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JOS. S. BAKER, ,
A. E. MARSHALL, <
New Series—Vcl. XVI.
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illigcctl an £ou s .
iftSToM Til E RECORD OF DIVINE I’ROVIDSyNCE. j
History is not as it. seems to be, a record ol discon-,
nected events, a medley of inconsistent and conlused
details, a labyrinth to which no cine can be found. In
is not merely a scroll of mounting; lamentation and
woe, revealing the punishments which God inflicts on
sinning nations.. One purpose, could we ascertain it.
runs through the whole volume. One key alone will
unlock its mysteries. V ere omyeyes iftyrnined like,
these of the ancient prophet, we should discover, not
horses of lire, or chariots ol fire, but one vast, ordeny,
consistent plan —events great and small taking their
appropriate places in the scheme; ad tending to one
final, auspicious consummation, for which the whom
creation groaneth and travaileth togetiier until now.
The history ofthe world would be the history of re
demption. Tho*first .qualification tor what we cad a
secular historian, would be faith in Christ, and faith :n
the coming mankind. History would
be the last work in which an mfiidel or a mere scholar
jioiilu rr-gic j'MieMBUMM b” r y £ ‘ c ’p : V.
‘TBfe,” ms iiu:g:n?:us slialiow l or in<• o r rft af. Jib nouns’
work aright, he must assume : s far as possible the po
sition ol the divine mind, or !iJce the apocalyptic angel,
stand on the central illuminating orb. He needs clear
ness of vision, a delicate discrimination, an enlightened
moral sense, and a hopeful frame of spirit, more than
learning, or judgment or any intellectual gift.
Hence the reasonableness of the foreign missionary
enterprise is apparent, ft is not an isolated work, it
is not to he charged with enthusiasm or fanaticism. It
is falling in w ith the great teachings of history, and
acting in accordance with the genera! course of nature
and Providence, it is eminently a rational underta
king. It would hasten the developments ol history
and impart efficacy to powers otherwise inadequate.
It would re-affirm and invigorate the voices of nature.
It would demonstrate the perfect unity between the j
kingdoms of Providence and of grace.
From the general course of Divine providence the
true philanthropist may derive great encouragement.;
He has no possible ground for despondency. His co
workers are God and i is truth, the Holy Spirit, the,
Redeemer with his atoning death and interceding;
power, the verdict of his own reason, the testimony of
conscience, the holiest sympathies and feelings; and
not these alone—
“Thou hast other
Powers that, will work for thee, earth and skies.
There’s not a breathing of tha common
Wind that will forget thee. Thou hast great allies !
Thy friends are exultations, agonies,
And love and man's unconquerable mind.”
Long ages past are on thy side, the present, and the
dim future. Thine are the revolutions of states and
empires. • Thy work is doing g'-od, is consentaneous
with all changes from the birth of creation to its end.
Willing or unwilling agencies co-operate —notone is
exempt. By invincible necessity or voluntary choice,
ail things shall work together, till those new heavens
and that new earth appear, wherein dweileth righte
ousness.
“ From heaven the clouds shall roll
The earth no longer ho the vale of'tears.
Speed on your swiftest wheels, ye golden spheres,
To bring the splendors of that morning nigh,
Already the forgiven desert bears
The rcse; the pagan lifts the adoring eye ;
The exile Hebrew seeks the day-break iu the sky,”
Editors. *
TM E TRU T H IN|LO VE .
Psn£eld, Gacrgia, fhlirsdaT, Nfvember 16, 1848.
“IIE DIED FOR OUR'IIKS.”
’ BV ItEV. J. GUTIBtIE. 1
Sublime in its simplicity, wind cJTi man say more?
|We may range earth and heavaiyßir proofs or illus
trations of love, but what light’ vkfptf these cast on a |
truth written in sunbeams of love troth the “Father of
iljgh.s"—+|he simple, ‘-‘Christ died for
bur sins ?*’ If we had ;Ti'ivk.veMyriled to us, and
‘■nil i.is treasures. -A • infosidpi- view, v.v
|! might single out blessings nsproofs pjovc; but the one
i! grand proof just -naoabd Would otlf|up and outshine;
11thorn a!!. In the majesty of the saints in j
glory would point to it, and deStawy-with ono voice, i
t lie clowning proof of love ts this, “Iftrist di ;d for our
.ins.”’ Sinner! contemplate this fajp—God’s love.
pChrist’s life—for here there is no ffCtinetion. How
can we distinguish, Avlien love, ii each cbs6 win
jjii Wove that passeth knowledge r affwjien the giih.
jin each case was absolittely- iidinite|’ God’ gave Ids ;
jjowfij divine and dear Son, and wli® ptjuljJ hp.h.ivc.
