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JOSEPH BAKER— Editou.
VOL XIII.
TERMS—PER ANNUM.
VUST The Christian Index, published
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Every Agent (and all llaptist Ministers
afe particularly solicited to become agentsj
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Attrertisemenls may be inserted on usual
terms, at the discretion of the Editor.
For the Christian Index.
Thoughts for Ctmnlry Clinrrhcs.
The Lord hath ordained that they who
preach die Gospel should live of the Gos
pel. The obvious import of this declara
tion of Paul is. that men who devote them
selves to the ministry should receive foi
llieir services a full maintninnnre. Is this j
explicit enactment of our Saviour obeyed ‘•
lv our Churches ? It is not. Then there j
is most evident disobedience to one of tite j
most plain ordinances of Heaven. Os j
course guilt attaches somewhere. Some-1
bodv is accountable for this sin. “Lord,
is it I?” should lie the earnest enquiry of j
every man’s conscience. It is vastly im
portant that each church member should j
clear himself from all blame on account ol j
the fact that his pastor is entangled in the;
absorbing strife for bread with a censorious
and vicious world. The common apology |
for this state of things is the weakness of j
the Church. One will say, “1 admit the
obligation, but our church is not able to.
support her pastor.” I propose, in this
article, to suggest sonic considerations
against ibis apology, to which 1 invite the
candid attention of my readers.
Mv first remark is this. Ifit ho true
that a church cannot support a pastor, 1 j
seriously doubt her qualification to be a
church. This idea .I do not mean to dis-1
ciiss ; it is only offered for what it may be |
worth. Hut it seems to me that such a ■
church would do'vvcl! to unite her strength
to her nearest neighbor, especially if, by so
doing, a pastor could he supported. II
convenient to preach altcrnat- ly at each
house, and both congregations would at
tend at each place, of course he might do
so. The people in the vicinity would still
have close among them their pastor to visit j
and counsel them. There would he one
subscription list—one conference, and one
constant ministry. That such happy unions
might he formed 1 have no doubt. It re
quires only that little local paitialitics mid
prejudices he waived, and the thing is prac
ticable. Brethren think of it.
M y second temark is, that there is after
all not so much inability as is believed. I
hesitate not to assume that our churches are
generally able to maintain a minister. I
think so—because I see communities in
every respect analogous to churches, and
possessing no greater advantages, actually
incurring and sustaining expenses as great
as would he required to sustain a minister.
I allude to the expenses of education.
There arc, in our Slate, many teachers, as
thirty pupils to each teacher is a fair aver
age. Without any difficulty this army of
teachers is supported exclusively by tlieit
schools, at salaries varying from 300 to
$3,000 per annum. No man thinks that a
teacher will teach for nothing. II a neigh
borhood is weak, as to pecuniary resources,
the residents are content to employ a man
of moderate qualifications, from whom tlieii
children learn what is useful for the busi
ness of this life: and he is supported. If
the community are strong enough to raisea
1,000 dollars salary, they command excel
lent teachers. Now it often happens that
these thirty pupils arc the children of some
eight or ten heads of families, and they do
not look for assistance to kind friends in
the neighborhood, who are not personally
interested in the school, but they pay ac
cording to the number of children, till they
make up an amount necessary to secure
such a teacher as they want. Now a
church is a school—the members are pu
oils, and he who preacheß to them is their
teacher. Why cannot a church, consisting
of thirty white ntentbe s, pay a minister as
well as a school of thirty pupils can pay a
teacher. I cannot see the reasonableness
of the distinction which is made in favor of
the common school. Only think of it. A
chinch of thirty members, hy paying a sum
equal to the tuition of an old-field school,
would raise three or four hundred dollars a
year. For this consideration, there are
many sound evangelical preachers who
would gladly fix ilremsetves close by the
meeting-house, and make it their business
to superintend the spiritual interests of the
people in all affection ami faithfulness, lie
would, from Sabbath to Sabbath, break to
them the bread of life. Should a elujrch he
able to raise no more, let not her pride
greater than Iter purse, ahd let hqjf love of
preaching he equal to her poverty—then
she would thrive most luxuriantly under
such services as three fpnrJiundrecj-dol
lars w.mbl mmnianri,'tVi ic
able, ns doubtless utrfiYy in-pro
portion to tiir tuition ofa'xdß]Hstble ilwade
my, she eouUlsfcure dva t>#*Uif rf'mlVtei>i;l
ability. Let any country church, favora
bly located, give assurance that she will
pay eight hundred or a thousand dollars a
J car for a pastor, and Iter pulpit will be fill
ed beyond a doubt. These estimates may
bp thought extravagant by some—perhaps
impossible. But why I Are not these
sums raised with ease for the teacher, and
even greater sums than these ? They are.
