''.' j. ....."... t5 ,„::...,i, : ,„:., : .:,, L1 trialt ., .„.„,:: : „. 1 ...., : -.,„.. a1t . ittr .
' - ' ---- ; ...... t .- ''.. c'''''' -'• ' ---. .. '
.441' - -''' -.-- -• . . .•• '. - t otf,' - ' l -i'' - :::- . ' . ,' : ' ',...4
~.,
VOL. XII. NO. 20.
it is all that I need. In my absence, my
eldest son will take care of the family.'
. " Verkey Moopent (this was the. name of
the old man', 4 l. had been formally a. man of
little worth ; but for a considerable lime
past he had reformed his ways, and although
he had not much knowledge, I knew him to
be a believer and sincerely. pions. There
fore, I accepted his offer, and asked what
sum might represent the food and clothing
to which he limited .his pretentious. All
the assistants agreed in thinking that thir
ty rupees a year (fifteen dollars ) would be
sufficient. The same evenidg I ?mule
known this result to Mr. Moody. The re
sponse of his friends was not delayed; each
succeeding year, the thirty rupees were
regularly sent to us, with good words of
encouragement and promises of prayers.
From thence have arisen all the blessings
I have yet to recount.
" Verkey went forth, it. may Only be
said, to hunt the slaves dispersed in the
jungles, conferring with them, bringing
them words of lineation and engaging
them to frequent a Sunday School, which
I established specially for them at Mande
kyam. This school" opened with the four
individuals I had .first . discovered, gnd two
or three others who had come from the:en
virons. Insensibly. their number increased
to fifteen; then to thirty. They assembled
under a spacious shed of bamboos, having
a roof of grass Arriving early in the
morning, they brought with them, for their
mid-day repast, roasted roots, wild fruits,
or some handfuls of rice wrapped pp in
large leaves. We divided them into sev
eral circles, which were instructed either
by the most advanced members of com
munity, or by young girls from our board
ing school. Some time previously, a school
Of the same sort bad been founded at a con
siderable distance from us, at a plaoe called
Mallapalli, by other agents of the Society.
One day, the. 'house in which it was held,
was burnt, and the slaves who frequented
it were dispersed by the enemies of the
Gospel. Several of the victims of this
persecution escaped to the mountains, and
came to join our little flock of scholars.
We instructed them as well as we were
able, by teaching them the English Church
Catechism, that of Watts, and seleeted
texts and hymns, in which they took much
pleasure. Thes.e cares were not without
fruits; a good number of these people soon
attained not only to believing, but also
could render a reason for their faith, and
show by their life that the Gospel had truly
touched their heart. Our meetings were
composed then of from 134 a to 140 persons;
and in a short time I could estimate at 171
the number of those who had received our
" Following a usage which I -thought to
be prudent, I did not invite any of them
to be baptized as yet, but contented myself
with speaking at times of this institution,
in a general manner. Three years passed
away, and no one had expressed to me the
least desire in this respect. But I knew
what were -the motives of this reserve.
How could these poor parias dare to hope
that Christians would admit their into their
ranks as brethren ? They were recalling
yet too vividly' that among their fellow
countrymen, they were of the number of
- thoie defiled creatures from which a man
of caste must always be separated by a dis
tance of at least twenty-five metres.* Such
is the rigor of this usage, in this country,.
to remark it in passing, that even 'the an
cient Syrian Christians enforce it upon
these miserable beings.
" But one Sunday afternoon, after a did
course upon the unity of the children of
God in Christ, the supreme Chief and
Head of the Church, some looks of intelli
gence exchanged among.my auditors, awak
ened my curiosity. . I asked an explanation.
The old demon priest, of whom I have spo
ken above, answered me : Sir,' said he,
!might we be baptized?' I replied in the
words of Philip to the Ethiopian (Acts.
viii : 37); immediately •a poor woman
named Elaohi, who for a long time had ful
filled the office of monitress with a remark
able zeal, exclaimed Oh ! sir; for a long
time, a very long time have we desired this
and have been asking it in our prayers.'
"This cry, coming from the heart, was
moving. Nevertheless before making a
promise, I thought it a duty to consult the
church, and that very evening .I laid the,
question before our class of communicants.
