Newspapers / North Carolina Christian Advocate … / Dec. 2, 1864, edition 1 / Page 1
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C T D & 111 5- I P '''' A i & 1 PUBLISHED BY A JOINT STOCK COMPANY VKUF.H THE MTKOSAGE OF THE NORTH CAROLINA cOUrEIt 4N; K. VOL. VI II. NO Christian Advocate Publishing Company Db. JNO. P. FOARD, Trkbidkht. Director, : Rev. Wa. K. Ci.Nisaoin, 0. Foard, Esq., Kv. M. J. lluxr, and JUv V J. W. Chowder. Secretary and Treasurer: A. M. Uokmah, Esq. TERMS. Tho Advocate is published every Friday morning, For a year at - - - - io. " Six months ----- o. " Three months - 2,60 to be paid ill advauce, in new issue or its equiv alent. All advertisement will be charged f 3 per squaro of 16 lines or loss, tor lirst insertion, and $1 ;0 pur square fr each subsequent insertion. JS All leilera on the editorial or biiiiikssa ntnt- a of this offtce, sknuid be qnUresae'i inim : Uev. flmraumtatimts Fpr the Adveeate. To North Stale." A TEW QUESTIONS FROM AN INQUIRER. I observe in the '"Advocate" olthc 18th inst., that you have discovered the "strat ec5'" of certain persons, i with clearness," to you, on all points but one, so that you have uo doubt as to the-source" of the "strategy" and "real intention of the chief actors." Now my dear "North State" 1 think, that having discovered these per sons and things you ought, in justice to the Church, to answer a few plain ques tions, f rom one vhp wats to ' know who Uiese persons are, and what their inten tions are, towards our dear Church. If you decline the answers, I hope the edi tor of the ''Advocate" will answer them, &d the Church ought to know all about this "masked," "strategic" movement. 1st. Who are the persons engaged in it, give us their names ? 2d. H hat injury to the Church lto they propose r .1 see also that you propose to the Church six grand reforms and I want to ast a few uestions aoct thei. st. You propose a "general restricted ponyention," in which the whole Church shall be full if represented. On this iroy- uitiuu of yours, I desire tQ ask, 1st. In what is the "general conven tion" to be "restricted '" Shall hy del egates be admitted ? Shall a certain class of preachers be admitted ? Or shall dverv man, woman and child in the Church be admitted ? 2d. Do you h mean, it shall be "zcueral " of tie "whole Church," "lul lv represented ? . gd. In its action, shall thp whple Dis cipline be re enacted f" Mieht not that affect our "General Episcopacy ?" Might nofthat affect our "unsullied itinerancy V 2nd. You propose to make the Disci pline "obligatory on the ministers and la ity." On this point I desire to ask, Is not the Discipline obligatory note, "both upon the ministry and laity." If not, why has it not been made so before ? 3rd. You propose to "let class meet ings cease to be a test of membership, but let pastors hold them," &e. I desire to ask, 1st. Did Mr. Wesley ever make Attendance at class-meetings a test of mem bership ? 2nd. When it became a test ? Sjrd- By what author ity was it made so, i. e. whether by preachers, laity, or "a general, restricted convention of the fhole Church." 4th. Can the authority making it re peal or unmake i ? 4th. You propose to let the probationary system eease and admit the members by solemn covenant, &c. Now I desire to ask, what kind of cov enant you mean to have ? Is it to be more landing than that made at baptism (or 'the door of the Church") as recorded on page 140 of the Discipline of 1850, commencing "Dost thou renounce tho Devil &c. V Has the probationary sys tem been regarded or disregarded in late years 5th. You propose to change the term of the pastorate, and yet restrict it, so as to ueoure a fully efficient itinerancy. . I "want to ask a question or two about that. 1st. Do you propose to lengthen the tarm or shorter it ? 