and the lad demonstrates the ability olcnm
innnities. Churches are communities ;
and so tar as possession of earthly goods is
concerned, they are upon a footing with
others. They .are able to do vvliat other
communities have done. Here I meet an
objection. It will be said, that the strength
ol the church is not equal to wltat its mem
bers would indicate, because many mem
hers are females and minors, whose hus
bands and fathers feel no sympathy with
them on the subject of paying preachers,
and who, therefore, cannot be induced to
furnish the needed funds. This may pos
sibly be true sometimes : but I do not think
that it is to such an extent as to destroy mv
argument. On the contrary, it is more
generally true that men love to oblige their
wives am! children. Those amiable Chris
tian viilues that ever invest the character of
a consistent professor, serve to increase
| rather than diminish female influence : and
hence, it deserves tube considered wheth
er, in many of those eases just referred to,
the indifference of husbands and fathers
! may not he attributable to a want of deep
consistent piety in those dependent upon
| them. Religion is expected to make poo
i pie better. A man of the world can judge
las well as others of this matter. If it does
! not produce the fruit ascribed to i, it is not
| strange that be should feel disinclined to
’ patronize a system which, to his view, is
unprofitable. Let this be noticed by those
whom it may concern ; for 1 am disposed
to think that this difficulty will gradually
give way before the consistent and uniform
i action of professors. And if there should
! still remain some men whom nothing can
: induce to co-operate with the church, she
will yet have a resource in the generous be
nevoience of other members in her congre
gation, provided she does her own duty.
In view of what has been said, I respect
fully ask, why are so many churches with
out a spiritual teacher? Teachers of com
mon schools are supported. Is it not ob
vious that, if churches felt the same obliga
tion to pay their preachers that communi
ties do to pay the instructors of their chil
dren, the thing cout.n bk done. Hut all!
here is the difficulty. The obligation is
not fill. It is scarcely allowed. Multi
tudes give to a minister as if he were an ob
ject of charity asking an alms; and they
dole out their small mites with the sclf
eomplarenev of high-toned benevolence.
Brethren, this ought not so to lie. You
are under greater obligations to support
your minister, than you are to support a
teacher for your children—because you are
not commanded to bestow upon your chil
dren worldly knowledge, but you are com
manded to bring them up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord. Os eouise you
are, by implication, commanded to provide
the means of doing so. Os all means the
most effectual is a constant and faithful min
istry. Again—this obligation is greater be
cause the value of religious knowledge is
intrinsic illy greater than all other know
ledge beside—by as much as the soul is su
perior to her clay tenement. I ask, again,
why cannot the Heaven-commissioned in
structor receive due compensation for ser
vice rendered, as well as an ordinary teach
er ? It may he, because the latter can
compel his patrons to pay him : ministers
cannot do this—they claim, not under a
legal but a moral obligation. The Court to
try moral obligations has not sal on earth
yet: but let professors of religion remem
ber that that awful court will one day open
its solemn assizes. At that day, the claims
of ministers will be adjudicated. Who
would wish to he found in debt to his min
ister at the Day of Judgment ?
G. Lorenzo.
It is said that Sir Walter Scott was ac
customed to write thirty or forty pages of
MSS. per day wheu engaged on the Wa
verly novels.
FOR THE- BAPTIST CONVENTION OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
-jCm
PENFIELD, GA., JAMJAUY 31, 1845.
For the Christian Index.
On Creeds.
Dear Dro. Baker— l have thought, for
some time, of vyriting a few short numbers
upon the propriety of church confessions,
or*Cr|eds— lj|d, in what I have to say in
regard to them, you will not, of course* ex
pect a full diseusSitjnf bm a lew general re
n*a/W A ‘ %r
1. ‘l'lMtChurcli of ChfUt tyns founded,
that sire nitghfijc a depository of the truth.
This is cvtdeuj from many passages of
Sc.riptuft, panieniyyliv‘ froth’ the hiMlnjune
lien of ihe *’ “Out J,o v thi; : j<.jd;.is qmlgtildes
of Hi* jCfnii jjft-V* Teaching them to olj?
serve'all tilings whatsoever’l have com
manded you:” and also, from tho direction
of the Apostle, to ‘Mmntend earnestly for
the faith once delimvd id the Saints.”
