THE ROWERS COLLECTION
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1
71
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY A COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA CON FERENCE, M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH. SUFUS T. IIEFLIN, Editor.
JBbi
H SO a Year, ia Advance-
ABVOCA
(DrfgiiraL
For the X. C. Christian Advocate.
The Little Iron Wheel-
3. UMBER I.
Rev. R. T. Heflix:
Have you ever seen " Tite Little
Irox Wheel," lately published by
" Graves, Marks & Co., Nashville,
Tenn." ?
This is a book of 807 pages, con
sisting of III Parts. The first is a re
print of A Declaration of Chris
tian Rights,' by Dr. II. B. Bascom,
and formerly published by the ' Re
formers' in Baltimore. To this J. R.
Graves has subjoined ' Notes of Ap
plication and Illustration.' These
Notes' are in substance identical with
his views in 'The Great Iron Wheel.'
It is not my purpose to follow this
writer through his entire work, but to
offer a few thoughts upon some of his
positions, professedly based upon the
4 Declaration of Christian Rights,'' by
Dr. Bascom. In doing this, I shall
select such of Dr. Bascom's ' Articles'
which seem to furnish this Note' wri
ter with the material of his vitupera
tions. Article I.
" God, as the common Father of
mankind, has created all men free and
equal, and the proper equality and so
cial freedom of the great brotherhood
of the human race, in view of the gifts
and grants of the Creator, are to be j
inferred from all his dispensations to
men. Every man,
by the charter of!
his creation, is the equal of hi3 con
temporaries the essential rights of
every generation are the same. Man, j
a3 the child of God's creation, contin- j
ues man immutably, under all circum
stances and the rights of ancestry are
those of posterity. Man has claims, j
which it becomes his duty to assert, in J
right of hi3 existence, such as the in- j
defeasible right of thinking and act- j
, - j '; fu p t,
firm nn nor lntrinrfA rhf rij'hr. or nnorn-
er, as they never will, when truth and i ;ucic ,uv , ttSse,muiJ Ul "
justice are made the basis of human in- ! chosen V the people, to enact laws
tercourse. These rights, common to conforming to such a constitution All
the great family of man, cannot be i J18 waf d?"e summarily and without
abolished bv coneess on. statute, nre-
. . . . . ' r
cedent, or positive institutions ; and
when wrested or withheld from the
multitude of mankind, by their rulers,
may be reclaimed by tne people, when
ever thev see oropertodo it." II. B.
Bascom.
Thus far. Dr. Bascom. In his
4 Notes,' J. R. Graves, seems to call in
question some of these positions, and
runs into a somewhat lengthy discussion
of Slavery. The origin and continu
ed existence of Slavery, he concludes,
is antagonistic of the assumptions of
Dr. Bascom. This, doubtless, is true ;
and equally so, to many assumptions
on the subject of 'freedom and equal
rights' it is upon the ground of this
assumption, viz., 'free and equal' rights,
that all the pretentions of Reformers
to equal privileges in the establishment
and administration ef constitutional and
statutary laws, is founded. This seems
to be the view of Dr. Bascom in this
article. Now, as the first article is the
foundation principle, it may not be out
of place to consider it carefully. The
position here assumed, the Dr. thinks,
is fully sustained by, and is ' to be in
ferred from all his (God's) dispensa
tions to men.' A careful investigation
of God's ' dispensations to men,' will, I
think, demonstrate the erroneousness
of this fundamental principle, and by
natural consequence, invalidate all the
arguments and conclusions comprehen
ded in the articles following.
As this subject must be considered
in close connexion with governmental
affairs, and all God's ' dispensations to
men,' it is proper to view in this in
stance, the ' dispensations of God to
men' in the organization and perpetu
ation of governments among men.
And,
1. J. R. Graves admits, that the
principle here assumed, does not hold
in the case of Ham and his posterity,
who, to this day, are in bondage, by an
act of the Divine ' dispensations to
men.' This, then, must stand as a
' precedent by which is demonstrated,
that God in 'his dispensations to men'
in the organization and perpetual con
tinuance of governmental affairs, did
not regard the ' free and equal' rights
of all mankind. ' The proper equality
and social freedom of the great broth
erhood of the human race, in view of
the gifts and grants of the Creator,'
cannot, therefore, ' be inferred from all
hi3 dispensations to men.'
