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CHRISTIAN SSk* aND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST. VOL 50—NO. 4£ A Religious and Family Paper, rOBLISffND WMKLY IB ATLANTA, OA., AT Three Dollars per Annum, Invariably in advance. J. J. TOON, Proprietor The Responsibility of Individual Members of the Church for the Influencing of their Churches. (Ad Essay before the General Meeting ot the Cave Spring Association, at Lime Branch Church, Polk county, Sabbath, October 29th, requested for publics* tion in the Indbx.) The subject opens a broad field, and one of great importance. The present writer can only present a few thoughts to elicit valuable suggestions from other minds. All bodies, whether material or social, are composed of parts or principles, which, combined, make the form and use of those bodies. Each component principle or member contributes its part to the gen eral form and effect. But especially in all social organizations, is the character and efficiency of the body dependent on the character and efficiency of the con stituent members. Social organizations abound among men. We judge their char acter by what we know of their members, more than by their professions: “By their fruits ye shall know them.” We hold their members responsible for the character and influence of their bodies. These are general and admitted proposi tions. In bodies organized for moral effect, especially, is this law of responsibility held, and the moro strictly is it held in those of the highest character and dignity. Now, of all social, voluntary organizations among men, the church of Jesus Christ is of the highest dignity and importance. It is composed (when properly composed) of persons renewed by the Holy Spirit, and inducted by a most significant ordinance, into the “ body of Christ,” whose grand mission in the earth is the glory of the Redeemer in the saving of men ! What a design ! What an end ! How noble ! How important! Nothing equal to it — nothing like it on earth ! But how is all this to be accomplished ? It is committed to the church of God. He works through means, and these means are the members of His churches as He has organized them—as the Scriptures clearly set forth. In 1 Cor. xii tve learn, among other valua ble lessons, that there is a use for each member of the church, however weak or humble. It is self-evident that the har mony and efficiency of the church depends on the conduct of its members —the doing by each of his particular duty. Here ap pears the responsibility of each member of the church. A. cannot do the duties of himself and of B.: he can only do his own, which demands all his time and ability. We admire the working of a well ad justed, though complicated, machine, in which there are many parts —wheels with in wheels, each fitting and contributing its part to the result designed. Let hut one wheel break, or fail to answer its end from any cause, the whole machine is stopped and the time is lost until the de ficiency is supplied. How beautiful the harmony of a well organized church, in which all the officers and members co-ope rate in the great work ! in which each fills his place—does his duty, be it great or small, little or much, being guided by that self-same Spirit who is the present help and comfort of all God’s people! How efficient, how saving , how glorious is such a church ! But see one member here and another there, failing to do their duty—“ forsak ing the assembling of themselves together” with the body—“ coming not up to the help of the Lord against the mighty”— neglecting the prayer meeting, the Sunday school—contributing not evon their “mite” to support the pastor or missions, or any good cause. By so much as each one fails of his part, is the good work hindered, efficiency prevented and harmony destroy ed. Here the responsibility appears. Some, by their words, and many, by their conduct, seem to say they have no influence; they are not responsible for the harmony of the church or the effi ciency of the great work. Is this so ? What says reason? What common sense? What say the Scriptures ? “ None of us liveth to himself and none of us dieth to himself.” “He that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” How sad is the state of many of our churches ! What a dim light shines from them ! The world claims to be as good as they. They are stumbling blocks in the way of sinners, instead of being “ the house of God and the very gate of heav en !” What is the matter ? Where is the blame ? Who is responsible ? It may be the pastor is at fault. Forgetting his “high calling,” entangled in “the affairs of this life,” he may have failed to “study to show himself approved unto God, a workman, rightly dividing the word of truth, giving to each his portion in due season.” “Like priest, like people.” Or, it may be, the deacons, failing “ to pur chase to themselves that ‘good degree’ and * great boldness in the faith,’ ” which is the reward of diligent study of the Scriptures, and active, earnest service “in every good word and work,” in pub lic and private, are responsible. Or, it may be that some prominent lay members, more worldly-minded than spiritual, more covetous than pious, have led off to cold ness, and sin, and deadness. Social, family and private prayers are neglected, secret sins are indulged, the Spirit is grieved, and takes His leave from such a body. Every one, whether preacher, deacon or private member, who fails to do his duty, comes not up to the measure of his obligations, is held responsible—re sponsible to his conscience, responsible to the church and the world, and responsible to his God. How fearful that responsi bility ! - But still, some may doubt as to the measure of their obligations. A con science enlightened by the Scriptures, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is an infallible guide. ‘lt is required of a man according to that he hath , and not ac cording to that he hath not.’ “ The love of Christ constraineth us.” The parable of the talents, the prayer of Paul when convinced of his sin, “ Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” and many other {PM A TEAR. ! FRANKLIN PRINTING HOUSE, ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1871. m A TEAR.} Jointed texts, furnish a key to solve every oubt and open up the way of duty, of peace, and indefinite usefulness to every child of God. Look at the warnings and threatenings on the one hand, and the rich rewards and glorious elevations on the other hand. “ Curse ye Meroz,” said the angel of the Lord, “ curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof, because they came not up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.” “To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” “ The servant that knew his lord’s will and doeth it not shall be beaten with many stripes.” See, on the other hand, the induce ments of faithful service in the cause of our Saviour. “ They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” “Let him know that he that converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” Brethren, the time for us to work is short. Soon, our probation will be ended. What have ive done to glorify that Sa viour who gave His precious life for us ? What are we doing to leave our foot-prints in the world —foot-prints that point to heaven ? Who, and how many, will be our ‘ crowns of rejoicing’ in the day of eternity ? Let us awake to a sense of our obligations, and rise to the measure of our responsibilities ! “Hold your Light." A party of Alpine Hunters once came in a dark night to a mountain torrent from which the bridge had been swept away, and which they were obliged to cross by torch light, under circumstances of great peril. The cry which rang out through the gloom ana silence to the guides, ‘’Hold your light,” suggested the following lines: Hold your light, Christian I Brightly up on high 1 For want of its shiuing Some traveller may diet. While hosts pass, uuheediugl His suffering cry. Hold your light, Christian ! The beams of your Faitb May save some sad brother From darkness and death, And illume his dark soul With what Jesus sailh. Hold vour light, Christian ! Os Hopb, the clear flame May bring out of shadows The Saviour’s dear name, And some guilty, despairing,’ Lost sinuer, reclaim. Hold your light, Christian 1 Let Chabitt show Such heavenly radiance, That all can but know Her patient, enduring, Perpetual glow. Hold these lights, Christian 1 Let them shine on life’s way; From their gleams all pollution And sin shrink away; And their full wealth of blessing Thou sbalt know in t/iat day : A Practical Illustration.—The Baptist Hymn and Tnne Book. I had a practical illustration, last Mon day, of what must be the result, to think ing minds, when they consider the decis ion of the Bishops of the Episcopal Church. An educated gentleman —a physician —came to my inquiry meeting, and said, “ I have come to consult you about my baptism. I was baptized in infancy. At fifteen years of age I was confirmed a member of the Episcopal Church. I told the Bishop then, that I was not fit to be recognized a member of the Church. The Bishop replied, ‘ You have been baptized; you can repeat the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostles’ Creed. Be confirmed, and all will be well with you.’ When I was baptized, the minister and the con gregation said, ‘We yield Thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it hath pleased Thee to regenerate this infant with Thy Holy Spirit, to receive him for Thine own child by adoption, and to in corporate him into Thy holy Church.’ Now, the House of Bishops have decided that * regenerate ’ does not mean a moral change. If regeneration does not mean a moral change, then what does it mean ? If a member of the body of Christ—an heir of glory, is not morally changed, then who can be? According to this definition of the Bishops, it seems to me my baptism in infancy was a worthless thing, and I have been a deceived soul. I come, sir, to inquire your views on bap tism,” I began as I would with a little child, and gave him my views of the plan of salvation. That if he had never felt his need of a Saviour, and exercised re sentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; that if he did not have the Spirit of God bearing witness with his spirit that he was a converted man, then he had nothing to do with bap tism ; that a man must be a saved man — saved by faith in Jesus, ere he was bap tized ; that no baptism of any kind or at any age, could save him. The fruit on the tree, does not make the tree; it only proves the tree is good. The tree makes the fruit. So, baptism and the Christian duties do not make a man a Christian. They only prove that he is a Christian, because he obeys the commands of his new Lord and Master, who says, “by their fruits ye shall know them.” He admitted he had never felt his need of a Saviour, and had no evidence of anew heart. After praying with him, he wept bitterly, and said, “ Pardon my weak ness, sir; this is no new thing