The professing people of God are “ the.
light of the world—-the salt of the earth,”
catted out from the rest of the people, lr
keeping alive and extending the power ol
our holy religion.
2. Though .ill the doctrines which be
long to the Christian system may not ap
pear equally vital, and of the same impor
tance, yet all truth is precious, and every
degree ol departure from it is more or luss
injurious. Os course, it is the duty of the
Church to hold fast all of it, with peculiar
care, “ that they may lie sound in faith,
and hold forth a form of sound words.” It
is, then, evident that the Church, which al*
lows any material departure Iroin the truth,
in any of her members, and especially in
her teachers and rulers, sins against the au
thority of her Master in Heaven, and is re
creant to the great purpose for which she
was founded.
3. This duty being incumbent on the
Church of Christ, it is self-evident that she
is vested with authority for carrying the
Saviour’s command into execution. Each
Church, as an associated body, is not only
at liberty, but is under obligations, to judge
lor herself tvhal the Bible contains, and,
with fidelity, to maintain the truth which it
sets forth. Though the word of God is
the only infallible rule of faith and practice,
yet each Church (as well a-’ each man)
must interpret that word fur herself, under
responsibility to the Great Author of that
word—and to judge from the spirit of it,
how far she can walk in Christian fellow
ship with those who reject any portion of
it.
Now, it being evident that the Church is
thus bound to maintain a faithful testimony
in favor of the truth, among all her inem
bers, com at the expense of “earnestly
contending sot it,” it becomes a very se
rious question, —How is she to fulfil this
trust ? twiv shall she call upon her members
to “ witness a good profession,” and espe
cially her teachers ? Shall she exact from
them a declaration that they believe the Bi
ble to be the Word of God ? This cannot
he a test by which site can arrive at any de
cision ; for all classes of professing Chris
tians, from the most lax Sociniau up to the
most rigid Calvinist, are equally ready to
profess llieir belief in the Bible. The Ari
ans, in the council of Nice, at once declared
their belief in every Biblestntement, respect
ing the glory of Christ, that was cited to
them—hut observed, at die same time, that
they put llieir own construction on them.
Thus they perplexed the council, day after
day, with llieir evasions. This single
case ought to teach us the necessity of a
creed, or some ruling point, supported by
the Word of God, by which heresy maybe
detected.
Afiei all the declamation and noise which
have been uttered against the use of creeds,
I have never met with a suggestion which
was adapted, in the least degree, to obviate
the difficulties that a Church may get into,
without some certain point as a test for
their soundness in faith. Accordingly,
God has furnished, in the inspired volume,
certain principles and directions, together
with some valuable records of apostolic
practice, for the guidance of his people.
These constitute our directory, and the ba
sis of the government which obtains, with
very little variety of modification, in all
strictly independent and regular Churches,
tints establishing, in the most ample man
ner, the necessity, as well as the expedien
cy, of such a formula.
JAMES PERRYMAN.
(1 o be continued.)
For the Christian Index.
My Dear Brother— The minutes of the
second annual meeting of the American In
dian Mission Association have bepn sent to
you—on reading of which, lain peisuailed,
you will concur in the opinion that the
Lord lias smiled upon the efforts of the As
sociation thus far. We feel greatly en
couraged to invite the friends of Indian Mis
sions iqEjncreasc their exertions in their
behalf, jj
Yotf *rill perceive that it hafl been
tboughtftesirable llint a semi-annual session
be hel{! wxt spring in Georgia, or some oth
er r Soutl|srn State. The reasons for this
appear, so us, to be many, and of great
it is presumed that they will
nattirall'Wsuggest themselves to your own
mind.|B* he time and place of yottr next
GeorgbJlaptist Convention, are thought to
be favennie for this meeting also. Many
Mkltiimrif State are recorded as members
of the jK&ociaiion by the contribution of
and upwards. These, and ina
tn’ otmM, it is hoped, would feel pleasure
in deljrfeßrting upon measures for the pro
motion ol ottr great design. This measure
would beSealtulated to strengthen the bonds
of union of baptists in many States, and
embody the rt for carrying forward other
matters qf benevolence. The nature of the
business proper for the semi-annual session
to transact, is set forth in the minutes of the
annual meeting. If a sufficient numbei*ol
brethren, tv ill) in your Slate, approve of
ibis dcsigh, the Board will publish the
meeting—and, by permission of Provi
dence, some of us from this quarter will at
tend it.
