THE FLOWERS COLLECTION
r
P.
rUliUSIIED WEEKLY BY A COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA CON FERENCE, M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH. KUFUS T. HEFLIN, Editor.
i
3I 50a Yoac, in Advance.
Vol. H-Xo. (0.
RALEICHI, TttUaSDA? U(JTGBE i.. iS5I.
BVOCA
1U
dYighuL
i'..r the C, Ciii!--iiii5i Advocate.
Frciflytifia az.& Prcislyters.
IS V .M 1 V Ii I.
Mr. EiITOK: Christianity, proper
ly understood, i.- :s system f love, ami
Divine I r t herhood. Coming from the
heart i.f Jcmis Christ oor Lord, it at
tracts and draws a!! bel'eving heart to
Him; and fuses the heart of those
thus drawn to his great heart into a
sentiment, a passion of universal fra
ternity Bible Christianity the reli
gion of Jesus, is as far removed from
.sectional eve'i'-ivvrK-ss and selfl.-I.nrss.
as it is from sordid. T inkering cupidity.
Says the eloquent Harris ' By ren
dering in necessary to each other's
welfare, he sought to train us up to a
humble imitation of his own goodness,
to make every hand and heart a con
seerafed channel for his love to How in.
and thus t, find oor own happiness in j
the happiness of others."
u-siingiiism i writer remains .ow,
tins exceed ngly ' peculiar people are
found, not exclusively within the lines
of any one Christian community, but
in greater or less numbers,' within the
limits of all." (Dr. Stone.) Where
these liberal sentiments and catholic
emotions exist, sectarian se nshness ami
bigotry are strangers an I intruders.
And thev should dwell among all those
who bear the name of the crucified
0:ie. But alas! this is not the case;
arid hence alienation and opposition
are rife in the universal Church. The
saying of the apo-tle fails with wither-
msr toi-ee upon too many ot tne pro-
fessed followers of our Lord, All seek j
their own. and not the things of Jesus
Christ." This spirit is peculiarly ap
parent lti that system ot prosetytism
that obtains among some professing
the Christian name and character. i
' kl Ulll j 110,11 Ul V.OI I Uj)t IUIIIM.1 JVf.fl'.J'tWi
Believing, as I do, that the practice of j conCerning the faith." (I. Tim. iii.
proselyting is destructive of the peace, '5 3 1
harmony au-1 fraternal inte-course of j How strongly does the word of God
God s people, I propose, Ir. Editor, ; reprobate such a course of conduct !
with your permission, to exanvne and : now surejy joeg ;t denounce those who 1
expose the custom, with what little j lentl or sell themselves :o this unhal- j
ability I possess. 'lowed and unchristian practice! I do !
In order to understand the subject not of cours(N ndertake to 33V, that !
in hand, it will be necessary to exam- i every one who descends to the office of
me into the meaning of the word prose- ; a pr0selvttr is as deeply immersed in !
lyte as originally understood, and com- . morai obliquity as were those charac-'
pare it wir1: 'he sense in which it is ; ters wju, CiUXl under the scathing re-no-.v
employed. ! buke of the Master and his apostles;
Pro-bjte is from the Greek, prose- 'still, I ffive it as my deliberate convic
hft9. at. I moans, "On- come fro-n a tj0,N Tilat tie pracrice is at open war
different country ; a stranger, foreign- with every honorable, manly and chris
er : in the Old Testament, a prose'yte, : ti,,n principle, and especially with every
i. e. a convert to the Jewish religion ; 1U:lljtj that should control the heart,1
so called to distinguish one whowas :an.i regulate the deportment of every
born a Jew : literally, a comer to." jone w10 ministers in holy things. Re- i
(Pickering.) ; ligin is both renovatig and elevating;
The following, is taken from Home's ( and when possesse.l and cultivated, it
Introduction " On the prosely tistn of ; r;i;ses ;t3 p0ssessor above every thing :
the Jews, Jesus Christ appears to have jtte anj ,nean. To think and believe
formed the principal qualities which he otherwise, would be to degrade the
required in the proselytes of his cove-; Christianity of the Bible. ;
nant. iho nrst condition ot proselyt-;
ism among the Jews was, that he, who j
came to embrace their religion, should j
come voluntarily, and that neither force j
nor influence should be employed in j
this business. This, also, is the first J T am in advancing years-have pass-!
comltion required by Jesus Const, ,nd ; tho , cIimaric of humn ex. j
ch he considers as the foundation j htf:ncoanl I remember many things!
of . I I the rest. If any man be willing th;lt have pasSed avvay fram th mem. !
