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12 THE PRAC'l'ICAL CHRISTIAN.


.:.:.-~


G. w. s.


SELECTIONS. chalJe~ g~ honor j and there can be no- prospect man h~ defined it, ' that state iJl ' which' n'~ ii~;:'


of baOl~ h1Dg them, except by makinz a strenu- are trymg which shall do the other the' m68~


[ The following article which we are happy to ous appli~ a~ ion to them of the direct"' prohibition harm j' ~ n~ th is certainly is no~ tJie'descrjjJti(;! i


copy into our little sheet, is full of sober truth. of the religious and moralla,,:. T~ e'yhave th~ s ofa chM$ t~ an s, tate•. ~ noth': f distinguiBhelii per~


It commends itself to the attention of all who far, defied t~ e vague and generalizing way 10 Ion has said, that I~ IS a VJrt! la~ repeal . of ~~ e-


, ' which duty IS addressed to conscience and may ten commandments, - a description eql9a; J, ly just


love the work of reform, and most especially to continue to do so forever. The man whose re _ and comprehensive. For how shall the Ji.., ht t6


those who are set for the defence of the Gospel. ular business promotes intemperance, theslav~. warbe suppo~ e~, where killing and adultery and


We may well lay aside our humble pen to en- holder, the warrior, may, on general principles theftare prohibited P Inter arma silt nt ltKes i$


rich the reader with sentiments so sound. and on all subjects b~ t one, be a ' conscientious, as t~ u~ of the laws of G? d ~ s, of the l, aw" of m~ ri~ I tender- hearted, and Just man' that he is not so Rehglous and moral individuals ID the esmp


G. w, s, on that one subject, is only be~ ause he has made there , may be, but the " camp as a IIYs'!


From the Monthly Miscellany, n~ Immediate application of those general prin- tern, hcenses every moral offence. And . dO.


HOW ARE THE GREAT EVILS OF THE WORLD ciples to the case in hand. So too the commu- you suppose, that when christianity has d ~ n~


TO BE REMOVED. nity m, ay, ongeneral principles, be pervaded by Its w, hole wor~, penetrated society through and


a public opimon, e nhghtened, generous, humane' th~ o, such an tnsututron can stand? When the


. B y Professor H. Ware, Jr. . r .; and from habit, inattention, or interest, nlaY al~ Princeof P~ ace shall have been permitted t4


There IS so much to be done before Qhrlstl- low the most senous evils to continue because REI? N ID christendom, and take, command of its


~ n ity can b~ made to ef! ec t, D~ l the good which it does no~ a~ ply. to - them the same ; rinciples affairs, do you bel! e v~ his disciple;! will fight ?,


I~ has promised, and which It IScapa~ l e 01' effec- ' Ylllc~ decide its - judgment in other affairs. Un- In that day t~ e prlOclpl~ s of this religion and


lin g, ~ h! lt ~ ome ~ ersons, a~ e alm ost incl ined to til this be done, no considerable change or prog- the laws r~ f hIS real~ WIll be dil'e~ tllJ applied to


despair of its efficiency, and doubt whether the ress can be expected. , ev~ ry subject :- busmess, professlon@, politics


world can becolI~ e much bett~ r than it , is. Oth- , This is strikingly exemplified in the case of which now esc ape the superficial ' ordeal, wui


ers, who are still confident III the triumph of mtemperance, The ' gospel was preached, civ- then be no longer sepa~ at, ed fro~ morality. ]; n;


goodI! ess , are le~ by the same cau se to ~ do~ t ilization advanced, manners bec ame refined, and that day, therej~ re, Christians WIll no longer be.


yery opposite notions of the method by vhich It t~ mperance \ ya~ on t~ e acknowledged lilt of 50- ~ l~ en WIth the Bible 10 one han, d, and . the ~ word