Now, my dlai b-.nher. if you approvcof
this propped} meeiina, you are respect
fully and carmsiN in ed to notice it in
your paper in juieli a manner as you think
will be proper.
Our Board have also directed me to en
deavor to obtain the insertion of our
“ Mnnlhli / Reports ,” which appear in the
Banner, airtl in some other religions periodi
cals. The Hoard would he much gratified
if these repot ts, or extracts from them,
could be inserted regularly in your valuable
paper. It could he sent to you in slips as
soon as the proof is taken, and he publish
ed, if desirable, as original matter in youi
paper. Upon this subject, please allow us
to hear froihi you at your earliest conve
nience.
With very great respect,your brother,
ISAAC McCOY, Cor. Bcc.
To the Benevolent throughout the United
States.
The American Indian Mission Associa
tion, now in session in the City of Louis
ville, Kentucky, earnestly solicits the at
tention ol all who are disposed to do jus
t ce, and to extend kindness to suffering
fellow-men, to the claims of the Aborigi
nes of America.
That they were vastly numerous at the
time that Europeans first visited this conti
nent, is welt! known; that llieir number lias
since been reduced to less than a fourth
part of what it then was, is fully believed ;
that this diminution ol numbers has been
occasioned hy the ingress of white men,
none will pretend to deny; and that their
decrease is evidence of accumulated suffer
ings, is equally plain. Nevertheless, it is
believed that, in North America, the rein
naui still in existence amounts to more that)
four millions , and these, withslight excep
tions, are still perishing by causes emana.
ting from white men. The latter, with the
advantages which civilization gave them
over barbarous habits, have crowded out ol
their homes those who occupied the terri
tory of these now prosperous United
States ; and, though the vast territory in
habited by the natives, adjoins our settle
ments, and (lie opportunity of making them
some amends for the damages they have
sustained, have always been favorable,
they have, nevertheless, been neglected.
That they have strong claims upon our
sympathies, none will deny. Are not
these claims equal to those of any other
nation? And the claims of justice in their
behalf are equally palpable —they are im
perious and enutiot he innnveutly disre
garded. The brevity of this appeal forbids
argument and a detail of facts demonstta.
live of these truths ; but neither is iiecses
sary. Ail admit that we owe the Indians
a debt which we can never fully discharge.
Hence llieir claims upon us are paramount
to those of foreign nations, whom vve have
not injured.
Brethren, why has so much less sympa
thy been felt for the heathen in America
than for the heathen in Asia? Are l!ie
souls of these ol less value, or tlieit happi
ness on earth less desirable ? Are these
comparatively few ? We have reduced
their number. Is there something appall
ing in llieir present rapid decline? The
causes are from mv. Shall we say to them,
We occupy the country of ymis fathers ;
we destroyed them, and you are in like
niannsr perishing iimlei the >• - which re-
suit from our acquaintance itii you, you
are by our side ; we hear no groans, and
see you dying under our feel, and yet we
cannot help you, because men beyond the
seas whom we have not injured at all, need
the light of the gospel ? Where is consis
tency ?
Should any question the premises here
assumed, that the Aborigines of our coun
try have not received a proper share ol at
tention from the benevolent; we would te.
mind such, that, until very recently, so lit
tle interest was felt for the salvation of the
<bnt no feasible plan foi their im
proviv. J was adopted. There was notli-
ingpeculiarly forbidding in the Indianchar
acter; there was no obscurity about the
means to be employed for llieir relief. All
was plain. Their wants were like the
wants of others; and the gospel and civil
ization embodied all that llieir wants de
manded ; and, yet, only a few isolated ef
forts have been made to iin part, to them the
blessings of either. Even up to the time
of the organization of this Association,
they who were doing most lbr Indian Alis
sions. deemed it sufficient that they should
occupy merely a secondary place in the at
tention of benevolent societies, the main
object of which was the support of foreign
missions.
This Association lias avowed its regard
for foreign missions. Their prosperity ex
cites gratitude to God, and earnest desire
that they may advance with the increase ol
teivenr.y in prayer and liberality in contri
butions. It aims not to ohstiuet in’ the
slightest degree missions in foreign fields,
but to promote proper efforts J’ur the salva
tion of the .Aborigines. It is esteemed a
jitstcause of griel, that so little sympathy
lias been fell lor the heathen at our doors:
especially as we cannot expect any otliet
nation to embark zealously in this good
work. It properly belongs to christirtns in
America.
