The Christian index. (Washington, Ga.) 1835-1866, September 21, 1833, Image 4

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44 with the missionaries and the pastors that are needed. Unless we carry such instruction to them, few of those brethren will ever receive it at all. And no considerate man can expect to furnish from abroad any very large portion of the evangelical laborers that should be em ployed in France. Native Frenchmen them selves in whose hearts the love of God and of souls has been shed abroad, must be taught, that they may he able ministers of the Testament. And, in most instances, they can be far more useful to the people than foreign ers. This way, too, is fur the most economi cal, in every respect. The sum necessary to support, for one year, a missionary sent from America, would, if duly managed, educate a native French preacher; so that, in his sphere, he might be even more useful than the mis sionary himself lie would now be prepared to labor his whole life; and, mingling with his own countrymen, he could be sustained with the aid of a very small part of the sum necessary to sustain the foreigner; and soon, in most instances, with no aid at all from us.— Besides, his labors, during his whole life, would be worth, alisulutely beyond all estimate, more than they would have been, hail we made no provision for his being suitably instructed. If the churches are ever to emerge from their confused and feeble state ; if the mouths of gainsayers are to be stopped; if the gospel in its simplicity is to be commended to the tindcrsturidingo ami the conweienciea of men of all ranks and conditions; then the religious teachers must become, in some good measure, qualified for their work. Ido not say that no one ought to enter the ministry who has not fussed through a course of public education, tut I do say that every public religious tea cher ought to possess, by some means, con siderable mental culture; lie ought to be pret ty well acquainted with his own language; he ought, if possible, to have a somewhat more than ordinary measure of general information; above all, (next to vital piety,) lie ought to have sound and salutary views of the gospel, and be able to wield, with tolerable skill, ‘the sword of the spirit, w hich is the word of God.’ Experience and common sense, wherever an experiment lias been made, have declared that so much at least, is requisite in any country. And how manifestly must it be requisite in a country like France! Already, five or six promising young men hi that country, of whom 1 have knowledge, ardently desire to lie instructed. They are in the painfully interesting slate of the two in the department of the North, who, in the simple and striking language of tiicir coun trymen, have been mentioned ns being ‘zealous to labor in the set vice of Christ, if someone uuiulil have pity on them, anil In lp them to obtain instruction.’ They will, there can be no doubt, most thankfully avail themselves of such provision as the Board may sec lit to make. And not much is necessary. No buil dings need to he erected. What is needed at present is, not a great, nor formal and costly establishment, but a very simple and unosten tatious, yet efficient one, adapted to the actual wants of our brethren. If it enjoy the smiles of Heaven, it will, with comparatively small expense, produce immense results. It will grow with the growth, and strengthen with the strength of the churches; and, not long alter wc are summoned to our account and Our repose, it will supersede, perhaps altogeth er the necessity of American aid in France, and loavo our children that shall then stand in our places, to put fbrth all their missionary etlorts lor the conversion of other portions of the world. With profound respect, Yours sincerely, IRAH CIIASE, The Prize now offered to the Society of Christian Morals. In the arrangements for the annual pub lic meeting, Mr. Rostan was requested to deliver an explanitory. address immediate ly after the announcement then to be made by the presiding otlieer, respecting the of fered prize, llis remarks on this occa sion wore published with the proceedings of the society, and afterwards in a separate form. A translation of them made, at my request, by Mr. Isaac M. Wilmarth, is here subjoined. They must be gratifying to every friend of Christianity, especially when he considers the place and the cir cumstances in which they wore delivered. May Heaven bestow a signal blessing on this and other efforts, to awaken the seri ous attention of the French to the most im portant of all subjects. And may many an inconsiderate wanderer of our own country also, think on his ways, remem ber his responsibility, and turn to Him, who is the way, and the truth, and the life. A STATEMENT OF THE MOTIVES, which have induced the Society of Christian Mo rals to oiler a premium for the best essay on the