I No, 16.—Whole No. 380. *
IfMfrf.
ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE SHORTER CA
TECHISM.
NO. lI.—MAN'S CHIEF END TO ENJOY HIM FOREVER,
W 4\T Woas °^ rtll ’ a pleasant flow.ers cull,
When nought therein thy soul from ditty lures,
Kemembmng they are then most beautifiil,
“W at h put them idto yours;
And, as the rambdWs point us to the sun,
So should our joys to that soul-brightening One.
.' 11.
Crowning bliss!
it gives sublitoe delight to gaze abroad
°“ ocean: but sublimer joy Ishis ’
W ho views the oeean-sborelessness of God.
1 and behold 1 He pours
itxhaustless tides of love round all their shores!
__ ■ m.
When fierce oppression tramples down the weak
Whe fled mth 1S orushed 60 <feath, when hope hath
Th . e God Power and pity heats the Shriek,
t,4r h«*ls a L Vengeful sea on Pharaoh’s head.
mu u in yon high throne ahove, i“
• The bolt of empire m the hand of Love. '
IV. i'... .
When earthly friends prove feeble hr untrue,
When sins assail thee or success hath flown, •’
°rwhen you tread that valley where with you
Ao mend cancome—for each must die alone—
Bejoioej God gives thy perilled hours a Crowd i
joys,—Christ’s robe thy bright death-
V. .'s-'
Who but should triumph-in a God so bright ?
. Justice, truth, mercy, holiness endow !
Mm paths with beauty; what a winning light
_Of gentleness and wisdom on His brow!
How many a diadem His head adorns,
Apd, o er them all, behold the crown of thorns.
Delight thee, then, in God, and he at peace,
From oreature-oomforts turn full off thine eyes
In whom thy joys shall still increase,
Making eternity one bright suprise-
His smUe alone those pleasures can impart,.
And flu the vastneas of thy.deathless heart. ”
• ' EIaHiSTOTEROS.
MEETING TOGETHER OF THE RICH AND
THE FOOR.~-li.
BY REV. E. ; Ev ADAMS.
We are to begin, therefore, with the fact of
inequality in the human condition; to regard
it as a lawjjf Providence in the regulation of
society; as in harmqny the other works
and ordinances of God; as an element of con
servation, of development, and of progress
toward social perfection,,., . We are to submitiat
the outset to a system in which some are born
with more healthy, vigorous bodies, greater
mental power, or a better temperament than
others; in which Borne are ushered into being
amid better influences, and at an epoch when
fairer opportunities offer for success In states
manship, or Warfare, or in the more quiet pro
fessions and walks of life. We arc to accept
an order of things 'in reference to the human
race, corresponding to tho system which we see
in the material world below and around ns,
wherein each individual thing differs, in some
particular, from every othef; where, among
the million leaves that clothe a single oak, no
two of them have precisely the same form or
hue; among the myriad grasses-and flowers
that garnish the broad acres of the earth, each
can boast of something which the rest cannot
claim; among the living creatures that fill the
soil, the seas, and the, ajr with motion and with
song, each wears a distinctive badge; and all
in their generic harmonies, as in their specific
and individual distinctions, demonstrate, as
they “sing and shine” the manifoldness and
opulence, yet the unity of the Creator,
And we are not to forget, that many of the'
distinctions existing among men, areattribut
able instrumentally to the sufferers themselves;
to their vices orrfollies, their idleness or incon
sideration. While on the other hand, not a
few are the results of criminal pride and cruel
misrule on the part of those who are bom to
better fortunes, or who have,>by greater skill,
industry or power, obtained positions above
their fellows. But with all this diversity,
whether constitutional or criminal in its origin,
there are planes of equality between the.two
classed. V •
To say nothing of the fact that all are born
equally helpless of themselves jequally depen
dent on some waiting hand that takes them:
up, elothes, warms, feeds them, —or some heart
that feels for their and-hears their
cry off misery, whether in the palace or the'
cottagd,' in the wealthy mansion, or in the
movmgtent, or without shelter in the busy
street, or beneath the shade of the
all are essentially alike in their nature,
Notwithstanding the different degrees- Of
physical power, of Mental clearness and grasp,
all hare the same organism, the. same intellec
tual endowments. Superiority in any attri
bute is as likely to exist in the poor as in the
rich, and in the exercise of Iheir natural en
dowments, the former often rise to fortune and
to power; while the latter, for the want of per
sonal endeavor, sink- to poverty and depen
dence; and sometimes in the changes which
Providence brings about among men, the poor
and oppressed are pushed upward and set
upon the highest grade of social life, as . the
granite is upheaved through the superincum
bent strata.
