The Lutheran visitor. (Columbia, S.C.) 1869-1904, May 30, 1873, Image 1
#
FRIDAY, MAY 30,
COLUMBIA, 8. (
Communications.
Gradually Approached.
II# m% m requires fl» to m#k# Iwtck
v fllMiNiit mi w» »*“ f 00110 tis in
defy, If *t«f» M>Mu| ia4 loyal
rhlldrea, wlthfoMt firing m put lo
help no, aor fays «pH> n* a burden
vttlMMit jwwrkHag flh# strength to
For the Lutheran Visitor
Novelties in Beligion.
■HRS
jeTS. Rude & Miller, Editors. .
-iii' ..I- -1 fr • ■ “»—snr > ' *m**mM*~*>.,....•««»*..• «<«.
ii' I
0 SERIES, VOL. 5-NO. 37.
0JTE LORD. ORE FAITH. ORE BAPTISJL”-‘K>HESIARS IV:6.
Terms: $2.60 a Tear.
OLD SERIES, VOL 5-N0. 245.
pleasant amount of exertion <hi the
part of the church member*, other
ways of getting money bare been
Invented. The Pope, for instance. Who 3h*L &aU U» Awiy ths S#csta r*
aeUi tortalgiuoet, or ii atttute* bolt 1
-P. . I .IPIPRI , daffl' 1 Jkvmrtfato*. flraak*oara». . , . _
. ,» in and dancing. The sect* xealottnU ** *• idenaant to remember that
qu« of the w<Mt marked ami often i m jtote their grandfather Lotteries, »mktl *11 the b*r*l» and rrael treat
^ emanations from the “form of fairs, festival*, pie nice, eta, are get ! went endure*! by ear Iswxl Jeeaa
irffa** 9 now so prevalent, is the ten up at groat expense, and in saeh curb* >|Mm there were,
flLcv to introduce novelties in numbers that one throng* the other ^ra w|m> h
traoeucj out. Ikat brings money, aineti non " , ^ " *
relipoD. Everything is done to tu #y . fof $[ momt #|0 ^ and administered to hi* aaata, h
teitain» ama8e » or cnwlte R * c,ISiU,ou » #1,000. After all this the hard work far an apfiortaatty offirrad. with
all wesriuoss of the flesli and spirit of beggiug »* earned on, with lander car*. There wan a faring
raW tb*«tf« fu,, > •«»«**» MtdfoVt with great endurance. And lMt an raw, him, and atroag
™™ L “ •* * 1 T 1 feat bring# mm** again, though tha I atm to h*. ta
church beggar mast pocket many *
curse with the filto* Any one has f **".' T*™ *** * fr*en*li ? roof at
sense enough to see that “tbi* way lletbaay ihai «*ortiui«i •briored
of the Pope and the sects" in tm»«.b him
wore practical than to take the
means out of one’s opn pocket —
“But the poor hand maiden of the
laird Jeans Christ, oor dear Evaa
gelieaI Lutheran Cburrb, has still
always • • * regarded these
ways and means m dishonorable."
“All the above named things, lot
teries, fairs, etc., spring from avarice,
aud lead to earual Inst.
have things
public worship; the place of prayer
m \ praise must be made as attract
ive m the place of amusement, or
E k» formidable rival wUl probably
engulf many who have renounced
t l, e world and its vanitie*.
Xbe expedients to secure this eml
are as diverse as the temperaments
of the individuals who originate
them. Some ministers, whose politi
cal proclivities can not be reatiaiued
even by the sanctity of their office,
which certainly does not authorise
aa interference with worldly politics,
ii the exercise of its sacred func
tions at least, entertain their deeply
interested auditors with eloquent
political haraugues—to# often mere
rfainp-9l>ceches—the oily eflirt of
which is to make men more strongly
partisan in political feeling than be
fore.
Others agaiu, appreciating the sen
timeutal and poetical taste of their
hearers, discourse of brooks, trees,
towers, binls, etc. They appeal to
their sympathies, and melt their
seals with touching delineations of
earthly affection, or |amsr their
feelings with thrilling pictures of
separation from tho loved ones of
their homes or social circles.
