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JOSEPH S. BAKER— Editor.
VOL. XIV.
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For Hie Christian Jndt.r.
My dear brother, — In looking over my
manuscripts 1 lied a number ol articles
Urilteu fur the Index, which have been
condemned on seiond reading, and thrown
aside as ‘•tilings of nought.” And yet the
inclination to v, rite, induces another, and
another effort with no more success. I
commence these lines very much under
the impression that they will share the
same late. If they do, you may attribute
my presumption to ardent desire lur itiloim
aliuii ’ a
I have read w ith peculiar interest, tin;
article in your lastly l)r- Johnson, ex
tracted from thh JJt'nical Recorder. The
question as staled by the l)r. is: “Is a bap
tism adminisl red \>y a preacherrf thegos
j:tl who Inis not been immersed upon a
profession of ins faith, a valid baptism ?’.’—
T|e Dr. promises “to ascertain from the
scripture*, whether such a hitpiistii is vul
id or not.”
This question is now being extensively
discussed, and perhaps merits an attention
wli clt it Ia- not received. It is certainly
desirable Inat unanimity should prevail :
but ol’gfcHtet tuiportiftlr* that < tir practice
Im legiltatrd by the simple word ol God,
or the example (*l*lhc Apostles, My own
.tiind, I cotdeits, is euibarra-sed, and l r, ad
the article alluded to with the hope of be
ing salisliwd, especially when 1 saw h;s
propositions to ascerlain the truth from the
scripture*, lint 1 closed it with disap
pointment, indeed, with a ineasuro ol as-
I litishinciil, not at his departuru liolll Ins
pioposrd plan, hut at some ol the positions
n-Miincd. Allow me to suggest to you,
and if the Dr. will, to himscll, what seems
In me objectionable in his argument. This
—")-rht V, nh nr l.uiiddo desire to learn tin
l,utli. The Di's. fust position is llat
“the preacher ol the gospel is the baptizer
ol lie!levers-”
position is sulli ientlv sustained by
seti itulV precedent, mil I see no gioilnil
lo. 4 a ihllcNv nee ol opinion. ‘l'he second
is not so obvntvm*. lie thus introduces it.
••That t e and baplizers, above
refei red to. were imuiKwd upon a profes
sion oi l lith in Christ, tfreudily admit.
lint turn/ there, not he pieai l\ois ol the gos
pel, w bo have not been upon a
profession ol l.iith ?” Ihe Dt j
and eotielllsions show that lie not |
I.lran for this position to be regarded! as a j
simple “may hr,” but lie virtually elevates
it to lie a settled principle, and ptoniises\u
sustain it from srripllire. Il tint questiX,
id Ihmlcchlu?! may not u man jutdgmi
the gospel who has never b eu baplizedV
Or “Did not Luther, Calvin, Knox, West!
ley and Whitfield, give elear evidence tliaft.
they were called of (iod to peach the g°s-i
pel of Christ?” pet haps there would hel
less room for doubt. But these are i ,|r
den,-'. The question is whether the sci J[i
ttires adorn precedent wltieli jii-Uffm-s
an Hit immersed u-i; nver p, adimuisjrtn 4 the
ordinance. If they dp. siitfi baptisms
are valid, il tin y do not they me invalid,
or valid on some other ground. Tics
part of tli,r Dr’s argument I read with great
anxiety, looking lur the .scripture proof,
hut to my profound astonishment, 1 found
not a word; not an allusion. The only
direct argument is the “general if not uni
versal piaetice of the denomination,” not
that the denomination has been in the prac
tice of recognizing such baptisms, hut that
it has extended a chiistiati courtesy to men !
(nil immersed) who preach the gospel .
and from this the Dr. concludes; “If, then,
we receive n man in the higher and nobler
works committed to him bv his commis
sion, it would seem that we should receive
him in the Ipwer and less noble work com
mitted-4o him in the same commission.”—
Dm this is the very question to be settled
by the sejinttires. li the practiced couile
"syTiln,. denomination is scripture, then I
admit lhe-t>rcu of the Dr’s argument. But
this the Dt would be as unwilling to ad*
mil, uponlmunc subject*, as I can be on
this. Is (here any thing in the terms ol
the coinnitsioii, or any thing in the jtrue
ticc of tlujrVpostles which justifies sir It a
conclnsioK In a positive law, the terms
of the lawknnstitute the only rule of duty.
