Presbyterian banner & advocate. (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 1855-1860, October 18, 1856, Image 1

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~ yterlan 13anner, Vol. V, No. 4. " ONE THING D
IS. NEEDFUL:" "ONE THING HAVE I DESIRED OF THE LORD:" "THIS ONE THING I O."
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McKINNEY, Editor and Proprietor.
---IN ADVANCE.
OriAißat o etrg.
Love
visitA the heart an essence Divine,
1 and pure, unsullied by time;
fountain, exhaustless, abundant and free,
lence lbws out forever to me.
fount do the angels with ecstasy drink,
c their bright wings by its hallowed
c in its waters, entranced to behold,
rror-like surface, Divinity's mould.
als, tam, when its bliss they do taste,
roue of their God do joyfully haste,
at his feet their offerings so glad,
g to the praise of the Almighty God
fills the soul with a rapturous fire,
timuo toward heaven burns higher and
;s by the glare of a true brilliant light,
brightest sphere, a glorious sight.
angels cluster around the bright throne,
in the glance of heaven's Holy One;
['lads join In the seraphic song,
praise of the Father forever prolong.
two is love, as in Tesus it shone,
'4)untain-bend is Immanuel's throne;
:eau of bliss to the soul that's redeemed,
, ms it bath none to the soul that's
thee, oh, haste to the foot of the oross,
from thee, sinner, the burden of.dross;
our still loves thee, implores thee to
Al with him there, is that heavenly home.
;rsrillt, 185(3. R.
For the Ptesby tartan Banner and Advocate.
Baptism--No. 2.
position ;Assumed by our Baptist hreth
i already noticed, is, that the .word
always signifies to immerse; that the
id to baptize is a command to ins
and that those, therefore, who are not
ied, are living in open disobedience to
6hority of Christ. We have proposed
;here bold assertions, by a test equally
le to all, whether learned or unlearned;
Bible usage. In the prosecution of
.n we have already produced a passage
th the word cannot possibly signify
ie. In the present number, I shall
few more of the same kind :
BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST.
1. Cor. xii : 13, the Apostle Paul, in
of the unity of the Church, says :
,e Spirit ye are all baptized into one
Does he mean to say, "ye are all
'd into one body ?" By no means.
is, that by-the gracious influences.
Holy Spirit, set forth in water•bap-
Christians of Corinth had become
;o Christ and to one another, as the
are united to the body. The idea
-sion is excluded. To speak of the
members of Christ as immersed
body, is just as absurd as to speak of
and legs as immersed into a human
So the same Apostle says, " Know
that so many of us as were baptized
ius Christ were baptized into his
—Rom. vi :3. What will the Bap
le Union make of this passage in
fthemning version ? Will they yen
render it thus : " So many of us as
unused into Jesus Christ, were im
into his death 7" If so, they will
elate common sense. And yet they
ly avoid that alternative, for they
the word baptize always means to
.1. Hence, also, they must make the
Saviour himself address his disciples
language as the following : "Ire
immersed with the immersion that
,wersed with."—Matt. xx : 23.
here, perhaps, our opponents will
Do you, then, say that .the word
to sprinkle, and, that it Should be
%ten in the above quoted passages?"
no. We have never asserted, nor
libent on us to prove, that the
,rd laytizo always means to sprin
believe that the rendering of the
our common version is correct, 'and
alteration. The sole question now
is, whether the word baptize al
ms to dip or immerse. The Bap
the affirmative, and we the nega
is question.
SM PRACTICED BEFORE:EATING.
,ier evidence that the word baptizo
always signify to immerse, we refer
era to Luke xi : 37, 38, where, we
that a Pharisee who bad invited
i dine with him, "marveled that he
first washed before dinner." -Here.
' washed is in the Greek original
the first Aorist Indicative Passive
'b baptizo, to baptize. So, then,
see is here said to marvel that
' 'not been, baptized before dinner.
wonder that Jesus had not been
before eating ? Our "Baptist
at take the affirmative of this
They are compelled to adopt tbe
.opposition that the Pharisees
-..1 themselves before taking
alid that this custom was so
in our 9 :aviour's time that a person
..not cont mu to it, excited wonder
singularity They are obliged to
that every J o w , in town and country,
id the long thoughts of Summer,
Jnient pools or limning streams
dwelling, in whirl he and his fam
dip themselves befor e eating l To
irate extremities are they reduced
position, that baptizo means to
, and nothing but immerse.
now, let us test the matter 1- )y the
. What kind of "washieg" w as
by the Jews before wilting, add did
Irse themselves? What 'Sfiyi`the
•ecord ? In the second chapter of
have an account of a wedclipg
of the provision made for the cus
unification before eating. We are'
"there were set there six water
done, after the manner of purifying
rews, containing two or three firkins
Now, according to the most
intiquarians, the firkin did not con
) than seven gallons and a half,' and
see at once that none but mere pig
ild manage to dip themselves - in
is of so moderate a capacity.
;here is another passage absolutely
on this subject. Says the Eau-
gelist Mark, "For the Pharisees and all the
Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat
not, holding the tradition of the elders."—
Chap. vii, verse 3. Thus it appears that
there was no immersion in the case. There
was simply a washing of the hands in com
pliance with tradition; and that,.as is well
known, was done among the Jews by pour
ing water upon them. This ceremonial
wetting •of the hands is spoken of by the
sacred writer as a baptizing of the person.
