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New Series-vol. XVI,
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i!l i 5C f I 1 U 1U 0 U 3 .
PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
[Extractfrom the Sermon of Rrv. R. M. Snares, on the death
of Mrs. Hannah Nott .]
“The aspect of our subject suggests to us the impor
tance o! preparation. While it the melan
choly truth, that death has passed upon all men, it re-,
veals to us the pleasing intelligence, that il any man be-j
lieve in Christ, though lie were dead, yet shall he live.
To submit to an inevitable evil, will find an apology in
its necessity; but to perish, when by a single exertion,
or a simple appliculi >n ot a remedy, we may live, be-J
trays an unpardonable insensibility. The principle ot,
death, with all its attendant evils, and the principle of
eternal’life, through Christ, with its elevated enjoy
ments; the fear of death, on one hand, to alarm, and
the love of eternal file on the other, to persuade, are hut;
different modes employed to accomplish the same ob-j
ject- There is a spirit of love ill both, and to resist
iTterCVfrtl hrtcr; ‘.'n**?.,- ra to Itfciir tho bigHvfft “OT-rt
stlre. loss of an object is not to be estimated by
itself, but by the adverse evils which that loss inflicts.
The loss of eternal life excludes the soul, not only
from its pleasures, but cousigus it to the most excru
ciatin'’ remorse. Preparation tor death is one ot the
plainest lessons taught bv Revelation, and one which
the providence of God has enforced more impressively
than any other. For nothing else has there ever been
such an august and inposing array of motives to bear
upon the consideration of man. It seems as il the wis
dom of God had exhausted itself in striving to accom
plish this end. And when we look for a corresponding
effort on the part, of man. alas! there is a marked, a
painful negligence, aggravated by a preparation for
every tilin g else. The death of a friend may excite a
momentary fear, lest we may fall the next: but we
soon recover our confidence, and float as carelessly
unon the stream of life, as though there were no dan-
gers to surprise us.
Everyday you live, not-only brings you nearer the
grave, but lessens your ability for preparation. That
which you seek with so much fondness at the expense
of your spiritual good, will cover you hereafter with
shame and dishonor. The experience o! Ihe world
should teach you the vanity of all earthly advantages.
The attainment of the highest distinction is no security
against the evils of life, and nothing will be of an v per-’
manent advantage to you, that is disconnected with:
vour duty toman, and your duly to God. The secret,
of human happiness consists not in wealth; not in hu
man honor; not in sensual pleasure; hut in a suiiclified
affection. This, arid only this, can arm ypu for that:
painful crisis, which will occur in the history of every i
man. liad we nothing, by which to determine, what
sphere of life God intended us to move in, but our ca
pacities lor enjoyment, we would select heaven as the
proper element of our being. It is an unpardonable dis
regard o! our interest to prosecute those objects that de
grade such capacities. The costly expenditures of di
vine grace never would have been made, were our
importance like that of the brute that perisheth. Rise,
then, to the station which God designs you to fill.—’
There is a real and a solid dignity in such a station.—
It liberates you from the servitude of sin. Jt elevatesj
vou above the ignoble fear of death. It unites you to
God, by a relation the most pleasing. It clothes you
with honor, glory, and immortality. Rise! my perish
ing fellow creatures, rise. The hour of death is at
hand. The day of grace is ebbing to its finish. Thej
grave is almost opening to receive you. Your friends
are almost gathering around your remains to pay you
the last testimony of respect. Your funeral requiemi
E ‘DfTOKS.
TH E TRU TII 1 N LOV E .
Penfisld, Georgia, Thursday, December 7, 1343.
iis almost ready to be sung. The bell is almost tolling i
your funeral knell. Another month; another day; an- i
■wUiyr liour, and all may be w vealjty. “Time is short!
ask death beds, and they ‘Vill teJtl,ou.” i
—i
divisions in c: Groups.