2. Nor is this true only with regard
to Ham and :hose descended from him,
but is equally so with respect to the
Ishmaelites and the Edomitcs. These,
a3 well as the posterity of Ham, were,
in the 'dispensations' of Divine Provi
dence, far, very far, below the condi
tion of the posterity of Abraham
through Isaac and Jacob. In these
instances, we see a marked difference
in the freedom of their political, civil,
and religious rights, from those enjoy
ed by Abraham and his descendents,
the Israelites,
As respects the Ishmaelites, it is evi
dently true, that they have never, even
to this day, enjoyed what the assump
tion here contemplated, supposes. It
is true, they have never been, to any
I great extent, subjected to the control
and government of other nations : yet,
it is equally true, that they have never
been, in a general and collective sense,
organized into any thing like a consti
tutional government. Their system of
government, from its very nature, is
the most autocratic and despotic, that
can well be imagined. Their govern
ment as Tribes, in its essential element,
was any thing else than a
equal' elective one. As
free and
a general
rule, the Tribe was governed by regu
lar succession of princes, not by elec
tion of the people, i. e. the Tribe ; but
as all Monarchies are, only on a smal
ler scale. Here, then, we have anoth
er instance of the ' Creator's dispensa
tions to men,' utterly inconsistent with
the principle assumed by Dr. Bascom,
and contended for J. R. Graves in his
Little Iron Wheel,' a mere re-hash
of 'The Great Iron Wheel.' The!
governmental principles, as closely con
nected with, and essential to the sys
tem of Ishmaelitish rule, will be resum
ed in a subsequent number.
In regard to the Edomites, the pos
terity ol Esau, the same great princi
ple is seen, in the 4 dispensations (of
God) to men,' as so clearly developed
in the case just considered. The Edom-
ites never cua enjoy tne same high,
'free and equal' rights and privileges
possessed by Jacob and the Israelites.
This is evident from the testimony of
Moses, Malaciii and Paul. These
witnesses unite in testifying, that God
in ' his dispensations' towards them, did
T' lu nu, webcenuanra, wnai
deny to Esau and descendants, what
"? Sraniea. t0 a coo ana tne Israelites,
his posterity. Here, then, are facts
notorious in their history, which fully
demonstrate the erroneousnesa of the
principle assumed by Dr. Bascom in
thi3 ' article,' and endorsed by J. R.
Graves.
None of these governments, whether
Abrahamic, Ishmaelitish, or Edomitic,
originated in, or were organized by
Representatives chosen by the people.
No such convention ever convened to
.originate constitutional law :
.
nor was
veyed to delegates, by an exercise of
.l.V Ui f-1c w-&"-
the elective franchise. This speaks in
thunder tones on this subject.
It may be objected here against what
1 have said, that, aooor,;rg diner,
views, I am utterly opposed to free
suffrage in these matters, and must
coalesce with the principles of Autoc
racy and Monarchy. To this I an
swer, 1. That I am equally opposed to an
Autocratic and Monarchial form of
government. Neither or these, I be
lieve, are the best form of government.
But, I am far from affirming, that neith
er of these, fall within the range of the
Divine ' dispensations to men if I did,
I must deny the general as well as the
special Providence of God. But,
2. I answer that I am far from af
firming that God has, by Divine Pre
script, established that peculiar kind
of government contemplated in this first
article of the 'Declaration of Chris
tian Rights' by Dr. Bascom, and en
dorsed by J. R. Graves. With the
3Iosaia Institutions, as a Divine The
ocracy before me, I must enter my pro
test to such an idea. Add to this, the
genius of the New Testament Church
forbids this. If Christ is King set
upon the holy hill of Zion, then does
it follow, that he has the sole right to
appoint, the officers of his Church, (see
Matt, xxvii. 18-20 ; Eph. iv. 11-16 ;)
and consequently, no elective franchise
exercised by the people (i. e. the laity,)
in contravention to, or inconsistent with
the appointment of Christ, can be val
id. The whole New Testament econo
my '3 predicated upon this principle.
i my next, the subject of this No.
will be resumed.
