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REVIVAL SCENES AND INCI
DENTS.
The Central Association met in its
first regular session in 1834, at Anti
och church, Morgan county, where the
great revival of 1827 commenced. The
delegates came together bearing “glad
tidings of great joy,’’ because rof the
revival spirit that was prevailing in all
the churches. Jesse Travis and the
writer went to the meeting in company.
He was to preach the introductory ser
mon, and I was to deliver the discourse
on Missions. On our way he said, "You
know I am suffering under a malady
which will likely prove fatal at an early
day. lam anxious to preach a ser
mon that will be profitable to the
brethren, as it will probably be my
last. My heart is greatly burdened."
He did make an excellent discourse,
with which all seemed satisfied but
himself. We went together to Lot
Hearn’s to spend the night, and were
assigned to the same room. We had
not lain long, when he aroused me,
saying that I must get up and pray
for him. We kneeled in the dark be
side the bed, when he said, “Pray for
tinners too." After complying with his
wishes, we lay down a second time.
But he could not rest. Poor Travis!
I remember how he groaned and wept,
and how, finally, we dressed ourselves,
went out into a grove near by, and,
Jacob like, spent the night, even until
the morning dawn, wrestling with the
angel of the Covenant. (He died soon
thereafter.)
01 course I was in poor condition for
preaching the missionary sermon.
But knowing there were hundreds pray
ing for my success, I was wonderfully
sustained. The congregation num
bered two or three thousand. I was
in the act of closing the sermon and
calling for a collection, when Dr. Sher
wood interrupted me, saying, “Bro.
Campbell, some of these sinners want
you you to pray for them. Give them
an opportunity now, after which the
collection can be taken.” Os course I
had no alternative but to adopt his
suggestion. The brethren commenced
singing, and it did seem as if the. whole
of that vast congregation were over
whelmed with a sense of the presence
and power of God. Hundreds crowded
around the stand. Hundreds more
bowed at their seats. Their Christian
friends gathered around them, fulling
upon their knees and pouring out their
hearts in prayer, Yet, there was no
outbreak—no confusion. The,solem
nity of death and the awfulness of the
judgment day seemed to subdue alt
hearts. A few tried to carry on the
singing, but they broke down, and
wore soon on their knees with the rest,
calling mightily upon God.
Before the benediction, a handsome
collection for missions was taken up.
The business of the Association was
conducted with the utmost harmony.
All were “of one heart and one mind,
striving together for the faith of the
gospel.” We were no longer annoyed
with the opposition of the Hardshells,
and were free to pursue our own views
Os duty unmolested. The body ad
journed on Tuesday, but the meeting
had to be protracted. One of the chief
objects of these papers is to show that
revivals are the work of the spirit, in
which the sovereignty of God is made
strikingly manifest. Let me give a
few incidents—l might give many.
The meeting had been progressing five
or six days, when a young man from
a distant neighborhood came merely
as a spectator. He left home entirely
careless on the subject of religion. In
this frame he rode on alone untill he
oame within two miles of the place,
when suddenly, and without his being
able to account for it, he was seized
with such conviction for sin as he had
never experienced before. Quicken
ing his pace, he reached the meeting
just in time to hear the conclusion of a
sermon and an invitation Jo the anx
ious to come forward for prayer. He
promptly embraced the opportunity,
and, in less than twenty-four hours, ex
perienced the blessedness of the man
"whose sins are forgiven, and whose
iniquities are blotted out.”
Ih a former article, I mentioned the
fact that many, who were anxious
about their souls, followed us from one
meeting to another, jiVhen the revi
val commenced at Indian Creek
church, where Capt. W. and his son
joined, a prominent citizen of Morgan
was present, (Col. B.) who manifested
much interest as to his eternal con
cerns. Finding no peace, he met us
at the next meeting—and at the next
—and so on throughout the whole sum
mer, until his ciu-e became a burden
upon the hearts of his Christian
friends. When we reached Antioch,
Cdl. B. was there with the same sad
ness Upon his noble face—for he was
a noble looking man. On a certain
forenoon, Dr. Sherwood went into the
pulpit to preach. But the interest of
the prayer meeting was so great as to
render preaching inexpedient. The
audience had crowded up around the
pulpit. Standing by the aide of Dr. 8.,
I noticed Col. B. sitting in a remote
part of the house, gazing upwards with
tears streaming down his face, and his
■countenance all aglow with joy, as if
wholly oblivious of his surroundings.
