b. :‘IICINIITI I J. ALLISON B. LITTLE
') AVID M'KINNEY & CO.
Editors and Proprietors. ,
TERMS IN ADVANCE.
t:zlniLs SUBSORIPTIOne ' 111.50
1:4 °Luna 1.25
DELIVERED IN EITKIN OP •THN CITIES 2.00
Two Dou,Arta, we will eetid by mail seventy number
tor ONE DOLLAR, thlt l y7tbtlentilabors.
P sending us Oivintir NUbsoribors and upwards, will
thereby entitled hi a philtir ' , Without charge.
n,•lldwals should bapiumpt, a little before , the year aupiree
Send pnymentriby sate hands, or by mall.
Direct all letters to DAVID lIPKtPiNEra
Pittsburgh,ra.
Thoughts on the New Year.
BY EDWARD SPRAGUE RAND, JR.
How long the timing year appears
How swift the past has gone!
And stayed not by our hopes or fears,
The tide of time rolls on
The future l—would our straining eyes
Could pieroe its ebon night;
To view the shadows that shall rise,
As day by day takes flight.
Ah ! no; too manynTrefithintsmile
Would fade in, sorrow's gloom;
The sunny hopes whiob cares beguile
Be burled in, the `tomb.
Untimely elands would dim the brow,
Where rests a sunny ray ;
No, God be praised, enough for now,`
The burden of to-day.
March trusting on ; the love of God
Conceal hat with kind intent;
inougl upon the 'YAW:OO+I%d
To view'the days mislip'ent.
He oaretit for thee—seekthou not
That which his love conceals;
His protidonoe direets thy lot--
hoprcitle what he reveals,
Nor seek thou with thy mortal mind
God's ways to understand;
In trusting patience wait, resigned
Thy tittles are in his hand.
And let the moments v is they flee,
Be blesahigs God 'has giVen—
Waves on Time's ever-swelling sea,
To bear thee on to heaven.
For the l'retbyterian:Banner
•
Action of tke • Presbytery .of Sititsburg,
At their Winter Meeting r held at''Saltsburg, ,
January 14862, on. the Nature,Motive,
Spirit, Measure and Method of 'ihristian
Benevolence.
Notice, then: 1. The Nature. It is
taught, Prov, : 9—" Honor the Lord
with thy substance, and with the first fruits
of all thine' increase." To honor God as
his word enjoins; is to worship him. This
may be done with the voice of prayer,
prame i or thanksgiving. We honor, or wor
ship God with the powers of the body, or
the. mind ; whenever those powers are used
by direCtien, 'and for his glory. And
so, When tinder the constraining power of
the: love of Christ; we , contribute of our'
worldly goods, for the good,of his rational
creatures, the progress of his cause, or the
glory of, his • name. We, by so. doing, honor
or worship the Lord with our substance.
God was dishonored—robbed—by with
holding the tithes and offetings—Mal.
8. But declares, verse 10, that if they
" bring-all the tithes into the storehouso,"
he will regard it as an act of worship, and
follow' it with blessing. Giving of our sub
stance for the service of God, is, then, to
be regarded as an act of religious worship,
as really enjoined as the exercise of prayer
praise ; its practice from proper motives.
really blessed of God as they; its willful
as really cursed, as profaning the
Lbbath or teattaining prayer is before Wed.
Christian benevolence is one of God's'
app9ipted means of growth in , grace, well
adapted to impose a cheek,npptc, that " cov-„
ototeshrosi which is idolatry"' and to oulti.o
vete and Strengthen the griaroPehatityld
the soul.
N
Nor is it,to be regarded as merely fan,oc,
casional or special exercise, but as a regular,
part of weakly' devotion, and of Divinely,
appointed Sabbath Worship, i. coi.`xvi
2—" Upon - the first day of the week let
every one of you 'by him in store, as
God bath prospered him."
Notice ? 2. Tito gptive. 2. Cor. v
"The love of Christ constraineth us."' I'd'
give of our substart& - for the service of God'
may be regarded in Ithe light of a,com
mended duty, enforced 'merely by .fear; or
contributions may be made under, the
promptings of pride, of vanity, or even. of
habit. 'God may receive and use, such
gifts for 'his glory; they Were his by Pri
or right; but they cannot be accredited
as gifts of Christian benevolence. Or, the
wants, of a ruined Noll may excite syp:tpa
thy, and sympathy may prompt benevo
lonce, which yet falls far short of true
C hristiatt :benevolence.'
The wants of the world 'should be well
known, that the Christi.au,may be able to,
apportion his benefactions intelligently.
But that, and only that, which is given
under the constraining influenoe of the love
of Christ, is the real amount expended as
Christian benevolence. And that amount
the true Christian would . joyfully lay in
Jesus' hands, withdut instruction, or re
striction as to its use.
3. The Spirit. 2.' Cor. ix": 7.--- 6( Every
man according as he purposetli in his heart,t
so let him give, not grudgingly nor of tie- ,
cessity, for Qod loveth a cheerful t' oiver.'',
This principle of cheerful, apontarteous
giving, is violated bfall outward prekiuie
or undue specitil;pleading, whether for , One
object or purpose, or to another, on the
ground of the magnitude of the work, the
wealth of the donor or the
,poverty of the
Board.
To contribute under the pressure of such
motives, is to give as a necessity—is to
give, perhaps, grudgingly ; but it is not to:
give with that cheerfulness which God ap
proves.
that
proceeds
: Any scheme of benevolence that
prooeeds upon the principle of assessment,'
by apportioning definite sums, to be con
tributed either by Synods, Presbyteries,,
congregations, or individuals, is utterly at,
variance with this Scripture principle of
Voluntary' and cheerful giving.
To adopt any such system is "practi
cally to assume, either that 'the love of
Christ is not the controlling, motive to
Christian benevolence, or that the love of
Christ is really shed abroad in every Chris
tian 'heart, equally or in pidportion to -
WOrldly prosperity; either of which as
sumptions is , palpably false, both.in theory
and practice. Again : When,any, Board or
agency', entrusted with the • management,
and disbursement of the funds of the
Church, exparids its operations so as to in-'
cur indebtedness beyond its probable re
!mums, it thus,prepares the way: for a di
rect violati on o f this Bible principle,. i when
the Church must be urged to contribute
ii,Very frequentl ' of late—not merely for
the' lOVe of citi t a but to save'We honor
ti
.
and credit of the• oftrd. • •
The Christian.lhould beinstruppd and
nvgeili,*der the eqnstraining influence of:
the otChrist, io devise libeinllY4,p
Sow •Ifatitifilly—to giVe cheerfullYl end'
the 'BeArd, runder the settle 'dead&ling
power; should.faithfully disflose of . all the
means thus furnished. This will be doing ,
what it oan, and it may safely leave the
rest WithuGOd.
