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FRUITS OF KELIQIOI.
But what arc the real fruits of • piety ?
the reader may ask. The apostle has giv
en the catalogue. They are characteris
tics ot the heart, not ol the external conduct.
They arc those.
Love. —The heart that is renewed, ex
periences an entire change in respect to its
rul.ng principles of action. Instead of be
ing s-.ayed by tire impulses of selfishness
and passion its atfectious go for hand rest
upon God, as their supreme object, and link
themselves also, by indissoluble bonds, with
every other being who is joined in heart to
him. These new emotions have henceforth
the control.
.Icy.—The prevalence of universal love
will go very far towards producing univer
sal enjoyment. Love is it
brings happiness in every form; and true
piety will tind sources of pleasure which
sin never knows. Where there is morose
ness or melancholy, there must he some
thing wrong. It mnv he moral or physical
disease, but it must be one or the other.
Peace.—Peace within itself, and peace
in respect to others. Selfishness is keenly
niivo to its own rights, and keenly sensi
live to injuries, and where each seeks main
ly his own, there must he collision. Piety ,
quiets animosities and strifes, hy destrop-j
ing the value of the objects of contention. ‘
It points men to new sources of hapiuess :;
and they are such as can be enjoyed most |
perfectly, >vhon others share them. The |
heart that is renewed, is at peace, too,
within itself. Its irritating passions, and!
corroding cares are all allayed, and the j
soul is like a summer's sea, serene and j
placid; the storms of passion hushed, and
the golden beams of the Sun of righteous
ness, reposing tranquilly upon it.
liOXti suffering.—The true Christian
feels that lie is himself forgiven, and he
consequently bears long, and is kind. Ho
looks upon sin with compassion for the of
fender, and remembers the burning from
which lie was saved. The heartless pre
tender can, in public assume this language,
but when otr his guard at home, or in his
counting room, or field, his hasty words,
and impatient looks, betray the spirit which
reigns in his heart.
Geisti.enkss.—The cliridinn feels that
his great bossiness in lift* is to lead hearts to
the Saviour: and hearts, if led at all, must
lie led gently’. Tli 1 hollow-hearted preten
der will try to drive. Harsh, repulsive
and tyrannical, lie shows that he has not
experienced the grace of God, which til
wrtys “oftons asperities, and smooths tie*
roughness with which selfishness is so often
clothed.
Goodne33—The renewed heart feel*
“i'VPry fSertpenr bfeaT”"!; dosh-cs ueiu'i- a!
hnppines, and springs with an ever ready
rusticity, to produce it, whenever Provi
dence shall present the opportunity. The
Brent public effort, the generous donntion,
the open deed of charity* may be the re
sult of pride, or ostentation, or party spir
.it, t>nt real christnn benignity shows itself
in all the thousand nameless eeonsiohh,
where n wbr.T, or a trifling Mion may give
pleasure. It shows itself in great eflbrts
too; but the highest proof of its existence
and ifs power, is continued and universal
and spontaneous action.
F aTth.—True piety believes what God
says and trurts to it. It secs heavenly re
alities, and feels their influence continual
ly. It trusts in God’s care realizing that
every mercy is his gift, and bowing sub
missively to affliction and trial. Hypoc
risy is sound in its theoretical views, hut
it repines at lossess—or stands restless and
uneasy over the eradlo ofn sic!; child, or
proves by the manner in which it pursues
this world, that it has no filith in God’s
promises about the happiness of another.
Mf.eknf.ss.— The sincere Christian is
humble in respect to himself and indulgent
and mild towards others. Having some
conceptions of die deceitful wickedness of
his own heart, lie looks upon the worst of
men as brother sinners. Tim hypocrite
cannot see his polufion and guilt, and is
consequently haughty, censed ms, and un
charitable in respect to the failings of his
fellow men.
Temperance.—The worldly enjoy
ments of the sincere disciple, nre in nil
respects regulated by Christian princioles.
The regulator, existing in the heart, nets
always, and with steady consistency. Hy.
poerisy restrains those indulgenoies which
men would see and condemn, hut she re
wards herself for her venal virtue,by the
freedom of hot secret sins.
