Newspaper Page Text
alone, ia responsible foi her views, as wellL
a* for her acts. Hat, it may be said.'ther
niinistei, it is lobe presumed, is Acquainted*
with the views of tiie church and would p
faithfully represent them. This is to as- J
some what is not always found to he trne. I
There would, at least, be two uncertainties]
in the case; for, first, the minister might;
not be acquainted with the views of the|
church—a case that not unfrequently oc- j
curs—and, secondly, if he weie, he might
willfully misrepresent them—a case that
also sometimes happens. It yvould not ex- !
culpate an individual, when arraigned end
convicted of holding pernicious doctrines, ]
to plead, that your minister had represent
ed that your views were of the same caste
with his own.
!X. The argument may be summed up
lints:—lt is a duty, which a church owes
to her God and herself, to preserve peace
xvithin her borders; but in order to preserve
peace, it is necessary to preserve unity of
sentiments; and in order to preserve unity
of sentiments, there must be an interchange
of views between the chtirdi and individu
als applying for incorporation with it; and
in order to edict such an interchange,
the church must make a public declaration
<>l her faith. By a similar train of reason
ing the same tiling may be proved from the
injunctions to preserve the purity of the
tflwrrJi-
It may further he shown, that the church
owes it, not only to herself, but to those
who may. from time to time, desire to
unite with her, to make such a declaration.
For the. Christian Index.
Brother linker —A friend, a reader of
the Index, in a private letter, expresses a
desire to know your views as to the course
to be pursued by a church, whose decorum
requires its members to attend every con
ference whether stated or occasional, mulct
the following cireumslances : A member,
without apprising the church of hi? inten
tion, offers for some petty office which he
knows will require his attention on his reg
ular conference days. When some time
has elapsed after his election he sends the
church word that he is in office and cannot
attend. Please give your views through
the Index, if you think the subject of suffi
cient importance.
Remarks. —We are not prepared to an
swer definitely the query of our corres
pondent. The case supposed is one that
must be affected by circumstances. We
must ennsidet.
1. The character of the office. Is the of
fice of such a character as to tender it desira
ble that it should bo filled by’ a Christian? If
its duties cannot he as well performed by
others, then we should give up, for a time
at least, our claims upon a member for the
public goorl.
2. Do lire duties ol the office necessari
ly require the attention of the one who
‘boras it at till: pMfffcdlnr seasons at which
the meetings of the church are field? If
so, a church member should reflect and
pny much before lie seeks that office, and
should he fully persuaded in his own mind
that God calls him to (ill it; or, that lie can
better glorify God, bv attending to the du
ties of such civil office, than by attention
to those of a church member. The scrip
tnres expressly teach that, in all our under
takings, wo are to inquire the will of God
and be influenced by a regard for hi ft g/ 0 -
r ,V, *'*•] toil by a view of our own secuhii
interests or worldly Jhonor, To sacrifice
t!ie interests of the church and our own
spiritual welfare, for the sake of the emolu
ments of any office, is to act the part of j
Judas—it is to sell our Lord for sordid
gain.
3; The circumstances of the individual
who Imids the office should be considered.
It he can by no other lawful means obtain
support for himself or family, we should
think he was perfectly justifiable in seeking
the office. God certainly designs that his
children shall be fed and clothed, whiiejihey
are kept on eaitli. If, therefore, he de
prives them, by his providence, of every
means of support but one, he certainly
thereby indicates, with sufficient clearness,
die path of duty; ond no one could fora
moment think of censuring the individual,
who availed himself of the only means
within his reach ol providing things ‘.hon
est in the sight of all men.” Hut rarely,
if ever, is un honest man reduced to such
a strait that he can provide honestly for
himself only in one way.
A Christian should not aspire to civil of
fices unnecessarily, for the following rea
sons.
1. Thev'nccessarily throw him into ev
il company ami expose him to many and
stiona: temptations. If he voluntarily, (i.
c. without a necessity for it.) enters upon
the duties of a civil oflice, we cannot see
bow it is possible for him to pray, in the
sincerity of liis heart, “Lead me'uot into
temptation.”