These Christians belonged to the most di-
Verse castes. There were among them, an
cient Bramble, Chetties, Nairs, Syrian Chris
tians, Chogans, and Arriens ; but all had
been baptized with-water, and the greater
number had, as I tholight, received the bap
tism of the Spirit, so that notwithstanding
this diversity of origin, no' one made any
other ' objections than those which, as to
such or such slaves,' the lack of instruction
or of .piety might suggest. Not one of the
assistants thought of renewing the least
prejudice of 'caste. 6 We have thrown all
that behind us, when we have eaten togeth
er,' said one of the Bramins of the congre
gation. Happy at this assent, I imparted
it to our refugees, and from that time bap
tism has never been administered at Mun
dakyam without there being among the ne
ophytes .a number more or less considerable
•
of these Fier' pukes. And I have never
dispensed with proofs as to the reality of
their conversion, any mere than with the.
others. .
" But this is, not all. A few months af
ter the first of these baptisms, some of the
new Christians came one day to say to Me :
We heard you explain the other day the
Epistle that St. Paul wrote to Philemon,
on sending bank to-him` a slave who had es
caped from him; do you think it is our
duty to return also to our masters? When
,we left them, we were heathens; now we
have become Christians; what do you coun
sel us to do?' - .
" I replied that this was for them an af
fair of conscience. If they thought it to
be a duty to.go and offer their services to
the persons to whom they had formerly be
longed, they would do well to Obey- this
sentiment. - Thereupon, thirteen of them
departed.. Some of this number belonged
to the little band that came froin Mallapali,
after the destruction of the school at that
place, these were well received by their
masters, and contributed effectually to the
resumption of the interrupted ixercises.
Two returned to us at . the end of some
bearingdays, on their bodies the marks of
* Fieuch metre is nearlyJorty English 13167
The wisdom of such advice some would doubt,
unless the old masters of these recent converts
were all like Philemon. But the event shows that
God meant it for good. Many a servant is, like
these poor pubis, the means of Converting his
master and making him really a brother, a child
of Gad anti an heir if .gTdri.- Ens, DAN'.
PITTSBURGH, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY; 3, 1864.
blows which their. old masters had inflicted
on them. To these I said, that having
performed their duty they might henceforth
consider themselves as relieved from all ob
ligation. The others did not return, and
as I learned -nothing of "them for a long
time, I began to fear that they might have
gone back to paganism. _
"But these apprehensions proved to be
unfounded. At the time of the harvests,
which attracts annually thousands of labor
ers to the mountains to reap the - grain,
multitude of slaves made their appearance
in our districts, and among them were
found, to our great joy, all those that we
had supposed to be lost. They halted to
come and see us, bringing with them a
great many of their fellow-laborers, to whom
they had, spoken of the Gospel, and who
wished themselves to hear it announced in
our. school. Thus for six weeks we had
very numerous auditories, and' when the
time arrived to descend again to the platy,
almost all these people came' to request me
to give them letters of recommendation to
some missionaries of the low country, so
that they might continue to - receive instruc
tions. I was happY to accede to this de
sire ; works similar to ours were, cense
quently, organized at Pallam and at Colts
yam, and from all that I -have learned of
them, I estimate that in these two locali
ties and at my station, more than four hun
dred slaves have received baptism within
four years: Another movement of. the
Same sort, but completely independent of
the one I have been recounting has -taken
phi& in the district of Tiruwalia, and has
also had great developments: Thus in this
field of labor, the 'little stone cut out with
out hands, is sapping by degrees at the:base
the old statue of iron and clay, and is to
become at list that great mountain which
shall one day cover the whole earth. The
Lord be praised that at present, as or old,
his Gospel is preached to the poor."
To this narrative of the Rev. Mr. Baker's,
a little long, but which we could not abridge
more than we have done, we might add
other testimonies no less joyous to the
work accomplished among the slaves of
Travancore. We liMit 'ourselves to one
alone.
[TO BE OONTINITED.I
Far the Presbyterian Rattner
Ten Nye' in the 1 ‘ Frent.,! ,
MR.:JOSF f PII ALBREE, Treasurer of U. S.
Ch' is4Zan Commisiion
DEAR SIR :—Befort3 speaking of my la
hors in the "front ," . it might not be amiss
to say a word about a "contraband camp,"
Which I visited in the .north part of the
city. In this camp there are about seven
hundred " contrabands," men, women, and
children. The able bodied of both sexes
are generallLput at labor. Two hundred
children a?eWily in school, and make en
couragrng progresi, " equal to that of white
children. So said their teacher. There
is regular religious service, which is well
attended—a church organization composed
of over one hrindred members..
,The children seem playful and happy,
and the adults contented and cheerful.
said to a group of the latter, " How do you
like your new home ?" " Very well, sah,"
replied an elderly female. " Would you
not prefer to have• things the way they
Were before the war broke out 7" " 0 no,
sah." "You would not like to -live this
way all the time, would you ?" " 'no,
sah." " Well, *hat do you think is-to Ite
come of you ?" " We. do n't kunw, sah, but
we just trust in de Lord, and we know he
will make it all right."