! given more ? The diving and him- j
self—and what could he liave-gj(* *.
It is equally, beautifully, ami wst p(p|ykK ;
that God sent bis Son, and that hisjjSilivVomn-i-ririly’)!
Came ; and to this the inspired point:
las the greatest practical proof ol lotfaffiiat ever has i
jietm or c;ui be exhibited. “In this wjh(sfc infested the !
love of God toward us, because that Craven t his only
begotten. Son into the world,that we through:!
him. Herein is love, not that we bfofovi God, but tliatj
he loved us, and sent his idem to bes j&apitialion for:
our sins.” “Be ye, therefore, Gjpd, as
dear children, and walk in love, :tk i-Fu-iSt t:Iso iaatfci
ifloved’us, and hath given himself for us. iju qjFerirf'f i;uo’
a sacrifice to Gfod for a sweet stneliing’ ‘-Grea-!
ter iove hath no man than tins, that/a
his life lor his friends.” “Fox w! vj, \v%G'iy’Bry ’yeti’
without strength, in due time Chris |
godly. For scarcely for a riglituoti bLih.wilfoßb'dictil
‘'(Fire to die. But God commended)’ fns love toward
.'us, in that, while we were yet sinner?, Christ died for;j
us. Much more, then, being now justified by his blood,
we slwill he saved from wrath through him. For if
when wc were enemies, we were reconciled to God
by the dentil ofhis Son ; much more being reconciled,
we shall be saved by his !if..” “He that spared not!
his own Son, but delivered him up lor us all, how shall j!
he not with him also Ireely give us all things?”
Dear fellow sinner, that argument is as sound for ;
you as it. was for the holy Paul. o,rusp at it and I
take it home. Behold the Lamb olMSod ! Beiio!d; !
your sins put away ! Behold a propitiapl God recon-r
oiling you over that bleeding victiin-Lmih, as his own
gracious provision for you and all mahlgnfd 1
“Behold the best, the greatest gift’
Os everlasting lov©,
Beliold the plodgeof peiaSft-helov/rfa
A nd perfect bliss aljo^e.”
■
MA T EIIN A L AFFE CT 10 N.
‘‘ . i
’} Men, says the Presbyterian Herald, talk ofthe silver
, chord of friendship—of the silken lies which bind young!
lovers together—ofthe pure allection of husbautl ruid;
wife, as if it were durable as adamant, and as ptiye
the love ol angels. But a hasty word, a tniscohstrued:
expression, may break the first; a slight neglect, some!
inconsistency, or a trifling favor denietL<may sunder
’ the second; and even the last may Os) .destroyed,!
. for the green-eyed monster may find so,ine entrance,
: and blight the fairest flowers of this sweetest earthly
i paradise.
But there is a love which neglect cafinot weaken,
winch injury cannot destroy, and which even jealousy
cannot extinguish, it is the pure, the holy, the endu
ring love of a mother. It is gentle as the breeze of
evening, firm as the oak, and ceases only when life’s*
last gleam goes out in death. During all the vicissi-l
tud sos this changing world,-in sickness or in sorrow,
in iii’e or in death, in childhood’s halcyon days, in
“youth’s untroubled hour,” or in manhood’s vigorous!
prime, the mother clings with the same unwearied af
fection to her child. It is the same amid the snows and
frosts of Siberia, the temperate and joyous regions of
our own lair land, and among the arid sands of Africa.
Those anxious cares, and tenderattentionsand repea
ted words of a mother’s love, are not without their hap
py influence upon the lives and characters of their sons.!