4. Tim Meastere. 1. Cor. xvi : 2—" As
the Lord bath prosered him." And here
it will be considered: 1. That all we have
Velongs to God. Hi says,: " The silver
find the gold are mined all the beaks' of
the forest are mine, and the cattle upon' 'a
thousand hills. The 'earth is the Lord's,
kind. the fullness thereof!' Every trutrohild
of ~God acknowledges and; 2; That
God'has entrusted Teach one with whatever
—Boagon Recorder.
Aid to'that end, what better method can
-be devised than that here'euggested bi the
apostleohat of Wending religious contd.
fintion with our weekly , Sabbath worship,
either by laying ‘ by in, store at home for
God, or by casting into his treasury. in the
sanctuary, as God hath proapered us ; and
}thus, on the first day of the week, 44 Honor
the Lord •with our substance and with:the
first fruits of ail our increase." •
As, this injunction .wasr,originallTgiven
to the churches of Galatia — and Corinth, where
"Not'many mighty; not iii j atty noble were
called," it is fair. to infer that most of those
to,whorn it was given were.suelt as reeeived
a daily or perhaps weekly compensation, for
their labors, and could therefore know,
weekly, how much God had proapered
them. This, many a Christian, Owing to
themature of his business,'ind - thei
larity .of -his income; cannot be supposed
to know. But the'spirit ,of the injunction
is obeyed by
that- Christian who, prompted
by the love of ChAit, 'sets apart a fixed and
proper proportion of his income, whether
received at'regrilarer; irregular intervals—
treasures it up for God, and then from
Sabbath to Sabbath, or -when. opportunity is
afforded, casts it, in suckinstalraents as the
respective elitims of the: various objects, of
benevolenceirlaylitinest, into' the freastuy
of the Lord.
therefore, --r:', -
Resolved, That as Christian ministers, it
is our soleron duty, under the constraining
power of the love of Christ, to teach our
people they plain-truth cGood liawtaught
it, on the subject ,of Christian benevolence,
" whether they will hear or whether they
Will forbear."
ReSalved, That it be earnestly •ieconi
mended to all our pastore and Sessions, to
use all proper zneans'of enlightening their
people in reference to the necessities of the
world, that, the cry of the perishing may
stimulate them to devise liberal things, and
ever' exercise great tielf-deniaf, 'that' the
treasury of the Lord , may be replenished.
Resolved, That it is the solemn :duty of
pastors, with their Sessions, or Sessions of
vacant congregations, to give to every, pro
fessing Christian, with their children, full
and frequent opportunity"thus to express
their love to . Chriet; said'to "loner him
with , their substance."
Resolved, That
,we-earnestly commend to
tlie - eonscientious and prayerful conSidera
tion of God's people, the propriety of set
ting apart, treasuring,up for God, such a
proportion of their income, when received,
whether at regular or' irregular intervals,
whether in large or'smail - suftip, as the con
straining power of the love of Christ may
suggest.
,
........ • .
...
...
~.... .. 4 _...11
~..._.
. - v --
, :,....4
...,,.-,., :: ~.,.:
~:.,.., , 0 , 4 ::„,,.., . : , •. .• ... ilk
- 11
. ,
... . - .
..,„ ', 1 , .".• , .
,-•,,, ::,.. •,,,, ; •,. A ..., • ~..1
•
, . , ... ..
...... .
• ..
............../... • . .
. .
=MI=
VOLX NO 20
• .
of worldly goods he possesSes to 'be
used, either directly Or indirectly, for the
Master's glory. Drawing upon these re
sources, there are the demands of .personal
necessity.or comforts ;• the demands of fam
ily and of bigness ; the ordinary claiins of
the Church and of the State; and then the
direct claims of Jesus; or Christian benev
olence.
And the proper amount due to this' last
claim is just that proportion. of worldly
comforts or superfluities, or growing wealth.
that the love of Christ ootarains to give.
If that love abounds; so Will the liberal
ity abound in proportion to the means. If
the love be smallsOirill be the gift. Bat
in either case, if it is such as. to indicate
the constraining Power of the love of Christ
in the soul, iE Ili the true measure ofthris
tian benevdlence.
5. Method: xvi:
on the first day of theiveek let every `one
of you lay by hint in store."
A.ny method or machinery that opeiates
by appeals to pride, vanity or fear, or that
presents, the claim es any other than a - debt
of love—though for a time it may seem
to succeed, yet being unseriptural—is
therefore unsound and unsafe. Any
system that presumes to fix either the sum
or - minimum to be Contributed either by
the congregation or the individual, assumes
.an unwarranted'prerogative directly it 'va
riance with 2. Car: Every man
according as he purPoseth his heart, so
let him give," &e. Or any system that
'saves out- of -view,' or•-on-the. back-ground,
the fundamental ideapthat living is an act
of worship, or that faile to give to every
one of God's people,',fili and frequent op
portunity thus to worship God,is radically
defective.
The. great master wheel of, the true ma
chinery is the love of Christ; and what
ever ''system can 'bring this great . motive
power to bear the inost direetly, with the
greatest ferceiand freVenoy, on =the heart's'
andrhands of God's , people, is the true sys
tem of machinery, the true Gospel method
of Christian benevolence.
Resolved, That we earnestly recommend
to the pastors and Sessions, under our care,
a prayerful consideration 'of the propriety
of failing back 'Upon the .A!pOstolic practise
of religious contribution; asi'a.regular part
of weekly . Sabbath worship. . -
Resolved, That in prOtically carrying'
out the principle of Christian benevolence,
the prayer of faith stands first and most
important in the list' of aetiire agencies—
prayer for the spirit-of ; benevolence, prayer
for. grace and zeal to exercise that spirit
aright, and prayer for God's blessing upon
itethen attempted itChis name and
fill :his 'gltoryr.
Reso/ved,-That the Stated Clerk be di=
rectekto furnish a copy of the - above to the
Presbyterian Banner, for publication.
W. W. Woonxbro, Stated Clerk.
For the Presbyterian Banner.
Army WChristian , Associations.
WOODB,TIRT, N. J., Dee. 28, 1861. i
MESSRS. EDITORS : —During a recent
visit to the
,camps
.beyond Vira,shington,
was present arid called to preside at a meet
ing 'of the Cluistian menibers of the First
Regiment of 'New-Jersey irolunteers, when
the following Constitution and accompany
ing letter were adopted., The nbjects pro
posed will need no commendation.
.At the request' or `tti6 lii6etinerisk an
insertion in your paper.
Yours truly,
SANDED J. EAIRD.
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I.