2. U o never knew one who had much
to do with civil offices, who did not suffer
thereby a serious loss in spiritual things-—i
We have known good brethren— brethren
tn whose Christian character the religions |
portion of the community had great confi
dence— engage in civil offices, but ue nev
er knew one such that did not acknowledge
nnd ileplofb the unfavorable influence which
his civil office exerted on his spiritual en
joyment. Wc have often heard such ex
press (hep regret foi the necessity which
compelled Hu m to seek and hold their of
.flee. aiuMieiml them pleading the burden of
eU ; u S for their
‘•Veiigious tliffiJL {} 1 <f their;
then, that I
the holding civil offices is unfavorable to
spiritual mindedness and reflect on the dee
h|rafh>flj! in Ilom. 8. 6, “For to be carnally
minded is death; but to be spiritually mind
ed is life and peace.”
3. The holding civil offices unnecessary-1
ly diminishes one’s influence over the un
godly, Christians may excuse him, and
continue to repose confidence in his chris
-1 tUn character; blit the world at large, if
j they admit him to be a Christian, will view
him as a worldly minded one, and will pay |
but little regard to his admonitions. His
example will he pleaded to justify their in
ordinate attention to the things of this world.
Many of them will view him as a mere
hypocrite, who makes a profession of reli
gion only to secure wot Idly ends.
4. Attention to the duties of a civil office
must necessarily engross much ofone’s time
and thoughts, and, consequently, lessen the
time allowed him for the discharge of his
domestic and closet duties, and for prepar
ing for eternity. This consideration should
have great weight with the Christian. Ap
proach, iri his dying hour, the Christian who
has preserved himself most free Ironi the
encumbrances of the world, and you will
hear the voice of complaint mingled with
his expressions of holy aspiration and his
exclamations of praise. Hut of what does
he complaint ? Is it that lie did not aspire
to worldly offices more ? O no—it is shat
lie suffered the world, with its cares, to oc
cupy so much of his time and attention and
leave so little for God. Many have regret
ted, in their dying hour, that they have de
voted so mueh of their lime to civil matters;
but we never yet heard of a dying Christian,
who regiettcd that he had not aspired more
after worldly offices—-that he had held so
few in life.
5. The oracles of God hold out much
encouragement to those who give up all
for Christ, and devote all their lime and en
ergies to his cause ; but none to those who
aspire sifter worldly preferment. It is true,
a voice speaks too to them ; but it is not a
voice of encouragement; it is a voice of
warning. “My kingdom,” says the Sa
viour, “ is not of this world.” Jno. 18: 36.
‘‘Noman can serve two masters. ’’ Mall. 0:
24. “Ilow can ye believe, which receive
honor one of another, and seek not the hon
or that comctli from God only.” Jno. 5 :
44. “Yo know that they which are ac
counted to rule over the Gentiles, exercise
lordship over them ; and their great ones
exercise authority upon them. But so shall
it not bo among you,” &r. Mark x. 42, 43.
** Let the dead bury their dead.” Matt. 8 :
22. The Christian is taught to “ keep him
self unspotted fiom the world.” Jas. 1: 27,
la “4uvu . juit tko Avutltf, neither the things
that am in the world.” I J„o. 3: 15—that
” dm Iriendsliip of the world is enmity with
God,” and “the friend of tiie world is the
enemy ol’ God.” James 4: 4. Can a man
secure office without seeking that which
God declares to be enmity with him—“the
friemlsh p of the world,” and placing hint
self m the attitude of an enemy of God ?
Again, let the aspirant for worldly offices
reflect on those passages ofSeripture, which
represent the Christian as being dead to the
world, and on the conduct of the early dis
ciples, who gave up all for Christ, aban
doned their civil offices and their worldly
avocations, and followed Inin “The Spir
it of Christ,” which il'a man has not he is
“ none of Iris,” and which the word of God
teaches us to cherish, will never lead one
unnecessarily to usptre uncivil oflico.