2d. If you lengthen it, will it not in the proportion in which you do so, reduce the "efficiency of the itinerancy ?" 3d. If you sliorten it will there not be too much itinerancy ? Gth. You propose to make Conference and State boundaries the same, except where there are geographical difhculties. 1 understand that, but then you make what I think ought to have been your 7th proposition, which please allow me to state. 7th. "Continue no circuit" (what of the stations?) "beyond one year that does net secure to the Church a good parson age with the necessary grounds and fix tures." Would it not he better to say two yenvs at least ? Can all the circuits (and sta tions) support their preachers, pay other expenses, aqd yet spare a sum sufficient to buy or buihl a parsonage in so short a time ? By grounds and fixtures, do you mean gardens, orchards, as much land as the preachers horse can work at odd times, and a good cook ? You conclude by saying, As to lay rcp yasentation in spiritual matters and a Bishop for each Conference we cannot abide them. "Adopt them, the M. E. Church ceases to exist." I desire to ask ft question or two about that. 4. 1st. Do you think representative lay men, -would have much less religion and understanding of spiritual matters than those who now compose the Conferences? So much loss that you could not abide them 'i 2nd. Id the cilice of a Bishop a good work 'i :d. How often do you see a Bishop in North Carolina 't -1th. Has any Ri.shop now living, any influence in lorwardiiiir the cause of Christ iu North Carolina ? If so. will you pit-ate n:.jne the man '! 5th. Does (he M. . Church staiid on such a slight foundation tint if he Ch urohes sei.d rtjrt m itlittin uiimt n ( i. e. laymen r:rivseiitiiig iu their persons tho pie'y -1 ' ' :;t il the -Ulnjre.';,; to the Conferences, the (.lunch would "cease to exist?" 7th. Would a tshop itinerating North Carolina rum the Church. Would it "cease to exist," in consequence? I think I shall be one of your supporters in jour proposed reform, bur I desire more light on the subject before I commit myself, so please answer plainly and do not skin the questions, as 1 am a plain man and want to Siiriort such measures a a as will make the Church stiil more t fl't ac tive against sin and Satan. V ours a He c tio n a t el y, Wm Seweli. F'T the Advocate. To the Mr.thodist $VojU; ot the Nvrth Carol tuu Uwfi i euro. Fin ends A n i Brethren : In a few days the Conference year wiil close and the preachers that have labored with us will be compelled to meet in Annual Con ference, to be sent in many cases, if not in all, to new fields of labor. This is all right aveordiag to our Church laws. Jiut have we as a people faithfully and religiously discharged our duties to wards our preachers in ayiag them cil for their labors ? This is a question in volvinx much. Would that I were fullv competent to give such a. reply to the question, as would open the eyes of all our people and cause them to henceforth come fully up to their duty in support ing our minister's. I feel my incompetency to do so, but at the same time, as J only intend well, I feel that it is not ami's lor me to say a few words oa this important subject ; for I know that t here is a necessity for a re formation as touching this important mat ter. e arc taught in Uod s word th it the laborer is worthy of hij hire. I feel that th's so. Our preachers are not beg gars, they should not be allowed to beg. We should pay them every dollar due them, and we should fccl that we are due them a sufficient amount to keep them from want to. supply