necessity of every man’s formed fix ing religious principles, pronounced in Pa ris, at the public session of said Society, April 18th, 1883. By Mk. J. C. Rostan. Gentlemen: Being entrusted by tin; council of the Society of Christian Morals, with the hon orable charge of lay ing before you the mo tives which have induced them to propose to the assembly a question of great impor tance; permit me, at the outset, to place before the eyes of those persons, who may not yet be acquainted with our Society, the principle on which it is founded. “The object of the Society,” ns stated by the first and second articles of their reg ulations, “is to present and recall inces santly to the minds of men, the precepts of Christianity in their purity; to make them observe the happy influence which these precepts exert upon the institutions, the ci vilization, and the prosperity of nations; to convince men, and especially the rising generation, that there can be no real and durable happiness, but in keeping the pre cepts of the gospel.” The regulations, you are aware, gentle men, are like the charter and constitution al law of every regular society; they un questionably bind the conscience of every member, and impose upon him a moral oh- i bligation, which lie is not permitted to vio- I late, till he has declared his intention of | renouncing the advantages as well as the < duties of the association. Voluntarily rnn-1 < ged under the sacred banner of Christian Morals, we have then engaged to present to the minds of men, incessantly , (observe the expression,) that is, to propagate, the moral precepts of the gospel, avoiding scru pulously whatever might strike a blow a gainst the peace and union, which should reign among all the members of the great CJhri&tian family. Having had the honor to participate in the first efforts of the founders oft this Soci ety, permit me to say that its very founda tion was the result of a deep conviction of the absolute necessity of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, as a principle of pre serving, reforming and perfecting the exist ing social order. Indeed, Ido not fear to assert that of all the very important ques tions to which we have successfully called public attention, none is more in harmony with the spirit and wishes of our founders, than that which we propose to you to day: “Is it every man’s duty to endeavour to form settled principles in religious matters, (Si always to conform to them in his words and actions'!” The absolute form in which the question is presented, is an act of ho : mage which we cheerfully render to the principle of universal toleration, proclaim ed in the gospel as loudly as the necessity of comparing our personal convictions with the declarations of the word of God. Now, gentlemen, to enable you to ap preciate at once all the importance, whe ther theoretical or practical, of the propos ed question, it will lie sufficient for me to exhibit it in connection with the grand precept of the gospel, the foundation of all religion and of all morals. The philoso phers of antiquity were able to comprehend by the legitimate use of their natural facul ties, and perhaps by indirect communica tions with the people who were the deposi tories of revelation, that man, upon the earth, has duties to fulfill towards God, to wards himself, and towards his fellow creatures. But could all the genius and love of the beautiful, the true and the good, which animated Pythagoras, Socrates, Pla to, Cicero, Epictetus, and men of kindred spirit, lead them to grasp—to comprehend that divine oracle which embraces, which comprises in a single sentence, in the most sublime manner, all the duties of man, all the duties of the creature towards the Cre ator? “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, and with all thv might, and thy neighbor as thyself.” The Creator, without doubt, for the happiness of Iho crea ture, requires and exacts of him, the con secration, the sacrifice, the entire devo tion of all the faculties of his being. Eve ry Christian pulpit, every Jewish school, and every Mussulman sect, receiving equal ly his commandment as an order of God, are agreed ns to its universal application and unfathomed depth—a depth equalled only by that of the revelation which God gave of his own being, when ho defined it in a single word: Tam that I am—he who is, who was, and who is to come . Now, allow me to ask, if the duties which God has prescribed, suppose that we ought to consecrate to him all our ac tions, all our words, all our thoughts, can wo deem it reasonable to conduct, as if that eternal law had lieen abrogated? Who then has ever claimed the right to alter or change it! What king, what senate, what nation has dared to modify this divine law, to impair the duties which it imposes upon us, to annul, wholly or in part, any clause of our obligation towards God ? Would