Wliatevens not included in the law or
clearly inleied from it is virtually exclud
ed. And tl\principle is as applicable to
—. tli ■ agents wifo-i” chosen to execute the
as to the Ia A elf. But, according to
Vie Dr, and the sNotures, the commission
Jffts delivered to i mineral believers, and,
ac least in the Aposthc*, baptism was
admiiiisteied by such. if there ex
ists a right to change this .Vinvu institu
tion so far -os the
may it not on the same to
the subject, and affect. and less
noble work” enjoined it; fo/y> comniis
sjoit. we admit din baptism is
the “less noble” part of the commission j
(this is all the Dr attempts to make of the
expression of the Apostle, “Christ sent me
not lo baptize, hut to pici.ch the gospel.”)
Docs irregularity in one respect justify an
irregularity in anolhei j Are we to reject
every truth, because a man does not peach
the w inds truth; or are we to receive every
error, because a man leaches soipe truffll v
even if rt be the “highi r and more nobw**
part of the commission ? *Y he Dr. thiitks
that the “solemn injunction” ofllm Sjavipur,
("w hat (iod liaSjoineiQpgetlier letndmau
put asunder,”) sfitiuhHiave great weight 111
the present sase.” If the l)t. will show
us that (in lire senWof his aigument) God
has joined thfZfc.thnnifr together, we shall;
Inf the l:ii to pur -mmf*iwmiter. But thW*
‘involves the very point at issue.
lie proceeds in the next jdace lo sltow
that this practice of the denomination is ac
-cording to scripture, and of course that his
conclusion is so. 1 find hut two passages
quoted by the Dr. The first is from Mark
ix. 38—10, “And John answered him, say
ing, master vve saw one casting out devils
in thy name, a it'd he followetli not ns, and
we forbade Iniu, because lie followetli not
us. Blit Jesus said, fitrhid him not.” &c.
Now had John said, we saw one not bap
tized, baptizing in 1 1 1 y name, it would
have changed very much the argument, but
no stu b tiling is affinned. The Dr. how
ever draws Ins argument from another quar
ter j and thinks that, because Christ did
not command his disciples to stop* the
mao who was winking miracles, he
therefore 11 cognized him as a preacher ol
the gosptl, and therefore there “may be”
preat hers of the gospel, not immersed be
lievers; and rece.vine them in the “higher
and 11. ore noble work” of the mniinry,
they ought li* lie received in the “lower
and less noble.” Admitting what the Dr.
intends to prove by this ; assage ; that the
preacher of the tk itimiinmion ill receiving i
iiistriiriion, and indeed in receiving more
geiiendly tinllninersed individuals as
preachers of the go.-pel, still 1 i annul see,
ilie propt it t\'ol the com hision, that re
ceiving them in one scum-, binds ns lo te
ecive them in every sense, and their acts a
valid. But, to my mind, if this passage
proves any thing, it print s mote than the
l)r's conclusion, even admitting his con
struction. The cnuiitiuiul of the Saviour
was, “Forbid him not,” and this has been
the universal practice of “tlie denomina
tion to w hich I have the honor to belong.”
There are some difficulties about ibis pas*
s.if.o wliitli ought to lie removed, in 01 del
to sustain the Dr's conclusions, even admit
ting ii justifies the practice of the denomina
tion. Is there any proof that this man was
not an immersed believer ! Is there any
evidence that Christ recognized him as a
preacher of the gospel ?