with me. I have been thinking about it for a long time, but I never saw my real condition so plainly before.” Here is a man of education, a man of thought, a man of experience, who comes and tells me he has been a deceived soul, because he had been taught to trust in his infant baptism and conformity to the Church for salva tion. May it not be, he is only one of many —a representative man. 0, the ne cessity of preaching the gospel in its pu- rity and simplicity! “ The Baptist Hymn Book ” issued by the “Bible and Publication Society,” Philadelphia, and the “Tune Book,” I am under the impression I saw a favora ble notice of them from your pen. I have examined the “ Hymn Book,” and am delighted with the selections and the ar rangement. The compilers have evinced their simple piety, sound theology and good judgment, in the work. I have submitted the Tune Book to the leader of our choir— a pious, active member of the church, and he speaks in admiration of the music. 0, for congregational sing ing, where all the people shall praise the Lord! We have a choir and an organ, but I urge the congregation, every Sab- bath, to unite in the singing. Our leader is a sensible man, and he selects such tunes as the people understand, and they do sing sometimes, with all their souls. The Publication Society are determined to leave the people without excuse. They issue a cheap edition of this Hymn Book, —for fifty cents. A book of a thousand hymns, for fifty cents! J. W. M. W. Baltimore, fiov, 4,1871. Covetousness. I. Covetousness debars a'person from the Lord’s supper. 1 Cor. v. 11. It is a barrier to the ordination of a deacon. 1 Tim. iii. 111. It is a barrier to the ordination of a preacher. 1 Tim. iii. IY. It is a barrier to admission to hea ven. 1 Cor. vi. E. Dodson. The Churches and Intemperance. A correspondent, “C.,” in the Index, Sept. 28, says, “It is notoriously true, that, for many years, our churches, in some localities, have tolerated the sale of spirituous liquors by their members, at ‘ wholesale,' but not until* recently have I known of its being tolerated by Baptists at ‘retail.’” Another correspondent, “Alpha,” has written three pointed letters, (I hope he will write more,) to a class in our churches, whom he addresses as “ Dram-Drinking Baptists.” The testimony of these two correspon dents establishes the fact that some of the members of churches are “ dram drinkers,” and that brethren in Christ, professedly, sell to them, by “ wholesale and retail,” that which will eventually cast both soul and body into hell. A more lamentable condition of things, it would seem, could scarcely exist. Surely Christ is being wounded in the house of His friends. But “ C.” says, further, “ Our mem bers are not only actually trafficing in the accursed thing, but our churches are ac tually wanting in the moral courage to take a stand against it.” Could there be a greater degeneracy than this statement indicates ? Truly, the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. If Jeremiah were among our prophets, he would say, “ Oh, that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daugh ter of my people! Oh, that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men, that I might leave my people and go from them; for they be all ‘ dram drinkers,’ an assembly of wholesale and retail liquor dealers!” Brethren, what is our duty in regard to this matter ? Christ’s kingdom on earth is organized into churches. The members of the church are required, individually, to obey Christ’s laws. And the church, collectively, is required to enforce Christ's laws. Dram-drinking brethren are being urged to “ stop and think, before they farther goand brethren who deal out “ liquid damnation,” wholesale and retail, to their brethren, are appealed to, to give up the traffic. But what are the churches, as such, doing in the matter ? How many of the churches are enforcing the Mas ter’s laws in regard to intemperance ? We would not urge harsh measures, nor advise summary dealing, immediately, with members. We would deal with them in love. Many of them know not what they do. They do not realize the guilt they are incurring. We do insist, how ever, that they should be warned; that the error of their ways should be pointed out to them, and that they should be ad monished to cease from their evil courses. And if they will not hear the churoh ; if they will not be persuaded to desist from the work of destroying themselves and others, then the churches must see that the blood of ruined souls rests not upon their skirts. We pray that the kingdom of God may come, and that souls may be plucked from ruin, and we wonder why the preached word has so little effect on the minds of professed disciples and worldlings. One of the greatest, if not the greatest, hin drance to the spread of the gospel among us, is intemperance. And no church can expect God’s blessing upon it, or its efforts, unless that church is faithfully endeavor ing to remove this obstacle from the path. God having given the churches author ity in this matter, He will not relieve them from the performance of an unpleas ant, and, it may be, in some cases, a heart-breaking duty. He will hold the churches responsible for their neglect of this duty, and will withhold His grace from them. What church is willing, by continued neglect, to incur so sore a pun ishment? B. W. I. Church of HenrylWard|Beecher« Your correspondent from the far sunny South, presumes that he may write some thing from this great city which may in terest your