Alier more than twenty years’ efforts ofa
few in the Baptist ranks to promote a feasi
ble plan of ItKiiau reform, vve have the sat
isfaction to perceive that such a plan lias
been adopted. Its success is astonishing.
To a sufficient number to form a State, a
country lias been assigned, and there, be
lieving that they had, at last , found a rest
ing place, tribes of hunters have suddenly
formed settlements of farmers j and, vvitli
gladdened hearts and busy hands, are daily
adding to the enjoyments of civilized life.
But a lew years ago, and before their emi
gration to the west, the Delavvaies, fciliavva
noes, Kickapoos, Ottavvas, Weas. l’eoiias,
and others, were really hands of hunters.
Now they are cultivating farms. Others
from the south, who were far advanced in
civilization before llieir immigration west,
are now encouraged by the fact, that they
are not now as they were formeily, within
the chartered limits of any State, and they
are where they may enjoy the advantages
of all civil amt religious institutions which
are necessary to their future prosperity.
Here are over ninety thousand, who be
long to aboik'lwenly tribes, most of whom
have emigrated from flic east side of-the
Mississippi; and not one of the immigrant
tribes depends materially upon hunting for
subsistauce; hut all depend almost whol
ly’ on the fruits of llieir industry at their
homes.
‘l’ll ir personal comforts and hopes, have
awakened among them a desire to enjoy
the advantages of education, never before
known among the Indians. But the most
pleasant feature in their affairs is readiness
to receive religions instruction.
This Association was organized vvitli
special reference to the salvation o: the All
ot tgines; and in the hope of combining, so
far as necessary, the energies of the Bap
tist denomination throughout the United
Stales, in carrying forward the plan now
fairly before the public,and which soslrong
ly commends itself by success, so far as the
experiment has been made. As soon as re
sources, and affairs within the present In
dian Territory will admit, it is designed to
originate other settlements—other Territo
ries ; and to furnish them with the Word
of God and the living teacher. And it is
Imped that this design will he followed up
until not a single band of Aborigines, in
either North or South America, will be left
destitute of the light which guides to hap
piness on earth and to heaven.
The Association is now celebrating its
second anniversary; but its actual opeia
tions have little exceeded a year and a half.
Thus far the Lord has smiled upon its ef
forts in an uncommon degree. About eigh
ty have been baptized by the missionaries
within the last year, and a very eneomag
ing state of things in regard to religion
continues. Four churches, embracing in
the whole, over one hundred am! eighty
members, are in its connection. It lias fif
teen missionaries in the Held, viz: nine
males, of whom three are natives, two of the
white brethren are single; and six females,
two of whom are unmarried. The Gos
pel by Mathew, and the Acts of the Apos
tles translated into the I’utawatoinie lan
guage, have been printed, and, in neat [find
ing, is now ready to be distributed to that
tribe. Buildings and a farm of considera
ble value, have Iv-en obtained from the gov
ernment of the United States, for the pur
pose of a school upon an enlarged scale a
inong the Weas. The Cliocta v nation has
recently appropriated $2,900 00 for the e
reelinn of buildings, Arc. for an Academy
among them ; and have endowed it with an
annuity in future of $2,900 00. upon the
condition that this Association w ill also ap
ply in support of the institution, an annui
ty ol SIOOO 00. Six hundred dollars have
been placed in the treasury, for the estab
lishment of a Female Aademv among the
Osages, and will be applied as soon as suit
able missionaries can he obtained for that
station.
Thc responsibilities of the Association
have suddenly become considerable; but
the calls for help to which it has responded,
appeared to be of a character too impress
ive to be denied ; and such, it is believed,
will be the view taken by the readers of the
history of our affairs of the last year, as
given in the Annual Report of the Hoard.
Calls for help are multiplying, and itiereas-
PinsixsHEft— BENJ. BRANTLY;
| ing in interest; afid the fields appear rapidly
whitening for harvest. All is a moral and
literal waste beyond a little skirt which is
beginning to bloom on the border of the
vast region inhabited bv the aboriginal
tribes. But all are accessible by the Mis
sionary ol the Gross. Some of the natives
have already become preachers of the gos
pel to their countrymen ; and re-inforce
ments to nttr missionary ranks, will, doubt
less, continue to he obtained Iroin that quar
ter in proportion as the transforming influ
ences of the gospel are felt.