And as the Saviour did not comply with
this tradition, the Pharisee is said to have
marvt led that Jesus had not been bap
tized before dinner." If, then, the wetting
of so small a portion of the body as the
hands, is a baptism in the Scripture sense of
the word, the slight application of water
to the face may equally be• regarded as
Scriptural baptism.
THE .BAPTISM ON • TEEE RETURN FROM
MARKET
In Mark vii : 4, we.. have another speci
men of the Scriptaral sense of the G-reek
word baptizo : " And when they (the Pha
risees and all the Jews) come from the Mar
ket, except they wasti, they eat not." Here
the word wash is in the original Greek
baptisontai, from the verb baptizo to bap
tize! Being found in the first Aorist sub
junctive; middle, the verb"-possesses a, reflec
tive signification, so that the' strict grammat
ical meaning of the, passage is, " except
they baptize themselves, they eat not." We
have already seen that this baptizing of the
person was done by pouring a little water on
the hands.
THE BAPTISM OF TABLE-COUCHES
In the latter clause of the verse last
quoted,, we are informed that " many other
things there be, which they (the Jews) have
received to hold, as the washing of cups and
pots, brazen vessels and tables." Here,
again, the original word translated washing
is baptismous, baptisms. The, word, ren
dered tables is klinai, which, as all admit,
denotes the couches on whiCh the Jews re
clined at their meals. The beds on which
they slept, were indeed small and light, and
easily carried about. But these table
couches consisted of a large frame of wood
covered with mats or cushions, made as high
as their tables, and of sufficient size to ad
mit three persons to recline on them at full
length. Here, then we, have the baptism
of /able-couches, and the question is, How
was it performed? As it was merely tradi
tional, the mode of it cannot he determined
by the Mosaic law. But can any one sup
pose that every Jew, in Summer and Win
ter, in conformity to tradition, was obliged
to take these heavy articles of furniture to
a pool or river, quite distant from his dwell
ing, perhaps, and plunge them under water?
The idea is perfectly ridiculous. This bap
tizing of tables was done simply with a wet
cloth or sponge filled with water, and we see
again, that the.word baptism, as used by St.
Mark, does not mean au immersion.
ODBAST'S BLOODY BAPTISM
In allusion to his last sufferings, our
blessed Saviour said to his disciples, ".I
have a baptism to be baptized with, and
how am I straitened till it be accomplished."
—Luke all : 50. This language applies
with great force to his agony in the garden,
when " his sweat was asit were great drops of
blood-;" as also to the dreadful wounds in
flicted on' bim by the scourge, the nails and
the spear, by which his body was all
stained with blood. Here none but the
wildest imagination can discover anything
like immersion. I may add that the Chris
tians of early times were accustomed to
speak of the martyrs as "baptized with
their own blood." Tertull. de Bapt., cap. 10.
They certainly did not mean immersed in
their own blood.
DIVERS BAPTISMS
In Heb. ix : 10, the sacred writer, speak
ing of the ceremonial law, says : " 'Which
stood only in meats and drinks, and divers
washings and carnal ordinances." Here,
also, the word washings is, in the Greek
original, Lapti.gmois, baptisms. And here
let me call attention to three things, each of
which is decisive of the meaning of the
word in this connexion : Ist. The inspired
writer uses the word baptisms to express all
the various modes of purification required
by the law of Moses, among which were
many sprinklings. 2dly. In no case, what
ever, did that - law require a total immersion
of the person;`the most complete washings
required no more than an application of
water to the whole body. 3dly. The very
first example of these "divers baptisms"
adduced by the sacred writer, is sprinkling.
" For," says, he, " if the blood of bulls and
of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprink
ling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying
of the flesh, how much more shall the blood
of Christ," &a.; verses 13 and 14. So plain is
46 7 -That---acctrnitag — Cri- the — writer' - uf aria
Epistle, sprinkling is baptism.
NOAH SAVED BY WATER
Our Baptist friends-lay great stress on the
salvation of Noah and his family by water.
1. Pet. iii : 20, 21,. " Eight souls- were
saved by water. The like figure whereunto
even baptism Both
,also now save :us." The
Apostle's idea is this : as Noah was saved
from destruction by the water which bore
up the ark on its bosom, so now the thing
signified by the application of water in bap
tism saves us from eternal perdition. But
Noah was note immersed. He rode secure
above the raging flood. He was also shel
tered from the descending rains; Where,
then, do we find any example of immersion?
Nowhere, except in the destruction of the
unbelieving world, who were plunged be
neath the waves.
THE BAPTISM IN THE CLOUD AND IN THE
SEA
We are told, in 1. Cor. x : 1,2, that the
Israelities " were all baptized unto Moses
in the cloud and in the sea." But how
were they baptized ? By immersion ? Did
Paul mean to say that they were dipped or
plunged into the sea ? Assuredly not; for
~Muses informs us that they "went into the
t y.--
idht of the sea upon the dry ground.