readers. Curiosity (if no higher motive) led me to cross Fulton Ferry to-day, to attend service at Henry Ward Beecher’s church, in Brooklyn. I soon found myself one of a large crowd, wending their way to the church of the famed Brooklyn pastor. The building is a large, plain, brick structure; nothing striking in its external appearance. Its interior is plain, simple, unique, having none of the gorgeous display which char acterizes many of the churches of the city. The pews are arranged in circular order, and so provided as to economize every inch of space in the great auditori um. The gallery, occupying about three fourths of the area, furnishes a range of seats rising in amphitheatral form on three sides of the room. A simple stand and large Gothic chair, upon an elevated plat form, constitutes the pulpit, around which thousands have gathered for a quarter of a century to listen to the teachings of the man who has made his mark upon the age in which he lives. In rear of this pulpit, and above its level, is a range of seats for the choir, and behind them is the great organ, which ranks among the best on this continent. The choir, consisting of about fifty persons, commenced the exercises by singing the Psalm, “ The Lord is my Shepherd.” Asa musical performance, it was grand and beautiful; but this mode of worship is a monopoly, that has always seemed inconsistent with the service which belongs to the sanctuary of God, in which all should participate. I expected we would be entertained with this kind of music throughout the service, but in this I was agreeably disappointed. Preceding the sermon, the pastor made several announcements, among which, he stated that the members had raised 05,000 during the past week, for the Chicago sufferers, and, through their instrumental ity, they had, in all, raised and forwarded, in supplies and money, the sum of 040,000, in the church and congregation. The prayer occupied 21 minutes. It was declamatory, metaphysical, abound ing in most of the figures of speech known to the science of rhetoric; seemed (to me) to be intended more for the ear of the audience, than as praise or supplica cation to the Most High. His text, “ Faitb, Hope and Charity,” or love, as interpreted'By him. There was nothing offensive in the sermon, to the Southern ear—no allusions to politics —no attempt at wit—mrthing to degrade the dignity of the pulpit. This was a relief, for, from accounts, I had anticipa ted much that -would be objectionable in these respects. His exigesis was unex ceptionable. He unfolded every point With clearness and force-. There was no attempt at display. He enlisted the at tention of that great multitude for an hour and ten minutes. That he has done this from Sabbath to Sabbath, for twenty five successive years, is the highest evi dence of his ability. Throughout his sermon, there was the Spirit of Christ. Beecher, with all his outrageous faults, is I believe, a Christian. He had to be a Christian, to talk as he did in that ser mon. Our Saviour spoke wisely when He said, “ Judge not.” He knew that we were incapable of accurate judgment in regard to the spiritual condition of oth ers. But the crowning excellence of the service, was the congregational singing. Imagine their full, well-trained choir, sus tained by an organ of superior power, touched by an organist of unequalled skill, all accompanied by an assembly of three thousand well-trained singsrs. Every one in the congregation was furnished with a hymn book, and they all sang. The first hymn commenced with the lines, “ Lore, Lore on earth appears, The wretched throng Hi» way.” The following couplets are the last two lines of three several verses of this hymn: 1. “Soft, my harp, thy breathings be, Let me weep on Calvary.” * * * * * * 2. “ Hushed, my harp, thy breathings be, Christ is weeping there for me.’’ * * * * # * 8. “He lives, again He lives, Joyful now, the strains should be, When I sing of Calvary.” The adaptation of the music to the sentiment, is a hign attainment, to be ex pected only among experts —not in large congregations. But the effect of three thousand well-trained, skillful voices, in singing this hymn, is nqt. a subject for description. This must b* left to the im agination of the reader. To close the exercises, this great as sembly rose and sang, “ The Shining Shore.” It is impossible to convey a just idea of the enrapturing effect of the sing ing of this hymn by such an assembly. We, who wish to hear any better music, must aspire to enjoy it when we reach “The Shining Shore.” M. E. B. I New York, Oct. 29,1371. Strength for the Day. Strength for the day I At early dawn I stand,; Helpless and weak, and with unrested eyes, Watching lor day. Before its portal lies A low black cloud—a heavy iron band; Slowly the mist is lifted from the land, And pearl and amber gleam across the skies, Gladdening my upward gaze with sweet surprise! I own the sign ; I know that He whose hand Hath fringed those sombre clouds with ruby ray, And changed that iron bar to molten gold, Will to my wandering steps be guide and stay; Breathe o’er my wavering heart His rest for aye, And give my waiting, folded palms to hold His blessed morning boon —strength for the day! —Rachel O. Altop. Hard upon the Women. A writer of the 17th century says, in an article on the capriciousness of women, “ Gardeners compare women and girls to a flock of goats, who roam and browse in cessantly, holding nothing inaccessible to their curiosity and adds, “ There is but one considerable