Such are the fruits of piety ; as enumer
ated by an inspired apostle, p was such
fruits as these that Pur Saviour had in view!
He charred his disciples again and twain,
to look for th-seas the nnlv evidences that
human professions of love to him were
really sincere.
-•la Express'™ Figurr. —A Minister in
Nashville, speaking last Sabbath ofthe in
fluence for good or evil which a command
ing intellect exerted on the surrounding
community said:—lf such a man fall will
he fall alone ? I tell you, no! You have
seen the tornado come roaring down from
the bosom of the mountains; it fell !
upon the majestic oak, which ft r a time’
braced its iron arms against the ‘bree and
-groaned out in its struggling agony; but, :
at length, lifted from the earth as with n 1
giant hand, it is dashed along the shudder- j
ing ground in thunder, cutting a pathway I
of ruin through the smaller trees, and mar
king its own overthrow by a wide spread I
devastation. So whether the man ofiuflu- !
rneennd in*e||ecttm|.powcr fall downward !
■envard, he shall have many sharers in 1
h:s lute.— TVca/trn UTetHodht.
Bnantifal Extract.
I have seen an infant with a fair brow,
and a frame like polished ivory. Its limbs
were pliant in its sports; it rejoices and
again it wept; but whether its glowiryj
cheek dimpled with smiles, or its blue eye
was brilliant with team, still I said to my
self, it is beautiful! it was like the pure
bjossom which a cherished plant had shot
forth, whose cup is filled with the dew
drop, and whose head reclined upon a pa
rent stem.
I again saw this child when the lamp of
reason wns first dawning in its mind. Its
eye sparkled w ith joy, as it looked round
upon this good and pleasant world. It iron
swiftly in the way's of know ledge; it stood
likti a lamp before its teachers. It was not
proud nor envious, or stubborn—and itltad
never heard of the vanities or the vices oi l
the world. And u!)Pn I looked upon it, 1
remember'd that the Saviour had said,
“Except ye liecorno as little children, ye
cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
But the scene v.as changed—and 1 saw
ja man whom the world culled honorable,
j and many waited for his smile. They
j pointed out the fields that were his, arid
talked of the silver and gold that he had
I gathered ; they admired the stateliness of
j his domes and extolled the honor of his
| family. And his heart answered silently,
j “by my wisdom have I gotten this,” so he
returned no thunks to God, neither did he
j fear or serve him. And as I passed along
| I heard the complaints of the laborers who
j had reaped down the fields, and the cries
of the poor whose covering lie had taken
I away; but there was the sound of feasting
] and revelry iri his apartments, and the tin
led beggar came ‘ottering from bis door.—
Bnt lie considered not that the cries of the
oppressed were continually entering in the
ears of the Most High. And when I knew
that this man was once the teachable child
that I had loved, the beautiful infant 1 had
once gazed upon with delight, I said in my
bitterness, “ I have seen the end of all per
fection,” and 1 laid my mouth in the dust.”
From the Chrirtian Secretary.
A plain man, who would willingly be in
structed in regard to some important sub
jects, connected with the faith and practice
ol evangelical professors of religion, hum
bly asks permission to put a few qu< stions
to his brethren through the medium of your
Journal.
1. It bang one of the cardinal points of
our belief, that a final and eternal seen ra
tion is to take place between the righteous
and the wicked ; and that the wicked who
dib impenitent, will suffer increasing and
n ver ending punishment—why do profes
sors of religion live nnd act as though thev
did no* believe /Ids solemn truth, or nt itniul
as though they felt indifferent to it? Why
do they daily see hundreds and thousands,
travelling on the precipice of inconceivable
ruin, and neglect even to’ warn them of
their danger f Arc such professors sincere,
or consistent?
,2. The fashions of the world, the inor
dinate love of wealth, and the splendour and
’parade of worldly pride, are, as all admit,
not proper objects of the Christian’s affec
tion and concern—he being clothed with
humility and his treasure being in heaven.