All men have reason and ambition, more or
less, in reference to some object; pursuit, or
station. All have a sense Of law and govern
ment; all have their tastes; and passions, con
viction of personal duty; send an impression of
rights. The poor are not inferior to the rich
in their love of home and family, in their desire
to possess knowledge, in their interest in just
and safe government, in the growth and grand
eur of their country. They read with ae much
eagerness the story of our battles, and Our suf
ferings, and hail, with as true feeling of devo
tion, oar-successes. They share as largely in
the sacrifice of .their children and friends
their country’s altar, and bear their proportion
of the burden that supports dhr armies and our
government. And if In the.cottage or the hut,
there are instances of brutishness toward their
children and their feebler companions ; if me*
,VI. -
briety prostrates, on his pallet of straw, a
manly form ; if idleness lets in the frost and
the gale through broken panes; the lordly
mansion, too, echoeß sometimes to the profane
ness and riot of its drunken master; the cham
ber hung with costly drapery is profaned by
unutterable sin; and into the warm drawing
rooms of the opulent and great, rushes the
blast of passion, and steals the frost of indiffer- 1
enee and neglect. ;
If among .the higher; classes there is claimed
a mo.re refined* sensibility; a greater delicacy of
thought and manners, we can tell you that the
better feelings ,of our nature flourish in thei
humblest- soil; that bands an gentle minister:
to sorrow, eyes weep v tears as warm and as
true over the dead, and prayers go up as full
and trusting, where penury reigns, as where;
men lounge and languish amid the splendors
of a court. ; , I
The pbor can glow in the presence of beauty,
feel thia power of great thought, and thrill
when the “world’s wide harmony” falls on
their Souls. They can look as deeply into
truth; can believe and' worship with the
loftiest of this world’s minds and hearts.
In a word, the rich and the poor Are alike in
their depravity,; Both are born with proclivi
ties to evil; both are destitute of love-to God;
and, under the power of adequate temptations,
each yields and ;falls, and so they are equally
in need of renewal and pardon, alike exposed
to the retributions of justice. Therefore what
ever advantage of culture, of family, of posses
sion, or of position,-the one may, have oyer the ,
other, in the presence of infinite ’holiness, they
are alike poor, and blind,- and naked, and des
titue of the smallest title to happiness and '
heaven. ; -
They are, therefore, on a level in the View of
Christianity. To both, its offers ate gratriitbus.
It makes but one proposal to all. The infinite
worth of the Gospel towers alike above poverty ;
and above-all the distinctions ofjnen.
As the sun is not’appreciably more ! distant
from earth’s loftiest mountain than from its
lowest vale, neither is Christ more remote from
the mendicant than the monarch. Often, in
deed, as the beams of the morning fall on rich
er verdure and awaken sweeter song in the
lowlands than on the summit, so may the Sun
of Righteousness win from humblest hearts 1 the
purest- affections and the amplest praise. In
deed, the poor, dependent and neglected
world are more likely to feel the force of that
appeal which is made by the cross to suffering
hearts. In proportion to their isolation and
their burden, to their -separateness from the -
greater and more prospered of their kind, will \
they welcome the sympathy of Jesus and take
the boon which others cannot give. Then, as
the sdiictuaryfa 'the visible -exponent/# Chris
tianity, the rich and poor meet there on an equul
platform.
All the distinctions of society, of talent and
of birth, are ta' be set aside here. This is God’s
dwelling-place, and in his presence are we to : ac
knowledge and feel that the barriers of ordinary
life have no rightful place. Higher interests
press oq our minds. The soul has a work to
do with God, and asserts its supremacy over all
the accidents of its condition. ■ ~? ?
Here “ Let the brother of low degree rejoice
in that he is exalted. But the rich in. that he
is made low, because as the flower of the grass
he shall pass away.”
“ Hath hot God chosen the poor of this world
rich in. faith and heirs of the kingdom which he
hath promised to them that love him ?”
A VERY COMMON ERROR.
From the window at which I -am sitting, I
can see over the fields, a little brown cottage. A
few weeks ago, a gray-haired man passed down
the brick pathway in front of-it, every»morning<
accompanied by Ms !i little, grandsons-—one of
whom was blind—bade them good bye at the:
gate, and went forth: to his daily toil. On the
Sabbath, the neighbors loved to watch the kind
old man, as he guided the sightless boy to
church; and every one who met them had a
pleasant word for old Mr.\C. - , ‘ ,
Several weeks ago, at the close of *a bright,
pleasant Sabbath .day, Mr. Ci was stricken with
sudden illness. Before many hours had gone
by, the physician -prononrifeed his case'hopeless.
The minister was sent for, and came to pray at
the bedside of the dying ipan. . 1
“ What are your hopes of heaven ?” said the
minister." “ Are yon resting on Christ? Is
your faith firm V
f ‘Ah,” said the dying mau,,“l am sure I will
gp to heaven, for I never did any one any harm,
that I know of.” • ' ,
This the end of seventy years, in a land so
flooded with light us ours! This the result of
seventy winters of the Gospel—of seventy sum
mers in the sanctuary. Poor old man—going
down to the edge of the dark waters , leaning on
such a bundle of reeds as this, trusting in the
hoar of death, not': in the perfect atonement of
the Blessed One who died on the cross to expiate
our sins, but in the: negative merits of his own
mortal life, in whioh he had not knowingly
hrrmed any one. Alas! he is not the only one.