them with all the necessaries and comforts of this life, as nearly as circumstances will allow. Ma ny of our preachers are poorly paid they are not paid a sufficient amount to fur nish them with the necessaries of life.. They ae driven to buy and sell to make a decent support to keep their loved ones from want. Their minds, they cannot irive wholly to the work that they are engaged in, as they aro driven, in many oases, to exercise their minds for another purpose to make money so as to enable them to go decent, as a christian gentle man should always do, ajd alfito take oare of thoss that look to them for a support. Many of us feel that when we give Ten dollnrs to our pastor, that we have dune enomjh. What is Un dollar?-'. It is not forty cents. Would our ten dollar broth er have br-en satisfied at. only giving forty cents to his pastor before the war? I think not. Surely he would not, but On the contrary he would have considered himself disgraced to have given such a sum, yea, more he would have felt that he was sinning to have done no more And it would have been a sin. And my brother it is a sin now for you only to give a Ten dollar Conf'd. note wh?n you should give a Ten dollar gold piece or its equivalent in provisions or in currency.- Will the religion of Christ allow us to be penurious and mean ? It will not. Then it follows that the man that is penurious and mean has not the religion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And it is so, as surely as that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Is it riot penurious and mean in us to withhold a decent support from our pas tors ? The writer of this article thinks it is. Look at some of our preachers, they are in rags, and to judge from the way they talk, they arc not only poorly paid, but they fear they may come to want. .In fart they are already in uaiif. Now is it to be supposed that a preacher so circumstanced can labor among the people that he is with, as ho ought ? "I think not, for if he has the religion of Christ in his own heart, he must feel that the people, as a people, whom he is called upon to serve, are altogether destitute of such religion. If there is a circuit or station in this Conference that has failed to pay the preacher this year, let not the members of the Church be satisfied until every dol lar be raised and sent to said preacher. Let us look to it, in the coming year, that we provide well for each and every preacher that is called upon to labor'for us. Let all those that have provisions to spare, give provisions instead of money. Let those that have only money to give, give according to what" the necessaries of life cost. RALEIGH, N. 0., Friends and bretbicn, we. need not ex pect the bk'S.-iot-'S of (ltd upon us unless our love lor Hici ii Michn.- will enable us to do right. i low can o feel that we love God when we will not take c:ti e of the ministry. Iy an.i ihro-.o-.h hi minis ters io t.u i Jo.i koi-j .-. Th n let us do our whole (iufj istnrs. VV i!i;;i!i.-;!oii ! tin' ton s liiia La vman, si 1SG4. N . ' V Ihi' A.!v; it j. Mil Fim i' hi : - -1 is ,ve observed lately that H ere i much eooeern being mani fested open l)nt suhjf-t r the yFive 1'oiois" i'V :-iu:ie oi' your eum'SjMideute ; and being" an IsnUafivi; civahne 1 h:tve caiijht ! iie. mania. I i ht'iefort beg a small space (ogive io your i.oo-i., uo ;-. ci ully Ihof.e '1'ive iV-.iU iS," my views up on fhis all absoibise ; ii-joe. A Foiofer" also, ami v'nh ;'ll would rejoice to see the " ouesti'n l .revaii ; not however a ui a i' ive. my heart 1 Five I Vint" , the "Five LVinhs'" Mig--v.