BREVITIES by J. Clarke

Publishing Committee · BATTLE CREEK, MICH. · Aug 7, 1860

BREVITIES.

By J. Clarke

EVIDENCE. We cannot condemn a brother on the evidence of common fame; but he who seeks to bridle his iniquities, and cloak his crimes under this principle, throws himself upon the vengeance of Him whose eye and ear are never closed, and whose retributions are terrible.

Whose article is this? Suppose a person should rise in social meeting, and exhort in disguise with a concealed name, and leave us so; would it indicate modesty? I know it is customary for some to write under an assumed name; but this is the relic of a dark age. I assure you brother, it would be pleasing to us away here in the back settlements, to know the names of those who write. It is our only way of getting acquainted with you. Suppose all who write for the Review should assume a star, or a Latin, or Greek, or Hindoo name, what a farcical masquerade we should have! No need of the commandment-keepers being so excessively modest. We are not ashamed of our cause, nor afraid of our principles.

TEMPTATIONS must be resisted instantly, and overcome promptly. Christ did not wait a moment when he had occasion to rebuke Satan; in every case he reproved at the moment of the offense. Our hearts may be compared to a fort, besieged by the enemy, who if once admitted, will not relinquish his ground without a terrible struggle, if at all. Promptness, decision, courage—all are necessary.

“MAKING BELIEVE.” Christ compared the Jews to children in their plays, imitating the most solemn employments of their superiors (as children often play this and that, perhaps having a meeting or school), so now, some who would not call themselves children, with grave recklessness, receive from their priests the consecrated wafer, while the aforesaid priests guzzle the wine. This is “making believe” take the Lord's supper. Others sprinkle a few drops of water upon an infant—this is “making believe” baptize; and many more observe Sunday, visiting, going to meeting, feasting &c.; this is “making believe” keep the Sabbath, and a certain number of these practices combined with a decent exterior (often hollow and painted, which makes it more decent in common parlance), make what is by a “make believe” people considered a tolerable “make believe” Christian.

SHALL BE ADDED. Christ does not say seek first the world and its treasures, and heaven shall be added (as Wordly-Wiseman preaches), but seek first the kingdom of heaven. Let this be first, be paramount to everything else, the one leading consideration, swallowing up every other, the governing, regulating principle, which like the leaven diffuses itself throughout the whole man, and stamps the character of every act; to such a man God will send the raven with food rather than he should want.

Wordly-Wiseman hardly assents to the above. Hear him. “I would recommend to every young man on setting out in life, to get religion, and lead a moral life. It is the surest means of establishing a character in the world. I never lost anything by it. It has been a gain to me. I have got a good property by this course, and now I can help the poor by this means. I hardly ever lose by helping the poor. If they cannot pay now, I charge a little more to make it up. Nothing hurts a poor man like giving him gifts. Thus you see religion can be made to pay as we go. Thus I find godliness with contentment to be gain. And as to any day being holy, I believe all days are holy. It is the heart God looks at,” &c., &c. Thus reasons Wordly-Wiseman; and he considers his knowledge and experience sufficient to qualify him to teach. What is lamentable is, that Wordly-Wiseman is a living specimen of a host of like character.

WATCHING. Some think the command to watch, is for them to take a general oversight of their teachers; and so diligent are they in this, they neglect their own hearts, until some rank weeds flourish, to the danger of themselves and others. Such remind one of the astronomer who watched the course of heavenly bodies with such solicitude, that finally he got to fancy himself a sort of guide to these celestial systems, and in his wild flights, would talk of the danger of his getting asleep, or off his watch, and these planets thus running into disorder.

LOITERING upon the walks, and in the stores, is a very unprofitable practice. Christ was in the marketplace, but only as a teacher, or physician, or reprover; and as soon as his errand was accomplished, how he delighted to repair to the solitude of the mountain, or forest. Devotion loves retirement, and here she nerves her powers for action; and when duty calls us to remain upon the walks or public places of resort, when we find inquirers there who desire light, and truth, and salvation, there is the place for action; but when this duty is discharged, and no other presents itself to detain us, we will haste to where we can be in the way of duty, and in the paths of peace.

THE GRUMBLER. He is afraid of freshets when the rain is plentiful, and of drouth if it is scanty; he always looks a great ways ahead. If it is warm enough for corn he is afraid for the wheat, and if it is cool enough for wheat he is afraid for the corn crop. If he is rich he quarrels and goes to law, and if this makes him poor he quarrels with those who try to assist him. He can't bear a gift, yet wants all he can clutch by legal means. He thinks God is his God, and that all light and bounty should reflect upon so worthy a Christian as himself. There are too many grumblers. Let us contemplate their fall when the manna became for them too light food. Alas, poor man knows not how indulgent his heavenly Father has been. Oh how bountiful! Count his daily mercies to all men, in all ages, in all climes—mercies suited to every season, and every climate, repose for the weary, food for the hungry, clothes for the naked, in heat and cold, in sickness and health, in childhood and age, mercies for all; yet all abused, all slighted, all supposed to be due. And if by heavy provocations these are for a moment withheld, these wicked murmurers blaspheme God, who holds back his anger, lest his poor murmurers should die in a moment. Oh what love! J. CLARKE.