Another class aspire to something
greater, aud instruct tl»eir audiences
in the different sciences; and a yet
larger number deal in vague abstrac
tions, aud the whole Gospel of Christ
is never heard from them, if Christ
and Him crucified bo faithfully
preached, there will lie no danger
from special forms of error; and
ministers will not bo guder the ne
cessity of indulging in bitter denun
ciations against evils of which the
greater portion of their congrega
tion knows nothing.
This same desire to
conducted in as entertaining aud
amusing a manner as |s>ssible, also
manifests itself in the waut of rev
erence—we had almost said flippau
iu the demeanor of ministers,
and laity, too, at meetings convened
especially for the transaction of
church business. The sober-minded
and the devout have been frequently
shocked at such indecorous proceedi
ngs; but as those who indulge in
such questionable conduct almost al
ways make more pretentions to piety
and spiritual-mindcdness than those
who venture to disapprove of their
manner of conducting public” worship
and meetings, the latter have sub
mitted to the imputation of formal
ism and generally remained silent.
The exhibitions of clerical buffoon-
er y> too, with which the country is
sometimes entertained, can not tail
to have a most injurious effect, whilst
the thoughtful and reverent can not
hot mourn at the desecration of so
high au officer.
Another novelty is the fairs, festi-
v als, concerts, and, in some in
stances, even theatrical exhibitionn,
that are held for religious purposes.
A close observer can not fail to see
their demoralizing tendency, and yet
*uch is the general approbation, that
the few who veuture to offer a pro
test are stigmatized as fanatics aud
hypocritical pretenders to superflu
ous degrees of piety,, Many of the
a, ljunets of these so-called religious
charities are of so objectionable a
nature, aud it seems they can not be
inducted without these abuses, that
We know not hoto it is ]>ossible for a
Christian to justify them. We have
®and of reputable young inen ein*
bezzling the funds of their employers
rom *®portunate solicitations to pay
exorbitant prices for articles of tri
1D g value; and of tho feeling of
Modesty being entirely obliterated
°® the hearts of young girls from
^ ®g brought forward so prominent-
J on sm-h occasions iit order to
_ )(, guile these same young men iuto
extravagance which they could not
A 0r d. We w ill say no more on this
subject, but will simply introduce
the following extract:
t W TO Pay foe Chukches—
ue Iowa KirchenMatt, of September
i bas an article headed “In what
k_ii ,P au the means be obtained for
thn > supporting schools and
relies! The answer is, “By giv-
This aloue would be
Jflcifut to »bow tho spirit of the
ana , “y® this answer is plain
‘ tQ Q terse, but as it calls for aii on-
-TkuatW.ui wait* 111 lit* W
I iPr* r» » rn» |»pi$r!i i iiwm pvin
wbo atcMMl by tkf wnw, mm
»bt*t bis iHmifkm had flad. mm! with
tearful eyes mm! jMllful heart a.
I’fSil 1i#P tfHg# || M# k t fcX l'fcu u | | y||, f
ka I- sM s
h «* Mutml in mmww than
I aMSiT soaM^^^ww wap www aw*** wwmpw*
UMiitii' ■ ltiift a.' ■ Mi ftaki’M
; S Wf" v W IMrWw WwP
| IHMmm body waa lad . ami mw,
I rmi y 04#' | 4-Im^ t. it
day, Iki) ««at IlMNr
wafNBlrkre wilk »a#H ay
«miulatent. Ma peaAaraa fbw
Even the music of «wtr Lwhnmablr
churches excite* tin* smIim**.*, pity,
and almost disgust of tboae who Mrs ^
not carried away by the stream
worMliuess. They feel that aurli
music has “no unison with our ( re*
tor’s praise ;* utd often the question
arises whether it would not l«e nourr
profitable to ubeetit tbemtrlves rn
tirely from cburalies where atm m s
way «o the
a;.yA f . ^ JJ ; i
FT Mf-u
kka ova eij
pat km of evtt la
to hoar than the
(HltliM utWMl
tMMW liwfc# 0
tht * It la #s|aaUy
mama of aa
batilM* of lifts
care* sa*»ee thaa
turn ifttl arraai
that while
»«ttrteat fo
meet all tho
da tiro of ttlh, wt
of that which lie*
kem, Kvm thaoo
we aaw m raally
I had, therefore, no other method of
retrieving you bat by acting as 1
did.” Similar, If I may so apeak, is
the method of God’s dialing with
bis people. W« are all natarally
fund of our own legal performances.