Yours, affectionately.
PETER DOUB.
Greensboro', Nov. 21, 1847.
For the N. C. Christian Advocate.
Our Preachers.
Bro. IIeflin : The chilly Novem
ber blasts are whistling among the
boughs and dashing the 'sere and yel
low' leaves in many a fantastic circle
to the earth. The 'corn-song' is heard
in the evening, vociferated from the
lusty lungs of the negroes as they wend
their way to the shucking. Everything
we see, and everything we hear remind
us that winter is upon U3, and forces
upon the mind the fact that to change
is the lot of all things around us, and
that we too, change with the rest.
How many pleasant experiences of even
the past summer, will soon live only in
the memory ! How many happy friend
ships formed, have been severed, to be
renewed no more on earth. Like the
flowers that bloomed and withered, we
have enjoyed their fragrance only to
feel their loss more keenly. What a
glorious hope it is, that in time we sow
for eternity, that friendships formed
here may be renewed there, never more
to be interrupted; that we shall enjoy,
in heaven, the society of those we have
loved on earth.
These thoughts have been suggested
by the separation, which at this season
takes place between our preachers and
their several charges Conference is
at hand, and those with whom we have
loved to meet those who have minis
tered to us in holy things,and have 'ex
pounded to us the way of life more
perfectly,' must now leave for other
fields of labor; to form new associations,
to be secured in their turn.
Our beloved Andrews and Brent, who
have labored so faithfully on Roanoke
circuit the former two years, the lat
ter only one have bidden us farewell,
and, followed by the prayers of those
who have profited by their earnest ad
monitions and encouragements, will
t i . t I
eisewnere meet witn open arms.
We regret to have to give ther. p.
They have been faithful watchmen, al
ways tempering their pastoral duties
with that christian love which makes
instruction pleasant, and reproof profit
able. The law of our church require
that we should give them up, and we
da it in hopes of a reunion hereafter
which shall not be broken. May the
Great Shepherd take care of them,
wherever they may go, and abundantly
bless them in this life, and at last bring
them, with all of whom they have had
the oversight, to 'the fair fields of Ca
naan' above, to enjoy an eternity of
rest from their labors.
ROANOKE.
For the N. C. Christian Advocate.
Paying the Preacher.
My first letter was addressed to the
Methodists "every where, and those on
Roanoke circuit particularly." It wa3
a package of caps made by the meas
ures of Methodist heads, and while I
am sure they were of convenient sizes,
I am equally sure they might be usc
xfully and beneficially worn.
lhe Methodist Church as an organ
ization, is the poorest pay-master in
the world, and her ministers as a body
of laborers, are the poorest paid of all
workmen, and a thousand fold so, when
we consider the magnitude of the la
bors they are called to perform, and
their vital importance to the human
race. And just here let me not be
misunderstood. I love my church and
all her institutions, and I believe she
is doing a very great deal towards
evangelizing the world, but, at the same
time, I love all christians, no matter to
what denomination they belong, and
believe that all are engaged in a Holy
work, and some of them, to their credit
their ministry. I am no bigot, but I
think that the Methodist Church is do
ing more to desseminate Christianity,
spread the gospel among the poor,
than any other, and hence it is vitally
important that her ministry be suppor
ted. No one will deny that "the laborer
is worthy of his hire," that is a settled
axiom, and the only question on this
subject is this, To whom shall he look
for "his hire."
A Methodist preacher is not required
. to go around among "the brethren"
and ask a stipend of each in order to
rais the amount of his allowance.
No, the government of the Church has
wisely regulated this matter so that the
minister shall have none of the cares
of worldly concerns upon his mind ; so
that he may
sha1! eai, or
"take no heed what he
what he shall drink, or
wherewithal he shall be clothed."
