad thorn this in
atrmnrnt the fellowing gfcgfeeta are
made: “It shall be to 41 gases of
fundamental doctrine or eftgrvh dto
c ipfHMi |p9 mg**** CKMHW Vto ■
fV shaft fbmi*h a nuifefeffi order of
aorvfeft, which shall bo Stored to
every part of the rhnrdfc II shall
therefor* cans* to bo pogpgHMl and
published a book of Wfiftfolp. fee.
ft shall examine the pragfedlngs of
the several Synods and ttfttorrioms
to order that they may obggfe a eor-
sgdhtoUfewtodoa of ths
dition of the ctrurrh, he. ft shslt
devise plans for seminaries of eda
cation and aimtosry operation*. aa
well as for the ski of poor minister*,
and the widows aad orphans of poor
ministers, and endeavor with lb#
help of ( toil to carry them into effect.”
And dually, that “the General ftyaod
shall apply all their powers, their
prayer* aad their means to the pre
vrniton of schism* among us; to
aedotoanty and iaeeuaaatly obaervaat
of the circa instances of the time*,
am! every casual rise of unity of
sentiment among Christians m gone
ral, in order that the blessed upper
tonitiee
i form a correct estimate
icy of the General Sy uod,
anoe with its financial
um erica! strength and
to field of its operation
OS «g,S°f» I
H as wmeh it has aocom
ibsolqjfey ueceasary. If
il tfeflbr of it$ btotpiy
thaamulta of its opera-
•eynmsdft ml-m OkJa^.- -...A —^ss Jm-u
"Wmm M Wft MV9 tug
n iiigji hum
OidUk—l irlil*-il liar— *— MM^ktBiASHUimiOMiMlU wf
mB*rm g*^»f Htoftfe |brb«dMPMh W
Aad Thmt
excTuaton of thoughts of oar nobler
being and things eternal f I Header,
be not allured by the hooon and
emoluments of the world, for its
moat glorious triumphs end always
acceptably, will bring down at
the gramme answer* . hot lie i
loving *>• smbraeaa, not oalj
toiarw, bat hto own tossr and |
wiU mo hto infistte utodam u
“And the foturv r
** Worse still, but 1 don't belie vo itt
excrlaating pautohmvnt *
“Never mind,* 1 said, “yon be
ttors to punishment; let ua get out
of that it we can.”
“Yen," be answered earnestly.
Then, ia very few words, 1 told
him of the merits of Jesus, which
avails for even the chief of sinners,
and ureod him to cast himself at
once on Jesus, as hto Saviour. He
looked me fairly in the eyes, aad
iresvire tbat it w»8 incepted •luring
» period of great political couvul-
nod, to meet au exigency iu the
duch Sooth. That owiug to the
in|wr«ri8he<l condition of the coun
try. in consequence of the ravages
of *»r, its means have always been
exceedingly limited. That hu point
cf numerical strength it is weak
though reapectable. That ijts terri
t«J » extensive, and its chngrega
to* feeble and widely separated.
AM that, in addition to those unto
nri circumstances, it startjNl ui>oii
't* career il de aoro” in regartl to doc
Wu, cutout and govemmeut. We
*kle Bohesitatingly tbat thjoue who
•f® Uttqaainted with these facts,
oroe incapable of appreciating their
fore* and magnitude, are incompe-
tr&t to sit in judgment upon the
question of efficiency. Wfiat ahe
F°pwed to do, and wbat she ha#
* cc °®pHshed, we shall see presently,
ao,i rill then be in a better condition
" pronounce a decision rtpon the
Nfct to issue. Brethren, will we
J taiulon her as a noeless anil worth-
or shall we, witfi willing
oiiada and strong hearts man the
: T * r( k of this noble ship, aiid give
& oi to the breeze and the guidance
at ^®anagemeutof Him, wlu> “tnak-
et the storm a calm, so that the
W| J« tbereof are still.”
*°tyicationg in it* policy* are in-
** advisable. This phrase
^ »* a poser ; a dark enigma, and
^ kyood my ken. An expression
1 tout metes, or bounds, angles or
obw? # ^ r ^* n fi ao dat* for au
or a calculation. Con
*c>r!t by “biqnitons array of
l,i«- ^ bo P®fnlly take down from
aive the following anecdote misted
of the memorable Italian reformer,
Fillippo Neri, and a youthful its
dent:
“Filiippo waa living at one of the
Italian Universities. When a young
man, whom he had known as a boy,
ran np to him with a face full of de
light, and told him that what he had
been long wishing above all things
in the world, was at length fulfilled
—hto parrots having just given him
leave to study the law; and that,
thereupon, he had oome to the law
school, and meant to spare no pains
or labor in getting through his stud
ies as quickly and as well as possi
ble. In this strain he ran on a long
time, and when at last he came to
stop, the holy man, who had been
listening to him with great patience
and kindness, said :
“ ‘Well, and when you have com
pleted yonr coarse of studies, whAt
do you mean to do V
“‘Then I shall take my doctor’s
degree,’ answered the yoang man.
“ ‘And then f asked Fillippo Neri
again.
“ ‘And then,' continued the youth,
‘1 shall have a number of difficult
and knotty cases to inanaga, shall
catch |>eople’s notice by iny elo
quence, my seal, my acutenets, aad
gain a great reputation.’
‘“And tbenf repeated the holy
man.
“‘And then,’ replied the yoath;
‘why, then, thereoan’t be a question.
