PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY.
! THE LORD GOD IS A SUN AND SHIELD.’1
lillGlI, NORTH CAROLINA, FEBRUARY 2G, 1831,
$1 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE
NUMBER 3.
THE CHRISTIAN SUN
is Published Semi-Monthly by
HENRY B. HAYES, Publishing Agent.
Edited by W. B. Wellons, J. R. Holt, H. B. H*yf.s.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
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——■ Alsey B. Freeman.
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COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Christianas un.
NORTHERN, TOUR.
No.
VI.
Early on the morning of the 12th Oct., I parted
with Eld6r Barr and family and Elder Plummer,
and started for Philadelphia, to meet my appoint
ment the next day.—I travelled on the Boat to
"South Amboy and then took the cars and reached
Philadelphia about noon. Walked up to the resi
dence of Bro. J. R. Freeseat No. 28 Crown Street,
and received a hearty welcome from him and his
kind ladyi‘ During the evening I became ‘ac
£d with the father of Bro. Freese, whom 1
J51d. Lawshe pastor of the Church
us and spent the evening.
R..II At \T„
Jrom New York,
ae business of
iny place.
__ fi(,h Bro. Geary, when
_. JP. Gordon the editor of the
I was much pleased with his
Ihristian deportment. He is a
pgs, and though a member ol
iii asy.t'j lOtestant Qhurch, he is nol
ashamed to meet all God’B people on a level and
call them all brethren.
snojieoinnniuioo
HMWB&4 Sljs
I was pleased with Bro. Geary and family, and
after praying with them, we called a short time
on the mother of Elder C. H. Plummer, being
conducted there by Elder P. We then called on
Dr. John Roberton, whose name and character
had long been familiar to me. He received me
as a brother and treated me with much Christian
courtesy. He is a man of mncli learning and
deep piety. I succeeded in obtaining a promise
from him to write occasionally for the Sun. He
having been for sometime a subscriber to i>.
We then retired to the house of Bro. Freese
where I rested for the night being mtich'wearied
in body. Bro. Freese and his lady will ever have
a warm place in my affections. They received
me as one of their family and treated me with
the tenderness, of a brother. Dr. Freese is a
young man of fine talents, great energy and
industry
;^ind having much of this yprlds goods
at his command can do much for our cause.- He
is indeed an ornament to our connexion.
On the 15th I was accompanied to the Railroad
Depot by Brothers Freese, Lawshe, Gordon and
Plummer, where I took the cars for Baltimore. I
arrived about two o”clock P. M., spent only a
few hours there before the Steamer “ Georgia ”
was ready to leave for Norfolk, Ya. We had a
pleasant time coming down the Bay, and the next
morning was at Norfolk, where I stepped on the
“ Fox,’ ’ arid by noon I was at home at Suffolk.
Was rejoiced to find Mrs Wellons and all friends
well, and every tiling moving on as usual.
I was 20 days on my journey, travelled about
2000 milles, and re'urned home mtich improved in
health, and with a stronger attachment to the
Christian cause (if possible) than ever before.
I trust my Northern visit will be attended with
good, I formed a very strong attachment for
our brethren North, and hope to renew my ac
quaintance with them in an upper, and better
world than this. 4
1 feel greateful to God for his goodness and
kind preservation over me, during my tour in the
North—in the midst of strangers and in a strar^e
land I found many friends; and was treated with all
defness and affection of a brother. In an
1' shall offer some thoughts on the
in the Northern States.
W. B. W.
1850
lie Christian Sun.
lYER.
TERSE.
Kim to pi ay,
Hmamaifd, and
tit. This is a
makes an ap
Kglit to command, j
ttoie of things, and
PWS.oinfi.ss ot’ man. :
. ation in the" pl.Uosophy of j
_ commands man to pray, be
is" calculated in its nature to bless and!
