Newspapers / The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, … / Oct. 12, 1836, edition 1 / Page 1
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; - , " - ' " .t . 1 . $37 i V t r ' i .... . ; ::1M1 ffiipMfmffi liIS(D(D)IEllIEo' " i .-' -- ' !"' ""''j n-TT-mi- , , , . - VOL. I NO. 11. J TERMS. The Biduc.u. R-kcokueu is : published" nvrrv WeUnesdar, 'at 30 per annum, "if --naid within "six -months, -ior S3 if, w.xll iihspnio:srlv t.- th-,t period. , f . i . ' ' ' ' . Any .pcson who vill become rtpGnible f.vi- six copies, or who will forward the name?; of six sub scribers, shall be entitled to aeiv'wt enp-j gratis. So subscription w bo received for less than o,i yenr, unless paid in advance; and no diseou timwiire will be allowed until arrearages arcpaid: Persons wfchihg to discontinue 'will bp expected to give notice to that client prior to thejc-binmenee-iu?nf of a, new year ; luh'ejrwise they will be con sidered as ' responsible lor the ensuing twelve MmitlH. ' . ' '' . f ' AE coinihunieations except those of agents who aejj gratuitously, to secure attention, must be post -; L'o;n the Provuloace Journal t am.ionu.ot reading tne i loly criptnre V- side IrQin the blessed principle find pi C-ept which the Bible inculcates, thereisin thif 'lan--g'uayt? and conception of its composition a bea-uty and subliniity far exceeding iw most labAired and bigh potished. productions olj mete uninspired rnan. I could wish that all mi'jfht be brouiiln lo regard the Scriptures, with the -attention, at leasl I U" Hi' 1 t loir n r it ervi c 11 ,'ri1 in n : r urn - ' nnt nl view, wouiu alone seem to, demand, it appears would alone seem to demand ? tne, that the interest: ttaclial to 'the mere? reading of Holy -Writ is more endless a ud ever j -.resli, than any other species of composition. It i .has bv'eu well observed by an eminent author, that nothing. contributes more towards heighten ing, and invigorating, and rendering lively the imagination, prto-the clothtr.i; of the lancv with vivid and sublime conceptions, than ait intimate! I knowledge ot the bible. 1 he introduction cfthe Scripture, by a, skillful author, alp.rays adds grace and dignity to his writings. .Who that hath per- f. hsed IvAXiipi:, the chefd'a uvre of the " Wizzard ' of the North," but has realized the truth of this re lnark r" The heait bents'quicker, as w e read t!ie teply of liebecca, the Jewess, to the hero's in i Q'-iiry re!iitivoto the battLe, which was raging " Villi irresistible fury without. 'Yet what is it . whiteh gives that reply its ureat force and beautv. .' . It is the sublime and beautiful extract from the 'Word of God, with which it closes "there is g . voice like the sound of many -waters-ythe (jh.ivel v:Utlth the glittering spear and.lbefehiid tlu' noise ofMhe captains and the shoutings." There h much, excellence irr the' brevit-of expression which characterizes the Scriptures. Where, V-lbr example, is the. life ofman summed tip with such pathos, and yet in" so few words, as in Job ? ' lie conu'th forth like a flower, rind is cut down u -he- flei'th also like a sliadciw, and eoatinueth not I I lis days pass like the swift ships like an eagle thaj halencth to the prey 1" And Death in what language but that of the upright nun pf Uz, can we find so explicit a description of that deep and dreamless sleep? " One dieth in his full strength, being y holly at ease and qui- i.t Li firc:i cjt-? :i re fu 1 1 nf in if It rind hihnns n n - moistened with tnarrow--anotherieth in the h they eclipse all other systems intended to bitterness of Ins spirft.arU never eateth with plea- lighten man into the secret places of the Almigh-sn-e ! They shall all lay down alike in the dust, lf you therefore sincv rely .desire to be a friend ami the worms shall cover them. God ch"an'-L "1,fjd. and 10 llve habitually m. lis favor, . (-xh their eonntehance,-and stmdeththem away!' Chns,1 s atonement must be thefasis upon which There is nolhing like the pathos and beauty of j your hopes-are raised. . lie causes ail His love -ffe Word of (iodits sublimity, inimitable ! 