Brod- xiv 22. Pharaoh's ungodly host
were indeed immersed with a vengeance ;
but they were not baptized. " And the
waters returned and covered the chariots
an d the hcrsemen, and all the host of
Phargola." — tx. xiv: 28. • Some light
is thNF.P, upon the baptism of the Israel
ites by Asaph's sublime and' beautiful de
scription ,of the passage of the Red Sea :
" The waters saw thee, 0 God ; the waters
saw :thee;:they ;'were afraid ; the depths
also were troubled The clouds poured out
'I; ; 1 1 1 ;I \,. I 1 ti , 11 , Jr 1, 11' 1,
FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1856.
water."—Ps. lxxvii : 15-20. It seems
then, that they were sprinkled or perfused
with rain from the cloud, and with tne spray
of the sea foaming around them.
How do our Baptist friends make ont an
immersion here ? Will they say that the
Israelites were plunged into the hea ? No;
but they say that there was: a wall of water
on each side of them, and a cloud above,
before and behind them; and thus were bap
tized without a drop touching them I Are
they not sensible of the absolute ridiculous
ness of the conceit ! Will they say that a
man can be truly baptized by walking be
tween two hogsheads of water in, a cloudy
day ? Besides, if they will read the history
of the transaction, they will find that the
cloud was not before,, but behind the Israel
ites, to screen them from their pursuers.
I shall merely add, that admitting as the
,Baptists do, that this baptism was a type of
Christian baptism, they ought, by no means,
to refuse that ordinance to little children,
since the-Israelites-were. 4 all baptized," -in
fants as well as adults. L. N. D.
For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate.
What are you doing for your Sabbath
Schools ?
For many years my mind- has-been pon
dering, the importance - of the Sabbath
School enterprise to our Church. Our
Beard of Publication is deing something to
supply suitable books for children, and have
a goodly number ready for service; but com
pared with the wants of the. Church,ull
that has been done is but as a drop in the
bucket.
The. Sunday School Fi'sitor, published by
the Board, though'a very good paper, is yet not
so interesting and attractive as it might be,
either in matter or artistic embellishment.
The editor no doubt expends much thought
and care upon it, and is worthy of thanks for
his effort; but still the whole might, doubt
less, be improved.
But the question has often arisen with me,
are the various and highly gifted pastors of
our churches doing what they can in this
department of labor?
Do our writers devote their talents to
Sabbath School aliterature ? Do :they, en
courage the schools of their own churches?
—visiting them frequently; addressing the
children; strengthening the hands of super
intendents and teachers; urging the parents
and other members of the Church to sustain
-those engaged -in this work ? Do they urge
-the formation of Sabbath Schools in neg
lected and destitute sections of cities, and
in all the school districts within the circle
of country congregations? Many influences
are at work to turn away the minds of chil
dren and young people from the truth;'how
can these be counteracted unless pastors, pa
rents and Christians labor to instruct andan
terest them in things true and good I A
pastor who shows an interest in the &Myr
School cause in his'own Church, will awaken,
not only the congregation is a whole to act
with him, but will attach the children to
him, and gain a hold upon the affec
tions of a • large corps of young people en
gaged 'in teaching. Not only so, but will-often
open the way, for him •to carry the Gospel to
families who had neglected the •sanctuary al
; most entirely. Each church. might have a
number of school's. City churches ought
to have mission Sabbath Schools. It can . be
done where the effort is honestly and ear
-1 neatly made. Bat the pastor must move
promptly and watchfully in the matter.
The Minutes of our General Assembly
{ give us ground 'of rejoicing, and yet of .hu
miliation on this subject. As reported there,
we have an aggregate of children and young
'• people under the influence of our Church, of
one hundred and two thousand five hue
' dred and forty-four. This is cheering; but
if we look a little further we shall find
much, for which, to be sad. For instance,
, many churches and Presbyteries have made
'no report at all on this subject. Have they
no Sunday Sohools, no Bible classes even ?
The church in Princeton, New Jersey ; the
, First and Second churches in Albany; the
First and Second, Charleston, South Caro
, lina, the- First and Second churches of
- Louisville, Kentucky. Some whole Presby
teries,, moreover, have given no evidence
that they feel any interest in the training of
the young. Why is it so ? Do those pas
tors dO nothing for the children under their
charge? Or are ,there no children and
young people in the whole Presbytery of
Louisville, Charleston, or Flint River, or are
there but two hundred and seventy-five in
the whole Presbytery.of Albany ?
Why, then, the blanks in the statistical'
columns opposite these Presbyteries ? We
are disposed to be charitable, and, ascribe the
blank to forgetfulness or inadvertence, not to
any real - want of interest; but yet it is sad
_to_aee sonarts_hlankt3.___lf the ageregate_re
ported be so large, .how much larger it
would have been, if every report had been
'full? ,
Instead of one hundred thousand, might,
there not be two or more hundred thousand
under the pious, wise, conservative training
,of the Presbyterian'Church ?
The largest number reported in any one
church, is eight hundred by the 10th church,
Philadelphia. The nextlargest is six hundred
by the church of Tuscarora, Presbytery of
- Huntingdon..
f . The largest number in any Presbytery is.
I that of New York, four thousand one hun
' dred and sixty-four. The next largest is
Philadelphia, three thousand three hundred
and four. The next, New Brunswick, three
thousand three hundred and sixtyfve. The
next, Waahington, three thousand two bun
) dred and thitiwo. The next, Newcastle,
three thousandwe hundred and eighteen.
The smallest is ttarnanny, nineteen. This
is the report of but a single church in that
; Presbytery; and what is still more, sur
prising, there is.:-- - a . membership , re
ported of three hundred and forty-nine I.
