p. 151 | The Christian Looking

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · May 30, 1854

The Christian Looking.

Ye are the salt of the earth, to preserve it until he who is the refiner's fire shall come to cleanse it from all its dross. On account of the constitution of the human mind and the natural depravity of the human heart, a necessity exists, for Christianity to preserve it from self-destruction. The jarring elements of depravity and satanic influence would fill this world with such horrors, as would take a pen dipped in Cimmerian darkness to describe.

The eye of faith sees through a glass darkly a redeeming spot upon which to feast the soul, while in this our pilgrimage. The prophecies plant one foot upon Pisgah's top, from which we view Canaan's fair and happy land. That land of promise which we with Abraham's seed shall possess, has been willed to us by Abraham's God, and ratified by the New Testament of Christ his Son. Here, then, let us place our confidence. The mighty men of past ages have found firm support. Out of weakness they were made strong. They went from prayer to the den of lions; from the closet to the conflict; from communion with God to the burning stake. In themselves all weakness; in Christ mightier than legions of enemies, visible and invisible.