difference between them: the goat wears horns, and the woman makes others wear them.” He says again, in the same article, “ When Satan afflict ed Job, he deprived him of his flocks, of his houses, and of his children, but had a care not to take his wife from him, know ing that this was the only way to make him desperate; as it would have done without God’s special grace.” He also informs us that the Rabbins taught, that a man who had a bad wife wa3 exempted from public duties, “ because he had busi ness enough at home, without needing any abroad.” It is highly creditable to the sex that, notwithstanding the acerbities that have been poured out upon them in a continu ous stream for centuries, they retain their original siveetness unimpaired. It were enough, one would think, to sour an an gel’s temper to subject it so incessantly to so severe a test. J. S. B. “Love Ye One Another." Overshadowed by sin as our natures are, yet our kind Creator has planted in our hearts certain noble principles which, illumi nated by His divine grace, are calculated to elevate the creature into newness of life, whereby we may keep the inner courts of our hearts animated with something of the godlike feeling that influenced our Saviour while here upon earth. The love and apprehension of Jesus for His disciples increasing as He knew He must soon leave them, He would fain have their hearts united by the heaven-born principle of love lor each other, that they might bear with each other’s infirmities, and share each other’s sorrows, so that while engaged in the labor which He had appointed for them, amid temptations and persecutions, they might strengthen each other’s hope, and thus be the better enabled to bear the loss of His socie ty, which was wont to cheer their hearts. In consideration of this, and with nobler and holier feelings than human nature can pene trate, He bequeathed this last commandment unto His disciples, “ that ye love one anoth er.” He had felt and borne the heat and burden of the day. Having taken upon Him self our nature, He knew the depressing power of sorrow, and He also knew the strength of love and sympathy to soothe and comfort. Love is the distinguishing feature of the new birth, “for by this ye may know that ye have passed from death unto life." With a heart freighted with love towards man, we may go forth in the conflict of life armed with power to overcome and subdue; for heaven itself descends in love, and heaven’s power is unlimited. God has given love strong power, because it is kind, and “ with no ill to its neighbor," it can do all things ; and above all, it leads us, when overwhelmed by doubts and bitter thoughts, by sweet per suasion to God, who loves us with an ever lasting love, insomuch that He gave His only Son to die for us, and daily bestows bless ings upon us as if He would constantly keep us in remembrance of the “ gteat love where with He hath loved us." True sympathy cannot successfully be as sumed. A heart delicately attuned, can de tect the false note of expression. Sincere love hath a power all its own, of which it cannot be robbed, and which, when coun terfeited, if placed in the refiner’s fire, its true character is betrayed. When earnest and true, it is ever active to accomplish good. It will never forsake, but will wend its way to the saddest scenes of adversity, there to cheer the solitude of the suffering, while its counterfeit has become weary of the difficul ties of the way, and has turned back to more congenial scenes. Ah, yes, ’tis the tone, the touch, the glance of true sympathy alone, that can reach the great deeps of our hearts, and bid us live. A flower transplanted from the shade into the sunlight, will develop new strength and beauty, its leaves expanding, its varied tints appearing ’neath the healing beams of the sun, while in the shadow and gloom it would have paled and died. Such is the influence of sympathy upon the human heart, when misfortune and disappointment- has fallen upon it. Who of us hath transplanted a flower? The kind deed, prompted by sin cere sympathy, who of us can recall it? Its price is above rubies, for our Saviour hath said, “ Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these, ye did it also unto me.” “ Love yc one another.” It was delivered to the apostles on that memorable occasion, as the crowning virtue of Christian character. Let us also receive it, as fresh from His lips, guarding it from cold distrust and the blight ing power of worldliness. With heart united to heart in the great cause of Him who first loved us, Zion, putting on her beautiful gar ments, shall arise and shine, and all nations shall be won by the brightness of her glory. Rcth. Tuskcgee, Ala., Oct. 1871. “Alien Immersions." In a letter, written Oct. 10th, to the Editor of the Baptist, Rev. Richard Fuller, D.D., of Baltimore, says: I de sire to have more and more of the heart of a child sitting at the feet of Jesus. In uniting myself with the Episcopal church, baptism was plain, and I request ed the Episcopal minister to baptize me. I thought I could remain in that church ; but, while politics is the science of com promise, conscience cannot be thus pal tered with if we are sincere. So, after awhile, I identified myself with “the sect everywhere spoken against.” The Baptist church in South Carolina left the question of re-baptism to me, and I felt dissatisfied with the former immersion on tivo grounds. First, I was conscious that, however sincere, I had not then been truly converted; and secondly, I