Wt admire theta to oar ruin, unless
j the Holy Spirit retrieve os from oar
from folly This he does by marring, as
% •/ Mho It wore, oar bast works—that la, by
aat know by showing as their insufficiency to
th* antic! Ratify an before God. When we
are truly naught of him, wo thank
t e*d yet kiw for kia grace instead of being
nagvyr a* having ear idols defaced.
mtr hjr «sa «• m«
to
that by a J In by befog made to see that “by
foreboding the deeds of the law no flesh living
ordinary shall be jastifled.*
mallitdv oar
It fo a
aadf YfoasMsa jLtAsMnnmmik
IjRffih
to
ral
lift the ret*
aad of
which every day ha# Its foil port too.
In many of tbc Sunday selHad*
the influence of these novelties i*
still wore extensively area. The
hyiunotogy, exhibition*, »|ice« hr*,
prizes, pu*me*, etc., are all «»f a
piece. The children are certainly
am trust/ and entertained ; t he humor
ona sjieecbe* excite their risibility,
and they quite rnjoj their Sunday
schools. Far be it Irwin us to mater
it n
young
little one* of three years of age mug
ing the solemn hynins, “While Tine
I seek, protecting Power," and
“Jesus, Lover of »ay sou!,' and srern'
iugtoeiijoy i^tno "e !mu
others a little older, apraitaaeously
y nbirh they
hat for aiore
thaa they expected wa* realised
What wwssid hatamtew the ewase-
qweace »f» dtMwaragdfi hy the thoaght
ot the heavy stuaa at the dome of tha
•rfwdrfcre, they had tarsus! tsar A aad
whea It
it arilee «
“Let
>jr until to Job a w*ol4#ia> aad ga lo it;*and I
j L*r if betseri" tf ha mat he woald ha oua
yoa will varied. Now, if yna ton not join
to mover kail been railed to the door have a doable day’s bardm for a j mc, 1 Mast pray alone, for he must
They ar* in a wad difowsra ; they , single dayV slrragth f aad therefore slay. 1 ^
Thai i* a beautiIul trait tu
natnre s hkh proa«|d« s* t«» take |f aera through thf aragnify Ing me
rare tor the grate* of «wr d ad 4inm of nnhe4^nfimm^mwM be multi
There 1* no sapecslHfoa «*. it—n« plied snd rnlarged for beyond their
fanatirtxni m-r Ml). Wr know fhey rr *l nnmhrr snd imf—taacn. “Who
are n»H tiwre; «rar mtnialratkm can ahall rad as a««f the atone r
prevail in every depottinent of the, reach the departed spirit, and The nsslt pto««d that the aamkrtiea
Htrvjee even the |er» ha* dost, hot a little of these ouasea w«|e relieved; not
way beneath <or frrf, m msendtde oaty aaa the diffijfll,
alike to mrr trar* m oor «t tew than.
Aud yet * flower dmpj«r»l »»|»»n the
mound. * spng *d groen pl *nt»d ttpow
lh* naeted |«roveathst ’here a*«Hd
he something whwrh wntre* ih«
di«N‘k arol lur* tw>«md ihe •iarkrte**
of the tomb. We know m»t aft the
thought* which may hate (Hied the
U*\ mg heart* of these df% Otesl •*.«wo,
religion rop.Ulr. or wulIrMli.e *"*“> **' l ~‘
or okl, bat we hare heard "*•“') «W Ifciwghl wrwwre lo ibe«
j that their pi**«s parpoor* wa> he
deiVated They remember that the
.«■.... I . O'WO «. .i« lot) 1. t ..i (m i it a-..it. „Q t... ^... £ a tii.jL.-i. at
WlWICHfH* 111 ** UN U III# 1 VWM9> IJ»1 lUCHIf
la*rd ha*I lava Uni was hewn out ! raw’s
of the odkl tark, and s heavy «toae, j a*<nw* i was «•
pa bring rtf* him
I * s. a a ‘ fon a a a ^ i
break forth in their {day with ( d»lory
be to trial on high f and there little
hearts seenuul fall of love to God m
tbeir pun* happHie** and g'ee. The
word* were not uninteUigiUle to
them, nor sung because they ran
staidly heard them; Imt they had
been taught tow nnderstaud the »l>
ject of praise and adoration, ami
their full heart* gave utterance to
what they felt in their j«y. We do
not suppose all Hu inlay sehmd* are
thus conducte*!; we are happy to
testify from our own exj*reiei»cr to
the contrary; but such la the gene
ral Yule, and it lias become problem
atical whether they are not doing
more barm than gooil We intended
speaking of the {MHrafokMia character * #
of mauy of the book* in the libra
ries, and we know whereof we af
firm, but we foave that at present.
