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RALEIGH, N. C, WEDKESD AT, JANUARY 4, 1888.
Volume 63.
Number 26.
oleterr AVntn thty ucced Uis tear one
cttt for each word most be paid la adrsaot,
' " - 1 ' . . 1 ' ." .
err ;
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
January 8 1888.
Re-arranged from tkt Senior Quarterly.)
THE MULTITUDE PBU.
i Matthew xir: 13-ai.-
GOLDEN TEXT.
Jesus uid 'onto them,
life. John 6: j 35. -)
I am tffe bread of
Introduction. Ma.rk and Lake tell
- -us tbat, shortly after the de&t h of John
tU Baptist. the twelve apostles who
had been sent out tbroughoat Galilee,
returned to make report to Jesus of all
they bad said and done. Knowing that
be vxetted the suspicion and alarm of
Herod, and i that bis wearied disciples
needed rest, j.esa.9 witharew irom
. llerod'n dominions to those of Philip
'the Tetrarchon-the other side of the
gives ns an account of this withdrawal,
-.and of the I wonderful miraele which
.vthen' took place. r ;
; ':. THE LESSON. .
13. When Jesus heard of It, he departed
hence by ship into a desert place apart and
when the people had heard thf.rtof, they fol
lowed him on foot outsof the cRies. ; Matt.
. 10: 23; 12; 15; Mark 6: 32; Luke 6: 10;
John 6: 1. a.J.
. ' 14.' And Jesus went forth, and saw a great
' ' multitude, and was moved with compassion
V 0: 36; 15: 32:Heb. 4: 15. ' . y
15. And when it Was tvening, his disciples-1
came to him savinc I ln is a flessrt nlace
and the time is now past; send the multitude
away, that they may go inys the villages, and -
buy themselves victuals. 4 John 6: 1 57. J
16. But esus said unto them. They need
not depart; give ye them to eat. ,
17, And they say unto him. We Have here
but five loaves, and two fishes. John 6: 8, 9. J
1 3. He said, hring them hither to trie.
19. And he commanded the ialtitude to
sit down on ' the grass, and took the five
loaves, and the. two fishes, and looking up to
heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the
loaves to nis disciples, and the disciples to the
multitude.
20. And they did all eat, and were filled:
and they took up of the fragments that re-
. mained twelve baskets full. t Kings 4: ,1-7.
21, And they that had eaten were atXnft five
thousand men, besides women and children.
13. When Jesut heard itL e.. heard
of the death of John, or of Herod's
opinion concerning him. By ship.
, Across the northeast end of the Sea of
Galilee. A desert place. Lake says (fee
Lake 9: 10) that this belonged to a city
called Bethsaida. The Betbsaida. tbos
j gaished from a city of the same name in
the land of GennesareL , It was on the
eastern side of the Jordan, about a mile
from the sea.- The -coon try round about
Hfls thinly - settled,' add aboanded in
grassy slopes' adapted alike for retire
mprft. and i the entertainment of the
multitude, j Followed him , on foot.
Going around the upper end of the lake
and aeross the- Jordan. Mark tells us
they went to the place before Jesus and
his disciples. Out of the cities. Caper
naum, Chorazin,; Bethsaida, and other
places. As this was Passover time (see
John 6: 4), the crowd was in ill proba
bility . augmented . by people from the
north on their way to Jerusalem. 14.
Was moved with compassion And so
put aside all thoughts of rest and retire
ment for. himself I and his disciples.
Healeil their iefc. ' Lake sava that he
also spoke to them of the kingdom of
God. While he healed their bodies he,
at the same time, instructed their minds
and uplifted their hearts. 15. When it was
evening. The Jews had two evenings;
the first beginning at three o'clock, and
' the second at sunset. The first evening
. is here alluded to, the seeond in Terse
93 Th timet i nsnr rtzst A ifnrAimr
, to some, the time for eating; according
' to others, the tim& for work. The vil
lages. tTowalled towns scattered over
ye them to eat. Joha tells as (see John
6: 6-7) that before this time Jesus had
spoken to Philip about feeding the mnl
titnde. - Mark adds that when the com
mand was given, the disciples asked
wiiemer iney snouta no ana out two
1 Al At - I 1 S I A .
hundred pennyworths of bread the
-amount already suggested-by Philip as
- necessary.' , 17. ! Five loaves and two
fishes. Furnished, as we are told by
. John, by a little lad. The loaves were
small and made of barley; the fish were
little' ones, eaoght probably in the lake
near by. 18. Bring them hither to me.
John tells us he knew beforehand what
he would-do. 19. To sit down on the
pros. Mark and Luke add tbat the
multitudes were arranged in companies
of hundreds and fifties, like the beds of
. a garden. This arrangement prevented
i crowding, and assured to all an equal
i supply. It also enabled the disciples to
do their work with despatch, and easily
' to count the vast crowd. 22s blessed
' L e., either blessed God or the provision.
John adds, "he gave thanks." 20,
Were filled While the food was plain.
there was. plenty of it. Twelve baskets
-full. Macbrjnore than the originaLsup
ply. The baskets were of the sort the
. Jews ordinarily parried when traveling.
From the number mentioned; it would
seem that each of the disciples was pro
Tided with a basket. ' Jesus commanded
i tiie gathering of the fragments, to teach
his disciples a lesson of economy. (See
John 12.) 21 Five thousand men.
The men probably greatly preponder
ated; the women and children were
doubtless in a company by themselves,
and were not counted.
THXXKS FOB JTUKTUJCK THOUGHT XSD
i. - . STTJDT. - 'V;-.'
. -. ' '" -1 - ; ' - , .
The prudence of Jesus, in withdraw..
- trig trom the urisdietion of Herod. His
profound and unselfish com passion for
suffering humanity. His .ability to
-, make possible that which to men seems
utterly impossible. The wonderful muK
; tiplication of our slender resources when
placed in his hands. I ThC satisfying
1 power of the food he supplies. The les
'. son he gives -with. regard to economy,
'JThe bearing of tins miracle on the ques
:; ionof his divinity. ?
- PBACTICAX XJCSSOSS. ' ' .