A Lieutenant of the Invalid Corps had
the mititary charge of this camp. He had
lost an arm .at Gettysburg, and having en
joyed the ministrations of the. Christian
Commission, Ire not only received me most
cordially, _but he spoke in the warmest
terms of the organization. "My dear sir,"
said he; "that institution is an incalculable
blessing to the army. You have relieved
untold suffering. You have saved the lives
of many . poor Soldiers—very many of us
hold your services, at Gettysburg, in most
grateful' remembrance." Many other ex
pressions of a similar kind fell from his
lips.
Of the operations of the delegates of the .
Christian Commission at the " Front'," in
the midst of the army, I might say many
things of interest; but I will confine my
self to those thingsuoming undei'my own ob
servatien. " My location being assigned" me
by the Field Agent, I went to work, feeling
that what I did there must be done within
a few days; feeling, too, that this was a
great and glorious work. At, this point
(one mile to the right of Brandy Station,
we have a chapel tent, pitched the day be
fore I arrived. Here were three delegates,
part of the time' four. From our tents we
could reach three brigades :within a radiuS'
of aboutlwn miles. Each day's labors were
about as fellows : With ablaut 150 religious
weekly papers on my arm, and haversack,
(and frequbntly my overcoat poekets,) filled
with Testaments, hymn-books and tracts, I
would make my way to the headquarters of
some particular regiment.- Finding no
chaplain—as is .the' case with many regi
ments—with the permission of the Colonel,
I would then visit every tent, leaving at
least one paper, and .such other reading
matter as might be desired, or as I saw fit.
Often some one in the' tent, seeing the. Ti.
8. C. C. badge, would very kindly invite
me in. Often I would accept the invita
tion. ' Entering, and having passed the
usual salutations, I would inquire where
they were froen—concerning their parents,
&c.—their early education, religious ad
vantages, &c . ., See. ; and press upon them
'their gredt interest. All this was received
by their most respectfully, kindly, and
.thankfully; and the
.moistened eye often
indicated.that there was,: within, an impres
sible heart. If the regiment thus visited
lay adjacent to the tent, a second one would
be visited in the afternoon. In the eve
ning we all attende&public service in the
tent. These services were conducted by
one of the delegates.. After a short ser
mon the soldiers were invited to take part,
which many of them did, in remarks and
prayers which flowed from warm and 'earn
est hearts. 'After the first night the tent
was crowded, and 'a deep; solemn feeling
seemed to pervade the audience. God's
Spirit was most manifestly present in such a
manner as to revive and comforthis people,
and to awaken and convert sinners. ,A;
the meeting progressed the interest in
creased, and the feeling deepened.
After due consultation among the dele
gates and with a most excellent; and judi
cious, and experienced chaplain, it was
judged desirable and expedient to adminis
ter the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper on ,
tha. Sabbath. _This our pyrpuse was RI/.
I flounced to the meeting on Friday evening ;
and in order that this might be done • with
propriety, and as orderly as practicable, the
names of all church members wishing to
participate in this, ordinance were enrolled_
(silty). A few Articles of Faith, such as
the Existence of God—the Inspiration of
the Scriptures—the Dootrineof the Trinity
--the Divinity of Christ—his Vicarious
atonementi.--. Justification by Faith, &a.,
were adoPted by them : and thus they. were
.temporarily joined into a Christian asso
ciation, or Brigade church.. During :the
week a 3mpber had most earnestly pro
pounded the question; " What must I do,
to be saved ?" By Satiirday, six ef these
were entertaining hopes,"and desired pub
holy to profess their faith in Christpand to
be admitted-to a place with his people at
his table on the Sabbath. We examined
them as to, their knowledge and faith, and
admitted them. One of the six said that
he had not been baptized; and he' desired
that this should be done. Shall we baptize
him ? ThAeseemd p to, be no: alternative.
This man fess* litis4i Christ, and
there was water; why .should he notbe `
baptized ?:.< '
At half A4ist two, o'clock~ on 'Sabbath I
preached, ifid immediately after the' semen
I administered the ordinance . .of baptism to
this young,map, in the presence of a deep
„
ly interested audience.. The Sacrament of
the Lord'eSupper was then adMinistered.
In these exercises tare - Old Scheel Presby
terian, one Congregational, and one - Meth
odist minister took part; .and ..there sat,
side-by-side, at the table of our_ common.
