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126
hi!* viewsare not clour a"d ins virtuous feeling
not irrefutable, ‘l'ho capacity foe enjoymti
or kufiering, which constitutes a part ot our tia
fure,’ necessarily produces a desire to be happ
and to avoid misery. To tins desire the doc
trine of rewards and punishments is addressee
and when God contiru.s his precepts by swell
function, be therefore tines no more than to ad
npt Ins treatment of us to the he
lias giien to us.
If (Inivers.dists allege that they dfJßffh' e J ec ' :
tb-j doctrine of rewards mid but
only limit die continuance of the S ; }<> the
present state of being ; we think I, QP" c,ent to
leply thnt such u limitation destroys it, or, to
.., t y the b ust, renders it so ambiguous, that no
out- can Im Cei tnu whether it huve any exist
ence or be worthy of notice.
OH, (: i sJT I N!)".SEIsECTBP.
lor the Repertory.
‘n r . P’rxtroit : In your paper of the nth inst.
j u. writer, who My led hims* If /•'< imd
cJi'.i Friend, expressing Ins surprise that
nr V should be found in this day “ who
s'ln i .4Yp--r.lv, or .iHtisnely, defend the doe
tri . -..-it ,tn iii.ioraiit mid illiterate ministry is
lnurv fitiV, ami equally useful, with one improv
ed ;‘>y irtrn.ng and good sense.” This he gives
us t .• niiderstond, is the doctrine of a writer
who sty is iitmsflf -1 Methodist. The same
tnis'iis c had hren fallen into, (or rather n worse
cm) some tipie since, by his Friend Enoch, who
found it vety convenient to take this vietv ol
the doctrine, in order to evade the force of my
argat*.- ot*. and s.n - himself the trouble of giv
j,;” a candid unsophisticated reply. In the
outset of ii*v former remarks 1 stilted, l dc-
F)ro distinctly to be understood, that l do not
oppose learning in a minister, or any one else ;
lam well pleased with all this— o3 Voppose
because l contended tint wo should act consist
ent with oitr principles as a church, that it GoiJ
jna-1-’ choice of an unlearned mail, instead of
r'otainii:*’ him trnm the work to winch lie is
called, to qualify him, scud him out, exhorting
him to “ study to show himself approved unto
Uod,” At". lam charged with contending for
an ignorant ministry. If the Almighty want
ed nil learned men for (he ministry', he could
call all of this dr-scriptinn, far *c have a plenty
out of which the section could he made. It he
chose to make it- Why then, I would nsk, m
the name of common srnsn, data he nma
choice of illiterate men at all? l.e <m,.s souio
learned, whv not call nil 1 I did give the Apos*
tics yens before, and w ill give them njrainiiinre
fullv, for they express exactly v hat 1 contend
for’ 1 Cori ch. “not many wise men after tae
not inativ nnghtv, not many noble, are
on’ih-d, hut find hath chosen the foolish things
of liie world to confrjuml the wise ; nnrl God
hath chosen the weak things ot the world to
confound the .nighty, and base tiling ol Urn
world, and tilings which are despised, hath God
chisel!, vea ami things which are not, to bring
to nonglit tilings that, arc” and tel is us tnc rea-
L, of this seemingly strange course m the m
vpr economy, that mi fltsh should glory m his
prWrice. - How any man that holds the pmic:-
pb-.s ofo-ir eliur. !i, can read this passage, mu.
pi,., sa - it is God's i rerogat’.vi to euii and our.
duty\n qualify, is perfectly mineeomitahle tr
me. This tc <t contains all I contend for fin
I-!., R.|iy—To 1 . r.’s. Friend, 1 now /tale,
tint the n\nioover which 1 write, was not i/itei d
,-il to rt f. -Vi t-i my opponent, but simp!/ to ex
press whai 1 - tithe, A Methodist. Also.
II is true 1 fi*H rr. .Imposition to pridong the
controversy, hiit 1 can assure you 1 did not ih
c.llne replying to your friend, I,cause l thought
his nrcutnent ivcigetv, or lits evasions too subtle
t 0 |,e Intevtcu, hut far reason* assigned. —Aon
,s,’er.i to attach too much importance to my re
s-arks which 1 neither dewed wor expected.