' L Like Jesus, we should ever be wil
ling, even when seeking rest, to obey
the call of duty. 2. Like him also, we
should be filled i with eompassion for
suffering meo. 3. What is impossible
; to ns is easy to Jenis. 4. With the
blessing of Jesus resting on our little
apply," It will be suffldent for the
largest multitude. 5. Jesus is still bid
ding us carry round the bread of life to
the famishing. & They who eat of the
food Jesus supplies are surei, to have
' rerT longing satisfied. 7.- Trusting in
; Jesus, no one need ever lack any good
tting: 8. In working for Jesus, the
fr&a'oienU coming to ns are more than
ow original stock. 9. That nothing of
hfebelost, we must be careful ol the
fragments of time and strength.
ZsESSOXS IN MORALS.
Leltoa Np. 38. Dalies to Paptls.
BT BRT. W3C. ROTAXL, D. D.
. The relation of Teacher to Pupil in
volves some important duties, which
may be considered with profit. ' We no
tice a few of them : f .
, Mistakes made la dealing with matter
are not always attended with Injurious
consequences to the matter itself.' If
the blacksmith makes a failure in his
attempt to convert a piece of iron into
a plow, be has the same iron not essen
tially changed, from which to make a
rake, or even the plow, by a new trial
of his skill. The farmer may, by a
series of mistakes made from year to
year, exhaust his lands and diminish
their productiveness, but s wiser man.
agement thereafter will sometimes .re
store them to. more than their original
fertility.! But the mind is so delicate a
piece of mechanism that if not handled
carefully at first it may be seriously in -Jared
for all timeto come. Hardly -less
reparable is the cyprian vase cracked in
the making.... In the young, mind is
still unformed, and with a knowledge of
its surroundings one may divine with
tolerable accuracy what form it will
take onj Of these surroundings the
teacher constitutes no unimportant part.
And the "first teacher he whose hand
gives the first bend to the twig is apt
to determine for all time the inclination
of the tree. The best and wisest teachers
sometimes labor in vain to cure or cor
rect some vicious tendency of mind,
evidently the fruit of the neglect or
ignorance of the early instructor. . . .
Habi ts of studyor thinking are usually
formed during the first and second years
of school life. The seeds of superfl
eiality, vagueness of thought,'. confusion
of ideas,; restiveness under the restraints
of a demand for, close! and compact
reasoning, are sownj in the period of
childhood. Satisfaction with balf
proofs, or semblances of proof, and the
hurried and impatient manner of inves
tigation which has done the world so
much injury, and many another fault
which characterizes even men of note,
are due largely to the tlip-shod methods
of the boy's teacher. Bad habits of
thinking acquired in the teens follow us
into all the businesses of life and bring
distress and rain upon many a well
meaning and hard-working man. In
the mental, moral and spiritual realms.
the shores are lined with wrecks of
staunch ships whose helmsmen, know
ing no better, used either no compass.
or those the lines on whose disks were
blurred..
If we must leave all behind at death
but what vtb essentially ark, the office
of that .man who helps to mould and
f aehion and develop us, is one to be
undertaken with a trembling sense of
responsibility. The teacher, to be
worthy of the name, must act in view of
this responsibility; 'and while looking
with unspeakable, delight upon the
minds opening and blooming under his
nursing hand, his pleasure ujust ever oe
mingled with fear for the work done,
when tbat work shall be tried by the
fires of tiae judgment to come.
. The. duties of the teacher may be thus
stated: ' '
1. He ought to be acquainted with
the structure- of the human mind and
himself have a trained mind. In order
to know the wants of the mind, the
means of its growth and development.
and, in special cases, the peculiar modes
of treatment required, there must be
some knowledge of what the mind is.-
The cultivation of mind is conducted
in accordance with laws based upon the'
constitution of mind. But, more than
this, there are varieties in kind and pro
portion of mental endowment requiring
difference of treatment in different eases
the diversity being sometimes so great
that the same treatment' for all would
be fatal to some. There are universal
needs; but there are also special needs.
These latter needs are met not only by
the books used, but also largely by the
discrimination which the enlightened
teacher makes between different orders
and varieties of mind In his ever-vary
ing manner of impressing the lesson.
uiving " to each bis portion in due sea
here presupposes an acquaintance
with mind even in its Idlosyncraeies.
Many a "dull" boy is indebted to his
teacher for his continued dullness; and
many a "lazy" boy has as yet had no
live teacher. And most of the failures
to learn at school are ascribable to these
two causes.. The skillful farmer, while
acting upon certain general principles.
applies these principles with appropriate
modifications for every variety of soil,
climate . and season. Else he would
commit at times woful blunders. 'He
whose knowledge of mind as developed
and nained is limited; because he him
self has no personal experience of such
training, has really : nothing to guide
him in training other minds. His theory
and ideal of education being necessarily
borrowed, he must constantly labor
under the disadvantages and uncertain
ties oi any other empiricist or even
quack. His step must be unsteady, his
aim -wad ';and at random. He 'may,
under proper supervision, conduct the
mechanical parte of an education, or
those which require mainly the exercise
of. Memory- Hut even here he could,
with sy mind trained to classify and
arrange items of knowledge upon phil
osophical principles, e. g. chronological
events or facts of geography, accomplish
nis work: more certainly and; profitably.
2. It is the duty of the teacher to
master the subjects which be proposes
to teach... .The power, to impart hv
struetion depends largely upon a dear
comprehension of the matter tanght.
and a full Insight Into the relation
which each part bears to the whole.