-!! eussiou by i hot-' i 'ij'.Ier dis- ;t a hie.' in n w ho re- gard old i'.ii-h; .: I insufficient, io mr'. I Ylr.ih- dUiii tie- (loo d,-- of ihis refill'. u a 1 lunv t in h. i ive i o.io.-j Wiiieh i. !o eo o oo-i.i ' e. And 1. I wr.uhl hir ii:e Ou.-pel of our Lord ;;nd r.ivmur pr- ah d with gr afor zeai :l id lei vei.ey, tSie rr:U !-er tlisjday iiig less rhetoric and tativtsl'-sling more o that humiitiv whieh cdiantctorixod the iife :ind teaidiing:; of the groat liedoeinor .n.(! !; 1 preaeiior i-c t. ii:u twice a year, (and py at least. eoee or shout,) heir i'uli Of th il'-iy C'.o.l i io' mbers follow II. 1 would h tv ih,. the cxami lo f tli hapjiy too. ou e in ncv.". Stiei'i. iU.i- hotl i' o i-i'eo.er, aioi rei w hilo, so that sin j.i'i a'-her and mem- lers rerdiy enjeyed reli in, . they might- be const rained to sect: 't slso 4 I wonjd haee vm uibers of i ho Church live in ioaee a:.d love, ard ox'-u-ise ehar- n y toward back-hi io a nei oors. rai htr th id V 1 i lor evii, as too mai-y tio. 6 1 would Lave nioro religion aridOess parade in the services of ilie Chinch move of the spirit and less of the show and finally, on the 5U point, I would like to see the " !d Ship to overflowing with ry, i.Vl ,-- i ---ir !-.; the glorious oid siojt heavenly shore., c f Zion" freighted 'tin! bound for glo .'. fi ?i." j r.esjv,i. a'onfr jo wards that "She has L.iu'ed many i Hf'ti 1 1. and-. And can land as rnanv It' the :ibov- eoiist d oti-i ii.Ore. n - Five P. lot- ev then i am one, but I do not be I. invi to that "Five l'oini, ' ertuvd kiio VM..IH mend aa ove!-i :iv4iis: - of Methodism, for tho sale of gilding it to plc-n.-e the rrioied senses of tho lutler-da? rain Is. Mv '11 d frUhor used t- let c no ;-i alone,' and .e was :. good .Me! h.odist, md 1 believe a sine. re C'hi iiaa. If M:fh- ooism wm !-'od c-no.ih to :ftvn bin: in heaven, had rather it wouh.1 bo all.w od to remain lu;t uh if w:w in his day. at least, urdil ! ia e h : 1 i Lot tho old sidsi Suil 'i full whiio v'u -ire haulini? her u ae. i .-.ilLng her extr .or to- Sllit tho U'.li-'-y Oi' pVolld Chris! O OP, she ioighi rescue m:Hiy en ioinuri d foul that Would ioeii S "!-.!.. Io vis ! fo lliioO. The Ship's ail li-'h!,. The p,v;-.t Cupbiin is still at the helm. U'-t-iufo bo anv faul!, it is in the ov.w. ' i'lvi-. PoiNi tit." tic Hvna :!! s,i ice. The following .!, l:u al ion is now in course of fdgtiutnre ruist-r.g ei.. ;diiie n.en in Croat rit:.n. It ha.i already been subscribed to by fiYrr one hnndied iwl fifty persons, :u;sOng w iiotn are Sir Daidel Brewster, James Hamilton, Sir Henry C. H:iwIin.son, Aiircd Siuee, and neuiy iiih ers of like repuf-stioii in thu sidtiUdie world. We, ttie tiiolersigne.l students of the. natural, scioncis !esire to ox press our. Ul cere ivgret, tied rovoatchesjuti! seicnttlie truths are pei vv-itcd by some in our own times into oeea.-ion for easting doubt up -n the tiufh and Muthontioify of the 1 i Iy Scriptarcs. V. conceive flint it l.- uu nossihdt: for the Word of Co !, as wvitton in the book oi nacun. ai id ( i OU ! 'o d written in Holy Scripfure, to contradb t one anothei, however much they may : p pear to differ. We. are not forgetful tint physical science is not complete, but is only in a condition oi progress and il-.it at present aur finite reason enables us wi ly to see as through a ghi-s darkly, and v. e confidently believe that a time wiil worno when tiic two records will be s ecu to aarree in every particular. We cannot but plore thct r:tural science should bo lock ed upiiii with Kuspicion by many who io not make a stvHy of it, m. rely on soeount of the unadvised luaneer in wliich so:;jo arc" placing it in opjiosbioa to Holy Writ. We believe that it is tho duty tf eveiy SCiclddlc si .udentto invt sligate nature sitn ply fur the purpe.