The Christian Index and South-western Baptist: Thursday September n, 1879.
Calling Dr. B’s attention, I requested
'him to go to him. Ashe approached,
Col. B. rose suddenly to his feet, and
embracing Dr. 8. said : "Oh, Dr.
Sherwood, my mother’s prayers, offered
for me more than forty years ago, are
this day answered, for I feel that I am
a converted man.” He was many
years a the Central Associa
tion, and lived and died a devoted
Christian.
Col. Phillip Echols, a son-in-law of
that distinguished man, John M. Ber
rien, of Savannah, was a young man
of briliant 'jtallents and excellent char
acter. For months he had been under
deep religious concern. Hearing of
the revival at Antioch, and that there
were several prominent ministers in
attendance, (Sherwood, V. R. Thorn
ton and Jonathan Davis,) he came
over from Monticello, where he resided,
hoping to obtain relief to his troubled
conscience. He sought the instructions
and prayers of these men of God, but
found no peace. While the exercises
were progressing at the stand, he
strolled off alone into the forest for
meditation and prayer. Falling in
with an old colored man, whom he had
known for years, and in whose piety
he had great confidence, he requested
him to pray for him. “Yes, Mars
Phillip, I been doing dat already. I
am so glad to see you goin’ up wid de
mourners.” "But Uncle Jack, I want
you to kneel down here, and pray for
me now.” The old servant and the
young lawyer bowed down together in
that lonely forest, from which the lat
ter arose “rejoicing in hope.” Echols
returned at once to the stand, and in
formed us of his joyful change. Soon
tbereaftei' he joined the church at
Monticello, and was baptised by Rev.
James Davis. His course was brief but
luminious, for he. was called, in a few
years, to the heavenly rest.
The meeting lasted ten days. There
were eighty baptized at Antioch, and
fully us many more at the neighboring
churches, as the results of that revival,
in addition to those who had joined
the preceding summer.
J. H. Campbell.
GENERAL MEETING.
Editor Index : Two days ago I re
turned from the general meeting held
with Mt. Cannel church, in Marion
county, embracing the fifth Sabbath in
August. There was a large attendance.
Among the interesting features of
the meeting was the warm-heartedness
and brotherly love that pervaded the
assembly ; the zeal and earnestness of
the ministry, and the number of young
ministers in attendance. Brother Ull
man, of Marion county, about nineteen
years Brother Mabry, of VVeb
ster corn iffy, something elder, bnt a
young minister of promise, ‘.the brethren
speak well’of.
Brother Ifell, of Tazwell, young as a
minister, has zeal for God that warmed
up my heart towards him.
Rev. Mr. Deavers, venerable in years
and beloved by the brethren, presided
over the laxly.
(iuito a number presented theft
selves for prayer Saturday night. An
interesting prayer ‘and expereince
meeting was held on Sabbath morning
before preaching. I learn that the meet
ing is to be continued during the week.
J. A. Ansley.
Americus, Georgia, Sept. 2, 1879.
~~MISSIONS~
To the churches of the Central Associa
tion.
Dear Brethren : Now that it is
definitely settled that our association
will convene by request of Antioch
' church on Tuesday, the 23rd of Sep
tember, let me beg that each church
will collect a good sum for missions
and send up to the meeting. As your
agent for missions, I have had respon
ses from but few churches. From in
formation received from Brother De-
Votie, our faithful Corresponding Secre
tary, I learn that funds are needed
very much now to sustain our work,
i Under the plan set on foot at Co
i lumbus for carrying on mission work in
| Georgia, churches may not expect
agents to visit them. They have been
withdrawn from the field. Many Chris
tians have been desirous of seeing this
method of raising money for our home
and foreign work adopted. Some have
declared that they never would con
tribute anything for missions till the
agents were withdrawn. Let such
brethren—nay, let all—unite in making
this movement a success. It can suc
ceed. If the pastors will do their duty,
it will succeed. A report of all funds
received by me since the last meeting
of the association, will be spread before
the approaching body. Brethren,
help, and help now, and help all.