Lord and Saviour, the Methodist, the' Bap
-
get, the Old and New School Presbyterian,
the United Presbyteriarf, and the Episco
palian. Many of us felt and saw more fully
than we lad ever done before, the beauty
and sweetness ”of the communion of
"
saints. •
I considered the 'occasion - .one of 'deep
Solemnity, and of tender interest. Those
brave men; Who had ".faced .the cannon's
mouth and , trod with a firm step the bloody
field, now evinced the tenderest emotions as
they commemorated the dying love of Jesus,
and as they clustered.around his cross. It
was a delightful, precious season—one to
be remembered! •
Those meetings and that communion sea
son were, to the heart *of many a soldier,
more than 'the oasis in the desert* to"the
weary traveller. •
That Sabbath's services, closed my labors
among the soldiers, as.a delegate of the "D.•
S. Christian:Commission." Often, during
those six weeks, did I feel, while engaged
in this glorious work,., that
,thrs was- the
greatest privilege of my life. -
.1 desire to record my gratitude to my
Grat Master, for his kind, preserving care,
an'' or his manifest' blessing and grace.
And also for the very kinil reception he
in his profidence secured for' me, by my
people on the.day of my return—kind and
affectionate greetings, and a -MAMMAL
expression of regard for my nomfort and
welfare, and that of my household:. 'May .
the God of Providence and of Grace reward .
them richt , ;.imd maihe blew del:"
egate of the. U. S. so "that he may
feel as your humble servant hath felt : "Re
that vratereth, shall be watered also him
self." . Yours truly, .
Wellsburg, West Ya.
Per the Presbyterian Barmar.
Rev.'Dr. Pressley's Address du Close Comma-
111011.
To the Editor of `theUnited Presbyterian :
Your complaisant, congratulatory intro
duction to the public, of the Rev. Dr.
fressley's "Address to the Students,': led
me to examine it with some care, though I
bad read some of his former productions on
the same subject. 'You said, editorially,
that those " who may not accept its views,
will admit that they are, not held without .
good reasons,! I could not find in it the
"good reasons" for close communion. This
may. be supposed to be for want of the su
perior education given in your Theological
Seminary. Be it so. Yet I think that' an
intelligent Sabbath School class would see
the - want of applicability in the passages of
Scripture quoted - by the Doctor to prove
that - the New Testathent authorizes the ex
clusion of believers, known to be , in good
standing (in everything but your peculiari
ties), from the Lord's. table. Though
these interpretations of the' Bible may
have the advantage of age, being handed
down from the Seoession from the Church,
of Scotland, they lack a very important .
characteristic, viz., to be the mind of the'
g Holy Ghost," who spake by " holy men."
They are contrary to the expositions of all
evangelical commentators, and - contrary to
the spirit of the Doctor's own interpreta
tion of Rom. xii : 4, - 5. I find, also, a_
gond reason for union • and communion
amongst all true Christians, from the state
ment in the- second column of the published
address. It is this: g Instead .of one uni
ted body presenting an unbroken front, in
opposition to the kingdom of darkness, the
Church is now divided into sects, and ex
hibits to the viewof.'the world, in some
degree, the appearance of. different armies,
arrayed- against each other." The 'Doctor
farther says:
is- •
" This a state of things unnatural,
And in every respect improper. It is just
as inconsistent with the nature and deSign
of the Christian, Church that diviaions
should exist among ; -her members, as, that
the members of the human body should be
divided one from another." This is a se
rious: and very true statement. But -who
perpetuate. these .divisions ? Take the
Doctor's own reference - to "Armies," for
illnstration. So long as they march te
gether, engage in a common cause,, and
every part allows each othei equal privi
leges, you 'say they are a united army,'
though'- some may be artillerymen, some
cavalry, some infantry, and same clotbed,.
as Zouaves. But when one part Will not
give to the other the badge common to
theta all, (the g S. A.," if you elioose,)
when they,wilhnot share their meals when
in need, and in friendship, you•soh, such
are dividing`the ,army, as they refuse the
one part an equality..
Or take the 'other Aypropriate' allusion of
the Doctor's; to Rom.lv : 5, and I.'Cor. xii
12-26, that it" is as inconsistent with the
nature and dlsign of the Christian Church
that divisions should exist among her mem
bers, as that the members of the human body
should' be• divided one from ' another;" and
we ascertain where the sin of schism is.
