VoL VIII. No. 9.—'Whole No. 373.
“JESUS HAS A HOME FOR ME.”
[Last words of a youthful color-sergeant, in the
Army of the Potomac; an incident related In the is
sue of this paper for Oct. Ist]
On a lowly bed, in the hospital tent,
A boy lay, breathing his life away;
Every pulse, as it came and went,
Shortened the sands of his earthly day.
Bound him were gathered, with faces sad,
Comrades and friends of the hard campaign;
that in battle had looked almost glad .
Poured forth their tears on his pillow like rain.
Over him bent, too heart-broken for tears,
(jneving to part with Ms youngest born,
* *'9- father, whose love through the circling years
Had been lavishly poured on his noble son.
Hush! Ms lips move ! Bend .closer to hear
What he will sav in his dyingfhour.
Does he think of the night march, long and drear,
Or the fight where he fell in his youthful flower?
Does he ask for the flag that he bravely bore
Over the hill when the charge was made ?
Oh 1 the banner may droop 1 he will ride no more
To bear it in front of the proud brigade 1
Sweet as the tone of a silver bell,
The name that he learned at his mother’s knee,
Is the Dame that he speaks while the dark waves
swell,
"Jesus, my Lord, has a home for me.”
Only that 1 His his last good-bye I
Fold the hands on the silent breast,
Never to heave with one painful sigh;
The soldier of Jesus hath gone to rest.
Carry Mm back to his olden home ;
Tenderly back to his olden bed 1
Wrap the flag he loved round the poor, maimed
form!
Strew the sweet flowers o’er the early dead!
Mother! who bore him so long ago,
Kiss thro’ thy tears the beautiful clay;
He whom thou mournest in bitter'woe
Christ hath crowned in the heavens to-day.
Soldier of Freedom! ’twas much to bear
Her symbol of glory through deadly strife.
Soldier of Jesus 1 'twas more to share
Thy faith triumphant in parting life.
There I where the palm of the victoif waits ;
There! where the many mansions be,
Soldier and saint! thro 1 the golden gates
Jesus, thy Lord, has a home for thee I
M.E.M.
Mtteial.
THE AMERICAN POLITICIAN’S MODEL.
NO. HI.
EFFORTS OF MR. FREI.INGHUYSEN FOR THE CON
VERSION OF HIS POLITICAL ASSOCIATES.
We come, in conclusion, to the foost remark
able part of Mr. Frelinghuysen’s public career.
Few Christian men are found willing, even in
the more favorable relations of domestic and
social life, to engage systematically in active,
personal efforts for the conversion of their
friends. It is to be feared that there are many,
very many, who otherwise give unquestionable
evidence of piety, But who shrink from this high
and important branch of Christian effort. And
no one would have felt the slightest hesitation
in according to Mr. Frelinghuysen the praise
of uprightness, consistency, and eminent use
fulness, as a Christian man and legislator, if it
had been positively known that he had never
communicated with any of his fellow legisla
tors on the subject of their soul’s salvation. 'To
an ordinary Christian, the idea of such efforts
in such places, would seem incongruous, if net
preposterous. He would doubtless quote to
himself the Saviour’s maxim about casting
pearls before swine. .Unbelief would join with
a natural hesitancy to effectually seal his lips
on a subject so remote from the wranglings,.the
partisan contests, the strifes for power, wealth
and aggrandisement, going on around him.
The lofty, earnest character of Mr. Freling
hnysen’s piety, forbade his indulging such low
views and sinking into ,a corresponding list
lessness. He had, in fact, seriously contem
plated leaving the bar and entering the minis
try j but when he Satisfied himself that this was
no this duty, he none the less applied himself
to the work of advancingthe Redeemer's King
dom in all situations and by every means in-his
power. Writing to a friend on the receipt of
Dr. Way land’s sermon on the Apostolic Minis
try, he says:
I can not but*tbink that his opinions on the
duty of others besides, ministers, preaching will
yet become a prevailing sentiment Jh all our
churches. How else shall the worlf of saving
men prosper, as prophecy leads us to believe it
Will ? 1 have often noted the case of the man
possessed, whom our Saviour restored to his
right mind. His desire was to remain with his
blessed Benefactor ; but the Lord .sent him
home to tell how great things God had done
unto him. .‘And he went his way,.and publish
ed throughout the whole city how great things
Jesus had done unto him.’ Now he was a
preactor, and an effective one too, for the peo
ple marveled at his words. And the Woman of
Samaria, who left the Saviour at the well and
went into the city to report of the wonderful
Being who bad led her to a better knowledge
of her own heart and life, preached also to good
purpose. I suppose, my dear sir, that while,
for the more solemn duties of the sanctuary'and
its worship, and for the governance and order
of Christ’s, Church, the ministers are to ‘be
called’ and set apart, yet for exhortation,
and prayer, and witnessing for the truth, and
warning sinners; and encouraging the trembling
believer, we are all to labor for Christ, and
have a heart and a tongue for His blessed ser
vice.
These views are eminently just and praeti
cal( and the expectation uttered in the first sen
tence has been remarkably realized i n the
church, since the great revival of 1856. Mr.
F. did not wait for revivals. His biographer
thus sketches this most important, and hitherto,
little known, trait oi his piety:
His course continually exemplified the Scrip
ture maxim, “He that winneth souls iB wise.”