The duty of providing for the min
ister devolves upon the Stewards.
They have the management of all the
financial matters relating the circuit
and in apportioning out the expenses of
the Circuit among the difterent classes
or societies, so that each one shall be
on its just proportion; they, too, often
deem their whole duty discharged and
delegate authority to class, leaders to
collect the money and pay it over; giv
ing themselves no further concern
about the matter till pay day comes,
the circuit is deficient, and the preach
ers are likely to go away unpaid. And
then, what do they do in this emergen-
cy ? Nothing but talk.
You have a farm and you expect
your overseer to make you a crop. He
gives his orders to your hands but does
not enfore them, and at the close of
the year you have no crop, and it is too
late to make one. In common justice
your overseer ought to be liable for
your loss by his neglect.
Each Steward should have a certain
number of societies to overlook, and it
is just as much his duty to see that
they pay, as it is the Preacher's duty
to see that they pray, and if he neg
lects to do so it should be at the ex
pense of his own pocket.
The Preacher ought never be forced
to appeal directly to the people for his
pay. Suppose you abolish the duties
of Stewards altogether, and make it
obligatory on the Preacher to look af
ter the temporal as well as the spiritual
affairs of the circuit, you will have him
"serving two masters," neither of which
he can well neglect, and both of which
he cannot serve efficiently. And hence
the wisdom of the regulation which
takes the temporal off his hands entire-
If the Stewards have any duty at all
therefore, they are bound to provide
for the wants of the circuit financially,
and in so far as they neglect this they
are plainly guilty of dereliction of du
ty. But more anon.
PILGRIM.
A ifcral Lesson.
" A youngest at school, more sedate than the
rest,
Had once his integrity put V the test ;
His comrades had' plotted an orchard to rob,
And asked him to go and assist in the job.
He was shocked, sir, Ike you, and answered,
"Oh, no.
What ! rob our good neighbor ? I pray you
don't go !
Besides, the man's oor, his orchard's his
bread,
J Then think of his children, for they must be
iou speak very finL ' tfnd you look very
grave, i -
But apples we want, nia iwples we'll have;
ii you win go witn us, $)$5haU have ashare,
If not, you shall havt nether apple nor pear."
. ' ' v
They spoke, and Tom pondcrea " I see tbeyf
will gut . " , "
Poor man! what a pity to injure him so !
Poor man! I would save him his fruit if I
could,
But staying behind will do him no good.
If the matter d-pended alone upon me,
His apples might hang till they dropped from
tne-tree ;
But since they will take them, I think I'll
go too ;
He will lose ncne by me, though I get a few."
His scruples thus silenced, Tom felt more at
ease,
And went with bis comrades the apples to
seize ;
He blamed and protested, but joined in the
plan ;
He shared in the plunder, yet pitied the
man."
Thinking that the
above
may teach a
hav0 taken the rains to conv and send it
to you, reserving to myself only to point
out the manner in which I think it annli-
cablo to some professing christians.
Do you not know christians who will,
when it hnppeus to be very convenient,
travel on rail road car, on the Sabbath
day ? Hav'nt vou known a minister to
to his appointment in that way and on that
day ? And if you should question him of
the matter, would he not condemn utterly
the running of Sabbath trains ? xVnd is
not his excuse for his conduct precisely
similar to that of " Tom" above ? " Peo
ple will thus travel and desecrate the holy
day whether I do or not. My traveling
will not make the violation more heinous."
He that hath a conscience to feel, let
him feel. vy".
Dying Wife to Her Husband.