Confusion, of Ideas oa the part of the
teacher must result in a wild and die
ordered presentation of the things
tangnt, leaving the mind of the learner
bewildered in the fogs and mists which
love the dim twilight. Undefined and
indistinct notions of subjects have occas
ioned more than half of the controversies
which have distracted the world: and a
defective knowledge of the meanings of
words ' and ol the things they signify
baa flooded literature with silly and
stapid utterance. The teacher, of all
men, should be able to explain . , .If ow.
in order to this, be must be a well-read
man knowing, the views of prominent
thinkers; and, having some views of
his own, be should be able td give a
good, reason for holding them rather-
than those which be rejects. For the
ehild learns the true nature of a subject
all the better from having had set before
uuu uw uuiacst ua Tanou viewa
sound and unsound, which have bees
entertained regDectin? it. lloch of the
narrowness and bigotry which curse the
world is due to a blind devotion to some
dogmaSe teacher or his text-book of
wB9e&r-.?.rtkft'AtithnlieX- with
the old field schoolmaster of fifty years
asro to teach it. nut back the era of the
true Arithmetic "the ScmscK of Num
bers," one whole generation in some
communities; and Lindley Murray, with
his endless Rules and Exceptions, all
cut and dried, put a most effectual ex
tinguisher upon free thought and toe
use of Reason -in Grammar; while the
teacher of that day "made assurance
doubly sure" by . making it. a penal
offence not to be able to apply tha rules,
not In accordance with the .principles
which underlay them, but. by the num
ber which was arbitrarily assigned to
each rule., Thus, Raft XX orJXXI
seemed to apply to a given case by vir
tue of some mysterioris--power which it
possessed, rather than because, of . its
embodying a principle which covered
the case. How mind "was tortured and
reason abused by the absurd process!
And. how any of our fathers who were
subjected to it failed to become imbe
ciles in intellect can be. explained per
haps by supposing that, the school term
in those days was too short to work
serious damage. The teacher abould
not merely "hear the lesson," and be
able to "keep ahead of the class," Any
member of the class can perhaps do
either of these- as well as he; And yet
many a so-called teacher bases his hope
of being able " to make a living " upon
his being-endowed with these two qual
ifications that of knowing how "to
keep order" being, perhaps, a third.
3. II the teacher is nimseiz a scholar,
and has mastered bis subject, he is apt
to be able to excite that interest
amounting sometimes to enthusiasm
which, when felt by the student, makes
study a delight. The listless, perfunc
tory and mechanical methods of some
teachers the holdiog down to the lit
eral sometimes the very words of the
book, without a reminder at any time
that the thought is what is required ; the
air of sameness and uniform tameness
from day to day, which makes the
atmosphere , of the school-room heavy
and charges it with sleep-inducing gases ;
the practice of driving instead of lead
ing, of forcing the way instead of open
ing it these, and many others, make
school-work a task instead of as it
might become a source and occasion
of highest pleasure. The teacher, of all
men, should cultivate and acquire the
power of illustration, of presenting
parallel eases, of relating pertinent
events from history and biography, and
not Ignore fable and parable, in the
heart of which there sometimes lurks a
thought that arouses dormant mind.
Let him not bring these from afar, but
be so full of them tbat they shall come
to the surface unbidden, for his use
upon proper occasion. .... He whose
mind is so cultured, whose knowledge
is so well rounded that he perceives the
relations of . study to study and branch
to branch, feeling himself the impor
tance of each as it is related to the
whole, will possess the rare faculty of
breathing life into an old Greek or
Saxon, root to ethers dry and dead
and carry along with him, in his enthu
siastic discussion of it, the dullest of the
class. ; . . .Perhaps upon no point do men
commit a greater mistake than that .of
supposing that it requires very little
knowledge to teach the f primary mass."
With the beginner, especially, is there
needed wise and skillful treatment.
The foundation is more important to
the security of the building as the super
structure.. The character of the foun
dation must largely determine tbat of
the building itself. He . who is well-
taught how to read to read under
standing to read with expression to
take in word, sentence, paragraph in
their relations to each other and to the
whole piece, has already a fair educa
tion. With that much acquired from
others, men have risen to eminence in
State and church, and Andrew Johnson,
with only that help from bis wife,
became President of the United States.
4. The teacher bwes it to bis pupils to
be a man genuinely and thoroughly
moral. As a prominent figure Impress
ing itself upon the life of the child, his
influence must be great. Little by little
he catches his spirit, and thinks his
thoughts. He has it in his power to
illustrate and enforce the principles of
a nign morality, or to draar down the
pure to his own base level. If bis ideal
is lofty, he will be sure to elevate the
pupil; if it be low, constant, association
with htm Will gradually undermine and
weaken the better foundations which
the purest home-life has patiently laid.
Even his superior wisdom ani knowl
edge will sometimes put ' father and
mother at a disadvantage, and .lessen
the deference felt for their authority.
Being supposed to "know better" than
they, his precepts and life, rather than
theirs, will come to the ehild with a
weight and Influence date roil nUis. some
times, bis whole career and character.
It is usually supposed that only College
Presidents -and Professors- have this
power, or a sufficient opportunity to
exert it But the history of schools and
academies abounds with Illustrations of
the power for good or evil, moral and
spiritual, which the teacher possesses.
To the Baptists of North Carolina.
At the Union
it Bethel, a debt of $700
was repovtedoj
the ehureb at BetheL
N. C, and pledges were made to cover
the amonnu after whieb the efcureh
buflding was dedicated to the service of
Almighty GacLy Now the amount was
pledged, but not paid. ' Thirty-five dol
lars of that amount only bad been paid
np to the 0th of December inst. Let no
one fail - to contribute to this object bet
cause tne impression has gone oat that
the debt Is paid. I received for two
J ledges yesterday, made some tf me ago,
tried to raise something, and couldn't.
Bocn as this wears me blue, and makes
the workmen grumble for their tjv.
The debt Is not paid, and never will be,
n we expect it xrom those who made
some of the pledges. I believe most of
them will be paid, bat not all. What
we wane now is cash I baptized two at
Bethel last meeting. -1 will baptize oth
ers, IX yon will help v pap tor this
noose.- What we need la each and no
more pledges. Send any contribution
to the undersigned at Hamilton, or W.
A. James, Bethel, K. C, and oblige
Gxoses J. Dowxli, Pastor. '
Jonesboro.
We have just closed an Interesting
meeting at Jonesborov , Bev. O. Lv
Stringfield was with me and did some
good preaching. Four professed faith
in Christ and will be baptized soon.
Our cause is moving on nicely in this
seetion.' - Fraternal! v. -
' 1 " W, F. Watsox i
. JonesboTo, Dee. 3 21887. J i
Faih-results more than eoronenasia
for the struzles necessary to win them.