IS ! o be b: o~ gh, t D, bout, and ? ven of t, he , part cl~ 1 a~ d Christian virtues: Yet intemperance 10 the other. It has been so WIththem thus far;


which ChrlstIam t~ I~ to have 10 effecting 11.- dally IOcreased! ~ nd grew into a terrific plague. because they refu sed to CO~ pare the doctrines


Some suppose religion to be only one al~ l~ ng The p eneral opmion on the subject and the pen. of the Bnok with the doctrine of the weapon,


many agencies which ar e gradually combining eral discountenance of religion failed to check That comparrson cannot be evaded fore ver' it


to arJielio, rate the cO! Jdition of human it~; they the evil. The ch eck was at last given and the must , be made. Whop- ver shall ma~ e it hon; st-:


R u pp~ s e I, t to be of IIt! le service, excep~ l~ g a~ It plague beg~ n. to be stayed, only when it occur- Iy, WIll find the sword drop ou~ of his unclench.


falls - in With, and IS ( ud e~ by the humanmng 10- red to Christian men, to bring their Christian ~ d hand. There have been instances of this ­Buence


of letters, art, phllosopl~ y, and the other principles to bear actively and strongly on the instances are occurlOg ~ rcqu r~ tly ; military mer:


agents which are slowly leading sOCl, ety for- subject. ' W hen this was done, there arose a led to, open the Book w~ t~ thel~ bloody' fingcrs;


ward. They, therefore, suppose th ~ t little can correct appreciation of the real state of affairs' percelVln! l' there the divine dIsapprobation of


be done to hasten the progr ess, that It depends the ch ara~ l~ r and ~ e gree of its incoIlsistency '~ rath, ~ trlfe and revenge, and the divine bene, dic~.


on causes ?~ t of the reach of human touch, ~ nd WIth, the dIVIne la,~ and a well principled com. tlOns ot love, gentl eness, forbe arance, llnd peace,


that no activIty can accelerate a consulO, mlltlOn mum ty, became eVIdent. The reform must be an~ overc0'! 1e b, y the unselfish, ' tender llearted,


which is in the hands of nature o, nd ~ roYld ~ llce. ca rried. perfectly thr ough by a continuance of pl~ lllInthroplc hfe tlf Jesus, ha , ve been struck


Oth ers, ? II the ' contrarx, suppose C~ rJstlamty: to the sa '! 1e meth o~ j , b~ applying the power and wlt~ horror, . at the ~ n ormou s Inconsistency o~


be the great effectuallOstru, ment, wllhout which authOrity of CIHlstlaOltv, to the consciences of c~ rlstendom , a~ d hal e abandoned the profes­all


others must fail, and WhlC, h mnst be 7: e alou~- the deluded and vile, and to the removal of the sl? n of arms whl~ h ea rned them bread, th at they


Iy put in action by human mInds alld hands, In causes of temptation and corruption. Let there mIght have a chum to the bread of heaven, and


order to its effecting its purpose. It is not, they be this thorou gh direct action of the reli gious be num~ e~ ed anlong ~ he children of God. 0


say, by be ing let alon e, ~ o work its own w~ y, prin ciple, and the evil will soon disappear.- how thrllh, ngly tile \' Olces of those ~~ a~ cipated


th at the Gospel ever did or can effect Its rhat It dares yet to show its miscreant Iront in men swelhnt{ ~ p to henven 10 the reJOIcIDg cho­gr


eat 1II0ral changes. Paul, and Luther, and the face of day, is an evidence how far we nre ~ us of the Chrl st", lns , morn,- what a , full meau':


its oth er chief ag ents, did what they did by all'- from bein g poverned by the reliO'ion we Jlrofess. mil' did they find m the g lorious ascription, Gl o-itating;