1 ! iot scltk on.hl3 Son and yours roust fix on. linn 'never read the description of the niajesty of the also- . IIe 1S vveli Phased with the work of his Almt-htv, by l-l.tbakkuk, without an involunta- Son, and you must be satished in it too. He has . v and a'l.nosJ shud.!erini2 sense of ad.hiration. th-pended on the pledges of his Son, and he will , r In the prophecy of Isaiah,. concerning Babylojn' . j't'he beauty of theJChuldees' excellencyMiow stibliuiely and eloquently are depicted the desola-j flion of lie r. destruction, and tne ruin ot her final i .,. f ill : "It shall nth'er be inhabited, neither shall it bvd welt from generation to generation, neither shall the Arabian pitch his tent there, neither y shall the: shepherds make . their folds there ; V but tho wild beast 6f the desert shall he there ; .and their', houses shall be full of doleful creat i tires; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs dance there.- Thorns shall ccumun her palaces: nettles and brambles in the fortresses there of , '"there shall tho great owl make her nestand lay and hatch?; andgather under the shadow there -shall the vulture also be gathered, every one witliher mate V ' " The history of our Saviour from his infancy at Bethlehem, to liis suffering on Calvary, is one continued narration of intense interest ; whether in youth instructing the elders'in the temple ixiaturer yearsrpcrforming'miracles: comforting tfi'f.'nfflicted. because they fainted, and were sc.at- A tored abroad'as "sheen having no shepherd" ut- ', texin'T to simple fishermen his beautiful precepts j drinkthgthe outer cup in tne solemn gAraen oi Gethsettune orcjilling, in agony, te his heav enly leather on Uie cross.' Nothing could.be more simple than the lamentation over Jerusa lem. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! thou thatkil 'lest the prophets, and stonest-them that are sent unto three, how often would I have gathered tlv children together,as a hen doth gather her brood under Iht wings and ye wofuld not! His farewell to his mourning disciples, previous to . "otng avi'ay to tho awful scenes of his crucifix- 'ion, is touching in the -extreme. We beheld him about to bear the rburden of their iniquities de spised and rejected of men ; a man of sorrows.and , acquainted with grief, treading the wine- press a 1,w Mv neace I leave whh you : my peace I rrivevinto vou: not as the world gth, give 1 unto vou." 1 never read this beautiful passage, . without callincr to mind a scene I once, witnes on a Sabbath, at an obscure country church in Pennsylvania. It was the season oiad.rninister in"1 the Lord's Supperand as the building was cmalL the communion service was held in anad- . ininin'fr wWd. The sum ner wind murmured in thi trees above, and the uri-light trembling through tne branches, danced flickeringly on the mia whitn cloth that covered instable. An old wnman nearlv blind, whose only son, I was in ' formed, htid been killed an awful accident but '"twA diVs before, sat at the sacred board, near ..tw tho minister stood ud to break to W UVI v WJ.W - 1 . i rnnTrptration the bread of life. As he 'de tailed thesurTering of the Saviour, tear followed " down the corrugatyd cheek of the widowed mo DEVOTED 1 wtoZSS&Wt 3ZX1&.Z ther; but as ho repeated the fiords of Christ to nis s-rrdA :ngdiscipIes?she looked up with eyes brightening- iu their dimness, and a countenance ul calm beuignt)', and clasping! her brown atten uated hands," munm&ed. wta whisper, " l'eace peace, not as the world gi veth.'j i was a thctug ht less, wayward youth then, but i know not how it was, as l.azed on the -lighted "features of that poor atllicted woman, -blessing her ( !od in that solemn wood, my heart melted, and I almost. in voluntarily exclaimed, " If this W religion, let 'me live the life, that I may die death of the righteous and Jet my last end be like'his.j'- Setting religion, the great atd essential prin ciples of the Bible, aside, I shoijld stilliike;to pe rt! s,e its pages. But how ougllit we to eon am! rejbiceover its precepts ; beautiful, indeed, a hd lovely, -when we re fleet' that thvy will lead us, when this "mortal shall put1 on iinmortaIitv," to tne green pastures, and beside the still waters of a better land. - Ii these desultory thoughts, huistilv lhro.vn tn- i ITftne ;r, should induce an lover of refined Ian- i guage and moTal and religious beauty, to turn to the Bible, and cast over its contents an observant i and admiring eye 1 shall be gratified in reflect ing that I have not ventured in yain upon a sub- jct - wkieh at first si ht mi irlit seem hacknied at I!! ; - . h the way of acc;:s. If, therefore,. werc seeking an actriaintnnce with Ciud, this truth