Are there no Sabbath Schools in a church of
that size 7 'We give the pastor credit who
reports even nineteen children and youth
under, his direct charge, and- hope that by
next year he will -be able to show a much
larger number.
Arethose Presbyteries and churches that
have reported the largest •numbers, doing all
that might or ought to be done ? Are four
thousand one -hundred and sixty-four or
three thousand three 'hundred- and eighty
four all that the churches of the Presbyte
ries of New Yprk and, Philadelphia can do?
It is worthy :of serious inquiry; and T. would
Imp" that hereafter we shall have a far
*eaterand More Special .attention to Bab-
bath Schools, in every church, and by every
Session.
I have sometimes thought, we ought to
have a separate Committee for Sabbath
Schools; or at least a Secretary whose busi
ness should be to attend to th&Sabbath School
interests of the Presbyt l erian Church.
Would it not be well for 'Mir Presbyteries
and Synods to take action; On the subject,
and bring the matter before,the General As
sembly ? We must provide Sabbath School
instruction for the children. of this country'
or we shall suffer, for our, neglect, as
Church: We`Must so train.' a
the infant Her
cules, that when he arrives' at maturity, the
strength of his marthooctwillbe exerted not
against us, but for us.
Let me then ask each pastor, and each
Session; what are you deingfor your Sab
bath School ? D.
. _
For the Presbyterian Bane nd > q •
Temporal Advaltages.
If this world were our aerlasting home,
and property our chief gool, advantages for
its accumulation mightovitlpropriety deter
mine the place of our abOde. But as we
are strangers and pilgrims here, and as holi
ness is the great end to beli3'ought, temporal
advantages should, it would seem., weigh
lightly .in comparison with spiritual ones.
And yet it is sad to see to, what an extent
temporal advantages influence Christians in
choosing their place of reaidence and man
ner of life.
This yielding to the influence of tempo
_ral advantages, is no new•th 4 g under the sun.
Examples of it occurred t ousands of years.
ago. Lot chose the place o his abode in omi
t
sequnce of the temporal advantages'offered.
He chose the well-wateredplains of Sodom.
He thought only of temporal advantages.
.1-le, did not consider whatimight he the in
fluence of his neighbors oa c his spiritual pros
perity. What were the obiasequences of his
.1.,
Course ?.
In the first place we are - informed-that his
righteous soul was vexed with the filthy con
versation of the wicked..ir It is always pain
ful to a Christian to witness sin. It is pain
ful to hear profanity arid impurity. If du
ty calls us to a place whefe"we are compelled
1 -to hear it, we can bear it *but it is unpleas
ant and injurious. Certainly, the.voluntary
subjection of our ears toeuch conversation
is. injurious.. It must so4l our minds, and
'awaken unwelcome trains of thought. Lot
chose his position, and that brought him
within hearing of the eStiversation of the
wicked. #-f
Again,
Again, Lot's dwellipgiwas consumed in
the destruction of Sodom The lives of the
family were saved; it is i
true, but his house
and its contents were consumed. This was an
inconvenience and a. lossOand was occasion
ed by his worldly c,hoice.i.
~
Another consequence was the loss of his
wife. ller heart wiiS4Xthe pity,:or
,the
in spirit of obedience was not'iniffiCientlystroner tP .
That this was owing to , her'residence in So
dom is highly probable. Tile spirit of faith
and obedience declines when we associate fa
miliarly with the wicked. She looked back
in disobedience to the Divine command, and
became amomiment of the Divine judgment.
Again; loss of character was another con
sequence of Lot's residence in Sodom. The
transgressionsin which his daughters play so
diagraceful a part, would not have taken
place, but for his choice of the well-watered
plains.'
Wre >have only glanced at.sotne of the most
disastrous consequences Ao Lot, of his choice
of residence, on account-of temporal advan
tages. We have seen enough to show how
dangerous is the practice.
Let those, then, who are preparing to se
lect 'a place of residence, beware lest they
give undue preference to 'temporal advant
ages. In the choice of a residence, as well
as -in everything else, they should seek
first the kingdom of God and his righteous
ness. That will secure both temporal and
spiritual prosperity, for Christ has declared,
" all these things shall be added unto you."
C.. C.
For the Preetryterian Banner and Advocate
Excellent Thoughts.
First. " The princely-minded Sutton,
founder of Charter-houses, used often to re
pair to a private garden, where he poured
forth his prayers to God : "Lord, thou
hast given me a large and liberal estate;
give me also 'a heart •to 'make use thereof"
Secclncl. John Mason, a courtier, who
flourished in the reins of Henry VIII
Edward VI., Queen Mary, and Queen Eliza
beth, said on his death-bed, to those about
him : "I have lived to see four sovereigns,
and have been privy councilor to each of
them. I have seen the most remarkable
things in forei g n parts, and, have been
:present at inosttate_=transactions for thirty
years together, and I. h6e learned. this; after."
;so many years' experience,-titeitz leniousnesS
is the greatest wisdom, temperance the bek
physic, and, a good conscience the best
estate. All things else forsake me besides
my God, my duty,' and my prayers."
Third, - The celebrated Whitfield, in
.
passing through New Jersey, once dined,
among other Divines, with the. noted Mr.
