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VOLUME I. OXFORD, N. C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1875. NtLMBEli 48. UNDESIOIVjEl) €OflX€ll>C3rC£S. These, it has been said, “in voice a test of truth wliich is ac- knowledg'ed almost instinctively, by tlie human mind, and which every day’s experience serves to strengthen and to hnpress ; a test winch advocates are always glad to swze upon and to urge when ever they have it in their power, and judges and Junes are not less ready to acknowledge j and no one who obseiwes the state of his owm mind, or that of others, in the reception of evidence, can shut his eyes to the fact, how much more strongly coincidences, which come out accidentally, and are free from all suspicion of collusion, prevail in the establish ment of a fact, than the most ex act agreement in the points, which w'ould naturally have presented tiiemselves beforehand as prom inent features of the stoiy, and necessary to be fitted and shaped by those who were fabricating falsehood.” A few of these coincidences, gleaned from the numerous col lection made by Paley and Blunt, will be sufficient to show that the Bible is its own witness. Thus, in his account of the cru cifixion, St. Matthew tells us that “the soldiers smote Jesus with the palms of their hands,” saying, “Prophesy unto ns, thou Clirist, who is he that smote thee !” And in this challenge there seems nothing very difficult- Tliere is a})parently neither force or mean ing ill the insult, if Christ had the ofieiider before his eves. But when we learn from St. Luke, (xxii: 64,) “the mob that held Jesus blindfoidod liim,” before one of them has inflicted a wound on the sacred person of the high priest’s servant ?” Because, as we are informed in St. Luke’s Grospel, this wound was healed by Jesus immediately after being made, and to have produced this witness would only defeat their own plans, the instantaneous heal ing of the eai' being direct and jxisitive proof ot Christ’s power to perform miracles. In St Mattjiew (viii; 16,) we read that when the even was cvne, they brought unto him many that were possessed ^nrh devils, and ho cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick. But why was it eve ning when they brought to Jesus these demouiacs and sick persons? From St.. Mark (i: 21-33,) we find it was the Sabbath day, and from St Luke (xiii: 14,) we find that the Jews tliought it sinful for “men to come out and be healed on the Sabbath day.” But we also know tliat the Jew'ish Sab bath ceased at sunset; so that when the evening was come, the people would feel no scruple iii bringing their afilicted friends to Jesus to be healed. But observe how fai* we have to travel before wo can complete Matth.ew’g sim ple statement. He mei’ely men tions tliat it was in tlie evening Jesus wrought these cures ; and had -vve possessed Matthew’s nar rative alone we might have laid no particular sti'ess upon tlie time of da^’. But we go on to Mark, and find that it was the Sabbath evening, “when the sun was set” And we go on to Luke, and find, tiiough in a totally difierent con nection, tJiat these Jev/s would have thoiiglit it very wiiiked to sick, or accept to cure a leaf from the volume of actual occurrences—a derivation lio n a counterpart original. And though all coeval literature had perished —though all the external confir mations were destroyed, thoiigli all the monuments of antiquity ■wore anniliilated, strong in its intrinsic truthfulness, the New Testament will still iiold its lofty place—a tower of self-sustaining integrity. And thougli the effort8.of enmit}' vrero to succeed as they have sig nally failed—though learned hos tility were to undermine its doc umentary foundations, and blow up that evidence of manuscripts and early versions on which it securely reposes, so finely do its facts fit into one another, so strongly are its several portions clam])ed together, and inthepen- etr'ation and interfusion through all its parts of ultimate inepring Authorship, info such a iioriio- geneous structure has it consoli dated, that it would come down again on its own basis, shifted, bat in no wise scattered. Such a book God lias made the Bible, that whatever theories wax jiopulai-, or whatever systems ex plode, “the Scriptures cannot bo broken.”—liev. U. Ttdlidge. WASIIIIVGTOIV AT HAVE«IIII.L, M l«r fioiae* BT AUKT MAEJOEV. When I mot Mattie Simmons at her cousiifs in Philadelphia, last winter, 1 thought her one oi the neatest, prettiest, brightosi girls 1 had over seen. She would come into the breakfast- room in a nicely fitting dress, a ‘Beautiful 1 beautiful!’ extdaim- ed President Washington, in 1783, as liding into the town of Haver hill, his eyes caught an extended view of tlie Merrimack. It was Autumn. The trees seemed jew eled with rubies and gold, and the stream went winding away, like a ribbon, amid the imiunn- b -red gems. ‘Haverhill, f i W'asliington, ‘is the pleasantest village i ever passed through.’ His eye was feasted with a contiiiuoii.s picture of forest- crowned hills, dreamy valleys, shadowy woods, and sparkling waters. it was in Haverhill, that Wash ington ma le himself so delight- fii'ly loving and familiar wfiththe children. It is a pretty story to tell in these centennial times. .All was excitement in this old Revolutionary town. Ilown the eiil had galloped a horseman, bare-headed and at full speed, sounding a trum]‘'et, and callin W^^hingtoii is coining! Wash ington 16 coiniii the village thdse severe attacks of sulfering she. looked back on Iiel* child- hood’s experiences, and forward into the blessed fiiturfe’, with equal clearness and joy a$ she said,’ “'There’s a delighttul clearness now.” As [ sat by her bed, we talked as her strength would pi r- mit. Among the many thin; d never to be forgotten slife' sain : “Father, you know I {irfifobsed rcligioii'wfien i -’was young, very young—some thought too young —but oh, how 1 wish i C'o'iihl tell everybody, wdiat a comfort il 1:; to me to think nfii." Reach ing out her hand—rlie fingers a rea Iv cold—anti grasping mine,- she said with great earnestness : ‘Tather, you are af work for the voung. i)o all you can for ^heiu while they a:^’e yoxffig. It is' the J}€A't time—the- best time: Oh, I see it now' ai^ 1 never did bei^re. it is the best time-while tiiey are young—the younger, the' better; bo all you can for them—wtiiie they are very young.”—Mxchdr.yc. Coiitcntisrent; lliev naked him to prophesy who cany th oil the Babbalh. Again, the Evangelist, St. John, it was tliat smote liim, we discov er wliat St. Matthew intended to eomuiunicate, namely, that they }iroi)Osed this test of liis divine inisoion. v, iietlter, without the use of sight, he could toll who it w.as that struck him. All the evangelists agree in telling that when the high priest’s (iflicers came out to arrest Jesus, I’etcr drew a sword and smote off a servant’s ear. And yet both St. Matthew and St. Mark agree in relating that Christ’s persecu tors sought all sorts of evidence against him, so ae to make out a case before the Roman Governor, they could proevire none. But is it not very strange that when the high priest had within his own palace such a striking ])roof of the violent character and danger ous designs of these GalUleaiis, ho should not have called as a wit ness his own wounded servant I Had we posssessed no information bevoud the narratives of St. Mat thew and St. Mark, this would have been a flagrant d'ffieulty. You say that the whole oftbrt of the priests was to prejudice against Jesus, as a seditious and turbulent character *, but they could substantiate Botbing. Why was not this recent and conclu sive witness forthcoming i Es' peciallv, when Jesus said- to Pi late, “M)’ kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, tlieu wauld my ser vants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews,” why did none of his accusers repl}', “Aes,, but your servants did hght, and tells us, (vi: 5,) that on oue occa siou, when surrounded by a weary multitude, Jesus said, “whence shall we buy bread that these may eat ?” aud in putting this question, he addressed himself to Philip. But John hints no rea son why he should have put this inquiry to Philip, rather than to any other Apostle. Luke, how ever, mentions (ix : 10,) that the place was a desert, near to Beth- saida ; and John himself happens to have mentioned, in the ope ning of his Gospel, (1: 44,) that Bethsaida was the city of Philip. And laying these three isolated passages together, wo see how natural it was to [JUt the cjuestion, “Where is bread to be bought ?” to one acquainted with the neigh borhood. Had we uot possessed St. John’s Gospel, we should never have known that such a question was asked; and had we not possessed St. Luke’s Gospel, we should never have seen the special propriety of asking it of Philip. Of these latent liarmonles of Holy Scriptiu'os, Dr. James Ham ikon has unanswerably said : “It is just because the particulars are' SO' minute that the coiftcidencs is* SO'valuable.' They are just such trifles' as a true historian is apt to omit; aud just such trifles that » fabricator would never think of applying. I’heso delicate agree ments ot one Hvangeiibt vvitii an- otlier, show that ti.eir story is an extract, from the Book of '1 ruth jaunty white apron with pockets in it, aud a primrose tie, wltli a smiling face to set them oil. Whenever you met her, her toi let was comme il font, and her manners were lovely. But lately 1 paid a visit at Mattie’s owu home. What witch- work had wrought a change in my darling ? She wore the most slipshod shoes, the dingiest wrap pel's, and the most soiled and twisted collars. She hardly took the trouble to say good-morning when she came down stairs. “lias there been a fire!” I in quired, “No,” was the astonished reply. “Has Mattie’s trunk been lost, or have burglars got into her closet ?” “Why, certa’iily not.” ‘■'Then, Ma't’e dear, where are all your pretty clothes gone?” “0, they are all in the house, I think old things are good enough for home,* Aunt Marjory.” A great many young ladies are of Mattie’s opinion.