must be actejiS upon, that Je sus Christ is Cloil'a established -medium 6t com rnunication with tis. No audiei'ice-of the Ma jesty of Heaven can be obtained, -but through Him. " 1 am th way, 'and the truth and the life: -no man cometh.uuto the Father but by .i.e." And the reason is this. sin'. u as, (and is still,- a fearful o! broke th fearful obstacle to aeutiaiutance w! it ii .Cod. This original friendship, aiu placed man at lore he says to i me, I never enmitv with his. Maker, and theri you this day, " The fault is not i --. . i . - r . -i fceuu you away irom my presence witn a get thee henci4.' but 'your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His lace from you.' " Now,! till sin is! re nounced, and reconciliation effected, .no friend ship can exist. And this must be done on the most honorable terms. The claims of justice trjust.not be sacrificed at the shrine of Mercy. God must be just while mere ilul, 'equitable, while compassionate. His honor will not allow him 'to befriend the.sinner, without receiving satis faction for his cllence. j - There -is therefore .no way of commencing this acquaintance but by. the Cross of Christ. Vows, and penances, and promise of amend ment, "are--not sufficient. Satisfaction to Divine justice and cordiality in the sinner," meet only m the Cross. They blend their rays as the colors of the rainbow, and fornj a halo. of glory around that celestial spot. The Cross is the centre of all God's purposes of mercy to fallen man,around which they shine with so resplendent a lus to, have you depend on them also: for f Him hath he set forth for a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare His- righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the for-L iiearance of God, to declare, I say,! at this time, : His righteousness, that he might be just, and tht justiher of him that beheveth in Jesus, lie has set him forth as the brazen sefpetit was ex hibited by Moses, that you might behold his vir tues, and looking on Him, five: .; Disdain not this method bf love He cannot allow the most splendid sacrifice to compensate for faith in His Son. "This is His commandment, t that nve should believe on the name of His son Jeus Christ," the first and great commandment of the Gospel, which indeed includes every other. Certainly -we. should not account that man our friend or Avish hi-m to be familiar with us, who in spite of all instituted decorum, a.nd "our re peated entreaties, attempted to scale our wall and climb in at the window, rather than enter in by the door; And. what is your conduct but a "neg lect of "Christ? "the door" by which all w.ho are received iuto the Father's House as his children must enter in; while you, lilfea thief and. a rob ber, climb up the other! way! How can you hope for the friendship- of God, upon principles so opposite to His revealed will 1 j" He that be lieveth on the Son hath everlasting life ; and he that belie vetti not the Son shall not see life, but j the wrath of God abideth on him." Sherman's Guidi to acquaintance with God. RELIGIOUS ENJOYMENT. About this there are some mistakes which need correcting. One of these is the pre-emi nence which is often given to it as essential to nietv and as evidence of n. I he! language of some indicates1, that happiness in religion is, in their view, almost the only indication of the ex istence of religious principle, i hey. resolve all questions respecting, character, into one or the other of these positions; they! do, or they do not enjoy themselves." And the description and the only one many employ as designating con version is, "He :is rejoicing." j As a conse quence many pursue religious enjoyment as tho J :s r.i ti.: i grand oujeci, aim seem iu leei iuai iiuiuiu uas been gained if they are destitute of it, and that the soul must almost necessarily be an outcast if it be not happy in religion. ; :: Wethintc there is a serious error here. We An not find religious character spoken of in the Scriptures as if enjoyment was its chief char acteristic. We find'it indeed abundantly as serted that nietv is the only foundation of all his solid hanniness : that reconciliation to God and the cordial oerformance of his will are sources ' of the most pure and noble satislactipri., nna men 1 . .. . .! 1 GI-Nl'RAL INTEU.IGENOE.- T. MEUHDITII.'kDITOR."