11 . -,
ment of a 'Letter from a Dying Wife
to her husband,' was found by him some
months after her death, between the
leaves of a religious volume, which she
was very foud of perusing. The letter
which wai literally dim with tear-marks,4-,
vraf written long before the
fsbatd was aware that the grasp of a
fatal disease had fastened upon the love
ly form of his wife, who died at the ear
ly ago of nineteen :
'When this shall reach your ears,
dear G , some day when you are
turning over the relics of the past, I
shall have passed away forever,and the
cold white stone will be keeping its
lonely watch over lips you have so of
ten pressed, and the sod will be growing
green that shall hide forever from your
sight the dust of one who has so often
nestled close to your warm heart. For
many long and sleepless nights, when
all my thoughts were at rest, I have
wrestled with the consciousness of ap
proaching death, until at last it ha3
forced itself on my mind- Although to
you and to others it might seem but the
nervous imagination of a girl, yet, dear
G , it is so ! Many weary hours
have I passed in the endeavor to recon
cile myself to leavingyou, whoml love
so well, and this bright world of sun
shine and beauty ; and hard indeed it
is to struggle on silently and alone, with
the sure conviction that I am about to
leave all forever and go down alone in
to the dark valley. 'But I know in
whom I have trusted,' and leaning up
on His arm, 'I fear no evil.' Don't
blame me for keeping even all this
from you. How could I subject you,
of all others, to such sorrow as I feel at
parting when tim will soon make it
apparent to you ? I could have wished
to live, if only to be at your side when
your time shall come, and pillowing
your head upon my breast, wipe the
death-damps from your brow, and usher
your departing spirit to its Maker's
presence, embalmed in woman's holiest
prayer. But it is not to be so and I
submit. Yours is the privilege of watch
ing, through long and dreary nights,
for the spirit's fin;ii flight, and of trans
ferring my sinking head from your
breast to my Saviour's bosom ! And
you shall share my last thought, the
last faint pressure of the hand, and the
last feeble kiss shall be yours ; and ev
en when flesh and heart shall fail me,
my eye shall rest on yours until glazed
by death ; and our spirits shall hold one
fast communion, until gently fading
from my view the last of earth you
shall mingle with the first brightglimp
ses of the unfading glories of that bet
ter world, where p;rtings are unknown.
Well do I know the spot,dear G ,
where you will lay me; often have we
etood by the place, as we watched the
mellow sunset, as it glanced in quiver
ing flashes through the leaves, and
burnished the grassy mounds around us
with Stripes of gold. Each perhaps
has thought that one of us would come
alone; and whichever it might Q,your
name would be on the stone. We loved
the spot and I know you'll love it
none the less when you see the same
quiet sunlignt and gentle breezes play
among the grass that grows over your
Mary's grave. I know you'll go often
alone there, and my spirit shall be with
you then, and whisper among the wav
ing branches, 'Not lost, but gone be
fore.' Division in Churches.
There is nothing which cripples the en
ergies and destroys the influence of a
church so much as a division among its
members. - Many a flourishing church has
been broken up and ruined bv it. It nro-
duces a state of , things- that -destroys all
hope or good.- Novchurchcan grow in
grace or it members, 'that is not uultm by
the tender chords of Christian sympathy
and love. JJivision and alienation of feel
ing among those who should be one in
Christ, not onlv cools the spirit of devotion,
but prevents all union of energy and effort
in that cause which demands the entire,
united and unceasing consecration of God's
people. The spirit of discord is so directly
opposed to the Spirit of Christ, that it must
be ruinous to any church where it exists.
It paralyzes at once its energies and ren
ders ineffectual all attempted efforts for
good. A church in this condition cannot
expect to exert an influence upon the world,
1 .'l iL . Til f 1
uur iias it me promised Diessing3 or neaven
to encourage and sustain it. And yet how
slight are the causes which sometimes pro
duce this division and alienation among the
professed followers of Christ. Feelings are
awakened and parties formed, by a few offi
cious and indiscreet persons, that may last
for years. It is an easy thing to get up
parties in a church, for the devil is always
ready to help, and he not unfrcquently
persuades such to believe that they are
acting for the best interest of the cause of
Christ, when in fact they are only actuated
by a desire to carry out their own purposes.
If these purposes lead to the destruction
of the peace and harmony of the church,
they are wrong, and ought for the sake
of the great cause, to be given up, how
ever earnestly desired. Sacrifice every
cherished purpose of the heart, sooner
than divide the church of God. This is
the spirit of Christ; and if Christians were
governed in all they do by this spirit, we
would seldom if ever, hear of parties and
divisions among the people of God. They
are a reproach to religion, and can never
fail to paralyze the effcrts and influence of
any church. True Witness.