llie whole human family, assembled, were it possible, in a universal convention, he a ble, would they wish, to strike the slight est blow against the integrity and immuta bility of the divine law—against the will and sovereignty of God? lias any one ever promulgated, or even conceived another more perfect law—a law which would give us a more just idea of the infinite perfection and holiness of God? Are we, then, now discharged by some fine-spun philosophical system, by some human ordinance, from the immense obli gations which we have contracted towards God, for the benefits of existence, for the preservation of our lieing, for our present blessings and our future hopes, and for that understanding which he has given us, as a type of his image and likeness, where by we may raise ourselves even to him, but only on the wings of humility, obedience and love? As long as wc follow, volunta rily, the alierrations of our minds and the vicious inclinations of our hearts, do we not remain fixed in a state of rebellion against God, if we fail a single instant to accom plish, according to our ability, all the du ties which his law imposes on us ? What is the neglect to form for ourselves settled religious principles, or to obey them when formed, but to suppress, to abrogate by our private authority, one entire table of the Christian law, in behalf of our vices, our passions, our selfishness, our indolence and our pride? But perhaps \vc slmll bo told that we are accountable only to God tor the violation ot this law, and nobody has a right to judge us in regard to it, as long as we fulfil our obligations and duties towards our lel low men, and towards the society of which we make a part. Wc admit the principle; but, if a sad and woful experience, that of all ages and countries, were insufficient to convince us that immortality, public misery, the disor ganization of society, the division nnd o verthrow of nations are inevitable results of the spread of religious indifference, or unlxdief, or hypocrisy, which always take the place of the religion of conscience,— the spectacle which surrounds us, the com plaints of the most distinguished and virtu ous writers of all parties,"the avowals even of the most discordant guides of public opi- THE CHRISTIAN INDEX. nion, would be sufficient to convince per- ’ sons of candor, that our entire social or der is shaken to the very foundation, pre cisely because the precepts of Christianity, both religious and moral, are not only neg lected but despised, and even, we dare af firm, renounced and adjured by a gfiiat number of the French. Providence has given us terrible lessons in the voice of e vents: let us learn how to profit by them, to prevent or retard our ruin. It is for want of conscientious religious principle, ’ that private as well as public morals have no solid foundation, that good faith is dis regarded in social transactions, that the ob ligation of an oath is violated, that selfish ness takes the place of devoted ness, that the French muses formerly in the number of the chaste sisters, are transformed into Bacchanals besmeared with inire; and that immorality, under the countonar.ee of ta lent which dishonors itself, covers oar walls, i and soon will no longer allow the modest i virgin, and the chaste spouse to walk a i broad in our cities. Apart of our youth, ! corrupted in (lie bud through the want of . that religious doctrine which has been call . ed the salt of the earth, mistakes too often . devotion to faction for devotion to country • and to liberty; and while dreaming alxiut i the progress of an imaginary civilization, renounces the real blessings of the existing , civilization to carry us back, without sus pecting it themselves, to barbarous ages marked by the judgments of God, to the merciless animosities of the Italian repub lics, and to the heroism of the partiznns of the Mariuses and the Syllas, the Carbos and the Cafalincs. Our political &. literary annals, our tribunals, our theatres, our de serted churches, more than one bloody ru in in our cities, and the mourning of a great number of our citizens, bear witness, at the same time, to the simultaneous pro gress of irreligion and immorality, and to their deplorable results. Was it possible for the Society of Chris tian Morals, consistently with its regula tions which you have read, to remain in different to this state of things? Could it neglect to exert its moral power, without bringing upon each of us an immense res ponsibility? No, Surely. A pagan poet formerly exclaimed, on beholding the cor ruption of Rome, “ Quid leges sine mori btts /” “Without morals there can he no laws!” Allow me to add: “M ilbout re ligion tliers can lie no morals!’’ In reali ty, can wc hope to see good morals revive, in the absence of all religious principle? I appeal to the conscience of. the human race. A jieoplc without God, or at least, without worship, astonishes, terrifies, and alarms (it must be said) foreign nations, the most favorably disposed towards us. Permit me to state to you; on this point, a fact wnich has recently passed under my eyes. At the news of the revolution of July, which excited and awoke the sym pathy and interest which the Americans of the north ever cherish for France, a Con cert of prayer for our prosperity was esta blished in many independent Christian churches of different denominations. Sin cere and ardent desires were there daily expressed that our beautiful country, ap preciated at the last the blessings of legal liberty, might be preserved from the scourge of intestine divisions, from the thirst of conquest, and from irreligion and immorality. 1 had the happiness to be pre sent myself, and to take part in a large number of those meetings, and in your name as a Frenchman, to thank those An glo-American Christians, praying them selves individually, and not solely by the mouth of their pastors, for the happiness of the French. Could wc remain insensi ble to sentiments so pure, and so disinter ested f Edified by such examples, the Society of Christian Morals, faithful to its trust, seeks to enlighten our citizens upon . the necessity of regarding the fulfillment of our duties towards (Soil, as the founda tion and immoveable basis of our duties to wards our fellow men, of our duties to wards ourselves, and consequently of all morality. It is time that true religious order, the re ligion of conscience, which unites each soul individually to its God, in a real, positive and experimental manner, should at length succeed in France to false or corrupted re ligious order, which engenders only indif ference, unbelief, hypocrisy, and bad mo rals, inevitable results of creeds imposed by authority, adopted by prejudice, by cus tom, or by fear, or corrupted by interest. It is by a profound examination of the foundations of his unbelief, whatever that belief may bo, it is by the submission of bis will, and the direction of Ins alfections towards his Greater, that an intelligent be ing can raise himself to the truth, which is the manifestation ofthe mind ofman, ofthe being ofGod; —that he can raise himself to righteousness, which is the realizing in the actions of men, and the manifestation in the love of his fellows, of that new life which is lighted up in hint by the creating power of that divine truth. Bat to obtain I that moral and religious lift?, w hich is de signated in the New Testament by the name ol’ regeneration or the new’ birth, that took Jintl their daily experience teach C hristians, that they have but one way to follow; and that is, to have recourse to our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom alone reside the type and the power of life, of truth and righteousness. 1 would only add, that the announce ment has made you acquainted with the point of light in which the society wishes this great question to be treated by the competitors. The manuscripts are to lie transmitted to Mr. Cassin, Tarane St., No. 12 before the first ol March, 1834. The premium is -500 francs. The manuscripts present ed not to le returned. Tlcigs Creek Baptist Associa- < tion, Ohio. By the Minutes of this Association just received, it appears that the body is some what alive to the signs of the times, and go in favour oT the benevolent operations of tlie day; anilfhavc thereby made her self a speckled bird among those opposed to those operations. Especially the Mus kingum Association, who had in conse quence ofther favouring them, declined further correspondence with her. In re ference to w^iich, “The following resolutions were offered by Eld. W. Sedwick, which were simul taneously seconded by several brethren and unanimously passed. Ist. W hereas, we have learned with unfeigned regret, that our brethren of the Muskingum Association did at their last session pass a resolve, declining further correspondence with us, upon the ground of our having favored the lienevolent ope rations of the day, Therefore, Resolved, That we appoint a committee to meet with the said Association on Friday, 23d inst. And that the said committee be instructed to give such explanations as may be request ed, and assure our brethren of that body, that we sincerely regret this unpleasant & unexpected interruption of our correspond ence.—That while we conscientiously be lieve it our duty and privilege, as individ uals, to contribute of our substance to those benevolent objects—we sincerely declare we have had no other object in view than the glory of God and the melioration of the moral condition of our fellow men—and that towards our brethren of different views who do not co-operate with us in these things,Jive wish to indulge no other than the most pacific Christian feelings, sincerely de siring the continuance of an affectionate intercourse and communication between us. In accordance with the above, brethren L. 1). Barker, Hugh Broom, James Jeffries and Win. McGowen were appointed said committee. 