.jappify the soul. Prayer is in harmony with the
moral and spiritual nature of man. ’ 1 I
There is one great principle in all the works of i
God, both in 'the kingdom of nature and grace, j
that strikes the reflecting mind with peculiar in j
terest: that is in all the arrangements of infinite :
wisdom, the great leading object is the happiness .
of the universe of mind. This sublime and tkril
I ling truth is written m living characters upon all
I nature. When wc look abroad in the material
universe, we read this great truth in all its arrange
ments. Every arrangement in the economy of
nature is subservient to this sublime end. Every
provision {^calculated in its nature to promote
the happiness of man. We read this truth in the
arrangement of the seasons. The fresh and
blooming spring," the warm and*glowing summer,
the mild and lttyely atltumn, the cold and stormy
winter—-are all calculated to meet th§ wants and
promote the happiness of the denizens of Carth.
The atmosphere, is admirably adapted to the na
ture of man’s lungs, suited to meet his wants,
and promote his happiness.' Light is most beau-!
tifully ' adapted to the nature of man’s eye, and
designed in its nature to promote his happiness, j
Without this element the material universe would :
tie shrouded in midnight gloom and darkness, i
We would be shut out forever from the enjoyment
}{ the beautiful and diversified scenery of earth,
lould not carry on the necessary'ousiness of life,
would be cut off from one of the richest sources
}f enjoyment, and all would languish and die.
The atmosphere is endowed with an undulating
quality, that it might waft to the ear the pieas
ares of sound; and all the charms of music, that
we might listen to the music of the murmuring
brook, the soft whispers of the gentle breeze, the
soothing sound of the rivulet, the noise of the
water fall, the hum of bees, the buzz of insects,
the chirping of birds, the soft notes of the night
;ngale, the rich melody. of .Lhe songsters of the
bovver, the numerous modulations of the human
voice, the soft notes of the pianno-forte, the
solemn sounds of the organ, the roaring of the
stormy ocean, the dashing of the mighty cataract,
and the rolling thunder. The gift of speech is
admirably adapted to promote our happftiess. By
it, we are enabled to coftvey our thoughts to other
minds, to inspire them with new and suplime as
pirations, to sooth the sorrowing soul, to comfort
the mourner, encourage the fainting, and arouse
the careless to action.- Thus we see that in all
the arrangements of God, the happiness of his
creatures is the great ultimatum. We read this
sublime truth in the changing seasons, the light
l u«j y ouv uai auuo-i auu luvtu vy i ni^iu, uuu
warm and genial rays of the sun, the music of
the bees, the opening flower, the luxuriant har
vest, the soft notes of nature’s songsters, the re
ing river, the mighty ocean, the roaring thunder
and the lightning’s vivid flash.
When we ascend from the natural to tliespiii
tual, from the kingdom of nature to the kingdom
of grace, we behold the same principle in-all the
Larrangements and provisions in the economy ol
I redemption. Every institution in the economy ol
salvation, is adapted in its nature to promote the
happiness of man, to call out and cultivate tht
heart, to quicken inlolife and aotion the warmes
feelings, affections and sympathies of the soul
to elevate, refine and purify the thoughts, to bring
man nearer to God, and in closer union witl
heaven. u y
There is nothing arbitrary in the kingdom ol
grace. Every institution and law lias its founda
tion in the nature of things,, and is admirably
adapted to enhance the happiness of man. We
read this great truth in the ordinance of prayer.
Prayer has its foundation in the moral and spiri
tual nature of man, and is calculated to make
better and promote his happiness.
