t'vtT since, BOinetimes I have a llttie i man.” However severe the trials to
Hheriv
nul sometimes a t.iilure, then
I tiiink I will quit.
N-ow, Brother'Gohl. yon sec T am
no schoiar, and if you can arraiiye
tiiis fh,)’ the press you can do so ; it not
tiirow it iiwav and all will
wliicli the believer may be subjected
in the fulnllinent of the Divine pur-
es/ncernimi' him, this spirit of
nose
be right.
()|'-position wliieh then manifests itself
In perseention, is now the more re
strained, but on the contrary, its j)os-
hlav the Imrd nhde von and all of | ses.sors a.ro emboldened to put forth
renewed strength with every increas-
1ns childrc‘1 in tin! secret ot truth, is
inv praver. Farewell! d^o^v it I
am deceived in one of these scribbles,'
J am in both. I tried to write them
;>s ihev oceurred to me.
Yours, in niiicli afPiietion,
*P. F. Wjiite.
iug trial, and if an abiding conii-
denoe in tlie Almighty be exhibited,
their exertions continue with nnabat-
Ing' detcrmiiiation to destroy that con-
oft’ times has cause to utter with fer-
venev, the lament ition ot the proph
et—“O, that I had in the wilderness
a lodging' place ot way-farcing men,
that 1 inig'Iit leave my people and go
from thtmi! for they be all adulter
ers, an a.ssembly of treacherous men.”
To sneli a one the path of humility as
reganis this world, is easily followed;
for wisdom directs therein, and her
ways '‘are ways of pleasantness, and
all her paths are peace.” Forsaken
by all, and separated by all that the
nocent, and in whose eyes a vile per
son is contemned.” In such a one
will the Lord take dcliglit, and sho'.v
liim his salvation. To him shall the
promise be fnltllled.” thy diy,
so shall thy strength be,” and he shall
see his desire upon his eiiemies. It
shall be his delight under the bless-
bestowccl to shoNV forth the
mgs
n j ' 'p "7' i
lidenee if it be])ossible to do so. Vv^itli I world approves, he prizes more the
tin sophistry they seek to overthrow I evidences he then receives of tne
BFTHEL ACADEMY, P. O.,
FAUQUiEU COUXTY, Ya.,
June 10th, 187
.Edcr Gold:—
Dear llKOTiiER,—A,s I Iravc been
con.^iderablv impressed with, and ex
orcised upon the subject which I feel
indined to write alxtut, and indeed
have felt so inclined for some time
]'»ast, 1 will take tlio liberty to request
you to examine this communication,
and, if it meets your approval in
overy wav, so give it a ])lace in your
columns, hoping it may not jtrovc al-
tottether unprofitable to those who
mav read it. In giving expre.ssions
to convictions wliich are the rusult of
oxnerie!K‘e I trust I am not influ
enced by prejudice, or actuated b}'
nn)n.stifiab,e notions, but by the de
sire to add n-y testimony to thetnith,
,«o fir I have tlie ability to do. I
bdleve the Almighty has a purpo.se in
all our trials if those trials, .are sucli
as to prove the Scriptures true. It
isourdut-y, I think, to testify thereto.
There are some scriptural doclai'ations
whieli seem entirely overlooked and
forg-otten by n.nnv, when it would be
well tha^ they .sliould bear them in
mind wiiile subjected to the snare.s
and temptations of the world, and
wiiile liable to be seduced by the vain
sophistry and eunnjng craftiness of
those who “lie in wait to deceive.”
