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8 THE PRAC'rICAL CHRISTIAN.


Our best rule is, to give God the same place'


in our hearts, that he holds in the universe:.


We must make him all in all ., We should ac f)'


as if there were no other beings in the univers~


but God and our selv es.


He is not worthy to be trusted of God, who


lusts for tr ansitory things, and groans a bout hw


want' 3• .


Every thing we do or say should be imme~


diately tried by a little court within our own>


breasts. Our motives should be examined,.


and a decision made on the spot.


Ant ic ipated so rro ws arc harder to bear th an '


real ones because Cllris t does not support ns ;


und er them. In every s loug h we may see the'


footsteps of Christ's flock who have gone be-,


fore us .


Christian friends when ~ epaTated from each'


othe r' s soci ety, may deriv e co mfort from th e'


reflection that God is able to extend a hand 0 1"


tw o of his ch ildren at the same time, howeveJ: l'


remote may be their places uf habitation. ,


WHO IS THE RICH MAN?


Not he who can count much gol d and silver


- and boast of earthly posse ssions. Not he who


dazz led with earth's va in honors forgets that he


is mortal, and in the spi rit of proud N eb uchad ­nezzar,


says of his earthly palace " Is not thi s


th e great Babylon wh ich I have built with my


power, as my royal abode to dwell in?" Nor


dear reader, is he a r ich man who is crowned


with a fading wre ath, and ha iled with many ti­tles.


Such have, I ndmit, wh at the world call


wealth; the y possess tho se things which out­wardly


make a mortal ri ch ; but st ill it is " phrase


absurd," to call a man so whose treasures tho '


countless, are all on earth. Nay, such ure poo r


and miserable.


" Who is the rich man?" He who has th e


evidence of the spirit of bei nz a " dear child of


God." That man is rich wh~ can say from the


heart, " Abb a F ath er ." T ell me not of his out- ·


ward poverty. P oint not to his poor cabin, his,


coarse fare, his pall et of st raw, his homely gar­ments.


Like his mast er he may not have'


" wh er e to lay his hea d," still if he can lay his


hand up on his heart a nd sa y, J esus is mine, he


is rich ind eed. Ay, th ough s uc h a pilgrim may


her e ea t the bread of ch ar ity, in hea ven he shall


partake of angels food, and rei gn forever a " ki nrr


and a pri est." W ear isome days and n ight~


may be appoi nte d him on earth. A few more


br ief circuits of th e sun, and as an hei r of God


and j oint heir with J esus Christ , he will pass


th rough th e " everlasting door" to s it beneath


the tree of life, th ere to sing and tell the won­ders


of redeeming love.


I ha ve wit nes sed in the midst of outward


destitution one who in th e phrase of the world


was ca lled poor. Th ~ cot was humble, hardly


a shelter from th e st ormy clements- the em­blems


of pover ty e very where met th e eye . ­But


from a full so ul can I say, never did I se e


or converse with one more trul y rich th an sh it


who in hab ited ther e . W ith a face shinin g like


an an gel, eye s sp arkling with imm ortality, he r


con versation was in heaven, her tr easures were


the re also. S he was poor, yetstill sh e was rich


- s he had nolhing, yet she possessed a nd aboun­ded


in all th in~ .<. " Stra nge paradox," you . nay ,


say j ye t no more s trange than true, for Christ


the " hope of glory," was he r theme- her all ,


foreve r more.


lIe the n is ri ch who " deals j ustly, loves mer­cy


an d wa lks humbly with God." Pover ty can


never e nte r th e living temple withi n. The 1' 0 111


is nouri sh ed bv th e " brl'ad of life" wh ich is


provided" without mom'y and wit hout pric e ."


Upon food rich er tha n mann a to th e taste the


tru e chris tian daily fe eds, a nd from th e fou nta in


" wh ere full s al vation tlow s" he also dai ly drin ks .


Happy rich man,- thy co urse is onward- thou


s l. a lt run a nd not be wear y, with wings of ea ­g


lcs t hou shalt mount upward an d never fain t,


for the God of J acob is thy trust.


" Fly my rich es, fly my ca res,


While I th at course exp lo re ;


F latt er ing world , with all your snares,


Solicit me no more."


