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JOSEPH S. BAKER— Editor.
VOL XIII.
TERMS —PER ANNUM.
apr the Christian Index, publish
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■cs for subscribers at their respective offi
ces, according ton decision of the Post-
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All patrons and agents are requested to
notice this.
Every Agent, (and all Baptist Ministers
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who procure and pay for five copies of
the Index, shall be entitled to a sixth, as a
compensation for his trouble.
Letters on business, or communications,
iiiust be addressed to the Editor, post
paid.
Advertisements maybe inserted on usu
al terms, at the discretion of the Editor.
For the Christian Index.
Religious condition of Jones county; at
tack on Baptist principles : scene in a
meeting house ; Correspondence; death
by immersion; call for information;
advice to Baptist churches.
Mr. Ediloi :—Having recently written
for your columns something in regard to
the state of religious affairs in the interior
of our Slate, 1 beg leave to add a few facts
with particular rei rence to the county in
which 1 reside. Our population amounts
to about 7,000. Os lids number, it is be
lieved that something like 000 are under
Methodist influence, and not exceeding
1.000 umler both missionary and ami-mis
sionary Baptist influence. This leaves 5,
600 under no direct T-'liirii*UH influence at
all. Thelv are not over some 00 or 60
children in the enmity’ enj >\ ing the advan
tages of Sabbath School insiniciiou. Yet,
lam happy to add, that the morals of our
people ate far 1 om being as bad as this des
titution of the means of grace would war
rant us to expect. There is much, very
much, in them to commend and approve.
In this village especially, the Methodists
have a large and flourishing Society, many
of die members of which arc among‘the
excellent of the earth.’* The Baptistchorch,
on the contrary, is very weak, (notexceed
miTsome Attn or a dozen wli.fe members)
. JUtd iioor at that. Sonic of your readers
•ire Tnrr lit it i “ i ll in
tile people of this county, owing mainly to’
the fact Jliat I stand almost alone in a wide
field of destitution around me, and it is all
1 can do to occupy some of the most impor
tant pyints in tliat field. Perhaps one main
reason why the Baptist inteicst in the vil
lage is so small, is tlpil the gioiind was al
most wholly ure-occtijiied before they at
tempted any thing here.
As Baptists we have lived iiere, a num
ber of years, on terms of cordial fraternal
friendship with our Pcdobaplist brethren.
They have aided us liberally in building
our meeting house—in supporting om
preacher; and have never been wanting in
kindness towards ns, whenever we have
needed it, But this seeu sto he an ill-fa
ted year for tt=. The Methodist minister,
in charge of this Circuit, seems to have
come here in anil! humor with that “sect
which is every where spoken against.”—
And from his first entering in among us,
he opened against ns all Ins batteries, ap
parently with a view toour utter extinction.
It was hoped, when he came to find on:
how weak we were (and how peaceful
with all,) that lie would desist, out of mere
compassion. But, no, that oply seemed
to raise his ambition Ijighor. Ami on lie
went, sermon after.sermon, saying against
us many hard things.
dust before I left on my No.t'Jiern trip, I
f -It it oiy duty to deliver a Lecture on the
Confession of Faith of the little Baptist
church in this place, which is the same as
that of the 0.-mulgee and Georgia Associa
tions. This Lecture was announced be
fore hand—so that I presume none of the
audience were taken by surprise. Our
views were presented faithfully, but also
in love. Says the Apostle, “speaking the
truth in love.” , Our learned, clerical
neighbor was there. Ail things passed off
as usual, until the close of the service. And
now came on a scene which l would for
bear to describe, but that it exhibits so stri
kingly that spirit which opposes God’s
holy ordinance. Just as I dismissed the
audience, and as they were in the net of re
ining. my Rev. friend lose in his place and
demanded of me, in no very mild tone,
“whether I designed that discourse as a
challenge I iepiietl without hesitation,
(anil ill truth too) that I did not—that I had
no idea of such a thing, either then or at
anv other time. This did not pacify him
--hut turning and addressing the congrega
tion, he announced in substance, “With
the permission of the audience,” (not of
the preacher or of the church, mind you,
Mr. Editor;) but, “With the permission of
the audience, he would announce that on
such a day he would present the views of
the Methodists on ihr subject of baptism.”