The otlici passage is from Phil. 1 : la
-18. In relation lo the churches spoken of
l>v the Apostle in this passage, the Dr.
says, “Those who pi cached Christ from
wrong principles, were nevertheless recog
nized by the Apostle, m preachers ol
Christ. This passage lie quotes lo justify
the “practice oflhc denomination.” Then
the denomination is to receive into its “pul- j
pits, church meetings, pastoral conferences, j
Associations and Convention-,” those who
preach Christ limn “envy and strife,” and
receiving them in the “higher and nobler ’
work ol the ministry they are to be receiv
ed in the “lower and less noble,” ami that j
f too upon the ground that they are parts of\
Christ's kingdom Says the Dr. “The
position, namely, that there are preachers
ol'ttie gospel in the kingdom oj Christ,
who are not members of any particular
church, derives no inconsiderable sanction
from the following scripture.” But let
:11c ask the Dr’s attention to this passage
again. If he had commenced his quotation
with tae I4l!i instead of the 15th vrs, he
would scarcely tlial these men
were not assoeian ,t with the Apostles, as
little I think could he atllriu of these, that
they were “not meiuheis of any particular
church.” The -1 1 1 1 vrs is in these words,
•‘And many of the brethren in the Cord,
waxing confident by my bonds, are much
! more bold to speak the word without fear.”
: 15th vrs, “Some indeed preach Christ
even of envy and stiil’e.” If the pronoun,
•some, refers to brethren in the Lord, the
conclusion of the Dr. is untenable. The
Epistle to die Bhillipians was likely w rit
ten from Rome about the year (il ; this
was long alter the return of the Christians
to Rome. Claudius died in 54. There is
little doubt mat the Eptstle to the Romans
was written about 57 or 58. On what
ground can it then be inlet red that these
were not associated wi.lt the Apostles nor
even members of a particular church. To
my 111 iml this position is not sustained on
scripture authority. Perhaps I owe the
Dr. no apology for having passed over the
••Inundation” of his argument. I hope I
have done no injustice to it, I was so anx
ious to see the scripture proof, that I over
looked his more delicate distinctions.—
The sentiments advanced by the Dr. in re
gatd to the distinction between the “king
dom of Christ audits parts,” is, tome,
when connected with this argument some
what obscure.t I can readily conceive
their justice when applied to the whole
family of believers, baptized and unbaptiz
ed. But when applied to the chttr dt in
those positive institutions which effect its
very being, as such, I do not *ee the pro
'Was it any part of Christ’s work to
stop such?
FOR THE BAPTIST CONVENTION OF T|l) STATE OF GEORGIA.
PENFiI£LD,GA. f A JAY 1, 1840.
priely ir consistency ol the Dr’s distinc
tions. The whole of the Dr’s argument
may he resolved Into this simple form.—
There are Christians not members of im
mer.-a and churches, n here thete are Chris
tians, there “may be”preachers, and since
these are received in the “higher and 110-
■ bier works” of the ministry, they ought to
I he in the “lower and less noble,” There
fore a baptism administered by a preacher
of the gospel who has not been immersed , ;
is valid. Now the difficulty tin my mint!
is to knbw the simple mind ofChfijtt, 1
find no positive expression upon the sttbjVel’
from him. Thiiuxl highest evidence.is
tl e example of the ,Apost.es. 1 sec nothing 4 ’
in mem to justify such conclusions. I
hoped the argument of ike Dr. would have’
removed my diinvultiis, and that tfretkvri#*>
(lire wotdd have been so presented as lo
establish us in thq right way. Instead of
this, however, I see new difficulties. The
argument utay he logical, but on such 11
stihj.ci we want more than logic. I pro
test in Into against the -) riuciple upon
Which the whole aigtinteiU proceeds, h
is a question w hieli is to he settled not by
the usage of a denomination nor by our
conceptions of the extent of Chtist’s king
dom. but upon the instructions and exam
ples afforded us by Cliristand his Apostles.
Much therefore as I respect the ‘opinion* of,
Dr. Johnson, I must see more of rt ripture
(the thing which he promise,*) before I can
)itld to his opinions. I must say top,
brother Editor, that there is a looseness
about some of these principles when take'll
together, that to me seems a lit le threaten
ing.