A .METHODIST.
njarus 1 11ui• i iiuuuui • -m- ■
A .METHODIST.
TO PIOUS dealers IN ARDENT
SPIRITS.
“Ivmc vo.t will pinion me for saying,J rc
aJ, *t Iho prospect of the speedy non. iuHiou
of (mr fraternity. I rejoice that have \iot
nov tie-, honor of addressing, as formerly, a ili
nie.-,i,s und respectable body of Christians, oat
merely a small remnant of an expiring race.
Aft having said tiiis, I feel bound to give yon
this reasons of tiiis joy, tint you may see I do
iiot dehjrht in your misery for its own sake,
Well Ami I rejoice,—-
1. Krause ft. of ardent spirit tends toj
A J WI the health and lives of men : >*> j
“’ l ; --l thousands to an untimely giaw,.
netuMl con9, *‘‘ tV .vmtf I
•2. Because the use ot spirits tends to no .
ti.nc nnc. money, netr'.eet ot Dism -
health, *,*l shortens the period of providing to.
the subsis ence of a family. ln j.unlrn
th 3“S.rth*t u'serfVpint* ten is to harden
sst^-^Ss®:
wives'and’ and to increase the manlier
Af ..aor widows tnd orphans* , ,
1 bJSJm the use of spirits . t™*"\
4 ; r lit,oat CO, fighting, blasphemy, and
murder,and send, thousands into ete.-mty... the
midst of their sins* the benefit
■” sßlk‘aSt5 B lk‘ aSt drives children of the benefit <
Lr m ,, n l and religious education, and the in
,r li ,n,iv in the world to come.
6 Been .se the use of ardent spirits counter
wU the Spirit of God in his work of reffcncra
tine, sanctifying, and saving the souls ol met/,
and thus prevents the salvation of many immir
‘"V'o'cSase every dealer in ardent spirits con
tributes his share to all tl.ese evils, -beca.se
he aids in dwtroyingtbe reputation, and heat I,
knd fives Os his fellow reducing them
tp poverty, in ftindi ag^hoface of the poor? in
GEORGIA CLIRtSTIAN RKyfcRTOItV—PETOTEP TO RELIGIOUS,
robbing wives and children ofgheir husband
uid fathers, society of its useful members,
Christ of the reward of his sufferings, God oi
his glory, and heaven of its inhabitants.
8? Because in continuing to sell ahlent spir
its, you destroy your own peace of mind, and
deprive yourselves of the consolations Hint en
joyments of religion. It is impossible lor any
mill now to shut his eyes against the conse
quences of this truffle, without closing them a.
the same time against the light on nil olher (
subjects. lie cannot read a journal, whether
religious, literary, political, agricultural, of
commercial, without meeting with cosciencs
striking facts and awful warnings on this sub
jeot. He cannot hear a sermon, or an exhorta
tion, or a prayer, or social conversation, with
out feeling that lie is in imminent danger or
listening to remarks or allusions deiogatoiy to
his vocation. He cannot attend a chuich meet
ing without seeing that, contrary to the apos
tolic exhortation, lie gives offence to the Church
of God. Every paragraph that meets his eye or
Ins ear respecting that awful pestilence that is
abroad in the earth, shows him that lie is help
li, °- to pr. jxire the wav tor its deslrue.iv e march
through our land.
1). He cannot pray for the blessing of God
upon his business ; because that would be ask
ing God to aid him in destroying the bodies
and souls ot men,- —the appropriate work of the
devil.
10. I!c cannot embark with the people of
God in any holy or benevolent enterprise.
Were he to engage with zeal in uny good wort.,’
the inconsistency of his character would sta o
him in the face, and call foith from all aro'intl
him the severe rebuke, “ Physician heal thy
<Sclf.” The continual violation of known vbli
gntiofis to refrain fr/m evil, closes the heart
against all desires /> do good; and a disregard
of the miseries produced hv one’s own conduct,
renders him insensible to distresses arising from
other causes, if*’ has no heart therefore to
sympathise with those who are perishing i*
their sins, and ev en if he had, every effort to
hold forth the word of hie to those around linn,
would only condemn his own immortal tradic,
nnd give the ,-eeniy occasion to blaspheme
-11. Evorv vender of ardent spirits who is a
professor of reliirion, is not only a useless mem
ber of the Clnirclif hut is a dead weight hang
ing to it, impeding its progress in accotoplish
fbg iho great design of its institution, which is
I lie reformation and salvation of a sinful and
dying world.