questioned the regularity of the act when performed by one not himself baptized. I was, therefore, immersed by a Baptist minis ter. I have always advised persons to leave nothing irregular in this solemn act, especially as the irregularity can be so easily rectified. Still, I have doubted whether the baptism was so void as to justify our insisting on re-baptism when the candidate for admission is perfectly satisfied. After patient thought, how ever, and looking to the integrity of the ordinance, and the best spiritual tv elf are of the candidate, I would now advise a church to require a baptism, not only valid, but free from any disorder. Unpaid Debts to Pastors. The cases are numerous in which churches fail to meet their pecuniary en gagements to their pastors; and so cal lous are defaulting churches on this sub ject, that some of them seem to have no conscience in regard to it whatever. Yet it is in violation of an obligation assumed, a contract formed under all the solemnity of an oath. It is an obligation assumed by the professed people of God, in His house, as in His immediate presence; nay, on an occasion when His presence is very specially invoked. Do we regard an ordinary oath on the Holy Bible as imperatively binding ? Is the violation of such an oath branded as perjury ? Is perjury regarded as a crime as detestable as any that a man in social life can be guilty of ? It is regarded as a crime of this heinous nature, because it tends to destroy all confidence between man and man, to break up the foundations of society, and it is a mockery of God. As damaging a thing as can be said of a man, is, “ I would not believe him on his oath.” Can it be that any of our churches are guilty of this crime ? To say that they are, would be to make a most terrific charge. Yet what shall we call their fail-, ure to meet obligations assumed under these solemn circumstances ? If we must not call it perjury, what shall we call it ? It must have a characteristic name. The only other term I know of as applicable to the case, is, that they are foresworn. Teaehnically, they are not perjured ; is it that really they are foresworn ? But without giving it a name, the simple fact is this: a church, under a more solemn form, if possible, than that of an ordinary oath, engages to pay its minister a stipu lated amount for his services, and yet fails to meet its engagements. Can God look favorably upon such churches ? Is it at all surprising if they wither, and continue to wither till they become extinct ? And may it not be that temporal judgments also sometimes fall upon the men who thus trifle with the sol emn obligations of an oath assumed before God in His house ? Temporal judgments some times do follow the commission of crime. Can the view which I have here pre r sented of this matter be correct ? Some facts within my knowledge seem to show that it is not that which is commonly en tertained ; for I cannot believe that, with this view, a Christian church could prove , so reckless of God’s displeasure. A minister had been laboring with a certain church a number of years. The salary promised him was small; but of that small sum, a portion every year re mained unpaid. For these deficiencies, the session readily enough gave him their written obligation as agents of the church. But these obligations remained unpaid ; and other deficiencies occurred, till the deficit due the minister amounted to sev eral thousand dollars. Often, pressed by his necessities, had he endeavored to bring them to some settlement, but without ef fect. At length, in despair, in a meeting of the session, after another earnest yet fruitless effort to get some payment on his claims, he deliberately put all the evi dences of their indebtedness to him into the fire, in their presence, as so much waste paper. Yet, strange to say, one of the elders v of that church told the writer of this the main fact—the destruction by the pastor of the obligations of the church to him to the amount of several thousand dollars—as evidence of the wonderful lib erality of the pastor of the church, without seeming for a moment to suspect that there was involved in the transaction any dis grace—any deep, withering disgrace to them. This is not a solitary case. I would that it stood o: t in its “bad eminence” alone. I have in my mind four other cases of recent occurrence. In one of these cases, appeal after appeal had been made to the church to pay to the pastor his just dues, till all his logic, and all his rhetoric, and all his powers of moral sua sion were exhausted, when he felt con strained to say to them : “ I will not trou ble you with another appeal. I will not invoke the civil law to force you to pay ; that would bring discredit upon the church. It is useless to appeal to church courts ; they can exert no power that you will regard.” The debt yet remains un paid.