(H tit tMi) to come after me. (x itt. ries of SQe uml never knQwn tQ
xvi. -2i.) I ne second condition re- , Qth vho f t present upon the
paired m the Jew.sh proselyte, was - of action j f,lave 80Itimeg j
tint ;e should perfect v renounce a ML, 1 . .1 . 1 -i . i
,. ... .'. " 1 , , 1 thought, that scenes and incidents.;
his nreiudices, his errors, ins idolatry, I 1 - 1 .1 1 . i ui ' !
,l ' , , .7.' ! which, though not remarkably smgu
an 1 every thing that concerned his ! , ,.t .1 .",i:? !
f.iise reiigio i, and that he shon'd en- I
, , , , ,
tirely separate hinself from his most
mtim ite fnen ds and acquaintances. It!
i...Ha.iu.uio..s. Y;nesswien called up from the rubbish
.at the oevs call- j of the pa3tbe0!iuse theJ would
birth, and prese- Hprye ag ir,dexe3 to the changes that
was on this ground th
e 1 prc-elyt'Srii a new
jvtes new 'torn ami n"; men : anu our
i , . . , , .
Lont requiring men to be born again.
, 1 P , , ?T 1
I . . 1 . .7-
, J T . ... - , m." 1 7 ' 1 J
Ghos
diticn, on wliich a person was admitted
into-the Jewish church as a proselyte
was, that he should submit to the yoke
of the Jewish law ; and pvtiently bear
the inconveniences and sufferings, with
which a profession of the Mosaic reli
gion might he accompanied. Christ
reo aires the s.'.me condition, but instead
or
v :
doctrine, which he calls his
joke. (Matt. xi. 2d.) The fourth con
dition was, that they should solemnly
engage to continue in the Jewish reli
gion, fiithful even unto death. This
conditio:! Christ al jc requires, and it is
comprised in this word, let him follow
rue. .(Matt. xvi. 21.)" Home, Vol. 1; p.
109. The modern sense, or application is
as fellows " Proselyte, a new convert
to a creed cr party. ProselytLra, the
making converts." (Webster.)
The most superficial observer can
not fail to discover the difference in
the word as originally employed, and as
now understood. Originaliy it implieJ
the conversion and withdrawal of hea
thens from their idolatry and corrup
tion, to the knowledge and worship of
the one true and living God a perfect
renunciation of all their prejudices,
their errors, their idolatry, and every
thing -that concerned their false reli
gion, and be " new men ;" and when
the Master issued the commission, "Go
ye therefore and make disciples of all
nations," &c , he meant, that they
hojU make proselytes of, or convert
j nil nations from sin to righteousness,!
innd f'rotn the power of Satan unto God. ;
i This teas tlic grent design and uppro
jpriate work of the ministry; and when
! the ministry is confined to its original
! ol i et, it is the most honorable office,
J and glorious work in the world ; aye, j
I " The pulpit (in t'l'5 sober !i3i; j
j Ol" its le.iiiiiiiite pecul :r pmver) J
M t stand ackiu.-w'e.led bile the -rorli !
rhnll SMtld. i
The most imp rt:mr ami cff'CUial :u:ir.;, j
Sippi.rt and -riitimeiit d irtue's eau-e "
But alas! an abuse and prostitution!
of the ministerial office have necessitn-;
ted a signification which this word in j
its original import never sanctioned or I
contemplated, viz: ' a convert to a :
creed or party ;" which signification (
neither implies nor requirs any moral i
improvement, or religious elevation j
whatever. The wwrd as primarily used, j
conveyed an idea or implied a work in j
which an angel might rejoice to engage; ,
bur, aa now understood, it signifies a !
course of conduct, that might almost j
cause a fallen spirit to blush.
In th days of our Lord s sojourn
And another ! npon earth proselytism had so fir de
viaiks Now, j (renei ilied. as to call from his lips the
, ovtter;l;ed. as to call troni His Hps
fn,lWing withcttt'ir rebuke-" Voe unto ;
ivoll Scribes and Parisees hypocrites':
i for Ve compass sea and land to make ;
j one'proselyte, and when he is made, ve '
m.,'e l;in tvvo-f.ld more the child of!
r jh t,an yourselves" (Matt, xxiii. I
15.) And Paul, under the light of In
spiration, sketched the rharaeter and j
work of proselyters in this graphic
style " Having the form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof ; from I
such turn away.
" For of this sort arc they which
creen into houses, and lead cantive
q:mv wnm, nA.-r. ni,h ns W nwair'
w;tj, divers lusts !