Name.
`This S66tety ifiall'be called ItTh's Eire
look Assobiation.."
ItICLE iI
'Object.
' Its obieet and religibui:iin
proi , eraent of As. inenlbers, and 'of their fel
low soldiers of ilia regiment.
APIS= in .
Pledge.
.., The - following. Pledge, with a correspond
ing .I,p ; and character, is the unalterable
and :Ally condition of membership..
It shall receive the solemn -issent of
each candidate in the presence' of the Soci
et.y, riot. to* , the ientry of his name upon
the roil, viz.:
",d Flaring the grace'..of the Trim Nie , Ood,
and hopiiig for salvatlon throygh ,the blood
of Christ, I promise to endeax,or, bythe
help of the . Holy . Spirit; to liee . ateortling to
'the rile of the Bible,:clind to bp faitlifril to
~piETTsBETJ,RGIL,sATV:RDAyi,:':;F:F4 B :Ru- A R- - y.):lso2'.'
; ag the, ditties of a member of this ,Associa
tion.
AATIO,LE IV
Members.
Any person belonging to the regiment
vrhO has the regal its moral ilnahfications,
- titay'become a member; but none shall be
leutitled to any authority or distinction in
the Association lip virtue of official xank,
.or.position in the Army. Nominations for
membership shall lie over.one meeting, and
be - approved by majority of votes.
,
.A.*II,TICt.E'
Officers
The officers of the Association shall be,a,
President,'one or more Vice-Presidents, , a
Secretary, a 'Treasurer, and any, others that
may from time to time be found expedient.
The elections shall be Veld statiedly on, the
first Mondays of January, April, July, and
October,' .or ,as stiori•thereafter 'as shall' be
found convenient.
ARTICLE. -VI.
:Business:
The design of the Association being moral
and religious improvement, no other busi
ness shall be introduced. That object into
be pursued.by the obtaining and distribu
tion of suitable reading, the formation of
Bible classes and, prayer-meetings, and sim
ilar means. Wherever possible there shall
be at least Ong, devotional - meeting of, the
Association every week. The 'exercises
shall be-conducted by the presiding officer,
or by some ,suitable person= designated by
him.
ARTICLE VII
Offences.
Any viOlition:of the rules of ` ‘ Christian
Morality, if 'persisted in after proper meas
ures have been used to reclaim the offender,
shall be followed by expulsion. 'A member
thus excluded shall not be restored;eicept
upon full evidence of amendment and by
a vote of two-thirds of 'those esent, upon
a motion, notice of which `shall,loire been
given at a, previous meeting.
ARTICLE VIII
By-Laws.
, The Association may -adopt, such By-
Laws as from time to' time may be found
needful.
"'ARTICLE IX.
Military Duty
"The powers that be are Ordaitidd: of
'God," and we' are in arms in defence of his
oidinance. It is thereforithe duty Of mein
hers 'of this'Adiociation- to Signalize' then,-
selves by the exemplary conscientrotis and
fearless performance o - f all the &idea of
good soldiersi hy - 'strict CoitiOrmity to "the
regulations of the intliorities, and prompt
obedience to oar 'oribers; And by respecting
the property of our OM:Wei, and 'the lives
and' 'comfort of 'the waiinded and - van
quished, doing unnecessary "violence 'to
no iman!l
ARTICLE X.
PerionatActiv4
It shall be the duty of every member to
use diligence in endeavoring 'to advance
especially the 'spiritual Welfare of his fel
low-soldiers,"and,to induce all:proper per
sons to unite with the Association.
ARTICLE XI
• Formation of other Aosociations.
It Bhai •ni manner be a duty to seize
.every suitable opportuaity,for Securing the
organization of similar Assooiationsiu all
41„tbut,regiinentirtvritli*liikli they-zny be•
'brought into controunioation.
ARTICLE XII.
_motto ait,d' Badge.
The motfo of th6 - Association is the sth
verse;of the 20th Psalm : " We will rejoice
in thy salvation, in the name of, our God
We will set up our banners::' and its badge,
an open Bible surmounted by a flag, em
blazoned upon the American
CIRCULAR - LETTER
The Members , of the Havelock Association
of the First Regiment of Kew,lersey
Volunteers to their Christian, "brethren of
the Army.
BRETHREN AND FELLOW-SOLDIPAS :
We herewith submit .to youj.the -Constitu
tion of our Association; and with itbeg leave
to state the.reasons impelling us to the or
ganization, and whieh - we hope may induce
you to • join with. us in this •means of in
creasing the-strength and efficiency 'of the
moral and religious elements which are dif
fused. •through oui.aritay.
In dedicating ourselves to the]serviee of
our country in this:perilous exigency, we
did not close . our eyel to the: isacrifibes
which we must make and the privations we
must endure.. Nor were we ignorant, that
of these, some of the firstiand most consid
erable were those of a moral and.spiritual.
kind. We must leave behind us the fain
ily eircle--the sphere of so many blessed
influences, as well as of so many happyaf
factions. We, must forego the >wider social
circle which . clusters .4irorind ,our house
holds, and - encompasses them .with a pure
anti healthful :moral:atmosphere; and with
draw ourselves from the - bosom of the
Church of Godi with all its sawing agen
cies and heaver4orn influences, its Sabbath
Schools and. Bible-classes, its conference,
prayer and inquiry-meetings. -Of the im
portance of these societies—the fainily, the
social circle and the'ehurehand of the
extent. to Which they are conservative .
moral purity 'and saving influences among
men, we.need not speak. ~ A ll recognize it,,
and none are so capable of a just estimate
as those Who, for their country's eake, are
deprive& of them.
The youth, who; it may beihas been ten
derly trained in the bosom of a pious fam-.
ily, blessedtwith , the , pure and' refining in
fluences .of maternal , and, sisterly love,
surrounded by the congenial society which
clusters about Snell. i'honsehOld—who has
been consecrated to 'God from his birth;
trained up in the'bo§orn. of the -Church' of
Christ, andperhaps himself !enrolled as a ,
professed follower of the Lamb of God
finds himself suddenly strippe&of all these.
Privileges, these supports and restraints:'
He is withdrawn'frem home, and the' fain
and social t couffnunity, deprived - of the'.
society of woman, and separated from the
organized company of God's people:. Ha
is cast, without , protection or outward re
senrce, into the midst of influences too often
depraved and rgodless. Hi's own 'moral and
religious attitude unknown 'to his, REMO
Oiates, he knows not to: whom among•them'
he may look for sympathy in his bat& sen
timents er support in yesisting the current
of 'aurreUnding evil. 'Whilst, thus better
prineiples, afraid of meeting with indignity,
are too often concealed and suppressed, the
vile aredeiertalifiamed - to Work Vileheis, nor
to-pour streinueef pollution tdn.allF around:
we s point' 'lout the tendency of ( these
things on the, - ; consistency, - the l .anpat
'watchful, and, the,graces of the most i praYer
ful and guarded'? We address those who
kilo* it by Painful experience.