1 Sermon to Yonnff People
BT REV. 8. P. HTJFI5, OF YIBenna.
; "Go thy way
for this time, when I- have a
convenient
84:25.
I wia tall for thee.? E acts
J J.IS-. ! - - -
i. This ''was the language of Felx,td
Paul. At the time Paol was in the
hands of the authorities s a criminal.
Felix was governor, with power, to de
fend the innocent and punish the guilty,
i Tacitus says of Felix, "he exercised
the authority committed to him with all
manner of cruelty and lewdness." frH
had persuaded Drusilla to leave her
lawful husband to live with him. What
a travesty on justice and right, for a
man like Paul, a man pure in heart and
life, a man who had regard for the laws
of God and man, to be held as a crim
inal In the hands of such a man asFe-.
lix, licentious, avaricious and tyrannical I
-t Rat then the occasion furnished Paul
-with the opportunity, not only to defend
himself, but to tell these two royal per
sonages before him some! things they
had not beard before. AS he reasoned
of righteousness 'and temperance, he
convicted his hearers of unrighteousness
and intemperance, and then when he
carried their minds on to the future and
showed them how God, who was right
eous, would finally judge all men, and
reward or punish according to the deeds
done in the body, Felix trembled and
well he mighttremble but said, " Go
thy way for this time, when I have a
convenient season, I will call for thee."
This is the language of all who are
convicted of sin, bat are not willing to
give op a life of sin to follow Christ.
PROPOSITION.
USWILIilSGSESS TO SERVE CHRIST
NOW IS UNREASONABLE AND KXTHEMK
LY DANGEROUS.
1. Foa should repent of sin jnoto, 6s
cause it is your duty to serve Odd.
"God confmandeth all men every
where to repent." Thus he makes this
a duty, from which yon cannot-escape
without guilt. And what higher motive
could you desire to induce you to serve
him than that of dutyf There f some
thing noble in the decision of one who
resolves to serve God, not simply to se
cure personal good, or to escape future
punishment, but because it is right, be
cause it is duty to serve him. As your
Creator, God has a right to demand ser
vice of you, and even if you rebel against
this, yon are compelled to acknowledge
Indebtedness to him for the daily bless
ings you enjoy. And being indebted to
him for all the blessings of this life, and
for the only grounds of hope for the life
to come, it you refuse to acknowledge
him, you must be justly chargeable with
ingratitude. A young man came down
from Vermont to Boston. He fell in
with some wild boys, and soon became
as reckless as they. He was taken sick,
and when he became ill his companions
all left him. His widowed mother heard
of her son's trouble. She took her hard
earned savings and came to see him.
By kind care and 'nursing, he began to
get well again. Then his companions
began to come to see him again,: but as
be looked upon the bent form, and grey
hairs, and wrinkled face of his mother,
he was ashamed to own her as his
mother. . He introduced her to his friends
as his nurse I How mean and ungrate
ful, you are ready to say. But how
about those who are not willing to own
and acknowledge Jesus Christ, when he
has loved them with a love stronger than
a mother's love, and done for them what
no earthly friend could dot
Then no excuse can release yon from
what is duty. You may be discouraged
when yon see inconsistency on the part
of some who profees to serve God, but if
all the .world should prove false, that
wonld not release you from personal
duty. You may not feel as much In
clined as yon think you ought to enable
you to decide this matter now, but want
of feeling, even if It exist, Is no valid ex
cose. Yon are a pnplL Your teacher
gives yon a lesson to get. It is your duty
as a pupil to get this lesson. You fail
to do It, but for no reason except you
did not feel like getting It. Would you
offer such an excuse to your teacher!
Wonld you expect him to accept it if
you did! wv
Nor does this supposed want of feel
ing prove there is no danger in your case.
Often the danger is greatest when there
is the least apprehension of It. A man
Is fn danger of death by freezing. At
first he suffers intensely from the cold.
This U followed by partial numbness,
this by a sense of drowsiness, now be
feels the need of nothing but sleep, yet
sleep in this condition is eertaln death.
A man blind is standing on the brink 6f
a precipice, beneath him is a yawning
chasm. Not seeing his danger, he feels
secure. Does this feeling of security
prove there Is no danger! Does It not
rather prove the contrary 1
A man in England was lost in a mine,
wnere ne anew there were namerons
pitfalls. Ills light went dot, and know
log his danger, he stopped and shouted
loudly for help. Some one heard him
and came to his relief with a lantern
when be discovered to bis horror he
was standing on the edge of one of these
pitfalls. So it is with the sinner who is
saved. When he Is made sensible of his
lost condition, he cries for help, but it
Is not until the light from the Gospel
reveals to him what was his true eondi
tlon, that he realizes how great was bis
danger.' p . j
2. There are those again who say,!
' Go thy way for this time. ' I cannot
make the sacrifice now demanded.1 ?
Some among the young permit Satan
to persuade them that religion will be
opposed to their interest and enjoys
ment In this life; and tbat they had bet
ter put this subject off until they bavt
enjoyed the pleasures the world can
give in youth. Sometimes yon hear a
young man say, "I am not done sowing
my wild oats yet" 1 eonfess It makes
me shudder to hear this. I have lived
long enough to see the result of much
of sueh sowing. I have known some
young men who have gone forth see m
loglj Ught-bearted and joyous, sowing
broadcast, sowing with a reckless hand,
owing this way and that, but before
they had finished their towing, death
thrust in Lis cycle and gathered the
sowers into nis harvest.
outfrom hat S w Zw&Sr ! tSl
JlirJ
worthless pensioners upon ; the bounty
of their kindred, blot In God's ereatlon.
Nothing good can be gained either in
this life or the future by holding on to
the - world, and nerieetinff tha introt
ftfc.m.aam VUI UlllCIAUlSl IIWKH.
of the soul. -The religion of Christ re
quires nothing but what Is reasonable.
It does require self-denial, It to true, and
no one need think of being a chriitian
without this, for Christ in most env
phatie language makes this a condition
of dlsclpleshjp. But then it require
self-denial in nothing but what is wrong.
nothing but what is for our injury.