Tennent. After dinner, Whitfield adverted
to his varied difficulties and labors, and ex
pressed his consolation that in a. short time
his work would be done, when he should
depart and be with Christ. Havingfirst
addressed the others, he turned to Mr. Ten
nent, and said, " Well, brother Tennent,
you' are the oldest man among us. Do you
not rejoice, to think that your time is so
oear at hand, when you will be called
home ?" Mr. Tennent wisely answered : "I
have no wish or choice about it. I have
nothing to do with death, my business is to
live as long as I can, as well as /can, and
to serve my Master as faithfully as I can,
until he shall think proper to call mehome."
To be liberal; to be pious, and to'be de
voted to God'all our lives, are three things
to be especially aimed 'it, as far superior
to wealth, pleasure and honor, or all that the
world calls good and great. D. L. H.
WHY THE POOR ARE( POOR.—ltooently
I had an interview with the minister of a
parish in Scotland--(andi I may observe that
he was not an abstainer)--when he said, " I
am trustee for some money which is for the
virtuous poor. Two things, in my opinion,
are essential to virtue+.First, industry;
second, `sobriety. The result is," said the
minister, " I cannot get quit of the money,
for all, the needy ,
poor about here are either
drunken oridle.
Simeon and Wesley.
The following occurrence is • narrated by
Dobbin, in reference to an interview between
Sitneon and John Wesley :
Three or four years after Simeon, whose
name has since become sacred the annals
of. the Church of Christ, was ordained, this
young Minister had an opportunity of con
versing with the founder of Arminian
Methodism.;', and, wishino , to improve the
opportunity-to the utmost, he began to ques
tion him thus.:
"Sir, I understand you are'called an Ar-
Minian;' now I am sometimes called a Cal
vinist, and therefore, I suppose, we' are to
draw daggers. Bat, before we begin to
combat, with your permission, I will ask
you a few, questions,.not from impertinent
curiosity, but for ,real instruction. Pray,
'do , ' , Oir. ;feel 'ourself a 'depraved area-,
otird"ne,feY
had not put'it into your.heart?"' • •
" Yes said the veteran, "I do, indeed!'
" And do you utterly despair of recom
mending yourself to God by anything that
you can 'do, and look for salvation solely
through the blood and righteousness of
Christ ?" • _
" Yes, solely through Christ."
" But, sir, supposing you were first saved
by Christ, are you not somehow or other to
save yourself afterwards, by your good
works ?"
No; .I must-be saved by Christ from first
to last."
Allowing, then, that you were first turned
by the grace of God, are you not in some
way or other, to 'keep yourself by your own
power?"
cc No"
"What, then are you to be upheld every
hour and every moment by God, as much as
an infant in its mother's arms '1"
" Yes ; altogether."
" Aud is all your hope in the grace and
mercy of God to preserve you, unto his
heavenly kingdom?"
"Yes; I have no hope but, in him."
"Then, sir, with your leave, I will put
up my dagger again ; for this is my Calvin
ism; this is my election, my justification,
my final perseverance. It is, in substance,
what I hold, and as I hold it; and there
fore, if you please, instead of searching out
terms and phrases to be a ground of conten
tion between we will cordially unite in
those things wherein we agree."
A Suggestion for Parents.
A correspondent of the Country Gen. ,
tleman desires to caution parents against
discouraging children who manifest a tact
for invention, from its employment Even
the making of a water-forge, or any trifling
toy of childhood, he says, may tend to de'-
,velop a genius, to take its place in maturity,
with -tboso-of- -Franklin, Whitney.. or Fulton.
Very true'.; but, what is a much more prob
able result, time apent in the practical study
'of mechanics, whether for mere purposes of
pleasure or for those of actual use, will lead
to habits of thought and accuracy of work,
when properly conducted—which can but be
of eminent service in any pursuit of life.
The child's time, after he is old enough to
think, and while he is yet too young to at
tend school at a distance from home, or to
be of much assistance there, often passes
most tediously—i.• e., unless the proverbial
employer of " idle hands." sets his or hers
at work—for mere want of something to do;
and it is by no means an easy task in all
cases and at all times to supply this great
desideratum.
A child on a farm, however r is more hap
pily situated in this respect, than one in
almost any other position. His father has a
workshop, more or less extended, arranged
with a, degree of order and work•mantiness,
.very much in the ratio of his character and
success in the other operations of the farm.
This, in unpleasant weather—the care of
animals, or the culture of a plot of ground,
in pleasant—will afford an instructive'as well
.as interesting - resource for many alistless hour.
in either ease, it will well repay the parent
to expend some care himself in directing, and
encouraging the efforts of the child. Fore
thought .before entering on an undertaking,
even if it, be merely one of pleasure; pense
verancelnit when once begun; a proper
degree of pride in having it well accom
plished, can Fall be inculcated, and by the
most iinpressive example& A boy who en
ters into his sports with the determination to
make the most of them, and to excel in
them, will be the one to take up his work
with a similar'zeal and purpose.
The New Bible.
At the late annual meeting of the Bible
Union commenced in the Baptist meeting
house in :Broome Street, in this city, arrange
,mettte had'hgen made for a large assemblage
frientie-ef-tinr-new enterprise,
to make a grand effort to revive the cause,
which has received so fearful a shock from
the late disclosures. We go to press too
early to ,give any report of the proceedings.
The officers say.: " We expect to be pre
pared to report considerable progress in the
work of revision, and such- a state of ad
vancement as will justify the adoptien of
plans, for the final committee of revisers."