He sowed beside all waters, but the seeding
was adjusted to the soil. He addresssed persons
at the top and also at the bottom of the social
scale, but in each case with a divine discretion
which insured attention or at least precluded
offence. None were so high, none so low as to
be beyond the reach of his affectionate Chris
tian sympathy. He Would speak to the old and
to the young, to his kinsman and to servants,
to the poor and to the rich, to ordinary citizens
and to those who were distingished by high
or official position.
Among all the vast variety of persons whom
he addressed on the subject of personal religion,
not one is known ever to have taken offence;
while, on the contrary, persons at opposite
points of the social scale have united in saying
that they weuld cheerfully bear from him what
they would not bear from any one else. It was
not necessary for him to wait for favored mo
ments, or depend upon some extraordinary con
tingency. So close was his ordinary walk with
God, so constant his sense of the Saviour’s pre
sence and love, that he was always in the mood
to talk naturally and without constraint of spirit
ual things. When retired to the country for
recreation in the summer, he could drop a good
word to the domestics of the house; and when
walking at, the funeral of some dignitary, he
could call the attention of his companion in the
procession to the claims of the merciful Redeem
er. All times and places, all ages and sexes
were alike to him in this respect. He had the
heart to bear witness for Jesus Christ, and by
God’s grace he found the way. If any class of
persons, by their situation in life, their social,
professional, or political connections, were re
moved beyond the range of the usual means of
bringing tbe truth to bear upon the conscience,
he seemed to feel himself the more impelled to
use the advantage of his social position to press
the Saviour’s claims personally upon Buch.
When personal approach was not to be had,
he resorted to the pen, and wrote -to: those in
whom he felt interest. But few of his numerous
letters of this character have been recovered;
but those which are extant, though for the most
part brief, are marked with great fidelity, pro
priety, and a pleading tenderness which it must
have been hard to resist.
And again.
There were few public men in New Jersey,
or in Washington, or in New York, with whom
Mr. Frelinghuysen was in the habit of meeting,
to whom he did not at some time or in some
way bring the subject of personal religion, .'He
was judicious and unobtrusive in his methods
of approach, and his delicacy of feeling and vi
vid sense of propriety rendered those whom he
addressed more willing to open their hearts
upon a theme of such deep, personal interest.
He certainly often found access where other
persons had failed, and there are many still liv
ing who could bear a decided testimony to his
Christianfaithfulness. Mr. Frelinghuysen rarely
spoke of these interviews; neyer, indeed; save
in circumstances when a reference to them
would be not only unobjectionable;, but of use
ful tendency. He was quite content to do good
in Secret, and wait for recognition until the re
surrection of the just. Many, therefore, who
have long known his public reputation as a con
sistent Christian, will be surprised to learn that,
perhaps, no layman in the land ever made so
many private personal appeals on the matter
of the soul’s salvation as he habitually did dur
ing the last forty years of his life.
PERSONS FOR WHOM HE LABORED.
Only casually are the particulars of his labors
for individuals revealed. It is a work that ne
cessarily avoids ostentation and publicity. His
conversations are not recorded;' but from some
of his letters or from answers to them still pre
served, we. may glean some items, of interest.
Mr. Frelinghuysen shared in the deep affection
of; his party for Mr. Clay.' He was intimate
with that statesman: for many years. He was
politically associated with him in nominations
for the two highest offices in the public gift.
But Mr. Frelingbuysen’s interest in his friend
was not exhausted in the fervors of a mere
worldly regard. It was deep, spiritual, tender.
While others were content to bestow; admira
tion, applause and votes, Mr. Frelinghuysen
added prayers,- pious counsel, affectionate plead
ings and warnings in behalf of what is often
the most neglected part of the statesman—his
soul. We are informed by his biographer that
in his correspondence with Mr. Clay, whatever
might be the special occasion or topic of a letter,
Mr. F. always included a reference to the great
question of the soul's relation to God. It is
not so very surprising that a Christian friend
should introduce remarks of the kind in a letter
of condolence on some serious affliction. The
zeal of Mr. F. for the spiritnal interest of his
friend, was shown not only on such an occa
sion, but the brief letter in which he communi
cated with Mr. Clay upon their nomination to
the Presidency and Vice-Presidency is not
brought to a close without the expression of
his prayerful interest in Mr. Clay’s salvation.
Just before concluding, he says;
Our- names have been brought together here
by the voice of our fellow-men. My prayer for
you and my own soul shall be fervent that,
through the rich grace of our Saviour, they may
be found written in the Book of Life of the Lamb
that was slain for our sins.
And when the news of their defeat has been
received, he writes a letter of hearty and genial
friendship to Mr. Clay, concluding with the
following tender and beautiful appeal.