No need of going far from our own doors to find
heathenism as dark, as hopeless, and infinitely
harder to Overthrow than that which clouds the
sunny shores of India or deepens the shadow
that. b’roods over desolate Africa. No need of
hunting through the squalid homes of the Five
Points, of the. wretched dens of vice and infamy
in any city, to find those who know not Christ.
No. There are heathens in our most refined
circles. The cultivated, the generous, the merry
hearted, the beautiful, if sailing to hea
ven In'a canoe formed of their own good deeds
ghd good resolutions, .instead of finding shelter,
ip the only ark of safety, will as surely be
swamped, and come to terrible Wreck, as any
cannibal of the South Seas of painted 1 wearer of
a fetish.
Jesus only! Oh! pastor, teacher, mother,-be
this the keynote of your instructions. Jesus,
the author and finisher of our salvation! Jesus,
whose perfect work is our redemption! Jesus,
the Son of God, co-equal with his Father, who
aldne can lift us from the mire and the dost,
PHILADELPHIA, THfESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1863.
and make us kings and priests above! Have
pity on those who are going, fast as time can
move, to the eternal world, and teach them, that
no earthly beauty,. no mortal goodness, no deed
of their own can save them, but only Christ the
crucified. - M. E. M.
LETTER FROM CHINA.
RECENT NEWS ABOUT CHINA MISSIONS.
Mev. Mr. Mears:
Having recently received several letters from
various-parts of China, it has occurred to me
to send you for your paper some items of news
relative tp the work of missions, hoping that
your readers would like to hear from this laud:
What of the night? It is not all dark and.
discouraging to the vision of those “who walk
by faith hot by tfie light.” Beginning with
Tien tsin, the most distant and the most northern
post ,at which Protestant Missions' have been
established: in the native church’connected
with the; mission of the London Missionary
Society, “extortion, lying, cheating, opium
smoking, and even sodomy” were proved to
exist ampng some of the native members.
“Ten percent gain” was charged un everything
done on mission account as squeezes or bribes.
The result-is that “half of the church including
all the native helpers,”, were excommunicated.
Some were iSußsequehtly readmitted.
In connection with the church of the mission
qf the American Board at the same dty v it is
reported that the two cripples who were bap
last February, “still contiufte faithful.”
The blind wife of the one has of late began to
answer questions, and shows some indications
of not being entirely a “ wooden woman ”- ’The'
wifeof thebllnd man Chang has recovered from a
long sickness, so as to come to church one or two
months regularly; Jier husband “considered it
a. miracle.of grace.” The prominent members
who:' were excommunicated from the Church
last winter do give afiy promise of repen
tance. Let prayprs be Often offered for the
mission at Tienstin.
The news from Tang Chau is more cheering.
Rev. Mr. Mills;writes under; date of August
sth: “We have been having an unusually
interesting time with the .candidates at the
literary examinations. Brother Nevns, who
formerly; was stationed at Ningpo, says he
had never had snob a favorable opportunity to
preach the gospel to the Chinese;” Mr M.
states that the students would call at their studies
or their houses, partly from, curiosity doubtless,,
but many with a desire to inquire about the
doctrines of Jesus, or to combat them or to
procure Christian books, &c. Oftentimes he
got no opportunity to rest from early morning
till late in afternoon, explaining the. doc
trins, exhorfcing-his visitors to believe &c. The
mission were greatly afflicted not long since in
the death of Rev. Mr. Rankin, who went from
Ningpo pn a visit for his health. He died very
happily and peacefully surrounded by his wife
and children. He has been a useful missionary
and his works do follow him.
The Cholera has raged dreadfully at Shanghai
dpring the hot months of Summer. Three
valuable native helpers have been been struck
down by that scourge; one from each, the
American Baptist, the American Episcopal
arid the English London Missionary Society’s
Missions. Several of the missionaries have
been poorly, but at our latest dates all were
alive ; the well barely sufficient to attend to
the sick-ones.
At Ningpo, the missionary working force has,
been greatly reduced by deaths, sicknesses, ab
sences, &c. during the past year. Still the good
work has been carried on with' considerable
success. Rev. D. D. Green of the (0. S.)
Presbyterian Mission,, under date of Aug., 28th
writes encouragingly. ;He says; “Perhaps
about 20 have been added to our churches on
profession of faith. I suppose the Baptist
Church and the. Church of England have;
added about as many. Five .or six have
united from our schools during the year, and
there are, at present, several inquirers whom
we hope to admit soon. One of our servants
has united with the Church since our return
from the North, and the woman that was with
us at Tang Chau last summer, has asked for
baptism. - The Lord ,has ' dealt very mercifully
with us, and to Him be all the gloYy.” .
The Rev. Mr. Ostrom of the Dutch Reformed
Mission at Amoy, has Been very ill with
remittent fever. Hus. life was despaired of
for. several days, but God has rebuked the
disease, and at last dates, he was convalescing.
But in consequence of the state of the health of
Mrs. O. as Well as his own, it has been decided,
that they must return to the United States.