Our observation of lhe%effects of civil
office on Christian character have not been
very limited, We have enjoyed pecu
liarly lavorable opportunities for making
them, and the conclusion at which we have
arrived is, that nine tenths— three fourths
at least, of those who manifest an ambition
lor civil office, are a reproach to the cause
of Christ; and that fully., one half of those
who follow long where their ambition leads
litem tall into evil and subject themselves
to the censures of the church. Satan led
the Saviour to the summit ol a mountain,
and again placed him on a lofty pinnacle of
the temple, that lie might present his temp
tations before him in the most alluring
loini: for the same end does lie, in the
sent day, conduct the disciples ol tliat Sa
viour lo the high places of the earth, where
the scriptures represent that “wickedness”
abounds. Beware, professing Christian,
j l,ow y° u B >'rt'cr yourself to he led there,
; lest you be east thence down to bottomless
I perdition.
Have we slated one fact that is not true?
Not one; yet many will reject our views.
Win ! Because they conflict with their
practice. Let such read and reflect seri
ously oil Jno. 3. 19, 20.
From the Christian Secretary.
Dialogue respecting oiir Minister.
Mr. A. Good morning brother B I
am glad to see you. Dea. E. lias just told
ine that our minister thinks lie must leave
,us when his time, is out. I am heartily
sorry we cannot fcwep him: he is rejtainlv
j a worthy man, aiurprenobes well, and l do
i ttol think we shall do heller than to secure
Ins labors another year’
Mr. 0. Hut what is the matter with our
pastor now? 1 thought he did not like
these frequent removals. Keally, it sui
prises me, that lie should talk of leaving
us. He certainly cannot expect! to find a
better place, and you know it cost£ eonsid
erable to pull up stakes and move every
two or three years. ‘’lt looks to measj
though luTditWieei very thankful f pr the !
jgfiSSHßSSßgßSggSßSggggjSgggM.nstant
many good things the people afe am j n t his
ly g v ing him here, for him to aim
jßikintZ
Mr. D. I perceive you it is
bout, our minister’s leaving. right j
just as I expected. He never was* are not
man for us. exactly. His tlentS|!rl the at
the right stamp. IJe does not irfbt-st able
tendon of that class wht* are tht* too plain
to help in supporting him. He i& church j
a man to take the charge of tlßre he will ;
| and congregation. I wonder whtß here. 1 j
find another place, if lie leavesßpult,
j should think he would find it diffKso mueh j
Mr. A. After all, lam as lam
concerned about his finding a I fear, I
how we shall get anotherlninistijEm he na
if he leaves us lor the good to till
signs, it will be difficult to get MXiyrr small,
his place. You know we are r; Jto men of
and cannot hold out indiieenienlsL. 1 think
the first rate talents. For my tal
our present minister is a man o to
cuts and consistent piety, and is..B ly can.
live on as small a salary as he possiSninctu
-1 understand he has not been very V sign
ally paid even the small sum we llavMtr less
ed for him. And surely thal~is !■: can
iliart most ministers receive. If wwve, or
not |iay this small sum, he must le would
del into debt, and that, you knov^r' 1
be wiong. :()T1 sure
Mr. U. But how is this? Killing for
ihe people are always doing somßer signed
him. I know Mr. Tight lias neJn sundry ;
anything, bu* lie says hr does ■)Mr. and
ways as much as five dollars a fiption last
Bro. Hardy fell off on hissuhgcrftg<*< s more
year ten dollars: but I expect he Bow of.—
than he is willing to let uhers ktß donation
There were a large number at hisßonght in.
