Newspaper Page Text
3. . BAKER, VLAftot
£bt %vait%
‘viU oe edited hv the ni:‘ or, assisted by several brethren, an- !
,■ Misbcd ■) every Thuruhi , hi tie year, except two, at t-.U 60, ins
All Baptist ‘.. blister., in y standing, in .ue are]
requested to aec as agents, ii ‘heir respective fields ’t labor.
\o one should be accredit and, rs , trar !wg •'.'tail unless he pro-1
tiuces •i commission from t u mi ■ lislier.
Agjuts win; >ru< 1 ~x .'..■ oiibers ar,! - the same in a.d
nive, are ‘ ... to the si: 1 copy gratis.
’ will be allow on original i.r*icle’. h'rn'hod for our j
o- . . which possess snl v ,?nt merit to justify heir r'publication !
in !>r,.k fviir.
Ailvorbsemeiitf are not < ! ‘.ed—for ditch r.s we admit we shall
chaige at die rates .h. by the , I’dl-hew of secular psi
)'-rs. A sin le address wti bo published • rt. itor.ths for $5 00,
paid in a Ivu ,ce, or gift it not paid till . ;c of -the year.—
‘bituary and Matrimonial uotf'es. no* ‘ng twelve lines,
-. ill be pub'ished gratuitously.
OrijgCu&l Comma mration*
HOME SKETCHED -XO. 11.
fkitvr&ay Evening at D'< con White's.
1 hope the admirers of “Pcae- . ‘ odd,” or “Uncle!
Ichabod,” 3 the younger rettdt.es if the Index cn’lj
him, are not too much ’engrossed -with the good ole!
mail lobe entertained with the sound sense and quaint I
addresses of Deacon While, ov • Uncle John,” as he
was more frequently denominated: and again, I hope
that. Mr. Doozenberry, Schoolin’ afer at Toddville, will
not, by any means, regard this an an intrusion upon the
ground which he lias occupied f-> I ug, and cultivated
so faithfully, as io render if in t. in. trier, peculiarly his
<j .vn. So 1 p.oceed to record the instructions of Dea
con White to Ins) hfnfly, of a 1-Jatu day evening, after!
tin -lose, of the < J a\’s labor, a’nd he arrangement of j
_ and “ng preparato'v to there of the HolySab-
Aiai:\ h>. . - custom. w
-n T ‘ A }■ y V/- M’• ■/ #
s 'veeK ui i y ijiup, .to hi i numerous oiispring,
wtfo listened with much delight and profit.
it happened that “Uncle John” had, during the week,
visited one of his brethren, several jniles distant, and
had brought back with him a little religious book,’ of a
highly practical character, with which lie was so much
taken that, after working in the field all day, lie had for
two nights past, sat by a iightwood lire and drank in its
excellent precepts. lie was determined also that his
children should reap some benefit from it, and so, he
seated himself in one corner this evening, and after see
ing them all comfortably situated around him at con
venient distances, he proceeded, as was usual with
him, to read a sentence in a clear, distinct tone, and
then pause to make what practical remarks, the pas
sage suggested. He first reed flic following ten pro
positions or ideas, interspersing them with thoughts
and illustrations of his own, just as I have arranged
them.
Ist. “If we have'not at all times placed a greater
cmifidence in the Creator, than in any of his creatures;
if we ha ve either feared or loved any one more than
our celestial Parent, we have then really set up anoth-l
er God in opposition to the Lord of heaven and
earth.”
This is an important truth and fills the mind with 1
alarming thoughts. Indeed, children, it is no easy!
thing to live the Christian, notwith standing most proses-i
sors of religion seem to have little trouble in the matter;
and 1 desire your minds to be more and more interest-,
ed and enlightened on this vital subject. Have any of]
us permitted our hearts, during this v cek, to he fixed!
upon any thing whatever with a stronger hold than
that it has upon God? Have we feared man, or the;
world, or ought else more titan our great Judge? Or!
have we loved them better? If so, may God forgive
us! for the passions of our sinful hearts have reared
to themselves an object of worship in opposition to the
Lord of Glory!—Nay, still farther.
2nd. “If neglecting to worship him in spirit and
truth, we have sobered ourselves to be seduced by any!
splendid vanity of the eye, we have sinned in the same!
degree as though we had fallen down before a molten
image.”
There are lew persons, I fear, that are willing to
admit the truth of this hard saying, though it. proceeds
from the law's of eternal justice; and there are still,
( ’ewer who can admit its truth, and no* tremble on re
flecting upon their own idolatrous cause. My dear;
children, how great is the interest you have in this I
TII E TRU TII I N T. 0V E .