. and although its indire ct and seconda- If we were, it , WOUld be Chri stia~ America, and ry t? G? d ! on t: arth, peace! , " '


ry effects are powerful, they never c~ uld be e- not Pagan ChIna, that would now be exhibiting ' 1he mference Ii'olll all tIllS. falrly IS, that " ' ct


qual of themselves . to the regeneratlo~ of t~ e ~ he ~ pectacle of the fathers of the people pour- are, to lo? k f? r the re~ ov al 01 the, great C" il3


world, or even to ral ~ e t~ e stand~ rd, hIgher 10 lOgmto the bos? m of the ocean the great in- whlc~ still lOfest soclet~ , , to , notlllng else tllan


the christian comm~ mty,; IOdeed, If It . were left. st~~ ment of soclllI de, moralizution. But alas, th~ direct agency of Chl'lftl8n1ty ! expressly 11 rZ;


to its secondary action, It would not fad to fade clmstendom separates Its morality from its poli- ph~ d for th; purpose of removlDg them. Its


H. way and gradually, disappear. ~ ics; a! 1d is far more earnest to watch over , the mdJre~ t action, as ~ xperi ence has evince~, may


It wouH. notbe difficult to show that the lat- IncreasIDg wealth of the people than to guard be reslst~ d, ~ eutrahzed or evaded. But ItS di.


ter is the true view; and that those. who satisfy Lhem against immorality and corruption. _ rect ap/? hcatlOn has always prol'ed mighty to.


themselves with the former, a. re takmg the cer- T ake the next instance.-= Slavery. How is the pulhng down of strong holds ; it never r el


tain course to nullify the power of Christianity, it that this has existed and been extended not-' w ~ s known , to fail in , the CDse of an individuall


and extinO'uish its future influence on the world. withstanding that' this is a Christian nation !_' faIthful to hlm~ elf, or In the case of a'communi~


There ar~ evils in seciety,- great, crying, in- For the reason just named,- that Christendom ty actually subjected to its influence. , •


veterate evils,---:- which have thus fa~ w, ithstood separates its politics from morality, and protects . The d, uty therefore of all ref~ rriJer~, and all


all the direct IOBuences of Chrlstlanlt. y, and the wealth rather than the virtue and true happi- who deSire the progress of man; IS plaID. Thpy


seem to be as firmly fixed in the mids t of chris · ness of the people. But it is evident that if the must not waste them selves in generalities: ' but'


tendom as if , the go~~ 1 favor~ d them. ' rhe Chri~ tianity. whic~ is . professed were honestly attempt the removal of special evil . And asthe


secondary actIOn of dlvme truth IS too feeble to apphed to thiS subject, It could not stand before it preache~ s of the g? spcl are reformers and phi­affect


them., The~ stand like heaps of s~ ow in for a day:. since no two ideas can be presented lant~ roplsts by, their pro~ essi on : the , sarn. e dUly


the moonshme, whIch defy ! he refle~ ted hght of to 0~ ~ md more utterly ir~ econcilablethan apphes to their labo, rs In, th e pulp, lt; If they,


that planet, but melt away m the dJrl; ct rays of Chri stIanity and slavery. Christianity is the mean ~ o help the pUrlficDtlOn of soclely and do'


the sun. If they are ever to be removed, it doctrine ofhuman equality before God and the any thlDli' toward the complete tri ,!/ llph o!' virlue


must be by th e immediate and direct, not the law ofnniversal justice and bpnevolenc~' which and happIness, they must g ive battle to all evil


reflected and indirecl, pow,; r ? f Christian tr~ th. denies ~ Il selfishnl'ss, a~ d makes every m~ n mas- per~ onal D~ d so~ ial, by name; . they mllst app ly,


They must be ~ rou ght und er Its expr~ ss ~ ctlon. t~ r of hImself a~ d of hiS r, i&, hts. But the most their tloctrme as well as utt er It. ,


As , we see d~ lly that a m~ n may hve 10 h ~ slmp, le, and obvIOUS dp- fimtlon of slaverY , is, the ----_


midst of a Christian comm, umty and yet remam deprwlng of man of all his riphts i- of his right , GOOD FIlR EVIL.