We do not ignore nor disparage the'Serz
vices'-of:the chaplains, forAwhOse presene.e
the Government has made such •ample pro
vision. The ministryls,' indeed, a most
important?.. and. Divinely-appointed means
of %race. , •Bat before and fonclamental to
their offices arethe Divinely-created Socie
ties already named. And if the whole - hi 4
tory 'Olean -exhibits such -inadequate 're=
sults from the joint influences of all -com
bined, how inadequate.must .pro*a.the nu,
aided. labora :of our ehaplaina,, however
worthy ; and
It is• as a partial remedy for the priva
tions and evils ,to, which we have alluded,
that we have orgauiled„TßE . .,HA - yE;Lopit
ASSOCIATION. • T1).!3, following. are ,some,of
the advarttage.a r iwhieh . we hope to -realize
from it.
1. -It will constitute .a means of separa
tion from the ,power ; of surrounding evil,
somewhat• analogous to that which is 'reali
zed in the Church of .God. The very,fact
of an individual b§ing a Member .of this
Society,thus owning his allegiance to God ;
will both tend,-to reatrain the
,depravity of
others in his , presence,.and -give him the
courage;of an avowed position,i and lay upon
him the obligation ,of consistency to pur
sue aoourse in. accordance with the teach
ings of 'the Bible. • ,
2. We hopethus to enjoy the advantages
which are so great, of-} combination and or
ganization, to the scattered moral influences
among us. A few Christian. meiii scatter
ed through a regiment, unknown, to each
other,znuasSociated, and - unorganized. are
liable to be , overborne and. poWeiless amid
the surrounding Ittmai of. hostile (agencies.
Butif brought , tsigether,,introdiwed to each
other, combined' and organized; they will
exert an influence on - each .'other and on
their associatel4 , which. ,eia.yi control and
transform the entire maiii." On the one
hand, Christian principles will he cherished
in.. their own breasts, and a 'corresponding
practice inducedf, , and on the, other, good
influences;thud generated and strengthened
will be diffused. oh sit around:
3. By means of the Association-we hope
to sustain and enjoy i more fully l the means
of grace, not Ss we Shall rally to and
uphold the , handa'of.ohr faithful and lion- I
ored-chaplain, bu t- bPstimulating and giv
ing directions an Aciency to Individual
effort in ope,n,ing,, and sustaining Bible
Classes, prayet-mietings, Jac.
4. The ASsociation will constitute it'c'en
tre and agency a,, icorresporitteneesnd beta- --,
munication ;with tslje-churches andlbentivo
lent institutions ; at home,:through, which.
their benfactions May, be sppropriated,
_and
their mend ' and religiOus infli`milees .
brought to hear,-
,TA such' a- ralinner, - -ari to
serve the greatest good of!the•troops.:
6. Should we hhve the concurrence..and,
cooperation -of our brethren in other regi- '
nients and corps off the army, sous to secure.
in - them generally the organization of Have
lock AsSociationaiwe hope thereby real
ize for ourselves and for all,. the morel , force
which numbers gives, : concentrated thus
in •behalf of the best interests, of our
troope;Snd through them, in behalf, of the
country we love.. •
With views such as. these, fellow-soldiers,
we address you, in the 15Ope,that wherever
the proper materials °Cour, ollavelop/x. As
sociation may be formed, and our common
:prayers and energies be all combined and.,
concentrated to the one, great end of per
-
'trading our whole army with the " spirit of
prayer and the presence -and inthiences 'of
the Spirit of. G : od.i. We make.this propasi
tion'in no arrogant spirit dictation or
leadership, but actuated by zeal for 'Weanse
Which is - as dear to i lou to.us, and by a.
desire' to secure; the ftillest'and , most har-r
monious concurreneeand cooperation of all„,
in unitedlabers mi. its, behalf.
Shall me'not .then, thus hope to present
the sublime and glorious spectacle-of such.
a.,-host Coniseeratein*only.to_.;.(inr,,,Otain
try's "Cause, but:to - her blessed 'fled, and to
that , great Captain of salvation; her only
King. Thus may our army—tpervaded
with a spirit of reverent love for the =Most
High and trust in his Son—be - assured of
his smile upon our arms and his blessing
upon .our cause and country, and the "Star-
Spangled . Banner hallowed lby 'the loftiest
associations, become the pledge alike of pa
triot hopes and, yet higher glories;as we be
hold upon its waving' , foldsin the broad
stripes, red and white, tokens '.of saving
blood , and spotless righteousness, and in the
blue field and bright stars, symbols of that
heaven where the, true soldiers of the Cross
shall shine as stars forever.
R: B. YAith, President.
Havelock Asssociation,ist Reg., N. J. V.
4.wooDwAip, &oratory.
Camp Fairfax Seminary, Va.
Kir Papers favorable to the object please
copy.
EPIOPEAN CORRESPONDENCE
TEE PEAErE NEri raorc..42aEme&--Tini. PwicE OP. WALE!?
VISiT TO ANERIOA—ADTOGRAPii LITTER OP 2/1/5
STATER TO TEE MEMORY Or OPT IRE - FATHER—REVIEW OP Tilt
YEAR 1861-74010.8 AND CONTINENTAL YOLITIOS---INDIA—...
DEM OF LADY CANNING--A SEVERE WINTER AND ITS Cox
43airtiAiri oP 1881—MEN'oii DIARK Fiy&s* ,AT
Rom AND AnoAD - r - D4 7 4. 0 r 2 . 11 /0/ 1 ;A 1 )
HIE LIFE-STEET—ATE Is DAYS—HIS GRAVE—TEE tran
vEssar. Combs& OF PRAYER. •'
LONDON,' jan. 4, 1'862
PEACE is the' present watch-Word here.
The last news from America has givenlinf
versal relief and satisfaction. We have, as
yet; no definite information„but it clearly
appears that PreSident Lincoln and :Mr.
Seward 'are
harmoniously (in 'concert with
Lord Lyons) seeking art amicable soliition ,
of the difficulty ;, and within two days
more, we hope to ;hear that it is finally set
tled. The, rebound in all kinds of stocks
and shares, is very remarkable, and,'" meek-
eyed peace," for" ,a time threatened with
deposition from her benignantl throne, will
now assume with firmness her gentle sway
over hearts on both.sides of the Atlantic,, :
agitated, ruffled, and almost tempest-tossed.,
Prayer' has thus been- answered,"and the
Hearer of Prayer - will solve other great
questions to the .glory of his name and the'
good of mankind.