Whereupon the congregation dispersed,
with such feelings as you may imagine.—
Thus it appears that we arc not yet at lib
ertv to preach our sentiments in our own
meeting house, oven after they have been
misrepresented in a community, without
having the order and harmony of our set
viees disturbed in the manner above de
setibfid —without having our feelings out
raged, hv the demand, “Whether w< de-
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX.
siged that discourse as a challenge ” —as if
we ministers were bullies or duellists !
During my absence, my neighbor did as
say ‘.o present the views of the Methodists
on the subject of baptism—with what suc
cess Heave for them to judge. In that
memorable discourse, he stated as a fact
what should by all means be- put upon re
cord without delay for the information of
mankind, and for the safety of females in all
future time. Let the news be spread far
and wide. Among oiliei objections to im
mersion. lie slated that “In certain climates
it endangers the life of the subject. A ease
took place the other side of Augusta : a
young Lady was baptized by immersion ;
she took celt! from it and soon died. They
will say, she was a martyr to lltc cause:
she was a martyr to the cause ;—but riot
to the truth —not to the x tilth.” Thus
after the poor young creature is said to have
come to her death by immersion, she is
not allowed the honor of having been a
martyr to the truth. Apprehending there
might be some mistake about the matter, I
addressed him the following note :
Clinton, June 3, 1845,
Dear Sir:—Reports have reached me
which render it proper.that l should ask in
humation of you in regard .to a certain mat
ter, which ! beg leave most respectfully to
do. Von have Ir on understood to state
from the pulpit, “that a young lady came
to her death by having been immersed,
fee,” Please furnish me with the name
ol the person—by whom she'was immers
ed—where and into what particular church
she was received—and when the event took >
place. Any other circumstances, connect
ed with the subject, will be gratefully ac
knowledged. With due consideration,
I respectfully subscribe myself, your o
hcdieui servant.
J. 11. CAMPBELL.
To this note he has not replied, 1 leave
for your readers to decide whether I had a j
right to make the above call, am 1 whether i
it is done i:t such a manner as to he often- j
si ve.
Hull, as the alleged circumstance is ,-t
new tiling under the sun, and as the atate
ni!i)t was made, it is presumed, te frighten
those who lail to he convinced, I trust the
matter will lie looked into by. the churches
about Augusta—ami that we shall yet have
the name ol the unfortunate young Lady,
ami all about the a Hair.
In the close, I advise mv Baptist breth
ren, wherever their churches ate weak anti
“porn i” lio- mutual CiDlferpiice of
the Methodist Church not to send into their
vicinity my Rev. neighbor, that their feel
ings may bn saved from injury, and their
existence lioin annihilation.
J. I!. CAMPBELL.
Clinton, June 25, 1849.
P. S.—The Southern Christian Advo
cate will please copy.
For the Christian Index,
Jackson, Butts Cos., June 25.
Brother Baker —Having read in your
paper, dated 13th June, an article front bro.
Isaac Bolton, and your comments upon the
same, on an important leniure of church
discipline, which heretofore l had seen dis
cussed by brother Luke Robinson and oth
ers—and as I am not satisfied with any
thing 1 have seen upon the subject —you
will pardon me for presenting yon briefly
mv views of the subject ; and if you think
it proper, you can insert them in the Chris
tian index.