But, my dear §ir, leaving this painful subject,
let us look away to brighter and better prospects
and surer hopes in the promises and consolations
of the Gospel of onr Saviour. As sinners who
have rebelled against our Maker, we need a
Savior or we must perish, and this Redeemer
has been provided for us. Prophecy declared
Him from the earliest period of our fall in Par
adise, and the Gospel makes known the faith
ful fulfillment. ‘ Odme unto me,’cries this ex
alted Saviour, 'come unto me all ye that
are weary and heavy laden, and I will give
you rest.’ Let usihen repair to him. He will
never fail us in the hour of peril and trial. Vain
is the help of man, and frail and fatal all trust in
the arm of flesh; but he that trusteth in the
Lord shall be as Mount Zion itself, that can
never be removed. I pray, my honored friend,
that your heart ' may seek this blessed refuge,
stable as the everlasting hills, and’ let this be
the occasion to prompt an earnest, prayerful,
and the Lord grant it may be a joyful search
after truth as it is in Christ Jesus.
With equal frankness and cordiality, Mr.
CJay responds to these kind appeals. They
do not meet with disdain and repulse at the
hands of the great statesman. He says :
You have, my dear friend, however, kindly
suggested the truest of all consolations,in the
resources of our holy religion. .1 have long been
persuaded of that solemn truth ; nor have I been
entirely neglectful of exertions to secure to my
self its benefit. I wish I could add that I feel
entire confidence that these exertions had been
crowned with success. But they shall not be
intermitted; and I trust that, by diligent search
ing, I shall yet find, in faith in our Lord Jesus,
that solace which no earthly honors or posses
sions can give.
Is not this a memorable correspondence ?
Between what two public men has such, an in
terchange of sentiments taken place at such a
crisis ? Scarcely risen from the dust and con
fusion of a great political disaster, we find them
discoursing in simplicity ana calmness of the
higher interests of the soul. It is an attitude
PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1863.
more honorable to both, than their election
would or could have been. And especially the
steadiness of Mr. Frelinghuysen’s regard for
the spiritual welfare of bis friend which would
not be,swerved aside by these most untoward
circumstances, ihas in it something of the
sublime.
We cannot follow out this correspondence.
In 1846, we find Mr. Clay again thanking his
friend for the interest he showed in his spiritual
welfare, and describing the improved. state of
his feelings on the subject; and again, so late
as 1852 Mr. Frelinghuysen wrote; him a kind
letter upon the decline, of his (Mr. Clay’s)
health, and recommended to him the supports
of the , gospel.
Letters from Daniel Webster show that Mr.
F. was equally faithful in, his dealings with
that magnificently gifted man, and that his ap
proaches were in like manner received with all
proper respect. In regard to still another well
known public man, we will allow the biogra
pher to furnish the account, and with this in
stance we may properly conclude this sketch
and the series of remarks we designed making
on this whole topic.
Mr. Frelinghuysen and Mr. Pennington.
Mr. Frelinghuysen was for many years inti
mately associated with the Hon. William Pen
nigton, for many years Governor .and Chancel
lor of the State of New Jersey, and afterward
Speaker of the House of Representatives during
the troublous times of the Thirty-sixth Congress,
He was always faithful to the soul of his friend,
and ’at last had the pleasure of seeing an avow
ed and consistent Christian. His agency in
leading to this result is thus acknowledged by
the governor in a letter Written in April, 1858:
* * * If any. one thing has impressed foe
more than aqy other, it is this wonderful mercy
that we should be permitted to go on in sin,
and rebellion, and ingratitude for a long life,
and yet be permitted to share in the blessings
which appertain to all who are penitent and ask
forgiveness at the hand of the Mediator.
I wish tp say to you, as a friend to whom I
Would confide my mgst secret thoughts, that I
do not consider myself a subject of the present
revival any farther than it may have led me to
consummate a purpose long intended. And it
is due. from me to say that I ascribe much of
my reverence for divine things, and, indeed, my
strongest,and firmest religious impressions, to,
your'advice and example—the living example,
that is the preacher, after all, with the conscience
and the intellect.
With many hopes and firm resolves, I still
am, and always expect to be, a trembling,
doubting Christian. Some people have much
enthusiasm, much feeling and excitement;. with
me, I confide in the promises, and in the hope
that I have made a full and humble surrender
penitently, to the blessed Redeemer of the
world. . * * *... ■
I am, ever, yoar friend, Wm! Pennington.
A DAY AT GENEVA.
( Everybody knows that this is one of the
most beautiful towns anywhere to be found—it
is one of the older towns—a place of wealth,
leisure, culture and elegance. And yet some
of the fathers have passed, away. Here the'
munificent Henry Dwight, banker, and long
time President of the American Home Mis
sionary Society, once resided, and graced the
business, and social, and religious circles of the
place. Here also the erudite and able Samuel
Miles Hopkins dignified and adorned the legal
profession. They, doubtless, have their worthy
successors, but none, as yet, quite so well known
to fame.
* The Presbyterian church of Geneva is strong
in numbers and resources, and is an efficient
promoter of every enterprise of Christian bene
volence. They are known also to be a happy
and united people, rendering a cheerful and li
beral support to their able and worthy pastor,
of whom they are justly proud. ■ We heard in
cidentally of a yery generous thing, gracefully
done by them, on *a recent occasion, and, we did
not promise not to tell of it. As the warm wea
ther came,on, and the pastor, Rev. Dr. Wood,
seemed to need change of air and rest, like any,
other faithful and earnest worker of brain and
heart, his church very courteously intimated to,
him that he might call two months of the sum
mer his own, and go where he pleased, while
they would take care of themselves; and then,
to make the. quite easy and,
practicable, a, purse' containing two hundred
and fifty dollars was quietly placed in his
hands. We doubt if the Old Broome Street
Church, in New York, which once eDjoyed the
acceptable ministrations of the same clergy
man, could, even in her palmy days, have done
the thing more handsomely.