Hueh, it seems hr us, is the norni
ual church of the present day, !«» ;#.» * * * *.
. . , as a MM lilt" 4njj,ri ndflfls 11#’ '•< w r •♦WNl
her own estimation, “rieh, increased . . ikie
art «pn it ami oral. He i* not kem
He i* risen a* he rani t ome mm
the place where the l*wd lay !
The sequel of live stray ** well
known , mil liffr ffift® fl**nrr#l ••’Nffifluib#
to iw derived from it whleh may he
useful to na all.
The Mr*t is that we «Ho«M go
reaolutrly forrwnl in the path of
duty, despite sll tire obstacles shirk
ioav i‘oiiIr»iit us from withooi. ra
W"* 1 - ▼ **-. ititww ww SC wg V -w"*- S.S s*e -'S - 1 r -• ~ www^e
— —^ . i . , the disewdrage«are»t* srhlsb may
tire age* of death like darkiresa that
succemled that seemingly proa|ierou«
era.
Th« Pnvr of Filth
Tbs writer hewed the late aged
sod venerable Rev. Hr. Clewveland,
of Ifowton. relate the fallowing inci*
dent, illustrating Uhe power of be
Uevisg prayer.
In n revival of religion to the
•f which he waa pastor, be
t»e morning hy a mem
bur of bfo rhsrrk, a widow, whose
only won waa a sailor.
VMfo a voire trembling with eeao
tfom, she mM: “Ikr. (’leavelaAd, I
have tailed In entreat you to join me
in -pitying that the wind may
lie looked at her In silent
“VeaT she exclaimed,
“my son has gone on
board bis vessel; tbey sail to-night
uniera the wind changes ’*
“Welt, madam,** replied the doc
tot, will pray that your ran may
to cun* rated on this voyage ; but to
gtme borne again f Let at praetde, pray that God would altar tbc lavra
m In m the Good One aray eoabfo «f tho anivtlrwe on l»i* swotst. I
Mam fllbras .«*» IT r lit V MS Wiai -I ra. tuMMSn' -.urnm. tas* ♦ fl^naate SMI treukait
we*y "raw 01# iwlwwv IPra* Wrak# y |*1 "foa#HPgWbflifCewilwL
Iff a* no! amtmrifdMe eril -that fo, “tfortne,* she replied, “my heart
Info If hfwrhtai There will be tells me ihtferenlly God’s Hptrit fo
of it, and | will be bitter h**- Howl* are twiag * on verted here.
An Yna bare a meeting tbta evening,
j and. if tire wind should ehnngo,
bad not thoagbt of tbta difficulty
before, ra oeowpted had they been
with there original intention
Nevertheless, they go on. Their
objev t iln {reaispworthy t Urey are
netnated by motive* whleh even
thisre who r rue lied ||tm
condemn, and l»erha(Mi so
liectml help may
« i mvwnwa** sasrei' • #n *.-# nraw # ■ as#*!