.. Now, gentlemen, those lire some of the rea
sons tvhv i r< juice in the rapid decline of your
frateaift'v. And they lire so many reasons, so
lemn and important as the interests of eternity,
why you sln.-i/ii quit this unholy traffic without
ddav. V. hr/ reasons can you assign for eon
tinning thusflo make merchandise of the bodies
am| souls of men? None in the world, except
the pr ciuiipy profits of this merchandize 1 But
what is a man profited if he gain the whole
world and loseitisown soul, or ho instrumental
in dcstrifving the souls of others? And is it
possible that a professor of religion, with a Bi
ble in his house, has never seen or heard oflhe
Divine command, to seel; first the Kingdom of
fluid and his righteousness, —and that the love
of money is the root of nil evil; and docs lie not
see that, in loving it more than the glory of
God, lie i.- as really an idclatar us if he bowed
down, ill this Chustian land, and worshiped <i
graven image ?
Hut suppose that money is the one thing
ive.ifel; and how does a Ghi'istian expect to
obtain or enjoy it, without the blessing ol God?
and how can lie expect that blessing on ail em
ployment which tends to ruin the temporal and
eternal interests of men? He dares not even
prey for God’s blessings on the sale of anient
spirits.— Cvn. Ohs.
From the Sunday-School Journal.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL THEOLOGY.
Proper.—- AVc hear too little of prayer ns a
privilege, and when urged exclusively as a pos
itive duty, it wants that recommendation to the
feelings of affection and love with which it ought
to he invested. From its very nature, indeed
it should he regarded in this light, ‘ljd: fust
inquiry of the mind, when made scnstMe oi the
holiness of the divine attributes, and the vile
ncss of the human character, wonj/sceui to he,
“Am 1 indeed permitted to lift my voice in
supplication to the holy Sovemgn °l l^e lln '”
verse? Mav 1, a guilty rebel, (lure to suggest
Unv wants to Him whose authority I have ilespi
pt’,n Ami will lie condescend to listen to a
‘njtitiou for mercy from ho, instead of liav-
Ijn.r any claim on His compassion, has outraged
~|f iv is past goodness and forbearance . \> e
should suppose this/to he the strain of the con
victed sinner’s tlitughls, and that he would not
ff .vk for commnids and injunctions to force
him to u positive duty Ills doubt will bo—not
must l—hut mar I come.
must i— nut
We need not snv that such is preeminently
the feeling ofjtlc Christian in approaching his
God. His I liar l sympathises with the affec
tionate encoprugeniciit of the apostle, when
cnnte.npkti.t2 the way opened through the
priesthood ofthfi Saviour, he invites Ins people,
“ Let ns draw/I. ear with a true heart, in full as
surance of )Mtli; let us come boldly to the
tlrsi.e of j price.”
lurone. in I
As it is/bf importance that every heart should i
continue sensible, that for answers to prayer
we ure dependent on the soverc ; gn grace of
God through the intercession of tile Mediator,
and not on the worth of our petition*, so wcshall
find it the most effectual way of urging the sin
ner to pray, to show him the absolute need of
of his taking this step before he can expect any
regard front the divine mercy. All the eneour
jUremonl to supplication should be set before
turn, along with the truth* that i,Js his own
interest that is involved iu the iswte, and that
tlie glory of the Divirc Being is independent ot
his creatures; that prayer is ns atonement for
.sin; that there is nothing mentorious in asking
for salvation; and that God will only regard it
i sp far as it is the evidence of a sincere desire to
i rttunj to Him with faith and pemfcnccr
We cannot too soon inoulento this sense ol
the noed of prayer. To affect it we must not
allow children to obtain the idea that their
morning and evening devotions are magic sen
tences, tic utterance of w hich is their safe
guard from harm. Let a parent begin by con
lincirtj; this child of his inability to protect and
guarajiitn fjmm the clangers to which he is most
expofltet! ? that lie cannot give him sleep, or ap
petite-, Or. happiues?. Let bini exemplify and
illustmte this fact night and morning, until the
child set la thnt he must look to a higher pro
tector aiuf preserver. Thus Jet him he taught
to ask tint divine guardianship with the real
impression that God alone can take care of Jiim.