W hy then do wo see professors enter the
list of competition, in dress, luxury, equip
age. extravagance, and all the pompous
vanities wealth can purchase, in direct vio
lation of the word of God ? Do they shew
their faith by their works 7 Where is the
evidence oftheir piety ?
ft. Christians are commanded, that, “if
a men he overtaken in a fault” to restore
such an one “in the spirit of meekness.”
W hv then do we see professors, either
“‘holly neglecting to admonish and re
claim a wandering brother, or pursue him
as the victim of unhallowed passions?*—
Why are t hi* vindictive feelings of person
al resentment allowed to usurp the place
ol that ehtritv mid forbearance inculcated
hy the great Head o‘’the church? “How
dwelleth the love of God” in such profess
ors ?
Let these questions receive the consid
eration to which their importance entitles
them. Querist.
BOUL.
******
San I! rebuild t hine house of clay!
Immortality thy wails,
And Eternity thy day. Montgomery.
J ho air, without, being more wholesome
or vital than in the corrupt caverns of the
dead body, and yet there being n continua-
I tion thereof with that without; it ts easy to-
I understand how the soul will naturally
i glide out of the body into the free air, ns
; I* 0 "’ tl |C fir® wall ascend upwards or a
I stone fall downwards. And being recto
i vered into this vast ocean of life and sen
| siblc spirit of tho world, so full of enliven
i ing balsam, it will lx* n-y*onder if the sou!
suddenly regain the use of her perceptive
I faculty, being as it were in a moment re
i generate into a natural power of life and
motion by so happy a course of rightly
prepared matter f-r Iter to unite withal.
Dr. More.
Sin. — As in an eclipse of the sun, the
moon doth not.darken the sun, but only
darkens us, nnd hinders the light which
stiil is the same in itsell Irotn breaking out
upon the lower world. So wicked men bv
their sins, though they cannot deprive God
of his brightness or bis glory, yet they im
pede th emanations and outflowing* of his
glory, and hinder others from admiring
adoring it as they ought.
~ prayer;
Words are the garments of Prayer.
Modi tion is the body of Prayer.
A flection is the Life of Prayer.
T2£E Z27DEX.
Suffering —“Behold I will
engrave the graving thereof, saith the
Hosts.”—To engrave is to
and cut. When-Christ bjeamoife
sorrows, then was thia. scripture fulfilled.
As there is no engraving without wound
ing, so to engrave is to embellish and
beautify.—And Christ was made perfect
thro’ suffering.” And as is the heaven!y,
such are they also that ore heavenly. To
a person unacquainted with the proems,
the pruning of the tree, the cleaving of fee
ground with the ploughshare, the opeti
tirn oTthe chisscl on the stone, would lorfe
like an effort to injure or destroy. -I>ti
look at the thing afterwards. Behold tha
vine adorned with purpleclusters; ‘survey!
the field, yielding the blade, the (Sir, thel
full corn in the ear.’ Examine the earv-1
led work when the sculptor has achieved)
his design, mid fixed it in the proper place.
Christians are sometimes perplexed and
discouraged, because of their trials—But,
“they ore his workmanship.” He (pre
paring them for their destination in , the
temple of his grace.— Jay.
Christ the Tree of Life —M. Vrnard
describing Syene and the GataraeWspoaks
of a sensitive tree in Abyssinia, which bends
down its branchcs-to thoso who a;j roach
it. Now Jesus is the sensitive tnq of im
mortal life to all who approach him, and
with how much eagerness and lovadocs he
bend his branches down to them aid offer
them his blessed fruit, “of which] whoso
ever cateth shall live forever.” TVs “lie
is more ready to hear than we t J prav,”
and like the prodigal’s father, while his
people are returning “a great wai off”—
he runs and falls on their necks ind em
braces them.” j G.