" Ever learning and never able to !
come to the knowledge of the truth. j
"Now as Jannes and Jimbres with-;
stoo l Moses, so do these also resist the
tr.,-,tU mn nC-r.infm;r,h vanra1
Yirg;nia.
EPISTOLEUS.
For the X. C. Christian Advocate.
MEMORABILIA.
' punatracvu ui jiu ("All iiui 11 nu- .
rv interest at the ti ne of their occur-
I innon TTiiirlit' XTat- n AO jic?.i ivti o f fvnrfiiro.
. .... , V. . ' r .1. .1 1 : u
k , . . ;
(take place in the manners, customs,!
! 1 1 . . n .1 I
and modes ot thought, as well as the
fashions and teelmgs of the human
race,
Let us draw a pen-painting.
There stands an old frame building,
surrounded by native forest trees; oaks,
hickories and pines. A tew men, m j
simple attire are seated on a log near
the house. Their conversation seems
of a seriou" nature. If we take a pe p
inside the house, we shall see, seated
on uncouth forms, a number of women,
young, old and middle ag?d, all seem
ingly impressed with a feeling of rever
ence for the place and the occasion. It
is a week day, the week day appoint
ment for circuit preaching ; and being
a week day, there are not many of the
butterflies and moths of fashion pres
ent ; but those gathered, seem to have
come for a purpose.
"He's coming!" This was spoken of
a man of mild, earnest, placid counte
nance, seen approaching on horseback.
It is the circuit rider. He dismounts,
and, having tied his horse, lifts from
the saddle, the wellpacked saddlebags
and proceeds toward the house. All
are glad to see him, and he has a kind
word for each, He ascends the pulpit,
and after a secret and earnest invoca
tion for strength to the source of all
strength, he arises to - preach. There j
are no white-handkerchief displays j
no scent of musk or mill jleur about ,
the discourse it is plain, and suited to
the condition of the hearers ; for the .
preacher has made himself acquainted :
with thir condition and knows wh :-
food they need. Presently there is a
warmth of feeling, manifested by a
plow of countenance, and a tear that is
not a tear of sorrow, marks its course
on many a cheek. No one could look
ii non tli.it rronn without seeing, at a
"I - in r :
fiance, that there was deep, earnest
praying gum" on. The preacher teels
it
new it, ne preac
1
?s under its
influence, and presently the effects arojrr.y or intense
the au- ! its form: its ev
eo,
until the loud shout, the hal
tali
h shake the very rafters of the
old frame building, and reverberate
through the surrounding forest and are
re-echoed from the neighboring hills.
tii .11 ImiKiu cuiitiu TKinf other
than the house of God and the gate of j father used to l ?c very old indeed;
heaven," to the souls of the fathers, j and he got hur'4an; wore a crutch;
mothers, sons and (laughters present. there wefi wriii.ws on his face, and all
Such sceoea have I witnessed in the over his forehead, his hair was si.ort
days of good old brothers. Bain. Car-j and white : nor long like yours. And
son, Compton, Drumgoolc and others ; my father used to tfoop over and wear
manv of whom have gone up to theja little black apron, and put patches
goodlv land to possess it; while others 'on shoes in a little ark room.'
are wearing away to their rest and will j 'And what else V
soon be with them. The days of the 'He ued to pny and sing very
saddlebag itinerancy, and shad-bellied j sweetly, but I never hear any praying
coats, when church members didn't; and singing now,' abbed the child,
wear gold rings and breast pins; and : burs ing into tears.
when?i "(o. were considered useful on- j 'Don't cry, dear H:Me boy, but listen
ly fur casks, were the days when Meth-;to me, I am your father, your immortal
odism was "Methodism in earnest." 0! father, that por lane body is all gone
tb:it wp miihl "reform back wards" to ! now, mingled with the dust of the
those good old times.
Yours
1IARVETUS.
Jrfkrtiniis.
THE LITTLE BOUND BCTX'S DREAM
BY MRS. M. A. DEXXrSON.