Those unto wiioin the lines have
fallen in pleasant jilaccs, and who
liini, and, vdien, at times, he i.s ima
ble to meet their arguments wdien left
to Iris own reasonings, lie is
indeed
made to realize tlie strength of their
purpose against liim, and is driven in
his trial to God above, Avith the sonl-
burdtned prayer: “Hide thou me
from the secret council of the wicked j
f'-cm the insurrection of the workers
of iniquity, who whet their tongue like
a sword, and bend their bows to shoot
their arrow.s, even bitter words.”—
They hate with cruel hatred; they
imagine mischief all the day long ;
they Avhis[)cr together in secret, and
follow evil devices. “Let us see,” saj''
favor of the Lord than all the world’s
applause, Avhile Avitli a blessed reli
ance upon his word, he I’est.s in the
knowledge he has gained, that “It is
better to trust in the Lord than to
{Hit confidence in men, yea, than to
put confidence in princes.” Having
realized through his trials, the kind
ness of that ever faithful Friend, lie
can now unite with the Fsalraist in
promi.se of Almighty power; to lual
thev of the righteous man whom the
Lord upholds; “examine him with
de.spitefnlness and torture, that we
may know his meekne,s.s, and prove
saying “How great is thy goodness
his {latiencc, and prove also Avliat
hap{ien in the end unto him,” ;^c.—
As the wicked hate that wh^clj®'.vill
expose their wickedncss.jj^gjii^jjf’.^i.. a,
source of continual reproach to them,
so it follows that the more righteous
one is, the more will Ids righteous
ness separate him from them. This
godly course avIII bring him persecu
tion, and cut him off from earthly
friends, for “.He that will live godly
shall suffer persecution,” and “He
that departetli from evil maketh him
self a prey.” If he be esteemed for
his integrity and firmness of character,
the opposition to his influence v/ill be
proportionate, for say they, “He is
which thou hast laid up for them that
feai' thee: Avhieh thou hast wrought
for them that trust in thee before the
sons of men ! thou shalt hide them in
the secret of thy presence from the
pride of man : thou shalt keep tlicui
in a pavilion from the strife of
tongues. They shall be abundantly
sati.sficd with the fatness of thy bouse;
and thou shalt make them tlriiik of
the river of thy pleasures
known to the sons of men his miglity
acts, and the glorious majesty of his
kiiurdoin. Though his trials have
been suflicicntly severe to cause liim
in a dark hour to rail out with flit
ter com{Jaints, yea, even, Avhon mnler
the resistless influence of tiie arcli-
fiend, to crave the power to hurl the
xilinighty from his throne ; yet, when
peace is spoken, he can iii that spirit
of reconciliation which pervades Ids
soul and sweetly brings subini.ssion,
exclaim vvdth hcart-fealt adoration ;
“Jast and true are tliy ways, Al-
ndo-htv God ! Great and marvelous
arc thy works, thou King Eternal!”
A^irginia Waedex.
Athexs, Ietuxols.
“Wlio can find a, virtuous woman ?
for her jirice is far above rnlne-s!
She maketh herself coverings of tap-
estrv. Her clothing i.s silk and
purple. She is like the merchant’s
ships, ..she bringeth h«r goods from
afar. She ' ri.seth also Avldle it is yet
■at to her hou.se-
niirht and givetli me;
O o
, ,7 1 ! i. I • amvin.st us,’’ “Ilis ways are contrary
have not been brought by circum- . n
stances in conflict with tlio enemies
of the truth, or been subjected per
sonally to persecution, can have
but a very limited knowledge of the
hidden enmity existing in the world
toward those who, by their course of
life, manifest their birth of that Siiir-
it which is not of the AAmrkl. Con
sequently, the seeming friendship of
the world is received as a aeality, and
one is allured through worldly consid
erations into a life of Avorldliness,
whicfi will, however, in due time,
bring its reward if the reward be but
wounded pride and disappointment.
.But there is no true friendship from
the Avorld for a believing child of God
who walks uprightly in his fear, for
there lurks in secret io the depraved
depths of the heart of all the unre
generate, the s{)irit of oppo.sition
which needs only the force of circum
stances to bring it into action, the
evil of the heart depending on the
condition of life only iu its develop
ment, for “As face ansAvercth to face
in water, so does the heart of man to
to our doings: and we are esteemed of
him as counterfeits ; He was made to
reprove our thoughts, and he is griev
ous unto us even to behold.” They
then make diligent search for
his sins, and iprivily lay snares for his
feet, for their thoughts arc against him
for evil, and “the inward thought of
every one of them, and the heart is
deep.” But the Lord will not de
liver him over to tlie will of his en
emies, but Avill enable him to baffle
their designs, Avhile he will put them
to shame that hate him. Having
found that the friendship of the world
is but enmity to God, he does not
crave its honors, or desire thorn; but
yields a willing obedience to the com
mand, “Come ye out from the world
and be ye separate.” He boasts not
ofAVorldly prosperity, for he has
{iroved it to be but vanity and vex
ation of spirit. He seeks not earthly
friend.ships, nor do earthly considera
tions influence his conduct. On th
contrary he desires, and enjoys th
separation from the world, Avhile h