It is now clearly ascertained: that the,
visit of the Prince of Wales to the "United
States (as well, as Canada,) was the mtg.',
geition of the - lamented Prince Con Sort.
He was' emphatically a. man of peace, , and
he desired: to see the two great Angle-Sag- ;
on tritions in close accord in their relations
as well as in their vanguard leadership of
the cause of progress and civilization': The''
universal' garb' of ;woe Which' clothes the
people; is • but '-the outward emblem ~of. a,
great sorrow which has fallen npon-theata....
tion and stamped its memory, in characters.,"
enduring, on all hearts. The Queen so
laVishes her affection on h>s Memory, that
She instructs the Prince of -Wiles to write
a letter (published this tilt:Xi:tun- 7
oil of, the H'orticultural Society (of which
the deceased was the ~President,) declaring : ,
that instead of her own Statne—is
gested by the late Prince-being - erected :
in the gaideris of the SoCietyAis: shall' he
raised. `' nil Prince of 'Wales' declareS , :his
intention , to.present the , statue .at his own s
expen,se. Steps will r alsn. be, !speedily to 7„
ken to raisen monument on:Ilie eitnaf the ,
Hyde Park dri3tetihigiab i n - a 1 1861.'
Statnei andvintiraovials :of the. Prince Will
be ; in ;Edinburgh and other places t
throughout the kingdom.
THE YEAR.-which las just: closed', has, l
been, if, not ..an -annus miraFiil g, ,yet re- ,
markable in. many resPects„ and will ,nn
doubtedly contribute a chapter of great in-'
teret3t to the future historian - of the:second
half of the- nineteenth .centuryvand as havr',
ing.been a i neriod fraught with momentous.
consequences both as to theld i world and
the new. As to the Parliamentary session,
it was ahn&St,ll7not altogether, , o nil-politi
cal." 'Bilk brought in by private -mem tem for -the enlargenfent Of County;-and:'
Borough franchises, as well as Berkeley's
annual Ballot motion, were rejected. ; Lord
Berby. in May last vaunted the growing
strength Of his followers, declaring that
" every'` electionbore testimony to the in
creasing hold their opinions and principles
had on.the country.' This is true only in
one sense—there is political , quietude or
indifference, and also dislike, to violent
'changes among . the middle classes. .The
public mind' has been absorbed 'by.ctkinnier
cial:anziety and the American crisis; but.
Toryism will .not be suffered to raise its
head on , high, especially as ,the Tory party
are not free from suspicion (in spite of the
'real liberalism of Bulwer, and of the sen
timental talk of , Lord. Malmsbury,) Of be
ing any thing but favorable to the downfall
of the. political Pepedona, and the. expul
sion, of Austria from Venetia, and the pos-
Session by May, 'of her proper capital,
Rome.
lihelOhnteh.Rate Question underwent a
reverse Parhament,_ as far as the Lords
were, concerned; but its opponents are
more formidable, and more feared, also,
than ever insradli haslieen rallying the
elergy, , ' , nrid"'prtifeseas. to secure to then].
safety. , But. -even' he hints at a compro-
During, : the year, the income tax was re
' (tithed one. penny—a great boon to litera
l tare, inrreligied also the paper dre
ilies were. '.alrOliShed. oleo, - has Te
,eeived'a new:Constitution, and promises to
beg one p,f 'the most:presperens -colonies of
the Empire—the ta of cotton he
ing poWerfully stinratated by the Southern
indtits 'varied iiesourdes being in
.creasingly developed every year, byrail
;ways, irrigation, river , rade, and the
'final, and recognition by7gemindars and
Princes, of British supremacy. At the
lekinning of the year 1861, upwards, of
seven Millions of the People in Hindeastan
stood. on. 'the' :verge .of . starvation. The
bounty-of the. hOme public -came to the res
,ene,,and , the rains that, fell in IVlay and
June, ;Secured Ibundance. In that country,
'however, OhOlera has been raging, and the
ithalganiation" of the ItOyal . and Indian
forces haire not been -Unattended ',with great
hardships to men in , the ,flower of- 'Mites
the servants .of the, ever faithful and gen
erous Bast:lndia COmpa,ny- : .—men who trod
in the footiteps' of the Lawiences and the
Oliva; but by Whom- the Cold blooded
dian Secretary,: Sir •Icharles Wend,' is re
garded as -having .acted. a: heartless part,
and dealt out; but scanty. ,justiee.lndia
ft:p'i once Was to be redeemed, and it has, been
dime;Mid foi'theidc'ent lamented death
o€ lady, '
a woman nob y p anne
o •warni to . 6Omfort or 'command,"
W discriminating and generonsfriend of the
dintressed, the present .Viceroy'inight now,
come home, yielding, as be does, bis .place
to Lord tlgin; the most successful and'for
tunateof^lndian Governor-Generals. ;
AS to Continental
trust,
your readers,
I ust, have ; ,: had Buffecierit:ly clear state
ments,as to the various , countries, and their
condition especially as to Rusaia in its re
lation to - Poland ; 'Anatria with its finan
cial bankruptcy, its' playing ate'Constitu
tional Government, while Hungary is still
:trodden Italy--- ; Cavciir-dead, but Liberty,
surviving and Garibaldi ;standing by the
nenest :Man " and King, and by Ricaseli
also-; 'the 2d of Jan
4itoy;-.186V-iitrFiedeffe '
the Bu--
cession of his brother ;under the title of
William 1., thUatteropkinade at Baden to
assassinate him, and his coronation, with
its festivities; :'Ti r ikey - -a 'weak Sultan
dead and gone, a stronger one in his place,
and yet either unable • or unwilling to
'Carry out promised financial and polit
ical reforms ; 'Spaiv.—beeorning prosperous
and ambitions; her seizure of San Domingo,
her expedition to Mexico, thereby resuming
her place among the Great Powers, per
neeiiting poor Protestants under the not
'Unfelt reprtibation of enlightened - Europa
all theee facts,: with their belongings and
antecedents - have.been duly chronicled and
Commented on by your correspondent.
