Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

down to hell, with a lie in their right hand, having never heard of the true God and the only Saviour? Some of these miseries might have been mitigated; some poor wretch have felt his pain relieved; some widow's heart been made to sing for joy; some helpless orphan have been rescued from hardened depravity, and trained up for a happy life here and hereafter. Some-yea, many precious souls might have been redeemed from the quenchless fires of hell, where now they must lie and suffer to all eternity, had you not been afraid of being thought unfashlonable, and not "like other folks!" had you not preferred adorning your persons, and cherishing the sweet seductive feelings of vanity and pride!

O! christian sisters, believers in God, in Christ, in an eternal heaven and an eternal hell! and can you hesitate, and ask what you shall do? Bedew those ornaments with the tears of contrition; consecrate them to the cause of charity; hang them on the cross of your dying Lord. Delay not an instant; hasten, with all your might, if not to make reparation for the past, at least to prevent a continuance of the evil in future. And be not content with individual exertion. Remember that union is strength. Take an example from the Tem perance Societies, which are rising in their might, and rescuing a nation from the brink of destruction.

Unite, christian sisters, of all denominations, and make an effort to rescue the church of God from the insidious attacks of an enemy which is devouring her very vitals. As a counter-part to the societies just mentioned, may I respectfully suggest that Plain Dress Societies be formed in every city and village throughout the land, recognizing two fundamental principles, the one based on 1 Tim. ii. 9. all ornaments and costly dress to be disused; the other on the law of general benevolence, the avails of such articles, and the savings resulting from the Plain Dress system to be devoted to purposes of charity. Some general rules in regard to dress, and some general objects of charity may be easily ascertained and settled. Minor points must, of course, be left to the conscience of each individual; yet free discussion will throw light on many points at first obscure. Be not deterred by the suggestion, that in such discussions, you are conver sant about small things. Great things depend on small; and in that case, things which appear small to short-sighted man, are great in the sight of God. Many there are who praise the principle of selfdenial in general, and condemn it in all its particular applications, as too minute, scrupulous, and sevese. Satan is well aware that if he

can secure the minute units, the sum total will be his own. Think not any thing small, which may have a bearing upon the kingdom of Christ and upon the destinies of eternity. How easy to conceive, from many known events, that the single fact of a lady's divesting herself of a necklace, for Christ's sake, may involve consequences which shall be felt in the remotest parts of the earth, and in all future generations to the end of time; yea, stretch away into a boundless eternity, and be a subject of praise millions of ages after this world and all its ornaments are burnt up.

Beware of another suggestion made by weak and erring souls, who will tell you that there is more danger of being proud of plain dress and other modes of self-denial, than of fashionable attire and selfindulgence. Be not ensnared by this last, most finished, most insidious device of the great enemy. Rather believe that he, who enables you to make a sacrifice, is able to keep you from being proud of it. Believe that he will kindly permit such occasions of mortification and shame as will preserve you from the evil threatened. The se verest part of self-denial consists in encountering the disapprobation, the envy, the hatred of one's dearest friends. All who enter tne strait and narrow path in good earnest, soon find themselves in a climate extremely uncongenial to the growth of pride.

The gay and fashionable will, in many cases, be the last to engage in this holy undertaking. But let none be discouraged on that ac count. Christ has seldom honored the leaders of worldly fashion by appointing them leaders in his cause. Fix it in your hearts, that in this warfare, the Lord Jesus Christ expects every woman to do her duty! There is probably not one in the humblest walks of life, but would, on strict examination, find some article which might be dis pensed with, for purposes of charity, and ought to be dispensed with, in compliance with the apostolic command. Wait not, therefore, for the fashionable to set an example; wait not for one another; listen not to the news from the next town; but let every individual go forward, regardless of reproach, fearless of consequences. The eye of Christ is upon you. Death is hastening to strip you of your ornaments, and to turn your fair forms into corruption and dust. Many of those for whom this letter is designed, will be laid in the grave before it can ever reach their eyes. We shall all soon appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to be tried for our conduct, and to receive the things done in the body. When placed before that awful bar, in the presence of that being whose eyes are as a flame of fire, and whose irrevocable fiat will fix you forever in heaven or in hell, and mėte out the measure of your everlasting pleasures and pains, what course will you then wish had taken? Will you then wish, that, in defiance of his authority, you had adorned your mortal bodies with gold, and precious stones, and costly attire, cherishing self-love, vanity, and pride? Or will you wish that you had chosen a life of self-denial, renounced the world, taken up the cross daily and followed him? And as you will then wish you had done, Do Now!

you

Dear sisters, your affectionate brother in Christ, Maulmien, Oct. 1831.