Truth. —Truth in its native ijst re and
excellence is not and cannot be contem
plated by man in Ids present imperfect
state, for it is beheld through so many
corrupt and uncertain media, that the
mind is unable to perceive her in nil her
native hrvuity, and on account of the im
perfection of human nature it rnav ho wise
ly thus permitted to see her through n
glass but darkly.—Enough of truth is be
held as adapted to ourernbecile state, for
too much ol her lusturc would blind and
intoxicate us, as too little would sink us in
despair.—The exhibition of truth is like
‘he reflection of the sou’s light through
glasses of various densities, which though
they irradiate what they shine upon, yet
transmit numerous deformities and shades
by reason of the blemishes nnd spots inhe
rent in the transparent body. It is the
light, indeed, which we see, but imper
fect and distorted. Now the modes bv
which truth is exhibited and illuutralcd, are
so many media of various densities nnd
reflexibilities, which, Though they (level
ed her as clearly ns she is capable of be
ing seen hy mortal vision; vet depicted
her imperfectly and faintly; n’H by reason
of her own imperfection, ns by the inade
quacy of the mirrors which refect her.
Now, “though wc see through a glass
but darkly”—y et in heaven “ife shall see
face to face,” ‘ That is, we sl*ll no more
understand by means of media, but we
shall discern the very ohieetslthemselves
in all the grandeur nnd snblimfy of truth,
for the windows of the senses a4ll be open,
cdto the soul, and the light olfirurh shall
illumine her with its pure and| unclouded
beams. \ C.
Light the shadow of Truth “Truth,”
says Plato, “is the body of G and; nnd light
is his shadow.” I had rather sw that mor
al light is the shadow nfdiviu* ’tfuth, as it
emeuates from it like light from the lumin
ous body. Natural light mnv be the shad
ow of the presence of God, dark to an
angel’s vision, nndonly adapted to the gross
conception of mortals—and perhaps mnv
Ixi n veil for concealing his glorV from the
view of worms and moths of a moment like
ourselves. Hence snvs David —“He cor
n's himself with light as with a gat went.”
Meekness.— Euclid, the disciple of So
crates, having ajfended a brother of his, the
brother cried out in a transport of rage,
“Let me die, if 1 am not avenged upon
you one time or other.” To this Euclid
replied, with a sweetness aimost Christian,
“ And let me die if I do not soften you by
kindness, nnd make you love J mc as well
as ever.
x b jagg safe A Kfc aC ’
I rom the American Quartcr’y Observer.
tint EE STAGES OF I.VTEMPItRAXCR.
In tlti* first of tin-si* stnu'cs Hu* understanding
j oi judgment, [or n Itatcver i on ;>iaasc to cud tbe
H-asmiinp faculty,) is eijfct-tilvd or dethroned;
tlia i ill a-i!ia tio u. that must and a nacrous power of
the mind, is >vrouglit ~to unnatural action, and !
c-1-ts Its deceptive s;u|| over tin-whole’soul—l
l inter such cii cuhim iners no man is In tie trusted :
—no man can art discreetly. This is Hie stage I
nt til- intoxicating process that once gave char
actrr in our Fourth of July dinners, and convivial
patties; nn.v. not unfnqnt-mlv to our very or.ii
iintio.is. This is the hour of indecent jest and
uumooest snugs, and foolish masts. it „d uhald
story. idiot laughter; when hiccoughing pa
motisin exults in the freedom of licentiousness,
.uni ct'MiiMte* ihr. lib* ity of f,*S!v.
Atyaich time lile mind of Hie intemperate is in
tho right frame to make bad bargains, or commit
any oilier net of fully to be ivp.-n:rd of at lei
sure. I hey will buy or sell at ruinous pi ices,
o: throw ayvay their most precious prop# -tv, or,
obey like slaves the bidding 0 f coo! and clear
headed knavery. Did you never see a jug of
brandy, or a decanter of gin. placed conspicuous
• f '’ l l,l ,l ’ 1 ’ gratuitous use at ait auction ? If not,
your eyes have missed a very com won’spectacle:
Under the* .inspiration of this spiiit ‘-..1d things
pass no ay, and ali things become new.” llie
pmrhaser s eyes are n idcly openedTo discover
m the commodities offend for side, beauties and
excellencies which a sober min cannot even con
ceive 01. nnd which, alas, have vanished with the
n nn o of sobriety on the following morning.