Socially, 1861 began badly. ~,We had,
the sternest and bitterest of _Winters, and ,
a frost Nadel set in at"Ciiristmas, continued
without intermission for weeks, and which'
had no parallel here` since 1814, turned
thousands not only of, the destitute, but of
the industrious poor into the streets and,
highways
,as, paupers. The machinery of
Our Poor. Laws was found inadeqnate to the;
; intinense Sumiin Private gifts sent
tU:the .City Magistrates', were , 'distributed,
and yet , the tendency was to degrade -r
when at last, in Heaven!shonnty, the frost,
broke up, and an infinity of industrial ein- 1
plekinerits,'lstuipandeithy Stress of weather,
Werereiuiried. -'TheyyreientWinter is sin-.
gularly mild:' ' - Trade, also,. for a time early
in the year, was at , a.stand-still. The rate,
of discount was, raised on the7th of Jan-;
nary, to 7 per cent. at the Bank of Eng
land. - Early in February, terrible ship-
Vreeki'`Oe6irred. in'the English' channel'
and along thecoast, entailing severe losses
, the:-underwriters ; while at Blackburn;
and elsewhere, "strikes "-were commenced,
reddering idle in a few days thousands of
looms.
' for . 1.8 . 61. :indicates Borne'
memorable blanks in the different depart
ments,of-literature,.science, and:art, as well
as among the great and noble of the
.40;1
altluingh latest the death of the Prince i
'CiSiliort claims the sad preeminntice„ With
in the year the Queen has - been made to'
:know her two great trials—,the .loss or the
Duchess of Kent almost -destroying the'
balance of ;her. mind: for a time, but special
strength given her now to bear itip under a
still more 'terrible : bereavement. ;Of' the,
peerage, upivards of twenty have died, in
eluding Lord Chancellor Campbell, born in•.
a Scottill ,Manse, and Lord Herbert oof•
Lea, the flower of the Peelite party, and.
Montague Villiers, the• Evangelical Bishop,
of, Durham of fragrant memory... One ti
tled lady, the special " favorite ' ofiGeorge
the:Dowager. Marchioness of .Conyng-,
ham, has just expired, at the advanced age
of : ninety-two years; suggesting a parallel
in Court history in connexion with the
days of • the second Charles, and 'bringing
up at once the 'memories of an evil past
comparatively recent, .as contrasted with .the
purity of the circle which were gathered
around. Victoria in her Palace, halls. •
Among.conspicuous men who have •died.
was Sir Riohmond-C. Shakespeare, a cough):
' of • Theekeray the author • {who-pays to . his
memory ,a .just : and . beau tiful tribute,) .and
.an Indian officer, of •great.; bravery . . as-well'
-as largest- military attainments;: attd. .g.g. c as
hand.open as day" to, all in ;distress.: 80,
too;;,•palsed• -away Sir :;Edward Bowateso
tator and..guardian 'at 'Nice tO,oneyoung
Prince , ; Leopold; - dying,ion 'the mrarr,datart
that-,Ptinoti 41bert felpired, .and :the ipont
ohild, 7 without to•oothfort-hinti.was eon-.
volnd; by an epanesitiY4r B 93 7l ;* , 4 l Pdulta:
by. the -telegram ; opettell,.inrhis:preience,)
which- could. only .find Neat in the : cry, oft,
repeated, "My mother.! my mother take
me-to inky mother l" • •
• Literary, and ,scientific circles never
more `behold BiShop,
the-. Astronom.ei . ,. the- ,painter . of
golden sunsets c aikthedtoyal Academician;
Thoiiiaii Flower Ellis, the ftieud /and liter,
ary etecutor.• of > Macaulay ;, t the gifted
Elizabeth. Barret, Browning.;- Eranois, the.
veteran-seiilpttiry-Bautlinel, th,e onutrteoNS
WHOLE NO. 488.
' and careful Librarian of .the Bodlean,
ford•; Dr. Oliver, the learned historian of
Exeter.; :Mrs. Galdart, a well-known" writer
of juvenile books; the Rev. J. W. Cun
ningha.m., Vicar of Harrow, the well-known
"-Evangelical;'; for half a century,. and au
thor. of " The 'Velvet Cushion ;" Dr. South
wood. Smith, a great Sanatory Reformer,
and who was alsoone of the founders of the
Westminster Review; Dr. Donaldson, of
Cambridge, a famous philologist; Robert
Jamison, the philanthropist; - Professor
Stephen Reay, the eminent Arabicseholar ;
.Mr. Macgregor Laird, the great : African
explorer, and his friend, Mr. John Brown,
the geographer, and 'biographer of `Arctic
discovery.
Among other more miscellaneous deaths,
are those of the Abbe Lacordaire r the ex.-
St. Simonian ; of Mr. Commissary Filder,
of 'Crimean celebrity; of Mr. Lanneellot
Shadwell, who translated Efomer into Eng
lish • hexameters; of •James 'Delights, of
,Cavers,, in Scotland, the well-knovrn pamph
leteer on prophetical and anti-Popery ques
tions`; of James Braidwood, (a true, hero,)
"who - perished, in the great fire at Louden
'Bridge; of "‘ The Mclntosh" head of 'one
of the oldest clans in Scotland ; of Joseph
Tasker, the millionaire,; of Richard Grain
_ger, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, who rose from
poverty to become the decorator and street
builder of his native town ; or Charles
Tilt,- the Fleet street publisher ; of'Oastler,
the " factory King," a tribune among the
Lancashire, men ; of John Murray, the
" buckle-beggar" of Gretna Green celeb
rity; of Mrs. Catherine Barret, who died
few:`months since,
,near the Old Kent
Road, London, assuring her friends, through
& newspaper communication that- she was
a veritable " descendant of Mahoney the
Fair,.and of .the , Princess • Sarah, daughter
of Irian Borolitnel"
- Snob* an enumeration ss this;of death'S
doings," is not uninstractive, if'rightly
considered, in connexion with the blanks
causetthy-the Destroyer in 4:)ur,own,private
and social circles—of the loss of dearest
friends' whose spirits launching out on the
ocean of eternity, have gone away,
" To return, never more, never more!"
Perko AL CUNNINGHAM, whose 'decease
I, indicated in 'the PostsCript to my last
etimmunication; was one Whose Memory will
be sacred and precious to all venerations—
,
specially in Scotland, and amongst, the great
Presbyterian family:throughout the world.
He was praminently a Man--ptrysically
SO his lofty stature; In his well-knit
frame, in that Jove-like " os frontis," and
that leonine 'aspect which made him like
another Hector in the ,conflict. -How' do
the reminiscences of great anti-Disruptive
struggles rise up in connexion with the dis
may produced among the Moderates, by, the
assaults Of Cunningham, and by his com
plete; overthrow of ' their ablest champion
It was as if a shower of hand-grenades had
fallen and burst in their ra.nks. And yet
he had no personal enmities; he was sin
gularly gentle, kindly, and accessible. But
for principle he stood up always, and dou
ble-mindedness and trimming, in r Church
polity, received from him no mercy.,
His illness was short., at first mild, but ter
_
urinating in pleurisy, it soon came. to a fatal
issue. On Monday he was's° far convalescent
eat.° come to his class-room; ; on Tuesday he
had ,a relapse; early,pn Saturday *riling,
tith December, (the-same day66,which
Prince Albert died,) be breathed his last.