Christ knew better than we can what Is
for our interest, and be said, "Seek you
first the kingdom of God." Satan never
preached a greater falsehood, than that
there is something gloomy in religion.
But then he knew full well ; if be eould
-Ihdnee the- young to believe this,1 he
ebald keep them in his service, and lead
tb$m on to death. Religion is godlike,
and God is the source of all light, and
life, and love, and ioy, and just in pro
portion as one is religious, does he par
take of these which refine and exalt the
soul and give to it a peace and happi
ness of which the world knows nothing.
; Then any one who will take time to
consider, moat be convinced there is im
minent risk In ' putting this matter1 off
beyond. the period of youth. Even on
the, supposition that life will be pro
longed for years to come, theydanger Is
great. You are not Inclined, to attend
to this matter to-day. May, you not be
less inclined to-morrow!
The longer one cmtinuev and e
farther he 'goes In sin, the harder to
break off from sin. Yon have known
men who have continued in sin until
sinning has become as a second nature
to them, and for them now -to change
would be like doing violence to their
entire being.:
What would you thiuk of the drunk
ard were he to say to you, "I have been
drinking now a long time; I feel that I
must have strong drink; I know the
habit is Increasing on me and I am be
coming more and more a slave to it,and
I know that It will prove my ruin if I do
not stop. I can't stop now, but I expect
after a while to stop"! And what
would you think of a farmer, were he
to tell you he intends to sow a certain
field, which is now clean, with a certain
kind of wheat, and thio with a view of
getting pure wheat for a eomiog sowing.
out says urn win nrac bow ogoai uruau
cast over tbat field! The heart is a
field; in youth It is comparatively .free
of evil seeds. Would It not be wiser,
and better, and safer to have the seeds
of divine truth sown in the heart before
Satan fills it with the noxious seeds of
in If- 1 ' '
i You have seen the Insect in the spi
der's web. 1 When first entangled, with
effort it may escape, but all the while it
is there, the spider is busy weaving bis
net a round It, fastening a thread here
and then to the insect, and then fasten
ing a thread in another direction, and
then to the insect again, an til it Is so
completely bound as to make escape
impossible. , So Satan spreads his net
to catch the young and unwary, and
no sooner do they enter It than he goes
to work to draw the cords tighter " and
tighter, until there Is no escape. He
tempts a young man who Is quiet and
peaceable, to drink, then to fight, then
to kill, and then eomes the fearful end.
Look at It from any stand-point you
may, there is danger, my young friends,
of putting this matter off beyond the
period of youth. Yea, danger in put
ting it off beyond now.
Dr. Clark, of Philadelphia, said he
was present on one occasion when an
earnest appeal was made to the young
to seek Christ without delay, the
preacher saying difficulties would in
crease, and by putting the matter off
they would be less and less inclined to
attend to It After the 'preacher came
down from the pulpit, an aged man met
him, and taking him by the hand saldi
" Sir, I know what you have said is
true, I know from my own experience.
When I was young I said to myself I
cannot give np the - world now, but
will by and by, but here X am an old
man, I am not a christian, I feel no
readiness and no disposition to enter
upon the work of my salvation. In
looking back I often feel as If I would
give the world to be placed where I was
when young.' There were not half the
.difficulties In my way then as now."
j- The " gates of Gospel grace" are open
now to yon, and if you win, yon may
enter In. Pot it off beyond now, and It
majr be when you seek, you will find the
gates closed against you forever. How
solemn those words, "And the door was
Shot."
1 William III., In order to quell a rebel
Hon in the north of Scotland, issued a
proclamation foaall the rebel chiefs to
appear at a certain place on or before
the 81st of Dec, 1691, and take the oath
of allegiance to the King. Those who
did not, were to be regarded as outlaws
and put to death, as traitors. It was
felly longer to resist One by one of the
chiefs Yielded and slraed the naner.
Mao Ian was the leader of the smallest
but haughtiest tribe. He did not in
lanil tat v!! sa F t Afva t Vt ee Ktt ha tvenfail
a-caeva v avsjaew suivivHivit vuw uc w auw
to be the last to yield. So he continued
to put the matter off. A day or two be
fore the 31st be started, but a terrible
snow-storm came upon him and he did
not reach the place nntll nearly a week
after the King's messenger had returned
to- London. ' In the valley of Glencoe
Mac ian and his followers paid the pen
ally of delay with their Uvea
Take care, young friends, you do not
put this matter off too long, and the
storm- of divine wrath beat upon yon
and shut out ail hope ol heaven forever.
"Mow God Invite, how blest the day, :
How swsct the Gospel's charming sound;
Come, tinner, hasta, Oh hssU swsy,
While yet a pardoning God Is found."
Lucky.
If there be such a thing as luck, the
Baptists have been lucky in the time
and place of beginning work at
fras Fork. Two years ago I was sent
by the Mission Board to begin work at
this; point. It was seven miles from
this place to the nearest Baptist church.
Many poor people were almost deprived
oi tne pnvuege oi attending church.
.When we began work. Dr. Gregory
very kindly allowed ns the use of an un
occupied store-house, in which to hold
our meetings, in nve months we moved
into a new ennren-nouse of our own.
' Sassafras Fork is a little village, ten
miles;. north! of Oxford; in Granville
county, W, C. The Clarksvine V Ox
ford Railroad, which will be com Dieted
In a few weeks, runs through the centre
of the town.' The main depot of this;
roaa is located nere, in about 123 yards
oi onr new ennren-notise. we have v
: lot't beautifully Iocs
We are nnderlastlng obligation.
to Mr. John WV StovalL and his torn
.amuuue, neituer wi vans are enureu
members, lor great kindness and liber
ality shown ns in onr work, Tbefov'
met sawed all the lumber for the house.
put it on the lot, and then deducted fso
from the MIL He also superintended
the building of the house, ilr. Totnmle
Etovall gave us an acre lot adjoining
ineouewe Dcngnw iie also mad us
a liberal contribution towards building.
It is probable that Rusafras Fork will
soon be a town of two or three hundred
mhatatsnts. Already a Erst-elaes teacher
has been there with a view to establish
ing., permanent school, for local and
boarding patronage.