PTOffiLB, Grii., 3A?nl xm i, mi
imsitter, since you are yv ug. y j ion s u nder and;
!yi< ‘ding, and the glittering sun f fi’ the world ever
round you! Oh, be careful to y> I oil your affect
ions above all things of an eartl j ure. c ting . , n.s
protect'.. ; arm under all circ . I- m-os, at. all times’
and places; not in pretence an: j ‘.cry, but in spirit
and truth, lest .die fate of Shots ) prostrate them
selves before graven idols shouh i.. day come upon
,
3rd. “It we have refused to n fc diligently during
■ Hie week, in the work of our p fv. nlar calling; or if
we have ever made the Sabbat 4 day of spiritual in- !
dolence and frivolus amuseme J lien we have ne
glected and broken that law \ !:;.• we are peculiarly,
commanded to rememoqj: and k ]’
This is the trr • meaning of i .unmnndincnt, and
whoever is idle through the six k of labor is as guil
ty of its violation as he who lab ’ <>n the Lord’s day
of rest. This is encouraging ! .a ]>oor. who, like
ourselves, are compelled to su :t by constant hard!
| labor: for they tire daily wulkL ; • God’s command—
“ Six days shall thou labor”—uj at the end of that!
time, the condition of their pby I and mental powers!
at peculiarly favorable for “ren# ■ .bering the Sabbath
day to keep it holy.” Let us, y children, who have!
jnow finished ourappointed wot labor, endeavorin’
i time to prepare our minds for tl ;awning of the bless-!
led Sabbath, that we may meet ad employ its hours;
jin the work of our divine Masti ad in the advance-:
merit of our own eternal intern, .
4h. “If, in our eon versa tit, our reading, or our!
prayers, we have ever brevet tly pronounced the!
name of God, we have then tab’ that sacred name in j
vain: and God himself declc i • fat lie will not hold
such a one guiltless.”
How often are all of us gui ‘ -1 using our Master’s
I name in a vain and useless m. Vr. and how positive
ijar.d pointed dv command \\ )•' a. practice.—
TE ;<■ . /..Vt n;S. , , > a-lLu,
eu to; Jut they will one day le an meed of the er
i^.u, and mourn their Ibrmer crimes. 1.1, in anv man
ner whatever, the name of Got! is “taken in vain,”!
that, is, without any design of good or jirofit of sonic!
sort, then the sacred command is as certainly violated!
as that it stands on record. Let us be careful, my!
dear cnildren, to keep our souls free from this great!
sin, and always reverence and adore the name of our I
Maker and Preserver.
sth. “Il we have, tit any time, been wanting in obe-!
dienee, respect, or love, to our parents, our pastors, our i
magistrates, or to any of our superiors; or if we have!
meglected any of those duties, which our relations in!
society, or our particular vocation lias imposed upon!
Jus, we have merited that God should cut us oil'from!
the land of die living.”
j In a thousand ways do men easily and willingly do
J violence to our divine System of morals—nay', with !
| their eyes wide open to the danger, and conscicne;
goading them all the time, they rush onward in what
j they term small crimes, till their accumulated guilt is!
i piled mountain-high upon them, and nothing interven-i
|mg between them and destruc ion if they ‘should be
;suddenly cut off. And men, knowing these tilings to!
To’so, tire unpardonable, witlioifi deep repentance, and;
j deserve lobe blotted out ol existence for their wilful
perseverance in evil-doing. May the good Lord help!
us all to so conduct our though s, words, and actions,!
mi our temporal and spiritual concerns, that we may not ‘
; merit that sudden destruction which over-shadows the
| disobedient! Let us do all our duties, love and obey
our parents, and magistrates, and till Superiors, live in
the right spirit, with an eye to the glory of God, our
own salvation, and the welfare of our fellow-beings.
6th. “If we have weakened ojr constitution by ex
jcessotany kind; if vve have struck our neighbor in a!
moment of passion; if we have iver spoken an injuri
ous word!; il we have ever cast a look directed by!
malice; il vve have ever formed in our hearts a single!
.evil wish against any person whatever; or if we have’
ever ceased to love our brother; vve have then, in the
sight, of God, committed a species of murder.”
j Most persons, on taking this view of a religious life,
are leady to exclaim, then who can be an acceptable!
j Christian ! But they despair before they have sought;
jaiter sufficient light to show them tiie mystery, and!
give up all attempts towards practical piety before!
they understand even the principles of the Christian
.system. God has never made any creature in order;
to punish it for failing to comply with impracticable re-!