He re permit me by memory to relat e n bri ef


and pertinent a nec dote , whic h I have some


wher e read, a nd whi ch happily an swers the


quest ion-" Who is the rich man ?" A. certain


wea lthy citizen wa lked in company with a poor


pil grim to a n eminence upon his est at e. As


with self- rrrntificntion he turned to 1he r ight and


left, an d with a n a ir that betoke ned an ea rthly


mind, he exc laimed : " yonder fields < ire mice­those


build ings are mine, a nd what meets th e


eye on e ithe r side I possess." \ Vith a downcast.


eye, ye t from a fu ll and happ y soul, said the


humble man a t his s ide, layin g his hand upon


his heart-" J esus Chris I is lnin~." Which


think you of th e two was the ri ch Inan ?


R ead er- are you rich or poor? Decide not


the question by a co unt of gold and s ih'er, of'


title to houses an d lan ds , Remembe r thou gh


you may boas t of mu ch " boods laid up in


store," ye t while a n " alie n from God and a.


stranger from grace," you arc II poor, blind, na-.


ked and miSC1' able." In vain boast ing and earth.


ly security do yo u say," 1 know l am ric h," th en ·


le t my brie f an s " er be made in the way of an


interrogation . ' ViII not death soo n sever from


yo ur g ras p a ll. you n OlI' ca ll " r ic h and g'reat"


an d write over your sleeping dust an E pitaph


more du ra bl e than words in sc ulptured marble


" \ VI' 1' 1l0U'I' GOD." G. \ Y. S.


the soul into a re semblance of J esus- into a


resemblance ofJesus as he was manifest through


life and on the cro ss . And such a new birth as


thi s is essential. But how obtained ? Let the


impenitent man acquaint him self with hi s own


heart, and he will probably find that pas sion is


concealed th ere, and envy, and pride, and ~ n­godlines


s j- alienation from God ; and seemg


his spiritual condition as it is, he will be prom~ t­ed


to exclaim with the prodigal son :-' Lp eri sli


ioit h. hUTI aer ? H e will com e to himself. Then


let him s~ ek his Father's house. Let him pray


for the divine spirit j and let him al so endea vor


to subdue every passion- to refrain from what is


wrong,- to act right, and speak right, and ch eri sh


right feelings, and conform his life to the p~~ ­cepts


of t he gospel in every resp ect, and a Spiri t


of love will gradu ally possess his soul, and fill


it with peace and joy. This love will be of GO?:


for ' God is love j and, everyone th at loveth IS


born of God a nd knoweth God.' H er eby, says


John, ' know we th at we dwell in him, because


he hath given us of his spirit'- that is, he


hath imparted to us his love. And he who


is making if the gre at aim of life to be like Je­sus


and as th e consequ en ce, finds himself in


th e ' possession of a s piri t of uni ver sal loye- of


love for fri ends not only but for enemies, he


may be assured th at he has ~ assed from d e a~ h


unto li fe. ' He th at dwell eth in love dwell eth in


God and God in him.' w. II. r ,


ORIGIN AL : MISCEL L A N Y .


A FEW THOUGHTS ON REGENERATION.


The subject of re generation is certainly an


important subj ect. It is also a practical subj ect.


It has reference to our personal characters i- to


our dispo sitions and des ires, our intenti ons- to


the Slate of our soul s. It is not a su bject which


leads us to consider things afar off, but near to


us j- it calls us to contemplate, not th e outward


so much as the inward. And we know of noth­inz


more es sential, than th at men's thou ghts


sh~ uld be turned upon themsel ves, and fixed


there- occasionally, at 1east.- They cannot in­deed


become what they were created to be, so


pure and so happy, until they are. Observation


fully establish es it as a fact, th at heaven and


hell may occupy the attention, almost con stantly,


but the heart be but little improved. The ima g­ination


may picture to itself on the one hand,


the most dismal abode of wretchedness and des ­pair


lind on the other, the most ma gnificent par­adis~


j and whil st one is feared and the othe r hop­ed


for, prid e, envy, p ~ ssion, and selfishn~ ss, in


all its forms, may , still have full poss ession of


the soul. And we do fear that much th at pass­es


for relieion e ven among Chris tia ns, is little


more th an° an ex c it ing inte rest resp ecting what


is to ta ke plac e her eafter- l, ittle r, nore th an re­flection


upon extern al man ifestations, BU, t to


what does all th is amount ? Ifour moral natures


are not cl eansed from sin, if our evil propen- -----


sities ar e not overcome a nd th e mind of the mee k GAMBLING.