THE FORCE OF TRUTH.

A. JUDSON.

THE following extracts appear without the knowledge of my correspondent. I should publish the whole epistle but for two reasons: the one, I have not the consent of the writer, and some things in it require that; the other, some parts of it speak in too high terms of the debate with Mr. Owen. But we find our reasons and our apology for publishing the following extracts, because the v so graphically de

[ocr errors]

lineate the actual condition of many minds under the popular influences, and because we think they are calculated to benefit some of that class. It gives me pleasure to add, that the writer has not merely changed opinions and become a speculative believer, but a practitioner of the faith confessed. He has been immersed into the Lord Jesus, and now labors occasionally in the word and teaching.

EDITOR.

"Monticello, Wayne co. Ky. Nov. 17, 1831.

"MR. CAMPBELL-You have been the agent of the Lord in converting my mind from the darkness and ignorance of scepticism, to the light and truth of the gospel of the Redeemer. In the 17th or 18th year of my age I felt some concern about eternal things, and turned my attention occasionally to the reading, of the Bible. I frequently went to preaching, and have now little doubt that if a right direction had been given to my exertions and inquiries, I should long ere this have embraced christianity. The preacher so often talked of holy fire, baptism with fire, irresistible operations of the Spirit, &e. &c. that I was made to think that unless I saw or felt the physical wonders and operations in relation to which they so loudly declaimed, I could not be a christian. I waited and prayed for these signs and wonders. I done all I could do; but, alas! I could see and hear no wonderful things, nor could I feel any sudden irresistible operation. I felt a change in my desires and the inclination of my mind was to obedience. But for want of the dreams, and sights, and visions which appeared to be a capital point in the detail of nearly every experience I heard told to the church, and the theme of almost every exhortation, prayer, and song, I concluded I was left in darkness, and after a while took shelter under the shade of deism. But fortunately about four months ago some of the numbers of the Harbinger fell into my hands. I read them attentively, and was struck with the force of reason and philosophy exhibited in the dialogue between Austin and Timothy on the Holy Spirit. I saw there drawn with graphic hand the important landmarks of distinction between the physical and moral operations of the Spirit of God. The one mode of operation is addressed to the senses, as in the miraculous conversion of St. Paul; the other is addressed to the mind through the medium of words which convey the will and mind of God to us. The arguments employed and the authority quoted and explained in this dialogue, rent asunder from my mind the mysterious illusion of physical operations, which had diverted my mind from the true cause of investigation. The only obstruction then left as a barrier to my cordially embracing christianity, was as to its divine authority, with a view to forming an apinion upon this point, upon which the entire fabrick reposes. 1 turned my attention to an examination of the testimony, in the course of which examination I was able to procure a copy of your debate with Robert Owen in Cincinnati. I had heard about Mr. Owen's social system, and had some years ago read some of his views in a newspaper. I regarded Mr. Owen as the great Ajax of scepticism,