party, and probably a greit deal bKpensive,
The truth is, his family aie too eol when
and he keeps his children in schtß support
they ought to be at work helpingßvould do
themselves. Br. Hardy says he Hso large,
more for him if his family was nolftilie min-
Mr. D. 1 have nothing against* lur mail
ister, although 1 think a torc popißr, but 1
would get a larger society togetlußand his
do think lie has too large l family, Sold visit
wife and children do not dress B which
and attend those fashionable cirdMtl sociu
is necessary to he respenid in gofßs Proud
ty. 1 frequently see ihe pretty Miliughleis
cast a smile of contempt When his dB course,
come into the gallery. This,
hurts the influence of ihe rniniitciJßdo not
Mr. J. 1 understand lie says Well do not
give him enough. For my 1 nev
beheve in these hireling preacher** if 1 feel
er will sign a cent for a lUtnistMA give it,
disposed to give anything, I v jUßnan for ■
hut Ido not believe in paying- \
doing Ins duty. If he is called jpwdo it.— |
that is his business, and lie mus t*g. It is
Besides, Ido not like Ins preacftJfwhips so ]
all law and darkness, and then’ ffEvt preach
mucli in the pulpit; one SundalHihave not
ed the whole sermon to me, {not
been to hear him much |,
do any tiling for him to stay.
IQ'.!. (
°”r mints - .er•for a-
wo have I‘ailed in raising the ino^B*
1 nother year, I gee no way
■ let him go, and do without the o-
Mr. E. It is strange to uie^^B’P I ' oll9 ’
ciety hang back so about their to sign,
, Lhere ate many who are any
and yet all know that we one
one who will do as well for to
who is here, and I do think it the
let him go. If all would do ffiJP'‘t I see
sum could be raised very easy.Kin 1 preach- I
how it is; they will soon go wiffßld to send ,
ing awhile, and pray for’ the rJBB*.h round j
them a minister, then they —
and get enough signed to get to pay
Alter he is here, they will ncJ^B'tt 111 him.
what they have signed, and been the
and then let him go. This luß| had. -
wav with every minister we liit߮ntl I fear
Dea. C. This is too at
ministers will soon get tired oHI
all, at this rate. Hive can do
Mis. F. Ido not see how If 0 now. i
any b tier than we are trying and the
certainly pay all that I am atflj minister
church js poor. I think if ofl.|e can, the
leaves now while we do all Hg®|L. says
Lord will send us another. than
some people think he is better blow he
lie was when he came here. l 0 get
was poor llijm, and he cannot
rich by preaching anywhere. off for ;
Mrs. B. As to being any h i
his_cpmiiig here, 1 know to’ th of j
IJis family have had but feu since j
clothing, and those of the cheat eloaks j
coming here. ‘1 heir bonnets m^B 1s when
are tlio same, with a little fixit I real
tliey came here three years ago ai^B' es ! hut
ly think they ought to have ne to
he says he has already eotitfS*
the amount of seventy or eighty he will
Mrs. F. Well, Ido not tit nntl
go away, after all. He dreads t Hhat of his
1 think with his own efforts an<^Bl ,as done,
family, he will live as well as more, if
Mrs. J. His family would 88 1 they do
they were more thankfiil for wiflß'k all we
receive. But they seem to owe to
give them as only paying a not long
them. The minister said pay
since in the pulpit, that people did the
their minisiei as punctually as part,
mechanic and merchant. ’ PoBB a Present
what I do for him, I give him to sell
Mr. G. 1 wonder how lie it certain-
his cow last fall. I should
ly very necessary in his family Hardy
Mr. A. Thejreason is, b>r pas
charged him ten or twelve doll^H^ 1111 was
turing it for him a season, be
only ten cents pei pound,
coubl not get barn room any wfl
iently to keep a cow. of ask-
Mr. Ci. Why, I never very
ing more than half that food was
best of pasture, and you know c,nv was
very short where the nMihster%^B‘‘ r ‘but he
kept last season. Ido not
thinks es going away, at ibis bis sub-
Mr. E No j nor I either, for^K ear as be
scriptjon was not as large last ‘lßf|hi' n they
ftire; but the committee told ||B as much ;
thought he might expect quite t 0 be 1
would be paid, and that they inte^H
j more punctual in collecting it. But he said |
! the other day they had not been as much I
] so. This slack way of dealing with inin-j
] isters is not as it should he. But cannot!