His mind was clear and calm, his faith firm
and strong. He saw two of his dearest friends
a. few hours before his death, and commit
ted to them his MS. Lectures, for publica
tion. He perished in the midst of College,
work, but the influence of his writings,
lectures, and personal communications ad
dressed to students —*twelve hundred of
whom, many now ministers, have sat at his
feet as their Professor of Church History
and Divinity—will remain fresh and fruit
beari4 for generations ,t 0 come. Dr. Cun
ningham was only in his fifty-seventh year,
and leaves a widow and seven children.
Some years ago a magnificent present was
made him, in money, expressive of the ap
preciation in which the office-bearers and
members of the Free Church regarded him.
There is reason to believe that as his early
student,companion, John Brown Patterson,
of Falkirk, sunk under pulpit and pastoral
labors, so Cunningham fell under the too
heavy task of Free Chlirch battles and re
sponsibilities., The Scottish, Guardian pays
the 'following tribute to his memory :
No one can look back upon the ,thirty. years
of such public life, and remember the great and
.varied services which he was honored to render
as all able preacher of the Gospel—a powerful.
vindicator of truth in Successive centre
versies---a champion in debate, whether oh the
platform or .on the . floor of the General .
•Assembly, before and at the Disruption ,
-and subsequently as a moat succesful and
much loved Professor of Theology, through
'whose hands more than twelve hundred stuaents,
now settled, first and , last',-had the privilege of
passing-none 'who can •recall, however faintly,
'such a career as this, can doubt that he was a
man of rare and extrior - linary qualities, and that
his loss at the presents time to the Church of
which he was a minister, and to the cause of
evangelical truth generally, is in many respects
irreparable. We:believe we but echo the universal
and, well-founded conviction when we say, that
for soundness as a theologian, extent and accu
racy of learning, clearness of statement, fine
.balance of judgment, force of logic, and power
of impression; be was unrivalled. The loss of
suedia man in middle life, and amid the present
ikapeets of : .philosophical and religious error both.
'at : home and abroad, cannot .be too deeply la
-
*anted. Of the native warmth of his heart
and the downright honesty of his cliniatiter we
"say. nothing. All who knew him were well
aware of such qualities; but strange as it may
Seem to many, they were, not leas aware of the
sentleness and generosity of his nature, his es
sential kindness and disposition to yield to.oth
ers, and his profound, sense of personal unwor
thiness. Hence, amoniti oilier treasons, the in
tense, affection as well as admiration - of ' his ista.
'dents and friends.
Those who are called more fully, to write his
life and Wives will have many interesting points
to record, loch as his high distinction as a scholar
and attainments as a student—the inseparable'
companion of that facile princeps in scholarship,.
John Brown Patterson—his debating powers in
the Theological SOciety—hiti place, among the Di-,
vinity reformers--hiiffirst appearance in the'
General Assembly, when, in the course of a
speech of twenty minutes, he verifietisall the an_.
tioipations of his , companions:end friends, and
electrified the crowded house—his coerageous
warfare with Rome and successful vindication of
Protestant truth—his defence of the Church from
assailants without, and earnest and unwearied
contendings for restoration to Scriptural and con
stitutional purity within—his cordial , friendship
and cooperation with ,Chalmers, in the general
business of the ChUroh—his noble part with others,
in the ever memorable Disruption•--'-liis visit to
America—hie subeequent charge in the New Col
lege for sixteen , yeara---his admirable 'CoUrses of
Lectures, both inChurohl History and Divinity,
and his training of-so many hundred yOuag.ticien
for the ministry, numbers of wheal 'ire now 'set
tletau ministers or missionaries both at honie
aiiiirabroad, and , W , lto - will ever retain,-with indel
iblelimpression of his sound teaching, tfichigh
.eat •sense;of his,kindneas and condesoeuion awe
teacher.. His authorship, also, *ill fbe,.remem
beied,, thougliosomPigrittivelilithited;:seallittierly
alibgether 'colifinet - to
onee•theofogicar and '
The' , prominent actors in thetDiaruptioir of the.
Scottish Church,both.civiliantHuld. ecclesiastics,
are rapidly passing .away. Lord Abefdeen, Sir.
James Graham, Dr. Jae . Robertion, of Edin
bugh; Andrew:-iv'," of `Perth, have all• recently .
fallen, and tioveDe.:l7cdininghani Wedded to the
number.. While :the Free Church is reminded, by,
the-remover of ler ersinent - men, not to
trustin msn l ,but,in her wine Head, ,who never:
dies,: it. fel stfielrir matter' of gratitude,
prided Aoliiir', , h
tilt '
pr tfee.;iiiaay
of tier , itblest-aot wortifreottecllemb. heefo
spared , so long to , diroct uttl oorkeol4dite.the arm
rastigaractAll:of Ilk IniAltutiO iit./.310h p e, Y4t0;42
Tll3 PRESBYTERIAN BANNER
Publication -Oferce
GAZETTE BITILDIR4B, 84 Firm Se., PVT&BlTitillf, Pe.
PanattlitPßlA BaMTH-W=2, 00E...0 'Mt a" °lnt"!
ADVERTISEMENTS.
TERMS IN ADVANCE.
A Setiarei(rlinee or Sean,). one; ipeertion; . !6o:tieete; Mob
- attbeteleerltlifeekttort; ebate; eaelt b6yoritight, 6 cis
A Samara per euertera4.oo ; eachliroe addtticateli BB cents
A REDUCTION matte to advertisers by the, year.
BUBINZSBNCYrICEB of Tea lines or INOILOO each ad.
diurnal line;10 &obi.
DAVID DrKiNNEY It .CO.,
Penni:nom ern) YOBLISHERg.
sighted 'and unbelieving men imagined was to
pass away in a few pars, but which, founded as
it is on old Scriptural , and constitutional prima
plea, the events of the day are rather indicating
is destined for ever growing vigor and perpe
tuity.
Dr. Cunningham was buried with pub
lic honors, and he sleeps near to the lion
bred dust of Thomas Chalmers, in the
Grange Cemetery of Edinburgh.