When all members of the body perform
their part and sustain each other, there is
harmonious union but if the " foot "
should .sety to the-“ hand,"...you are not like
me, and the g ear " to the "eye," you are
"not like mu; and I wilL have comninaton
with you, the foot and the ear would bring
about " a state of things". (in the language
of the Doctor,) " unnatural and in every
respect improper." So—but " I speak as
unto wise men; judge what 1 say.'
The Apostolic usage of the word schism,
and the ecclesiastical sense of it in later
times, make the course proposed by. the
Doctor, and taught** , your " Testimtny,"
schismatic, in my judgment; unless you
can give such
." good reasons" as have not
yet been furnished.. Fellow _members of
the body of _Christ have a•righeto demand
".good
,reasens" for shutting them out
from n o urishment. The times in which we
live demand union—coming events "in ful
filment oL prophecy dethand union, or
." good reasons" for disunion. The inter
ests of thousands who disbelieve that ; there
is any reality in religion, because there are
separate communions, demand "good rea
sons ;" and that they should not have a
ground for tinbelief, as the Saviour inti
mated they would have, if the Church was
not
,o,ne as he and his, ather were.—John
ail;
lette *"
be7dfitiittiicti?' "Trgiinient 'and'
IllustratiOn "" in = the "'Testimony;"
comniunion; furnish. no 'good ''reasons (as'
was made to appear formerly), and as your
senior Professor has not furnished then 3,
we look to you, NAM think they exist. If
they do exist, find them,,,my dear sir,, or
else your" Church!' can scarcely expect to
be justified 'before the Christian world,
and ought scarcely to expect that other
Christians should be willing to, be treated
as such,in some things, and then as aliens,
at other times.' You hive the " suaviter 'in
th.otio," and I hope will have the wfortiter
in re," for the undertaking. I have not
been able to find the "good reasons " in
Dr. Anderson's "Rufus and Alexander,"
hut as you can see " good reasons" where
`cannot, you may possibly find them'
there; -but we wish them founded on the'
Bible, to be " fortified." The Scripture ,
proofs, adduced in the "Testimony,"are,
irrelevant or do not prove what is pro
, .1 . . .
'posed. We would` not adma, that are men
pediency is a good reason-for cloatracomniu
nion. Besides, •I may .call- your attention
to the fact: that Dr.,. Pressley has, said in-his
address, that "They [Christians] can,thold
communion in readin and, in hearing the
Word of God, in,prayer and_in praise; and
-in such like devotional' exercises." If -it
As. expedient for theSe of different branches
:at the Church to join in these exercises, so
in the whole of "'religious worship," as
your Confession enjoins, including - [as it
says in the 21st chapter, "'the due'silroin
istration andP.Worthy receiving of 'th'e sac
raments, instituted by Christ." The same
reasons that•would lead to fellowship in the
one part of religious
,weiship,' would lead
.to fellowship in* the other.- To he cell
sistent, you must again adoyt the rule
against "occasional hearing'"' *bleb the
Doctor abandons. But, you may say' that
you cannot always tell who: are worthy to
participate, belonging to other Churches;
nor can you always tell who are worthy in
your 0541 a. We do not ask you to receive
into-fellowship unworthy members - of other
Churches. Shut them out, by wholesome
rules, from occasional communion, as you
should those of like character in your own•
branch of the Church. It is the principle
of receiving no one, whether he be far re
moved from his own. Church home or not,
that I wish you to give "good reasons " for.
If you can, we may all become truly United
Presbyterians, on the basis of our Psalmo
dy, when we prefer it; and on the basis of
your "new version" of " inspired Psalmo
dy," when you prefer it.. Until the " good
reasons" are brought forth, we -cannot be
entangled with the "yoke of bondage."
A bad rule is better broken, than observed.
Very truly, CYPRIAN.
Mind of Jesus—Pleasing God.
I do always those •things that please
Him."—JonN VIII : 29.
What a glorious motto for a man-'-" I
live for God I" It igreligion's truest defi
nition. It is the essence of angelic bliss
—the motive principle of angelic action—
":Ye Ministers of his, that do his pleasure."
The Lord of angels knew no higher, no
other motive. It was, during his incarna
tion, the regulator and directory of his
daily being. It supported him amid the.
- depressing sorrows of his woe-worn path.
It upheld him in their awful termination
in the gardet And on, the cross.. For mo
ment, sinking human nature faltered under
the load his Godhead :sustained; but the
thought of
_" pie asing"God " nerved and re
vived him. "Not my will, but - thine be
done."