Oi now ‘ iilur, umtar Midi circumstances,
is the strongest intellect that over boldly grap
pled, or nobly overcame difficulty.
But (be second stage of intempera nee is insrn
sibitiiy; the total suspension of ail itie uienfat and
hJai :st idi the buddy functions) when the inebriate
liea, in tile semblance of dentil, beneath the cun.
vivial (utile, nr in tlm gutter by the roadside, or
perhaps upon Ins own floor, surrounded by iris
weephtg wife nnd affrighted children : when v.as,
that immortal being, uho.-ie destiny flu eternity
is derided in litis world; that lationa! being,
whose intellect, after l aving conquered to its own
purposes of jttnflt or of pleasure, every element
of the world around him, hint ianged through the
universe of matter and of mind, studied in alt
mysteries, and learned nit Unowied ;e,—max,
created in the very image of Cod Ahniglitv—
presents to our view such n picture ofdehasenii nt
and brutal degradation as is never exhibited In
the meanest animal, or the vilest reptile that
walks or crawls upon the fnteofthe earth !
I As well, for alt the purposes nflife, might such
tan one tie trodden into his grave* nnv, far beltci
Iwoptd it he that his body were mingled with its
lunitrcd dust, than that it should thus remain, a
•a use of loss, noil a curse to society; and so far
is liis lonl is concerned, it would l/c well “ were’
t mill stone hanged about his neck, and lie cast
nto the depths of (lie sew!’’
I lie third stage u! intemperance shows us the
nisernhle victim of this habit tecovered frotn his
Insensibility. nutl rubbed us his strong excitement,
his mind as well as his hotly unstrung, anti his
spirits depressed, so dial he id,liars till forms of
labor, and can scarcely endure the weight of
mete existence. Discontent and restlessness
haiitil bint like spectres; he is goaded on hy an
impatient thirst after the poisoned howl; his pow
ers us resistance are destroyed, and though lie
may he conscious that indulgence will prove fatal,
he returns again and again to the fountain of ruin.
I five believe, therefore, that in every department
ot human labor, the free and healthful movement
of the mind is necessary to nuv considerable
degree of success, we must infer’from wltnl has
now been said, that the intemperate, as a class,
can never attain success in the accumulation ol
wealth I lie truth of this inference, and tin*
real effect of intemperate liahit, -cannot lie more
forcibly illustrated than hy ihe contrast afforded
by a couple oi farms, the one of which lias lung
been wider the care of a sober, intelligent, well
informed husbandman, w hose heart is in bis la
l-qr, who reads the papers, and keeps even pace
with all the improvement,! of thedav ; while the
other is conducted by n man whose daily toil is
commenced by a libation to the god of wine, nnd
Whose composing iltoiight at eventide is ardent
spit it; whose body is so lint in summer that he
must cool it with alcohol, and whose blood is in
I winter so frosty, that he must warm it with the
same gnot! creature.
In the one picture you behold a smiling land
j scape—in the centre a nrnt nnd substantia! (arm
house, echoing, perhaps, to the mercy music of a
tribe of rosy children; flanked by numerous anil
w ell painted barns, nnd grnnaiies, am! nuthouses;
surrounded by every i riicntion of plenty : in the
ilistaner, fair folds under perfect culture extend*
ing in every direction.with here nnd there a gretip
nt healthy anil hardy w oik melt. whose implements
of lahorare ol the most approved construction ;
and Ihe sbnle sreiie bounded hv nn inrlosure of
fences, w hose good order bespeaks the master
spiiit that reigns over this who!, display of rustic
beauty. This is the abode of temperance !
