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JOSEPH S. BAKER— Editor. VOL. XIV. • TERMS PER ANNUM. Christian Index, publish ed on Friday in each week, (except two ‘ii: the year), will be furnished to each sub scriber at $2 50 cents, in ad ounce ; or $3 ,£ iiot paid within the year. Every A gout, (and all Baptist Ministers particularly solicited to become agents,) who will procure and pay lor live copies of Index, shall be entitled to asixth, as a for his trouble. , cm mu im icat in us to the Editor, - Advertisements maybe inserted on su ■l terms, at the discretion of life Editor. 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.