- XKWHKRNJn. u. WKDXliSDAY, OCTQHKR are ealh d upon to " rejoice iu the Lord" and to ij.,. be "glad in the Curd of their salvation. ;t is not the substance of piety, it is not the "mark of the prize of our high ca'llnv." It is put down as one, but only as one, of the evi ueuces ol mans acceptance with hu M lauer. 1 hero are many other (acts of e.iual i i.: .1. . . i ! ' impor- u,"' uuK-ii must exist in one s cnaracter as tes timonv of conversion. In a special enumera tion of such testimonies we lit. d this arrange ment. "The ft nit of the spiiit is, love, joy, peace, longsutl'ering, gentleness, goo Juess, lailh' Here joy hns no .pre-eminence. It ought nottu have, iu our estimation of religious charac ter. , 1 ins pre-emiiience.'i ven to religious jo- will endanger, all the Christian graces.. 4J man can make a: y one a chief indication of the soul' s;ifety without a certain imde'rvaluaiioii of others. Nor Can any one pe cpiielly nlti- vated without its beiny made, inseti'siblv h';ins n subtitnf.i fiirvivn,. .t..v rt.,. i.. .1 .T. K...... pt r all the rest. We are lamiliar ivlili k-s wk.-iv zeal ibr example, has devoured, like the lean kine of Pharaoh's dream, other and t-on.illv im- . . f .k .. .... pujwuu i;ujeej-. .m'niiii'ss, patience, gentleness and humility have been trodden under foot by its unnatural p re nejjri nance. So bcprcolntt ac tion nas sometime been exalted to such supre macy that, resistafcep of temptation, the quench ing of a fiery temper and other important Chris tian -attainments have been entirely underval ued. .So enjoyment in religion may be ?o pur sued as greatly to injure (he harmony 'of Chris tian character. Keligious enjoyment is to be regarded as tho ... . .. i". i . i ! i i t' f icoiiii, auu not sought as me great end of religion It is not to be held up as the great ohj ct ot a hrittian s pursuit, or as a grand and' decisive tea of Christian character It is not the object of duty but its consequence. It. is to be sought asa -natural and usual result of tht soul's cheerful and faithful compliance with the will of ( iod. The question with ev ery disciple therefore should not h -how shall 1 be happy," but, "how shall I be ami do that which is right in the sight of God?" Let him follow out the great objects of his creation and redemption as the high purpose of his soul, leav ing the question of happiness to take care of itself. Let the intense desire of his heart, and the stedfast aim of his life be, to glorify (iod his Saviour in all duty. Let such be the "moral state cf his soul and he will not want for the pe rest and noblest pleasures of the rational mind. " But if, even in the most conscientious fidelity, he may not possess the spiritual joy he would desire, he has tio right on that account, to conclude-that he has received the grace of God in vain. Nor lias; he any right to murmur or de spond. His business istodo his duty even if unbroken glabra covers him till the close of his pilgiimage But he need not fear this. Clouds may for a season occupy, but they do not consti tute the ordinary drapery of the horizon. Lei the discipli? do his whole duty and do it because he loves it as the will of his Father in Heaven ; let him do it because it is right, and not simply in pursuit of happiness, and there will be days of gladness in his moral history far outnumber ingthose of sadness. . ;! Recorder. From the New Orleans Observer, HOW THE CHURCHES SHOULD PROMOTE .THE tSiafLN ESS OF THE MINISTRY. We subjoin a few remarks on this subject from a pastoral address published in. the New Hamp shire Observer. The question for consideration is. How can you, as a member of the Church, pro mote the usefulness a j your minister. You can co-operate with him in promoting the cause of Crist ' 1. By a proper attention to his pecuniary sup port. No duty incumbent upon the Church is more plainly enjoined in the word of God than this; none more in accordance with the dictates of justice and reason. . "Take heed that thou forsake not the Levite so Innn- as thnn shalt live unnn tht orrtfi " Ileze- kiah commanded the people to ?ive the portion I of the priests and Levites that thev' may be en couraged in the law of the Lord. Christ said, " The workman is worthy of his meat." Paul said, " lf we have sown unto you spiritu al things; is it a great thing if we reap your car nal things? " Dj ye not know that they which wait at the altar, are partakers with the altar? "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gos-j