Approach now the other picture, and behold
the l roki it inrlosttrrs. inviting he trespass nt
ev.rv rambling intruder; the once Comfortable
bouse now shattered and weather wort. its
clapboards brotvn willing.* ami moss, and clatter
ing at every gust; its windows eramnied with
eld hats,or patched with hits of shingle; the root
nt tin, ham broken iu and gup,lug to llie elements;
fragments of carls, and ploughs, nnd otliei tools
Str.ewi g the yard like the relics of shipwreck,
east upon tho bench by H storm; the pastures
afford a meagre sustenance to a few starved amt
shabby looking cattle; Ihe fields that should lie
cultivate,l. nay the vefy garden, overgrown will,
weeds, and giving promise rather of famine than
or harvest; the red faced laborers listlessly
lonhging in the shade, or stretched mi Hie sunny
side of a wall close hy their bosom friend—the
tin (tie while from tin* neighboring styes, Ihe one
firr taped, the other tor quadruped swine, ascend
the sympathetic wailings of human and beastly
hunger. J his is the home of Hie intemperate I
| , | TTT >nTll ~l f Tw\ l_ ■ I S
THE CHRISTIAN
Titt anut, deimier 7, |n34.
Our readers will httvo notice*! that our
assistant, Rev. \V. 11. Stokes, has ro'nri
mcnei and a review of Rev. S. J. Cassei’s Ifeo
tur.s on I’redo-B.lptisni, it large work jflst
thrown.into circulation in this community; I
w ith the intention of continuing, in tt scries i
ol numbers tiil the whole book is reviewed.
This week we publish a reply from the
Reverend author, not because we consider
it strictly proper, or parliamentary, hut at
his request, tor the reasons he slates, and
for whom we entertain a very high person
al respect; nnd more especially because
we arc willing the whole argument may
be fully nnd lairlv laid before the people,
that all may sec the foundation on which it
rests on each side. We request all to
read with the Bible in hand, the great um
pire which must settle tire question at issue
lx*tween the Brethren, and ns (hr as passi
ble without prejudice, with a pure desire to
receive the truth, in tin’s respect, as it is in
Jesus. \\ e think it time this controversy
had been brought ton righteous close ; and
surely an enlightened and pious people cn/6
determine it according to the lively oraclfV;
ror if they speak not according to thesefit
is hfransr there is no light in them. /It is
hoped these controversialists will continue, :
jas they have begun, in that conciliatory
J spirit of brotherly love, both towards each
I other and the denominations to which they
respectively belong, so indispensable to
usefulness in such undertakings. Any
thing w hiclt impugns the motives, or assails
the persons of each other, or their associ
ates, will be regarded as beneath their tig-;
uity, and the honor and gravity of the!
cause they advocate. Let them thrust each j
oilmt’s nrgu met) Is with all the‘force of truth !
and reason, while at the same time they i
treat one another ns brethren beloved. j
Aside from the main point at issue, Bap-1
tism or I cedo-Lnptism, we are of opinion !
the Lectures, and Reviews, and Rejoinders,
may do much good in stirring up and pro
voking parents to the education, and moral,
and religious training of their children: an
obligation too little feif, and less practiced
among most Christian professors.
W e are informed from the setaion of the ]
Association just passed, by a
brother yvho yvas present, that it yy as a
pleasant one. That instead of heated con
tentions about faith, they manifested* their
faith by tiieir works. Considerable addi
tions bad been made to some of the church
es by bapt—m within the associational year.
Sever? .-solutions were passed encourag
ing ufiipetaiice Societies, and a'more
strict attention to the sabbath day. Do
mestic missions are increasingly encourag
ed in that body, and yve are glad to be in
formed that they have appointed messen
gers to meet the Convention at its next ses
sion. It is to he desired that either tiie
Association itself,, or the old Missionary
Society, in its bounds, auxiliary to the
Convention, should be resuscitated &• unit-
ed with it anew.
Seme good seasons have been had at
several meetings in the neighborhood of
the late session of the Saluda Association.
A brother in that section says “I have hud
much reason to believe that God has bless
ed my labours in his Vineyard.” The
communication from brother Fleming will
give pleasure to many of cur readers, and
dispose them to thank God and take cour
age.
A brother in Alabama requests ns to
write our vieyvs on the passage in 1 Tint.
1: 19, and thinks it would he rendering a i
valuable service to the cause ; and closes I
his letter by requesting a discontinuance of!
his paper. This reminds us of what a \
brother minister stated in our presence, of!
a ntan who pressed him to come and preach !
a funeral sermon for a deceased member
ol his family, and who prepared well for
the congregation to be comfortably seated,
but he, himself, went into the field and
would not hear the sermon.