: something be done immediately to letain i
our pastor?
Mr. A. I fear not. lam sensible we
shall be- greatly the losers by neglecting to
do our duty. lam sorry that so little iii
j terest is man Test on this subject, but I have
| said all that is profitable, to prevent his leav
! ing. We must take the consequences.
Mrs. J. We may as well live without
■ any minister, unless we can get one that
j suits the whole congr gation. If our pas
: tor did not preach so much about temper
; mice and missions, and such like things, and
preached more gospel, it would suit the
more wealthy portion of community better.
There is old Mr. Tight, who is able to sup
port him himself, and yet he was so offend
ed with him for preaching against usury
and in favor of giving money to convert the
heathen, that he says he will not go to hear
him preach. You know’ his wife and
datighiers belong to the church.
Mrs. B. A good minister will not suit
such pefiple as Mr. Tight, and I fear Br.
Hardy does not relish all that is said about
temperance, and giving to tile missionary
cause. Ol late, lie hardly evei does any
thing for benevolent objects. 11 e is cer- 1
tainly able to do much more for the minis
ter than he now does. For my part, 1 want
| a minister who will preach the plain truth,
j even il it does not suit those who are not
doing right, ll we wait to get a minister
who will suit every hotly, 1 hope we slial
always do without so long as there are such
people as Mr. Tight and Mr. Loose in the
society.
Mrs. J. But you know anew minister
gets more out to hear, than an old one.—
When our minister first came here, lie was,
in general, thought to be the best preachei
we ever had ; but somp have got tired of the
same old story, and l think if we had anew
gilt, many would come in who do not
now attend. And who knows but they
might lie converted ?
Mr. L. 1 wonder you can inlimale that
we have the same old story every Sabbath,
lor 1 certainly neverheard any minister who
always hail some new and interesting ideas
connected with every subject, so much as
our present pastor. I certainly think no
one will get tired ol hearing him preach
who loves to hear the truth in every subject
discussed from the pulpit.
Mr. J. 1 think he docs not understand
the gospel doctrine of holiness. And he
certainly is not a revival preacher. I think
if we had the right man we could support
him easy enough.
Mr. L. According to your remarks be
fore, 1 think no minister could expect much
temporal,hid from you, and as to being suit
ed, 1 hare never known of a minister we
have had, that did suit you. You and sis
ter Peevksh are always the first to rake up
something against the minister, and then
you exojuse yourself from paying because
tHb niinistei. or because
Tn
cannot say in truth that our pastor is not a
sound man. I know he lets out the plain
truth, let it hit where il will, and I do not
wonder that such as do not relish such plain
truth, should sometimes feel to cringe un
der it, but ceitajnly lie treats every person
kindly, and is very tender in preaching.
Mr. A. Well, if anything is done to
prevent his going away, it is time to be
about it. I wonder how much has been
subscribed ?
Mr. E. Only about half the necessarv
sum, and 1 do not think it is possible to get
enough to enable him to stay. It is too
bad, too bad !
A Wonderful Conversion.
There were some years ago, not far from
this place, a very gifted preacher, who fur
several years preached with great earnest
ness and success the doctrine of the cross ;
but who, on that very account was violent
ly opposed. One of his opponents, a well
inhumed person, who had for a long time
absented himself from the church, thought,
one Sunday morning, that he would go and
hear the gloomy mail once more, to see
whether Ins preaching might be more toler
able to him than it had been heretofore.—
He went; and that morning the preacher
was speaking of the narrow way, which he
did not make either narrower or broader
than the word ol God describes it. *■ A
new creature in Chris', or eternal condem
nation,” was the theme of his discouise,
and he spoke with power, and not as a
mere learned Veasoner. During the ser
mon, the question forced itself upon this
hearer’s conscience. “How is it with my
self? Does this mail declare the real truth?
ll lie does, wlial must inevitably follow from
it ?” ‘J Ins thought look such a hold upon
him, that he could not get ritl of it amidst
any of his engagements or amusements.—
But it became from day to day more trou
blesome ; more and more penetrating ; and
threatened to enibitt r cveiy joy of ins life;
so that at last he thought lie would go to
the preacher himself and ask him, upon Ins
conscience, if he were convinced of the
truth of that which he had lately preached.