INEJiY SERIES.—VOL. XV - ?xO \.
quirement.s: indeed ...s requirements arc not only
: easily obe v.< ‘■>. u t the observance of them is not tit tend
ed v,.tha tythe of that trouble and vexation in this life,, ..
J which always in ompany a violation of them. But
i they must be understood, in (lie letter and in the syiirit;
jthe mind must be w illing and properly trained by the
teachings of the Holy Spirit: God find heaven,” and
eternal bliss must bo the object of the soul’s constant
;desire: then with the Bible open before us and our un
jderstanding enlightened by it, all of God’s requirements
fimd commands may be literally and happily obeyed.—
I This is not the work of an instant, nor one that maybe
• taken up and laid aside again, at pleasure: it is—must
| he a life-time business,engaging heart, and head, and
| hands, and shining constantly from our private anu
: public walks through life. Alt y vve get more wisdom
on this important subject!
j 7th. -If we have at any time cast a wishful glance
! upon the honors and pleasures’ of the world, we have
! sufficiently proved the impurity of our nature, and
l must be considered as being in enmity with God.”
All earthly pleasures,are empty, and all carnal hon
ors are vain and profitless : they never satisfy the mind
that thirsts alter them, or even revels in them to their
I measure of fulness. They have a sling which rankles
Jin the heart, and makes life itself a burthen—and such
being the fact, as proved by the experience and histo
ry of thousands, it. is astonishing that there are other
: thousands still pursuing them, and wasting the strength
! and years of life in their service. Men w ill not learn
j wisdom from the downfall of men; but grasp the
! same fatal power that overthrew others, and has
j might to do the same work again. Seek no worldly
distinctions, my children, and desire none of the honors
Jor pleasures of earth; look not upon them with the
| least shadow of longing, for it is in the desire of the
sheart that sin lies. They van fio you no good, afford
‘von nocomLrt,stay with'hut a lUtle season, and
then I .i.e > u miserable. •• u h nest industry will
l’ 1 ’ - y r ’ ’• ■■ ‘if vH- 13*. a.e
: you) dev < ism t 5 iwfi'Kmft ..'elwsc
I tin dying happiness in the iu ::f.
;j Bth - we have received th • profit annexed to anv
ijl'ost or employment, without areliilly dischargimr the
11 duties incumbent upon us in utcii situation; or if vve
: ;havc taken advantage eitlt: i of the ignorance, or the
;; necessity of others, in order i enrich ourselves at their
• expense, we may justly rank ourselves with those
who openly violate the eighth command.”
Then, indeed, arc many guilty, for it. seems to me.
that hail the world is trying to live by the labors and
substance ol the other half. Hundreds of people have
!i no vis ! l)!e employment—do not labor six days, nor
! cvcn SIX hours, in the week ; and still they make a ‘-mod
! appearance—better than fc working classes—and
J never stiller lor vvaatof plent;.. They must therefore,
live by their wits, w ork tin and < fliers till, by cuimiiw
i or h’atul, they have fleeced t; me • f their hard earnino-s,
; I,r lse they must have t nrcc to a still darlcer
.course. Their condition and character is not envia
ble, and a man with a high .mis. of moral worth and
personal responsibilities wifi not he amongst them.
j And the man who even casts a desiring eye upon Ids
j neighbor’s goods is condenn ed by the law of heaven,
a- though he had actually, mpfir-H them by the most
illegal and dishonest means Th: desire of the heart,
|as I said before, constitutes the sin, as well as the work
gif the hands or the head. God’s law is no code to be
twisted^ and perverted by wily i leaders and jurists;
fiiut. is in in and unchangeable, existinsr iroin eternity
land continuing forever.’ Tim . tvens arid the earth
Jmay pass away, but never one jot r tittle of this law,—
land woe to that individual who shall be arraigned bo
tot e the tribunal of etermfi justice lor violating its
Jeoirmiands!
•Hii. “Il we have ever ohended against truth in our
! ordinary conversation; if vve have neglected to fulfil
1 our promises, or have ever broken our vow.-', whether
‘made to God or man, vve have reason, in this respect
! to plead guilty before the tribunal of immutable truth.”
This descends to the more minute affairs of our dai
jly walk with our Make and our fellow-men; and
J therefore deserves, as 1 hope it will receive our more
! particular attention. It i. the gradual accumulation of
little tilings that makes tie great aggregate in everv
fifing: particle;?-of water form immense oceans and
seas, grains of dust compose our great globe, seconds
and minutes constitute centuries and cycles: and sin,all
j omissions and commissions make the vilest sinners.
’ When we fail to watch over our little errors and