\Y e hog leave to decline the exposition,
since the querist turns oil’ and refuses to
read!
A brother iri South Carolina writes thus,
“I have always considered the end to be
desired in dealing with brethren, yvas the
glory of God, a*ui the benefit of the parties.
I have thought that in the first step, motives
ought to he presented, and we ought to go
to work, as it that teas the last step or as if
there was no other to be pursued. Qur
motives may be urged in too weak a man
ner; it wo fail we are to take one or two
more,-that l-,y them the motives mav he
urged more forcibly (or every word estab
lished.) 1 may be wrong in my exposi
tion: but in the Index, August in
answer to query 9, you say, “when these
accompanying brethren’,’ &c., a dkEculty
occurs to uiy mind, how they can be wit
nesses ot facts which they can know only
•- hearsay.” To our brother's sentiment,
as to what should he the proper end always
‘•> hv held in view, in dealing with breth
ren, \vc accord most fuflv, and that the mo
tives in the case‘should be lookerfinto'’ and j
tested ; but facts are principally to lt sen
quired into and adjusted hy the word of
.God. lit answer to query Btb, in the paper
refered to, the duty of those called in to aid
the offended brother, in settling his difficul
ty with It is ires pairing broii.or, is taie.l.
Noyv we understand that these brethren
are not to be witnesses for the offended
against the offender, for then the difficulty
<>f the brother above, would occur, they
! could he witnesses of facts they knew only
I by hearsay, but before the church they cart
he witnesses for the accusing brother of all
those things, which had transpired before
them in the interview, yvhiclt they had had
with the parties face to face. This would
not be hearsay witness. And we can’t
conceive, of what they can bo witnesses,
except it Le of what was presented satis
factorily before them, when in labour with
the two brethren. It seems to us that there
are two objects held in view, in calling
these helps in. The first is, to make a
j third effort to settle the difficulty ; but if
this fail, the second is, to have the case
properly prepared to conte before the
church, so that she may act at once on it.
If this course was always pursued it would
prevent contention and delay.
/ Religious Instructiou to Site
Blacks
Tho Reports, built of the Synod of South
Carolina and Georgia, and of tho missionary’,
Rev. Mr. Jones, in relation to the religious in
struction of the black people, are now before
j us * These documents contain much that is!
interesting, and much that is encouraging to j
the hearts ot those who labor and pray flit- the i
moral improvement of their fellow creatures. !
1 erhaps toe relation between master and ser- j
vant has not been studied by many of our breth
ren to (hat extent it ehotild, and consequently
the duties growing out of this relation have not
been discharged. Another difficulty connec
ted with this subset is, the course our North
ern brethren have pursued in relation to it,
T hey have of late, said and written so much, \
that there is a peculiar sensitiveness, as might
be expected, existing among our whole South
ern population upon the subject. From this
fact, it would not at all be surprising if soaie
masters should question the motives even of a
Christian minister, who should attempt to in
struct their servants. There are, however,
many masters who feel differently; who are
anxious that their servants should have the
gospel preached to them. And there are ma
ny Christians amongst us, of our run South
cm people, yvho, not like Northern philanthro
pists, with more zqal than knowledge, are
willing to impart sucli religious instructions to
our colored population as their peculiar ..situa
tion will allow.
We give from the Report of Rev. Mr. Jones,
the following extracts:
J-AECUR I-ERFOR.MED.
“The labours of your Agent, may bo
divided into those of the fc'abbath and those
of the week.
Os Ihe Sabbath. —l have preached in
the County forty Sabbaths, to the negroes
exclusively. But once, anil then but one
sermon to the negroes in Sunburv; at.d
my reason fi r not visiting that station of
tener was, that it lay remote from me, and
I knew that the Baptist brethren located
there, were in the habit of holding meet
ings ‘or them. The services at the other
statu ns have been held as nearly in rota-
tion tis they’ possibly could be, without in
terfering with the white congregations on
their regular Sabbaths, with the exception
ol Walthqurville, which never has been oc
cupied as a Sabbath station, nor can it ever
well lie.