I shall be promoted to some high of
fioe, besides I shall make money and
grow rich.’
“ ‘And then V replied Fillippo.
“‘And then,’continued the young
lawyer ; ‘then, I shall live comforta
bly sod honorably, in health and
dignity, and shall be able to look for
ward quietly to a happy old ago’
“‘And thenF added the holy
anihiiMatolItoa sHadfomLiik 1^^ ^ 1 aft sfjt_ * ^
pltoPPr f W0 JPNp UWNBI»
Whms we pvai m fesih for djtag
jjly. Sttihl ft-,.. I M -M. .. t j, 11 It J»I.M
empsivia mms, asus j«• *ui «*•)*
ftod him ftorthfal, aad th* aaowM an
dear la tea *dl b* srrltiMi to tto
tn promote eeftcord ami
unify rind th« intereota of tto He
deemer’w kingdom may not pam by
neglected and unavailing.”
“That may do for you, sir, bat 1
have town too bad a man. It ain’t
fair for God to let me in on the same
term* to give* you,” and say ing this
to turned hto face sway.
“ ‘It to a faithful saying, and wor
thy of all arceptauoo, that Christ
Jcsos came into lb* world to save
the blood of Jesus
bringing alt the Utltoa
tiou of tto General sly nod that after
an allusion to tto cause of its forma
tion—the statement of its aaaie aad
style—its doctrinal baato tto He
menu of ita com position aad tto
duties of ito varioaa fonetkmartes,
that it proceeds to set forth ita pow
era and duties as shove. How it has
met them, whether in whole or ia
part, or to what extent, are matters
of fact yes to to considered.
Dkuuiatx.
on Calvary aad hwh ap tola the fat*
of the a totting Chets#, we read thete
words ia every Hat af sorrow aad ta
every espreaalna of dying It*, M i
Woo ill sot IkjO ftil |H.n,4> i ,. u • lk>«
^w- i* m ii ini » hu ■ fwv j gwivtt was* wttwwew
all tmase eat# ma aad firm* Wtoa,
aianera,' aad ‘I
Christ, hto doo, chmoaeth us from
all stou’ Those, my dear air, are net
my words, bat God's. If yoar life
to as black as ibis black glove of
mine, to sore that the merits of
Jcsas ate whiter than my bare hand;
and the whiteness of Jesus offset*
tto blackness of the sinner. We are
saved for his sake- God want* to
save you. Only yield to Jenna”
Again that oouleuipUioos look from
thoae bright eye*, and the reply:
“Oh! that’s the way you pat it."
“No, it to not my way of patting
it; it to God’s way. Here, Mr. Short
to a Methodist, he pats it no, and
1 am a Presbyterian, and I put it so.
It to the salvation of Jesus. Only
aoespt it and you may be saved."
He aeemed interested at last. We
prayed aad went away.
work ta de this with care, skill, sod
psUrst tail. Mach of hto labor non
he sea idea t that ear reqaeet will ha
gran led, aad Ihroegh ear labor* fal
low tog the prayer, that friend will
Tho Father s Face
At a rehearsal for a Sabbath school
entertainment, some time sinee, a
little five-year old Beasie wsa placed
upon the platform to recite a abort
poem. Hto commenced very brave
ly, bat her eyee wandered all aroend
the chureh, gathering more aad more
of disappointment into the Am*.-—
Soon the lips began to quiver, aad
the little form shook with sobs. Her
father stepped from behind a pillar,
from wbenee he had been watching
her, and, taking her into hto arma,
said:
“Why, darling, what to the mat
terf 1 thought my little girl knew
the verses so well.”
“Bo I do, papa; but I eould not
see yon. Let me stand where 1 can
look right into yoar face, papa, aad
1 won’t be afraid.”
And to it not ao with oar Heavenly
Father’s children !
w r k«ok for ito beat talank erne
risen*, aad party la the palpit, la
order that the Word of life may to
dispensed not oaly purely bat wisely.
Tto {met** studies all the wash with
Ida uiiigna* lua araaad hton ia bis
Chrtot, aad wa cant the aet oa ito
light side of the ship,,we shall bring
it up filled with iahea. la answer
Ixxxix : M; hat
visited him, he gave evidence of a
change of heart, and throughout hto
Ufa, which Lasted several weeks, he
grew aa a Christian. Evidently the
Spirit of God was teaching him.
Hto questteM indicated it; hto in*
tores! iu his winked companions also,
aad hto defer* for hto family. Wa
received him into the church, aad
have every reason ta believe that he
irate the necessity of Import an Me
prayer, aad that the answer might
be delayed la order to my ear forth T
I aaewer, wa have ealy to read Lobe
‘And then,’ said the youth, ‘and
We stand too
often where we can not look iato Hto
face. Darling sins and ur pride,
like pillara, rise up between us aad
God, and disappointment sad tear*
are ours until, casting these behind
us, we stand in the light of oar Fa
tber*s face.
tl *tu ° f the General s :
A * Uot P°licy but the “!
faaS Wg Confc «*ion> M
Cy: f ».wl.1
tion h d t0 Ko^erument oi
TS^toiheDtotrii
»»J t!° ^ ^^ifled t
. ^^iuglesa uon
tkm, inquired, “What do you think
The proof that we believe in the
reality of religion, to that we walk
in the power of it
differently.”
The Holy Spirit had been reaching
hto head through hto heart, aad thus
Imiicrfcct in Griginal