ayer exerts a healthy influence over the soul;
ds to purify the heart, elevate and refine the
, strengthen and enlarge the sympathies
ipul, subdue the passions, and bring man
union with God. Prayer, is calculated
the raging passions of die hitman heart,
man with a spirit of calmness. .When
sed to anger, and his soul is torn by
passions, let; him retire to his closet
oh the Throne of God in solemn prayer,
con his mind is calmed, and the raging
his soul hushed into silence. Hii an
es before the spirit of prayer as the
nd gloom of night before the light of
e who live near to the Throne of grace
much are almost invariably characteriz
ihnness of mind and sweetness of temper,
r is calculated to beget and keep alive a
love in the heart. We are commanded
for all men, and obedience to this com
caiculated to interest our minds in the
mess of our fellow-men, and call otfT~and
ivate a spirit of love for them. BA daily
yer for our fe1lo%m^rfr we areTefl ib^tfiTfiK
h about them, their situation and their wants ;
thus we become necessarily interested in their
salvation and happiness. It is impossible to pray
earnestly and daily for the salvation of a man,
without becoming deeply interested in his welfare,
and imbibing a spirit oi love lor nun; ana tne
more we pray for our brother the more our inter
est and love for him increases. Prayer strength
ens, deepens and enlarges the sympathies and af
fections of the soul. It cultivates and strength
ens those ties of affection, sympathy and love,
that unite all Christian hearts in one great fra
ternal bond. One great reason why there is no
more love, affection and sympathy among Chris
tians than there is, is because they do not pray
for one another as much as they ought. As
the spirit of prayer declines in the Church, jeal
ousies, euvyings, difficulties and quarrels increase,
but as the spirit of prayer revives, all these things
vanish from the Church, Christians come nearer
together, and their affection, sympathy and love
for each oilier increase. How often have we seen
Churches that were rent and torn to pieces by the
quarrels and contentions of its members ; united,
all its wounds healed, its difficulties settled, and
peace and baimony restored by the revival of a
spirit of prayer in the church. So met hues when
wo visit the Throne of grace, our hearts are filled
wjjAi hatred and bitterness against some brother
that bits trespassed against us; but this feeling
vanishes before the spirit of earnest prayer, ana
before we are done praying it is all gone. This
(has been the experience of thousands.
Prayer purifies and elevates the thoughts. It
banishes unholy and impure thoughts from the
mind, and leads the thoughts from debasing and
gtoveling subjects to the contemplation of pure, J
holy, and elevating objects. It naturally leads
the mind to reflect much upon God, to meditate
upon his purity, holiness, benevolence, goodness, |
and love ; and by beholding, we are changed into1
the same image, “ from glory to glory, even as bv
the Spirit of the Lord.” It takes the mind awav ;
from the groveling ^pursuits and ends of earth,!
inspires it with new and holier aspirations* and
places the thoughts upon God.
The prayer meeting is a wise appointment of j
Infinite Wisdom, and of the most essential means!
of grace. It is admirably adapted to cultivate
and call out the heart awaken and quicken into j
life and action the warmest affections, sympa- j
thies and desires of the soul. - In the social pray
er meeting, Christians exert a mutual and healthy
influence upon each other. Their prayers and
exhortations warm up their hearts, awaken the
sympathies of the soul, ■ calm the mind,- purifiy
the affections, elevate the thoughts, subdue the,
passions, strengthen the moral power of the
soul, and' aid in establishing the kingdom of
righteousness, love and truth in the heart. It
cultivates the moral strength of the soul, and the
Christian goes forth from the prayer meeting to
engage in the great and arduous duties of lifer
with new power and energy. “ They that wait
upon the Lord shall renew their strength ; they’
shall mount up with wings as eagles; thev shall
run and not be weary, and they shall walk and
not faint.”
family aevouon .exerts a neaitny ana saving
influence upon the family circle. It^eubdues the
rough and boisterous passions of the heart, leads
to a calm and thoughtful • contemplation of the
great subject of religion, awakens an interest in
the mind, and lays the foundation of the future
leligious character of the child. The influence
of family devotion will follow the child through
all coming time. He may wander far from his
father’s hearth, the scenes and associations of his
youth may jjass in a great degree from his mind,
he may mingle in the pleasures and exciting pur
suits of earth, he may disregard the claims of
'gratitude and justice, and steel his heart against
the denunciations of Divine vengeance ; but he
can never cast off the influence of the family de
votion. Jt will follow him through all the chang
ing scenes of life, and often in the midst of his
sinful indulgence, the prayers of his father or
mother will come up in his mind like kind angels
from heaven, calling him in the melting voice of
undying sympathy to turn from his sinful way
and seek the salvation of his soul. Nothing is so
essential to the peace, harmony^, happiness, and
salvation of the social circle as fervent family de
votion ; and one of the most lovely and interest
ing scenes in this world of sin, is the family bow
ed around the alter of prayer, offering up their
morning or evening orison. The impressions made
upon the youthful mind by family devotion, can
never be erased, and often in the rough voyage of
life, when the storm and the tempest howl around,
and the world looks dark and dreary,' does the
thoughts flash across1 the stormy ocean of time
Land dwell with rapture upon those calmn and
holy scenes of devotion when the family were
gathered around the altar of prayer. I have
known instances where the impression made upon
the youthful mind by those scenes, has been buri
ed beneath a flood of worldly cares for years ; but
in after life; -some dispensation of God’s provi
dence called them up viewedly before the mind
and led the souT to Teflection and to God.
