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THE PRACT. IC- AL ' C- HRISTIAN. '


With fllialconfldence she commends her father- her emaciated form upon my bosom, was again but when they behold'- the wants of their beloved ed on the mountain of Zion. Let all - the scat­less


children to that God who hears the by my side. The confiding tenderness of a sis- offspring, I do wonder how they can ( especial- tered of the flock, and the desolate that have


" young ravens when they cry." ter's eye, sparkling with the additional lustre, ly the tender mother) help feeling their own wept in solitary places, lift up their heads, for


But where are the angel visits of the professed ' Which disease sometimes gives, rested up? n me. wants, their redemption draweth nigh. Success shall


disciple in yonder mansion? Where the ex- The hectic c~ eek, the colorless lip, the flesh- Arduous, trying and responsible are the du- yet spring, forth out of defeat, and the brightness


ernplification of his spirit, who " went about do- less hand, the whole figure of the departed oc: ties of parents. They have need of all the of hope dispel the gloom of despair. We have


ing good." Ah, like multitudes of others who cupied by ~ y side her former, position;, ~ d it helps which pure religion furnishes to enable wandered in the wilderness, that we might be


are saying, " Lord, Lord," he has forgotten that seemed as If I must w: atch WI~ m! spmts of them to discharge successfully these sacred ob- tried and purified; but now a voice from be­l


pure and undefiled religion before God the hartshorn, lest the slight motion of the cars ligations. And the gracious God has given tween the cherubim commands the remnant to


Father is this: " to visit the widow: and fatherless should prove too violent for the lovely invalids men the'religion of his Son to be their directory go forward and possess the land. Therefore let


in their afflictions and keep unspotted from the strength. and support in all their duties and responsibili. us no longer brood over the mishaps and trav­world."


What though he may pay unwearied In this painfully delightful reverie the mind ties. Blessed are they who take this holy di- ail of our past pilgrimage, but with firm and well


deference to outward ceremonies- and subscribe ran back to the days ofchildhood and youth, be- rectory for their guide. j; j; jj '" directed steps, take up our cross and follow the


to a II sound creedn- will such a faith save held her in blooming health, watched the first Let me say a word to the children. Dear Captain of our Salvation whithersoever he may


him? How will he answer the " go? d Samari- indications of insidious disease, reviewed her children, hear what one can say to you, who lead. Let there be a union of prayer and effort


tan" in the rlay of solemn judgment? efforts, and those of friends to shake off theslow has had both of his parents laid in the silent among all our friends who are resolved on faith-


But says oneythis is a strong case to test the destroyer, thought upon her trials, disappoint-' grave. fulness to their high calling, and we shall ob-fruits


of Christianity. No stronger than true- ments and sufferings, her faults and virtues, till I say then, that no acts of your childhood and tain the blessing of Israel's God.


Ask the minister at large, whose calling leads the evening scene came up, when for the first youth will be so pleasing to think upon in after , This work is offered to the public at a price


him into the miserable alleys and byways- of the time I passed the Boston and Salem Rail Road, life, as those wherehy you render cheerful and which promises no remuneration to the editor or


wealthy city, to the more miserable home's of having in charge the family's idol wasting in grateful obedience to your anxious parents; contributors. They expect only to be saved


the poor, whether these things are so. My consumption. Hence - the tran~ ition was easy whereby you labor by your good conduct and from actual pecuniary charges on account of its


word for it, he will reply, the one half hath not and natural to the closed chamber, the lin- tenderness of feeling to make them happy; and printing and publication; all else, on their


been told. In plain sight of many a rich man- gering disease, the terrible distress, the patience hear me farther: no acts of your early life will part, will oefree. The undertaking is therefore ,


sian is the humble cabin of poverty and , squalid and resign~ tion of the sufferer, the christian be th? ught upon, after your dear parents are one of common interest to all who desire its


wretchedness, where the honest and innocent hope, the triumphant death. laid in the grave, with so much bitterness and success. Should we meet with liberal encour­poor


suffer more than the heart conceives, These remenisences showed why the scenery sorrow, as those which grieve and pain them. agement, und the door open for a larger or more


Give cred~ t for all the bene~ ol enc: e and virt, ue ~ ppeared new at t? is second pas~ ing. , I passed These things I know by sad experience and Ifrequent periodical, it will give us pleasure to


that prevails- s- hold up the bright SIde of the pIC · it before, but saw It not: a loveher object, than you too will one day know them to your sorrow, supply , such a waut whenever made manifest.