I cause I loved Him, and my chief de-
A little fair haired child laid its pale j light was in praying t II: in, and talk
cheek against a pillow of straw, j ing about him, although I was very
It h:d toiled up three pair of nar- j poor I tried to be honest, and many
row, dark stairs, to gain its miserable j times went hungry rather than do
garret, for it was a little 'bound child,' : wrong.
that had neither father nor mother ; so j And you, if you never forget to say
no soft bed awaited his tired limbs, but ! your little prayers that I taught you,
a miserable pallet with one coverlet. ! if you will keep God's holy command
It had neither lamp nor candle to ments, and trust in him always, shall
lighten the room, if such it might be! soon be with me in my sweet heavenly
c.illed ; still that was not so bad, for abode.'
the beautiful round moon smiled, in up-j Once more the child was left alone,
on the poor bound boy, and almost and still th" rafters were golden, the
kissed his forehead, as his sad eyes ! walls pearly, the old floor studded with
closed dreamily. ; brilliants, and the same soft, mysteri-
But after a while, as he laid there, !ous light over all.
what wondrous change came over the A strain of holy music fell faintly
place. A great light shone down, the upon his enraptured senses; it grew
huge, black rafters turned to solid gold, j louder and came nearer and nearer to
and thesa seemed !ll studded with tiny, the be.id of his little bii.h And then .1
precious sparkling stories. The broken voice oh! far sweeter than either of
floor, too. was all encrusted with shi- the others, sang: 'm child, my little
ning crystals, and the child raise 1 him- earth child, lo k upon me, I am thy
self upon his elbow, and gazed with a mother.'
half fearing, half delighted look upon ; In a moment what emotions swelled
the glorious sight. the bosom of the lonely boy. He
One spot on the wall seemed too thought of her clieris ied tenderness to
bright for his vision to en lure, but him long years ago, f her soft arms
presently, as if emerging from it, came around his neck, her gentle lips press
a soft, white figure, that stood by the in his forehead, then eamc up the
poor bound boy s bedside. cruelty of strangers, who after she had
The child shut his eyes, ho was a been put away in the deep ground,
little, only a little frightened, and his treated him with harshness,
heart beat quickly, but he found breath lie turned toward! her, oh ! what a
t murmur, 'tell me, who are you.' glorious being; her eyes were like
'Look up. be notafraid,' said a sweet stars ; her hair like the most precious
voice, that sounded like the harps of gold; but there was that in her face
heaven, 'look up, darling, I am your that none other might so truly know,
brother Willy, sent down from the an- He had doubted if the first risen was
gels to speak with you, and tell you his brother', if the second was his fath
to bear all your sorrows patently, for,er, but. not once did he doubt that this
you will soon be with us.' beautiful being was hh own dear inoth-
'What, you my brother Willy, oh ! ' er.
no, no, that cannot be, my brother A little while he kept down his
Willy was very pale, and his clothes strong feelings, but the thoughts of the
were patched and torn, and there was past and the present overpowered him.
a hump on his back, and he used togoj 'Oh ! mother, mother, he cried,
into the muddy streets and pick up bits stretching forth his little hand, 'let me
of wood and chips, but your face is come to you let me come ; there is
quite too handsome, and your clothes nobody in the world like you; no one
prettier than I ever saw before; and kisses me now, no one loves me, oh !
there is no ugly hump on your back mother, mother, let me come !' and the
besides, my brother Willy is dead long hot tears rained down his cheeks.
ag- i 'My orphan child,' she said, in low
'I am your brother Willy, your im- j tones, that thrilled him to the heart,
mortal brother; iny body, with the I 'you cannot come to me now, but listen
ugly hump is dead and turned to ash j to me. I am very often near you when
es; but just as soon as that died,I went iyou know it not. " Every day I am by
up to the great heavens, and saw sights iyour side, and when you come to this
that I cannot tell you about now, they lonely room to weep, my wings encircle
were so very beautiful. But God, who!yOU. I berold you suffer, but I know
is. your Father, and the holy name of j that God will notive you more sorrow
Eternity, gave me these bright gar-j than yon can bear. When you resist
ments that never get soiled, and I was-evil, f whisper calm and tender thoughts
so happy that I expect my face was ' nt0 your soul ; but when you give way
changed very much, and I grew tall to anger, when you cherish a spirit of
anu HiTJtigut , au nu wuuuer yuu uo nut
know me.
And now the little bound child's
tears began to fall.
'Oh !' he exclaimed earnestly, 'if I
too could go to heaven.'
'You can go,' replied the angel with
a smile of ineffable sweetness, 'you have
learned how to read; well, to-morrow
get your Bible, and find very reverent-: boy, springing from his bed. and ftri
ly for it is God's most holy book : v;ng to leap towards her. The keen
these words of the Lor 1 Jesus: 'Butl!ajr chilled him, he looked eagerly
say unto you, love your enemies, bless round there was no light, a solemn
them that curse you, do good to them j stillness reigned, the radiance, the raf
that hate you, and pray for them which !ters of gold, the silvery beams, the mu
despitefully use and persecute you. 'sic, the angels all were gone. And
'Do all these ; and you shall be the tnen he knew that he had been dream-
child of your father which is above.