Samuel A. Burney.
Fruit After Many Days.—John
Flavel, it is said, preached a sermon on
the text, "If any man love not the
Ixuxl Jesus Christ, let him be ana
thema maranatha.” When he was
about to pronounce the apostolic bene
diction, he paused, and asked how he
I could do it over an assembly where
there wore probably many persons un
der the dreadful curse denounced in
the text. The effect was very power
ful. One conversion took place on the
spot. A lad was present, fifteen years
old, who lived to the advanced age of
one hundred and sixteen. He was
converted when one hundred years old,
by means of his vivid recollection of
Flavel’s sermon, and the incident
above named.— JFrcHy Messenger.
THREE BAPTIST MEETINGS.
Dear Index : The annual meeting
of the Third District of the Columbus
Association was held at Mount Zion
church, Muscogee county, beginning
August 15th and continuing three
days. All the churches, save one,
were represented ; the condition of each
was briefly stated to the meeting, and
special prayer offered for its prosperity.
The congregations were excellent, and
a serious spirit prevailed throughout
the exercises. Two brethren were.re
quested to prepare essays for the next
session : Rev. C. C. Willis on “Ministe
rial Improvement,” and Rev. J. A.
Griffin on "Fasting, as a Religious
Duty.” We hope the discussion of
these subjects will be of great benefit
to the churches.
The annnal Sabbath-school Conven
tion of this Association was held with
Bethel church, Muscogee county, be
ginning August 22d, and closing the
following Sunday. The attendance
was good, including six pastors, a num
ber of delegates, a large number of
visitors from abroad, and a still larger
number of hearers from the surround
ing country. The success of the rfitet
ing is largely due to the zeal of the
President, brother J. A.
labored indefatigably for months to
gether to stir up an interest in its be
half.
Both the churches that entertained
the aliove mentioned meetings have
been for many years under the pastoral
care of Elder C. C. Willis, the veteran
Baptist preacher of this section. The
people in both communities are in
comfortable circumstances, lavishly
hospitable, and unusually moraj-and
intelligent. Their houses of worship
are neat and commodious. At Bethel
the leaders of the music have recently
introduced an organ to assist in guid
ing the voices of the congregation; and
to the perpetual praise of the church,
let it be recorded that the innovation
provoked not a growl from any quarter,
and not a person refused to contribute
something towards purchasing the in
strument. It will be no offense to add
that their accomplished organist is a
daughter-in-law of the distinguished
Georgia barrister, the lamented Wash
ington Poe, late of Macon.
Who shall say how much of the gen
erous and conservative spirit of these
communities is attributable to the
healthful influence of the venerable
pastor, who has so long l>een their
principal counselor? Might not some
ministers have educated these same
people to wrangle over every ebrfige
that is proposed, however triviality its
nature? Jk
It has been my privilege
preach several
Bap>list' pulpit ar Talbotton.
were marked signs of improvement in
the Baptist interest atjthat place. Their
new pastor, Rev. R. J. Willingham,
posesscs admirable qualifications foil
the ministry, which will, in time, bring
him prominently before the denomina
tion. The cause has a right to his
whole time— a right which he is more
than willing to recognize, and if the
churches he is now serving would have
him continue with them, they must
not allow him to labor at his own
charges, else he will be invited to some
other field. There are churches that
covet the privilege of supporting such
a pastor in comfort, that they may have
the benefit of his undivided labors.
Let them not deprive our Association
of his valuable services. The Lord
has blessed this brother with an amia
ble, intelligent and pious help-meet,
who cheerfully accepts the hardships
as well as the joys of the life her hus
band has chosen. Very truly,
A. B. C.
Columbus, Georgia.
REPENT FIRST.