He fulfilled his intention, and went to the
preacher. “Sir,” said he to him, with
gjeat earnestness, “I was one of your hear
ers when you spoke, a short lime since, of
the only way of salvation- 1 confess tn
you that you have disturbed my peace of
mind, and I cannot refrain from askingjvou
solemnly before God, and upon your con
science, if you can prove what you assert
ed, or whether it was unfounded alarm.”
| The preacher, not a little surprised at this
address, replied with convincing certainly,
i that he had spoken the word of God, and
I consequently infallible truth. “What then
| is to become of us.'” replied the visitor.—
11 is last word, us, startled tire preacher; but
be rallied his thoughts, and began to ex
plain the plan of salvation to the inquirer,
and io exhort him to repent and believe
But the latter as though he had not heard
one syllable of what the preacher said, in- j
terrupted him in the midst of it, and re-!
| pealed, with increasing emotion, and anx-1
! iotis exclamation, “If it be true, sir, I be
; seech you. what are we to do?” Terrified
I the preacher staggers back. “We!” thinks
Ire, “what means this toe?” and, endeav
! oring to stifle his inward uneasiness and
I embarrassment, he resumed his exhorta
! lions and advice. Tears came into the eyes
of ihe visiter; he smote his ‘hands together
like one in despair, and exclaimed in an ac
cent which might have moved a heart of
stone, “Sir, if it be truth, we qyc lost and
undone!” The preacher stood pale, trem
bling and speechless. Then overwhelm
ed with astonishment, with downcast eyes
and convulsive sobbings he exclaimed,
“Friend, down on your knees, let us pray
and cry for mercy!” They knelt down,
and prayed; and shortly afterwards the
visiter took his leave. The preacher shut
himself up in his closet. Next Sunday,
word was sent that the minister was unwell,
and cotdd not appear. The same thing
happened the Sunday following. On the
third Suuday the preacher made his appear
ance before his congregation, worn with
his inward conflict and pals, but his eyes
beaming with joy, and commenced his dis
course with the surprising and affecting de
claration, that he had now, for the first
time, passed through the strait gate. You
will ask what had occurred to him in his
chamhei during the interval which had e
lapsed. A storm passed over before him—
but the Lord ivas not in the storm; an earth
quake—but the Lord was not the earth
quake; a fire—hut the Lord was not in the
fire. Then came a still small voice; on
which the man enveloped his face in his
mantle, and from that time knew what was
the Gospel and what was grace,—Krum
macher.
Humanity is Concerned in the Spread of
the Gospel.
One should have imagined dial the gos
pel of Jesus could have no enemies. It
breathes only peace. It has but one sub
ject—to promote the felicity of mankind.