-The name of the post office here has
been changed from Sassafras Fork to
Btovali; and tf I had to guess, I . would
say, that the depot and the town will
take this name also.' Our church there
numbers fifty members. They are peo-
le of i small means; but are earnest,
aithful workers. They keep up a flour-
ishingsvergreen Sabbath school. And
though poor, this church' Is giving to
benevolent . objects twice as much as
some of the older churches, with five
times as many members and ten times
as much wealth. l
J. A. 8tradikt.
Our Virginia Letter, tf
A eertaln Richmond, pastor had a con
viction that his people, were not giving
to the cause of Christ, according as God
bad prospered them, and he preached
to them from the text, "Thou fool, this
night thy soul shall be required of thee,"
In discussing the subject, he considered
the question, " When was a business
man a fool in the sight of God!" He bad
great liberty, and the gospel truth went
home to the hearts oz tne people. . tie
quoted John Wesley as saying that he
wanted to make as much money as he
eould, and as fast as he eould, and then
to give it all away before he died, and
commended his example to others. He
said a christian who did that, when he
came to the river of .death would have
no worry, that his baggage would all be
checked in advance, it chanced that a
missionary, Rev. J. R. Harrison, was in
the city at the time soliciting funds to
enlarge the buildings of the Glade Spring
Female school. He approached one of
the members of this church and began
to talk to him about It. He gave him
$250; and another and another gave him
the same amount. When one of the
number was asked about his generosity,
he said, "Ah! I would bavfr given all I
had after that sermosftT' . Mr. Harrison
came in on the tide, and reaped a rich
harvest. Dr. Dickinson, who bad as
sisted him the week before In Norfolk
aod vicinity, had previously given him
$500. Hon. Edgar Allan, the first one
to give $250, rendered valuable assist
ance, and before Mr. Harrison left, he
had $1,500 from one chwrch.
The State Mission Board Is fortunate
In haying as Its chief evangelist in the
southwest, Rsv. J. R. Harrison. He has
built up interests in many places, but
no where has the cause been more helped
than at Glade Spring where there is a
growing Baptist church. A' few years
ago, by the aid oz brethren over the
State, be commenced here a female
school, where girls can get a very fair
education for $150 per year. The pat
ronage increased so rapidly that the
buildings are not now sufficient to ac
commodate those who apply, hence the
present effort by which Mr. Harrison
hopes to raise $10,000. That task com
pleted, It would be a yet nobler one, if
this devoted servant of the Lord would
devote himself to raising a fund to edu
cate poor girls. That Is the crying want
of the tl mes. The South needs enlarged
appliances for the few, but it needs far
more, a fund for the higher eduoatlon
of our girls. t
Miss fielUe Dickinson, a full graduate
of Holllns Institute, is a teacher in this
school.
Rev. M. A.. Wilson, who bears such a
resemblance to the late Dr. N. W. Wilson
tbat he has sometime been .taken for
him, Is also In the city, soliciting funds
for building a new church in the south
west. He is one of the truest and most
energetio of all the State missionaries.
He looks out .for new and growing
towns, and runs in ahead of other de
nominations in building churches. In
raising money for this object, he says he
wants as many as possible to receive the
blessing that attaches to the giver, and
so he stops along at many of the way
stations before coming to the larger
cities. . Some one has said, "When you
Bro. Wilson coming, you had just as
well put your hand In your pocket aod
hand him over five dollars, asking no
questions; for he Is Intent on the Lord's
business, and he knows no such word as
failure."
Dr. James A. Nelson of Staunton is
here, attending a meeting of the Board
of Trustees of the State Normal school,
located at Farmvllle. Before be left
FarmvtUe, be labored hard to get the
bill passed the Legislature to locate the
school In that town, and has given his
best thought to tne successful manage
ment of it ever since.
This institution is a matter of pride to
the Virginians. It was established about
three years ago, and has a full corps of
able teacnera, When there were several
towns competing for the school, Farm
vllle offered the buildings to the Stat.
of a large Metnodist uollege which was
purchased for a nominal sum. The true
tees are now memorializing the Legisia
tore for 3,UW with which to enlarge.
For $100 a girl can spend a whole ses
sion, If she expects to teach afterwards;
for the school, as its name Indicates.
is for teachers. It is In great favor with
th public, and many are eager to enter
Its walls. This Stat has only on Nor
mal school for girls. Many of the North
era aod Western States have several.
New York has five.
"On by on th leaves do fall, one by
one the shadows gather." The sad news
has come of the death at his horn In
North Carolina, of Dr. Philip S. Jeter.
who for many long weary months was a
great sunerer from rheumatism follow
ing upon an attack of typhoid fever. He
leaves a wife and three children; Ills
death recall the once nappy eirel tbat
made the household of Dr. J. B, Jeter
at No. 1 , Grac street When Dr,
Jeter married Mrs. Kate Dabbs, be had
aa adopted daughter named Bessie, and
ah bad an adopted eon named Philip.
Each determined to adopt these children
as their own, and th cam of Jeter
was given them. The family at that
time consisted of Dr. and Mrs, Jeter.
Bessie and Philip, and Mis Emily
Brown, a llfe-loog friend and compan
ion of Mr. Jeter. . Th first to go to th
t pint land was th venerable head. Dr.
Jeter j then followed In a few years hi
lovely aod beloved daughter Bessie, who
had married J. B Woodward of this
city. Next. Mrs, Jeter was taken, and
now Philip has laid off bis mortal coil
and gon to Join the little family in
heaven, t Miss Emily Brown alone re
mains. Although she has given her life
to serving others, exhibiting many shin
ing qualities, so has never com out
openly and connected herself with aov
ehureb, Many heart breathe th silent
prayer that ' sb i too mayy when her
end eomes, go to make op the missing
link lo tbe family above. Dr. Jeter
was a popular physician, and Is said to
have developed into a bright and activ
christian, much of which his devoted
wile is said to bay brought about.