[1 is obvious to my iituid that, the Dr.
recognizes no necessary connection be
twecu rlmrrli membership and the minis
try. Any inau who can lind an asseinlih
or sccioiv, 110 matter ol whom composed,;
lo second his impressions of (July.* and pass
faverabl) on .his gifts, hp/s a minUter of
lur gospel, tvitiro', tfu(tlier esirnkony. .And
the acts of such are to he regarded valid, in
all the “less noble” work of the ministry,
piovidcd lie does the “higher and more
noble.” E-inblish this position and you
will stum have ti ‘nicc state of things in the
dut ch and out of it. It is not my inten
tion to enter into the merits ol this ques
tion, the writing of this has disqualified me
for all business. Such is the peculiar slate
of my in 1 votts system. 1 desire to know
u hat is truth, 1 hope the Dr. w ill be able
to remove every liilliculty from his argu
ment. 1 had rather think with hint than
otherwise, provided he has truth with him,
Inti on a subject like this, 1 want to see the
w hole ground. 1 hope you and lie will
portion what may seem presumptions in
me. I would not willingly intrude on his
feelings, nor tax the patience of your lead
ers. J lie condition of my head make., it
necessary lor me to abandon the plan 1 had
before me w hen 1 eoinineneed these lines.
Snell as they are however they are at your
discretion. Very truly yours,
JUNIOR.
tin es the Dr. use this phrase (kingdom
ol Cluist) in relation to the visible or iuii
sible kingdom ? If the former, 1 respect
fully submit, wlielticr the principle insisted
upon by him, dins not tend to obviate al
together the ordinance ol baptism. Do
the scriptures justify the recognition of
any mail as a subject of the visible king
dom ol Christ, but immersed believers ?
If the latter, is the tendency tuoie favora
ble? II the being nu mbers of this kingdom
in this senseis what he means, wlteie is the
necessity of insisting on any form of organ
ization simply for the “less noble” work
of the ministry?
For the Christian Index.
MISSIONS.
On this siihjoi t il is time to be in earnest.
W hiilever is worth doing at all is woith
doing well. I hope ihereftne that I may
he allowed to speak freely upon the sever
al points which follow.
1. To ministers 1 would s.ay, read the
commission again, Malt. ‘2B : 19, *2O;
Mark 10 : 15, 10. What are our feelings
when we iiiediiate upon this last solemn
charge of our Saviour, and upon the pre
sent siuiatimi of the world ? Are we so
much entangled in the affairs of this life,
that we cannot obey ? Take the time and
the tumble to examine the following pas
sages. There is information which we
might be condemned for disregard.ng 2
Tim. 2: 4, 1 Tim. 6: 9. Il we cannot
devote ourselves to Christ, why do wccall
ourselves his minister? But some ought
to stay at home. Let those who can go
do so.
2. Some Associations give their home
missionaries sor 000 dollars. Is not this
wrong? Let its reflect whether it is not
dangerous to the heart of t,,e missionary
and a hindrance lo the gospel. Five hun
dred dollars would sttppotl two missiona
ries with ordinary families, or four unmar
ried men. With the assistance of the breth
ren served, it would Mipport five pastors in
destitute counties. Brethren, we are hut
men, let us beware that we do not run af
ter the loaves and fishes. Our treasure is
in heaven, onr honor is from God.
3. In our own country for any other,
where there are iliurelics) pastors arc bet-
evangelists. Il .my .-.eelioll is ifi s ■
some brother logo and set
tle there. ‘Let the people support him as
neaily*es can and let the board make
up ihMdgfcciJ But do not send a man to
preach U>TBiurohes and their pastors. Our
liberality
Do travel at all, in this
- pastors cannot be
■found, 4 M a nhifoin .hits tried botli plans
is, ‘ ,•• ,
fttqy deejje, a pastor has feelings lowatds
iiis hearecs w hich an evangelist cannot
have, ainjlhcse fellings ate reciprocated
bv thepic. A travelling preacher may
produce areal cifitrt, but the permanent ef
leot belodbs to the pastor.
J. ii. ember of the churches
oontribule what he can, annually Ibr the
support some mission, or of missions
generally. The individual amounts, though
small, wifi make a great aggregate, audit
will ho regular. The deacons are the
treasure's of the churches, divinely appoint
ed. VVhy appoint lyihcrs.’or form societies
to do what the church must do or lie diso
hi diem !, Contributions paid into the
hands o(She deacons can find any part of
[ MwK>Mgto which they may he directed 4
5. It ivo.ilil he very profitable for each
chfitrh fi |deicrminc w hat mission it will
cheerfully suppoit. The particular mis
sion to lj;j mpporn and might he determined
by circumstances, as if a missionaiy went
from tlwjpieighhorliood if the church, con
tribute to him. if any mission should re*
eejwe fmt tnlurli 01 too little the Board could
itsforin r e Association, and the churches
eoliltl ah'tnge their direr ion accordingly,
A p>d ijjiiejtliod is u good thing.