'Even if they beat me ?' murmured
the little bound boy with a quivering
lip
A flash of light passed ever the an- j
gel's face as he replied ; 'the more you
forgive, the nearer you will b3 to hea
ven
In another
moment the vision had i
cone, but still the room was all biasing j
W 1 Ltl till CU1 in 1 jr uukiuvv.
As the little boy fell hick upon his
j pillow, h"i3- wan face reflected the an
eel's smile, and he thought, 'I will for
give them even if they heat me.'
Suddenly a more musical voice than
the former fell vnon his ear. This
I time he was not afraid, but sitting up
on ins misenibl
iiv a rigurj
i tin? t so
med to . 1 1 useit to tne wan, n
i "Viitness outlined :ul
t L'.'.zed, yet there was
a mild beauty ii hem every time they
looked into his - t.
'Little one, I J.m your father,' said
the form in melt jg accents.
'I don't thin' iyou can be my fath-
er
whis
perei
d tfc
" -
boy timidly. 'My
grave yard. As son as the breath
''ofi-thm deformed bodv, I was with
'the shining angels, iosts and hosts Of
I them bore me up t heaven ; and the
iking of that glorious place clothed me
j in these robes, white and stainless, ami
gave me this beauiful body, which
j shall never feel corf4ion. And this
was the reason, dear little orphan, be-
revenge, vou drive your mother trom
iyou, and displease tne great anrt holy
God.
'Be good, be happy, even amidst all
your trials, and it is a consolation,know
that your immortal mother often com
n.ures with thy soul. And farther, thou
shalt soon be with me.'
'Oh ! mother, mother.' murmured the
ijn(, Dut oh! what a dream ; how
strengthening, how
would he forget it.
cheering; never
The next morning
when he went
down to his scanty breakfast, there was
such a beautiful serenity upon his face,
such a sweet ghidness in his ey.s, that
all who looked upon him forbore to taunt
or chide him.
He told his dream, and the hearts
that listened were softened, and the
mother, who held her Own babe, was so
choked 'with her tears that she could
not eat; and the father said inwardly,
!that henceforth lie would be kinder to
the poor, and so he was. The child
found his way into their affections, he
was so meek, so prayerful, so good.and
' - -" '
at the end of a twelve-month, when
I the angels did in very deed take him
far ;.bove to heaven, the whole family
I wept around the little coffin, as if he
jwere one of their own. But they all
I felt that he was in the bright heaven
iwith his brother, his father, and his
dear angel mother.
Palpit Power.
The power of a believing mind re-
quires the preacher's acquaintance with
r he truths of the GotipI to hn intlmi.
"
strongest make the least show of
strength. Faith is a tranquil power.
What we venture to recommend is that
spiritual askesis self-discipline of all
the faculties which imparts to the
preacher's faith the property of being
is they are found, not in human 'com-! ,J""U"' acnievemoni, and 01 oy ata
posures,' butin 'the Divine instrument, i tions alonS the toilsome way, where
so that men will feel that he is speak-1 the wear7 may sit by tho running brook,
ing to them fairly in a way to be un-! listen t0 thc song of bir(l3 8PCI,(1 an
derstood, ami that, though he may not : hour on the Sreen lawn cf sovM ,,fe
always bearguing as against opponents,! !in(1 S;lther sweet flowers, or engage in
he nukes it clear to them that he : vigorous muscular amusements, accord
eonld m.d doe on fit ncMainns Tho ! ing to the character of the recreation
imperturbable, not because he dares not : creation, 1 play with the children, dig
think, but because he has thought; not , in tflc garden, ramble over the fields,
because he takes for wanted that other run a mile occasionally, take vigorou
men are to be trusted who tell hi.n that ' gymnastic exercises daily, and thus I
the foundation is all rightMt because 1 keeP UP a constant vigor of constitution
he knows this for himself, whether men j that enables me to preach five or six
tell him so or not, and that he is sure j sermons per Sabbath for years togeth
what he preaches is true, even though I e.r
the whole world were laughin him to I littIe weariness. A short time ago,