a selfish, worldly, u, nsanctlfied man.. because, he t? property, fo: he is property himself; of his , In th, e folJowmg anecdot e we lJUve an exem.,


does ' lot apply t~ htmself, the prmClples which h~ erty, fo~ he IS a s, lave 1 to his wife, for she is pllficatlon of Lhe Apostolic injunction_" over-


PrevaIl around hun j so smful customs may pre- hiS master s j to hIS children, for they are his come evil with good" If we P .' ' h


' , ' d f I ' t vall, 10 the 101 st 0 a mora commUDl y, sI'mpIy, m~ aster ' s; to . educatl'On, .... or the means are refus. bl '. ' d I d bt . h hi ' o s s e s ~ te, IC -


b e~ au:~ e no al! plication is made ~ o them of the ed him; to his life, fo, r he is at th,-; mercy of h a e mm s, ou w ('; t er n oglcal and Icarn-,


prmclples winch Il'e~ erally preval.!. taskmaster, t~ wear him out or to starve him j to ed essay woul~ do n~ ore to e nforce upon us a


This may be dl stlI~ ctly se en.. 10 the , case , ef take every thmg th~ t man can look to, excepl to prayerful conSIderatIon of these words. From


th e thr ee most extensIve and g lnnt socllli evils . the mercy of Almighty God. And "' does any the unsophisticated juvenile heart tt th '


Intemperance, Slavery Dnd " Var. Instead of one suppose that Christinnity allows this? Can and fi rcibl r J t ft h' u In nell"


being reuJOved by , the ind ir~ ct, moral and relig. anyone believe that Christianhy, with its les- 0 e Ig I, 0 e~ gns es out. BI~ s, sed '


ious inBuences winc h prevail, It happens on the sons of freedom and brotherhood and love could are they who laymg aSIde all love of dommlOn,


contrary, th at society, acting by its authoriz~ d pervade ~ ociety, and yet leave a sin gle human are ready to sit with Mary at the foot of th e


agent~, regards and treats them as ~ part of ~ ts creature I~ such, dreadful de~ olati~ n? Is it not Cross, there to listcn to the praise of God per-estabhshed


economy, to be sustamed by Its clear that If ChrIst rf) ally rewned III Chris~ en. fected by " babes and kl' "


laws aud yield ing certain benefits to the state. dom, slavery would be im~ ssible? Thank, " suc lOgs. ,


It appears not to dream of th eir extinction, God for the assurance that he shall reign' for bl ' A '; ry httle girl was fond of reading the Bi­any


more than the extinction of commerce. It it is an assurance tbat the bondage shall ; t last he, an hit ~~ s th ere she learned hOlv to treate,


deals with them as intrinsic and essential ele- be broken, and the curse be taken off from onr ht


ose w, 0 IDJured her. O~ e day she came tOo,


ments of , the social order, and legislates about land. er mot ler, very m~~ h dehghte~ to show hel"'


them as soberly as about education or man · And the other portentious evil- War' the some phl", lS that a ~ nend ha, d gIven · her. The


ufactures. This remark is lestl true of in- ~ ame of kings, the great interest of' public : nen, mother saId, ' she: s ~ ery ~ III~, she ~~ B given;


temperance than of , th e other two evils; but the ~ h! ef c~ arge of goyernD; Jent; to which in the r~ u ~ g~ eat tan~ . Yes". saId the httle girl


until lately, even mtemperance was scarcely admlDlstratlOn ofpublJc aflairs, every thinO' else ~ e I~ very b md mdeed" and she gave me more


known. to the law, except as an item ef com · that is dear and desirable is compelled tg gi\' e t Ian \:~~ e, ut I have / Jlven som~ away.' Ah, ·


merce and revenue--.,. licensed, taxed, anrlau- way j to which education, and i rts and morality my c I to w~ om did you gIve them? ." I