2d. Resolved, That, although we as in dividuals, are unanimously in favor of the lienevolent operat ions of the day, yet we do earnestly recommend to all our church es and brethren to exercise all long sulfcr ing and patience towards those who may have honest and conscientious scruples up on the subject. That w bile wc believe it lawful and expedient to endeavour to en lighten each other by mutual explanations, yet we deem it unlawful and inexpedient to urge any measures either in a church or other capacity calculated to elicit unkind feelings or hard expressions. Believing as we do, that an affectionate intercourse and friendly communication conducted, in a spirit of Christian love much better* calcu lated to bring together tlie godly in Christ Jo.sua. 3d. It is also further Resolved, That we do earnestly and most affectionately re commend to all our brethren of this As sociation to use all wisdom and prudence towards each other, that that happy union may lie preserved, which has hitherto marked our progress. That we may ever unite w ith one accord in grateful acknowl edgments to God lor the j*nce and prosix3. rity with which he has been pleased to bless us.—That we wilt discountenance c very measure and every motion that may at any time Ix3 offered, or introduced nmou” us, calculated to create dissent ions & cause divisions, being confidently assured that such things ought not and need not exist among Christians of upright intensions. Look at this. “13, Elder W. Sedwick read the state ment of the publisher of the Baptist Week ly Journal which shews the expences of said paper to exceed by $3lO the means taining it, —and in a short address stated the claims of the Journal to the liberal pat ronage of the Baptist denomination.” The publication of a religious newspa per it seems is a hazardous undertaking. Many refuse to support a religious paper because (sav they) it is a money-making scheme! Ask all who know—ask the former Editor of this paper, and of every other religious paper, & they will unitedly say there is no money-making in this scheme until the patronage is numerous, punctual and abiding. A question now occurs—Will the Brethren in the South afford the Index such a support? Or will they suffer it to go down for want of it? Or will they impose on its Editor an annual expense of SIOO or 500, to afford them the benefits of the publication ? The circu cular and corresponding addresses contain so much exortation and good doctrine, as well to encourage the piety and strengthen the faith and Godliness of the single Chris tian, as that of the churches ami associa tions, that I make no apology lor inserting them wholly. Circular Lo!<ci\ The Mci ‘/s’ Creek Baptist Association, assembled with the Mount Zion Church, Guernsey county, Ohio, to the several churches we represent, send this our Cir cular address. Very Dear Bretiirex— The rapidity of time by w hich our anni versaries follow each other in quick suc cession loudly admonishes us to be up and doing. This is a day of general enterprise in the civil intellectual & moral world,—The developement of long concealed principles of philosophy have added new facilities to the intercourse of society, and brought re mote communities into convenient neigh borhoods. In Literary and Seientific pursuits and improvements, the present jK-Tiod stands un rivalled in the history of man. The spirit of Philanthrophy has moved onward and achieved more in meliorating the moral condition of society within a half century past, than has been accomplished before in ages gone by. In all this wc rejoice and are glad, and feel grateful to God that our lot is cast at this eventful period of the world; truly, “the lines have fallen to us in pleasant pla ces, and we have a goodly heritage.” But beloved brethren, we wish to remind you of what you arc doubtless apprized: that many arc now anxious to introduce into the church ofChrist, various and spe cious errors, of the most pernicious cha racter, under the imposing title of improve ment in the ancient system of Theology. The manner in which that system is ire quently proposed can doubtless be improv ep ; but the system, itself, in our humble opinions, can receive no amendments. That we as a denomination need intel lectual and Theological improvement, no fno acquainted with our attainments will for a moment feel to dispute. But who of us is prepared to purpose and admit a change into that system of doctrine and discipline for which pur denomination has been so lona anil so deservedly distinguish o .a ed. The leading doctrines which wc hold and maintain, stand acknowledged as hav ing been instrumental in achieving all the reformations that have materially enlight ened the world and permanently advanc ed the cause and kingdom of Christ upon earth. For these inspired doctrines of divine re velation stiled by the Apostle “the faith once delivered to the Saints,” we are com manded “earnestly to contend,” These doctrines, beloved brethren, we have mu tually acknowledged to each other in the Constitution of our churches, united in this Association. These doctrines we do not consider ourselves called upon in this Cir cular to defend, yet it may not be consid ered inexpedent to advert to some of them, which, we as an association inviolably maintain. Among which are the Trinity and Unity of the God-head.