They will probably leave during the Fall or
Winter before another . Spring opens. His
loss will a great one to the Mission, weakened
as it already is by the absence of Rev. Mr,
Talmadge in America.
From Canton we hear of repeated and long
trips into the interior by boats, for missionary
and recreation purposes. Mr. Bonney accom
panied by his wife and’ several other foreigners
has been up at the North river to the distance
of 230 miles from Canton., It required some
13 days to go that distance including two
Sabbaths, daring: which time the boat was-at
anchor.: The party were treated civilly by the’
people and by mandarins. Many exceedingly
many trips must be made before China is evan
gelized. Books were distributed at various
places on the route.
There is no special interest among the people
here at any of the stations that l am aware of.'
The work is conducted much as usual at some
eight or ten out-stations, as well as at this large
city within and without its walls, by the
American Mission, Methodist Episcopal and
American: Board. A committee of two from
each of these missions are now busy at work
endeavoring to prepare a translation of the
New" Testament into the spoken language
of this place. -. When the anion version is
completed it will be an occasion of rejoicing
as it is very much needed. A colloquial
version is much needed for use among inquirers,
pupils and church members, who are not able
to. read with the understanding the versions in
the classical styles already made.
A few words i An: one of two subjects not
strictlymissionary, yet, nearly allied to the
missionary work la theif influences and interests
I trust will not betaacceptable to your Christian
teachers. . i; ■ ■■ < .
Yesterday JJepfelSth, a meeting of American
residents for Ttiarijlsgiving, in view of the news
of the victories bofeght by last mail, over the
rebels in Mississippi =and the- retreat of- Lee’s
army into Yirginjp/was held at the house of
one of the missionaries. It was attended by
some ten missionary ladies, and 10 or 11
missionaries and njerehants.; . ? It>W(as ; cpnducted
by Rev.; Mr. Ree% of -the; Ampjican,.Board’s
Mission, pe vera!| jtrayers were offered, - and
an, impromptu of, gipat. interest, feeling
and patriotism, by .Rev:;; S-,L v >B%ld£
■win of the. MrthgjHj& ; Cod’S' provi
■ dences as illustrathig .Gojiis purposes' ip regard,'
to our native land, were, referred - to. / The
meeting was hopefifl.- Several of the gentlemen-,
present took part in remarks bearing upon the
subject which Aai, convened us. ; All were
earnest in the expression of the, conviction
that slavery could, pot long exist in our native
land, The American, msssionaries at Fuh-
Chau, are all, warmjy dnifayor qf sustaining the
President in earryfegqnthe war till theVbel
lion is crushed, andlipeajee is restored on just
,and ,rightepusTern^ 0 for I: all ,pariies concerned,
the North, Southwest,and East. .There are
no copperheads or o i4js|inionistS!among them.
The late news frernsJapan shows that the Jap
anese are not intent on cultivating friendly and
peaceful relations with-foreign powers., An Eng
lish man-of-war had been,attacked by the Japan
eses in -Japanese waiters which attack resulted in
the woundidg or- t|l.killing of about 40 men;
among the killedCapt.-Josling, commander
of the vessel, is universally regretted
by all who werepersonally acquainted with him.
The English forces! landed add destroyed the
forts which fired iupon vessel. American,
Dutch and French vessels have been, fired upon.
It is difficult to fqjsee how matters can be
settled without a war. '
There is no very recent and important news
shout the long-haired insurgents in China.
The Im|)erialist troops commanded, by Capt.
Gordon seem to be getting the better of the
Taipings. The defection of several braves, and
the capture of one or two steamers belonging to
the Imperialists by Capt. Burgovine, a renegade
American, who witE. the steamers and the
braves joined the rebels, does not seem to have
been of very much benefit to the cause of the;
rebels or ofdamage’to the Imperialists.
Several of Capt. Osborne’s vessels have .already
arrived in China, to help the Imperialists;;, when,
they all arrive, the wprld may look out for
resulted . • --$&»«•- ‘
Fuch Chau, Sept. 16th. 1863.
SACRED SYMBOLS.
BY REV. DANIEL MARCH.
I. THE CEDAR IK LEBANON.
Fsaltris xcii: 12, The righteous shall grow like a
cedar in lebanon. ,
The first rays of. the rising sun and the last
light of his setting glory, fall on the cedar tops
of Lebanon. When the mists of the morning
darken the plain arid toil in billowy toiyents
through the valleys, and’ thick rain-clouds cover
the top of Carmel and brood on the.distant sea,
then still the royal cedar,keeping its high
throne, upon Lebanon,; rejoices; in the clear,
calm light, and anticipates the coming of the
cloudless noon. And when the .wild storm
comes rushing down through all the gorges of
the Syrian mountains, and the fir trees crash
and. the oaks of - Bashan howl beneath the sound
ing pinions of mighty winds, then the royal ce
dar of Lebanon/strong with the growth of a
thousand years, fixing the grapple of its deep
and wide spreading roots upon the everlasting
rock, stands firm; and the lonely wanderer
among the mountains is safely sheltered beneatl
ite while he hears the roar of the
tempest and traces the track of its desolation
'afar/.; ■"
So stands the righteous man, secure,and se
rene upon his high post of duty, with the light
of heaven around him mid the fear of God per
vading his soul, when deep darkness settles '
down on all the devices of wicked men, and
wild tempests of revolution shake the nations,
and the low and crooked policy of the faint
hearted and the compromising only leads on to
greater dangers and darker conclusions. The
light of heaven will always shine on the of
him who keeps himself At a sufficiently high
and commanding position above the world.