«• to pray , “Give *« do deg owr
111 n ^1 iK . JRM* ... M flLaum. SMt t|4iM a
IgiifllnJI ramsrfl|#n| WNW* *4»#MT 1## Pt^hsg gw# 01 *P01
for today. What have yon to do
with to morrow T Thera la jm» “to
marrow,*—4t fo affi ysotevday or to
• uot | t»xt f “ftaffirietfo unto tire day fo
ihlUMiR ilfora a fo m *-iMiin'i # ** ..4 I I. I «Ai<«u't o i L
sgUfMF-m j, flffiNre FT If uffipPw wHl.kl^ ffiwMg u.xWllwg “I 0
that whfteb to jumfll®’ 1
hjfora tbey
mm wlren tin
f*r
the
aay rale, they can rtwl the grate
aad berk upon the place where He ■ *j the stone
was lying. My this time we mny sepulchre than when Hrev got
yupfMMe they were near the place sf j —way, tho only atambitog they had
their destination, and lifting np there
eye* they raw, with
lid it **|A# IWNt-J
au^itnn e#:rn aerra < r ‘” "Skim alLisalfejNfok
••“Ifl JpiWwwW 4 wPmUmP
there flrst tbongbt wan, hm raiemina
t ! have done tires; they have even
Rifled Ire* grave, taken k«m away, and
now, where abaft wo And him f Mat
there bad brew n fwmt
with gtxsls, ami having need of noth
iug;” ami yet so “wretched, mtsera
blc, poor, Idiitd, an*l naked,” (but we
fear, the late id the Loud rerun*
await* her. Of course the gates of
hell eau never prevail against the
true church. This worldly church fo
beautiful to look upon'with her gor
geo us tern pies, her stupendous Ire
nevotooi enterprises, and her many
zealous votaries. Ho it was tu the
days of Constantine, and we kuow
t|»*ronragemsnfo
a .. ra* tv ilium f # IfoaM maul ^ asm aw fe # 8-, 4 ga sam
“w 5 fol Ittw'i v *’•** W IfWtXV SW™ 4
Ml's t i 1 ! i'knwsv w 0111*0 x tvk^vak ns Hi aamtUXms^^nJI W^StitM.
»he is asleep, and the etreu»y ,
has indeed sown tare*. No wonder
iniquity- and infidelity stalk abroad
iu tire world. No wonder spiritual*
isiu blasphemously announce* in one
of its pujrer* the anticipated advent
of a wonderful woman—the Heifo
Mother, as they wickedly style her—
who is to rule over the earth, and
that at the uauie of tcoma* “every
knee is to bow ;* that Ood has hith
erto only revealed the masculine side
of Hi* character, and that now the
feminine fo to be developed. No won*
tier, under the circumstance*, that
such blasphemy should pnsa anno
ticed and unrebuked. It fo sadden
ing to dwell on these things; and
much more might be said, but we
must forbear. M. R. 8.
If we work upon marble, it will
perish; or work upon brass, time
will efface it; If we raise temple*
tbey will crumble iuto dust; but If
dtMMr of tire arcade bra i it fo
heavy for as to
this, it fo wealed with a seal si inch
It fo fekwy to hrauh—what shall w»
do 1 “Who shall rail as away tha
•Ion# r 'drey might have tarwml
l—»A ii a**av would lv*v* dfoaa
unth-r similar circamstaaoss, fost
a Iwgx t w , fg4 f f 'su*ratiw flags Tt-flk# flRflkH0 ;
se gw stgVVPy.
■ I t , ^ j ‘j* < - A
an xewwW sera nmsn pMerai ' wrs VT*»(rw*»n owe
moved also by csmscfoirew and duty.
Duty fo ones, revolts are (folk. An
foanperabfo difflcwily rag grated itself
to thera iiiitua oommso s* thev rads
tre O resaws 1 a vwv. w
tbeir way to tire aepokebre, but still
they reral e*, fonvtng tire rsawlts in
lire hands of Him to whom they
|» ... | |, t |. raoi ii ! * rissrsof# ^^^wAbanraml # a-jfowiiflflHfosraiasA-saMiaw
Hflr 1‘MwljpwfI t ffopRICPffla *
rar inoff liura llMfj iwrfwj nup mmr*
1 iiiliflit of fttuliasr thm dcn0f M ihm
• IrSlS'VMI WV vw w*evwm SIwW wwwv sv eww
mra tkivLoli ora n P tWiSintI f- #*** It s? v s>hm*
ffiflvgjworflrwi • V > S-w** w
nfvsioi/u rskilsNwl sresw . .. iwfcflrtiflfnitl if 0 thrift.
mirwrniF Jf iUHMI •"*; •“iiiformi w MU"
ing the hvuisod and Ufofons Imdy
within, tho sepulchre la empty, and
we work upon immortal minds. If we the tiring and risen lared fo at hand !
imbue them with the just fear of How often are We dfoeagraged fo the
God aud our fellow ureu, we engrave
on those tablets something that will
brighten all eternity.
of duty hy
from without, or by aaatolfoe wiibm J
Let ue give no bead to them God
“I will pray for bis conversion,"
Mud ihr ifoctor.