and lowly J esus est ablished within us, we have h


made but little, if an y, ad vance towards th e The unfinished ga me.- The dying Mother,


heavenly st at e to whi ch we are called. \ Ve All sin is debasin g to the soul. : W hile ~ ver~


are still in our fall en condition- unregenerate. sin and vice produce s effects peculiar to Its elf ,


Re zeneration is a ' renewin g of the mind'- no sin can be indulged without astain to the soul.


a putfin'" on of the ' new man , whi ch , aft er God, It may be a point som ewha t difficu lt to, deter'


is created in righteousn ess and true holiness.' mine, which si n in th e black c at alogue IS mosl


And no one is th orou ghly re gen erated, until e~- deb asin g, but we need not now sto p to . settle


ery passion is wholly subdue d, and every evil th is point. We will only give a short ~ Istory


desire and intention era dicate d from the breast: of a gamester, which will sh, ow tha~ ~ o ~ In has


- until every dispo sition to do wrong, in any re- a more powerful influ ence in annihilating . th e


spect, or to any one ~ s en~ i rel y evercome,:- un, holy affections of the heart t han gambhng.


til love shall he manifest 111every act of hfe,- Gamesters are oft en like th e appl es sa id to g row


until , indeed, th e soul is brought into th at con- around the Dead sea, th ey have a fairapP, ea: ance


dition in whi ch noth ing will excite anger, a nd whi le th ey are noth ing but bitt er dust with in.


nothing qu en ch th e desire to do go od, ev~ n to The accounts whi ch we. hav e read of th e ef­enemies.


In short, th orou gh regeneratIOn I? ~ b - fects produced by a fondness for play s e, em


so lute perfection: a nd when the fire of divine nearl y past bel ief. To one who k ~ ows not hi ng


love sh all have consumed within us every th ing of the tali sman ic influen ce of gamlllg upon the


opposite to its nature, th en we may sa y of the mind, it seems almost incredible that for its , in'


work, and not till then-' It is finished.' dul zence a man should sacrifice every tiling


Taking' t his view of the subje c t, t he mi: st ery de a~ to him- the happin ess of pare nts, wife,


with which it has often been cl ot hed van ish es , childre n- home and e ven li fe itself. Yet all


. HQw. eYeuliffic ult it [!! ay pe to ar rive at th is, stat e J. he..' ill. lliL¥~ 1te n been laid in sacrifice Up OIl this


of mind, it is a state ofmmd th at can oe " a~ y altar of Moloch. A love tor tile gaUl" itS tS uffi­understood.


The re vengeful can not l~ i: claim cient to ur ge to any extremity- to perp~ trate


to . it, nor the haughty, nor the avan~ lOus,- any crime which seems necessary to the indul-


No mere ex, per~ ence that ~ h~ y can tel~ will prove gence of this propensity. .


their adoption , lIIto the spiritual famIly of Go~, L. M. was the only son of his parents, who


nor any doctrines they can believe. If the~ r resided in the town of R . Mass. I have but one


experience is not such as to. ma~ e them m~ rc, l- fact to state concerning him; and this one fac t


ful in thei~ s phe r~ as the infinite F ather IS1! 1 shows in a strong light the terri ble influ ence


his, and thel: doctrines such as to produce pun- of gaming upon the he art. H e doubtless , be­ty


of heart, It matters not how w? n~ erful t~ at sa me initiat ed into th e se c re t of card playi ng ,


experience llIay . have . been- for It IS ~ othm, g as th ousa nds are, by join in g with frienr( s . i n


worth; nor does It ava il a ny thmg, even If their time- killing games for amusement. . ' 1here


doctrines be true, for to them th ey are valu e- seems to be a dreadful del usion upon this sub­le


ss and will ce rt ainly ne--: er se c ure t~ em an j ect in the minds of many who wish to be looked


inheritance am~ ng th e sanctified. Nothmg can upon as exemplary christi ans . Many the re ~ re


enjoy the unveiled , pre~ enc e of th~ F ather. of who would shudder at the tho ught of being


lizhts but th at winch IS un contaminated WIth O'amblers or of ind ucinc oth ers to become


t~ be le~ st sta in ofg uilt, a nd ma~ e ~ ivin~, t1! rough ~ o, who yet by t, heir exan~ ple are takin g t, he


lum who was th e' Im age of God. It [ S in ~ ro- very course which le ads the , young , and I ~ ­portion


as we become pu re, that h~ reveals him- ex perie nced to a love and practice of this tern­self


to us . Bl essed a re th e pure 111heart, says ble vice.