Brethren, will you co-operate with the
Association in this great and good word—
this work of justice as well as mercy ? We
re pest, that tvn do not desire ‘you to relax
your efibrs for the support of Foreign Mis
sions. No. .Semi abroad the light of the
gospel, that distant nations may call you
“blessed ,” but do not, we entreat you, re
ject the claims ol the poor Indian, wrapped
in his buffalo skin, seeking a precarious
subsistence by the chase, or lit’ digging
toots, who, hy his wretchedness and moral
darkness, implores relief, predicating his
plea upon the principles of common jus
tice, and Christian benevolence, enforced bv
reference to the beneficence of our Divine
Lord and Master. Will you not do some
thing to assure him that he is not friend
less, as be has long been taught to believe,
hut that he has friends on earth—that he
has a Fiietid in Heaven !
\on are entreated to adopt systematic
measures for Co-operation in Indian Mis
sions. Remittances to the treasury, may
he made eithar in the undersigned Secreta
ry and Agent, or to G. Van Buskirk, Esq.,
both of Louisville, Ky.
The next annual meeting of the Associa
tion will be held in llii.- City, commencing
on the las) Thursday in Oct., 1845. The
attendance of brethren is affectionately in
vited. By order of the Association.
ISAAC McCOY,
Corresponding Sec. and .Agent.
Louisville, Ky., Oct. 1844.
A Lie cannot Itr Hid.
Elisha, the prophet of the Lord, had a
wicked sesvani. whose'name was Gcha/.i.
There came one day to Elisha a very
great man, wlm was afflicted with the lep
rosy ; and lie, bv God’s blessing cured
him.
So lie was very thankful,’ and he wanted
the prophet to receive as a present very
mnrli gob) am! silver, and fine raiment, as
a token of bis gratitude—but he would not.
Klislia blessed him, and sent hint back a
gaiu in peace
Hut the servant of the man of God long
ed to have some of this money, and so he
fan af or Nanman, for ibis was the name
of the person who had been cured, and
overtook him. And lie came down out of
his carriage, and said. ‘-Is all well ?” And
he said : “All is well.”
And Qelinzi said to him, “Mv master
hath sent me, saying. Behold, even now,
there he come to me front Mount Ephraim,
iwo young men, of the sons of the pro
phets ; give them, I pray thee, a talent of
silver, and two changes of garments. And
Nanman sap), lie content-take two talents.
And he bound two talents of silver in two
hags, with two changes of garments, and
laid them off two of his servants, and they
bare them before him.”
This was very generous and kind of
Naaman ; hut all that Geltazi had said was
false. There were no young men come to
his master. Elisha had not sent him.
Well—when they were route into the
town Geltazi took the money and garments,
and laid them up in a very secret place, and
s</nt the servants hack again to Naaman.
He was gieatly pleased with the success
of his plan. He thought no one knew a
nv thing of the matter; and he already de
termined to buy oliveyards, And vineyards,
and a large estate.
But lying cannot he hid. Though no
fellow creature may know it. God is ac
quainted with the secrets of all hearts ; he
knew all that the prophet's servant had
•lotto, and lie told Elisha.
So when Gahezi went in, and stood be
fore his master, as lie had been used to do,
Elisha said- ‘.Whence contest thou, Geha
zi?” and lie said, “Thy servaut went no
whillicr!” And the prophet said, No
whither? Didst thou not go after Naa
inan ? Did he not come down from his
carriage to meet thee? No whither, Ge
hazi ? Did he not send his two servants
with thee to cart v two talents of silver, and
two changes of raiment? No whither?—
Hast thou not laid up in a seerect place the
treasures which thou hast so basely gained?
lie was self-condemned. He knew that
all his master had said was true, and he was
speechless. And every liar shall he speech
less when God calls him into judgment.
But did not Geltazi gain a great deal of
money by his lying? Yes—hut it did
him no good. For though he gained the
money of Naaman, he had with it his
dreadiul affliction. For lie went out from
his master’s ptesence a leper as white an
snow.
There is nothing gained here or hereaf
ter by lying. A lie cannot be hid. And
God has told us, that all liars shall have
their part in the lake that burnetii with fire
and brimstone.
No man ever trusted in God but he found
him faithful; nor in his own heart, but he
found it lalsp. Whoever lias Christ cannot
he poor ; whoever is without him cannot
he rich. — Charleston Observer.
NO. 5-