On such an impression it will he more easy to
engraft tljc persuasion, that to the satiic source •
he must Inogi’or the forgiveness ofhis sins and 1
the purification of liis heart. lie will he led -
to realize Ws constant dependence on his hear- >
enly Fatl/r, and, through his blessing, will grow *
up with this conviction continually strengthen
ing in liAs hcait. Prayer will he a meaning, a
svveer, Vn indispensable privilege to such n heart.
A\ f/ero this care is not taken to instruct the
child; or other beginner in prayer, in the nature ‘
and/objeet of the service, and where it is en- 1
joined without reference to its connexion with ‘
the blessings sought, prayer will he likely to he 1
irksome,or to he regarded as meritorious. Ou 1
the other hand, let it be spoken of and recifti
mended as the saints have ever spoken of it, ;5 •
a prtcious privilege, and the means ofcoinniun
uig with God, mid obtaining his blessing, and 1
there will he a deeper sense of the need of ‘
prayer, a more winning encouragement to its ‘
exercise, and growing joy and admiration at the 1
condescention wrhich permits man to address ‘
Ids Maker, and provides a divine Mediator and 1
Intercessor to present his supplications witliac- 1
ccptance. Then will the heart respond to the I
exhortation of David: “O come, let us worship ’
and how down : let us kneel hi fore the Lord,
our maker, fob jwjis otn now.’’
( */ j
Trorn IbeVAm. I’aftors Journal.
1 I Lff ASSURANCE.
Is it not the privilege of Christians to arrive ‘
at such clear grin convincing proof <sf their ud- i
option, as to yehiovu all doubt 1 Has not the
Holy spirit delineated i d*® Sovijitinv's the i
traits of character, and the particular feelings ol
the Christian, with so much exactness that the
child of God need not mistake? lain uware 1
that many Christians spend most ol thei • lives
without “ u strong conclusion,” though they
“’have fled for rd'iigo, to lay hold upon tlm hope
set before them.” They seem to lake lor grant
ed thnt they must necessarily remain “all their
life time subject to bondage, through fear.’
Hut such were not the views and feelings of the
the ancient saints. David, and Job, and Hoz
ekiah, ami Paul, spake with the greatest confi
dence of the integrity of their full assurance
that God was their reconciled Father, and ever
lasting portion ; and that this assurance was
the privilege, not only of inspired men, hut ol
the saints generally, is evident front the fact,
that they tire exhorted to “ give diligence, to
make their calling and election sure,”—“ to
know themselves,” —“to he not deceived,” &c.,
and also, from the confident expressions which
Christians are permitted to use ; “VA c know
that we have passed from death unto lift**
“V. o know that we arc of truth.”—A', c know
that ue (God) ahidetli in us.” &c. This con
tinence or assurance of Christmas, is not a mere
impression made on the mind, they know not
I how or why : but it arises from a comparison
jof their own exercises with the declarations oi
Cod in his word.
My attention has been turned to tins subject
recently more than common, in consequence oi
a visit I made a few day’s siuce, to a ehauibei
of disease. There I saw and heard what was
to mo profitable, humbling and eddying.
There was a mother in Israel, pining away mi
ller tlm withering hand of consumption. Hut
while sickness and pain were rapidly demolish
ing the earthly,tabernacle, her soul seemed to
gaze upward* to tko “building of God, the
house not made with hands eternal in the hea
vens, ’’ and to “desire to port, and be with
Christ.,” as though she considered “tar het
ter,” than to abide longer in the flosli. After I
had made some remarks of a consolatory tin- (
tore, and recited some of the i/omises of God <
to his pcdple, under afflictions,her countenance •
beamed with joy, and told thoGioly emotions of
her soul. It was with extreme difficulty she
could articulate and then oily in a whisper. <
Taking niv hand, and drawing it close to her i
lips, she said, in substanco is follows :
‘ . I .. i\ . I 1
“I am happy- 1 now etjoy a full nssitranco ‘
of hope. Formerly, I waainuch troubled with I
doubts and fears. I used Jo say, ‘Lord, I be- (
lieve, help /hou mine unjeliefbut still my <
unbelief continued, and rt>’ apprehensions re- I
specting myself were somjume awfully distress- 1
ing. After I was taken tnpre tinwell, and was .