Brother Holton speaks of a measure,
which has been adopted by some churches,
requiring unanimity in the church before
an offending member can bo excluded. I
presume brother Bolton is mistaken. 1
cannot think there is a Baptist chinch in
Georgia, or elsewhere, which has determin
ed on tt policy in discipline so contrary to
reason and common sense—nnd one, too, so
well calculated to keep everlasting strife in
the churches. W'liat! thv church roust get
my wife, my brother or my sister, willing
to have me excluded, (no matter what’s tny
guilt,) before she ran get rid of me ! I re
peat, brother IS. must he mistaken. Per
haps brother B’s error has arisen from an
idea, which;! know exists in some churches,
nnd which I presume is correct, viz : When
a church has, by u majority, determined
that a member charged with crime is guilty,
& lhatofan offence sufficient to destroy fel
lowship, in that case, the. member is suspen
ded or bung up uruler the. loss of fellowship,
even under censure, and is liable to be ex
cluded at the will of any member of the
church—and must be excluded, unless by
acknowledgements he restores himself to
the church unanimously: so that, more
correctly speaking, it requires a unanimity
to retain an offending member in thech'urch,
after a majorqy has decided he was guilty
—and this, I presume, is the unanimity to
which brother B. alludes, when properly
understood, if be is not mistaken. Those
churches need, and ought to have, imme
diate instruction.
Now, brother Baker, I present the follow
ing as a correct measure in discipline, and I
think the primitive order, viz: When a
member lias offended, or sinned, and is
brought before the church, charged with
guilt, the first process for the church is to
examine the testimony, and determine
whether or not he is guilty ; in arriving at
a decision in this case, a majority must,
rule, and the minority must always yield;
hut if the offender has been decided guilty
hv a majority of the church, and his crime
i- one that destroys fellowship, th-n It l - mu t
FOR THE BAPTIST CONVENTION OFfTHE ItATE OF GEORGIA.
■ s*¥*■
PENFIELD, GA., JULY 11, 1845.
be suspended under censure, and finally ex
cluded, ifhe does not restore himself toevc
r y member by repentance and acknowledge
ments. If he attempts acknowledgements,
and under them a majority of the church
becomes satisfied, and still remains a mi
nority not satisfied, the olfemler must stiil
be suspended ; and if the minority, acting
honestly, enunot become satisfied, or have
fellowship restored, iho offender must be
excluded—tor who would be willing to re-
Inin an offender in the church,over the head
of a minority of unoffending brethren, and
with that detention even the loss of
sound and unoffending brethren T Here
let me present a view- of the beauty of this
order, keeping this in-view, that fellowship
<fc harmony in the church are all-important ;
and l , according to the design of the Great
Head of the church, viz: that when one
first offers himself to the church, he must
not be received, but with the unanimous
consent of all the church, and w hen all
have obtained fellowship, lie is admitted ;
so, when one has forfeited fellowship, and
has been suspended by the decision of a
majority of the church, he must not he re
tnined in the church unless he can bo rtv
stored fully to the fellowship of all; a mi
nority, in this case, must be yielded to hv
the majority, if even the majority should be
willing to retain him. So that, when an
offender is restored, it must be done with
unanimity : in this wav, von will save the
healthy and orderly of the church, and pre
serve that harmony and pence which
Christ requires. But the question may
nirse, in case he makes acknowledgements,
(such ns will satisfy a majority of the
church,) In that case ought not the minority
to yield ? 1 say by no means, unless his
acknowledgements have satisfied the minor
ity, and restored to them fellowship; and
tlm majority must yield to the minority,
unless means can be adopted to satisfy them,
or procure for them fellowship again ; for
how nitjtir.t it would be to .retain an offender
in the church at the expense of the peace
and happiness of unoffending members!
But I would here stale, that in all cases
where a majority of the church has become
satisfied by acknowledgements, it behooves
the minority to look well to the matter, to
closely investigate their own feelings nnd
judgment; they should be careful, also, to
exercise all the clmrity required of them in
the gospel towards offenders, and be sure
to exercise for the judgment of the majority
full respect. If all this has been done by
itTßL'iTiiriinhtyyxind-grill they are dissatisfied,
the majority must not force them to yield ;
no, the majority must, in that case, yield,
and save the orderly and healthy of the
elm rch.