We* iy hope that pastors, deacons and I
brethren will exert themselves in their sev*
eial sph'Ses till the world is supplied with
ministetf. DISCIPLE.
for tlic Christian Index.
Evening Thoughts.
Dcur bro. Hukcr, — While reading thu
communication over the signature of‘.M,’
of the 2til. of March, 1 could but wonder
if all I'qntisl ministeis, c..i<ld read that arti
cle, am*feel a clear consrience. Not that
l woulf harrass the feelings of any, be
cause 1 know they have trouble enough
otherwise , but still, u does seem to me,
that one important duty of ministers is over
looked by many, the duty of visiting chutcli
members. It does seem to me that il is
productive ofgrcat good.
It family and neighbor visiting, is calcu
lated to keep up good feeling between neigh
bors and friends, how mueli more pastoral
visits. For my own part, I believe that
pastors should visit every member of the
church, pray with and for them, and espe
cially the fatherless and widows. If this
was followed out, 1 think there would lie
belter times, better feelings between pastors
and members, and between members them
selves, consequently more unity, more har
mony and mote religion. Reader, arc
you a minister and pastor, will you think
of these things? Have you visited the
members ol the church, the fatherless and
widows? Have yon prayed with and for
them, instructed and exhorted them ? How
many broils and contentions between breth
ren could you prevent, and how many
schisms and divisions in the church could
you keep out? Think you, that you dis
charge your duty when you merely go to
the church, preach Saturday and Sunday :
(go to the nearest neighbor’s house every
time,) then return home, 25 or 30 miles,
not to see your flock again in a month ?
l’ray read again the communication above
referred to
Yours in hope of glory,
PEDRO.
Baldwin Cos., G „ Apiil 11, 1810.
For the Christian Index.
“As thy day is, so shall thy strength be.”
llic Kory Grove, Houston Go., Ga.
The Gliiislian, during his earthly pil
grimage, has many difficulties lo contend
with. Placed in an enemy's land he is op
posed, at every step which he takes to
wards the place of his destination ; conse
quently he lives in a continual warfare.—
He has three patent enemies which are ever
usi-ailiiig him, the world, the flesh, and the
devil. In youth, the fascinations of the
world are always ready to lure him from
the path of rectitude. As he looks down
till tracts of lime, nothing hut bright sim
sffl te and smiling (lowers, presents itself to
hf view. He desvries at the further end
of the future’s dim vista, rosy pleasures
which seem lo woo him lo hasten onward
tv enjoy them, lie looks around, sees a
liieml as he supposes, in every object that
surrounds him. He sees not the danger
mis precipice that lies near his path; and is
almost incredulous when experience warns
■ him of the danger. Every thing is too
bright to admit thoughts ol the dark gull
and the yawning cavern.
But as he approaches his meridian, and
the light of experience begins to illumine
his path, when he begins to sec the dan
gers which be has so narrowly escaped, he
fulls into the opposite extreme and the flesh
tells him thu! he will yet fall a prey to the
enemies of his peace. When memory
plays her part and pictures to him the
brilliancy of his hopes in his early days,
when he was all confidence, when no dark
cloud overspread his moral sky, when all
was joy and light and gladness; and then,
when tho present pnsents itself with its
sad reality, when the thick cloud lowers a
round him, and lie is ready give up all for
lost, he groans in the bitterness of his ‘onl.
But in this hour of trial and of peril, “As i
1 |
ihy day is, so shall thy strength be, steals
in soft whispers across his mind ; and tak-.
ing courage he puts to (light the armies of
the aliens. |
Thus does God, though as Mr. Pope has ;
it, the human will bo left free, secure the |
final persevciance of his saints, by a princi- 1
pie of'faith which lie lias planted in the j
bosom of his followers; and as soon might ,
the ercli enemy hope to call down the fir- t
mamenl of God to destruction, as to think |
to pluck one f those little ones out of the
Saviour’s hand.