On Christmas day1 the. Manchester
saints, or those at least who belong to
the Bainbridge Street Baptist church,
expect to re-enter, their house of wor
ship with joy and gladness. They have
worked long and sealously, largely aided
of course, by the good women, and have
put their house in really fin condition,
Beside new paper, paint, frescoing, &&,
a gallery loft has been put over th pul
pit for the choir, which Is a very marked
improvement. . " - '
Brother Luther R, ThornhUl Is a man
of ability, and as he ia a conscientious
student, he Is steadily growing . as a
nreacher. Hla rwtnnl am AmvntmA t
him. and th Kara minfUn Atl$
upsets them completely.
A few nights ago a great crowd gath
ered In the Halt of the House of Dele
5ates to hear three members of the
Sngllsh Parliament speak, according to
appointment, on tne reaoe commission.
Instead of three, one little, unprepos
sessing looking Englishman got up and
dryly discoursed on the subject, the
other two having gone on to New York
to eatoh a steamer to take them home.
Several years ago a gentleman from
England addressed the people on the
same subject. These gentlemen were
sent over by Parliament to try to induce
Congress to take some action with ref
erence to the question which is, that in
zuture an troubles between nations be
decided by arbitration, and not by the
sword. An effort is being made In many
quarters to create a sentiment among
tne people favoring it. Surely christian
nations ought not to be slow In favor-
s . . .. a . . . . . a a . 4
ing sucn an appeal as tnar.
Here is a card from Dr. Georse Cooper
of the First church, written partly In
Latin and partly In Greek. .Besides be
ing a Capital preacher, he pursues yet
tbe study of the classics con amors, and
is a shepherd of whom the old First ts
justly proud. It would be difficult to
und a church more In love with Its pas
tor, or a pastor more in love with his
church. It 1 pleasant to note that long
pastorates are growing in favor with the
pastor and people. There does not.
seem to exist much of that spirit of res
tiveness which is SO' destructive to the
growth of the pastoral tie. As soon as
a pastor begins to long for another field
ofiabor, his Interest in his own field di
minishes. Notable among the long pas
torates in Virginia are those of Rev. Dr.
T. H, Dunnaway, of Fredericksburg,
Dr. A. 15. Owen, of Portsmouth, aod J.
o. Hutson, of Richmond. Dr. Dun
naway preaches tomorrow his 21st anni
versary sermon. He is a tower of
strength In the city in which he lives,
freatly respected by all denominations,
t would be a difficult thlag to move
him. Dr. Owen Is one of the most Pop
ular pastors in the State. He and his
church have kept pace with each other
in tneir growth and innoenee. as a
speaker he has real oratorical power,
aod is much sought after for addresses
and lectures. May this union long re
main.
Rev. Joshua Hnfson. nastor of Pine
Street. Is the senior Baptist pastor in
the city, and is President of the Minis
ters' Conference. His church has grown
very much under his care, and he has
proven one of the truest and most em
eient of pastors. I. S. V.
8 intra eon's Withdrawal from the
London Baptist Union.
It seems to us that Baptist principles,
as held by our denomination In America,
have received a remarkable vindication
at tbe hands of Providence In the
course of Mr. Spurgeon In withdrawing
from the London Haptlst union. For
many years the supporters of open com
munlon have been asking why we did
not follow the example of Mr, Spurgeon,
the most distinguished Baptist ox the
age. In every controversy, public and
Erivate. the champion of our principles
as had to answer that question. We
have replied that Mr. Spurgeon endorsed
our -position and that, be claimed to
practice open communion only because
of the peculiar relations sustained by
dissenters to the established church of
England. Then, when they have re
torted on the Inconsistency of his course'
in following an unscrlptural practice for
tbe sake of expediency, we have bad no
reply to make. W have felt that he
owed it to himself and to the truth to
come out fearlessly for tbe right, leav
ing tbe consequenoee In the hands of his
God, but he saw his duty differently,
and we could do nothing but regret his
course and look to ZionV King to over-
role it for good. ; Aod our King has not
disappointed us. He has brought Mr.
Spurgeon himself to see his errors aod
to furnish the antidote; for them. The
same principle of expediency which led
the English Baptists Into nnscriptural
communion, Influenced them to wink at
looseness In doctrine. When once they
had turned away from the Bible as their
ebart aod taken expediency at their
guide, there was nothing left to indicate
a stopping place,, and they bare gone
on from one step in the I tne of expedi
ency to another, until, according to Mr.
Sporgeon'c statement, they are In fel
lowship with men "who call the fall a
fable, who deny the personality of th
Holy Ghost, who call Justification by
faith Immoral, and who hold tbat there
is another probation after death aod a
future restitution for th lost," What
better answer ean be given in tbe future
to th advocat of open communion
than to point him to Mr, Bourgeon's
Eieture of tbe results I We can tell bim
i experiment has been tried, tried
where there Is more eieos and better
reasons for It than can b found here,
tried under modify ing restriction that
mad ft almost a much Ilk our close
communion as like the open common'
Ion asked for, tried under the ministry
of the soundest doctrinal preacher la
the world who says concerning these
tendencies for evil, "I bay protested
often but there was no ns in protest
tag;" tried folly until there had been
time for bud. blossom and fruit, and
behold tbeVresults! . Other i denomina
tions can practice . open Communion
among tnemselve without reaping such
consequences, because tbey can practice
it without violating ay admitted Scrip
tars principles, , They all bold tbat the
Script ares require baptism, but they
bold tbat sprinkling or pouriog satisfies
th requirements, so they ean invite on
another and remain loyal to their Inter
pretation of the saviors command,
Their open communion is not based oa
expediency, sentiment, or desire for,
popularity, or fear ' of rid Sen 1. but
on their understanding of tbe teach
ings of tb Seriptures, So t bey ean
practice ir without ondermfoing their
demands for loyalty to Christ and
obedience to Hi Word. Bat whenever
believer in Immersion as the baptism
of th Bible, yields to th clamor for
open com man ion, b admit a principle
which repudiate tbe authority of
Christ as lawgiver in the church, and
thus opens th door for the entrance of
all manner of heresies and delusions
and jrtnders himself poweriesi against
sentiments of other denominations, may
est aside the Lord's commands in one
particular, why may not other people, '
for reasons satisfactory to themselves, .