pel. And again, saith Paul, " Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things." Moreover, by every pinciple of equity, as a matter of right between man and man is the du ty urged. i Let not a minister of the gospel be covetous ; let him not engage in worldly speculation; let him give himself wholly to his appropriate work, that his profmnar may appear to all : at the same time let him expect comfortable provision lor his temporal wants as lar as tncaoiiiiv oi ins people will allow, r.ot as a matter of charity, but ofiustice. , Such provision is essential to his userumess. No minister of the gospel can be eminently use ful, who amidst distracting embarrassment, is perpetually struggling for the means ot subsist ence. Let his support be competent, and let It be paid punctually according to agreement, and then you may justly claim the devotion oi ins time and talents to your service in the Lord. Let not the debt that you owe to your minister Detnc last debt which you pay. There are those who seem to make a matter of calculation to pay all others before thev Dav their minister. Brethren, a word to the wise is sufficient Unon this noint we need not multiply arguments The historv of our churches will show how multiplied and serious are the difficulties which arise from the want of a proper attention to this : 7 . : m 12, 18;Ui. duty. It is not ofteiv that a minister is dismissed save on account.of tro.ihh-s which originate, in' this source. We exhort you, therefore, so punc tually and adequately u, provide for your minis ter, that he may be unembarrassed with worldly care.and free to give himself wholly to his work. Thus will you ullbfd effectual aid to the cause of Ch'rit. 2. Vou should co-operate with your minister, by cherishing a proper regard for his good repu tation. By this, wo.li. not uK-an that you should be insensible to his fault, nor that "you should justify his wrong doing: but that you sho ild not magnify his imperfections, but ra'lher extenuate them, being sensible how easy it is to discover blemishes in the nio'st perfect of men, and re menibering that to earthen vessels is the treasure of the gospel committed. Your minister's usefulness is essentially iden tified with his good name. Be careful, therefore, properly to protect his reputation. Kepel with a just indignation e.ery slanderous insinuation against his character. By thus sustaining him in the confidence of the people, you will effectu ally aid the cause of Christ. ' 3. You should co-operate with vour minister by a punctual attendance upon his ministra-' lions It is encouraging lo the minister of the go-pel : it. essentially sustains the reputation of religion in view of the world, when the brethren of the church cheerfully attend not only "upon the regu lar ministrations of the sanctuary, but also upon the appointed social meetings. While in most of our churches there are some few individuals who arc always at their post and faithfully en courage their.pastor by their constant preseiice in the house ot God and at the prayer-meeting, there are others who seem to have no adequate sense of their responsibility in relation to this subject, who allow the .. ost "trifling inconvenien ces, the most trivial excuses to keep them from the place of worship, and who suffer no true re gret, are not grieved when real obstacles con fine them at home. Persons who thus feel and act have too much reason to question the genu ineness of their piety. It is certain that the in fluence of their example is exceedingly unhap py. They are usually a dead wcight'upon the neck of the church. From such members the minister of Christ receives comparatively no en couragement nir co-operation. Remember, dear brethren, that the appointed means of grace will confer blessings otilv so far as they are encouraged and sustained by our pre sence and prayers. If you neglect the place where (iod is worshiped and where ho proposes to meet men with his favor, the mfluencv of such ! an example,' you can easily perceive, must be disastrous. Moreover, it is chilling and disheartening to the servant of God, lo be compelled to preach to empty scats anu naked walls, it is exceedingly ! depressing to find himself comparatively alone j anu iinsustamed at the social prayer-meeting. J But oh ! if there be one verdant spot in the whole t field of a minister's labors, one