the Savior, for th ey sh all ; see God.' L. M. it may be, was led to become a'gambl? r


But how many there a, re that. prof es s to have by such seductive influ e nces, ~ n d pe rhaps ~ ld


an internal se nse of their elec tIOn, who are far not suspec t th at he was departmg from th e stnc!


from being what th ey , oug ht to be! Some of rules of propriety till his habit of ga llling became


the worst of men sometImes relate th e most . re- fixed . Howe ver this m: ay be, by whatsoever


markable exper iences of a ny. Those w~ o grmd influe nces he came to ha ve so despe rate , u l o ~ e


the face of th e poor- those who 8: re mggard ly for play, one thing is c ertain: on the D1 l;\" ht 111


and avar ic iou s- those wh o ar e unkmd and harsh which hi s ,,, idowed mother died, he was 111 the


in th eir treatme~ t oft~ eir hel p, an d of others- sa me house at pla y with , his c hose n c o m p a ~ y.


those whom th etr nei ghbors never th ought of \ Vhile she who bore htm- she who nounsh ed


calling upright men, benevolent men, good men, and cherish ed him in his years of helpl essness,


often t ell what a wonderful work God ha s who so ofte n wntched a nd wept over a n onl y


wrou ght wit4i~ th em, and ve ry g ra vely ~ o nte n, d son, who liv ed for him nnd w a~ r~ ady, to die for


th at it is an e VIden ce of th e truth of theIr se ntl- him- while this mother was wntlung 111 th e ago­ments.


But this we look, up on as, a most fat al nies of death, that son was un de r the s~ me roof at


delusion- a ~ oul ~ estroYlllg ? el usl~ n. To our play ! And when th e nurse b ~ sougl~ t hun to come


minds there tS ~ bnghter t, n alllfestatl(~ a of God, to his dying parent's, bedSide, hIS re ply was,


- a stronger eVl d e n~ e of hts pre ~ enl: e 10 the ~ oul , " when the game is jimslted!" But ere th e game


th an vis ion s, a nd distress of , mmd, and del lve r- was fini shed th e spirit took its departure. And


an ce from fearful appreh? ns lOns of Ju d~ me nt, when th e , distressed and faithful nurse ~ nn oun c ­aflord.


' He that dwelleth In love dwelle: h In God, ed his moth er's death, instead of star tmg from


and God in him. ' f\ nd I ~ t ~ o one tell th, e world his awful lethar gy, his reply wa s OJ"''' cover her


that he has somethtng wlt~ m htm tha~ IS good, up till morning." .


and then go and shut up hIS bow. els 0: ~ ompas · Dost th on, fri endly reader, tll1nk that he was


sion aO'ainst the poor, and malllfest Inde, a nd the most unnatural of all so ns . He was what


envy, abnd passion a~ d, ill will~ the aJs ence of gaming made him, and what it tends to make


the chief of th e clmstlan gr~ ces. No one ~ as oth ers. No one when he enters upon ~ l1ch a


any thing in his hea! t that IS wo, rth a farthmg course can tell to what a n extr eme ? f wlcked­unless


it in~ uences hISconduct a n. gh :. He may ne ss he may come. S~ un , then, d e~ r, read ~ r,


speak of hllnsel, f as an adopted Chl, ld of God, as th e first adv ances of thIS sm. . PartIC Ipate 111


one having the ful~ assurance 0'£ belllg born from none of its forms . Do not aC< J, Ulre a know, led g: e


above, but the eVIdenc e of thIS we should, . Iook of these dan gerous games . Suff~ r not mlsgUl­for


in his every day walk amon g men- m the ded friends to seduce you . And If you already


spirit he, breathes. ' E~ ce~ t a man be born of hav e a knowledge of them and a tastl! for play,


the spint,' says th e S avlO~, he cannot s ee th. e I beseech you, as you loye your soul,. break from


kingdom of God. The wmd bloweth where It the vile charmer. Think of the unfilllshed gam, e,


listeth, and thou hearest ~ he sound thereo~ but the dyin g mother!. the ' OJ"''' cover her up ttll


canst, ' not ~ ell whence It c? meth and whlth, er mornin g !" and know: th at what L. M. was, you


it goeth, so IS ev? 1j' one that. ls born of the Sptr- may be made by gammg. ~ henever I see ~ eo­it.'