In no other way, brother Baker, can ottr
churches be preserved in peace and harmo
ny, and present to the world, as Christ in
tended, the beauty of Christian union.
In the hope ‘thu! the views above stated
will enlist and Call out brethren able to do
the subject more justice limit I have done, I
subscribe myself votirs most sincerely,
i“)N.\TIIAN DAVIS.
I’. S.—l wish my papers and till com
munications, from brethren and friends, un
til the Ist (if October next, to lie snot to
Jackson, Butts county, Ga. .1. D.
For the Christian Index.
Mr. Andrew’s Bay, >
May 12th, ’45.5
My Dear Brother Baker, —l am very
sure 1 shall not be much longer burdensome
to you ; for I have been much liarrassed
with my old complaint, the Asthma, of
which 1 have been a sufferer for more than
forty years. I remained on this Bay in
solitude for lieaTTour months, and was so
much mended that 1 lit ought 1 could ven
ture out a little, and try to hunt a hride for
mv Muster's Son. 1 made a small excur
sion, 25 miles, into the settled parts of this
lonesome vale of sin, filled a few appoint
mi nts, and (blind the inhabitants so well
pleased that, at their special entreaties, 1
left other appointments; for i did not suffer
much during litis journey.
I began my other travel on 01 about the
first of April, and the first night f had a se
vere stroke of Asthma, which lasted me 8
days ami nights, though not so bad but that
I could be up and travel some ; so I tried,
and did fill my appointments.
On the 10th day I got to Hickory Hill,
a most beautiful mound of 3 or 4000 acres
of land, 111 one body, high anti broken, so
as to make many good settlements for citi
zens to live on, and have good level planta
tions, of stnail size, for cultivation. This
hill, though hut 25 miles from the Bay, in
a stiaight line, is supposed to be over one
mile above lido water. Hero I found the
purest and most salubrious air I ever breath
ed in life; and no sooner bail 1 reached the
top, (having stopped to behold the scenery
around,) than I found myself free of Asth
ma, and so 1 remained for 8 days, which
was the lime spent-on the hill.
This beautiful hill or mound was, in my
opinion, made fur greater purposes ; nor
could 1 cease to pray the Great Former to
convert n into a hill of Science ; and there:
fnre have ventured to name it Mount Car
mel, which signifies the vineyard of the
Lord i such was the name of the place
where Elijah iMLEffsha dwelt. Around
it, and near iisxl&p, arS over 100 springs of
pure fire stone-A'uiter, whosedimpid'sjreaiiis
fall far down water the beauti
ful landscape all'around ; but, alas! the
land below is of the poorest class, with but
few exceptions-
This hill has already begun tociaipi die
attention of the rich, and many have already
visited it—l often had henitl of the
famous Hickory Hi'll, famous for its rich
. highland, tltfit Jpoks like a dense swamp
of the tidiest giowth, such as hickory, (of
w hich it took its name,) oaks of every kind,
poplar, gurfc, beach, magnolia, laurel, and
ted Ixty, (c# -d by some mahogany,) ma
ple, ash, wild cherry, Ac. Sevetnl good
citizens, whose means are quite sufficient,
Lave purchased seats sot at least
stmt©ef residences, and aie now building a
house, for tint purpose of education, and
preaching lhe|gospel. They will, perhaps,
have it ready by the first of June, when I
am jb return, if God will, in the course of
the month, (inti try to preach to them die
gospfl of tjte Son of God in their new
house. Oil! pray the good Lot il to enable
this jfiior worthless dust so to do it, as that
God’s name may be glorified, bis good
cause advanced, and sinners brought to
bow to King Emanuel.
Nearly die whole of litis bill belongs to
Mr. Miles Everett, a worthy and hospita
ble man, who seems very anxious to have
his hill converted into a hill of science and
religion. | talked much vvilh the old gen
tleman, who was from North Carolina,
Marlin county, and had some know ledge of
my ancestors. I thought lie, perhaps, bail
been brought to a knowledge of his sinful
nature, ant) might have tasted that the Lord
is true and righteous in all His ways, but
rested too much upon his oars with old
Kehukce and Lawrence.