spot on which hii eyes re-t with delight, and his heart contem plates with confidence, it is that which is pre sented by that little company of faithful, warm hearted disciples who iccompany him in all his labors of love and efforts to do good, and who are constant at the house of God and the house of pra-er to sustain him by their presence, their sympathy, and their supplications. It is this which makes his heart beat high amidst the dis couragements with which he is surrounded, and chcer3 him on in his self-denying efforts to do good. 4. You should co-operate with your minister by faithfully maintaining church discipline. Disorderly members should be admonished, re buked ; and incorrigible ones should be exclud ed from the church for so hath the Lord order ed. 5. You should co-operate with your minister by encouraging religious instruction, in the form of Sabbath sc hools and Bible, classes. These are the nurseries of piety the religious- academies. in which are. trained the young cadt-ts who are tc supply the spiritual armies of Jesus Christ. In no way can a church do more in aiding the great cause than by sustaining vigor ously these institutions. It is by these that the ground work of piety in the rising generation is laid. Here the good seed of truth is sown. You may not sec its fruit immediately, but in due time it will be forthcoming. Dear Brethren, By your ' presence, your prayers, and your active co-operation, give en couragement to Sabbath schools and Bible exer cises. Go jrourself, and take your children with vou. You yourseit may be neither too old nor i too wise to learn iri thse institutions. And vou may b assured that if truth, divine truth, be God's appointed means of sanctifi cation, these institutions by inculcating truth. lay the best possible foundations for the virtue, piety, prosperity, and happiness of your chil dren. G. You should co-operate with your ministers by visiting from house to house in a friendly, so cial and religious manner. There is something exceedingly congenial, comforting and confirming in free, social. and religious intercourse among brethren. By fami liar inquiry, mutual exhortation, thus stirring up each other s pure minds by way of remembrance, a twofold blessinrr is conferred. Both he .who receives and he who imports, arc blessed togeth er 7.' You should co-operate with your minister bv encouratrincr the circulation and reading of religious tracts & periodicals. No family should be without a competent number :of the religious periodicals of the day. The world is teeming with interest. The Church is undertaking and carrying forward great enterprises for Zion. Ali her moral elements are in commotion, ierment ing about to produce some great revolutionary results. To be without information respecting the pas sing occurrences of the day, is to be in effect out nfthe world. The man who is without intelli gence has r.o feeling; his sympathies arc all. WHOLE NO. 93 rntnnrir,l i r and as to rii.mi..mi n : t ,,,n, ,, i : -- j uviwKiii i irom such an ignorant, tnsolated indirhhUl w,.llVM1 , UIJJi. ocnevoient work might as w.11 ..r -., yoti r. -i PeJitv aU? iS ,CSSenti,al l lh sP'"tual'prcs- inTdnriM1! PrCadl ?V,lh cfIlcl P0" the great 'peop In o ' rnte'P7" f lh W unless hi. peoph l a o been previously cn!ishtenecl by rend-: Chri" ' 'T1 I,B8ola the sympathies of thar temnlV, ;iW',,0-'haS "l auSioir.cd o con mplate the stirring movements of the age thro' the medium of religious periodical,. 5 JX-ar Brcil,ren!W,ll you encourage there hg o? periodicals of the day ? Will von seeto . that no family m the church to whiJh lou be long be without information ? It were better for a Christian famrly to dispense with a part of their ordinary meals. Let bread be scarce rather than a dearth of intelligence. What is a man without knowledge? 