—Southern Presbyterian. The One Fold. “ Other sheep I have which are not of i his fol and ; them I must also briug.” Look from the sphere of endless day, O God of mercy and of might I In pity look on those who stray Benighted in this land of light. In peopled vale, in lonely glen, | In crowded mart, by stream and sea, How many of the sons of men Hear not the message sent from Thee! Send forth Thy heralds, Lord, to call The thoughtless young, the hardened old, A wandering flock, and bring them all To the good Shepherd’s peaceful fold. Send them Thy mighty word to speak, Till faith shall dawn and doubt depart; To awe the bold, to stay the weak, And bind and heal the broken heart. Then all these wastes —a dreary scene— On which, with sorrowing eyes, we gaze, Shall grow with living waters green, And lift to heaven the voice of praise. — Bryant. Neglected Members. In most churches we find members who feel coldly towards their brethren, because they have not received what they considered due attention. They have been slighted. In city churches, we frequently hear individuals say, “ 1 have been so many years a member of this church, and none of the members have visited me ; and not one of the ruling elders has ever entered my door.” The same com plaints are heard, though perhaps loss fre quently, in towns and country places. We have a few suggestions to make to those who feel themselves neglected. 1. Be sure to do your duty in opening the way for an acquaintance in the church. In large cities, the members of the church ave accustomed to hear the names of new mem bers announced; but they do not know in what part of the city they reside, and of course, cannot call on them. Take measures to be introduced to members residing in your ne : ghborhood ; or, at any rate, attend the weekly meetings of the church, and you will soon make pleasant acquaintances; for, un fortunately, these meetings are not so crowd ed that strangers regularly attending are over looked. 2. Be active. Try to make yourself use ful. The members of our churches are often too neglectful to strangers ; and in our large churches it is not possible to have them so generally acquainted with each other as is desirable. But in every church wc find those whose hearts warm towards new members who show a “ mind to work”—who never look for slights, and claim no marked atten tion, but enter at once into the benevolent operations of the church, and are found regu iar in their attendance upon the sanctuary. The most devoted Christians will seek the acquaintance of such persons, not so much because some attention is due to new mem bers, as because they need their aid in their plans of doing good, and expect to be person ally benefitted by intercourse with them. And surely it is much more pleasant to attract the members of the church into which you have entered, by the brightness of your example, and the warmth of your heart, than to receive an occasional call as a matter of courtesy or of conscience. We have never known a warm-hearted, active Christian to be long overlooked in any church with which we have been acquainted. Whether rich or poor, learned or unlearned, such disciples will be found and prized. 3. Do not wait to be hunted up. There is an impression amongst good men, that those church members who require to be. looked for are scarcely woith finding; and those who would cordially embrace one who is generally seen in his place in the house of God, and who manifests a deep interest in the cause, may, though they should not, neg lect one who neglects his duty, because he re gards himself as slighted. What Hinged upon a Moment. Not long ago, 1 walked the streets of old Leicester, Tn England, taking an antiquarian’s interest in the scenes around me. At one moment, I gazed on a bit of Roman wall, and the next, Norman arches met my view. A little farther, and the associations were con nected with the last of the Plantagenets; for, yonder, Richard Ilf slept the night before the battle of Bos worth Field ; here he crossed the River Soar as he marched with his army to the conflict, and here his remains lie buried. And I could almost hear the clash of arms and see the ill favored visage of Richard, as I gave myself up to the historic memories which rushed through my mind. But there was a spot of deeper interest than these. 1 looked on the battered walls of Leicester, and noted the breaches which were made by the besieging army of Cromwell; and, a few paces farther, I stood where a rollicking young royalist soldier was posted within the walls as sefbtinel, who, handling his musket awkwardly, was removed from his post, and another man placed there instead. Had that fatal ball sped on its way one moment sooner, there would have been lost to the world one of its most loved and honored names; for, in that case, the name of John Banyan would never have been set as a bright jewel in the coronal of fame; one mo- WHOLE NO. 2566. gnent sooner, and the grand old ■u-oiu, Q f Bedford Jail would have been cut ot], md his glorious vision of the pilgrims to the Ce lestial City would never have charmed gen. erations of men of every land ; id tongue. Is it possible to estimate too highly the worth of that one moment, which spared tfae wild, wicked young man?—soared him for a life so devoted, and a work -o . eat ? Can we contemplate an incident lik- Ur. without wondering with great'ad mi; the providence of God I—‘Chris ti'' " Don’t Argue. “Tho way to meet scepticism is not by argument. In twenty years of legal dispus tiatibn, I never knew a man to be opnvioced against his will. Scepticism of the head is harmless. It is the scepticism of the heart that hurts. Find out what duty, plain, sims pie, evident duty, is neglected Press that, home upon the conscience. A right life is she best cure for scepticism. Duty is the medicine for doubt.” There is a good deal of sense in this coun sel, and it applies equally well to the treat ment of the impenitent man who is not scep tical—though we are inclined to regard every impenitent man as more or less sceptical at heart. If we could reach the ear of ever} Christian in the land, w;e vvp.ulJ. say to them —especially if they are young