CONFIDENCE. !
For the Christian Index.
litfoimuliim Wanted from Baptists, Mission
ary ami Aali-missioimry.
The wtiler having recently fallen in com
pany with at.i ami missionary ministir, the
subject matter of conversation was the un
happy division of our denomination. A
mutual desite was expressed that we might
again become one people, and on my part
il was suggested as a difficulty and an ob
stacle to re union, that our anti brethren
weie unwilling to meet us on the platform
of fair investigation. This was positively
denied oil his part and followed with the
declaration that he and his people, from an
individual to the whole body, were willing
to meet us in a free and l'dl discussion of
the subject of dill’ercnce, and that 1 would
find tlie missionaries sin ink Loin the inves
tigation. The fact, if it be one, was rather
astounding to me, and produced the deter
iiiinalioiMU my mind to institute public in
quiry. The union of Southern Baptists,
at all times desirable, just at this particular
crisis seems to be pecul arly so. Brethren
w ho call iuipatt mlunnation on this subject,
and are willing to let their light shine in
this direction, are requested to do so; not
for the acctmtmodaiion of ail individual, but
ior the honor and promotion of that cause
which they have espoused**—the cause of
Christ, who bids us love one another, and
whose prayer was that those whom the
Fathei had given him might be one.
PAULDING.
YOUTH’S £>B3l* ASS Til I3A T.
For the Christian Index.
Spring mill Youth.
Voting fiiend! rejoice at the return of
lovely Spring; in the fond hopes and loved
anticipations which the season inspires.—
Like the young blood in your veins, the
thousand circulating streams of Nature seem
to spout and gambol, and diffuse life anew
through every body of the vegetable king
dom. The plants, the floweis, the tiny
leaves, the gentle breezes—all speak of
youthful energies ai.d bid nature, with its
million of constituent parts, rejoice in the
happiness around. These things have call
ed forth the rapturous praise ot men in all
ages of tho world ; poets have delighted to
sing, and philosophers to mystify the beau
ties of the infant year. But not to these
alone should the young delight to turn their
attention ; the flowers anil breezes are love
ly and innocent, bill they are soon changed
to tlie withered shrub and burning breath of
summer: therefore, the scenes and move
mi nts of nature around us ought to be con
templated with a desire to profit by the fi's
sons they impart. Let us thus for a mo
ment view the freshly invigorated world.
This is the season of promise. Tlie
thousand flowers of leudei spring me to
tipeii into the generous fruits of seared Au
tumn. Like the young heart, all nature
seems to rejoice in ihegayety and splendor,
tlie innocence and levity, of opening life;
her hills and valleys, her skies and stream -,
her glades and dells, her birds and breezes
—all wave, ami sing, and revel in the joy
ous embraces of gentle Spring. But not
for sport anil show are these things design
ed by their great Author: not a single atom
of all around us is growing anil occupying
its space for nought; there is something
for every thing to perform—something use
ful, noble, and instructive to the observer.
The growth of the forests and fields are to
bear fruit for man and brute, tlie gentle
zephyrs are to fail the earth and preserve
its proper temperature, the streams, the
Publisher— BENJ. BRANTLY.
i j dews and showers are to uiois
f ten and keep active the earth, with all its
teeming hosts. So with every tiling in
God’s creation—something useful was d
-1 signed for it to accomplish J,et no youtii
imagine that lie is an exception to this uni
versal law; for as the opening Spring be
gins lo send forth the powers and produc
tions ofnatme for future uses, so the days
of youth in human life should be devoted (ti
cultivating and strengthening all the powers
of man lot alter purposes : the whole of the
physical, intellectual and moral powers,
should now begin to expand and bloom,
and deposit that germ from which rich hat
vests of useful fruits may be reaped in fu
ture years. Not for self alone should the
strength of the soul and body be cultivated
in youth ; —such was not the design of an
all-wise Creator; but as the flowers of
Spring arc designed to produce ihe fruits of
Ait Him ii, anil thereby lo nourish and sus
tain all tilings, so the days of youth should
be so spent a* to biiug forward a useful
manhood for the benefit and protection of
others.