The mount of God seems to the murmuring and
sensual multitude at the hase, full of thick dark
ness and shaken with angry tempests. But to
him who ascends the sacred heights upon the
wings of faith and prayer, the whole region is
full of light;, his own countenance absorbs the
radiance of the heavenly day, and when he re
turns to the world, it can be seen in his silent
look that he has been talking with God as
friend with friend. .The face of the righteous
man is a mirror to receive the light of the sun
of righteousness and reflect it upon a darkened
world. By looking to him, the fearful, the be
nighted, the wandering, can always see that
the true light shines, though it be hidden from
them. The faithful servant of God, calm in
the midst of public .agitation, fearless in the
face .of danger, prompt in the discharge of duty,
living every day in the celestial region of light
and love, above all the doubts and fears and
cavil 3 of the world, preaches righteousness by
the purity of his own life ; encourages the fear
ful by the strength of his own faith, and cheers
the sorrowing by the- light and serenity of his
own countenance. And when the day of pe
culiar trial comes'to him, and temptations assail
in a fiery shower, and afflictions : , beat upon him
Jike a strong wind to cast him down, then still
he stands, like the royal cedar, fipbn the ' high
throne of Lebanon, a defense to others and se
cure himself, proving that his foundation is the
holy mountain and that his trust is in thj im
mutable God.
William Mathews, Esq., of Philadelphia, has
subscribed SSOQO t 6 aid in compfetiffig/.tk?. en-
Befprmed Preshytpi’ikn ohurchfin Philadelphia.
,fflMiw’s Jtoff ffMl,
THIRD SCRAP.-THE CHRISTIAN PRO
FESSOR IN THE ARMY.
- Soldier :—Are you a professing Christian ?
If so, I now, write especially to you, I know
many of yourlfellow soldiers who, at home,
walked with the church, and came to her sacra
mental .feasts. I need not say to you that;
when they .went tothe War, they went where
theif whole'character was brought to the: test.
! Thrive .watchbd the' course of; some of them,
with gratitude and joy: The state of things
around them.was sach; that, if; their faith 7 : and i
love was-sfrongi they],must.almostinfallibly. j
becode warinertanA-brighter Christians tbau ■
evert They wjould find no alternative between
clinging- closer to Christ, and falling away.
They accepted the necessity; they have kept ,
fast,by the: cross;, they have Watched and
prayed; they have promoted prayer meetings;
they have been Aarons and Hurs to godly
chaplains and army i missionaries; and they
have led their comrades to Jesus.
Of others, I have sadder things to write.
They ceased to pray, and then they began to
sin. The temptations of camp life overwhelmed
:their spirituality; and their religibri is des
troyed for the present, if not forever. They
Weire ashamed to read their Bibles, to pray, and
to speak for , Christ, before swearers and suf
ferers. They could brave death for their coun
try, but they would not brave a light cross for
Christ. Tilts booming of a cannon from a rebel
fortification, would give them the heart of a
lion ; but a single pop-gun from Satan’s bat
tery made them moral cowards.
In all our army, there is scarcely a soldier to
be found, who was a professing Christian at
home, arid who now occupies a middle ground
between these marked degrees of growth in
grace arid backsliding. Mediocrity is almost
impossible there. All the circumstances and"
scenes of camp life forbid it. The trial of re
ligion is incessant. Those who do not work for
Christ will soon be at work for Satan. The
profession which is not honored will soon come
to shame.
In a Yirgiriia hospital, immediately after a ;
battle, I found a Rhode Island soldier, waiting |
for his turn to be placed bn the amputating
table. He was an old man, i- e., old for a sbl
dierj and so feeble that the probability of being j
saved by the? operation was against him 7 . He
wanted a letter to be written to his wife and 7 |
daughter athome. lasked him what I should
write. He named over -a few particulars,
chiefly relating to his; being wounded - and his;
present'circumstancos. ” Anything more ?” I :
IMt
ought to say: He was silent a few riibments..
“My friend,” said I, “ are that wife and daugh
ter of yours Christians ?” “ Yes,”-he replied,
“ Do yon also profess to be a Christian ?”
A deep: anguish gathered over his counte
nance. "0 sir,” he said, “You have touched
a tender point now. But I will tell you the,
truth. lam a professor of religion at home.
But here—o sir, lam ashamed to tell you how
it has been;” I asked him if he had not some
thing to say to that dear wife and child con
cerning his spiritual condition. “ Oh,” said be,
“ they are good Christians, and it will break
their hearts to know that l am dying here, all
in the dark. lam a Peter; lam afraid I have
even been a Judas. I used to think that I 1
enjoyed religion; I have,no peace now.”