apprehensive that 1 should not recover, I felt ;
that 1 could not bear to die without the assu- .
ranee of hope. I caked upon God day and
night, tlial ho would luivc mercy on me. 1 1
pleaded Ins promises; ‘ l niWer will leave thee ‘
no- forsake theeMijm tlikt cometli to me,
1 will in no wise cast out;’ 4 ftnr not for I have
redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name:
tliou art mine. When thou passest through the
waters, I will he with thee: and through the
rivers they shall not overflow thee. When thon
.. i .1. _ *1 „l. n U 1..
rnoia uivj -
walkest through the lire, thou shalt not be
burned; neither shall the flame kindlo upoh
thee. For 1 am the Lord thy God, the holy on A
of Israel, thy Saviour.’ 1 felt unworthy of God’sJ
mercies. I saw that I was a guilty, hell-deserv
ing sinner. My soul was weighed down
with the heavy loud of my sins. But 1 cried
the more earnestly to the Lord tofdit'lp, i‘Lonl,
save me—l perish.’ I felt thnt 1 cookl not be
denied. I said, 4 Lord 1 cannot let thee §P ex
cept thou bless me.’ 1 clung fast RrrtJse mercy
seat and pleaded and pleuded for deliverance.
My doubts and fears fled. It was at\he foot
i of the cross that my burden left me. I’ saw
that there was n infinite fountain of the blood
, of Christ, where the greatest sinners might be
purified from all thdr defilement and gerflG* I
could no longer doubt his love to me and hit
interest in him.
I told her that I was glad to see her in this
happy state of mind. She then inquired re
spefcting my feelings, whether l had, the assu
rance of hope. On learning that I was not ve
ry confident respecting the safety of tny state,
she asked again, *‘AA hat do you mean to do?”
She was told that I designed to he more faith
ful, and give more diligence, to make my call
ing and election sure. “Do,” said she, “do.”
I took my seat near the bed, and spent a few
moments in silent meditation. O, thought I,
this dear saint occupies a station which might,
-well he envied by the “great ones” of this
world. A station, nearer to (hat of angels than
uny other this side of heaven. How would mi
nisters preach, and how would Christians live,
and what an impression would the world get of j
the value of religion if all the people of God :
came up to this privilege.
From the roitmitnrn of a Christian Gentleman.
SUNDAY OF A CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN.
The Christian gentleman does nothing for
display, nothing with affection; and yet he car
ries to all things a sort of sacred tact, and an
unconscious propriety of behavior. His walk
into church und his walk out of it, are like his
walk in lifo, decorous, simple, and sedate.
Full of the honesty of real meaning, Lis car
fringe comports with his situation and object; j
lie neither courts nor shuns observation; he has i
a direct and professed purpose in going to
church, and to that he addresses himself, with- |
out regard to the eye or comment of man; it |
is his commerce, with eternity, his earnest ne
gotiation with his God; his heart ism it; there
is nothing foreign* to it in his look or innnucr;
neither gcsttilations, nor salutations, nor w his
perings, nor greeting, divide his attention —
nothing disturbs the polarity of his mind. On
leaving the house of prayer he w alks fjmctly
and uncovered, till he Cease to tread oil holy
ground. While others are impatient to resuinb
their worldly topics his thoughts still linger
within the sanctuary; while others arc employ
ed in remarks on the preacher, or his sermon,
he tacitly esainincs and criticises hiiusell;
while others fall hack within the world’s en
closures, he continues his pilgrimage onward,
with iho land of rest before him ; while ths?
loose devotion of others drops from them at the
church porch, his habitual religion takes faster
hold upon him, with every renewed exposure;
its analogies follow him into life and society;
his soul, which lias dressed itself before the
mirror of tile Gospel, still wears its w Kite inves
titure, attracting the homage of gentle spirits,
and forbidding the touch of unhallowed com
munication.