Ji The stem rebuke of a justly offended father may check
for a season the rising and struggling passions of youth,
but the sacred lessons feurned from a mother’s lips, are
engraven on the heart, and retain their power through
lily; in virffitPs paths, and. oven in the career of vice,
jtliey are continually recurrrag to our mind, and bring
‘.vith them, as farther incitements to tnjod, all tllfc hai-
I lowed scenes of .childhood and iimulnce. Hard ia
the heart that wifl net melt at the/nfnttllMftion of a
inotiier’s prayer; and more obdurate Mill the heart of
him who by a course of vice can wriingl her
soul With anguish, and bring down lia.irs with
| sorrow to ihje grave.
V ’ id.
LAWFULNESS OF AMUSEMENTS.
bl judging ol the innocence or immorality of preva
lent amusements, you will do well to keep before your
■finds the three following questions, as so many tests :
1. Canyon make them the subject ol helictHM* prayer f
;Supposing you have ventured to bnga.ge in-thym, can
1 you ask the blessing of God’fo aecomppuy tfsem for
your benefit? and <,a returning l"vo?ri-- t the!ti, perhaps
i - *i? ix.tur ol midnight, can yOiiVfi’er* th inks to him
.or- fmv-ng gi vgfli you t! to opporttftiity of joining in
ilictn ? ll yoircftiiud't, be assured, may are amusernents
winch cannot endure the scrjAiy of a’n enlightened
conscience, or the eye of a holyG&d. *
2. Can you indulge hi them having yourre
■hgions feelings impaired or Hmikancd? Can you re
g.tirn ‘lrom them with an inc.reAsed wish for the study
ol divine truths, and the enjoyment of devotion? Can
you say, alter ruminating on die impressions tliov have
| left on your hearts, that they b :vo stim.ilatJ.l and
isirenglhenefi your graa!/,ps.‘niiuetions ami spiritual de
sires? Il you cannot, yoAi have reason to pause, to
j consider, amldto as!-: yotirselves wlietlier or not yon
I'.are “keeping yoursolv ,s ia the love 01-God, looking
mor, the mercy of our bord Jesus Christ unto eternal
i life --whether or net you are “seeking those things
ou # iig*\
B. inquire lu: tber whether the pursuit of them will
!:afunf you coiiif ori. :u tiio immediate prospect of death,
‘.foil they help to. assuage the sorrows of dissolution,
jaiul dissipate the gloom of the grave? Will they con
irioute to .suntc.in the confidence, the courage, and the
aope of the (reporting soul, and to embolden her ap
proach upward to the tribunal ofthe Judge? Or are
they calculated rather to leave a sting in your awa
livened con science, to plant a thorn in your dying pi!-
I low, and to east an additionni shade on the dark valley?
All! my young friends, those are so many criteria by
f which you may judge ol the character and tendency
|M fashionable amusements, and discover the duty and
!! importance of “choosing rather to suffer affliction with
jithe people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin foe
I, a season.”
ji 1 most readily grant that periods of relaxation are
necessary to refresh and invigorate the powers of our
I j minds. But it does not follow that we are at liberty
ji to fritter away valuable portions of time, either in ab
ject sloth or Irnroious recreations. As moral beings,
jjaccountable to God for the use to which we apply our
jj.pas.sing hours, and awaiting an immortal existence
Beyond the skies, we sltould see whether there may not
be found recreations that combine utility with relax
ati'S-i. ft is by no means necessary, as the popular
; notion is, tiiat the change should be from an employ
, inenf'that is useful to one that is useless ; but the object
, may be even better accomplished by a change that
shall keep the maid still employed to advantage. If
; your ordinary employment is one that lays your fac
ulties under severe Contribution, that to which you re
sort ior amusement ought undoubtedly to require but
moderate mental exercise; and in cases of great ex
haustion from intellectual effort, it may bo proper to
give the mind, for a season an entire dispensation fro-a
the labor of connected thought. But, in ail ordinary
cases, you will find that in unbending from severe ex
ertion of mind, with reference to renewing that exer
tion with greater success, yyu need not yield to posi
tive inaction, or occupy yourself with anything that is
trifling, but may still be doing something for the benefit
of yourself or your fellow-creatures. 11 you regulate
your amusements by a regard to this principle, you
will find it a most effectual means of redeeming time,
and will have the pleasure to reflect, “Unit even your
1 hour a of relaxation are hours of usefulness — Mucin
flue.
J. T. BLAIN, Rrinteh.
Number 45