thor ized, excepting in those ins~ ances in whi c, h are ~ e~ d , sec? ndary, even in the ' Iegislatien of gade th:: rn ~ o a gIrl tha~ p~ she8 me o~ the p', tth


it led to sume other gro ss eVIls. Slavery IS ChrIstian ' nat ions j whose magnificent achieve- a~ rna es achs at me. Bu~ w,~ y ? Id you gl\' e


treated by the Ill; w as so much propertY'! 1 por · ments , da~ zle" whose perilo,~ s chances excite, t em to suc a nau ghty girL Becaus~ I


tion of the national ,,,, ealth, , protected Ill , th, e whose , in trIg ues call for~ h brilliant exhibitions t~ oug~ t tt, at


d


would make he~ kn? w that I WIsh.


statute books, and regI stered III all the statlstl- of geDlus j whIch sometimes awakens in a dor- ~ to k~ dm dto her, and she . wlll not perhaps


cal tables as one of the items of the na tional mant people the spirit of enterprise and progres~ e un I~ an rude t~ me agam,.'''


prosperity. , War is constnntl~ kept in view in put always ravages, blights, demoralizes, betray~ Her~ IS heavenlY, wlsdom BOWIng from the in-all


the proviSIOns for t, he , natIOnal well. being, h nd cu~ es. What ~ ave the , christian nations fant, mmd. Here IS eloquent preaching with


and provided for, even III t~ me of p~ ace, by an to do WIth suc~ ~ t~ m~ ~ s thIs? , It has i not a subhme practice. Speak on ye young heralds


expenditure greater than IS approprlllted to any feature of Chrl~ laDlty 10 It. It has given occa- of the Cross in words of truth iff .


other object. And th~ rewards of the public honor sio~, ~ ve ar~ told ; to beautiful instances ( if high t Th W Id h Ch h' ~ ac I, O~ S 0 purl ·


are certainly not WIth- held from the man who ChristIan vutue. But Sil has highway robbery. y. , e or, t e urc; t e MlOlstry need


has become wealthy by manufacturing or retail- So has the foul business of the licentious pro- your labors. Let man, woman and child go, o. ut,


ing what has be, ggared hundreds, or who is af- f1igate. This claim, s. ometimes put in for war, with , ht aven's credentials, and speak as the good


fluent by the tOIl or slaves, or w~ o has made ~ an only be all~ wed, when we shall honor the heart is ever wont to speak. The" field is the


thousands desolate III the butcherIes of battle. m( aDlY of Tarqulll for the sake of tile virtue of world tt and gre t ' th d k h ~ E b


What we say then is, that here are these three Lucretia. Set aside a few such Bowers which ' , , a IS, ~ ar ness t ereo. ac '


great scourg~ s of the ~ ace, th~ se overflo,! ing grow in , the cr~ vices, of the co~ rupted ~ harnel slep we t:' ke . IS M~ sdloDary ground. Idolatry


and inexhaustIble fountnms of mIsery ~ nd c, rlme, ~ ou~ e-:- JlIdge I, t ~ nlts o,,: n. merits, try it by ~ ts and practIcal mfideltty eover the whole e~!


-~ ot, on~ y unchecked, by the ~ eneral d! ffuslOnof IOtrlllSIC a! 1d dlStl~ Ct, qU~ htles- and there is nol Enter ye good , hearts and true the vineya. rd, of


chrlstlan, lty,- but so sItuated 10 the mld~ t of the one on whIch Chrletl~ n~ ty can look with com- your Master, and labor faithfulJ for the re dem •


commumty IlS even to command protection and placency. For what IS It? A celebrated ltates- ' fth Id Y p


lion 0 e wor •


POETJ: CAL.


OBJ: Gn ; rA L M ISOE L L A N Y .


DEATH.


Btj R ev. W. O. B. Peabody.