ture, for it is right so to do. But still. who with inanimate nature can present, then engrossed my if you do not at all times strive to do what , is As it respects the general character of the


eyes to see, ea rs to hear, and a heart to feel, as att ention. And now the novelty of the scene pleasing to them; nnd above all pleasing to your work, the Prospectus is sufficiently explicit. ­he


mingles with the brother- hood of man, cnn brought that dear object to view. Memory gave great ' Parent in heaven. How delightful it is We feel gr eat confidence that its interest will


refrain from a full and pained soul to exclaim- again the events and persons of the past. Sa- to dwell upon those acts which made parents be sustained by productions of substantial mer-


" Where is Christianity?" Echo answers, cred gift! blessed memory! that gives to my happy! Strive dear children, to make your pa- it. Several of our ministering brethren are


where? G, W. s, heart those whom death has removed from rents happy, and you will secure your own hap.' already pledged' to contribute regularly to its


----- my sight, which enables the soul to live with the piness ; and the blessing ofthat God, who com. pages, and other able writers will be enlisted,-


ME} 10RY. unseen, wh~ do live, to , go to, the spiritual w: orld mands children to honor their father and their The names of all regular contributors will be


. , and brmg Its blessed inhabitants to earth. I mother." Adieu. D. s. w, published in each No.- and their initials be ap- _


" A boo. n'a t, alism'an 0 memory! give . Iove and venerate thy" mig hty power, thy bles- pended to thei'r respecti, ve arti, cles. Thus every


To shrine my name III hearts where 1 would live d ffi Th h h d ft " , , ,


" se 0 ceo oug t au ost 0 en cause. me THE PRACTICAL CIIRISTIAN writer will be re sponsible for his own contribu-


For evermore. , H" emans,. sharne, and confuussiion 0f face, I . Iave the, e StiIll , • \ ti, ons alone. Most of our m, atter ' wi, ll be or, lgm, al,


Memory, With the power of association, IS a and will follow thy path; for thou dost give me and we hope worthy of lusting preservation.


fountain of happiness or misery ' to ' the human those I have loved, freed from their imperfec- : M: EN~ ON, APRIL 1, 1840. Th e editor proposes to occupy a part of the


SOUl: When by its aid the mind retraces the tions, walking in everlasting light before me, Publication, for an indefinite length of time, with


journey of life, when it walks amid the scenes filled with heavenly love and pity for the dwel- EDITORIAL ~ DDRESS. an Exposition of Christian Faith, which he pre.


of former days, what lively emotions of love, ler on earth; yes, thou enablest me to live in Beloved Brethren and FTlend~ : , pared and deli vered to his congregation durinrr


gratiIt ude andsta ' ISfactilOil,- or 0f remorse, vexa- hol" ier society than earth affords. , T, he cause of - truth and , ri'z: hteousness con- the last year. The rest of the w" ork'W, Ill be takb-ti


d t k d i th I Its ' strains us to resume the editorial pen and once " , , I~ n an regre a, re awa ene in e s~ u • " A boon, a talisman, 0 memory" &' c. .. " , !:~ ~ e. '!:. Ith varlOu ~ cJ~ n the practical du-faithful


record Will often cause" the hair of the ' ~ more. appeal to your g~ eroBlty for ,. thO, IOllllltc- , f I'll _ . r-;;._ d ' '' rtl\ ~ N- ''- T t p r


, " - u. • w. nance of a publicorean through which tile rin- , ties ~ I e as e, njome In ~ ell' , es ament


flesh to stand up With terror, or the tear of love , , to', , " P, and Illustrated III the example of Christ : togeth-d


th t fI h d d N its ciples, sentiments and duties of primitive Chris- " , , , ' ,


an sympa y 0 ow un ee e. or ca~ I EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO MRS. C. ' " ~ er With incidental and miscellaneous piec es surt-


Power to bless or , curse, to make happy or rmser- , h b . I . . tidanity, mday be fidaeirrlayticommfended to,~ th, e knowl~ able ta tlie generaI deesSilgn 0 f tlre workx, I ts si' ze


able, be destroyed by any change in 11'"~ e or by " The Sick c am, er. IS a w, ays an interesting eli ge an consi eratron a the religioua pub. WI'II not admi't great Iatiitude 0f diISCUSS, lon, be-death


itself, unless death be annihilation. .~ ene, to the feeh~ g mmd; sometime~ more and IC. • tween us and those who dissent from us; yet