'What a poor, drv contracted, tin. prohtab'.e bemg is a Christian 'without intellect-' ual and moral improvement and elevation ? God intended that pur mental capacities should ex pand in view of truth. Whatever else, then, you neglect, wc beseech you, neglect not the means of moral aud inte' lectual enlargement and elevation. Do not av I cannot aflbrd it." Von can afford it much better than you can aflbrd any thing cite. Re trench in bread, retrench in meat, rctrcurh in ar parel, but do not, we entreat you, do not impro perly retrench the mcars of nourishing and mak ing vigorous your immortal mintis. It is your life, your moral dignity, your spiritual health your immortal happiness! Fiv:n ihc Charleston Obserr CHRISTIANS SUPPORTING INFIDELITY AND nOMAN CATHOLICISM. Decision is a noble ingredient in a Christian character. It is a spur to the timid, a shield to the weak, and a tions'ofSatan. - O " - uv billiUi4 in tins stage oi the world Chris- Hans are required to be clothed continually in thn whole Gospel armor j to be " wise as serpents " very jealous for ihc cause of God ; and not to be lieve every spirit but try the spirits whether thev arc of God. I am not in favor of withholdiug any right from Christians, to wheh they have a Scriptural claim ; neither of imposing any un necessary duty upon them. Religion never was intended to be a gagtostco men's mouths, or to deny them the privilege of thinking for them selves. As citizens. Christians have a right to their opinions; and a right too (when duty calls tor it) to express them. But I hold that Chrijt- ia:is shoul j be " on sided men " I n houl by this that they should be bigoted: or so tightly Jaced in their own narticu ar tenet n tn demn every one who differs frpm them. But de cidedly Ohmtians, unyielding, uncompromising with the world ; "not carried about by every wind of doctrine;" or turned like the weathercock by every breeze. . Always careful not to aflbrd their enemy any weapon which may afterwards be hurled against themselves. To be a Christian, a mere hollow hearted profession, a cold handrd gra$p,ox lukewarm indifference, is noteiouh so.neyvidcnce more satisfactory than this isre quired "by their fruits ye shall know them." Otir attachment for a person may generally be. seen in our external conduct j although this is not always a safe criterion to judge bv, for there is sometimes great attachment manifested, when there is very little felt. . Christians should bo careful not to feel more for the world than they manifest; or to support that which is directly op posed to their profession. It mast be admitted that the principles of the Christian, and those of the Infidel or Roman Catholic, are in direct nn tagonisrn with each other; and whoever defends or tncournges the one, either directly or indirect- ly, must so far injure the ether. . But do Christians support Infidtlityl In what way is such a thing possible? Suppose a Chris tian, who like a great many of our day takes a newspaper, and as he cannot afford to take more than one, this must be a political i paper, from which he can get "the news of the day," market prices, and whaUs doing in Congress, &c. He supports a paper when the known principles of its editor aro Infidel a man who is quite, nay more ready to defend Roman Catho licism than any thing else. This nan) reads this paper from week to wcck.he scey Itnfr Wicturcs j on Christianity; Christians ar charged ihh m i - . tolerance: Roman Catholics are laudrd fnr Mh. pr.ilitr. &lc This sweetened run itK j sonous ingredients is carelessly handed around among his children; they grow up, and become Infidels or Roman Catholics ; and whose fault is j it ? Through whoso instrumentality werr they made so f Was the parent at all accessary to it? it is a principiem law tnat an accessary is equal ly guilty with the principal. Will God hold this parent guiltless, who thus pats into the nanas oi uis cnuaren such caiigereas instru ments ? I do not say that it is wronr, or a moral evil, for Christians to read or support political papers; but I do say that a Christian should be caretul nottos ieport Infidelity, or encourage the " beast" in any form. No poliiical preju dice, or party feelinsr.wil I justify a man in raising his children Infidels, nnstians snouia dc one sided men all lor religion. k flow can a Christian eonsent to sell or distri bute Volney's Ruins.or Payno's works ? jWould any one do it for the small profit ? Surely not. A physican whose profession is to cure, might as consistently disseminate the seeds of Cholera, and wish bis neighbor well. But many Christ ians excuse themselves by saying, like the Dea con who sold rum for a living, " If I do not an other will." Warm a frozen viper, and the first symptoms of life will be seen in a stroke at its benefactor. . " ' t D. ' . ' 1 vr-! :1 i i i -V
The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 12, 1836, edition 1
1
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