set aside the Lord's commands in other
Particulars! If he protests against their
obedience, they can retort by point
ing to his, and he will find as Spurgeon
did, "there was no use In protesting,"
now ' reiresmng to Ui ; wno nav
mourned over Mr. Spurgeon incoaiis
teney to hear him easing now in bis
mature age and in italics, "Fellowship
with human and vital error ts carffci.
potion in tint . And further, It is
our solemn conviction that where there
can be no real spiritual communion,
there should be no pretence of fellow--shlp,"
"For useful, phllanthroploal, and
political purposes, united action u al '
lowable among men of the most diverse
views in religion, but tbe ease before us
is that of a distinctly religious commun
ion, a professed fellowship In Christ. Is
this to be made so wide that those who
contradict each other on vital points
may yet pretend to be at oner jf
these men believe -such things, let them
teaoh them, and construct churches,
unions and 'brotherhoods for them '
selves I Why must they come among us !'. -
" un that the day would come when,
In a larger communion than any sect f
can offer, all those who are one In
Christ may be able to blend In manifest
unity t Thts can only com by way of
growing spiritual , life, clearer fight
rn the one eternal truth, and a
tr cleaving in alt things to mm who
ts tne Head, even Chrtstr Jtsu$h" (italics
ours.) We think it is because Mr.
Spurgeon did not act in earlier life ac
cording the spirit of those quotations
from his recent article lnhis monthly
magazine that he is now forced in the
feebleness of approaching age to break
the ties that have bound him to the
Baptist Union, aod start, It were,
afresh in his life work. Wesympathlts
with htm in the pain the step
costs him and we regret the necessity
which forced him to It. but we rejoice
that he has been spared to see the eon '
sequences of his error, and' that he has
the grace to speak out sb clearly In
furnishing the antidote for it. Let the
nnlnstructed, the sentimental, tha ten
der-footed, and any others of our num
ber who have been sighing for a larger
liberty and a broader charity learn the
lesson so forcibly taught by Mr, Spur
geon's experience, and for the future let
them be satisfied to remain loyal to the
Saviour's will In the assurance that He
knew what was best and: has arranged
for the best. M.
The 8aqredneB of . the Wumber,
Seven an traced throughout
. ' all Scripture. 1 -4
The number seven has In all ages been .
considered as a remarkable number. -:
Among the Jews seven was a sacred
number and eupposed to contain many
mysteries; The cause of th veneration
may be traced to the hallowing of th .
seventh day at the ereatlon of the world.
Then there was the seventh consecrated
year of Jubilee; the clean beasts were
admitted Into the Ark by sevens; the
seven' lean and the seven fat kine. Then
we read of the seven ears of wheat in m
the dream of Pharaoh, the seven i
branches in the golden candlestick,
which were typical of seven lights, the
seven bullocks and seven rams offered
In sacrifices; the seven priests, who with
their trumpets encompassed Jericho
seven times. In the New Testament we
read of the seven loaves with which
Christ fed the moltltada; afldhof the .
seven baskets of fragments that were
left. In Revelation the seven churches
of Asia, seven splrRs before the throne,
seven stare, seven king, seven golden
candlesticks, seven seals," seven thun
ders, seven 'trumpets, ' seven angels,
seven mountains, seven-golden vials.
seven last plaguesr the lamb with seven
horns and seven eyes, and; the dragon
with seven-beads and sevenlerowns, and
the seven lamps of fire. Naaman dipped
himself seven times In the patera ox the
Jordan and was cured of bis leprosy.
misna stretched nimseix upon the dead
child, and it sneezed seven times and .
opened his eyes. Z Kings 4; 35. Seven
women snail use bold oi on mas.
Isaiah 4 : 1. Th "sluggard Is wiser in
bis own conceit than seven men tbat
ean render a reaon. " (Proverbs, ) We
read also tbat Jesus east seven davils
out of the woman, aod of the man who
took onto bimeelL seven devils worse
than at the first.. "The Jewish tradl-
tlons also ascribe" to It a mystic holiness,
from Its being composed of the numbers -three
and four three referring to the
mystery of the Trinity In unity, and four :
to tbe Ineffable- hams of Jehovah ai
written with four letters In tbe Hebrew."
The Jews walk around the body of the
dead sevecUln.es, they mourn seven days
for th dead after th manner of Joseph,
who mourned seven days for Jacob,
Th Sabeans believed tbat the earth was
governed and frottifled by seven planets, ,
and performed their devotions seven
times a day. Noah sent forth tbe raven -from
the Ark, and the dove thrice at
Intervals of seven, days. Gen, A $15,
24" Whosoever slayetn Cain vengeance
shall be taken on bim seven-fold,? Lev
16: 14 God told Aaron to sprinkle th
blood of tbe bullock before tbe 'mercy
seat seven times. Acts 6 eeven deacons
chosen. Gen. 8 J 4 the Ark rested la
th seventh month, on tbe seventeenth
day of the month, upon the mountains
of Ararat, Gen. 41 seven years of
plenty throughout tha land of Egypt,
and after them stven years of famine.
Job S; 19 be shall deliver thee la six
troubles $ in seven there shall ho evil
touch the. Lev, 26; Zi 1 will punish
yon seven times for your sins. Psalm
Iti 6 - the words of the Lord ere as sil
ver tried in a furnace of earth, purified
seven times. Th Sabbatical year was
celebrated among tbe Jews once every .
seven years. The alter of borat offer
ings especially was; sanctified by sacri
flees daring seven days; seven lamb '
were offered. ' On every seventh year
the law of Moses was read In public- f n ,
the ' preseoee of all tbe people, Tbe i
feasts of Trumpets was on th seventh
month of tbeacred year called Tishrf,
Tbe great feast of Tabernacles or booths .
bad its nam from tbe circumstance that
the Jaws were directed by their law to
dwell la booths during tbe seven days of
this feast. Lev, 23 i 40', Neb, 8; 14,
JtJrTJjra,
December 9, 1887,
. Truth lie in character. Christ did
not simply speak truth $ He was truth
truth through and tbrouglT; for truth I
a thing not of words, but of lif and bev
az. Jlobtrison. ,
1