In a retrospect of life" all I think ,, must find sometimes less painfully , so, accordmg to the It, would have been mo, re , agreeable to o, cr we WI'II endeavor t0 be as accornmodaattimr- m, thi18


many things to regret- to deplore,' and were it character, hopes and desires. of those confin, ed feehn' gs to offe" r you a periodical of larger Size, respec t as POSS! ible ; and therec, o. re resp'e" ctt~ uIIy


not for the gracious as" surance of pard.... on and re- there. " It doubtless m, akes life, ' death etermty or a Journal which sho'u" ld Issue regularly every i, nvi, te m, qu" mng mminds to communiiccaattee tth er'r, qlle-mission


ofsins through a crucified Redeemer, appear m a different lig, ht to all ; to the most de- hweekt; h but u'nd" er e" Xlstmg circumstances , we rl, es, doubo~'~, and d'Iffiell It'les on ollr pecu I'lar


the awakened soul could not review the past v, ote. d' follower of the Redeemer, a, s we. ll as to th, e ave ough, t,, It mjudlclO: us to attempt any thmg V, ieWS 0f doc'tri'lle andduty: onIy request'mg


but with the sadness of despair. But with this mdlvldual who has tak, en" no speCIal mterest m more expenolve' than thiS hum" ble sheet. After them to a"-. ap t the Ieng th 0f the'lr ar" tlcIes, as


assurance, while it regrets follies ' past, to Wlll'ch the great" truths" of religIOn. what, has transpired among us m relatIOn to p, e- weII as they can, t0 our narrow II' m, lts.


memory conducts it' many bright spots in hu" No one s SIck or d, . Vlllg couch" can be surround- rlOdlca, ls, we cannot doubt that the , 10ng. trlCd An nowdwe comdmen our cause, OUf m. f1ant


man existence are dwelt upon with delil'T" htful e. ed by more mterestmga. nd trymgcl'rcum. stances, and f'aithful,, who have , been hungermg for the Perl'od'IcaI, our be) oved brethren scatt ere d II. broad,


motl'ons. . than a mother's- especlBlIy with a f, amily of li, t- unadulte" rated te, stlmomes of gospel grace and and OluseIves b0dy and sp" mt, to tlle P roV'ld"' nce


After years, or only months , of absence firom tie,, h, elpless ones. And yet there IS comfort m truth, Will rejOice at the appearance of this 0f H' 1m, wh0 h. ath so 0ften cIleered us m' the sea.


the sanctified scenes of childhood, when the hills rehglOn even fur such an one at _ her departure. work., , son of anxiety with that blessed assurance


rise to view in the distance, or the grove and G~ d says," lea: e your fatherle~ s ( motherless) We are. few I, n number a~ d feeble I~ earthly o:: r" 1 will never leane nor forsake thee."


rivulets brinlT fresh to the soul the J'oys and sor. chddren to me. He has promised to be the resources, but If we rely With, unwavering con- A ' B


rows of early'" life, though the blood mantle the protector 0f those whom h'IS provi'dence dep'nves fidence on those resources whI'Ch our d" IVlne Lord -,-- nIN ALLOU.


brow at the remembrance of folly yet is there of their natural protectors. I lOllS such a fath- and Master has made available to his sincere _.


something in such associations, I which makes erIess Iad and am now rnatherIess to0 · , an'd I ,~ 0IIowers,," we shaII soon find tIlilt tIIe day0t' , EXPOSITION OF FAITH. ,


the heart leap for joy. Scenes and events of know that his promise hlCs net failed. , small things is not without promise. God . sav- The , deSign o~ th~ E~ P~ SITI~ N, her: by Intra-childhood


le~ ve a deep and lasting impression I hope this letter will find you much better. eth not by multitude, nor by the wisdom of the d~ ced" ls to furms~ mqulrlng mmd!' With a well


upon the mind. So in after life those occurren. I pray for your life and recovery, not only on ac- world, but by faith and purity of spirit ;- often dlg~ st~ d, systematic and comprehensive , iew of


ces whI'Ch rnake a more than ' ord'man'Iy decouent of ypour fami'ly bUt also that you may be choosing foolish things to confound the wiIse Christian theology, as u, nderstood by the AU-


I, mpreSS, ion upon the m'md, are hroug ht t0 memo permitted to bear open " testimony to the Dew weak things to overthrow the mighty' and des. TH. OR,, and. generally~ b, y " those w, ho sympath, ise


ory by com" mg m contact WI'th the extIevierwsnofalife'its duties and responsibilities which pised thin'a" s to bring to nought established pop- Withhim m matt, ers of religIOus ~ fait, h and practi, ce.


thm' gs among wh'ICh they transp'ued. you declare this dis, pensation. has give. n you ul: ar error Gideon prevailed 8' lbTainst th.. e army .. By commencmg" at the founllatlOn of the BYil-


The second ti'me I rode upon theaEstern Ral'I We do not often conSider what graCIOUS chang. of . the ahens, when he left behind all but the te' rn, an, d ascednd'ing deh, berately through the


B d S I I ' es our Father designs to accomplish by the tri- three hundred men who were willing to bow successive gra allons of Its structure, the truth,