It is obvious from the above considerations that
prayer has its foundation in the nature of things,
and is calculated to bless and happify the soul of
ipan—to make him better—to elevate him in the
scale of being—to bring him in closer union with j
heaven and God, From this consideration, Chris
tians should never suffer the fire of devotion to
expire upon the altar of their hearts. The life of
the Christian should be a life of prayer, the open
ing morning, the evening twilight, and the silent
watches of the night, should witness the fervor
of his devotion. Like his Saviour, he shoukL fre
quency retire from the noise 'and tumult JPthe
world, to hold sweet communion with the Father
of his spirit in secret,_He should pray without
ceasing,
wo nave every encouragement to pray, “for
every one .that asketh receiveth ; and he that seek
eth findeth ; and to him that knocketh it shall be
opened.” Our heavenly Father speaks to us from
the mercy seat, as a kind and tender parent, in
viting us in the affectionate voice of fraternal
kindness to come to him, and he will supply all
our wants. O ! then, my Christian f?lends, let us
live near the Throne of grace. Pray much, and
j we shall come off conquerors, and more than con
I querors through him that loved us and gave him
• self for us. *■
“ Almighty God, in humble prayer,
To thee our souls we lift;
Do thou, our waiting minds prepare
For thy most needful gift.
We ask not golden streams of wealth
Along our path to flow;
We ask not undecaying health,
Nor length of years below, n
Wg ask not honors, which an hour
/May bring and lake away;
AVe ask not pleasure, pomp, and power,
/ Lest we should go astray.
We ask for wisdom:—Lord, impart _
The knowledge how to live;
A wise and understanding heart
, To all be tore the give.”
JAMES MAPLE.
Franklin, Ohio, Feb., 1851.
For the Christian Sun.
REASONS TO PROVE THAT THE FATHER
IS THE ONLY TRUE GOD.
BY ELDER IS^AC N. WALTER.
In my former article, I proved by incontrovertir
ble evidence from the Bible, that there is but on*
Supreme and Infinite Mind. I now proceed To
establish another important truth, viz: that this
one Being is the same who is repeatedly called in
Scripture, the Father, and consequently that the
Father is the ©sly true God.
No language can be more explicit than that
which we find upon this subject, in the first epistle
of Corinthians, chap. 8, 6—“ To us there is but ““
one God the Father. ”
Equally decisive is the expression employed by
the same Apostle in writing to the Ephesians,
chap. 4, 4 6—“ There is one body and one
spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your
calling ; one “Lord, one faith, one baptism, one
God and Father of all, who is above all, and
through all, and in you all.” These passages re
quire no comment. They declare the truth to be
proved, viz : that the one God, who is above all, is
the Father in these very words. He. therefore,
who derides, or denies this fundamental doctrine,
■derides or denies the Scripture itself.
Another passage, which proves the proper uni
ty of God, occurs in the solemn prayer of Jesus
Christ before his crucifixion : “ This is life eiernal
that they might know thee the only true God, and
Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent”—John 17, .3.
Our Lord addressed but one being, calling that
being “ the only true God." That being was the"
Father, is evident from the commencement of the
prayer-i-“ Father the hour is come,” John 17, 1;
and from the repetition of the title “ Father,”.in
several of the subsequent verses—5,11,21,-24,
25. It follows therefore, that the Father is the
only true God. The following passages prove__
unequivocally that the Father alone knew the
judgement day : “But of that day and that hour
knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in
i heaven, neither the-Son, but the Father only”—
Matt. 24, 36—Mark 13, 32.
ai auv uciug ucsiucs Luu i'aiuci vtere cl ouprtjuiu
God, he would have known the day of judge
ment. Since therefore, the Father only knew
! this dav. it is manifest that YTe alnm> i« the-Su
preme God. But the doctrine that the Father ia
the only true God, rests not upon these few pas
sages, though ever clear and decisive. It is ex
pressed in the current language of the New Tes
tament, by the common use of the term leather,
as another name for the one Supreme.