It is now a matter of comparative indif
ference to the public, whether or not this
movement is carried forward. It is to all
intents and purposes dead. As opposition
often calls out greater zeal on the part of
those who are resisted, and thus increases
even the pecuniary contributions, it .would
not be strange if the society should receive
largely augmented funds, and so be able to
complete the work, .and bring' it out accord
ing to their original plan. This will now be
attended with little or, no harm. The trans
lation •is dead. No amount of money, no
list of names, no newspaper puffs can give
life to, it, or make it a book for the people.
Its literature and its objects, its letter and
spirit, are now so well understood that it will
be completed only as a memorial of sectarian
"empiricism.-1V: Y. Observer.
FIND fault, when you must find fault, in
private, if possible; and sometime after -the
offence, rather than at the time. The blamed
are less 'inclined te resist When they are
blamed without 'witnesses. Both parties
are calmer, and the accused party is
struck with the forbearance of the, ac
cuser, who, has seen the fault, and watched
for a private and proper time for mention
ing it;
Nor the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate
The Preslqtery of Luzerne
This body held its last:stated meeting in Tank
hanuoek, Wyoming County, Pa., on the 16th and
/7th-of last month.
The village of Tunkhannock, in the extreme
Nerthern limits of the Presbytery, is beautifully
situated on the " fair' Susquehanna," and is the
County Seat of Wyoming County. It is destined
to become a place of considerable importance;
but its growth ,has been somewhat retarded of
late, by adverse, circumstances, which, it is
thought, will soon be 'overcome.
The Rev: C. R..Lane, - the pastor of the'chnreh
in that place, has labored faithfully there, for a
numbbr of years, in the face of discouragement,
which few men could have endured so long." Be
lieving that theXaster had there a•little flock •to
be fed and increased, he labored on in faith and
hoPe. 'Duriiig the past year, the powerful•pres
mice of the Holy Spirit among his people, has
strengthened that faith, and enlivened that hope.
May-whit the little church' has enjoyed, be but
tha-blginuing:Of still greater. blessings. •
I.g 11 • • a• • • , 1 - Ta a a a ,
Tortionb of 4 Preabytery; nitwit' less `Of , ll, "Ugh ,
than it would, have been, under less genial skies.
'Senn of them were under the necessity of trav
eling, a hundred miles, and over - mountains, lo'at
tend the meeting; . but all toil seemed to be for
gotten in the fraternal greetings enjoyed by
brethren, after a long aeparation. But, one fa
miliar and much-loved face is absent. Alit how
his cordial and tender salutations are missed by
his brethren. Another bears to th'e Presbytery
,the Record of its proceedings;,another..voice ar
ticulates the, lines which his hand had traced.
We are 'sad ; but our siirrows are Mingled with
joy. Our, 'beloved . brother, R. Webster, in tri
umph, left us, his , brethren and friends below, to
be with his Master above.
• The Rev.! N. G: Parke was elected by the Pres
bytery, its Stated Clerk. The ministers of the
Presbytery were nearly all in attendance ; the
eldership, howeier, wasmot fully represented. It
is, much :to be, regretted that the elders do not
mire generally attend ; they certainly lose a
source of real enjoyment, and the churches, espe'-
eially Missionary churches, a means of benefit.
One lay-brother, who, for the first.time, attended
at Tunkhannock, remarked to the
rapidly
that he
never knew the time to pass more rapidly than at
that meeting.'
• .
Our place of meeting being near the borders of
the Presbytery of Susquehanna, we • enjoyed the
fraternal greetings and counsels of four of its
members, and those also of one of the members
of the Presbytery of Northumberland. The pres
ence of these brethren naturally suggested, what,
with the cordial concurrence of the three Pres
byteries rePresented, would bean important and
desirable consummation, 'viz: the formation of an
interior Synod, to be - composed of. the above
named Presbyteries, which might be called the
Synod of the Susquehanna, or the Synod of Wy
oming.
The reports from the churches, while they in
dicated a considerable degree of external pros
perity, did not afford evidence thattheirapiritual
prosperity* Was very encouraging. It is to be
feared that the exciting questions' and pursuits of
the day unduly engross the mindsof God's pro
fessed people. The preaching during the ses
sions of Presbytery, by the - Rev. M. J. Hickok,
the Moderator, and the Rev. T.D. Hunt; .was well
calculated to turn the minds ,of their hearers in
the right direction, and imPreas - them , with the
transeendent importance of eternal • things. In
deed, in all the devotional exercises of the meet
ing, there seemed to be,'ozi the part of the bre"-
thrma, more than usual engagedness. Mr.: G. W.
Smith, -elder from the church of Mauch Chunk,
• •
gave the Presbytery some account of brother
Webster's last moments, in which the power of
Divine grace •to rob . death: of, its terrors,. was
wonderfully Manifested.
Two new church organizations were asked for,
and committees appointed to, carry out the wishes
of the, '
petitioners if the" way be clear. These,
in connexion: with a German church recently or
ganized at Scranton, will make the number of,the
churches under the care of the Presbytery,
twenty-four. Some of these, however, .are now
without pastors. It is to be hoped they, will, ere
long, enjoy the labors of faithful watchmen, and
reviving influences of the:Ably. Spirit.