. The pastor was not unwilling to take the :
hint; and so, with his accomplished lady, soon
started for the Thousand Islands, Montreal,
Quebec and the White Mountains; just the
trip to stir the blood with. recuperative excite
ment, and call back the wasted energies of the,
whole system. A pastor -so appreciated, and,
so cheered in his work, by a loving, .and thought
ful people, is worth a great deal more than one
who is kept on a low and narrow allowance.
In the summer also a pageant was witnessed
in this place, which will not soon be, forgotten;
one of those spectacles which this cruel war of
traitors against our government has been cans-,
ing, from time to time, in different parts of our
land. A soldier was buried, Lieutenant-Colo
nel Shiwell, gallant and brave, who fell while
leading his regiment into the thickest of the
fight at Gettysburg. He was once a member
of Congress, from Ulster County, N. Y.; but
came three years since to Geneva to reside, in
quiet and leisure upon a farm. He had every
thing to make home comfortable and happy.
He was past the age of military serviee ; he
was a husband and father, beloved and honored
in his own household. But he heard his coun
try’s call, and cheerfully gave to her
service; gave his life, as the event proved, for
her redemption.
It was for this that the people turned out en
masse, to honor his burial The pastor was
summoned home by telegraph, in the midst of
his summer tour, and came aIL the way from
Vermont, ttf officiate in the funeral, rites. His
sermon was touching and eloquent. In the
circumstances it could scarcely be otherwise.
And then it was estimated that near 10,000
people followed the remains of the fallen hero
to his grave. Such a spectacle had never
before been witnessed in tlfe place ; such, it is
hoped, may never be again , But cheerfully we
can bear all this, —and much more, if necessary
—before we will give up dur country'and our
liberties, “one and insepipble now and for
ever.” ;
Enterprise and progressive the order of the
day with the venerable chusch of Geneva. They
are now building a new lecture room., Cheer
fully they have raised some $'?,OQO for the pur
pose ; the old one has beeii pulled down.; the
walls of the new are rapidly going up; the
ladies are , busy raising of their own,
neatly to furnish the hous'eSwhen it is finished.
The : building is to be of brihk, two stories high,
with large Sabbath rooia' above, and
lecture room below; Thisftvill be a great aid
and comfort to the pastor,-as well; as to the
superintendent and teachers of the Sunday
School in their work; a ehmmodious and cheer
ful place for evening meetings, and Sabbath
School purposes, being almost as important-as
an inviting sanctuary for the Sabbath assembly.
The hew building is to be finished as soon as
and will be a model of its kind, and
for its purposes, unless’Ve grektly mistake the
culture and taste of the good people of Geneva.
\ ’ Geneva.
Rochester, Oct 3d, 1863,
ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSIONS AND
FRENCH INFLUENCE IN CHINA.
Enhchau; China. August 4lh', 1863. r
To the Editor of the American Presbyterian. ?
Dear Sir :■ —Perhaps 'I cannot do better in
the beginning- of this letter -than to quote quite'
largely from uuteditorial’Ojf ’ the “ Ohifid, 'jjSH,”
one of the respectable papers published -at Bong
Kong. In reply to the qiiery, “ What Business
has France in the East ?” jhAsays':'
“ Her business in China is openly professed ;
there is no concealment about’ it.' It is ‘to pro-'
teet the interests and restore the property of the
Roman Catholic priesthood. In former cen
turies, the only Europeans'in China were Roman
Catholic priests.; they had a * footing’ accorded
to them ; they held 'property for-the mother
church. But they subsequently lost .that foot
ing, were massacred, and itheir' property appro
priated, After the lapse pf centuries, a cham
pion rises up in Louis Napoleon; the eldest son
of the Church. He determines that 'the- Soil,
once trod by the Catholic Missionary,
shall be as freely trod again; and .that the-soil
once owned by the Church; shall return into his
possession. -jS
“ England’s:business was to protect her trade.
France had no trade, so shje fell back upon the
word to ‘ protect,’ and soon found a plea for ap
pearing in arms against China: Religion wanted
protection, abd the Emperor, would throw, his
strong arms around the pnests, and round their
converts,' that nd evil irfglr’t'Kein.'
In the'most distant partd of'the country, the :
native; who professes Christianity, is lunder the
watchful pare of Charles jLonis, and it is not
long before he. discovers that ,a , profession of
Christianity secures' Kim immunities beyond
those of his Pagan brethren. : The priests' are
men of influence. M. Bourbillon takes care no
insult or affront put,upon them shall go unpun
ished. Mandarins respect these priests, not
because of their amiable personal qualities, but
because of the influence they possess at Peking.
A religion protected as the Catholic religion is ;
in China, is likely to havje numerous converts.