-e of elueidutiug'fi tJi, and that as he finds fl ;d ,-.i ine of his re sults appear lo be in contradiction lo the written Word, or rather t.jhis own infoi pretat.ion of it, which may bo crioneon,., he should not presumptuously afiiim th-it his .i.vn eouc fusions must be right and th.e statements of Scripture wrong ; rather leave the two side by -side till it shall please Cod to allow us to see the munur ic which they may lie reconciled ; ai d in stead d' i(: i lie" U' oVill.!' fo einitii; difii---ences bctvieen science ;. ibe Scriptuiw, it would be well to rest in faith upon th.? points in which they agree. Always strive to do good, FRIDAY, ' DECEMBER 2, ISM. Appointments of the South Carolina Von lerenee. Ch.yrlkstox Dist. Thos Raysor, P E. Charleston, K J Mevnardie. " col miss, F A MooJ, W A Uod-'es. StB:irholomPw et, J W D Crook. r.iiterboro' J J Snow. Horsft Shoe miss, A Nettles. St Andrew's miss, J K Penny Pon Pon miss, P(J Bow man Ashepoo and Combahee miss, J V Coward l!aiiiloro A J Stoke.s Allendale, .1 YV Meltoy Prince William, to be'siipplicd Black Swamp, Jl L Banks il.ir.leeviUe et, 1) W Scale Savannah Uivtr miss, W J F Fripp Army Mission, A B Stephens (-haplain toCharlotton Hospitals, F 31is&iouary to China, B Jenkins A Ucod grroiiAXOEDCRfi I ist. A U Chrietzbeiv P E Drangchnrg et, (ieo Bright. St Matthews, A McCorouedale lTpif r Orange, I. M Little bexingion, V Carson, ,1 K Tueker (uanittvil'e mia?, J R Pickett Ailu-n, to be sv.plied iiarnwell & Silverton miss, J II Coburn W V (iraham, sup F.listn Fork mis.?, F A Price Bbtekvitle, W llutio, It B Tarrant Providence, I S Conner St (cjrgc's, C Wilson SiiiiinierviHe J A Mood ih Holly miss, (J W Byrd St dames' Coose Creek to he supplied C!o(;per Kivcr, J LSiflay " miss, to be supplied t 'bap to Hospitals at Summcrville, J W Miller Mauiox Dist. T R Walsh P E Marian st, l J Boyd et, M A McKibben, and one to be sup Brownsville, S Jones Liberty ct, & Lynch's Creek, J B Campbell O jr.aot'y Kingstree et & miss, J W Murray and one to be supplied Dailington, W A Samuels " ct, L M Hamer, and one to be sup Lj-nchburg, Joseph Parker f'.iae!c River ct, J C Stoll ( Icoryetown & Sampit miss, T Mitchell Bbu k River &. Pee Dee miss, John A Wood Waecamaw miss, Chas Betis Convvavbora' D J McMillan " ct, A Erwin and one to be sup hnp Ith Military Dist, AV A Hemingway Post Chap at Florence, W S Black A J Stafford, G H Wells, E T R Frippand J H J an in me Army Columbia Dist. C II Prifchard F K Washington st, W GConnor " Marion st, Frederick Auld " colored pcoble, W Martin Congarce miss. N Talley Columbia ct, J J Workman Richland Fork miss, C McLeod Fairfield, J W Kelly, J Tlvilgo Chester, Sam'l Leard Sandy Kivcr miss, U It Dagnall Rocky Mount. A J Cauthea (Jamden, J T Wight man AVat.ercc miss, J LShuiord Sumter, D J Simmons Sumter et, J W North Biahopville, P F Kistler, A W Walker sup'y Santee, H A C Walkor. J W Wightman Upper Santee mus, T W Munnerlyn Manchester miss, J L Stoudemire Manning W W Mood Colombia F College, II M Mood President Chaplain 2d S C Cav., Manning Thrown. Cokesburu Dist. S II Ilrowne F F Cokcsburg ct, W I' Mouzon Abbeville, T G Herbert, J Attaway finely Six, A L Smith Saluda lliver miss, W II Law ton Manleion ct, T S Daniel i idgefield, W A Clarke Hutier P L Herman Newberry sta, J W Humbert Newberry ct, J li Zimmerman, one to be sup Lower Saluda lliver miis, S Townsend Laurens ct, W A McSwain, J 11 Little Pickens ct, J H C McKinuey Pendleton ct, T II Edwards, J M Carlisle Anderson S U Jones Anderson ct, C Thompson Chaplain 1 lib N 0 Ueg't, W C Power llokcinbe Legion, A V Moore ('okosbury School, J II Sturdevant W a d e s b or o ' Dist. C Taylor, P K Wadesbora, T J Clyde