- They con sider anything fit for father and mother to see. ’Phoy lalce no pains to be boautilul and attract ive in the household. Aud then they are surprised when their brothers think other boys’ sisters nicer tliair tlieinfclvos. A girl’s dress aud a girl’s be haviour at home can hardly be' too carefully designed. There is a bnisqjio candor about home- folks too often,, th.at inakes' it harder to bo good there' than to be good oil a visit. But the daughter is the silver clasp of the family circle, and she should never forget chat it is her priv ilege to look pretty, as well as her duty. ,,!’ The tones ol boll confirmed tin. groat nows. School was dismiss ed; the people filled the street with hoarls boating for joy. The cbiiJrou, especially, hailed the ‘Great Washingtou” with do- light, and gazed upon him with iiwe as he passed. Among the children who called upon the president were two little misses about eight years of age, iiaiiied Mary White and Betsy Shaw. ‘And how do the little misses do ?’ said the president, pleasant ly taking one upon his knee; which of you will iiieiid a glove for me V Each was eager for the honor and the glove was neatly repair ed. In payment for the service,* Washington gave them both a kiss. 'file delightful children told their companions, who’ n^ere immeuiatciy inspired to seek sim ilar favors. So two more came to ^Yaasing'ton’s door, and knock- el timidly. ‘Will you let us kiss your hand ?’ as'ked they. ‘1 Will excliauge kisses with you,” said the smiling president to the joyful little beggars. After Wasluugtolt retired he heard the loud cries of a boy be- tow. lie inquired what the l)oy wanted, aud was iiiforuied^ tliat he wanted to see G eneral'ATash- ingtoii. , “Bring him up to the room,” said the general. The boy was brought,* but seemed quite disappointed at the sight of the president, whoin he Jiad regarded as a sort of a Hor- icules. Ho stood for a few rain- jUtes in bewilderment, when Wash- ing'tion took him to his side, af fectionately, and said : ‘1 a'm G-eorge AVagfdngton,. my little'lad, but I am only a man.’ Wc do wrong wlfeh we despise' our work on account of its lo'wli- nc.ss. Imagine a giutn-biing coral insect in the far distant Pacifii r if endowed with speech and dis contented with In S’O'bscu'rity, he might complain as im toiled, “W hat is the good of my ctctivity ? My dimim-rtive form is’ lost ii'r the' infinity of ocean ; 1 am buried deep beneath the wave j and my ■n’ork is of the feeblest chai'acter' anil of the small- bulk. I give it tl'p.’ Butheknovis hot that, 111 concert with millions'of his species, he is i rs/cting itH impas- salilo barrier in mill O’cean, aud, by the forniation of islands, i.s recasting, the' sUrfaico of the globi .■ Our w'offc mSy b'e' veiled by tlie waters; of Obs'c'urify, and lye may s.^mefiraes bo discouraged by the Ltxxl.-.' .V..-. ^..*>k’. - ♦1"l'l«V*4*llVfcS1^lsll4ll The Bcs4 Tinie. A-yerv dear oidj' dangltfer lay dvirn’*. She had beeti a thought- . full, praying i luld, having pnl'ess- ed religion at twelve years of age. and lived a devoted' and useful life. Now she was only iivuting a few' lioiirs to go home. Severe pain at times almost cook away the power of thoug*.'it. Between little \Ve caiV do'; brl llus tlioughtf' shall cheer us, that with out band- of brother-workers' vVe shall,- by the blessitog of @od,* recast the' mot-ail eOnditifeti' of th'e woild. CoufC'iWment w'itW whatever posi tion the Master gitles Us is not- only a guarantee of effeO'tivo ser vice therein," blit dtiA of the best preparatives fot the higher ami broader departments' of wOrk.—' Bev. }V; Norris.- When Philip Henry, the'father' of the celnbratod Gommontator,* sought the hand of the only daughter and* licifes'S of M-i's Mat thews in marriage, an object wat' made by her fatlier,* Who' admis- ted that he w as a gentleman,' iu scholar and-an excellent preaeher;'" but he was a stranger and “they (lid rtot even know where he caino' from.” True, said the'dattglner,' who had well-weighed the'exc.n- lent qualities and giaees of the' .•ttanger, ‘Init I know where ho is going, and' 1 should like to go' with him a-n'd they walked life’s' pilgrinrag'O together.- Hoiv honored would ftat rolnC- tant father have bbfen, could he' lia-ve foreseen that his dangliter would he the mother of M.atthew Henry!- And how different 'I'Ouhl be the worlds estiniatb Of men, it they were Judge Ifess by their origin; and more by their destiiiy ! There is' one pride of tainilv higlily commendable,* iliere is another pride of fateily hielfably centemptible.
The Orphans’ Friend (Oxford, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 1, 1875, edition 1
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