The heart of n Christian gentleman is in a
tender state when lie conics new from the house
of (hid ; a tenderness which becomes soreness
whou he contemplates the state of things around
him. Scarcely lias he come into the open air,
when the sound of wheels, and silly talk, and
insane laughter, assails Ins ears; scarcely is he
out of the hearing of God’s awful dealings with
his creatures, the records of his might, the
mysteries of his grace,nd the visitations of his
wrath; hardly has the organ censed, or ihc
churchyard been crossed, when a world hursts
upon him, wherein an open indifference to all
these things prevails; wherein the Sabbath is
employed, us if the Lord's brief term in it had
run out, and the inheritance, with n full right
of disposition, had reverted to man, to devote
it as interest, or humor may suggest —to traffic,
toil, or diversion ; to the office, the counter, or
the festive hoard; to gossipping visits ; to the
gathering and propagation of uows; or to the
fluttering tumults of parks and promenades.
From such unlovely scenes, the Christian
gentleman is glad to escape into the bosom of
his family ; happy if thn domestic scenes pre
sent a contrast to whutlie has witnessed abroad.
Anil it in genera! must so do; for the wise ex
ample and admonitions of a parent have our
better nature on their side; nnd, what is better
still, the earnest of that new nature, which is
the great conqueror of the will, and the reclai
mer of our wild humanity.
Tho ways of God are unsearchable. A
Christian is not always allowed to see the con
summation of his pious wishes in respect to his
children’s dispositions and principles; such a
case, however, is un anomaly in life, and a
mystery i/i the divine administration. A stub
born heart is sometimes made more stubborn by
caresses, nnd is in a manner congealed in the
temperature of a father’s embrace, or a mother’s
bosom; bnt it is the ordinary course'of Provi
dence to bless the endeavors of a Christian in
his purential rule. When such is the constitu
tion of a family, tho Christian father has tran
rpnllity about his heart, which clieors him in
the midst of a misjudging world. It is his dc
lighton the evening of the Lord's day, to draw
the curtain between the scene of home, and the
great theatre of Sabbath profanation ; to read
and meditate upon the Scriptures of truth; to
vindicate within the circle of his children and
dependants, Jehovah’s claim to the total Sun
day ; to make it a day of deep interior delight;
nnd to give it a refuge from the storm without,
ui the reiiiomcnt of his peaceful domicil.
WHAT IS RELIGION ?
True Religion, one has vevy happily observ
ed, is that which makes a good man, —which
renders one pious towards his God, conformed
to the pattern of his Saviour, benevolent to his
follow men, humble in his temper and man
rrehs, pcuceable in his society, just in Ins treat
ment to till, strict in government of himself, pa
tient in adversity, and attentive to his duty in
all conditions and relations of life. When you
saa such a character, yon may believe that reli
gtwi is there. Reader, when you find tliis to
be ’ ouf character, you may believe that wisdom
hag jemercd into your heart.
If you.see a man meek, humble, peaceful,
soher and benevolent, careful to practice piety
t. Vimself, and promote it among others, you may
#foly think him religious, tliougli you suppose
! him to have adopted some groundless •pinions.
l If yea see one contentious abotrt rcligicrn* ‘con-
iletnning all wflh. toHk*not as he does, mor
zealous to make pKsejytes and
opinion, than to make gqodj’meii out ofhis
proselytes, whatereryou may think of his heart,
vou- will at least conclude that his zeal is not
according to jutfgmeut. * ‘
Judge then of the truth, and the importance
of doctrines, by their practical tendency, and
observable effects. For as the design mid tc>-
’ deucy ot* the gospel is tp make men better, so,
\if any doctrine bus a-contrary influence, yon
may conclude either that it is not a doctrine ot
the* gospel, or that it meets with a temper
ceedingly perverse. —-AT. E. Herald.
IRISH MISSIONS—MISSIONARY NOTICE. 3
Interesting Experience.