An Ambassador is maintained at Peking, by the
French nation, .topee th?t no, persecution for
faith occurs in the land. -Whatever else Franee,
may be the means’of doing in ' China, one thing
is certain, that she will gifte to Romaii Catholic
Christianity, an impetus it/has rareiy received
before in a heathen,,country. ; Tq/conserve an,d;
increase the influence of the priesthood in Chin?,
seems to be Mr. Bourbilloji’s only business, // t
. . . v “It' is easy for the French to attend
to their Missionaries, for that is almost-the Am
bassador’s only business here; as it was Napo
leon Ill’s only plea for appearing in China/’ ,
.The presence of the English Ambassador at
Peking, seems to be almost for, any objeci rather
than the .protection of Protestant Missionaries.
He disepurages-their settlement there,.or in the
country away from the treaty ports, though it is
permitted to them as much as to, the Roman
Catholic Missionaries. He says m as many:
words: “ the' Protestant when he;
goes into the.interior, goes for thd sole purpose
of proselytizing.” And, again,: “I am con
vinced that foreign Governments will/-most ef
fectually serve Christianity in ohina, by abstain
ing from,protecting? it,as if it/were a matter in
which they: have any interest!” He has de
clared at length that Protestant Missions’ in this
land have proved”' a failure,; and he seems
determined : to do all he can in .the exercise of
his influence to harass and cripple Missionaries
in their labors in' the country, and make them
unsuccessful. i » -
■ _ Your readers are probably aware of the fact
that the Freneh have! attacked and taken pos
session of Sargon, a city situated near the south
ern extremity of Cool in China, which they hold
and are-fortifying- [This.is a very convenient
station, whence, in -dase of war with England,,
the French forces could be sent against Singa
pore, and, other comparatively, defenceless places
in the possession of , the English. The French,
seem to have succeeded in obtaining a separate
foothold in the East. Besjdes, at some of;the
consular ports, as . Shanghai and Tientsin, there
are plots of ground sometjn|es containing several,
scores or hundreds of acre?, given over in the
hands of. the French, and jcalled “French con
cessions,” or. French settlements;.-and to. be.
governed by Freneh policemen, in accordance
with, Freneh regulations, j And although the
French have no trade with! China of any great
value, at the most important of the Consular
ports .there are French Consulates established.
The french, aided by heaiy subsidies from Na
poleon, have established tegular lines of mail
steamers between China aid Europe. At dif
ferent points along the qoas|, there may be found
Freneh men of war, or, French armed vessels,
for the ostensible purposd )f protecting French
interests. Most manifest y the French Em
peror is determined to get and maintain a pow
erful political foothold in Ciina.
In order that the Westell reader may under
stand what are the privilege and rights accorded
to Homan Catholic Missioi aries, their catechu
mens and converts all ove . the Empire, I will
here quote from the Convention of Peace be
tween the' Emperors of China and France,
signed and sealed at Peking, a few years ago.
It says :
“In accordance with the Imperial Edict of
the 25th day, of the first month, of the 26th
year of Laou Kwang, (20th February, 1846,)
it shall be promulgated throughout the Empire,
for the information of the people, that it is per
mitted to soldiers and people everywhere to pro
pagate and practise the religion of the Lord of
Heaven, (the common term for Roman Catholi
cism in China,) to meet'together for the die*,
coursing of the doctrine, and to build halls for
the purpose of worship; and - that those who in
diseriminately search out and arrest Christians,
shall be dealt with as they ought to be. 'More
over, for such churches of the Lord of Heaven, '
schools,; cemeteries, fields and buildings, ;as were
confiscated in former times of perseeutionof the
worshippers :of the Lord of Heaven, restitution'
shall be made and the equivalent delivered to
the Representative of France at Peking, to be
by him delivered to the Christians in the locali
ties concerned. And French propagators of the
doctrine, and teachers, shall be permitted :; in,
every province to rent and purchase land, and
to erect buildings thereon at thrir pleasure.”.
, It may be . easily seen, that with' a French
Government, determined to carry out the pro
visions of this treaty, and with an active' and
zealous Ambassador at 'Peking, and faithful
Consuls at the different Consular ports;; such ,
stipulations as that quoted, when made known
among the Chinese, must arrest the attention of
the people, and be a powerful argument for their
inclination towards a religion -which/has such
supporters. And when we reflect that, the
English Representative, backed by. the. English
government, discourages proselytism !i and active .
Missionary efforts generally in the interior of
China, by Protestant .Missionaries, entirely ig
noring the claims which English Missionaries,
may properly make to some of the. rights and
privileges guaranteed to the French,propagan
dists of religion—.-in view, of the, “ most favored,
nation”—clause, which is inserted in,the English
treaty—-we may Teasoanbly conclude, as .did a
China editor, That Protestant Missions.cannot .
compete against such powerful apposition.” ;
Already has the-French Minister demanded
restitution of property, which once belonged to
Roman Catholic Missions, some scores of yearp,
ago—at least in some places.' It is understood .
