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✓ • ./ VOL. X. fMtqi forty years ago, the London Morning Chronicle published a poem, entitled, “ Lines on a Skeleton,” which excited much attention. Every .effort, even to the offering of a reward of fifty guin eas, was vainly made to discover the author. All that ever transpired was, that the poem, in a fair, elerky haiqj, was found near a skeleton of remarka able beauty of form and color in the museum of the Loyal College of Surgeons, Lincoln’s Inn, London, and that the Curator of the museum had sent them to Mr. Perry, .editor and proprietor of the Morning Chronicle. Lines on a Skeleton. Behold this ruin! ’T was a skull, Once of etherial spirit full, This narrow cell was life’s retreat, This space was thought’s mysterious seat, What beauteous visions filled this spot, What dreams of pleasure long forgot, Nor Hope, nor Love, nor Joy, nor Fear, Have left one trace of record here. Beneath this smouldering canopy Qn.ce shone tl\e bright atul busy eye; But start not at the dismal void — If social Love that eye If with no lawless fire it gleamed, But through the dews of kindness beamed, That eye shall be forever bright When stars and suns are sunk in Night. Within this hollow cavern hung The ready, swift, and tuneful tongue, If Falsehood’s honey it disdained, And where it could not praise, was chained ; |f bold in Virtue’s cause it spoke, Yet gentle concord never broke ! This silent tongue shall plead for thee , When time unveils Eternity. Say did these fingers delve ti. n e mine ? Or with its envied rubies shine ? To hew the rock or wear the gem, Can little now avail to them. But if the page of truth they sought, Dr comforts to the mourner brought, These hands a richer meed shall claim Than all that wait on Wealth or Fame. Avails it, -whether bare or shod, These feet the paths of Duty trod ? \ If from the bowers of Ease they fled, To seek affliction's humble shed. If Grandeur’s guilty bribe they spurned, And home to Virtue’s cot returned, These feet with Angel’s wings shall vie^ And tread tjie palace of the sky. DEVOTED TO THE SERVICE OF THE OLD SCHOOL BAPTISTS. “®sa ion, ess viiva, abb 9aa babvibb.” COVINGTON, NEWTON CO., GA., SEPT- 15, 1860. (ffommmmations. Coffkeville, Texas, Aug. 2, 1860. Dear Brethren and Sisters ‘.—Through a well ordered train of graces, from the bountiful Giver of ail good, we yet survive tbe gloomy re gions of the dead, with a heart inclined to pen a few reflections for your perusal, should-you think them worthy of notice. Apart from the great love and rich mercy, and restraining grace of our God, I acknowledge my case to be a melancholy one, indeed. But adored be his great and holy narrfe, for the manifestation of his love through a crucifi ed and risen Savior, for whose sake, forbearance has been exercised, and blessings perpetuated.— While contemplating the same, the language of the Psalmist arrests my mind, 41 What shall I render unto the Lord, for all his benefits toward me.” W T hen I retrospect my life, since I have had a name among the Baptists. With shame do I confess my ingratitude, stupidity, and the small progress I have made in a divine life. Dear breth ren and sisters, permit me to ask you, how is the case with you ? Have you so lived before God, 1 that YC ! i*b&, v G no remorse ; and duly appreciated all his benefits, and rendered .unto him the things that are God’s ? If so, with all candor of heart, I acknowledge to you, and before God, that I am a long way behind, a poor hobbling old sinner, 44 when I would do good, evil is present,” “and that which I would do, Ido not.” I hope to share an interest in your prayers, whether you have liv ed in all good conscience before God, or whether you have been hobbling along, ungrateful like the unworthy writer, remember me. 44 But what shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits ?” To numerate all the benefits abounding to us the creatures of earth, would be too heavy a lax on the writers, publishers, and readers. But we understand him to be the God of all grace, 44 tbe Giver of every good and perfect gift,” common and special, and contemplating the rich inheritance assured to all the heirs of promise, through the merits of a ci unified and risen Savior, calls aloud for our strict obedience to his divine rule, given both by precept ‘and example, which rule not only embraces those united with the visi ble church, but every heaven born soul, whether united to the soul or not. In our humble judg ment, the following Scripture embraces every be liever.: 44 Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” readers, do n,p.t understand us to mean.that all duties are required of each member of the body, or all commissioned alike. 44 There being many members in tbe body, yet they do not have ‘the same office,” 44 also a variety of gifts, and each is to act according to the proportion of faith or grace given, and God works in them to will and to do,” &c. The spirit prompts them to action ; none is without those promptings ; and tbe duties enjoin ed, seriously impressed upon their minds, from the impressions of the feeble saints to unite with tbe chureh, to tbe ablest gift in the church. But how often is it the case that we resist those im pressions, and fail to render unto God, the things that are his, and those spiritual gifts that has emanated from him, and also fail lo work out our salvation. What shall we render? Any of our own productions? By no means, but render uu to God the things that are God’s. Those spiritual and divine favors, that has been conferred, without merit or application on our part, nay, make not an offering of the fruit of the earth ; for if our God rejected the first one, he will reject all. He is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. But oh my soul, how moviifying to the flesh ! How destructive to the feelirgsof carnal nature ! How incompetent do we feel! How insensible of our inadequacy *, of our nothingness, and unworthi nSisS, to renddr vntot.God. May I not, by way of encouragement, dear brethren and sisters, say to you in the language of sacred writ, 44 God is not slack concerning his promise,” (fee. And he has promised, 44 1 will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” 44 I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.” 44 Mv grace is sufficient for thee.” 44 1 will be with them in six troubles, and in seven no evil shall touch them.” “As thy days, thy strength shall be.”— “No weapon formed against thee shall prosper.” “Every tongue that shall rise up in judgment against thee, thou shall-condemn.” 44 This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.” 4; And their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”— Then dear brethren, let us not be distrustful, but unhesitatingly rely upon him, whose word never fails, in anticipation of a glorious iinmortalit-v that awaits all the blood washed throng, beyoud this world of sin and sorrow. Adieu ye scenes of noise and show, And all this region here below, Where naught but disappointments grow,; A better world’s in view. My Savior calls, I haste away ; I would not here forever stay,. ‘ Hail ye bright realms of endless day ; Yain world, once more, adieu. Yours in hope of a better world, , J. STRINGER, NO. 18