"I Did as the Rest Did.'
ir?g 'as the rest did,' has ruined thou
sands. A young man is invited by vicious
companions to visit the theatre, or the
gambling-room, or other haunts of li
centiousness. He becomes dissipated,
spends his time, loses his credit, squan
ders his property, and i t last sinks
into an untimely grave. What ruined
him ? Simply 'doing what the rest
did.'
A father has a family of sons. He
is wealthy. Other children in the same
situation in life do so and so, are in
dulged in this thing and that. He in
dulges his own in the same way. They
grow up idlers, triflers and fops. The
father wonders why his children do not
succeed better. He has spent so much
money on their education, has given
them great advantages; but alas ! they
are only a source of vexation and
trouble. Poor man, he is just paying
the penalty of 'doing as the rest did.'
This poor mother strives hard to
briiigupher daughters genteelly. They
learn what others do, to paint, to sing,
to play, to dance, and several useful
matters. In time they marry ; their
husbands are unable to support their
extravagance, and they are soon redu
ced to poverty and wretchedness. The
good woman is astonished. 'Truly,'
says she, '1 did as the rest did
The sinner, following the example of
others, puts off repentance, and neg
lects to prepare for death. He passes
along through life, till, unawares,death
strikes the fatal blow. He has no time
left now to prepare. And he goes
down to destruction, because he was so
foolish as to 'do as the rest did.'
Golden Rule.
Epitaphs.
In the churchyard at Golchester, Ct., is
the grave of Jonathan Kilborri, an uncom
monly ingenious mechanic, who invented
the iron screw, an apparatus for pressing
cloth, and another for pressing oil from flax
seed. His gravestone bears this inscription:
"He was a man of invention great,
Above all that lived nigh ;
But he could not invent to live.
When God called him to die."
On the gravestone of another member of
the same family, who was killed at Litch
field, Ct , by being run over by a cart, are
the following lines :
"Death conquers all both young and old,
Tho' e'er so wise, discreet, and bold,
In health and strength this youth did die,
In a Moment with out one Cry."
The we phis ultra of ludicrous epitaphs
is to be found on a gravestone in Oxford,
N. II., as follows :
"To all my friends I now bid adieu,
A more sudden death you never knew,
As I was a leadir-g the old mare to drink,
She kicked and killed me quicker'n a
wink."
Ar Y. Observer.
Some one has defined love as 'aiittle
sighing, a little crying, a little dyiDg, and
a good deal of lying.'
Giving up all to. Christ.
The condition of our acceptance with
Godi is the unconditional consecration
of ourselves to his service. This the
gospel everywhere declares in the plain
est terms. Yet how slow are many to
learn this plain truth ; and those who
have or suppose they have the most to
give up, are apt to be the slowest to
learn it. They would be Christians,
but there is this, that, or the other
worldly object that they want to keep
back. But the poor and simple, or
those brought to see themselves such,
are more ready, as the following anec
dote of an Indian will illustrate :
A missionary was onco preaching to
an Indian congregation, in one of the
southwestern states, on the subject of
Christ 4pd him crucified, describing
tne srctivrf jTethsenane, imd pointing
to the unbefrienoted sufltrer !on the
cross. The congregation were much
affected, and soon a tall son of the for
est, with tears on his red cheeks, ap
proached the pulpit and said :
LMa tfesus cue tor me die tor poor
Indian ? Me have no lands to srive to
Jesus; the white man taice them away.
Me give him my dog and my rifle.
lhe minister told him Jesus could
not accept of those gifts.
'JUe give him my dog, my rifle, and
my blanket ; poor Indian, he got no
more to give me give Jesus all.
lhe minister replied that Jesus
could not accept them. The poor, ig
norant child of the forest bent his head
in sorrow, and meditated. He raised
his noble brow once more, and fixed
his eye on the preacher, while he sob
bed out, 'Sere is poor Indian: will Je
sus have him ?'