Ga' bfo way to the meeting, he
gfonerd st the weather vane, and. to
Ires surprise, the aiad bad changed,
and It was blowing Landward.
tbs catering his rvwwdtd vestry,
be suss observed John, sitting upon
tire front sent. The yonng man
•craned to drunk in every word, row
to be prayed lor, and attended the
inquiry ever ting
hen be soiled from port* the
WtHwff * pfBJtffiffi IMMJ Uf# , » flfllf rwi;
mmtt 0
rii# liiittliif hffif! Ifffinml flfl Ipa Jill
|re r ,<>a er forgot. The Lord had said:
reman, grant fo thy faith, he it
thee, even as them wilt."—Am.
•< i
over the stares, at all, was while they
•era •!««» tbeir way t« it. snd even
Urea it was «mty a et«me which
sa a 'femjt'gui;# s.sn ( IkS' i f' ^ I^l* gfolf flt 1 T*'l t ^
TLniti.g |... Wt' #Mrei .# uflawoW flat kotoSno 1 HkSthlli
K n heavy *hae»e If ing ranrew here
irnniffia i mmm traik * |sm fhiefm ttiffir
ms ^ews * ( w wwww^w w ™
• k. do. *<kr^*,** aaOtt. *ia w 4,1. ii
wMewreewew S * ™ s **- aa wsr eew jw w ore-s^www*
Mtwlf s fl^Mtfl *■ flnmaiff l^^^rewe'hmi aat fo atm
*** arnHw PllwfwtPlt IsWdiw ffiHfl !*■
Gad’s hands far the present, do not ' *“**'* .|
strive to remove tire one nor climb ** a aren lo suffer ami
the ether nsfof pan ambit flen U» tod f How It calms his tem|wr
arey gm| (lost the moaatMu has ' bnd MfoliMMi his spirit 1 How it
snd the stow* is ; heals bis
fiy.ig^ct A Hcjy Zs Tifa
already “tailed away * Oar datv la
with Ufa present, sod If wa ware fa*
that ns we asgbt, Oed will take mem
of Ibefutara — Jtmrid H IVrfar, |l.f»
Htr
mi inw-de of the
rapals of Ml. l‘*aiX Uefas After
t#flfi 1 % 4rfl#
I i - v» <• AM mr- • •«*■!»!# »fo ^*M gk #lt*f *ix>ewh
ffirw iPflMW 11 WIM19VB Nmfli rafl m WilffiliffilPfll 1 *
91# receded so far fstill keeping hfa
•ye intently flt«*l m the painting]
that he was oat si most to the vory
sii nnhwti flflsob mui^'rWifllKraAfl# &'•>* mr atr# vsos a
t'iajM l* Ii art Bass ewMatsaas^n flow
wi^w^^s w wuim a^i* gimmPRV s *o t
hm*m mmptotoi
mtMlBtNIf' ‘
A preooa pesos at, who
the great art, tot waa
UllUg: i4Mf MhS
to sodilewly sootoh np otw (> t the
mmI spoil the painting hy
lo inTT* fret orffiMNiWo lfl mB*
ported with rage, sprang farwrnid to
aaro the remmiader of tho ptoon.
Bat bfo rage waa tmoa tartred into
tho pa sting. I
have saved the Hfa nf tha painter.
Yoa were advnaoafl in the extremity
tf tho saiflhld withoot kaowfhg it.
Had I called aat to yoa to
—-O ■ ,* m a. Jaasm* ' re raUMi
JCMtt m j0Hffif wiwiPwi J”'*
milasmfliy fatso tnrasfl lo fool
—-— a. — mil * •- — m srsaroiiiiri sum r*tf
jp 0flm * sfaBrao ffi^Pwg®*wmlffi CJIo
a
*mt Msointa him
oith joy. -TIi# tool slipped,* says
liofoit, tn ktfo beautiful tract. The
WmUhmaher «/ fitaera. “bis tool
flUpggdy and the work waa spoiled
He repented the Attempt, aad again
he was uasuoceasfsl. A slight sud
u><>mrtftary e&prassfoa of trouble
appeared on hit eoantenatice, bat
tire Good soon (Missed away. He
clasped his hands and looked up-
• uni, while hfo lips moved ns if
ottering n silent and fervent prayer ;
the ogprasaioo of troable dirapfrearwil
—ha rasamed hfo wqyk." And so
many a gvmd man 1m liie rattagpe or
w <>( ksbcp, imivhlft the spoiling of
hfo work or the breaking of hfo tools,
or tbr auger of hfo master, or the
losing of his employment, or the
erica of his children, or the sorrows
of hit wtfa, or the sickness of his
body, or the trouble of hfo soul,
finds prayer fo the secret of peace.