It sweetens every connection of human
life. It strengthens the cause of philan
thropy. The only favor it entreats is, that
men would love themselves: and while it
pours a thousand blessings on the present
transient existence, and lightens all the
trials of the way, it shows wretched, er
ring man, “the path of life.” And yet ev
eiy man’s hand is lifted up against it!—
From its birth to the present hour, every
age has blended all its wisdom and all its
force, to crush Christianity. Had it re
quired the man to sacrifice “his first-born
for his tninsgrcssidr?, the fruit of his body
for the sin of his soul”—who would have
wondered that nature should rise up against
it? Yet, strange to say, the horrible reli
gion ol the Gentiles, which actually did
require this unnatural offering was suppor
ted, and defended against Chiwiiauity, with
vehement obslinuey. J lie rage of man,
on the one side, exhausted itself in defence
ol altars on which their children had been
immolated; anti on the other, was directed
against a religion which hastened to over-
to come unto
me, and foibid them not; lor of such is the
kingdom of heaven!” Ilad it destroyed
the peace and existence of society; had it
scattered war ami blood-shed over the earth:
had it trampled on the dearest rights of hu
man natuie—why then, some reason might
be given for the wrath of man against il.—
But U disseminates “peace and good will to
man,” abroad upon earth, while it brings
in a revenue of “glory to God.” We. can
tike its most furious persecutor by the
hand, when he raves, “Away with it from
the earth!” and say, “Why? What evil
hath it done?” And he shall he nnaole to
assign a single reason for his conduct: un
able to lay one sin to its charge: unable to
prove what in any one instance it is injuri
ous to society: unable to deny that it has
been produciive of the most beneficial ef
fects—that it has removed all the clouds of
heathenism—that it has extinguished the
fires through which wretched parents mus
ed their children to pass, and in which the
fruit of their body was consumed—that it
has given to the world anew and perfect
code of morality—that it has thrown open
the gates of ino-alitv—that it has removed
the bitterness of death—ami that it has es
tablished. solely and unaided, the doctrine
of the resurrection of the dead: he shall he
compelled to admit all this, and yet, with
out a single reason, merely from his natural
enmity to il, he will continue to despise, to
reject, and to persecute it! Humanity is
concerned in the progress of this religion:
Humanity raises hei voice in favor of rev
elation, and entreats, “Risa up, Lord, let!
thine enemies nPscattered; and let them
that hate thee, flee before thee!”
G'oli.yer.
Divine Plans in harmony with Divine Per
fections.
In the operations of Diety all is order,
beauty, anti consistency. In the works of
creation element balances element: the pre
pnnderalion of one is counteiacted by the
pressure of its opptmite, and tints an equi
librium is maintained among the whole.—
Equally harmonious and consistent are the
mysterious plans of providence. To us
they are like chaos, “without form and
void”—dark, profound, unfathomable.—
Does it follow that they are so in them
selves? To the eye of superstition the com
et carries in its luminous train war, and fa
mine, and pestilence, and whatever scourge
can afflict guilty nations: while, perhaps, it
is the messenger of peace to distant worlds,
rolling fat beyond the extent of our vision,
through the immensity of space, To the
eye of ignorance the starry heavens pre
sent a mingled, confused display of trem
bling lights, To the eye of the philoso
pher, they wear an appearance far different.
Yonder spark he discovers to he a sun, and
conceives it the centre of another system.
That cluster of glittering specks is to him
what the finger-post or the mile-stone is to
the traveller; it is a fnark of measuiemeni
j between one quarter of the heavens and a
: nother. Those wandering lamps, he per-
I ceives, describe a regular orbit; and he pre
i diets, to an hour, their arrival at such and
i such a point of heaven—or their passage
through a given constellation. Such ate
• the plans of providence now to us, a majes
tic. hut confused and boundless piece of
i machinery: and such shall they become in
; die world oflight. when we shall see them
| all reduced to order. So in religion—dis
pensation answers dispensation— and anti
type is exactly delineated'in the type—the
shades of coloring melt into each other
and, from the present confused masses, the
matchless skill of the divine Ariist shall
produce and perfect his own grand design.
In the mean time, let us wait the issue, and
in inspecting the progression of the work
let us not decide as though it were already
aecomplished, nor pronounce our judg
ment, as though we were masters in the
science, while we are only allowed to be
spectators, or at most scholars.
Colly kr.
Presbyterianism and the American Tract So
ciety.
During the session of the Presbytery of
South Alabama, last week, an Agent of the
Society above named, himself a Presbyteri
an minister, presented before that body, the
Col portage system, and requested the co
operation of the Presbytery, in endeavoring
to circulate tracts and religious books, in
this Stale. Dr. Hamilton introduced and
supported a resolution favoring the propo
sition, but it was rejected !