Wadcsboro' ct, J W Fuett, T A Boone, II C Parsons, supernumerary Ansonville, Landy Wood Albemarle, J W Abernathy, J C Hartsell Coucord, Lewis Scaiboro, S A lloper W S Hal torn, supernumerary Monroe, W W Jones, E A Lemmond Lancaster, J W Cridcr j Hanging Rock, C E Land Catawba lliver miss, G W M Creighton Chcraw K 11 Pegues Chesterfield and Coal field 11 R miss, W L Pegues, E J Pennington f Dennettsville, J A Porter, M C Davis ( Society Bill miss, D A Ogburn Chaplain 2Gth N C lteg't, A N Wells In the Army, L A Johnson Shelby Dist. R P Franks, P E Shelby, John Watts Lincolnton, E G Gage Lincolnton ct, Dan'l May Dallas, John C llandal Vorkville, J 13 Massebeau Yoikville ct. and miss, M A Connelly Catawba, J M Clinc, J S Nelson supernu meray Rock Hill, A RHennick Pineville. John Finger Charlotte, Jas Stacy, one to be supplied Charlotte ct, C G Jones, L D Carpenter Lenoir, A P Avant Caldwell miss, G F Round Yadkin mis3, J C Crisp and one to be supplied f Morgan on, ; W ivy j Burke miss, to h, -opi.lied South .Moaiiiaii! noss, 1 P Huhe.s leaver. port F-mab- ('..Iho, a ij Pros t, (i j.1 inin, iri,e Stacy, Lincolnjon Female Seminary, 8. Lander, Priocipal. ' Foot Chaplain 'Jhaih.tie. F. M. Ken no dy. Cha-laiii 7 id N. C I! ui... S d il ill. -1J;J A C IbMd, E WTImnMo:i. SlItTA.NV.i'K; SiST. --W il p. n. Fleming, .Sparlanhitv;'; ;-!a ( ir-ers, A W til !', : Mlteriiniiiev-M C. Spartmlmrcr ot... ' A.Shm.'.o ,iii. ...... ' if son. mission ( 11 ichory Nut. (?:!. to 1 e sup phod. Rutherford, J S. ! 'i a Iii. Columbus, !i J Moratt. Faciei, S A W-. her. (jo.shvn I fill, Wiu. Rowj.ai!. l rniois t-t. O A Dtiibv, J K ii ... i . Mellon, (! :i ;iM.-!ijs..n, siio. ri' iiiii-.-i'.u ies. Green i IF, it II Aa.i. Greciivii!-- i , R (' Oliver, and! one to be Mii-j.hed. Pickensvii!(V l Fyrs. Keowee mis ' , . l .r'.nn. W fiord Co'iie..! A M Sbipp, W Smith, Professors. ' Agent for Orp!r::i Fiu... Vv'. Smith. 11 D M.-oiv, fi.uoi.ore.l io Ph-rida Con ference. c- .dhod;s;l !si.ii .i. i; ii r. ncc. Tiic Zsortii Carolina Ans ual Conlerenee of the ictho.list i'rotesi-.'ir.t Churcii held lis session at Be.-s' Chaoe!, Lineoln county boginnsng on We.iiusOay t lio l?i ii d No vember, and ending on the following Mon day. Tl io re per s biYtuiii In fron (he vaii- ous sections ol tho .Sfit-5 fo.jow.ii an unu- -uai ue;:re't oi nros'oorir a mi a very Jar-'O .11 !' ' 1 , increase of members. I Ian dome addit ions were made to the ?di -sioi-ary Fued. liesolutions were passod looking t the lmorovomcnt and l ermarieney of tho Church paper' de ' ;.,e:v:tu'n ami llar- hinger, and d. L. 3lu -bao Editor. Th- Palb,.!'iag (yoriioiii Ieo is am and Isaac 11. II. Wills, T. I Thuckcr. A rvai xt 1 . It;, : t 1 .M IM, ' Pe r:.m. Fresidonf A ibem a r i e V i ; T. II. Ojipio j n"2 oke H V ' : ! i Orange J C Alamance - A I f?.U. V tie Ashhoro J tfo.it: Yaikiu A Gay. I avidsmi - i o,s. Cic ivehmd - C Pieko'is. Ibj.ni'o.tib.. i! L.ci.iicii. Pigiitin River R R .Mo b uix. (Ireen Rir I A li;;-.- in Slatdy- !l W P e; . Charlotte 1; M X.'.b n. Meekhni.ur--V ?! !; Roherfs. Madison N J R-.i.erM, J P FJb r. Granv'ilhi S P Cams, A C Harris. Haw River R H Wiii'is. J MWayuick Tar River A M J,..ve. Halifax J R R.d. Grccusbf'i-ii C F Harris. Randoli-h J H Giibrcarh. Winston J M Kennott. Af(,iiroe 'A C Liueberrs . Mcl..,vcll- P A Whit.-.u't.. Catawb i H A T Harri.;. . Mocksville W F Gr.iy. Caldwell R W P.-svum. Seaboard N R Cil. Fay e 1 1 e v i 1 1 e I J 1 1 s ! l p p I i 1 . The next, Condemn e y v. hi hi at Eiiiisld, Il.tlil'ax county, Vie. inning on Wednesday bef no the Kcund Sundiy in November, 18G5. I c.n.'. i ii I ):tiiocrat. The s f - 5I tii:l W a tii.1 iii li?, W iti'l III it Mil 1 1 : i A I II it .1 I . I 1. the vast, de-iin:-. '' my .