And in manifold ways does religion
Ideas tbs poor asaa ia bfo pilgrimage.
Faith fo a rod with which lie cleaves
Red Seas of dtffiealty ; and God's
Word fo a pillar of Good by day,
aad of fire by night, amidst tbe
rock# of a sandy wilderness. And
Mabbath* are wslfo of waters, and
offttuanecw are boas trial and shady
palm trees ; aad prayer brings down
manna every morning; aad the
right of the crosa heals the bite,of
fiery permata; aad h«|» fo a spy
guiug beforehand, to being back the
clusters of RadboL And then, nt
fori, God’s pw—ri fo as tbe nrh in
the midst of tire river; nod tbe
imsnco dry shod into “the
wt floweth with milk sod
a
We often wonder that certain men
and women are left by God to the
commission of sins which shock us.
We wonder how, under the tempta
tions at a single hour, they tall from
the vary* heights of virtue and of
honor into silt and shame. The fact
is, there are no such falls ss these,
or there are next to none. These
men snd women are those who have
dallied with temptation, have ex
posed themselves to the influence of
it, and have been weakened., and cor
rojfodl
If we oi’bffiBiret at tbe secret his
tories of those who stand suddenly
discovered as vicious, we should find
that they had been through the most
polluting preparatory process; that
they had been in tbe habit of going
out atid meeting temptation, in order
that tbey aiight eojoy it* excite
ments; that underneath a blameless
outward life they have welcomed
and entertained sin in their imagi
nations, until tbeir moral seuse was
blunted, snd they .were ready for tbe
deed of wIiMi they thought tbey
were itica jmble.
1 very earnestly snd gratefully be
lieve in the exercise of s divinely
restraining influence ujhoi the minds
of those who are tempted; but I
believe there is a |*oint beyond which
it rarely goes. 1 do uot believe that
God will inter|NMr to prevent a man
from Stuntng who either seeks, or
w iliiufiy eiiqohuters the temptation
and the opportunity to sin. When
a maa find* charm in opportunity
and delight in temptation, be has
already committed in heart the sin
which he shrink* from embodying in
actum; and God rarely staods be
tween him and farther guilt. We
are to keep ourselves from opportu
nities, snd God will keep us from
mb. lie must tie a bard and irrever-
cot, or a very ignorant and deluded
man who can pray to be delivered
from the overcoming power of a
into whose atmosphere
bilities; what kind of loads you can
carry; what kind of aunoyanoes you
can bear; also, by considering what
opportunities are afforded ; and
where you can make yourself of
greatest consequeooe to mankind ;
but tbeu when ail such inquiries are
ended, you may be absolutely sure
of your calling by looking into God’s
oracle for it Tided inwardly by bis
divine spirit, aa you may be, iuto
tbe very thing which fo to be your
calling. And then haring found
your occupation, aad come into it hy
tbe calling of God, what satisfaction
will you have is it f How reverently,
lovingly, safely, will you invest life
in it!
temnftatkMi
be wflaing!y
Social Proprieties.
C hristian*, it is to be feared, too
often, unintentionlly, do great evil
by overlooking what may be con
sidered by some tbe mere proprieties
of life. Tbey are careful, perhaps,
in respect to all tbe cardinal virtues,
but the minor dnlies of tbe day are
almost wholly neglected, and very
many of m those things which, in
general society, are of good report,
such aa becoming manners, tastes,
general deportment, social obser
vauoes, snd the ordiuary amenities
of life, are considered beneath their
notice. Bat the truth is, this fo one
way our Christianity is to develop
itself, and by which we may effects,
ally approve ourselves before men.
And, unless we are essentially im
proved in our varied private and
public relations, in our disposition,
in our conduct, in all our habits, we
give but little evidence of the trans
forming and elevating power of
Christian piety.