Let the reader consult the following passages,
; and he will find the Supreme Deity, the only one
j God ij= there designated by that single phrase,
i “ The Father ”—Matthew 11, 27. Luke 10, 22.
j John 1, 18 ; chp. 3, 35 ; chap 5, 23 26 36 37 45 ;
chap. 6, 37 44 45 46 57 ; chap. 8, 27 29 ; chap*,
10,15 ; chap. 12, 49 50; chap. 13, 1 3 ; chap.
14, (i 8 9 10 11 13 24 26 28 31; chap. 15, 9 26;
chap. 16, 3 15 16 17 25 27 28 32; chap. 18, 11.
! Acts, chap. 1, 4 7. 1st John 1,23; chap. 2, 1
| 15 16 22 23 24 ; chap. 3, 1 ; chap. 4, 14 ; 2d
John, 4, 9. In other passages to which we shall
j only refer, leaving the reader to examine them for
j himself. The one only true God is denominated
i “ God-the Father ”—John 6, 27. Gal. 1, 1 3.
Eph. 6, 23. Phil. 2, 11. 2d Tim. 1, 2. Titus
1, 4. 2d Peter 1, 17. 2d John 3. Jude 1.
"God and the Father” or God even the Fa
ther ”—James 1, 27 ; chap. 3, 9. “ God our
Father”—1st Cor. 1, 3. 2d Cor. 1, 2. Eph.
1,2. PWl. 1, 2. Col. 1, 2. 1st Thess. 1,1 2.
1st Tto. 1, 2. Pbilem. 1, 3.’ “ God our Fath
er,” or "God even our Father”—Gal. 1, 4.
Phil. N4, 20. 1st Thess. 1, 3; chap. 3, 11 13.
2d Thess. 2, 16. "The Father of Mercies”—*
2d Cor. 1, 3. “ Ti*$ Father of Glory ”—Eph. ,
1st chapter, 17th verse. -■
And as our Lord employed, when he addressed
his Disciples (the title) “Your Father who is
in Heaven”—Matt. 5, 45 48; chap. 0, If chap.
7, 11; chap. 18, 14; chap. 23, 9. Mark 11, 25
26. “Your heavenly Father”—Matt. 6, 14
26 32. Luke 11, 13. “Your Father”—Matt.
6, 8 16; chap. 10, 20 29. Luke 6, 40 ; chap. 12,
30 32. “ Thy Father”—Matt. 6th chapter, 4th
6th aud 18th verses.
This collection of testimony clearly proving the
doctrine we believe, might.beswelied ia numbers
by the addition of passages: in Which the only
true God is called the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ: - :- - A -1
xuese an oear upon me same pome, out are
omitted here, because we shall have occasion to
refer to them hereafter. But more than a hun
dred proofs have been produced already, which I
conceive must impress upon the mind of every
unprejudiced inquirer, the conviction that the
Father alone is the God of the Bible.
My opinion upon this subject is further confirm
ed, by all those passages which represent the Fa
ther as the Supreme object of worship. The form
of prayer which Jesus prescribed for the use of
his Disciples, commences with this invocation;
“Our Father who art in heaven”—Matt. 6, 9.
Luke 11, 2. Where the Lord foretells to the wo
man of Samaria the approaching substitution of
spiritual, in place of virtual worship, he distincly
mentions the Father as the proper object of ado
ration—“Woman believe me, the hour cometh,
when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at
Jerusalem worship the Father. The hour cometh
and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship
the Father in spirit and in truth, for the lather
seeketh such to worship him ”—John 4th chapter,
21st and 23d verses.
In conformity with the general direction, our
Savioi r exhorted his Apostles'to address them
selves in prayer to the Father, as the .being who
was able and willing to grant their petitions,
j “ Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye
I shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it
you.” John 16, 23 ; see to the same purpose,
John 15, 16. Matt. 18, 19.
j The conduct of our blessed Lord was in ac