scorn for saying so. So Luther preach- i when 1 returned to the home of my
ed that a man who has sinned can be 'youth to see m? (lear Parents, after an
set ri-fht with the rio-hteo.is God bv absence of more than eight years, and
I trusting in Christ. Thus B axter warn-
ed; thus Whitfield pleadedjthu Chalm-! ot nve months, during winch I had tax
ers reasoned; thus thundered Mascn in e1 my powers daily up to the measure
New York ; thus Hall noured out the
1 affluence of his learning, and the crea-
j tions of his genius, in the kindling
i stream of golden sentences. Those
i were men of power. In their f.iith was lotty ne,K ,ts ot niy native mountains
! no staggering : in their words no faul- to ro11 rocks' "f"1 t( see tho 1,ue hnuM
! terms; in their ministry no weakness. ; er bounding down the mountain steeps,
i Luther was a tower of strength, be- i sweeping the saplings and cracking and
! cause his whole 'trust' was in the Lord, peeling the stuidy oaks, -..nd disappear
j Baxter was a burning flame, because : inS the bushy vale beneath. The
! he lived hard bv the mercy seat, where-1 air was Pure'' the scenery and the exer
! upon the glory dwelt between the cher-1 CIse exhilerating. I renewed my
! tibim. Whitfield's wast.be 'voice of one ! strength. The rock rolling over, I
e.i-vin in thft wiMer.ies heeaimp
I John.' his cry was, 'Behold the Lamb
1 of God !' Chalmers foamed like a cat-
laract, because the deep rapids came
j rushing down upon him from the ever -
jlasting mountains. Hall's words were
he. h', f.;th
ten
was tried with fire. These were mvat
j preachers because they were strong be-
, lievt rs , and they were strong believers
i because they loved the truth, kept
I their hearts with all diligence, and
j walked in the light of heaven. There
! 's no age in which such preachers
would not have power. Men gaze on
thfir ffficries as tiu.mrh thov wer of .m
order different from themselves. Xoble,
'
truly, was the mold in wh eh their Ma
ker cast. them ; but the mold is not bro
ken. Rare indeed were tho stores that
: filled those golden vessels ; but the
I mines whence they were digged out.
Let the preacher press into that mold.
Let him delve into those rocks. Let
him be no man's copy. Let him be
himself original ; not in oddity or ex
travagance, the least original of all
j absurd impertinences, but in simplicity
and independence, and naturalress.
Two Opinions of a Sermon.
Lady Huntington's Chapel at B,tth was
no comition mercy for fashionable sinners.
It wis a neat, pu.e (Juthit: building, fault
lessly arranged and furnished. And then,
she engage d for it such preachersas White
field, Uomaiue, Fletcher and Wesley.
The gay and noble, who spMit a season
at that resort, often found better things
than pleasure or even health, iu L idy Hun
tington's Chapel.
Once Horace Walpole, that abandoned
and elegiut sinner, went to hear. Hi9
tate was gratified at the architecture, the
furniture and the singing. Jjhn Wes
ley preached that day, and wc have on re
cord Walpole's judgment of the sermon :
The congregration sit on forms. Wes
ley is a clever, elderly man, fre.-h colored,
his hair smoothly combed, but wbha little
soup-eon of curls at the end. Wondrous
clever, but as evidently an actor as Car
rick. There were parts aud eloeJucnce in
his sermon, but towards the end he exalted
his voice and acted very vulvar enthusi
asm.' Perhaps the courtier had appeals made
to his cnscieuce, that left him ill at ease,
and that word, enthusiasm, served a pur-po-e,
not for the first or last time, with
aieu iu his case.
One feels intereste 1 to know Wesley's
opinion on the occasion. Here it is iu bis
own style :
'31auy were not a little surprised at see
in" me in the countess ot lluutington's
Cbapel ; the congregatiou was uot only
large, but serious, and I fully delivered my
soul-'
O, man of God, bappy art thou iu such
a feeling, such a self-conscious verdict.
Let fa-tidious hearer. ay what they will,
lie plain, be earnest, be true, and fully de
liver thy soul'.
Think you Wesley and Walpole differ
note about that surmou ? N: O. Chris.
Advocate.
Silence is a gift withoui peril, and a
treasurer without eueuiies.
A Bit of Experience.