Road between aston an a em, gazed With ' d b f h h " b


, I d ' als and sufferings through which he causes us down and lap the water of the brook. These consistency an eauty 0 t e 10 ole, nll e bet-dehght


upon the love y an pIcturesque scenery ",, ter appreciated. It will be understood how we


presented to view. The opening sea the numer. to pass. How many pass through such scenes With their lamps, when their pitchers had been . .' ,


, , • f ffliction unimproved unblest' This makes it broken went up with a shout unto victory over regard, construe and explam, . the Scriptures,


ous Islands, the pleasant towns,- the power of 0 a ,. , " f G d h' , ~ '


assocl" lltlOn and the belss'mgs 0f memory wrought necessary that they pass through other and more the discomfited hosts of Midian . It may be 110 w, hat our vdiews arIe a 0) IS perh, ectlOnsb, pI'rovo


wonder fiuIIy on my m'md. I t was some SIXoawfulrscen'es in order to humble and~ save them• with us, if we are only humble enough to k~ ne, el Ideoce a'n mor~ a, government; w at we e lev, e


ei, ght months friom my first to my secon d pas- Fo, r we are to remember that God will not leaTe and lap the waters of self · denial · , and especially concermng Christ and the Holy Ghost- their


I k t th t ' d f h the sinner to his own folly but will visit with if we are provided with well furnished hunP. 8 of. ; pature, offices ' and chtfllcter; and what moral


sage. too a sea upon e eas ern Sl e 0 te' • ~ ' b ' l" bl" I' b'l' ,


car, , t: rom wh'ICh a good vi'ew 0f the sea and I' SI- HIS chaste" nings and mercies till he bow incoD' christian holiness. ' l'he hour has co. m. e' the sig. powe: rs, . s. u, sceptl I Itles, 0 Igda'tl, Ons, III lities,


an ds I' S cornmanded. It was theaIst tram' ,~ or trl'te and willing submis, sion to HIS mild andpa- nal is now given"' let our pitchers bIfe. b" roken" predlsPluon. s. , changes', can ItJons, characters


th ' h Th h d k b I h ternal sceptre. jj j; '" jj '" II and our lamps be allowed to shme forth m the and final estin. y, we assign to human nature.-


e mg t. e sun , a sun e ow t e west- , , ' . ' h d We a.... aware that this is not the most desirable


ern hills and the sIlvery moonbeams danced I have often wondered and do wonder, how midst of the moral darkness whlc surroun s 01. : '" , _.


with fairy, h, ghtness upon the restless wave caps parents can I00k aroun d upon the'lr be iovde Let not the tri'a Is and dI' scouragements af t~ ile ' fo, rqI- 10 w: h. Hic' h to lay such a work, bef, ore the pub-


As I gaz, ed upon the enchant, mg prospect the" offsprmg, be110Id thel'r wants, thel'r spI, rI, tual past para Iyze our e~ ergl'es,. , t: or a bn' ~ hter day , hc" that ' l'ttDug, ht to appear at once m a compa, ct


" , . " " " volu e' . but as circumstances do not favor Its


question arose m my mmd why the scene ap. wants, their dangers, their spiritual dangers, awaits those who have been falthfu to their i: " JIl • • "


. ' , t: I' h d f I ' I I' h Th ' f '(' ~ Ilublicatlon ID a book by Itself, the author has


Peared so novel smce I had p8. dsedthat way he- Without , ee mg t e nee a persona practlca Ig t. ere are signs 0 prospen y , or our ' . , ~ ", "


fore and that , too at the same time of day reh, glO, n, to gU'ide and d'Irect them- I, D d'ISChargo cause. The fieIds are beg" rnmng to whI' ten '~ o•~ rb. een m'I du• c• e:" d to I.' ubmlt It pie, ce meal . I. n, thiS


This, question brought the circumstances of my. m, g thei. r arduous dut'les. It ' IS not perhaps so the SI'Ckle. Upri'g1It souIs are wal'tr, ng, and wo, rk; h, Opi- ng at so~ me future time to see It r' e-former


passage over this route in all their detail wonderful that tIley pass thruug h the earh'er d II.... d h d d f :' . i'. t',' J! rmted,- ln 5 separa~ e volume. In order to give I rea y to ra raroun t e stan ar 0 pu ftc. -. - fI tI' f h' E ' , ,


, to my'mind. " The loved on, e, who then , leaned part , of thei, r , II'ves W, ithout rea 1" Izmg th'IS want, tl, c al chr'lltJam'ty, when I't shalI4. L~.~ y., b" 4 IPol the reader an ou me a t IS xposllJon, the Elnht " "

Page 2 from Volume 1 of The Practical Christian 1840-1841

Ballou, Adin

1840