and inexperi enced in the work of winning ZfonV argue with a person whom non desire and peet to lead to Christ. You may be worsted in argument, even though the truth is on your side. If you overcome your adversary, you have placed him in the position of an adversary, and he remembers his defeat with chagrin, whenever you attempt to approach him. Come down to the level on which he stands, however low it may be, and press dome upon him the duty which ho acknowl edges as such, and yet has neglected. If you >an find no point of argument—no common evel on which you can stand—press the ruth as it is in Jesus home upon him, in all ts purity and simplicity; but don’t argue. As White as Snow. That is a beautiful thought of the lamented Dr. James Hamilton: Suppose that every one were to mark in golden letters the text v hich has been the means ot saving iiis soul. The Apostle Paul would mark the words, “Saul, Saul, why persccUtost thou me?” for it was these words, spoken by Jesus from th dazzling light, that made him anew crea tu. \ In the Bible, of the Macedonian jailer, the golden letters would be found at Acts x\‘ ; 31, “ Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, am 1 thou shalt be saved for, embracing this simple offer, he rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. Martin Luther would pr,nt the text, “The just shall live by faith,” in gold: for that text, spoken by tl.c geutle lip3 of the vicar-general, guided him to peace; and the young monk of Erfurth, reduced by fasts, and tears and struggles, to the verge ot' the grave, found rest in the wounds of Jesus. In the Bible of Runyan, the mark would bo found at, “Yet there is room.” ft was through the lattice of these words i hat he first saw the cross, and lie thought God had put them into the Bible to meet his special case. And the ironside soldier would indi cate. Eccl. xi: 9; for it was there tha f the bullet stopped, which, but for the interposing Bible, would have pierced his bosom ; and when the battle was over he read, “ Rejoice, 0 yomig man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in thy youth, and walk in the w ays of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eye but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.” But" .vim can tell how many would enshrine in gold a text which has comforted millions, and ides tined to comfort millions more; or what words do we so instinctively turn to, in di recting anxious souls to Christ, as these: “ Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Excision. —It seems to some persons, weak-kneed as they are, a terrible thing that open communionists should be exclu ded from our churches. Shall we declino fellowship, they ask, with Spurgeon and Noel ? Why not ? We refuse to com mune with such men as Lange and Hor ner, Bonar and Brown, not because we doubt their piety, but because they have departed from the order of a gospel church. If, therefore, any among us do the same, they virtually exclude them selves, and cannot be recognized as Bap tists.—Rev. J. L. Reynolds, D.D., in Workiny Christian. Men of ITeakt. —ln Perc IJyaeinthe’s ad dress before the French Benevolent Society in New York, he said: “ 1 would say, then, take this as a motto, ‘ Let us be men of heart.’ M< nos this kind are the one thing needful to the nineteenth century. The age boasts of his oria is, of learned men, of philosophers, of materialists, of egotists, every where ; but th men of heart are few and far between. A w; 'm, generous heart, carrying with it the in julst-s that spring from the heart into Jo in sticity, into commerce, into politics; in si rt. into public and private life, is the rarest U ng of the times. Men are ashamed of their h irts. They appeal to their reason for e jryining. That cold and lifeless.principle i permitted to obtrude everywhere ; into the t unols of the nation, into the homes of the i dividuals, even into the halls of the church. Tut it is with the heart that we must love Christ, that we must adore («od. It is the heart that must speak in our business, our life, and our religion. It is the heart which si ould animate the church.” Witch. —A friend was recently overtaken by night on a mountain ridge. The path be hind was too perilous to be retraced in the darkness, and the way in front was stopped l,v a projecting rock, which, in his exhausted state, he could not scale. His only alterna- tive was to wait for the morning. But his resting-place was a steep slope, ending in a sheer precipice. One careless movement might prove his destruction. As the dark ness deepened, the danger was disguised. With a lessening sense of peril, there came on increasing drowsiness. What efforts were his, during those long hours, t.<> drive off. sleep ! How he had to stir up his mind to a conviction of the necessity of unremitting vigilance! For, should he once be over powered, he might unconsciously slide dowjf his sloping couch, and be hurled into t valley below. Such is our position. If w would not fall down the precipice, let us watc -j lest during slumber wo slip along the tread erous incline. —Newman Hall. Mouunino for the Dead. — ino celebra ted James Watt, who had tasted the bitter ness of grief for the loss of a wife, said ad mirably : “Our duty to the departed has come to a period ; but our duty to our living family, to ourselves, and to the world, still subsists, and the sooner we can bring our selves to attend to it, the more meritorious.” {|[God. —Our relations with God are such tha our obstacles are all means.