—The proper Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ.—The infinite value of his atonement.—Justifica tion by his righteousness imputed to us, through faith in his name.—The guilt anil just condemnation of all mankind by na ture. —God’s sovereign election of sinners to eternal life through Jesus Christ oitr Lord.—Effectual calling.—Final perse verance of the saints.—The general hide meiit, and the happiness of the Righteous, and the misery of the Wicked alike inter minable:—These are divine truths which we find written as with a sun beam in the Iloly Scriptures, and they form the basis ol that system, which rejects all human improvement. These divine truths may Ix3 set forth, ei the i collectively or individually, by some, in u manner more lucidly than by others, —some may darken council by multitude of words, —others may so injudiciously handle these dixttrines as to cause inferen ces to be drawn unfavorable to practical holiness, —may involve the moral charac ter of God in the crimes of men—and the ungodly may ask, “who is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what profit should we have if we pray unto him ?” Yet we humbly conceive, tint a misstatement of tlie truth, can neither introduce nor prove any radical defect in the system it self. lienee we may learn that a plain scriptural statement of revealed truth to the candid mind, affords a solution to its inquiries, lar more satisfactory than all the cnbelUshments that language, phvlosophv anil logic, can throw around a system of error. Science is daily improving hv the deve lopcmentot new philosophical principles tested by trial; but, the religion of the Bi ble is advancing by a correct application of Theological principles already revealed in the word of God. Hence brethren we wc may learn, that we are not called upon todevelope new principles of Theology, nor to offer amendments to the articles of “faith once delivered to the saints;” but, we are called upon by every tie dear to our denomination, and sacred to the best interest ot the cause ofGod, to make a can did statement and a correct application of those divine principles already developed in the word to God. We are called upon to admit no attempt of improvement info our system of doctrine which,in the smallest degree, would tend to impair the scriptural intent and meaning of thqse devine truths, to which, wc have already adverted. M e are called upon collectively and in dividually to maintain the doctrine of uni versal depravity, personal guilt and the just condemnation of all mankind—and that “by nr fine we are all the children of wrath—dead in trespasses and in sins.” M e are called upon to maintain the ne cessity of the direct influence, and imme diate and efficient operation of the Holy Spirit to enlighten the understanding—to change the heart—and to turn the sinner effectually of God. Brethren, we arc called upon to admit no modern refinement in Theology, to ex plain from our system, the doctrine of the vicarious sufferings and special atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ for the sins of his people; nnd the necessity of his righteous ness imputed to us for our justification be fore God. This doctrine of Justification by the imputed righteousness of Christ, SEPTEMBER was so important in the estimation of Mar tin Luther that he used to call it “articulus stands vel cadentis occlesite,” the article of the church by which she stands or falls. Thus brethren, we might pass on and present other points of doctrine upon which modem speculation tenders her improve ment, and which we are yet unprepared to admit. Therefore, while we express our happi ness in contemplating the rapid march of mind, and the permanent improvements in civil intercourse and social life, and wil- lingly lend our aid in meliorating the moral condition of mankind, —and labor inces santly to enfranchise the world from the chains of slavery, sin and death, yet bre thren, we are not prepared, nor do we re commend to you, to change the truth of God for a lie—nor to substitute in the place of Christ and his cause, the benevolent in stitutions of the present day. Finally, brethren, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain de ceit, after the traditions of man, after the rudiments of the