-o.i!, .r,i only It. deii't ' m y 1 Wli' hi' ildi'libdy .! 'V J m.', : od il';-' d- SileS too 't Will ric. :,"? d ) it. No ; may u soon uridort;.ko o. fill my b .t n v. i; h y r as my heart with ?o'd, and as o.e.iiy tfi iuy bag with virl uj r.-i i a' isfy r.iy de ire. with wealth. Do 1 1 not aft. r pica-.no ' These may, indeed, charm ::r.d d. li;,f t my brut isii sOnscs, but can never be Agree able, or prop.iitioiia;e tomy .-ji'o iui d la-j-ulties. Jo i gra'p tit hoijoraiidpopinari-'.y. These, again, afe as empty an I uosati.-lying as t he foimor ; they t..ay milfi m-i look high and great in tho -vo.. ol tho world, turn my ner.d tu'lry witti applause,' or r.ufV un mv he irt with pride, but tlo.y can never liliup tho mo-M.se ' I ' de res. And what if 1 shoubl h-vo tho who'e world at my command, and cm!. J, with Alexander, wioht botfi -w rd and M'plre over all tlte nations and iam rages oi it, would this coiilent mo ! or rasher, should I not sit down and weep with him, that I had not another Woild to compter and possess. .Who eas, G d, being an infinite God, it U i;U possible for me to desire anything whi'-Ii I may no' eaj'iy in Him and His mercies. Let no, or any other creature, extend our desires m-ver so f ir still the graces and blessings of this infinite God will be infinitely beyond them all ; insomuch lhaf. tin ug!i ton thousand worlds are not tble to s:ili.-iy one soul, yet one God is able to s i'isly ten thousaud souls ; y: a. and ten millions rtoie to them. as well as if there wis only Cfrie soul in all the world to satisfy. Come; therefore, my dear Lid on 1 Saviour, while thy tenant n ress-ng after Thee, and po.-sesi my heart with the spirtual blessings of grace and faith , peace T 12 RMS: 510 per Venr,lii Advance. anl clnn iiy ; and let none of those empty 1 transient delights of this wor d stand aim transit nt cei-glifs ol this wor d stand in compelitiofi with, tl-rm ? Thou art the Miurcc- anl center of all my wishes and dcsiii s, even "as the heart pantclh after lhe wafeibiooks, so pantoth my soul after Thee, O (Jod. When sha'l I appear -in Thy presence? "When when shall that bh s.-cd tin;e como that I shall pcc Thy sui red majesty taeo to face ? This is a mercy, 1 conies-, which I cannot expect whiUt ii.ijrisoned in the body; but how ever thou -ill 1 must not yet appear before Ti.ee. do Thou vouelnsaf.; not et aj.pear in mo, and givo me such glimpft-s of Thv love and graces here as may be an earnest; oi n o bie.-,s and irlorv I am to iere:.fter. F i-. j , , ro e i nine. tioiiiint an I.'Aciise? Aoither human nor divine law recogniz es ignorance in wrong-doing as an excuse. In some cases it may be a palliation, but not a justification. The law which is vi ola -od can not, under any circumstances, regard i!s violator as an innocent pcrMiii beeruise it, preHinns that its claims ought to have been known, and might have been KlIoH il. tii maitc; ; le'iion men are excuse thci.i.-eie, on the idea l C.;.d y' t. that, iiiey oi i lo t l.l;w that thid or that wa wrong, and thus aUcinpt to blind ton sciei;ce. Svv, if they could honestly i how t; at they had eoiploed every means to in form f hemse'ves without nuu,;( their iyi.ui.u.ie, while it could mil possibly m-:ko wron light, yet it ii,U .so far pal hate tho ofi'i.iice as to procure a more len ie.t judgement. Paid, speaking of hi biller peiM-ciiiions of the Christians, said -he did igm.rar.tiv in unbelief;" yet so i.