The minds of many persons are oc
cupied wholly about the speculative
points of religion, while the heart is
turned away from it, and all its practi
cal duties are neglected. Religion is a
practical matter ; it respects chiefly the
heart and life. In revealed religion
there may be many deep things—
i truths which respect God, and the fu-
I ture state, that may lie beyond our
| comprehension ; but all that respects
duty and salvation, is perfectly plain
to the humblest inquirer, provided he
performs his duty so far as he know* it
and comes to the fountains of truth
with an hurnlle spirit and a teachable
disposition. To repent of sin, to be
lieve in Christ, to love and serve God,
to abstain from evil and do good, what
can be more simple than these ? And
yet these are the religion of Jesus;
and consequently ujxm them is the
salvation of the soul. Instead of per
plexing themselves about the "diffisul
ties of religion,” would men pray for
divine enlightenment and renewing
grace, and thus enabled, would they
perform the great first duties of re
pentance, and faith, all their difficulties
would vanish.
We have heard of an intelligent
' sjieculatist who had long been perplexed
I about certain doctrinal points in re
ligion, who yet performed none of its
duties. The more lie reflected, the
greater those difficulties appeared.
Near him there lived an aged African,
in whose piety he had entire confidence;
to him he wont and stated the case,
and sought a solution of hi, difficulties.
To him the old man, simple minded,
but taught of God, replied: "Master,
you begin wrong, and you will never
get on in that way. The difficulties
you mention are away on. in tWßo
mans; but in -|he begining of tl|e tes
tament, it. cohimands meh to rodent.
You have never repented, and you pan
not get on without repentance. Go
and repent, and then all the hard
places will become easy.
In this reply was great point and
appropriateness. It is perfectly ac
cordent also with the Saviour’s decla
ration, “If any maq. will do his will,
he shall know of the doittripe.” Again :
“Come unto me all ye that labor and
are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest.” Those then who would be saved,
let them think of of these things, and
do as is here required. Repent first,and
go to Jesus by faith. He is the way,
the truth and the life. All then will
be plain and easy.
LOVE LETTERS.
The little missives styled ‘love let
ters” are very acceptable communi
cations. I mean those that contain
money for the overworked and poor
ly paid missionary. It is indeed a
hard task for a missionary in a
semi-heathen field of labor to be re
quested to raise his own salary from a
people who have been taught from
their infancy that it is a crying sin to
pay a man for preaching the gospel.
Such are our surroundings; such are
our troubles in Southern Georgia; but
it is pleasant to realize that God has
not forgotten the laborious mission
ary.
The writer has recently received the
following tokens of affection and appre
ciation. A beloved minister writes in
substance thus : "Dear Brother A.;
The Master has laid me aside from
preaching by affliction; lam unble to
preach the gospel; you are. I have
$5.00 of the Lord’s money which I
send you, believing it is more needed
in your field than any other. I thought
I could not live beyond the month of
April, but God has answered the pray
ers of Christians, North and South, and
I hope again to be able to preach the
gospel.”
Brother E. A. V., near Grecnesbor
ough, cherishing a kind remembrance
of his old pastor, sends $5.00 to relieve
his necessities.
An unknown party from Thomaston
sends $5.00 with an earnest request
for prayer, being in trouble.
Not a great while ago our esteemed
sister McD., .from Mclntosh county,
sent similar tokens from two of the
precious sisters of the Darien church.
These tokens are received by the mis
sionary and his wife with tears of grat
itude. God bless these donors! May
they increase in good works a thousand
fold. W. D. Atkinson,
Missionary of State Board.
B&kshear, Ga. I
- ■ , ——i
LETTER FROM BLACKSHEAR.
Brother T. C Boykin, after a long
delay, has visited us in the Piedmont
Association. At every place visited,
we had a perfect ovation. 1 was with
him at all his appointments. The first
meeting was held at No. 7|, Macon and
Brunswick railroad, with Consolation
church. The church of the usual di
mensions could not bold half the peo
ple. The citizens furnished a dinner
that would have done honor to the
wealthiest community in Georgia. Two
days were spent at Ten Mile church.