The Spirit had done his work, and
he who had been so poor, sat at the
feet of Jesus, heir to the treasures of
heaven. His offering was that which
the poorest may make, as well a3 he,
and which the richest must make.
'Give me thy heart,' is the language
addressed to each one.
Lead Thou me on.
Send kindly light amid the encircling gloom,
And lead me on ;
The night is dark, and I am far from home ;
Lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet ; I do not wish to see
The distant scene ; one step's enough for me.
I was not always thus ; nor prayed that thou
Should'st lead me on ;
I loved to choose and see my path : but now,
LayLUiiiAL-t'is. o. I ,
Pride ruled my will Remember not past
years.
So long thy power hath blessed me ; surely
still
Tbou'lt lead me on
Through dreary doubt, through pain and
sorrow, till
The night is gone ;
And with the morn, those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long sines, and lost the
while.
RESPONSE.
He will lead thee on.
I.
Lead thee! God is himself thy Friend and
Father ;
He will not fail :
Darkness and storm upon thy path may
gather ;
Christ rules the gale :
And watchiDg worlds of light, in choral lay,
Sing the near dawn of thy redemption day.
One step at once, revealed in his clear seeing!
Bid doubt be gone.
It is enough : see mist and gloom are fleeing,
On, pilgrim ! On !
His presence, with thee, sheds its circl'g ray:
'Tis Christ ; His dear companionship is day.
III.
Yes ; Grace has marked the plan ; marks all
thy going ;
And " leads thee on,"
And makes thee joyful in its gradual showing,
Till life is done ;
And life's perplexities and woes and gloom
Ketire as angels triumph round thy tomb.
Wyoming.
Madison, N. J., February, 1857.
A Fearful Judgement.
The Hollidaysburg Standard, of a
late date, says :
'For some days past, there has been
a singular story afloat in this commu
nity. It appears that one day last
week, a man in the neighborhood of
Mount Union, Huntington county,while
cleaning grain, suddenly discovered
that the weevil had destroyed the
greater part of it. This so exaspera
ted him that he blasphemed the Savior
in such a wilful, malicions and wicked
manner, as will not bear putting in
print. He left the barn and went to
the house, where he seated himself in
a chair, where re had remained but a
few minutes before he turned to his
wife, and asked her what she said.
She replied that she had not spoken.
'I thought,' said he 'that I heard some
body say I must sit here till the judg
ment day.' It is now alledged that he
is 'still sitting in the chair,' unable to
rise or speak, with his eyes rolling,and
totally incapable of moving his body.
The ReT. J. II. is a young man of
considerable wit. Not loDg since he was
at the house of a brother pastor at the time
when a visit was paid by the physician. A
bottle of medicine left a day or two before
was found to be sour. The Dr rather pet
tishly remarked that it should have been
kept in a cool place. The pastor asked him
where he would find such a place with the '
thermometer 96 deg. in the shade ? ' O,'
said II , ' easy enough ; if you want it in
a cool place, send it to one of our class
meeting.' Alas ! that this social means of
grace should ever come to be a refrigerator.
Speak Gently.
Kind words do not cost much ; tbfy ne
ver blister the tongue nor lips, and wo n
ver heard of any mental trouble arising
from this quarter. Though they do ii't
cost fliuch, they help one's own good na
ture. ADgry words are fuel to the fl-i ise
of wrath, and make it burn fiercely. Km I
words make other people good-naturod
Cold words freeze people, and hut woi .ta
scorch them, and bitter words make tli-m
bitter, and wrathful words make wrathful.
There is such a rush of all other words in
our days, that it seems desirable to giv
kind words a chance among them. Tli' ru
are vain words, and idle words, mi l li; sy
words, and spiteful words, and empty wi-rds,
and profane words, and warlike words
Kind words also produce theif own iiimr.
on men's souls, and a beautiful image it is.
They quiet and comfort the hearer. They
Bhame him out of his sour, morose, unkind
feelings. We have not yefc begun to uo
-kind words, in such abnndanco us thi y
c light to be'uaed. Then, reader,
" Speak gently to the littles child.