But, my brother, when I got to hear
from my old sister, lot there was Jesus
Christ’s dress in all its beauty. Here was
a lovely cjiristian—who, for near 20 years,
had lived jshiit out from all the advantages
of lltQ house of God) but who had made tier
Bibljji lief companion, in Iter exiled slate,
until she is wise unto salvation. She is
nowy and over 40 years a
ffnpUC Tuts seen two Baptist Minis
ters ™y.ot)j several years, but now seems
as tljmigh site is alive in hope for the rem
nant rtf Iter days. There is an order for a
College to be placed somewhere in West
Florida ; and this hill heingnlmost central,
it is thought will he the site. May the
good Lord grant it.
I began iny journey homeward ; and,
strange to tell, the first night 1 left the liiil,
I was again attacked with hard pafoXysms
of Asthma; Imt saw, on the first Sabbath
instant, where I was allowed to dwell
awhile, in a school-house, oil righteousness,
temdbraiice,- anil a judgment to come, ma
ny tears overflow ing the checks of men &
women, who instantly, at the close of the
sermon, came and bowed down all atotind
me, £nd said, “ Pray, sir, pray the Lord to
savetme.” Here, tny brother, I lost sight
and ‘feeling of old Asthma, and I cried
aloud to God in behalf of these poor be
nighted tnen and women, old in sin.
Grown persons, who never heard many
sermoirs .preached, or seen the elements of
the supper taken, were there. Yes. sir, I
was i there (though poorly) compelled to
leave other appointments. I shall start out
on njy route the first of .lime, so as to beat
Hickory Hill on the 4th Sabbath in June,
wlienc I expect to stay some time, and try
a prrtbf of the heali ig airand waters-; and,
as 1 am compelled to lay over going home
this spring, fearing the consequences of
Irnvifig this Bay for my home at this time
of the year, I think of staying on Hickory
Hill; if I find it a defence of mv worn-out
lungs, till fall.
But, my dear brother, tiiis last sentiment
kindles up in this poor heart of mine some
mournful sensations <f my family, of my
churches, who are now looking (or my re
turn with great anxiety ; but look irt vain
they must; for, since 1 got home from the
hard paroxysms 1 had, 1 have had some,
yea, many, of those old spasms, which fol
low hard asthma—as delirium tremens, or,
what is worse, the horrors, follow the ino
briate. Ido not know how they feel, Ibrl
have not drank any spiri's in near 20 years ;
but I have often thought that these spasms
were like the horrors, for 1 actually loose
all but my breath for a little time, and so
have 1 been until a few days back. I have
mended very much, and am now iti usual
health. .
Well, pci haps Von may any. Are you
not afraid to go into the country again ?
Yes ; but, sir, with tin; help of Hirn I have
ever trusted, Ishall try it again next month,
if the I -ord will.
M - .* old br'olhi rJo >ltu:i has had several
meetings- tit Holmes’- Valiev, miles
west of the hill, has had come success
in getting together n church, andhas hopes
to make some headway against the works
of darkness, so common ir, all this frontier
and backwoods section. Our the
Methodists, have exerted a Considerable in’-
fluenceV bJt tiieir industry, in reformation.
Through llri*Jliole waste and barren land,
the Sabbath ovllie Lord isscarcely noticed,
and gross sins of every hue are common.
As many of tny friends are anxious to
know more about this section, since the
publishing of some pieces in the Index
some time back, and have written me on
the subject, I take this method t say—let
them come and see the.low lands of West
Florida for themselves, for my ilimtg’iTs
may not be tiieir thoughts.. As to the dan
ger of travelling down here, at this time of
the year, I should not fear. I hear of as
little sickness here as 1 was used to up the
Country; and when here I feel very sure
they are safe, as ’tis cjtrendy stated that
disease never originated here on these wa
ters, which are so famous for the cure of so
many diseases.