There the congregations were large
and the refreshments abundant. Our
brother 8., in his lectures and illustra
tions of the* lessons, exceeded any per
formance of the kind it was ever my
privilege to witness.
He spent from Friday night till the
following Thursday morning with us
in Blackshear. Intense interest was
awakened in behalf of the Sabbath
school and church work generally. He
left many sinners, old and young, cry
ing for mercy. He left with the regrets
of the entire community. We long
for another visit from our brother.
W. D. A.
P. B.—We shall baptize two Sunday
morning.
Blackshear, Ga., Aug. 28. 1879.
MISSIONS.~
We have the names of one hundred
and twenty-five pastors on our “Roll of
Promise” having charge of about three
hundred churches. Great results are
expected from the agency of these
brethren with their churches. Our re
ceipts, thus far, have not fallen short
of the corresponding time last year—
perhaps there is an advance. Os the
Noonday and Coosa Associasions there
is decided improvement. The first
quarter of the year to which these
promises refer is past. Have the pas
tors advocated the mission cause before
their churches, and “given them an op
portunity to contribute?”
Not many have reported. Will all
do so at once, that success may be
made manifest? Our Boards and Mis
sionaries are suffering while you delay.
If you send your funds to your asso
ciation, say in your letter, “to redeem
promise" on new plan.
Will we have a revival of the mis
sionary spirit over the State in the
associations? We shall see.
J. H. DeVotie, C. and T. ■
Contributions are earnestly solicited
for State Missions, 18 missionaries;
Home Missions, Marion, 24, among the
destitute in bounds of Southern Con
vention, and ten missionaries among
the Indians. Also Rev. J. B. Hart
well for Chinese in California; Foreign
Missions, in China, Africa, Italy, 56
missionaries. Are we willing for one
to lie recalled from his field?
£ FROM MACtyL
Tucker : In our
fifty matters jjaptistic are moving on
quietly. Dr. Skinner left us August
1 st. and Dr. Battle was, by vote of the
church, put in change as “supply,”
until a new pastor arrives. The Doc
tor is giving great satisfaction, and is
harmonizing matters admirably. His
sermon of last Sunday, on the doom
of unworthy and unfaithful church
members, “the axe is laid at the root
of the true,” is commended by all in a
high degree.
The choir has been revived,a new sup
ply of hymn books received, and the
services last Sabbath passed off very
pleasantly.
The Sunday school is doing welL
" The South Macon church building,
formerly the Second Baptist, will soon
be thoroughly repaired, and the church
will begin to use it at an early day. For
this our eneigetic brother, C. C. Smith,
is to be credited. I wish we had many
such church members.
The church will soon lie entirely
out of debt, and if Dr. E. W. Waren
accepts, he will find the deck all clear,
and the ship ready for action. I doubt
if he accepts. So far, he has not made
up his mind, and says he will be
guided by inspiration from above,
giving the subject solemn, prayerful
consideration. His call was unanimous,
and the church will welcome him, and
I will whisper in, your year the
secret that he will make a “big mis
take” if he does not accept. There are
several others ready to do so if he de
clines, and the church will have sev
eral good ones to choose from. The
truth is such an important pulpit as
that of the Macon church deserves,
and should have a first-class man in
every respect and will not go a beg
ging.
You know our good brother, Adiel-'
Sherwood went to his long home lately.
A letter from his wife tells me some
thing of his last days which is not
without a sad interest, and with your
consent, I will make an extract. He
was taken sick on August 3rd, and
was ill two weeks. Malarial fever set
in, attended with a large swelling on
the right side of his face. A few days
before his death he had a paralysis of his
tongue, which prevented his speaking,
so that we were deprived of his dying
counsel, and all the precious utterances
which a saint leaves behind him. He
entered on his rest Monday, 18th Au
gust, at half past 9 o’clock, p. M.
Yours very truly,
8. Boykiil.
MISSION BOARD RECEIPTS TO
SEPTEMBER 4, 1879.
STATE missinos.