The following extracts bom the Circular letter of
the Kennebec Association, are well worthy ofconside
, ration. The statement of the effuses of divisions will
J suggest the remedy and preventive.
It is a thing much to he lamented, but nevertheless
true, that where painful divisions exist in the churches,
iira great variety of cases, they may be tumid to have
‘originated from the connection between the church and
their minister—either in his set lament, or in the pro
gress of his labors, or in his removal. ,
! Il such he ihc fact, theie is evidently something
wrong. What is it? Is there not a wrong sentiment
in the churches on this subject? Ju seeking to till the
j Pa^tf;i:.ai oldcc.-Jxt.they not look i-yore lor talent ami
leaning than for true gocTHheSst And is not God dis
pleased. as he was with Vnnent ysrael, when he gave
ithem a king in his anger, a’ticrWiok him away in his
i wrath? The consequence of s&di a state of things
would naturally be as il is. Ministers are often set
tled too hastily, without giving either of the parties
sufficient opportunity lor that familiar am! extended ac
quaintance necessary to the formation ot such rela
tions; and subsequent acquaintance frequently convin-;
Ices one or ttie other, or perhaps both, that the relation
is not a happy one. Let this opinion exist on either
side, and the remedy sought is the same—an early re
moval. And (mm the time that such an opinion be- !
Conies settled, the relation is calculated to piMduce any
thing but pence. .The yoke is uneven, and galling to
i the neck, and each of the parties strive to throw it oil.
But there are ie\y ministers wV do not find some
H-icfiuV, ci> whom they becorriii'atlactie 1, and who bo-:
eon. 4 attached to them; and, though the usual remedy!
is applied, and a separation takes place, the pastor re
moves and the church is lelt to seek anew one, the el
,,feet of that unhappy relation still remains. Parties;
have been formed, hard things have been said, hard
; feelings have been created, and chief friends separa
ted. Had the church believed when she settled a pas
tor she was married to him, and that she had taken him
for better or worse, for life, would she not probably
! have been more cautious in making her selection; and
1 it’, after the connection was formed, she saw faults in
the nian of her choice, would she not have sought a;
different remedy? Is it not fair to presume that she
, would have thrown the mantle of charity over liis !
faults? and Instead of magnifying and publishing them,
f tried to conceal them, and instead of seeking a remedy !
by divorce, would rather liave reproved, and tried to
cure .them by faithfulness? And on the other hand, if’
the pastor knew that his relation was one which ho :
must not dissolve, would he not labor often to sur
mount and remove difficulties from which he now flies,’
and which he now leaves behind, for the church load
just as she can? Doubtless there will always be of-’
.fences in the most perfect .state of tiie church, in this
I world, but until there becomes a more intelligent and
settled policy in relation to the pastoral office, we tear
that divisions will still continue.
The influence of such divisions is most disastrous to’
the cause of religion. Everything fair and lovely
withers before it as il smitten with the displeasure of
|God. A spirit of jealousy and rivalship spreads not.
only through the body particularly affected, but like a!
contagious disease, it. affects all who come in contact
‘with it, so that not only one church, but frequently a 1
whole association becomes tainted. Churches split and
divide into patties, and form anew, perhaps, in sepa
rate bodies. Both highly conscientious, they lookj
right in their own esteem, and both depending on God.|
they commence their work, and struggle on. Theyj
put. forth their utmost effort, arid imagine they are ad
vancing. They watch with a jealous eye the progress;
of their neighbor,and still toil on, until, becoming wear-,
|ied with fruitless exertion, after years of labor, they’
liad themselves,just where they started, or perhaps in
a much worse condition, and abandon the enterprise in
despair, hr the mean time multitudes of them puss into
eternity, and ibr ail tlreir efforts sink to a world of per-!
dition.