-.r Irom pleading it in excuse, he spoke f his conduct with ahhoi rence, consider d lumscll as a chief sinm r, and celebrated flic wonderful mercy of God in forgiveness. Peh-r, in charging the .lews with the crucifixion of Christ, admitted that through ignorance they did it, and yet he immediately subjoins, "Repent ye, there fore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out." Had they known, they w-u';d not have cruciti the Lord of glo ry," and yet they m-ght have known had they not suH'ercd prejudice and passion to blind them. When suspended on tho cross, Christ himself y.lerf..l J"(r Ids mur- ier i 1 ather lor-ivc them. f'..r th,' know not what they do;" ami yet whilo he aduiiilod their ignorance, he rceoniz- .1 it. (:e;si! , i" nidi ooialliiug Jor- givonos-i for J lie crime. Thus it is now; men, through ignorance, may vio'atc all the comm.-indiiicnts oi C:,d, and yet. un less ib( v leju iit and bo forgiven, they mu .t p ii. h. Iv-i.oianre in mo; t. cases, is volnntaiy, mo! not constrained ; and 'wo may be sure, wi;h all lhe means of in struction now J.O. SC; :,ed, th-ii, it will be no cxi use that .sin is tinnght!essly and if-rno-ruully commitled. Tlior.e who will not listen to God's Voit o of instruct ion. will bo conifioHod to li.lin to it when it pro nounces the condemnation of lhe trans gressor. All for the Best." II V know that all thiiiy ?. l.tj, -ftrr lr jn,il to them that hoe (!od, to than who arr ealrd ttrevrd iuj t Iis pttrjtote." Hunt, riit', L'S. "All things, " yes whatever happens to tho Christian, is directed and overruled by a spec-'al providence for his good. It many be very bitter, it may lay him very low, it may try him to the rjuiek, it may keep him in the du-t for a long time ; but it will do I i:n good. mt only in the cno, but while it I ;sts. Heiievcr ! y ur present trial i ; for y. ur good. Nothing r.,uM be l elfer f.r oii. Vou tJrt ., it. now ; jou may t. el :. t if you never could think : -;?.!it the time is corning when you wi.i ss Jod fi-r it. Voii lov God, t'l.oii'ii it s but feebly ; and that pioves tint G d Iovch you -viiii an infirdic and el. in:. I i.e. Vou have come to ti e cross as a p or tinner, arid you look to the Ij.o'd Je.-iM to bo your perfect Siviour; an I s' i jii'oes tb.it yr-u hav been cidlcd a i e.ii I'inu fo God's J.iirr)(-.c. And it i as oi:o ief Vid oi Go!, as one of God 'a called .iocs, th it we fo;vt! this assurance ropect ing on, t loit ojl ih'mjt light and dark ness, prcsporiiy and adveisity, Jifcf and deatii will woi k togitlier for yonr good, t.od as cits the fact, am therefore you ' hin.uid believe it. Tiic hisforv of all C.iuV . .pio proves and illustrates it, ondthcre ioiu on should i j ico in it Dark cloud.i loin' rieii b'cssinfs ; sharp winters iufro due.: I. dt.i'ul springs; and sore troubles o't. ii p--oiuce the .sweetest consolations. Vour pre.-ent .-ifllielioris, be it sickness of boOy f loiililecfiniinl, bereavenienf, crosses, losses, or whatever else,is working for your good Not merely will woik in thefuturo but it is wording now. Jiile your heart is Ideeting, when you are tempted to think all is against you, all is woikin toge!i"r hr your good. " Weilori in trihnlution also : knowinij that trihidatioii icurhi th jtatieucr; and pa tn i.ee, e.i in rn m e : ana i sin ra nee : hoi opr.. Hunt. 1. Oi fGi.wiu). Thou hast contended wih Satan, and been suceesnful. Thou hadt fou-ht with him, and-the has fled from tiie. But, O ! remember his artifices! ! mt indul.re the belief that his nature i; -change 1. Trim indeed, he is now com plat cnt, and is pt i Lap, sint ing thee somo siie'i ; but was iiver n.oie a devil than he is i.o v. IL: now ussaults thee ly not astaultini tlae ; and knows that he shal comiuer whea thou tallest aalcep.
North Carolina Christian Advocate (Greensboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 2, 1864, edition 1
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