that valuable property in the city of Canton, in ; ,
the suburbs of Shanghai, and in the Imperial
city in Peking, has been restored to the agents
of Roman Catholic Missions at these places—
not to mention others. /
But it is time to come to the conclusion of
this letter, to the improvement and the infer
ences which the importance of its subject matter,
warrants or suggests. i
Is it too much to hope that among the many
Theological students, : and-the Missionary candi
dates in the United States, there may be some,
or at least one who, on reading this communica
tion, will be led to ask himself whether it be
not his duty to come over and help,’not to fight
the Prench, or, solely' and directly to oppose the
progress of Romanism] uuder French auspices ,
and under French protection, but to preach the
pure gospel of Jesus-,Christ, to the'lost [millions
in China ? Protestant Missionaries in this land
feel that to-an undue degree, the claims of
China on Christendom, for recruits in the prose
cution of the work, are neglected and passed by,
ip fitvor of easier fields of labor.*' Is this so? -
Irthere not too much of a kind of infidel feeling
among the churches at the' West, nearly resem
bling the infidel conclusion of the English Am
bassador, that Protestant Missions in China
after all are a “failure." Alasl Alas! for
China if there be such a failure. Let it be re
membered that'if Protestant Missions compared
with Roman Catholic Missions', are a failure, or
shall he a failure, in this. Empire, it is because
the churches by their indolence and infidelity; •
have made or shall make them so. ’
’ But as the least possible imaginary result,
(and may God forbid that it be a merely im
aginary result, may it not be hoped that some,
nay many Western Christians, will pray more,
constantly and more' in faith than before, for the
success of the gospel in this dark Empire ?
Surely it is not too much to hope that Christians
will pray in behalf of China, even ,if they will
not come to China and labor here, that the
blessed Saviour may see of the travail of his
soul in this land and bp satisfied.
China holds out her hands imploringly for
more sympathy,' in her depths of ignorance and
delusion, on. the part of those who are enlight
ened at the West, for more Missionaries to
break unto her the bread of life; and for more
importunate and prevailing'prayer, that the
seed, already sown may not have been sown in
vain; and that numerous fields already white to
the harvest, may be gathered in.
A PATRIOT MOTHER’S THANK-OFFERING.
The following letter breathes a tenderness of
maternal affection, purity of patriotism and
depth of love to the gospel of Jesus which make
it a gem worthy of the grand-daughter of the
sainted Isabella Graham, and sister of the la
mented Dr. Bethune:
George H. Stuart, Esq.— Dear Sir:—ff«v
ing, with, great thankfulness to God, heard by
telegraph that my youngest son, Adjutant H.
M. Duffield is not wounded, and quite
Chattanooga, I send you twenty dollars, as a
thank-offering from a mother for the preservation
of her son at the battle ■of ChickamaugjU I
should like the money appropriated where the
most Michigan regiments are, but still I do not
dictate. All souls are precious, and you can
use it as' you think best May the blessing off
our Father in heaven go with it! '
I think of the Christian Commission and
the Sanitary Commission as twin brothers going
forward to their glorious work. Oh! my Mend,
what a field is open to Christians now, and how
ought they to improve it in trying to,.rescue
those who are “led captive by the devil, at his
will.” God bless you, and the dear, precious
Christian Commission! Surely the blessing of
SINIM.
Detroit, Sep. 30th, 1863.
those who arS ready to perish will rest upon
you. Ah! little do you know how much com
fort you give to .anxious mothers when they
hear of your locations. “My.hoy is there,” is
her thought, and then she bows the knee and
prays, that your labors may be blessed to him
and others.
Surely it is like going out into the highways
and hedges,, when you look after the spiritual
wants, of soldiers. You encourage Christian
soldiers ; while you awaken the impenitent. Oh I
how noble to be hear the sick bed and cheer
him with your blessed words,'
“When the groan his -faint heajs giveth
Seems the last sigh of despair.”;
Oh! how I have wept and prayed for our be
loved country. Two sons (one a Colonel, and'
the youngest, the Adjutant) I gave; The Colo
nel is wounded so that he cannot go back, and
the dear young Adjutant has been in this battle.
But I put him under the shadow of God’s wing
and- He has kept him safe. lam anxious,-but
still I say; • : ;■
If new sorrow should befall,
' :n Ifmy noble boy should fall,
- ; If the bright head I have blest, ■
On the cold earth finds its;'rest,
~ Still with all,the mother’s heart,
. Torn and quivering with the smart,
I yield him ’ neath thy chast’ ning rod,
To my country and my God.”
: You will never know the good yon have done
till “God: shall wipe away all tears from your,
eyes,” and you see how many gems shall spar
kle in your crown which have been gathered
from our army. . : : ,
How much good your Commission has done 1
God bless you all 1 In haste,
, : Your sister in Christ,
. Isabella G. Dupfxeu).
THINGS HEEDFUL TO SUCCESS.
’lf we would have success ’in the' missionary
work abroad, that work must be well sustained at
home. • The long arm of the lever of: power in
this service, is in Christian lands; and is, in
some, sense, -more important than that which,
acts dire,ctly upon the heathen world.. This
last derives its efficiency from the other, so far
as it is connected with human agency. -
Noticing a few things that I regard as essen-;
tial to success, I will limit myself to the difficult
matter of raising funds. If it were asked, what
is needful in Order that our missionary treasury
may be kept full and overflowing, my reply
would be,' There is need, first of principle in this
thing. No reliance can be placed on the chari
ties of the Church, except so far as they are the
outgrowth of my principle. That which is given
by impulse, or by .constraint, is inconstant and
uncertain'; and no calculations can be safely
based' on fluctuating contributions. Christian!