Lift high the curtain's drooping fold,


And let tho eve ning's s un, light in j


I would not th at my heart grew cold,


Before its better hours begin j


' Tis well at such an early hour -


So calm and pure- a sinking ray


Should shine into the heart with power


To drive its darker thou ghts away.


The bri gh t young thoughts of early days,


Sh all ga ther round my memory now,


And not the latter ca res whose trace


Is s tamped so deeply on my brow;


" Vhat though those days return no more j


The swe et remembrance is not vaiu­For


heaven is waitin g to rest ore


The chi ldhood of my soul again.


Let no impatient mourner s tand •


In hollow sad nes s near my be d­But


let me rest upon the hand,


And let me hear th e ge ntle tread


Of her whose kindness long ag o,


And st ill unworn away by yea rs, '


Has made th ese weary eye lids Bow


" Vith gratefu l and admiri ng tears.


I go- but let no plain tive tone


The moment's grie f of friendship tell j


And let no proud and graven stone


Say wher e the weary slumber well !


A few sh ort hours and then for heaven!


Let sor row all its tears dismiss,


l!' or who would monrn the warn ing given,


Which call s us from a world Ii!, e thi s.


" LORlJ SAVE us : WE PERISH."


Su ch was the excl amati on of the disciples in


an hour of dan ger. Cloud s ga thered blackness,


fierce winds arose- death was' before them. ­From


earnest and tre mbling he~ rts th ey ex.


claim-" Lord save us: Wll peri sh." The Re ·


deemer was , vith th em, he " rebuked the wll1l1~


and the sea, and there was a great calm." ­Reader,


the same R edeemer is with you if by a


pure heart you follow his example. He is near


at hand to rescue from every danger. When


storms of trouble ari se, when waves of affliction


toss our bark upon life's troubled ocean, Jesus is


with us to whi sper-" peace, be still ." Let


danger threaten and storms arise, witl1 such a


friend we will fear no evil.


If however our hearts are still barren and un­frui


tfuf- if ye t we are wand erin g in the mazy


path of sin, we may well be confu sed and fearful.


The heart may affect courage and pass 011while


the storm is at a dist anc e. But th e hour of dan ·


ger will come. Darkn ess will gather upon the


mind- remorse will rllnd the bosom, and the full


soul exclaim-" Lord ~ ave tis: we perish." Let


us now feel Qur lost condition and instantly


wrestle in prayer, th at the horn of deliverance


may come. W ait not till to- morrow, l e~ t per­ad


venture , ve be st retc he d upon th e'd eath bed,


and the voi~ e we have so often refused say unto


us-" Behold you r house is left unto you deso ·


late !" G. W. s.


PF. RSEVEItANCE.


" B e not weary in well doinp .


Bl essed is that man however humble the


sphere in which lie moves, who perseveres i n


well doing. Let clouds gather dar kness, and


the shafts of enmity be raised, yet with Divine


approbation, tlie hu mbl e soul may still rejoice.


Apparently we may lose gIound as we march


heavenward to day, but by perseverance, to- mor­row,


with th e victo ry il brin gs, will show an ad ·


vance in th e " path of the ju st, which sh ineth


more and more unto th e perfect day."


Brethren- if we tire a nd faint becau se our la.


bor is great, and the wise and mighty of earth


are agai~ st tiS, then are we poor soldiers of the


cro ss. With the exam ple of th e man of Calvary,


who will ceaRe to " run with patience the race


set before him ?" Be not weary. Gird on the


whole armor of light, and do a valiant battle to


the flesh, the world and satan.


Let all who believe in the final triumph of


grace ove: sin, remember they are called to la­bor


with unw earied pers everance. With such


a faith what' shall disheart en us? Shall tribula­tion


and scorn cool our ardor for the emancipa­tion


of the world from sin and bondage? Nay,


verily our march shall be onward to victory.


G. w. s.

Page 12 from Volume 1 of The Practical Christian 1840-1841

Ballou, Adin

1840