Eev. Mr. Taylor, the California re
vivalist, says: 'Having been regenera-
. 1 1. .1
! teu ra.v Power or '"onscicnce nan grcat-
! '7 increased, and putting the strait
Jacket on my physical laws. I retaliated
! on them for their c:ll'lv victories, and
W9M hare controlled them at the cost
ofiife. A few raonths sufficed to bring on
i dyspepsia, which came very near killing
! me outright, body and soul. A little
1 judicious auvice would nave saved me
from these dreadful struggles and their
saa consequences. I have by ha
perience, learned a few things about
the philosophy of life. The necessary
alternation of toil and recreation: in
tense application for the attainment of
: j:oc i 1 1 p
demanded by the peculiar nature of his
! calling ; these all are but to prepare
nim the better f,,r tho prosecution of
h'3 a'enturom journey. The burden
of m7 ,lftf 13 t0 stu,,7 Jlu I ,abor ,n the
Srpat. business of soul-saving. For re-
i g just closed a revival campaign
! ()t tae,r capaeity, 1 telt the reaction
I filing upon me, causing great lassitude
' of '"'f1 ani1 h()ty- To relieve this un-'
P,ea3iU,t statt; of tI,ingS 1 ascended the
i k net-led on the mountain summit, and.
j how precious was that hour! Jesus
1 wa3 in the hab't of going 'up into a
; mountain to pray.' I have always
, foun(i n a o0'1 P1:106 to Pn,.V- 1 hi,ve
j Proved it on m iny a mountain heigi.t,
! on both sides of our continent. These
! recreations extraordinary, such as the
j rock-rolling, awakening a mental vigor
tnac 13 Ielt Iur ontiis. neturnmg 1
' from the mountain, I was ready again I
I f0 engage ln t)tQ great b:lttle for sola ;
! Wlth renewed energy. I shall not try
! hcre to designate the kind of sports and
recreations necessary for Christians,
I only to say that they are necessary to
1 .
j physical development, and therefore:
...1 11
riot inconsistent with moral law.
Facts Worthy of Notice.
It is a fact that nine tenths of the in
mates "cf our poor houses were brought
there indirectly by the use of anient
spirits.
It is a fact that three fourths of all
the convicts in our state prison were
hard drinkers previous to the cornrnis-
sion 01 tne crimes tor wnicn they are
now imprisoned. '
It is a fact that the greatest suffer
ers from disease, and those whose mal
adies are the most difficult to cure, are
addicted to theiuse of ardent spirit 3.
It is a fact that all who commit sui
cide in this country, ninety-nine one-
hundredths are the immediate or the
remote victims )f ardent spirits.
It is a fact that in all families where
the children are dirty, half-naked, and
ill-fed ; the rooms filthy and in disor
der, the husband cross, discontented
and peevish, and the wives slatterns,
ill-tempered and quarrelsome, one, if
not both the parents, are drinkers of
ardent spirits.
It is a fact that those who least fre
quently attend the worship of God in
the sanctuary, most of those who by
their oaths, blasphemies, and horrible
execrations shock the ears of modest
people, are spirit-drinkers.
It is a fact that those who are most
easily led to ridicule and profane sa
cred things, and to join in every kind
of dissipation and profligacy, are spirit
drinkers. It is a fact that of all that have died
of the cholera in Europe and America,
seven tenths at least were spirit-drinkers,
and one half decidedly intemperate.
Plain Preaching. Dr. John M. Ma
son, while preaehing on the text, 'What
shall it profit a man,' ete., referring to the
apologies given by the impenitent fur re
fusing to accept the gift of eternal life,
mentioned the common plea, 'We do nut
want to profess ChiNfianiry, because many j
dishonor thc profession; we do Dot war.t!
to be hypocrites ; we are candid ni"n.' j
'And so,' said-the eloquent preacher, 'you
are willing to go to ited s cf.sntlemen of
candor.' It' is said that a distinguished '
lawyer in this city was led by this pointed 1
rebuke to renounce the hypocrisy of unbe
lief for a sincere faith iu tbe Son of God.
From tho Ciiri.Mian A J vacate and JourDtt.
The Process of Faith.
There is firm ground work for faith.
Yet in its full exercise, or, if the read
er please, in its exercise unto full sal
vation, there is a venturing movement
of tho heart. The int" et apprehends
the groundwork, th f God is, and that
he is a rewarder,' and it totnraanda
the heart to abandon n:c if by one sud
den impulse to the were mercy,through
Christ, of the great InrKMe But thc
heart shrinKs, aa if eenno terrible ox
perinrent were to be tried. However
distinctly the heart may have the need
ful consciousness of having surrendered
all idols, it h inclined to wait passively
for God to come to it anil lead it to
faith by feeling, rathcT than actively to
venture upon God, tor find feeling by
faith. At least, it would net move till
it have a sign. It has been accustomed
to tangible pledges. Iu attachments
and its studies of prudence hare been
confined to temporal thiugj 'which are
seen.' To press along toward the in
visible and untried sea, Uiti (not ab
surdly waiting first to feel the unreach
ed element.) to drop right ojfy without
plank or plummet, this iff venturing,
heart venturing.