In conclusion, tny dear brother Baker,
as I may be taking my leave of yon, per
haps forever, and of my many- friends,
whose faces 1 may see no more in this
mournful vale, may the Great Head of the
Church grant that great grace may be af
forded you all—that you all may stand
fast, having your loins girt about with
truth, having on the breast plate of right
eousness, and your feet shod with the pre
paration of the gospel of peace. Quench
not the spirit, pray without ceasing, ab
stain from all appearance of evil, be faithful
in all tilings even unto death ; and pray for
me, that God may forbid that I should glo
ry save in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Oil, pray,- that through the few
remaining days which I may be allowed,
the world may be crucified to me, and that
I may he crucified to this world I Oh,
pray that finally I may be accepted of Him
in that great meeting, where all our works
are to be tried by llis scrutiny, whose
judgment cannot be.—Farewell.
HERMAN MERCER.
For the Christian Index.
Letters to a Voting Coln cFt—j!oT L
Craw i'ordville, August 21, ’45.
Bear W.: —As Luther ltice once re
marked, “ I will not attempt to disguise
the satisfaction f fell on reading your let
ter” of the 14th instant—though you seem
to protest against die remark in tny lettef
of the s;li instant, to wit: that “the Spirit
compelled the heart lit believe.” lam of
the opinion that force may be applied la
mind as well as matter; yet, we are not to
view it like we would Unit force physically
applied by matt to bring the ox in subjec
tion against his will, hut applied as the
Scriptures hath said : “Thy people shall
be willing in the day of thy
HO; or, as Dr. Doddridge has it in\is
beautiful lines : \
“My God, wliat silken cords ate thine ! 1
How soft, and yet how strong!
While power, and null), and love combine,
To draw our souls along.
Drawn by such cotds we onward move.
Till round thy throne we meet;
And captives in the chains of love
Embrace our conqueror’s feet.”
If your patience is not exhausted, or
your mind so well satisfied that you wish
for nothing more on the subject, I wish to
offer a still additional remark or two, winch
I am encouraged to do from your hist.
Let me say to you, that faith, which is
of the operation of God, always produces
the knowledge and the fruits of the blessed
union, (which I spoke of in conclusion of
tny last,) and enables the soul to give itself
up to Christ, that il may bo one with Him
—not in a figurative, metaphorical way,
but as really and truly as the building is
one with the foundation ; as much one in
interest a a husband and wife ; one in influ
ence as the root and the branches, the head
and the members. So that this is not an
empty notion about Christ, or some clear
knowledge of Him. or a mere approving of
His way of salvation ; but it is an actual
receiving of Him into the heart for right
eousness to justify, and to dwell and reign
there to sanctify ; a receiving Him as a
perfect Saviour, and living upon Him in
His fullness—waiting upon Him to ne,
taught daily—-trusting wholly for accep
tance 111 bis blood and righteousness—rest
ing, relying, loaning upon his promised
strength to bold out unto the end—-ami Im
ping for eternal life as the free gift of God
through Jesus Christ our Lord. The sa
ving f tit tit thus receives Christ. 11ml thus
lives upon Christ. The believer must be
first in Christ before he can live upon
Christ. There must he faith before there
can bo the fruits of faith. After flic belie
ver is thus grounded and • ■..t.iMhhed in the
Publisher —BENJ. J3RANTLY.
knowledge of his union with Christ, it be
hooves hint then to inquire, what God has
given him a right to in consequence Os this
union, and the Scripture will ihfof-m him
(bat, in tbe*#hvbjjottto/ grace, it has pleased
.the Ffl&jfrxhat all fullness should dwell in
His son, as the .heat! Tor those of fiiS fitnm
bers. lie has it to supply all their tieed ;
they cannot possibly want anything; but
it is treasured up for them in His infinite
fullness ; there they may have it, grace for
grace, every moment as their occasion may
require and they have it in no other way,
and by no other hand, than faith, trusting
the word of promise, and relying upon
Christ’s faithfulness and power to fulfill it
us it is written : “The just shall live by
his faith,”—lleb.-2, 3, 4.