The Rey. Mr. Rainy, of the Free High
Church,. Edinburgh, of which 'Dr. elm
ninghain Was an office-bearer, referred, on
the Lord's '•day after his , -decease, to the
last moments 'of this remarkable man, as
follows
It was only about eight hours before his death
that hope was given up, and the fact that his change
was approaching was made known to him. This
solemn proapect may thus be :said to have, come
•
suddenly upon him, as already very near. You
will'be Prepared to belleie - that he 'received the
intimation calmly, and ; without. manifesting the
least wish to disguisefrom. himself his real situ
ation, even fort a.montent. At the same' time he
intimated hat. hadit'heen left to him to choose,
•he could 'lttive AWishod to 'have -had 'seine-What
longer warning,. for the purpose Of dwelling
deliberately on the precious truths of the
faith in the prospect of-so ' . great c a n event as
death. aid; will;, in the
course of things which he had appeinted—, , ti.r.„'
that with very short' notice;'and' Under great
bodily weakness, 'het should, , ,be Called:to contem
plate his Approaching end,he „paid that, he, did so,
as one who cast himself erilirely'on Christ. He
.expressed his confidence' imiChrist, not only as
his own Saviour, and one able to save, but as
one who, be was assured, would give him the
sense 'and comfort of Gospel truth acobrding to
his need, in the unexpected. circumstances in
which he was 'He Was enabled to express
hie hope of " entering 'the kingdom," and to
charge his-family-and friends to - meet him there.
He ; was enabled also -to . express hie confidence
that„ amid
,many, and, great sins and infirmities,
as he said, - what lie had' Mainly sought was to
glorify Ged; - which you will believe was not said
in any other spirit than that of giving his dying
testimony of the lord's mercy toward him.
No one could listen to him without being deep
ly convinced that the calmness he displayed; and
the hope he expressed, rose out of the earnest
exercise - of-faith on his part, as a sinful man on
a: Saviour ,whom he had learned to know and
prize. It gave me, I trust, a fresh lesson-as to
the preciousness of the Gospel, when I &Cif' him
with whom we associated all that was masterly
and learned in theological scienee, giving utter
ance, with laboring breath, and With an earnest
ness and• thankfulness that seemed' to fill his
whole heart, to his conviction of the truth and
Worth of such statementa as this; that "He died
for. us that whether we wake or sleep we might
live together with him • " " The blood of Jeans
Christ, the' Son, of God, cleanseth us from all
sin';" "He =died for' us, , the just for the unjust,
that he might bring us to God." His particular
expressions I cannot trust myself to attempt to
repeat neiv.• Let us; also, dear brethren, learn
the meaning and the worth' of these truths now
while we live; so shall we, also, like him, have
them for our 'conifortwhen we die.
The Lord - Provost of,Ediniirgh paid a
special,tribute 'to the memory of Cunning
ham', and the Town Council = unanimously
responded-to his eulogy.
Dr. RobertEucl3anan, of Glasgow, preach
ed a special funeral sermon, and with his
usual discrimination brought oat his char
acteristic traits and' services. IN was in
deed emphatically a Theoloo b ian of the
Calvinistic School---on : ---on : this side, at least, of
the Atlantic, the ablest.
I am sure,the, particulars thus furnished
will be priied by many of your readers
who remember 'the visit of Dr. Cunning
ham to the United States, and who nobly
and generously-contributed of their sub
atance to aid. the -Free Church in her early
struggles. And I cannot help adding, that
the remembrance of snail visits and such
responses; ``both on the part of Scottish
and Irish Presbyterian deputations, makes
it doubly distressing even to contemplate
the possibility of international war.
PiIAYER , AND THE NEW YEAR have once
more been identified to the great comfort
and encOuragement of many of the people
of God, as well as, doubtless, to his glory,
in the subsequent'outpouring of the Holy
Spirit. The minds of Christians have been
prepared for .this Concert by the public
loss in the death of the husband of the
Queen, and by the anxieties in reference to
our relations with the United. States. Two
days hence—Monday, Jan. 6th—begins the
annual Concert for Prayer. There will be
two meetings on each day of the week in
Freemason's Hall, with separate Presidents
each day also, and brief addresses. Else
where there will be similar local Concerts.
Thanksgiving will now mingle with prayer,
because of the • hopes of: tranquility and
comparative prosperity. May these bles
sings soon be yours in their fullness !
No .Time for Devotion.
De me take devotion itself to he'll° busi
ness';, or a business of no consideration?
Do we conceit, When we pay God his debts,
Or discharge our duty toward him, when
;we crave his mercy, When we solicit the
main concernments of our souls, that we
are,idle, or misemployed ? that we lavish
our time and lose our pains? What other
affairs can we have of greater moment,
or necessity than this ? Can there be any
interest more close, and weighty than this,
of promoting' for our own souls eternal
health and happiness ? Is not this indeed
the great work—the only necessary matter
—in comparison with which, all other oc
cupations are trifling? What are the great
businesses of this world? What but
scraping .for pelf, compassing designs cf
ambition, courting the respect.and favor of
men, gratifying, sinful curiosity, and carnal
humor ? Shall these images, these shadows
of busin*, suppress or crowd out devo
.tioi3l--th'at .which •procureth wealth inesti
mable, pleasure • infinitely satisfactory, and
honor incomparably_ noble, above all that
this earth can .afford? Is it not, beside,
no subh indispeniable business, but rather
some base dotage on lucre, some inveigling
'haitlofipleasiire,. that crosseth our devotion ?
Icit . not;ciften a complimental visit; an ap
pcdntinfmt to tattle, a wild ramble in vice or
f9lly,.:that ao deeply urgeth us to put off
our dati? Nay , is it not cotnmonly sloth,
lather Akar activity, an" aversenessfrom
:this, •rather- than inclination to any other
employment, which diverts us from our
prayers.? Is it not the true,reason why we
pray an seldom, not because we are very
'Busy, rait because we are extremely idle :
80'1163, that:lie' cannot willingly take the
paitis to Withdraw our affections from sen
sible things, to reduce our wandering
-thoughts, to compose our hearts to right
frames, tobend our untoward inclinations
to• a compliance •with our duty . ? Do we
not betake ourselves to other conversations
and Comtnerbes, merely for iefuge,shunning
this intercourse with God, and with our
selves.ii'arrow, quoted by Barnes.
There are Ni 'trifles.
There are ric)..;-such things asArifiec , in
the biography of man. -Drops make up the
sea. Acorns carver the • earthnwith oake,
and the ocean withi navies. Sands make
up the bar iti3heitharbor's mouth, on which
vessels are •vcreked; and little things in
ly.tintiiiaceuraulate.into character in age, and
destiny in eternity. • All the links in that
glbrious chain which .iiviirall ,, and around
all, we can see tmd atiktOw,;oriat least ad
znit;, lint the_ staple to? which is fastened,
'101.311" is 'the; 'ix:arid - or" of ill, is the
wife of. Deikyi 14 •
I:gtheie d4ofetteti, -men
: may 145r.0bl Abeelogleallstapetee. , whatever
else they quarrel about'-;Tpr. Mot— &att.,