It is only when the love of God is shed
abroad in the heart that this animating de
sire to "please him" can exist. la_the
holy bosom of Jesus, that love reigned par
amount, admitting no rival—no competing
affection. Though infinitely inferior in de
gree, it is the same impelling principle
which leads his people still to link enjoy:
raga -with his service,
,and which makes
consecration` to him' of heart - and life its
own best recompense and reward. " There
is a gravitation," says , one whose life was
the holy echo of his words, "in the moral
as in the physical world. When love to
God is habitually in the ascendant, or oc
cupying the place of will, it gathers round
it all the other desires of the soul as satell
ites, and whirls them - along with in its'
orbit, around the centre of attraction."
(Hewitson's Life.) Till the heart, then, be
chenged, the believer cannot have " this
testimony that he pleases' God." . The
world, self, sin—these be the. gods of the
unregenerate soul. ,And, even when chang
ed, alas, that there should be so many ebb
ings and flowlngs" in our tide 'of devoted
'ness ! Jesus could say, "I do always those
things-thaty , please the Father." Glory to
Godhurned within his bosom like a living
fire. "Many waters could not quench it.'
His were no fitful and inconstant frames
end - feelings, hut the persistent habit of a
holy life, which had the one end in view
froni which it never diverged 'or deviated.
Let it.be so in some , lowly measure with
us. Let God's service not be the mere liv
ery of high days—of set times and seasons;
but;like the alabaster box of ointment, let
us ever be giving 'forth the 'fragrant'per
fume of holiness. Even when the shad
ows of trial are falling. around : us,,let us
"pass through the cloud " with the sustain-.
ing motive—" All my wish, 0 God, is to
please and glorify 'thee - -By giving or
taking--by smiting or healing—by the
sweet cup in "the bitter—'Father, glorify
thy name l" ' " want to be weary
of God's dealings with me," said Bieker
stefh on his death bed; "'I. want to glorify
ffesui in them, and to find him more'pre
.triktuir." • DS I Erinink *dm ttbilia—,'-dirtits—
WHOLE NO. 692
crosses--because involving hardships and
self-denial, or because frowned on by the
world ? Let the thought of God's improv
ing countenance be enorikh. •,Let me dread
no cerisure, if conscious of acting in accord
ance with his will. Let the Apostle's mon
itory word determine many a perplexing
patb—" If I please men, I am not the ser
vantof Christ."—Mind of Jesus.
The Excellency of Christ..
The best and most excellent things' God
hath made single; one sun in the firma
ment ; one tree of life in Paradise; one
heart, one head in the body ; so to us there
is but one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are
all things, and We by him. He the alone
living, elect, precious, chief cornerstone;
no other name under heaven given amongst
men " whereby we must be saved." .
lie lives not only forever in his person,
but he is forever the life, portion, and
blessedness of his people. Because he
lives, they live; they shall appear with
him, they shall beelike •Unto him. As he
,i,s 4 set on. his Father's throne, so. they aim
18141,1 sit, 4 0 44 , throne , 'never acr,
!graded. Ale is theirs, and they his; they
this:liy'a d'oar purchase , arid lie theirs by a
sweet- corntrinnion: He more ours than
we are our own. We have and possess
infinitely ; more in hiin- than in ourselves;
defective in ourselves,, complete in him;
weak-in puiselves, strong in him ; - dead in
ourselved, alive in hini ; miserable in, our
selves, 'blessed in him ; mutable in our
selves,. established in- him.
No condition is imaginable wherein a
conscionable believer bath not-a. foundation
.of joy in Christ. This tree of life bath
fruit, it- for every mouth. The Com
forter'he sends abides with us forever,: the
joy he gives none can take away. Though
Pod's .people • have, many causes of sorrow
in theroselves-- 7 strono corruptions, hard
hearts, little strength, we graces, many
temtitatierig--yet Chris they hare still
Matter 'of rejoicing; in the Constancy of
his. love, in the abundance - of hii-pardoning
mercy, in the fullness of his Spirit, in the
sufficiency of his grace, in the fidelity of
his promise, in the validity of his pur
chase, in the vigilance of his eye, in the
readiness of his help, in the- perpetuity of
his,intercession. We disparage so= good a
Jortl, discredit his - service, disquiet our
selves; discourage.others, g,rieve his Spirit,
expose-his ways to prejudice and reproach,
weaken, our hands in his service and our
hearts in:love, when we pine and languish
under groundless perplexity, and — waste
that time which should be spent in his wprk,
about our.jealousies of his favor.
Though ive have not the wealth, health,
gifts, employmenti3, honors, that others
have, yet it Christ-have given us - himself,
his blood to redeem us, his Spirit to quick
en us, his grace to renew us, his peace to
comfort us, should such consolations seem
small unto us I What wants are there
which the joy of the Lord doth not com
pensate ? What sufferings are there which
the joy of the Lord doth not swallow up?