Os the week. —l have held, when the
season permitted it, sixteen or seventeen
Plantation meetings. The number of these
meetings, is not ns large as it should be,
owing to the fact, that your Agent was not
in a situation to attend more: but hopes,
during the present winter, God willing, to
enlarge these labours. Near fifty planta
j tions have been returned by members of
| the Association, as open for religious in
struction; v. hich shows how extensive is
I the field, and it may lie further enlarged.
| Wc deem plantation meetings highly im
. portant, and, in some respects, more effica
| cious than those held on the Sabath. The
plantation meetings have been suspended
during the summer and fall months, from
motives of prudence in regard to health—it
being the advice of physicians nnd the in
junction of friends, which could not be re
sisted, however much your Agent may
have had a desire to continue (Item.
During the summer and fall months, a
regular Lecture has been maintained on
the Sand Hills, on Thursday evening, for
servants in the families that resort there for
health, and also for the negroes on the
plantations in the immediate vicinity.
In addition to the public preaching of
the Gospel on the Sabbath and during the
wee k, some effort has been made, ns oppor
lurjjfy offered, of holding personal ccnver*
1 sr.lton with the negroes on the subject o's
religion. Many of those conversations
have been by she wtv, and in the house,
and it live led me to a better acquaintance
with the moral and religious-condition of
this people, ikgpgL optild otherwise have
sn - v 10 As
igniwpjiee i.. pn y ; ,\ i,t in a
vfersalions have boon pleasant and profit;;-
We; and your Agent has, at lin.ts, Lorat
agrcrahljifdisnppoinfed iu ’receiving instruc
lion, when he hoped to have the privilege
of imparting if.
Cr rjcspondrnae has been conducted with
persons in different parts of our country,
J.onTTic’snbject of the religions instruction of
! the negroes, nnd a little effort made through
the press to awaken public* attention to it.
I think it necessary to make this statement
for tlre? satisfaction of the Association, as
ST)rue may suppose, that preaching consti
tutes all necessary labour.
SUCCESS.
“The Association may properly inquire,
What success has attended the labours of
ihe Missionary ?
Our success may le viewed in two points
of fight.
1. In relation to the people whom you
hope by Ditine blessing to benefit.
‘The. attendance on meetings at the differ
ent stations in t l.ecommcnccment of the year
as it may be well known to many who.
hear mo, was full, if not large, it was
my own impression, as well as that of oth
ers, that the novelty of the benevolent
work, drew out many, who would, after
a little while, decline, and finally discon
tinue their attendance, and the meetings
suffer diminution in number. But with
the exception of a few meetings, the at
tendance has every where been as full as
nt the beginning, and no decrease of num
bers has appeared, but in some stations an
increase. J lio few meetings which have
been thinly Attended, were such as arose
irotn the inclemency of the weather, or from
the shortness o'’the notice.
I perceiu ;■ > defect of interest in the
congregations. They have been appar
ently animated by’ their progress in know
ledge, and agree in sa_\ ingf that they nc
\ct have bad so much before. They seem
now to understand more fully the ‘design
which you have in view, in sending them
; a Missionary, and the nature of his°wOrk.
I hey are gradually acquiring a knowl
! , ( % e of-the plan of Redemption, nnd what
I constitutes true conversion and Christitn
j character. 1 hey are to some extent, I
hope, giving over their more prominent su
perstitions.
I have endeavored, with all plainness,
to communicate to them the truths of
Christianity; and the effect in several in
stances has been singular and gratifying,
j • have used no efforts to produce excite
ment, that I know of. 1 have resorted to
no means but the common means ofGraec,
as seen in our Churches from Sabbath to
Sabbath.
Flic children who have been taken tin
der a course f instruction, are, thus far,
ns mitch interested anti ns apt in receiving
knowledge, as children ofany color under
similar circumstances, and of the same age.
No doubt rests on my mind, that if God
spares our lives to continue our labours,
we shall see a moral elevation in the cha
racter of servants, which we have never