The two Institutes under the care of . 0)9 Pres
bytery, viz : The Wyoming PresbYterial Institute
and the • Wilkesbarm Female institute, n.re•Still
under the management, (if very competent ,apd
efficient iitetracters, andare in a very prosperous
condition: • '
,The. Presbytery, at the suggestion.of .Bunt,
appointed acommittee to devise measures for the
comfort of brother "I , 'Vebster's'fataily: 0. J.
For the Preshyteriarißann - er`.nd Advoeite
laying of the Corner-Stone of Park
Church, Erie.
The Corner-Stone of Park`Presbyterian chinch,
Erie,
Pa., was laid on the 26th ult. A sermon,
with reference to the occasion, was preached on
the Sabbath evening'following; by the Stated Sup
ply, , Rev. W. M. Blackburn. , The texts were
Gen. xxviii : 22 ; and Acts vii : 47-49. Ex
hibiting, Ist. The necessity of 'haiing - a conse
_crated place of worship. 2d. A. ; glance .at the
consecrated places of the Church in past times;
The Altar, the Tent, the Tabernacle,' the Temple,
the Bynagogue, and the , Church Edifice. Bd.
'What makes an edifice a clinrch ? and, 4th. The
object in erecting 'this edifice: To have our 'con
secrated placp, where God , win reside ; where,we
May meet hini ; where he may be worshipped in
spirit and in 'truth where the truth may' be
preached cis. 16) ;L where he will convert,
encourage, and sanctify souls; and also we build
'it as a' thatili-offering to our God. We lay our
heart-offerings on foundations of stone, to be a
monument to our Redeemer, and 'his glorious
•
cause.
This ..chtirch organization. was, effected about
fifteen mantle since, by "the Rev. Win. Wilson,
:whOse'commendabletind enterprising labors were
~blessed by, the Lord i in bringing together a prom
'Ming , congregation, and preparing, the way "for
.the er:ection_of-`a olitirch edifice. It hod been 'the
wish of his heart to see 'our . Church 'represented
in Erie by this organization, and by his self-de
nying labors, he was successful. It was not for
himself, but for the Lord, he undertook the work;
and his friends, grateful for his persevering efforts
in their behalf, pray that the Good Shepherd, may
direct this young pastor to 4 field of usefulness
and of blessing. . ,
- Mr. Blackburn, recently from Three Rivers,
Mich., accepted, in May last, an invitation to
preach for Park church one-year. The promises
qf blessings.are encouraging ;. and to the blessed
'Redeemer be all the glory.
One Thing we do not Want.
We do not want a New Bible, Many an
old volume of human lore has been rendered
obsolete by the discoveries of a succeeding
age. Mit all true science does homage to
the Bible. We need not be apprehensive
that the ever-widening circle, of human lit
erature will trench on the hallowed ground
of Divine revelation. We have no Inisl
givings; lest: light from that.region of ne
bulm, the," milky way" should extinguish
the beams of the 4 ( Sun of Righteousness;"
or lest " the Chemistry of the Stars" should
disturb the elenients of inspiration. 'Stand
ingw,
on the "Rock of Ages," e are o bi t _
scions of no tremor from the hammer of the
geologist; nor do we fear that the hiero
glyphies of the archmologist may invalidate
the chronology of Moses. Exempt frOm the
mutations .which pertain to mere human
philosophy, the .Bible,- stereotyped. from
heaven, remains alike the glory of all lamb
slid tunes : ' •
Moat wondrous book ! bright candle of the Lord!
Star of eternity.. iThe
Ry whieh•th'e ,barkcot Oran eouldtnatigate ,
The aea of life, and•gabrthe coast Of Mal-
Philadelphia; 27 South Tenth Street, below CheUtiint.
By Mail, or at the Office, $1..50 per,, Year, BEE-PROSPECTUS,
Delivered in the City, L 75 " "
IlverybodY must sleep some
.of the twin.
7 . e grant that, and ecomm nd to.all
our friends to make comfortable provision for
sleeping, and then have propel-regard - to the
hours devoted to this purpose; and. also' the
place. For .some hours, 'certainly are 'much
more appropriate than (there', indthe,Samels
true in respect to places . We vienhinet,
hoWeVer prescribewhat. hoUra 'slieuld - be
given to sleep, but simply say that for our
selves we decidedly prefer the night. Frank
lin said day light, was cheaper. and better
than candle light,. and therefore; he . thought
it best to use the . ' day for work; and the
night for sleeping: !And 'St: Paul s:aid,
" They that sleep, sleep in the night.'? ;Nor
would we attempt to prescribe as,,to . the
place where persons .should sleep. We are,
however in favor of .havingap
some. roonV
re . *fiat. d to this 'uit e,.!d, . .of a lng
t:11:11"tf:V.,-i , W •
others can make their own Selection:
We would,- however, suggest, inest'
spectfully, that. there are some places ivheie
no one ought to attempt to sleep. The mar
iner ought, not to sleep on the mastmad;
there is danger in doing se, and that is not
a good place, even if it were Safe, for one to
sleep. Nor is it very proper for one - to
sleep onthe sidewalk, i
or n the public street-
Nor does, it bailey nod breeding to cation a
d forfrien some information and ge to sleep
, isi it. „
while he mparting Courtesy would
require that he should be heard through 11,t,
ten tively and with respect. - There.are Many
places in which it is neither , safe nor appiro ,
priste to sleep. But of all places, the house
of God is the most inappropriate. ” Sleep
ing in Church," as it is called, is among the
most discourteons'thiiigs that, a civilized
person ever -does: sWhat:-a ridiculous ap
pearance one makes. Bow insulting it is to
a minister, to invite , him to preach, and have
him spend days and nights, too, in toil and
prayer, to have something for profit,
and then, when in the name of Christ,4ith
a heart over-burdened with anxiety for your
salvation, he is delivering his message, how
deeply he must feel the insult, when one and
another fall asleep befere him. They may
not intend disrespect, but they shew dis
respect, and he feels it most keenly.