Aug, 14 Previous Reports 3567 27
Aug. 20,2Greeneaboro Baptist church, C
A Davis 5 40
Aug. 20, Mission Committee, Hickory
Head E B Carroll KI
Aug. 20. A'm BHM Ho , G B Mitchell,
Rep 45 00
Sep. 3, Carrol ton Baptist church com
mittee „ 30 00
Hept. 3, Pleasant View. Dr W C New 6 25
Sept. 8, Letter Received at Index office,
Unknown 3 00
B»pi. S. HL Battle, Wadley church 6 85
Sept. 3, M. Stephens,'Bethlehem church 100
Sept. 3, Rev J J H Harris, Mt. Gtiead
church .. 75
, 666 02
SUNDAY-SCHOOL EVANGELISTS.
Aug. 14, Previous reports ......slOl 50
Aug. 20. Mission committee, Hickory
Head E B Carroll 1 95
Sept. 3, Riddle chnrch, Mt. Vernon,
Ciiaudoln. 460
108 05
HOME MISSION, MARION.
Ang. 14. Previous reports 6148 16
Aug (20, Greenesbore Baptist church, C
A Davis, Tr 2 75
Aug. 20, Mission committee. Hickory
Head church, E B Carroll 1 00
Aug It, Received at Marlon, W H Mc-
Intosh, July 4 90
Sept. 8, Letter received at Index office,
Unknown 3 00
Sept. 8, Wadley church, H L Battle, lor
J B Hartwell, Cal 5 00
Sept. 3, M Stephens, Bethlehem church 100
Sept. S 3, Crawfordville church, Chau-
aoln .. 2 00
Sept. 3, Warrenton church, Cnaudoin.. 250
Sept. 3, J H DeVotie 16 00
IS 31
INDIAN MISSION.
Aug, 14, Previous reports ........ J 52 56
Aug. 20, Mission committee, Hickory
Head church, E B Carroll 1 00
Sept. 3, Letter Received at Index office
Unknown - 3 00
Sept. 3, Crawfordville church, for RJ
Hogue 2 00
Sept. 8, Warrenton church for R J
Hogue. 11 80
• 70 85 .
FOREIGN MISSION.
Aug. 14 Previous reports 31596 11 '
Aug. 20,Greenesboro Baptist church, C
A Davis, Tr _.... 710 ]
Aug. 20, Mission committee Hickory
Head church, E B Carroll 3 00 i
Aug. 21, Mrs Mercer Haynes, Dublin,
Irvin .. 1 00
Sept. 3, Sam’l A Burney, Tr., R Rdivl-
dens 6 00
Sept. 3, Letter received at Index office
Unknown 4 00 '
Sept. 3,Rev J J H Harris, Mt Gilead ch 75
Sept. 3, social Circle church, Cbaudoin 250
1620 46 !
INDIGENT AND AGED MINIST ERS.
Aug. 14, Previous re porta.. $ 31 80
Aug 20, Greenesboro Baptist caurcb,C
A Davis. Tr 5 00 i
Aug' 20, Mission committee Hickory
Head church, E B Carroll 4 00
Sept. 3, Letter received al Index office
Uuknwn 8 00 i
Sept, 20, Warrenton church,Cbaudoin... 4 60
48 40
TOTAL.
State Mission | 666 02
Sunday-school Evangelist 108 05
Domestc Mission .. 186 31
Indian Mission 70 35
Foreign Mission 1620 46
Indigent Ministers 48 40
Dear Index : Twelve persons were
baptised yesterday, 31st ult., into Provi
dence church—Shady Dale—after a
six days’ meeting. The church is
much revived. Wk. G. Horsley.
Hope this may enlarge your listof
subscribers, H.
A meeting of great intereaHhas been
in progress at Bairdstown church, for
the past Ltwo w®eks. We yisited the
watere three sepaKe times,
and tweity-four persons put on Christ
in the first great and expressive ordi
nance of His church—eighteen men,
some of them heads of families, and
six women. There were seven of this
number formerly connected with the
Methodist chnrch. Qld Bainjstown
chnrch is greatly revivdd and encour
aged. There is a carriage and wagon
factory here employing qqite a num
ber of men. I baptized the proprietor,
Mr. De Rochmont, and every man in
his service, except one, who is said to
be a Roman Catholic. We are
greatful to our Divine Master, who has
vouchsafed to us so copious a token
of his faithfulness and love.