Again, the fcJpring is the season or com
fort.— \\ holtas forgotten the howling blasts!
and dreaiy scenes of Winter jttst now de
paited from our midst? We can still fan*
cy the icy air and driving sleet ate roaring
around us, and confining us to the warm
fire-side, while the hills and valleys are bard
anil cheerless, and the streams locked in
the-firm clutches of the Winter king; cn
looking around what a contrast is picsented!
No longer dreary and bare are the trees and
vines, and free and bounding arc the ripling
streams; nature has put on a uew dress,
and smiles anil sings in Iter joy; her hours
of cheerless and dark shades are past, slut
the gladsome days of sunshine and flowers
are come. What a sublime lesson!—
Young friend, let it sink into your heart
and abide there forever!—No sortow or
pain is so great as to shut out all hope of
belter times in future; no skies are too
deeply covered in clouds to he cleared a
gain ; no heart so east down as to be nna--
ble to rise at a future time and see happier
hours : such is the law of nature, and a soul
lit!I ol comfort it is calculated to impart.—
W hen sickness, sorrow, pain, reverse of
fortune, enemies—all come upon you at
once—never despair—never give up ; —the
coldest winter is succeeded by a gentle
spring—the naked hills are decked with
flowers, and the stormy, frozen winds are
fled before the approach of sweetest breez
es.
A close view of nature at this lovely sea
son is a great incentive to industry and Iru
gality. Do we not see every tiling bnsilv
engaged in every dnc-clion? Here the
buds are bursting and the twigs, putting
forth, —the flowers blooming and the shrubs
distilling sweet odors,—the streams are
flowing by the groutli which crowds their
banks for suppoit, and the breezes are dis
tributing the proper warmth and vigor into
all things—the birds are preparing for fu
ture comfort, and the herds lor future use
fulness, —-the earth, with all things upon it rs
the sun, the moon, the stars, the universe.
is busy—going onward in the allotted track,
and performing the duties assigned to each
individual thing, while each one is depen
dent upon the rest for something! Think
you, my youthful friend, that you are to bft
tin exception to this law of the Universe.
While every thing is busy, are you to be
idle, and hang upon others for sustenance,-
either in mind or body ! Never dream of
such -an absurd thing—yeti are a portion of
this busy universe, and your putt is assign
ed you to perform, lake every thing in
nature, yon are dependant upon others and
others ate depending on you; you must do
your pait, or be a blank in creation, —the
scoff ofnalrtie, the scorn of wise men, and
the burden to yourself! Yutt must be busy
all the lime, and your business must have
something useful for its aim, something to
benefit yourself and others and the world.
And this season, as it blooms around us
in loveliness, speaks a voice of warning to
tho heart. It is passing away ; from the
moment it beams upon the earth its days
begin to pass hurriedly off, and while- its
scenes are bright, and its career seemingly
prosperous and vigorous, it suddenly de
pat ts, and it? plai e is filled by another. So,
also, with its flowery sweets—their beauty
fades, anil they wither from the gaze, while
every thing seemed to invite their stay and
prize their woith. And so it is, likewise,
with the young—they are passing off from
the moment they begin to bre itlue, and oi
ten, in the midst ol health anil strength and
happiness, they are gone. They are a
portion of this transitory world, and they
must abide by the general law. Young
man, view yourself as a Heeling spring—or
rather as “the flower of the grass,”—and
prepare to meet your doom! Be active,-
he vigilant, lie virtuous, be good—and then
theseedssown in tho spring time oflife will
ripen into hints for the support and com
fort of the dosing season. And, then, again
will come another spring lo you ; a perfect
dial spring—a season of unending pleas
ures and beauties, and a crop ol flowers and’
fruits that shall bloom forever fair upon the
joyous, boundless plains of Eternity.
s.
The Mexican Government refused to re
cognize the mission of Mr. Slide), not be
cause they were unwilling to treat with
this country ; but because they considered
that the negotiations of the two nations hav
ing been interrupted, a special messenger 1
was propei to be sent, and not an ambassjr-
NO. 18.