Would Are exchange Ohrist -if we might
have all the world without him? and shall
we be displeased if we have not all the
world with him ? '—.Eillqitop Reynolds.
The Death of the Good.
Had Jesus remained on earth, the minds
of the apostles would not have been direct
ed heavenward; and so it may be with. us.
Thi3 presence of those who are endeared to
us by the possession of every Christian
grace, may only fix our hearts more strong
ly on the- passing scene. True, they may
first• have taught us to love virtue. Their
hallowed tones, may first have carried to our
hearts the conviction of a God and a Prov
idence. Their bright exampleshave shown
us the possibility of excellence. Their
firm constancy to duty may have convinced
us that the just are, the strong. Their
gentle cheerfulness may have led us to ,see
that piety is not austerity; that the ways
of wisdom are ways of pleasantness, and its
paths are peace. Their teachings may have
preserved us in integrity; or, if we have
departed from it, their solemn warnings;
may have awakened us from our dream, or.
their winning virtues may have invited us
haek.froin pleasures which are too unsub
stantial tot last, and which were already
bringing forth their harvest of corruption.
What a blessing are holy friends and kin
dredi With what earnestness, should we
utter our thanksgivings at the throne of
grace, that their path and ours have lain
side by side; that they have ministered to
us of their spiritual gifts, and led us .heav
enward We know that it is well for those
who have fascinated us, and gained our
hearts to be removed, if they walk not
aright with God, for they were taking our
thoughts from him to whom they should be
given. But is this the case with the good?
Yes ; it is- expedient that they should go
away! Where is our virtue, if it depended
upon them? Where is our wisdom, if al
ways we applied to them for advice ?
Where is our constancy, if it was they who
kept us, and not we ourselves, in the right
path ? Every man must bear his own bur
den. They taught us how - to carry it; it
was well. They soothed us . under its press
ure; let us thank God that it was so.
Working Together.
• Religion is not a solitary' , " thing, a thing
with which each man has to do exclusively
in the hidderisolitude of his own heart. It
must begin there, and in many Of its deepest
exercises it must be carried on there; and
without the . private intercourse of the soul
with God, the, private discipline and govern
,
an& of a mares T ovin secret heart all other
religion would be vain. But, on the other
hand, as - little will it do to make religion
altogether an individual, and secret thing,.
In many of its highest privileges, exercises
and engagements, it is social;'and one of
its most momentous' duties is -that of mu
tual sympathy, encouragement, and helpful
nem: ' • -
If you area sincere Christian, you ought
to feel.that all you have and all you are—
yon.r wealth, time, talents, power, influence,
y i pur penitence, faith, virtue, Christian ex
perience and wisdom, all your blessings and
privileges tertiporal and spiritual,•have beim
besto*ed upon you, not for, your own use
alone, but for, the common benefit of that
holy family, that household and brotherhood
of God's redeemed to which you . profess to be
long. Your'portion of meat God has given
you not to hasten away to'deveur it like
greedy child in secret, but to share it with
all your.brethrer in Christ. Your light
was not kindled that ,it might be hidden
.
forever undergroundolluminating only the
walls of year -own tomb-like solitude: You
Uri, 0:0 Itft yitur light shine bairn rani
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PROPRIETOR AND PUBLISHER.
not only by your example, but by your ac
tive exertions and sympathies you are boned
to help on 'the work and the workmen in
Christ's Church. No member of Christ's
Church but can do something to promote
the cause of religion, and by his kindly aid,
his visits of sympathy, his soothing chari
tie3, his cheering encouragements, his re
conntal of his own experience, be of seine
use to his fellow-Christians.
What a happy state of things would it be
if each, parish in our land were as the dwell
ing-place of a band of brothers enlisted in
some noble and heaven-blessed enterPrise r
fighting for home and country, in the cause
of freedom, truth, and justice! What a
happy scene would that be in which the
wise and experienced were ever ready wi:th
their advice and aid to help the untried and
ignorant, in which the powerful aided the
weak, and the weak in turn were ready to
bless, honor, and stand true to the strong;
in which by the head or by the hand ; ;, by
endurance, forbearance, courage, zeal, self
idevotion, all. were ready, to act together in
the work 'of putting'clOwn sin and winning
;the `world to Christ What a pariah that
in .which: the scene that is now enacted on
'many ;bright' 'summer field were .but a
symbol and representation or our work iu
the nobler field of Christ's Church; where
from 'year to Year all of us together, and
each in his own place, were straining every
nerve to be and do good, to help and en
courage each other in the work of the
Lord, to prepare for the great harvest-home
of eternity! Then, indeed, might our Sab
bath song of praise be a prelude of that
glorious song in whiCh we all hope to join,
in the thousand times ten thousand voices,
but oue mighty_heart of the redeemed in
glory, shall celebrate the praises- of that
great Husbandman, affording the noblest,
most glorious fulfilment of that text, "They
joy before thee according to the joy in har
vest."—Rev J. Caird, D.D.