But the spmt of God, IS a. pure a~ d holy pIe at games of chance, I th~~ k of " the unfimsh­spirit


of Love. W, herever It dlffu, ses Itself, It ed game , th e dying moth~ r; and look upon all


consumes every thmg contrary to Its nature.- who engage in them WIth anxous apprehen­I


t changes the ~ ion. into the lan~ b- harshnessinto sion of th e fearful consequence which may re-mildness,


maltee mto good Will.. it transforms suIt from such indulgence. J), 5. W.


EARLY RECOLLECTIONS.


I remember, I remember,


The very corner, where '


My Iather ~ very morning knelt.


And every eve, in pra) · er.


I remember where ~ e . ci! cle, stpod',


Who join ed ' the thankful lay ;'.


: r remember ill what solemn mood,


' Ve all kneeled down to pray .


Tho' years have' since roll' d by me,


And the vanities of youth,


Have often won my wayward'steps,


From, virtue'and from tr uth;


Yet a lather's pious, gnardian care"


In mercy still is given;


I'or his Spirit whispers in my ear•.


. M! IO D! prepare for heaVeD_


LORD'S PRAYER.


Our Father who in heaven ar t!


All hallowed be thy name j


T hy kingdom com e j thy will be done,


Throughout this earthly frame,


As chee rfully as ' tis by those


Who dwell with thee on high;


Lord let thy bounty day by day,


Our daily food supply.


As we forgive our enemies,


T hy pardon Lord, we crave i-,


I nto temptation lead us not ,


But still from evil save.


F or ki ngdom, power a nd glory, all


Belong, 0 Lord! to thee;


" li'hine from et ernity they were,


And thine shall ever be .


For II; e Practical Christian.


FAITHFUL TESTIMONY.


" Cry aloud spare not; lift up thy voice like a


t rumpet j tell my people their t ransgression and


the house of Israel their sins." Is a, fiS: 1.


Watchman, placed on Zion'e wall,


To my people quickly call ;


L ift thy voice with trumpet tone,


For thou shalt not be alone.


God is with thee, and will bless


All thy , works of ri ghte o us ~ ess.


Cry aloud and sin spare not,


In the palace or the cot;


L et thy voice by all be heard;


Speak to them thy Master's word.


Be is with thee, and will aid,


If thine arm on him is staid.


Fear not Slavery's haughty beck ;


Hold Intemperance in check;


Speak ' gainst mammon's golden sway,


Roll the waves of s in away.


T ruth is with thee, and prevails


When nought else on earth avails.


Bid War's raging din be still ;


Say to men thou shalt not kill;


Live in P eace with all mankind;


Endless peace thou then sha lt find .


Grace be with thee ; May its power


Save in every trying hour.


Raise t. he Standard of th e cross;


Purify the chur ch from dros s;


Be thou true to dying breath;


Be thou faithful unto death.


Then shall heaven and glory be


T hin e to all eternity . II.


I remember, I remember,


How he tallted to us of heaven.,


I remember with what earnestness,


His counsels all were given;


I remember too- as years slole on,


And feeble grew his frame,


Wilh what delight be dwelt · upon,


The Savior's blessed name.,


I remember, 1< remember,


How we stood beside his bed"


' Vhen the hour was · fast approl'ching ,


That should join him with the dead;


And aswe gazed in tearfulness,


And'm ourn' d'our lonely lot"


I remember , I remember,


lIe bade us marn~ ur not.


I rememb er, I rem · mber,


When hi" eye was fill'd and cbill,


The ' Smile ih~ t on his features sat,


In seeming ' meekness" still;


Oh! in that silellt, solemn hoar"


How' bitl~ rly I wept,


And pray' d that He might keep the son,


Who had the father kept.,


POE T XOAL.

Page 8 from Volume 1 of The Practical Christian 1840-1841

Ballou, Adin

1840