Such process, it is br-u'Ved, is more
or less vivid in the monvry of most
persons who have experienced the deep
things of God. Testim oak's might be
supplied. For brevity, the following
only are cited : The Her. Jno. But
terworth, a minister of England, says :
One day as I w.is reading in a book
called the 'Marrow of Modern Divini
ty,' a sentence from Luther was quoted,
wliich was this : 'I would run into thc
arms of Christ.if he stood with a drawn
sword in his hand.' This thought came
bolting into my mind, 'So will I too ;'
ami these words of Jvh occurred :
'Though he slay me, yet will I trust
in him.' My burden dropped ofT; my
soul was filled with joy arid pcace.thro'
believing in Christ ; a venturesome be
lieving, as Mr. Ue'che.- c-.l's it, was
the means of setting me at liberty.'
Arvine's Cyclopedia, Art. 'Faith.'
Dr. Adam Clarke ie.si.iled that his
successful struggle for a clean heart
was whi!c earnestly wrestling with the
Lord in prayer, and endeavoring self
desperately to believe.' See his letter
inserted iu the Christian Advocate and
Journal, July 1857.
It is hoped that r.o reader who is
without tho witness cither of justifica
tion or of perfect love will slight ths
idea of venturing faith, because it is
somewhat mystical to him. It ncd not
remain mystical. O delay not, after a
speedy act of entire consecration, to
give this faith a thorough .rial. It can
! not be in vain
D. F. R.
OVER THE HIVEE.'
Over th river th-y beckon
L:)ved ones wh iV.
si ic ;
The tjleau. of their f.i 'y j
But their viiie.es ure 'ro
tnjr tida.
:. me
! t the further
'be I wi,
1 hj the ruth-
There' on with rinl.-.i of runny" pId?
And eyes the retlerdon of heuveu's own
blue ;
He crossed in the twilight, gray iuul coll.
Ami the pale inisi hid him from mortr.l
vie w.
We saw n it the angels that met hun tbdre ;
The gme of the city wo could not see ;
Over thc riv. r, over the river,
My brother standi waiting t ) welcome me!
Ocnr the river the b mtnvm pnle
Curried another tho househcuM pet:
Her brown curls wii-cd in th gn tie gale
Darling Minme ! I see her yet !
She crossed on le-r h iium her oiirrplcd hnndu.
And fearlesnljr entered tin 1 haht'im bivrk ;
We watehed it K'i',A from ties silver mtndt,
And all :ur su rdiinegrew strangely dark.
We know Rhe mfe n thc fji tlur oide.
Where nil the ransomed uni nngeU be;
Over the river, th- myotic ricr.
My childhofid'n idol is w.iuing for me.
For none return from thoe quiet shore
Who cros with the boatman cold and rle;
We hear the dip of thc gnlds.i o-.rs.
And catch h gh am of th uowy sail, -
And I"! they have paused from our yearning
hearts ;
The? cross thc stream a.i 1 ara gone for
aye:
We my not sunder the Tail npart
That hides fruui our via'n.m tho gtes of
day.
We only know that their birks m mors
May sail with u o'er lil'-'V Kinrmj 6ea,
Yet some vl.er, I know, on the une'n hore,
They watch, and beckon, :nvl wait for ie!
And I sit an 1 think when the sunset's gold
Is flushing river and hill und shore,
I shall one day stand by the water cob!.
And list for the soyv.d of the boatman' our,
I shall watch for it leain of the flapping sail ;
I xhall hrir tin- boat 11a it gain the strand,
I shall pns from 'ght with the boatman pale
To the better shore of the hpirit land,
I shall know the loved ho hat e one lefre,
An J joyfully sw.-ct v. :!l tho inct.-tin; be,
When over tn mr. t!:e pf-.iceful rher.
The ancl of 1''.'!; Inili ciry me.
priii ;lle d li-puhllcui.
Tattle.
When about to publish uu-.'bt
That may m ir thy brut tier's fame,
Lt this siiiipl.:, second thought,
Serve to gnr l that brother's name.
'Unless certain tluit 'its true.
I've no riht thc thing to show;
And, if certain, ooly t"
Him that Ins n riht tc know.'
Tavater.
SsafA yoirn wif: rcn mstritol with
h-.r husbi:i J, a dissipated spendthrift on
his conbi t 'My love.' said he, 'I am
like the IVodi'id Son ; shall reform by-and-by.'
'And I wilt b: like the 1'rodigal
S 'O, too.' she r-pbt'd, Nor I will arie an I
go to iny father I' And accordingly off
she went.
i
1