H. D. D. Straton.
Bairdstown, Sept. 3d, 1879.
HOW TO FIND CHRIST.
Many a good man, living at ease in
Zion, has to mourn the hiding of God’s
countenance, and wonders whither his
Lord is gone. He seeks him at his
morning and evening devotions, and at
all the stated meetings; but dim and
distant are the glimpses he there ob
tains of the Savior; and elsewhere he
sees him not at all. How is this, dear
brother? Can’t you persuade your
Master to visit you where you are do
ing his work? Does he never meet
you in your office, at the market, or
exchange, nor cheer you with one smile
all the day long?
Are you truly troubled at this?
Would you fain find him your soul
loves? Let me remind you, that so
long as you lie at ease in that nest of
down, you need not think that he will
dwell with you, who “had not whereto
lay his head.” He ivas all his life a
Vvayfarer, and loves those who go about
i doing good. And no wonder that,
i while you care only to buy and sell and
get gain, you lose sight of him every
morning as you turn off from prayer
' to business, and see him no more during
I the day.
But where is he gone? Why, yon
! der with that self-denying Christian,
that loves to do as his Lord did. Think
you he is alone, as he goes along
the highways and hedgepaths, intent
on doing good to souls? No; Christ
walks by his side, opens the word ol
God to him, and makes the heart burn
within him, and quiet tears fill his eyes
at the tender love of so kind a Master,
and his rich blessing on his labors. Go
and do likewise; and be sure Christ
will return to your house and heart,
and not leave you through all the la
bors of the day. Who so safe and hap
py "a? the man that lives under the eye
of Christ?
Clinching a Sermon.—l heard a
sermon once from a venerable itiner
ant preacher on benevolence. I thought
the effort very lafne, but one thing im
pressed me a little. “Go,” said he,
“and do something after I have done
preaching. Have it to say when I come
back, four weeks hence, that you liave
done something, and my word and
God’s word for it, you will be a better
and a happier man.” I knew a poor
widow living on the edge of some woods
about a mile from my home. Her
husband had been dead two or three
years,and with three helpless little girls
she had a hard conflict with poverty,
I had often spoken kindly to her, and
thought my duty ended when the words
were uttered ; but when the sermon of
the o’d white-headed preacher was
done, the resolution was formed to go
and do something.
Next day I visited the cellar and
measured out a bushel of potatoes, a
bushel of apples, and a variety of other
things, and having put them into a
wagon, started for the cottage of the
widow. A load of wood, for which I
paid three dollars, preceded me. An
hour’s drive brought both loads in front
of the house, and when my explanation
was given there were wet eyes and
warmer hearts in both parties. The
widow wept for joy, and the children
joined in, while I, finding my feelings
too much for my strength, had to give
way also to tears. The act was one that
gave me a new spiritual start; and
when the preacher came back I thought
the discourse one of the most eloquent
I had ever listened to. The change
was in myself— not in him or his
preaching.
It is Declining.—lt is nob long
since we had occasion to prove, by
their own confessions, that the practice
of Pedobaptism -is declining in many
churches, notably the Congregational
and Presbyterian, and, indeed, the
(Dutch) Reformed. Now we have
similar testimony, in a recent report of
the New England M. E. Conference in
which it is stated that the whole num
ber of children reported baptized in
one hundred and twenty-nine “charg
es” was only fifty-eight during the
year, and these were in twenty-nine
charges (an avarage of two to each),
leaving one hundred charges, with ii
memliership of more than ten thou
sand, without one. infant baptism during
tlie year, while the number of adult
baptisms was six hundred and ninety
eight. To such an extent is infant
baptism declining in New England
that it is a very rare occurrence, except
among the Catholics, from whom it is
derived, and who yet cling to it as
| their hope for the future of that
I church.