The pat remark of a cultured old
lady, whose thoughts we learned
early to prize, we have often quoted,
aud now make bold to print it: “If
religion does no# make a gentleman
of one, what is it good for V
ingly enters. In fact, we are
taught to pray, not that we may be
delivered from tbe power of tempts
lion, but that we may not be led
into ii
There i* vice enough in the world
of actual life, and it ia there that we
)«** for it; but there fo more in that
other world of the imagination that
sre do not see—vice that poisons,
vice that kills, vice that makes
whited srpuMire* of temples that
are deemed pore, even hy multitudes
of their tenants. Sooner or later in
A Happy Kaa.
Reader, this is what you would
like to be. It is qnite natural. All
people want to be happy. But re
member my words this day: The
true Christian, tin believer in Christ,
the converted mao, he is the only
happy man.
Such a one is in an ark. When
the last fiery delnge is sweeping
over all things on tbe surface of the
earth, it shall not come nigh him.
He shall be canght np aad borne
securely above it all. He is in
their Ufa w ill tbey find, that from all | Christ
willing daft lane# with temptation Such a ope is in a hiding-place,
and unresisted entertainment of on- When God arises to jndge terribly
worthy and impure imaginations,
their ebararter has suffered an in
jurv which untold ages will fail to
remedy.
■m oam si*-'—— ’
“Callings."’
r MrIt
It fo an important consideration
that you. sre permitted to go into
your bnwiuc** occupation by a really
divine call. : Not many, 1 suspect,
ever think jof such a possibility, for
a merely secular employment, or for
any but that perhaps of tbe Christian
ministry. Whereas tbe real and
really grand truth is, that God has
a place far every man, iu what fo to
be hfo particular employment, as He
has a plow* for every rock, and tree,
ami river, and star.
And exactly this we assume, per
bap* without kuowiug it, vrbeu we
hjicak of this or that man’s employ
ment a* being this or that man’s
osftisf. We nse the word as iu
smothered meaning, to signify only
his engagement or hfe^cctipation;
but there Iftigers in it, we may sea,
a certain divine recollection, as if it
were his privilege to be, as by God’s
personal and particular call. He
may himself not believe, bat just as
surely aa he is in hfo own right
plaoe, be is in that to which he is
called, whether he bout ever thought
of it that way or not. Some are not
in their piaoe, and it is their infelici
ty that they never can be. But the
great majority of men, I do think,
are led, drawn, beckoned, whispered
into their calling, aome pushed in by
•tern necessity, some by urgent
wants or incapacities, some crowded
in by providential circumventions,
^feantime, a blessed few find tbeir
place* appointed by God for them.
And this most sublime and really
glorious privilege is for all, and for
all kinds of places and employments.
There fo such a thing as spiritual
guidance for men.
You can farm aome judgement of
your catling by finding what others
think of yoa f by considering, also,
your tastes, and temper, Snd cajw-
the earth, and men are calling to
rocks and mountains to fall upon
them and cover them, the everlast
ing arms shall be thrown around
him, and the storm shall pass over
bis bead. He shall abide under the
shadow of the Almighty. He is in
Christ
Such a one is ridt He has treas
ures in heaven which can not be
effected by worldly changes. He
need not envy the richest merchants
and bankers. He has a portion that
will endure when bank-notes and
sovereigns are worthless things. He
has Christ
Snch a one is isrwrwi. He is
ready for anything that may happen.
Nothing can harm him. Banks may-
break, and governments may be
overturned. Famine and pestilence
may rage around him. Sickness and
sorrow may visit his own fireside.
But still he is ready for all—ready
for health, ready for disease, ready
for tears, ready for joy, ready for
poverty, ready for plenty, ready
for life, ready for death. He has
Christ.
Reader, this happiness
yours. Seek Christ and be
Repent, believe, follow Jesus,
you trill be a happy maa.
Christian Cheerfulness.—The
Gospel is pure and genuine gladness.
It is God reconciled; it is peace in
the conscience; it is the Messed pros
pect of glory; and did we tarry un
der its oonstant shining, its hopeful
ness should gild oor oountenanoes,
and beam on all oor movements. The
Christian teacher should be an em
bodied gospel; and if despondency
or severity be onr habitual tempera
ment, we may be devout, but we are
not evangelical. We have got a
wrong version of the ohristian reve
lation, and are giving forth an erro
neous view of it. But, more than
this, few have ever effected anything
important, as reformers or evange
lists, who do not carry with them a
genial atmosphere, and look at tbe
brightest side of thiugs.