Here we were interrupted by the Surgeon’s'
assistants, who came to remove him to the
operating tent. For about two hours I busied,
myself in another direction, and then returned
to my Rhode Island friend. The operation had
been safely performed' but it had left him .too
weak to say ot hear' much. I could ohly lear'ri
that still all was dark. He was distressed with
the fear that he had passed the boundary ’of
forgiveness. !
The next day I was I was on a distant part
of the field, and could not see Mori The third
day I saw him again, and ; we had feller con- :
versations respecting his spiritual state. He
was evidently sick of sin, but failed to get a
"fast hold upon the peace of forgiveriess. Once
in a while the cloud woald seem to lift; once
in a while prayer would seem to 7 bring in a
gleam of comfort; but it was only for the mo
ment. The power ! bf the prince of darkness
was not so easily broken: His bodily suffer
ings were intense; perhaps he was soon to ; die
under their severity. But the physical agonies
of a thousand deaths were pleasure beside the
Anguish- of a spirit crying for one token of for
giveness and one smile from its Lord, but still
feeling that all was datk, and terrified with the
apprehensibri of dying under this darkness. He
felt thistobe the Kexmrd of leaving his retigioW
at home when he came to the army.
My duty soon called'mri elsewhere, and I
commended his case to a faithful Christian
friend. I know not whether? he lived or died ;
arid if the latter, -whether or not, he found
peace. I sometimes thought he was a real,'
though deeply sinning Christian, and that be
would not be left to die in the dark. Brit, dear
Christian soldier, is yorir religion with you in
the field, or did you leave it at home when you
came to the war ? You will return or die a
better Christian than when you went forth, or
deeply fallen. Thousands of prayersascend in
your behalf. Be faithful to Jesus and faithful
to your own solemn vows. B. B. H.
,PX SEASONS.
The glories of Summer and Autumn are fled,
And Winter, stern Winter, has reared its dark head;
December is here, and will quickly be past,
And another short year is finishing fast, ' •
Another short-year ! bb, the sound of ite wing
To my bosom some heart-searching questions should
f . bring; ;; ...
Have I-sought for the Lord? Do I walk in. his .ways?
And my thoughts, are they hallowed by prayer' and
by praise ? , - •
The days of the years of my life glide away ';
May! earnestly labor while yet it is day, : ,■ : ;
And, knowing that life must soon come to an end,
Look to Ghrist as iny Saviour, my Lord, and my
■; Friend. - ■-" -/T
Bb pot weary in well doing, ]
A RUSTY CHRISTIAN.
A key unused becomes rusty. A harp un
practiced gets out of tune. A heart which does
not draw up daily and hourly its kind and emo
tions, a benevolence which does not seek its
opportunities for exercise, a machine which
lays bye unused, however admirably it may be
adapted to its end, however beautifully it may
work,, and %ith however little friction—each;
all will, by : neglect, iriattetitipn, want of use,
become rusty, dry, hard tb start—sometimes
impossible without a great deal of work - and
labor, and use of all such material as will put it
in motion, Thp engine, may need the hammer,
the filegthh witli oil, and sometimes
of some part of the machinery, and thenit will
not work as at first; the rust eats in and some
times so corrodes as to require another piece to
be substituted.
Impatience,, or irritability, or indolence, or
indifference may say it is not worth the trou
ble ; ignorance may say it cannot be done;
despondency may give it over; but patience,
forbearance will put it in motion—fit to its
place, get it in tune,. draw up the waters of
consolation—so on, and effect the work.
The pump gets dry from want of use, and,
however much water may be in the well, how
ever excellent the pump, the stiffness and dry
ness must be attended to; to moisten it, until it
takes up the water.,!
A mail who has a Bible and neglects to read
it, a throne of grace arid seldom comes to it; a
family altar, and only Sabbath evening, gets
his family around it—who knows the way of
life, but just keeps so near that it may" be
hoped for him he is la it; yet is so in all his
movements that you stand in doubt; is like a map.
wbo can write, yet Seldom takes bold of a pen.
The want of use; application, perseverance
in anything which we should follow; makes us
stiff in our movements, dry,, lifeless, rusty
the very motion makes a gritting, shrieking—
brit sometimes the rust eats in so that the
whole thing is useless.
' Arusty Ohristiari-i-he maybe on the outward
appearance from circumstances—for want of
the means of, grace, society of Christians, and,
when brought under proper treatment, may be
started—but the safe, sure, and comfortable
way is to continue on in the way and use of
in prayer, studying the Bible,
keeping up household worship, private praver,
with devotion to every, Christian duty. This,
may seem, laborious, confining, hut it it will go
easy, and the burden will be light. It is only
a rusty Christian who can’t be moved to Gos
pel duty; vsrhile it is'a burden to him—it is in
great danger of destroying him.