enterprise will not .prosper till it takes .bold upon
the confidence; and hearts of men. Benevolent
action must be . grounded on understood, and
acknowledged obligations. she reasons for such
action must be perceived and felt. . '
True benevolence is disinterested'. Christ
referred to, it. when he said, It is more .blessed to
give than to receive. The-giving that comes
from the .Heart, though it will .amount .to sacrifice,
is not' in the may of sacrifice so much as of
pleasure.' ’ With true disinterested ness, the real
sacrifice would be in hoi giving. It is the . rain
that coAies, not from the transient cluud, driven,
by the wind, but from the, full heavens, that
beautifies the earth.,
• It should be the aim of those who have the
care of these things, to cultivate the principle of
benevolence in the Church. This is essential to
religious growth—to progress in the individual
graces. .And there will be need of line .upon
line and precept upon precept here. The moral
condition of man without the gospel, • including
the physical and social condition of the heathen,
should be. often and faithfully depicted,,and- also
the responsibility of each one, with reference to
the salvation of the perishing; founded on the
redeeming work of Christ, and his command to
go.and evangelize all nations. ; , .
- Specific growths in the natural world require
specific culture, and so it is in the spiritual king
dom. Christian charity cannot be looked for as
a, spontaneous, production. It comes of spiritual
enlightenment, and of patient, faithful culture.
But the ministry cannot afford to lose this power
of Christian principle- in; the Church, brought
out in. benevolent action. Its reflex influence
upon the body of Christ, as promoting the
growth of all that is beautiful, valuable, and
efficient, will be felt at home, while it is indis
pensable to the success of the missionary work
abroad. ’ .
I would say, in the second.place, there is need
oisystem in this work of raisins; funds for mis
sions. Principle always works best in the form
of efficient organization! Piety has need of pru
dence and discretion. Without some kind of
system, the ,principle of benevolence would be
likely to decay and disappear. Systematic
benevolence, next to Christian principle, is the
present want of the Church. If her great re
sources of faith and love and means,' were brought
out into active and continuous exercise, how soon
would the entire world be made; to feel the,
power of the gospel! But there is great loss: to
the Church and the missionary', cause, iu the
want of some system, to develop the graces and
call out |he charities of individual Christians.
There is need of organized and systematic effort
that shall reach all in the Church and the
parish; taking in the little children, cherishing
and directing their sympathies with tenderness,
and care. L ef.every one lay by'him in store', for
this purpose, as’God-has prospered him.'i ‘ ! The
effort should be prompt, equal and regular,
energetic and thorough in its working. The
plan should be such as will bring this subject
before the people often, with the best helps,
presenting the best methods, motives, and rea-’
sons for giving. It may be varied to meet cir
cumstances, but it must , not be allowed to run
out, or run down.— Missionary Herald.
THE YOUNG SEAN S PRAYER.
BY REV. 0. Hi SPURGEON.
“P satisfy us early with thy mercy; .that fre may
rejoice and be glad all our days.—Psalm 90; 14;
Every word' here is significant. “ 0.” This,
teaches us that the prayer is to he earnest. I
will suppose that I .have led, some of your young
people here now to breathe, this prayer to God.
Am I so unhappy as to suppose that none of you
will-doit? Are there not some'who now say,
“ I hi with my whole heart, God the -Holy
Spirit helping me, now in my pow offer this
supplication to heaven.” It begins with “0.”
•Dull . prayers will never reach God’s throne.
What comes from Our heart coldly, can never
get to God’s heart! Dull, dead prayers,;ask God
to deny them. We must pray out of-our soul.
“ O satisfy us.” Young man, the Lord is wil.
ling to open the door to those who knock, but you
GENESEE EVANGELIST.—WhoIe No. 901.
most knock 'hard', fie is fully prepared to
give to those who ask, but you must ask earn
estly. The kingdom of heaven suffereth vio
lence. It is not a gentle grasp., which will avail; -;
you must -wrestle with the angel.. G lv _ e no sleep
to your eyes, nor slumber to your eylids till, you
have found the Saviour. Bemember, if you do
but find him, it will repay you, though you
shed drops of bloUd in the pursuit. If instead
of tears you had given your heart’s gore, and if
instead of sighs you were to give fhd shrieks of ’
a martyr, it would well Tecompenseyou, if you did
but find Jesus ; therefore, be earnest. Jf ypu
find him not, remember you perish with a great
destruction;' the wrath of God abideth on you,
and hell must be your portion;-therefore as one
that pleadeth for his life so. plead for his taercy.
Throw, your, whole spirit into it, and let that
spirit be heated to a glowing heat. Be not
satisfied testand at .the foot of the throne, and
say, “Let God save me if he will.” No; but put
it thus, “Lord, I cannot take adenial; 0 satisfy
m.e; 0 saveline.” Such a prayer is sure, to be
accepted. ..