lt, is also an insult offered to. God. He
his appointed social worship—he has insti
tuted the ministry---he has furnished' the
message to his servants, and it is insulting
to his Majesty to sleep in his honse, when
his,message is proclaimed by his servant,.
It may not be physically.unsafe to sleep
in meeting, aid yet,
.the only sleeper "of
whom we have an account,under-the preach
ing of Paul, `fell down and was, taken
,up
dead. We hope 'such evil' ill net come
to those who :deep in our times. , 'But the
evil morally.is as bad, now 'as it was then;
and the habit is a discourteous, a shameful,
a wicked one.
LIFE'S IRRITABILITIES.—What's the use
of it Y 'Don't worry, yourself to death' on
acconnt of what other people may 'say of
you, as long a' you know it is ndt trite.
Take: <care of the • truth; that's—pint:l)6i
nese. All folsehoodsi go to the, bosom; of
their father the devil and their framers
soon follow. So much as to falsehood's . ' of
you. Ai to falsehoods to iron, and as to
every: tale the most 'remotely , prejuilioid to
another,,, treat it and the narrator with,the
Atmootpcfasjble indifference, until you hear
the story .f tho otherßarty;- this
,oely
just, ,
Sleeping in Meeting.
There are excuses offered for such
genee, we know, but they 'are not.valid, and
should be laid aside. With-some it 'is It
habit. Let them break up thishabit. : With
some it is, as they say, an in - funnily—let them
pray to God to help their infirmity, and, keep
awake and hear what he says to them' by his
servant. WAdmitAN.:
—Zion's Advocate. , -
For the Presbyterian Banner: and Advesite
:Pxe,Payment:--Honesty.
DR. MCKiNzor:—There •is one feature about
your arrangements as 'Publisher that I highly ap
prove, of which, permit a word of conimendation.
'refer to the advance paymentplan. Every-one
can see some of the advantages to the publisher,
enabling him to afford the paper at a lower rate.
There are greater advantages, however, to 'the
subscriber.. He is saved from the temptation to
dishonesty, in withholding, at leftist for a time, and
to the injury of the publisher, whose ninney he
may unlawfully retain in his hands, the, subscrip
tion which may be paid at some future time.
That the temptation is too strong for many per
sons, the sad experience of publishers can testify.
The amount often accumulates from year to year,
until it becomes more and more inconvenient to
pay it. And it comes to be regarded ;as a matter
of convenience. Thousands are thu.s entirelylost to
the publisher, 'but I maintain that he is less
jured than the delinquent eitbscriber;who has
been tempted to sacrifice a good conscience.
There is dishonesty in another way wadded by
pre-payment. Here.' speak from!sad experience;
and from the assurance that many, others have
had the same, experience.lt has been toci com
mon for publisherslo bend their paPera to'ininis
ters and some others who are not subscribers,
leaving them to euppose they are sent as slaver
by the publisher, or hysoine friend ; but after a
series of years a duk is 'sent, 'and 'let the first
time the victim learns that he has been charged
from tear to year, until a large bill has been ap
cumulated, which, probably by a fiction of .law,
he may he compelled to pay. Perhaps he did not
wish to give offence by refusing a proffered kind
ness. He might have considered the paper not worth
paying for; • but, as a present, he would accept it.
fiat he now feels that he has been swindled by a
professed friend. •Siimdling, would 'be re
garded, dishonest and dishonorable, in any other
transaction among honorable and conscientions
men. Nor does'it change its nature when trans
acted by church members and rainisteis. •
- A parishioner once called upon his pastor with
an article which be had been unable to sell in
market, aid, though told the minister did not
need it, insisted upon leaving it, with the family.
The day of settlement Caine ; and behold, the pas
tor was charged the largest figure of the price
current.for the present. Was it any mortvlishon
est and dishonorable than the class of cases we
are'considering?
Sometimes a paper is sent to a non-subscriber
to solicit patronage, with the modest hint, "if
you do not wish to be consiiiered a subscriber,
please return *this." This is more honest to be
snare ; but why subject men to this trouble and
annoyance 2 If the man should forget or ifegleet
to re-mail the begging missile, or being re-mailed,
it shonld miscarry, he
.is unwillingly committed
as a subacriber. And unleis this be in some
cases expected, what advantage is there in this
kind of begging patronage ?
All these evils the plan of advance payment
prevents. Why should it not become at once
universal? Ilysn agreementsmong publishers,
could not the whole credit system, in these trans
actions, be at once and entirely abolished ?
Ought it not to be ? 'Then, when a man receives
a paper, he, knows it is either paid, for, or is a
gratuity, and iloas nOt few' with the lurking fear
that he is being victimized and will have a'long
bill poked under his nose.. HONESTY.
0. 212.
=me