******
Could the real truth be known, xve apprehend that
in most if not all cases where divisions have taken;
jplace, it has not been so much from difference of opin-l
ion upon a great question, as from wrong feelings pro
duced by the improper manner of discussing that ques
tion. The principles of church building and govern
ment are few ami simple and supposed to be under
stood by all who enter into that relation.
EVIL REPORTS.
Many persons seem to have a kind of innate propen
sity to circulate evil reports of others. They are ac
cordingly seldom, ifever, heard to speak well of their
neighbors, but are found diligently availing themselves
of every opportunity that offers to utter something to
their disparagement. Such persons are a great pest
.to society. Through their influence, the most inti
mate friends are frequently set at vu nance with each
other, and u hole neighborhoods are sometimes thrown
into the utmost contusion. J’lioso who consult their
own peace, as well as that of tb.e community, shoufd
avail themselves of every proper instrumentality to put
such persons entirely out ol countenance, and to make
l heir number as small as possible. Their conduct
should be constantly held up in its true light, as pro
ceeding either from a spirit of the most sordid jealousy
at tlie happiness ol others, or from an unholy pleasure
in their injury, and as highly prejudicial to the interests
of society. Great cave should also be taken to avoid
being in any way improperly influenced by their re
ports, or giving the, least countenance, either directly
or indirectly, m their evil practices. The rules which
the late Rev. Charles Simeon adopted for the regulu
lion of Lis conduct in reference to such matters are
j excellent, and should be observed by all who properly
consult die true interests of our race. They are tlie
: lollowillg ;
L * H hear as little as possible of whatever is to the
qa cjudme of others.
To believe nothing of the kind tilLJ^'and eb?ng a?
o forced to it. ’ -t i ‘ “
3. Nqgcr to drink into the spirit of one. who circu
lates all evil report.
and. Always to moderate as far as I can,-the uukind
ness which is expressed towards others.
5. Always to believe, that if the other side were
heard, a very different account would be given of the
‘matter.
The longer he lived, he tells us, the more he felt the
importance of adhering to these rules. His experience
in this matter has been fully corroborated by that also
of all the wise and good. How glad should we be to
jfind Ins rules generally adopted, and faithfully carried
out, as in that event much good will most .certainly be
!secured to ever community.- —Weekly Mess.
WANDER]NO THOUGHTS.
Many vain intruders often tease me most, at such
seasons as I urns’ desire to be freed from them; they
follow me into the pulpit and meet me at the table.—
1 hope 1 do not love them or wish to lodge them!—
[Often in rny prayers some idle fancy buzzes about me
Sand makes me forget where I am and what I am doing.
I compare myself to a man upon his knees before the
[King pleading for his life, or returning thanks fqr some
great favor; in the midst of his speech lie sees a butter
fly; he immediately breaks off, leaves bis speech unfin
ished, and runs away to catch the butterfly. Such a
|man would he thought mad; and my vile thoughts
prove that I am not free from spiritual insanity: Is it
so with you? I believe it is at some times and iri some
degree, though I hope you are not so had as I. As we
all spring from one stock, though our features differ,
‘depravity is the common family likeness winch runs
through the whole species; but Jesus came into the
world to save sinners; he died for us, and.,
, “His hands infected nature cure
With sanctifying grace.”
We hope in a little time to see him as he is. Then,
bind not before, we shall be completely like him; and
while we are here, his precious blood cleanses us from
all sins, and makes our defective service acceptable to
iGod.— J. Newton.
A Hint lo Fanciful Expositors of Scripture.—Hook
er in his Ecclesiastical Policy, says, ‘I hold it for a most
; infallible rule, in expositions of sacred Scripture, that
!where a literal construction will stand, the farthest
i from the letter is commonly the worst. There is not a
.more dangerous and deluding art, which changeth the
. meaning ot words, as alchemy doth, or would do, the
Isubstapce of metals; maketh of any thing what it 11s
!! tetli, and bringeth in the end all truth is nothing.
J. T. BLAfN, Printer-
Number 49.