Cigala rmfeeit. g generous prayer , when you
are at 1 it. “ 0 satisfy us early !” lam glad,
to see among our young sisters in the catechu- '
men class such a spirit of love for one another,
so that when one is converted she is sure to look
round for another. The scores in that class who ,
have found the Lord are always searching out ,
some stray young woman in the street, or some
hopefiil oneS attending the congregation, whom '
they try to bring in, that Jesus may be glorified. •
The very first duty of a convert is to labor for
the conversion of and surely it will not
spoil thy prayer; young. man, if when thou art
playing for thyself, thou wilt put it in the plu-,
fal—“ 0 satisfy -us.” Pray for your brothers
and. sisters. I am sure we are verily guilty in -
this thing. Those that sprang from the same
loins as ourselves, would to God that they were
all saved with the same salvation. You may,
some of you, be happy enough to be members of
a family in which ail are converted. Oh that
we could all say the same! May the remem
brance of this-text provoke you and me to pray
for unconverted brothers and sisters more than
we have ever done. “0 satisfy us;” if thou
hast brought in the eldest, Lord, stay not till ;
the youngest be converted; • if my brother
preaches the Word, if my sister rejoices in Thy ,
fear, then .let other sisters know and taste of Thy
love. .You young people in shops, in ware-,
houses, in factories, pray this prayer, and do not
exclude even those who have begun to 'Blas
pheme, but even in their early youth pray for
them—“© satisfy m with Thy merey.”
See to it, dear friends, in the next place, that.
your prayer he thoroughly evangelical. “0 sat- '
isfy us early with Thy mercy” The prayer of
the publican'is the model for us all. No matter
how ainiable. or how excellent we may be, we
must all come together and say, “God be merci- .
ful to me a sinner.” . Do not come with any he
reditary godliness; do not approach the Lord
with the tact of your infant sprinkling ; do not ’
come before him to plead your mother’s cove
nant. Come as a sinner, as a black, foul, filthy
sinner, having. nought to rely on or to trust to
but the merit of God in Christ Jesus; and l§t
the prayer be just such sis a thief might offer or
a prostitute might present—“ 0 satisfy us early
with thy mercy.”
AUGUSTINE’S CITY OF GOD.
BY REV. P SCHAYF, D. D,
. Augustine’s immortal work “On the city 0/
God’’, that-is, the church of Christ, in twenty
two hooks, upon which.he labored twelve years,.
from 413 to 426, amidst the storms of .the great
migration and towards the close of his life, is an
apology for Christanity aganst the objections of
the ancient heathen, especially the unjnst charge,
that Christantity was responsible for the multi
plying calamities and. approaching doom and
final downfall of the Roman Empire. Au
gustine was not wanting’ in appreciation of the
old Roman virtues and' heat tributes to these
the former greatness 'of the empire, and
to the decline of them he imputes her grow
ing weakness. But he rose at the same
time far above the superficial view, which
estimates persons- and things by the scale of
earthly profit and loss, and of temporary suc
cess. “ The City of God” is the most’powerful,
comprehensive, profound, and fertile production
in refutation of heathenism and vindication of
Christianity, which the ancient church has
bequeathed to us, and forms a worthy close to
her literary contest with.Graeeo-Roman paganism.
It-is a, grand funeral discourse upon the depart
ing. universal empire of heathenism and a lofty
salutation to the approaching universal order of
Christianity. While even Jerome deplored in
the destruction of the city the downfall of the
empire, as the omen of the approaching doom of
the world, the African father saw in it only a
passing revolution preparing the way for new
conquests of Christianity. Standing at that re
markable turning-point of history, he considers
the origin, progress, and end of the perishable
kingdom of this, world and the imperishable king
dom of God, .from the fall of man to the final
judgment, where at last they are fully and,forever
separated into hell and heaven. This antagon
ism of the two cities has its root in the highest
regions of the spirit world, the distinction of
good and evil angels; its historical evolution
commences with Cain and Abel—proceeds in
the. progress of paganism and Judaism to the
birth of Christ, and continues after that epoch
to his return in glory. His philosophy is funda
mentally dualistic,. and does not rise to the unity
and comprehensiveness of the divine plan to
which all the kingdoms of this world and even
Satan himself are made subservient. He hands
the one city over to God, the other to the demons.
Yet he softens the rigor bf the contrast by the
express acknowledgment of shades in the one,,
and rays of light in the other. In the present
order of the. world, the two cities touch and
influence each other at innumerable points;
and as not all Jews were citizens of the heavenly
iJerusalem, so there were on the other hand true
children of God scattered among the heathen like
•filelchisedek and Jc»b, who were .united to the
city, of God not by a visible, hut by an invisible
celestial tie. In this subliriie contrast Augus
tine weavesup the whole material of his Scriptur
al and antiquarian knowledge,his speculation, and
his Christian experience, but interweaves also
many arbitrary, allegorical conceits and empty
subtleties. The flrst ten books he directs
against heathenism. He exhibits the gradual
decline of the Roman power ; as the necessary
result of: idolatry and of a process of moral
dissolution, which commenced with the introduc
tion of. foreign vices and after.the destruction of
Carthage; and he represents this catastrophe as
a mighty preaching of repentance to the heathen
and at the same time as a wholesome trial of the
Christians, and as the birth-throes of a new
creation. In the last .twelve books of this
tragedy of history he places in contrast the
picture of the supernatural State of God, founded
upon a rock, coming forth renovated' and streng
hened from all the storms and revolutions of
time breathing into wasted humanity animner
xshable divine life, and at last to ent<r, after the
completion of, this earthly work, in o the Sab
bath of eternity, there to rest and to see, to see
to praise without end.
What liriEU it avail us -to have the good
word of our. fellow-servants, if our Master do
not say fteeUxlone?, ,