Are you in this condition ? Get the file, the
hammer, the oil. Rest riot until you find it
easy to take hold of the Bible and read—until
you find the throne of grace the*place where
you- must go, to which you will go with a
readyinind and will;; the work and service of
God—that in which you find your heart and
hand ever ready. , ’
~ When’yoti
Christian, and the family look surprised rit;your
asking a hlessing, or the head of the; house apo
logizes for not thinking to ask. you until you
have hinted at it—or when, on your suggesting
family worship, the members are so scattered
that they cannot be found, or come in and look
as if they did not know what was going to be
done, it is a tolerably safe inference that they
are not in .flip Habit of these things. They are
certainly very rusty.
If I were to adopt a name after the days of
Oliver Cromwell and his noble Christian mi
nisters I would sign myself.— Standard/
DISCOURAGEMENTS AND TRIALS,
NO EXCUSE FOR ABANDONING THE MASTER’S
WORK.
The times in which we live are so much of
golden slippers and downy beds, that we cannot
look for much manly vigor or endurance, and
where success does not appear, the faith of our
times inclines,to abandonment of the field. ' This
was not the way with the men of faith of whom
Paul writes. Nor is it the history of the men
who have J carried the Gospel to the destitute and
degraded. ■ •
; We are reminded of the mission to Greenland
in the days of Christian Staich, where after years
of labor and toil without encouragement, .they
consulted together for weeks as to the evidence
of duty to stay. Christian David concluded to
return to his own country, but he agreed to
support the mission to his utmost ability; Nia'cA
agreed- to try ten years longer, even if no fruit
should arise from his labors. Three other
ntissibnaHes agreed to spend and be spent—to
believe without seeing, and hope against hope.
Their supplies were reduced to the- lowest
degree, when a vessel arrived from Europe, but
brought nothing for them. Out' of their scanty
supply they had to provide subsistence for David
to returh hoihel They hadmow to rely on the
seals caught by the Greenlanders. These they
had.to buy. When, attempting to catch fish for
themselves they; were in danger of, being drowned 1 .
In' their strait, God sent a strange Greenlander
named Jppagan, who lived 40 leagues south of
them, to sell them all he could spare—by him
they were thus preserved during a‘ whole season
from actual famine. They got used to living on
train oil with oat-meal. It' was a delicacy com
pared with the old tallow candles which, they
frequently were compelled to eat. .
God' don’t promise fine houses, comfortable,
aoebmodatiohs, luxuries- but food, raiment; bread
andt water sure. With these he will give grace,
strength, .wisdom and success, in that to which
he appoints them. On the. way they may have
many difficulties, over which he will make them
to triumph. ~
Sure I must fight if I would reign. The
saints conquer though they die 'On the field.
Death pan have no power over them. Jesus has
conquered for them—he led captivity captive;
he bore the cross—its shame, its trials. Will
any follower say in the time of trial, let me go
back-?- Will ye also go away ? Think of those'
words, “Ye are they that have continued with
me in. my temptations.”
Effects of one glass.
On passing through*otoe of the wards of Die
——• prison, I accosted an elderly looking
convict. He held down his head ks though'
ashamed to look me in the face. On Padding
him a tract, he said, " I knew your voice ,as soon
as I heard you, sir; I have heard you before to
day, sir.” ‘ ;■ ' ',
After a few words,ofexplanation, I found
that we had been oneGmemembersof' the same
congregation, and sat under the same , faithful
ministry. I anxiously inquired how it was that
he had fallen so low as to become an inmate of
a prison.
“A glaSs of'ale, sir, was myruin,” hereplied.
“How could, that be?” Tasked. ..v'.f;.-
“ Iwas at one period of my life, sir, very intem-
perate, but was happily led tp give up drinking
entirely, although" I did . xiot sign any ple‘3ge;
which I now lament! I became a regular at
tendant at a place of worship, and joined the
congregation. I went on very happily for some
GENESEE EVANGELIST.— WhoIe No. 917.
little
boyto no; I canned,” stud
he. 'i ' ■' '
“ Why ? now why ?” they .asked.
“Why?” answered the hoy, “ ’cause if I do,
I shall have to pray it all out to God by moth
er’s knee to-night. :
“Oh, well,” they said, “in that case you had
better not go.” , . . •
Bad boys expect of boys better brought up
than themselves better things than they can
practice. But you see what a bridle the habit
of prayer puts on a little child. Prayer acknow
ledges God’s all-seeing eye, God’s bountiful
hand, God’s care, God’s goodness, God’s pity,
God’s authority, God’s right to us. It is remem
bering God. The reason we sin so is because
we forget Him. Nobody can bring daily to
mind His adorable character, what He wants us
to be, and what He wants us to do, and go on.
doing wrong; for prayer, like a chain let down
‘from heaven, with one end in our hand, twitches
us from evil and draws us toward heaven.
Oh, what golden moments are those when a
pious mother gathers her little ones about her,
and teaches them) not to “say their prayers,”
open their little hearts in penitence and trust
and love to the Redeemer who died for them.
Then is tKe time, in earliest infancy, for the
Spirit of Christ to enter in and mould their souls
into His likeness. Mothers, see to it that His
print be there first
“JOHN DTJPPS.”