Among the many interesting experiences
that we heard on that occasion, M. C. (formerly
Ia Roman Catholic) stood up and said, “ Here
I stand, who have been taught to sny my prayers
on beads, and go to mass, which I attended un
til I was upward of twenty years of ngc, when
I happened to hear a Wesleyan missionary
preach, and felt that I was n sinner. I then
heard regularly when 1 couid, these men ot
God ; at length my father told me that I must
hear them no more, or'else'.leave his house. 1
asked him, Why lie said so?’ Was I not a better
son than when 1 was cursing, , and
drinking? (which he knew I was guilty ot be-
I fore 1 heard the Methodists) and why should ho
j now send me away ? He said that the priest
! told him, that nothing would do well with him,
I if he would allow me to stay in his house nud
hear the swaddlcrs;? that, therefore, I must
j hour them no more, or else leavo him forever.-
This I refused to do, and immediately packed
up my clothes, und said, ‘Father, the Lord is a
rich provider; 1 will trust in him.’ 1 kneeled
down and him and his, and bade him
farewell, with the tears rolling down my checks:
and now I can say, to the glory of God, that he
is indeed a rich provider; he has given me a
partner that fears and loves him ; and though I
had not one shilling when I left my father’s*
house, I have now abundance of this world’s
goods, the privilege of lodging a missionary,
and a largo class at my house. But tlje best
of all is, the power and presence of Christ ia
my heart. O how thankful ought I to he, that
1 have escaped out of darkness, superstition,
and idolatry 1”
TO THE YOUNG CONVERT.
Remember two things; first, that ‘ life is ne
ver given for its own sake, hut for its uses.
Your spiritual lifo is given to you* that you may
“live to God ;” you are to walk in his ways, to
hunger and thirst after his righteousness, and
to delight in lus service. Then secondly, re
member that your Christian life is in ‘a very
feeble state.’—lf indeed you are truly convert
ed, you truly live ; but your life at present is
i the life of and childhood.—Your
; knowledge is small, your faith weak, and your
, charity hmitc.d Consider then, that you require
i to he rooted and grounded in the truth; that
. you are to grow in knowledge and in grace;
i and that you are to give all diligence, to add
: to your fust li virtue, and to virtue knowledge,
i and to knowledge temperance, and to temper
ance patience, and to patience godliness, and
* to godliness charity-” Conversion is not the
1 end of your course, hut its beginning. It istlio
i strait gate, opening on the narrow way; and
! all that way you must tread if you would arrive
t in heuven ! Lon. Even. Man.
O
S ALNESS.
There is n mysterious feeling that frequently
passes like- a cloud over the spitit. It conics
on the soul in ttie busy hustle of life, jn the so
cial the calm and silont retreats of sol
itude.— Its. powers ore alike supreme over the
weak and iron-hearted. At one time it iscaused
by tho flitting of a single thought across tho
mind. Again, u sound will come booming
across the ocean of memory, gloomy and solemn
as the death knell, overshadowing all the bright
hopes and sunny feelings of the heart. Who
can describe it, and yet who has not felt its
withering influence? It is a delicious sort of
sorrow ; and like a cloud dimming the sun
shine of the river, although causing a moment
ary shade of gloom, it enhances the beauty cjf
returning brightness.
Enthusiasm nnd Superstition.— Enthusiasm
is an evil much less to he dreaded tlmn super
stition. Ihc latter is a disease of opinion,
winch may he transmitted with fresh accumu
lation of error from age to age.—lt j s the spirit
of slumber in which whole nations are iminef<-
. facing religion, which is most foreign to
its nature m depending for acceptance with
End on absurd penances or unmeaning cere
monies, it resigns the understanding to igno
rarice and the heart to insensibility. No gene,
reus sentiment, no active virtues ever issucYrom
superstition.
Superstition is the disease of nations; enthu
siasm that of individuals. The former grows
more inveterate by time; the latter is cured by if
Power- of Eloquence. —The accomplished
scepttc, Chesterfield, was present when Whit
field, presented the votary oft sin under the
figure of a blind beggar, led by a little dog.—
I lie dog had broken the string The blind
cripple, with h.s stall, it dropped down the de
scent too deep to send hack an echo. Ho
ougltt u on the ground, and bending forward,
took one careful step to recover it. But he trod
Ml V S Cy ""?? ed f r r , a ,nonii;nt —and as he
fell headlong, Chesterfield sprang from his seat
exclaiming, “By heavens, he is gonel’f
Os all the enemieTof idleness, want is tire
most formidable. Fame soon found to be a
sound, and love a dream avarice and ambition
may be justly suspected ofbeing privy confede
rates w.th idleness; for when they Vave fora
win e protected their votaries, thc/often deliv
r°ar. th,ir ,ives *4 *>£!„.
w want 1. erselfls * oftcif o veroome; * and very 1