This result is as painful and humiliating,
as it must have been unexpected. VVliat
did the Agent ask ? Nothing, save that the
Presbytery should express its approbation
ol an enterprise by which standard work*
of practical piety, devoid of sectarian pecu
liarities—works, in the spirit of heaven
which they breathe, and in their power to
do good, are second only to the Bihle itself
—works written by Baxter, and Oaen, and
Leigh Richmond, and Wiiberfbrce; by
Nevins and Alexander, themselves distin
guished Presbyterians—the Agent only
asked that these works might be introduced
into every family, in South Alabama, un
der the sanction of the Presbytery. But
that sanction was refused ! In opposition
lo the resolution, it was urged, that the
Presbyterians ought to circulate the publi
cations of their own Board, and not favor
the distribution of books, issued by other
societies. To this it was answered, that
the Board had pul forth few woiks
adapted to general circuljHpi—that the
Presbytery was doing nothing to distribute
even these few, and, it was added, by one
of the hest ministers in the body, if they re
fused to aid in the plan proposed, they
would act the part of the dog in the manger
—doing nothing themselves, and not suffer
ing others to do any thing ! Whether this
withering rebuke was keenly felt, we can
not say, but its effect was not potent enough
to break the spell of sectarianism, which
doomed the majority of the m mbers lo in
difference and inaction, where nothing more
than the salvation of souls was to lit
without reference to denominational
fits. —Btatama Baptist. B
.dm}" uT^gnoran ce. —“The following ‘
frightliil statement, of the spiritual ignor
ance and woe now existing in Liverpool,
was lately made at a meeting of the town
mission there. There are 65,000 adults •
who never enter a place of worship, ex
cept at a marriage or a funeral; 12.000
adults cannot read, 14,000 families have
not a solitary fiagnient of the Word of God,
and 25,000 go to no school whatever.”
The above we cut from an eastern paper.
Having heard a few days since of an inci
dent, which, if true, (and we dare not
doubt it,) brings the frightful reality to our
very door, we subjoin it:—A benevolent
lady of this city, who is in the habit of vis
iting the poor, and reading the sacred
Scriptures to such persons as are unable to
read for themselves, was shocked not long
since by the remarks of an old woman,
who expressed much surprise at that pait
of the Scriptures re.ating to our Lord’s
death; said she had never heard of his
death; and, indeed, she had never heard
there was such a man as Jesus Christ
before! 1
We make no comments; but beg that
through your columns you will make this
fact known to the friends of missions.—
Alton Telegiaph. H.
Intense Application of the most Ac
complished Authors. —Among the wiser
precepts of learning nothing can be more
useful, than to recall vagrant genius lo the
course ot industry, by examples of intense
application in the most accomplished schol
ars. Nothing can he more false or fatal
io learning, than the common opinion, that
whatever is easy oi excellent in composi
tion must be, struckjml at a heat. Horace
wiote ol the limce lubor et mora the labor
and delay ol Lite file, and Terence, the best
master o! Roman composition, complained
that the last touch ol the file was wanting
to his writings. Sir Wm. Jones declares
that he ‘labored’ lor excellence and renown,
i and the immortal work ol Gibbon, was the
i beloved occupation of seven years. Hume
l being complimented by a noble Marquis on
the beauty of his History, responded that
“it was owing to the care he took in the
execution of the work, as he wrote it over
three limes before he sent il to the press.”
Dr. Blair gave a week lo his shortest
sermon, and, to say nothing of Pope,
whose manuscripts were so blotted to be
often unintelligible, even the prodigal By
ron confessed that his most vivacious pas
sages were slowly and painfully elaborated.
Cowper says he never accomplished more
Ilian thirteen hues at a silting.— Newark
Sentinel.
A Rich Prize. —An old building, about
to be pulled down, in the Bowery, was sold
for S3O to two Irishmen, on condition they
would remove it. They went to work at
it, and in tearing open some of the wain
scoating, found a jug. which on examina
tion proved to he a money jug, containing, .
it is said, $9,C00 in old coin. This is the
old budding where the Avenue boys used
to stop and discuss the merits of their fast
trotters. *