So guileless and so free,
Who, with a trustful, loving heart.
Puts confidence in thee.
Speak not the cold and careless thoughts.
Which time has taught thee well,
Nor breathe one word whoso bitter tone
Distrust might seem to tell.
"If on that brow there rests a cloud,
However light it be,
Speak loving words, and let him fii!
He has a friend in thee :
And do not send him from thy side.
Till on his face shall rest
The joyous look and beaming smile
That mark a happy breast.
" O teach him this should bo your uim
To cheer the aching heart,
To strive where thickest darkness reigns
Some radiance to impart ;
To spread a peaceful, qut calm.
Where dwells the noise of strife ;
Thus doing good, and blessing all.
To spend the whole of life."
FAITH.
"Ye are the children of God hy fnitl. in
Jesus Christ." Gal. ill : 2G.
"Faith is the subtle chain
That binds us to the Infinite."
Mtg. E- O. ,.;:?!.
"Faith realizes to the soul, Christ, In riv
en, glory, and all objects invisible to m i s ;
while it annihilates the world with ail its
vain enjoyments." 11". Muson.
"Triumphant faith it lifts the sou'.
Above desponding fear ;
Exults in hope of heaven, her lu mc,
And longs to enter there."
H'irrisKti.
"Faith is always hand in baud with re
pentance, and wjth jcp.minii to Christ.
jbfcXirVt eiy," so that it is a matter ol in
difference to which particular ono the mh
ner is pointed, or with which particular one
bis eyes are occupied; for if be is persua
ded to one, he does necessarily yi.'!d to
all." -Lessong at the Cross.
"Faith shows the promises all -c:i!' 1
With our Redeemer's blood ;
It helps our feeble hearts to rot
Upon a faithful God." Turner.
"'1 was an unhappy division that 1. v.
been made by faith and woiks. Tliuu :hui
my intellect I may divide tbetn, just us in
the candle I know there is both light an 1
heat; but yet put out the candle, and tiiry
are both gone, ono remains not witliou the
other; so it is with faith and works.'
Selden.
"Lord I believe, help thoa mine titibc.
lief." Mark ix : 24.
''To hear, to understand, and to trirg
forth fruit, are the grand evidences of a
genuine believer." Dr. Cork.
"Faith is the brightest evidence
Of things beyond our sight ;
It pierces through the vail of senso,
And dwells in heavenly light."
Wait.
A Happy Man.
' A retired merchant' writes a com
munication to the New York Exjircs?,
discussing with great coolness, tlic
causes of the financial troubles. He
closes his letter by Baying: 'Twelve
years ago, I retired on a snug farm in
the country, and every year my field
look greener, and I feel younger as I
grow older. This I would recommend
to all before the loss of property and a
shattered constitution make it too late.'
This is a pleasant picture, and excel
lent advice, but, just at this time, comes
a little too late' for most people.
Too Strong a Test.
The following anecdote, hitherto unpub
lished, we believe, is related of Father
Pillsbury, whose memory is reserved by a
wide circle of Christians ia the State of
Maine.
Father Pillsbury had a neighbor, who
persisted in having argument with him ia
favor of human perfection.
' Show me a perfect man, the aged elder
would say, 'let me bhold one example.'
I will do it,' replied the other, finally,
and went out.
Next morning, he re-entered Father
Pillsbury's, conducting a trangcr, whom
with an air of triumph, he introduced as
an instance of perfection. Father Pills
bury was at the time washing himself nt
the sink. Deliberately lifting his basin
with both hands, he dashed the water nvr
the perfect man. Mark the result Tho
latter flashed up with anger, in his resent,
ment, saying and doing that which better
accorded with nature than grace. Father
Pillsbury waited till the perfect man be:rn
to get the mastery over his passion, and
then repeated to him as he shook bis gray
locks, earnestly :
' If we say that we have no fin we de
ceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us '
The controversial neighbor went away
humiliated, if not convinced, and was ever
afterwards silent on his favorite the mo of
perfection.