Having received justification to life by
faith in the righteousness of Christ, he de
pends on Christ to keep him alive; and
makes Use of Christ’s fullness for all the
wants of that spiritual lire. wftidii He has
given. He trusts Him for them all, and
lives upon Him by faith for the Continual
receiving of them all.
Let this be well weighed and considered,
that the justified person lives and performs
every act of spiritual lilt; by faith. This is
a very important lesson, and therefore it is
taught in Scripture as plainly as words can
speak. Every thing is promised to, and
is received by. faith. Tints it is'said, “ye
aie all the children of God’ by faith in
Christ Jesus; and if children, then heirs
according to the promise, heirs of God,
and j'oint-heits with Christ, who of God is
made unto ns wisdom, righteousness and
holiness ;” made for their use wisdom to
touch them, righteousness to justify them,
and holiness to sanctify them . Yea, lie
has all things in His fullness for their use,
as the fr£c grant speaks—l Cor. 3, 21, and
G: -‘All things are yours, whether Paul,
or A polios, or Cephas, or the world, or
life, or death, or things present, or filings
to come.; all are yours, and ye are Christ’s,
and Christ is God’s.”—What a large estate
this is ! Thy titles to eternal life is good
and sure.
Think on this, and believe me yours
truly, JOHN W. WILSON.
“Arc tliry not Ministcrtlf Spirits?’’—lid). 1.
An agfid man, wearied with his journey
and the weight of years, laid himself down
so repose under the shade ofn wide-spreading
oak. Before he closed his ey6s, he seemed
to he engaged irt dn net of* silent devotion to
God. Scarce had sleep settled Upon his
eye-lids, when 1 observed a bright messen
ger descend ffo'rti the skies, and'seemed, for
a few mi,meets, busily engaged in weaving
a web of brilliant materials: around the form
ofthe Weary old traveller; then, taking her
seat at his head, the seraph bent, with nfi'ec*
donate earnestness, over the form of the
aged man ; and, with a foo’j of ineffable
■.sweetness, gazed upon his face.
V The messenger of light had but finished
%Hp-.wcb, and composed herself ?h fcontem
pkrtjbn of the old man, when 1 saw, from
every, direction, East, West, North and
South, troops malignant spirits!
com 4 fc.v‘;irming towards I ho spot, ns so ma
ny bijmtiv vultures rushing upon their prey.
U hen my fears for the old man wore excit
ed to I observed, with unspeaka
ble delight, that nearer than the net-work of
light, woven by the hands of the seraph,
(who still occupied her seat calmly at the
old man’s head,) they dared not—yea, they
could not approach. Around this flet-work
they performed numberless circuits, if pos
sible, to find or force an entrance, but all in
vain.
At length, wearied by t'neir fruitless en
deavors, they, one after another, spread
their dragon wings, and left the old travel
ler and his bright attendant to their quiet
repose. 1 clasped my hands, and raised
them to heaven in devout gratitude to God;
and, as the tears stood in my eyes, I remem
bered that it is written—“ Arc they not all
ministering spirits sent forth to minister to
those who shall he heirs of salvation
MARCUS.
./ Pastoral for the Ladies. —l)r, Frank
lin, it is said, being once in the company
of several ladies of the English nobility,
after hearing their criticisms oh various au
thors, proposed to lead the translation of a
pastoral for their amusement. He read,
with a few verbal alterations, the Book of
Ruth. They were enraptured with the
pastoral, and pronounced it the finest they
had evei heard. The Doctor then gravely
told them he had read it from the Bible,
that oft despised book 1
Gigantic Hnsr. —Judge Batiks of Phila
delphia hue a ruse tree m his garden that
has attained the extraordinary height of 30
bet. If extend VS feet iit width
NO. 28.