A Pastor's Ropitatioa,
. A minister's character is the lock of his
strength, and if-once this is sacrificed, he
is, like Samson shorn of his hair, a poor,
feeble, faltering creature, the pity of his
friends, and the derision tif his enemies.
I would not have bad ministers screened,
❑or would I have good -ones maligned.
When a preacher of righteousness has stood
in the way of sinners and walked in the
counsel of the ungodly, he should never
again open his lips in the great congrega
tion until his repentance is as notorious as
his sin: But while his character is unsul
lied, his friends should preserve it with as
much care against the tongue of the slan
derer, ns they would his life against the
hand of.the assassin. When I consider
the restless malignity of the great enemy
of• God and holiness, and add to this• his
subtlety. and craft; when I consider how
much his malice would be gratified, and-his
schemes promoted by blackening the char
acter of the ministers of the Gospel; when
I consider what multitude of creatures
there are who are his vassels, and under his
influence, creatures so destitute of moral
principle, and so filled with venomous spite
sgainst religion, as to be prepared to go
any lengths in maligning the righteous,-
and especially their ministers,l can account
for•it on no other ground than that of a
special interposition of Providence, that
the reputation of Christian pastors is net
More frequently: attacked by slander and,
destroyed by calumny. But probably we
See in this, as in other dues, that wise
ar
rangement orProvidence by which things
of delicacy and consequence are preserved
• by calling forth greater solicitude for their
safety. Church-members should, therefore,
be-tremblingly alive to the importance of
defending their minister's character. They
should neither expdet to see him perfect
nor hunt after- his
,imperfections. When
they cannot'but EEO his iMperfee,tions—ini
perfections which, after all, may be consist
. ent With not only real but eminent piety
- they should not take pleasure in either
magnifying or looking at them, but make
ell:reasonable excuse for them, and endeav
or .to lose Sight of his infirmities in his
virtues, as they do the spots of' the sun
...amid the blaze . of radiance with which'
‘they are surrounded.—Ahn Angell James.
Scraps of Tim—Try what you can make
of _the broken fragments of time. Glean
up its golden dust—those raspings and
parings of precious duration—those leav
iogsof days and remnants of hours which
so many, are sweeping out into the vast
waste of existence. Perhaps, if you be a
miser of moments—if you be frugal, and
hoard np odd minutes, and half hours, and
unexpected holidays—your careful glean
ings may eke you out a long and useful
life; and-,you may die at last richer in ex
istence than multitudes whose time is all
their own.
look" on the Bright Side.--it is better
to tread the : path of life cheerfully, skip
ping lightly over all the obstacles in the
way, rather than sit down and lament your
hard fate. The cheerful man's life will
sPin - out longer r than that of a man who is
continually' sad and desponding. If dis,
tress comes upon us, dejection and despair
will not afford relief.. The best thing to
do when evil comes upon us is not lamen
tatio-n, but action ; not to sit and suffer, but
to rise and make a vigorous effort to seek
a remedy.
Secret Religioch—God is often lost in
prayer and ordinances. " Enter into thy
closet," said he, "and shut thy door about
thee," means much ; it means, shut out, not
only frivolity, but business; not only com
pany abroad, but company at home; it
means,
let thy poor soul have a little rest
and refreshment, and God have an oppor
tunity to speak to thee in a still, small
voice, or he will speak in thunder. I am
persuaded the Lord would often speak more
softly, if we would " shut the door."—
Cecil.
Shun Auger.—Never do anything that eau
denote an angry mind; for although every
.body-is born with a degree of passion, and,
from untoward circumstances, will some
times feel its operation, and be what they
call_" out of tumor," yet a sensible man or
woman will never allow it to be discovered.
Check and restrain it; never make may de
termination until you find it entirely Sub
sided ; and always avoid saying anything
that you may wish unsaid.
If a man strike his hand upon the point
of a spear, he . hurts not the spear,• but his
hand; or, if he spurn at a stone, he hurts
not, the stone, but his foot. So is it with
the despisers of Christ ano the milers of
.his Goepel:—.l33ril.