and concluded that if his mind were unable to bear up in argumerit against the arguments and evidences in favor of christianity, it would be unreasonable and unphilosophical any longer to doubt its truth. Before I had got half through the book I was thoroughly convinced of the utter futility and absurdity of the doctrine of the social system. The whole tissue of chimerical nonsense was torn into atoms. The king of scepticism dethroned, and the empire of reason and revelatron established upon the foundations of philosophy, reason, and testimony, I consider the arguments advanced in this book in support of christianity, as amounting to nothing less than a positive moral demonstration of its divine authenticity. It is there irrefragably demonstrated that without a direct revelation from God, man never could have formed the idea of God, Spirit, Sacrifice, Altar, &c. &c. ergo, would never have had words expressive of these ideas. The utter inability of the human mind to form and create a new original substantive idea of either a material or spiritual thing, shows conclu sively that christianity must be a revelation from God to the world. The testimony upon which rests the truth of the recorded facts, are shown to have all the criteria which ancient historical facts possibly can have. The facts are shown to have been addressed to the senses, and of the most public notoriety, and in their nature calculated to make the deepest impression on the human mind. Monumental commemorative institutions were established coetaneous with the transpiration of the facts, and have been perpetuated down to the present day as testimonials of their truth. Well might you challenge Mr. Owen to show that any fact recorded in history, possessing these criteria of their verity, ever was or could be shown to be false. Your achievement in that debate has lit up a new torch of light in the christian world, and it will illuminate the paths of many.

"With high respect, yours,

CHOLERA IN PARIS.

F. P. S."

THE deaths from cholera in Paris on the last day of March, and up to the 14th of April inclusive, were 7831. The deaths on the 13th were 816; or the 14th, 692; and on the 16th, 522; so that the disease is diminishing in intensity.

Among the persons of rank who became victims of the disease on Sunday and Monday were Prince Casteleila, (Neapolitan Ambassador,) M. M. Morel, and De la Pommeraie, (Deputies,) a son of M. de Schoonen, a Commissary of Police, a Greek officer in the French service, (Manvrocordate,) Count Morand, the Marchioness d'Etampes, and the Baroness de Lritre.

A sufficient number of Deputies could not be retained to constitute a House. The President of the Chamber of Peers had announced on that day the death of Viscount de Cassine, one of the new Peers.

Still later from England.

The cholera appears by the official accounts to be diminished in Paris, but spreading throughout France. A London paper of the 28th says it has broken out at Havre de Grace. All the French Ministers have been attacked. The Chamber of Deputies is prorogued.

Letters from Paris, dated April 13, state that 20,000 had died in that city of the cholera.

The cholera continues very mild in England, but more severe in Ireland.

DREADFUL HURRICANE IN INDIA.

Extract from a private letter, dated November 10, from the neighborhood of Balasore.

"I THINK of nothing but the hurricane which occurred here on ⚫ the last day of October; such a calamity I have never heard or read of; at least 10,000 persons in my jurisdiction were drowned, and I fear the accounts will show double that number, including children. The high road from Madrass to Calcutta runs through Balasore, about 5 miles north of this, and where it is in a direct line 9 miles from the coast, the sea crossed it, carrying with it every living thing in that space, in that direction. At least 150 square miles were inundated from 10 to 15 feet deep.

"The sea came up to Balasore, and to the northward also the inundation was little less. The deck and part of a vessel are on the road. Where the sea crossed it on the West side, and where its progress was checked by the road on the East side, are lying, all dead and heaped together, men, tigers, buffaloes, cows, &c. I have sent out hundreds of people to burn and bury; but if it does not breed a pestilence we shall be lucky. It is not easy to dispose of bodies. covering miles."

The Bengal Hurkaru, after describing the total destruction of crops in the above district, states, that on the night of the 9th November 7000 maunds of grain had been despatched for the use of the famishing survivors of the dreadful flood.

From the Christian Index.

Lonely Hours of a Bereaved Mother.

AND I am left! There is a strange delight
In counting o'er one's bitterness, to cull
A flower of comfort from it. I am left
To bear the gathering storms of life, my child,
Still tempest-toss'd upon its dangerous seas,
While thou art safely moor'd: thy little barque
Is anchor'd in the haven where the winds
Of sorrow never blow; thy star has risen
In climes of peace and love, to set no more
Forever and forever. All thy life
Was like a rosebud-like a gentle breath
Of purest fragrance wafted on the wing
Of early zephyr,-like the opening ray
Of morning's softest blush. Thy little heart
Had never tasted woe. Thy infant breast

Was heaven's own dwelling place; it never knew
The touch of aught save innocence and love.

-Blessed child,

Thy lot on earth was bright, and now thou art
With holy angels. I will cease to mourn!

« VorigeDoorgaan »