It was Charley Ed wards! birth-day, and his
mother, to please him, gave him the liberty to
invite a number of his playmates to spend the
afternoon with him. , Children never forget
engagements of this kind, and all the little fel
lows were early at the house. For a while,.
they played .about the large garden; first at
one thing, then, when tired of it, at another.
Then some one proposed going into the house,
to play blind man’s buff, and so the large di
ning-room was cleared for the fun.
There was one boy, John Dnpps, at this
party of whom I wish particularly to tell you.
He was not, a yery . bad boy—no worse than
most boys; arid yet he was not a good boy—
always good—as you will see.
The privilege of going where they pleased-?
was given to the children, provided they diß-.
turbed nothing. It is oftentimes a very" hard
matter, for boys especially, to keep “hands y-
was gofag
on, hecatrie tired of it, arid stepped into the par
lor, adjoining the room they* were in. How
many beautiful things were there! What pretty!
Dooks, and shells, and ornaments I What beau
tiful birds 1 far more beautiful than he had ever
before seen! How many nice little things!
“ Surely Mrs. Edwards can scarcely know what *
a quantity she has. And the books, so fall of
pictures! That is a beauty with the crimson'
back on it—-Stories for Little Folks. I would
like a book like that. I. wonder if she would -
miss this little bit of a one ?” So Jobn.Dupps .
was thinking. -“I should love to have it.
There ain’t any body about to see me ” —and
John slipped the book into his pocket. Quickly
he returned to the dining-room.. “Here is
John;” said one of the boys; and immediately
John’s face turned aS crimson as the book in
his pocket. .
“ Johnny, you blush like a girl,” said Mrs.
Edwards.
years, until one evening 1 was returning from
. ■■■■ ■ , ;whpn I; met with £pme friends from
Hull. They prevailed upon me' to go to the
public house to have but ‘ one glass. ’ Conscience
reproyedine, but having.entered upon the en
chanted ground, I was readily induced to take
more liquoruntill becameovercome-byit. The
next rimming I was ashamed to show myself,
and left for Heeds. My old appetite
for drink had beenrekindled. I became reckless
and joinedanetq|.coimterfeit coiners. We were
discovered; convicted, and now I am to be trans
ported. Oh I that I had never touched that one
glass!”—Band of Hopeßemew.
ffrafp TTA’DT'n OT? VDATVV
•lliiS HAKI 1.- 11 if. rafl iKK
“I am so hot,?’ replied John,
untruth.
, “If you are,” said the boy next him,.“why
don’t you keep your hands out of your pockets.”
Something kept saying to John, “They alb
know you are a thief—your face looks like a;
thief’s,. John Dupps. Take that book out of
your pocket. What a shame, John Dupps, to
steal from so kind a lady.” Poor hoy, he was
no wgo uncomfortable that he took his cap and
left the house. It would have been far better
if he had returned at once to the parlor and re
placed the stolen book. But he soon reached
his home, and, going to his room as quietly as
he could, he sat down and drew from his pocket
the cause of his trouble. “Perhaps,” thought
he, “ they won’t miss it, and I’ll keep it locked
in my little box; and no one shall' know it is
there. I’ll look at the pictures a while. Poe--
try in it, too.”
“ It is a sin to steal a pin
As much as if a greater thing.”
instantly he let the book drop. The first
words in the stolen treasure were words of con
viction. “ I wont keep it there. I can’t have
such a book about me. The Good Man placed
those lines just there for me.” Oh, how well
he thought so!
“ What are you doing here ?” cried Charley
Edwards, rushing unheralded into the room.
John Dupps’ mortification was complete.
There could be no disguising facts now. There
lay the stolen book on the floor, and its owner
before him.
“ Will you forgive me Charley ?”
“ Certainly. What for, John—for leaving
sosoon ‘ ,
. “No, no. For taking your book!”
“This one,” asked Charley, lifting it from
the floor.
“Yes.”
“But you didn’t mean to keep it, John?”
“ Yes, but I did, though, and that’s wha
makes me so sorry.”
“ Ma prizes this hook more than any other.
It is sister Jane’s book, and she is dead, John.
Ma would have felt sorely the loss of it”
“Ain’t I a bad boy, Charley ?”
“ Not if you won’t do so again. And come;
I’ll take the book and put it myself in the par
lor, and no one shall know of it—not even Ma
and I’ll never, never speak of it again.” *
And generous Charley kept his word. The
hook was placed on the table where it bad long 1
been kept by thg hand of affection. The boys
returned together to their sports Charley to
enjoy himself; but Johji to think over what he
will never forget, that
“Itis a sin ,to steal a pin
As much as if a greater thing.”
— Ypuik’s Evangelist. . X
' _ . ' ' ■ *ach.
An effort is making to have 4 grand fair J “
ing sjx dajs, at; 14$ianapolis, for the so
families. The fair is to be on the sam
ple as the great fair held at Chitffthe paper at
proved such a success. Rapper annum, in
• When Christ 4ehies^wWfe^^^ or the first, and
what-is inueh more to ongr <p on
for ease j he gives patiei^O'
' That was an