wor!d'& not after Christ.” “If any teach otherwise, and consent not to w holesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comctli envy, strife, railings and surmis ings.” “But hold fast the form of sound words w hich thou hast heard of me, [says the Apostle] in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” “Now unto him that is a ble to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glo ry, with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now’ and for ever, Amen.” Corresponding I,etler, Os the Meigs'’ Creek Baptist Association to the several Associations with w hom wc hold Christian Correspondence. Dear Brethren— It is plain from the word ofGod that nothing less than the Divine power of the Holy Ghost could have enlightened our understanding up on our fallen state bv nature and set our feet in the way of peace through Christ Jesus at first, and nothing less thar. the same Divine power is able t.o keep and preserve us in midst of that way in which we ought to walk, our minds lieing constantly set in direct opposition to his will, and fully disposed to slight and neglect his word, which is the rule given for our direction whilst in this world, consequent ly every deviation from it must be sinful in his tight. Bat with respect to all those who are brought out of this state of darkness into his marvellous light by believing the testimony ot God concerning Jesus Christ, that endearing relation which does or ought to subsist among them is also clearly pointed out. In the word he is represented as tlie Head, they as the members, and ns the members of tlie human body have a lively interest in the comfort and happiness of each other, so it is his will that all those that believe should have the same love to and for each other, so that when ojic mem ber suffers, all the rest do or ought to suffer with it, and that which proves the joy of one should or docs prove tliejoy ofull. Beloved, if we examine our conduct candid ly by the test of truth concerning the manner m which we have conducted one towards tlie other, for some time past respecting the pre servation ot our unity in the fellowship of the Gospel. Perhaps few among us will be found but have cause to be deeply humbleJ in the sight ofGod. When we read of tlut unity which is enjoin ed upon us in the scriptures as his professed followers, how wcarc constrained to loveeach other to |x?ar with and forgive each other, we have, it is to bo feared, just cause to lament that two little of this love and unity hath in general been manifested among ns; and alast! in this what stumbling our conduct hath caus ed to our fellow sinners around us, so far as it has been the means of interrupting that one ness which ought to exist among the children of God. Indeed when we bring our conduct to the scriptures, wc will see that too little of that love to each other hath been manifested, which is said to be the distinguishing mark by which the disciples of Jesus Christ are known. The word of God authorizes no separation a mong his children as long as they have confi dence in each other as believers, and they are commanded to receive all such however weak in the faith. Lt us then dearly beloved, beware of judg ing or condemning one another any more, but let ns judge this rather, that no one put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. Receive these few hints, dearly beloved, as t rom those who trust they have found peace to their souls arising from the peace speaking blood ot Jesus, and from this consideration we desire pence and unity in the truth to be en joyed by all the children ofGod and the saints of the mast high, and that they may be all found dwelling together in unity. Finally, brethren, farewell; be perfect, be of good comfort; be of one mind; live in peace &. the God of love and peace shall be with you. VVliat an inducement for the children ofGod to walk together in love, and how observea ble is the assertion, “Here it is not, he may be with you, nay, but it is iie sham, be with mov.” \\ hat an inducement fox bre thren to walk together in love, Let us there fore as many as lie perfect be thus minded, and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall revealeven this unto you. Nevertheless where unto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same things together in the I xml. Yours, dear brethren, for the truth's sake. VVM. SPENCEIt, Mod. Wm. Sedwick, Clerk. Two young men, murderers, met nt New Orleans on the morning of the 2llb of July, to shoot each other to death. One bein'* rather too quick for the other, escaped by “hootin'* his antagonist through the head. This was the only successful shot among six such mur derers who went out to kill one another on that morning. The more is the pity; for as tho law meddles not with such villians, it is to oc regretted when they fail to execute justice upon themselves.— Traveller.