Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 21, 1857
SELECTIONS.
By Robert Newton
THE SYROPHENICIAN WOMAN,
Being the substance of a Sermon preached in John-st. church on Sunday morning, May 17th, 1840,
by Robert Newton.
"Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt." Matt. xv, 28.
In how many ways did the great Teacher, when he was upon earth, answer that request of his disciples, "Lord, teach us how to pray"—not only at that time when he gave them that form of sound words, that perfect model of prayer which is now used by his church in almost all languages and countries in which we are permitted to address the God of the universe as "our Father;" but he taught them, and us also, by all the precepts which require the performance of this duty, thus interposing his authority in this matter, and making the duty binding on all. He taught them also by those precious promises which he gave to encourage them in the performance of this duty, saying unto them, "Ask, and it shall be given." "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father also give his holy Spirit to those who ask him?" By his own edifying example, the example of a pure and holy devotion which he himself has left us, continuing sometimes whole nights in prayer to God, when he was about to engage in a work of more than ordinary importance. By parables, also, and by those miracles of power and mercy which he wrought in direct answer to prayer. Ah! my brethren, how can we who pray so seldom and with so little fervency, reckon ourselves the disciples of such a Master?
Our text affords us another illustrious example of the efficacy of fervent, humble prayer. A poor woman of Canaan, whose ancestors for many generations had been the grossest idolaters, attracted by the fame of his miracles, or driven by domestic afflictions, came unto him on behalf of her daughter, "who was grievously vexed with a devil," and after a painful trial of her faith, obtained of him the blessing which she so earnestly desired. The whole account is highly interesting, and furnishes us with many important and useful observations. Demoniacal possessions in the days of our Lord were very common. That evil spirit who is alike the foe of God and man, knowing that the time had come when the "seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head," exerted a more than ordinary degree of his malevolent influence in afflicting and tormenting the children of men. In the present instance that tender compassion which dwelt in the Redeemer's breast seems for a moment to have left him, and contrary to his usual habit of answering the cries of the distressed, when this woman had her case before him, "he answered her not a word." The disciples, to their credit as men, though of another nation, "came and besought him, saying, Send her away, (that is, grant her her request,) for she crieth after us." His answer to them, however, was as discouraging as his silence to her, "I am not sent," said he, "but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Though as the Redeemer of all mankind, I came to save all, yet my personal ministry while on earth must be confined to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But mark this woman's perseverance: "Then came she and worshiped him, saying, Lord, help me." Jesus answered, referring again to the Israelites, the chosen people of God, "It is not meat to take the children's bread and cast it to dogs." Such an answer to an ordinary mind was enough to sink it into despair, but this woman begins to reason with her Lord thus: "Truth, Lord, I acknowledge the justice of what thou hast said; nevertheless, let me have such kindness as the dogs of any family enjoy. Thou, O Lord, art truth itself; thy word can be no other than truth; thou hast called me a dog, and indeed such I am; a poor outcast, a sinner, a Gentile. Give me, therefore, the favor and privilege of a dog, that I may gather up the crumbs of mercy from under the table whereat thy children sit. I presume not to press to the board; let that be for the children, but to creep under it; deny me not then those crumbs which fall from the children's table, and which if the dogs do not gather them, will be swept away and lost in the dust." "Then Jesus answered her, O woman, great is thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt." This word "then" is emphatic. After so many discouragements, still to persevere, it may well be said, Then18Jesus granted unto her to the full extent of her desire.
There are two or three things more deducible from this interesting narrative and the miracle which is here recorded.
1. In connection with other miracles it affords strong evidence of the Messiahship of Jesus Christ, and of the truth of his religion.
2. It may be taken as an evidence of God's purpose of bestowing mercy upon the Gentiles, and if so, then let us who are "sinners of the Gentiles" take encouragement to hope in his mercy.
3. It is directly calculated to encourage us in the exercise of prayer—indeed, this seems to be its principal design. Prayer, then, is our subject, and we may observe,
1. It is as gratifying as it is surprising to meet with praying people where we least expected to find them. Yet so it was in the case of this woman—Gentile as she was—heathen as she was, having heard of the fame of Jesus, or read in the law and the prophets something of his character, or learned some way or other that he pitied the distressed, healed the diseased, and cured the blind, she came to him and besought him to have mercy on her by healing her greatly afflicted daughter. Had she attended the synagogue where the Scriptures were read every Sabbath, and compared what is therein written with the character and miracles of Christ, it would not have been so surprising that she should come to the conclusion that Jesus was the true Messiah, but with the few opportunities and slender means of obtaining information which she possessed, it is somewhat wonderful that she attained to such consistent views of the character of the Redeemer, and such strong faith in his goodness and power. And in this view of the matter, how would this conduct of a heathen reprove the pride and unbelief of the Jews: they rejected him—this poor Gentile believed in him. Let us bring the matter a little nearer home and to our own times. Has it not been the privilege of many here present to-day to be taught from their infancy to cry, "My Father, thou art the guide of my youth?" Have not many of us been taken by the hand and led along to the house of God from childhood? But ah! how many have in after years resisted the convictions of their early life, restrained prayer, and given themselves up to work wickedness, while others, like this poor Gentile woman, who never, or but seldom having heard of the way of salvation, have, nevertheless, almost at the first hearing of the name of Jesus, as the Saviour of sinners, believed on his name. We learn.
2. That a domestic affliction is sometimes in the hand of God a powerful incentive to prayer. The duty of prayer is always binding, but the obligation is not always felt, not always practically acknowledged. Many there are who bring themselves only once in the week to the performance of this duty, on a Sabbath morning perhaps, and even then they do not enter into the spirit of it as they ought. When this is the case, God withdraws those blessings from them which they once used to enjoy, and lays affliction upon some beloved one; then they begin to call upon his name, and to pray more fervently than they ever prayed in their lives before. Then for the first time, perhaps, while praying for another, they discover that they ought to pray for themselves. How many, like David, can say, "Before I was afflicted I went astray?" and how many after they have found mercy in affliction are ready to say to their fellows, "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul?" Thus they bless God for affliction, not as affliction, but as the means of bringing them to God.
3. We are here very impressively instructed to make the afflictions and sorrows of others our own. I do not know what may be your opinion, but I have long been of the opinion that the virtue of natural affection is most intense and fervent in the maternal breast. None but mothers know what mothers feel. How many pious mothers make the case of an unconverted child their own, and like this woman in the gospel cry out in the anguish of their hearts, "Lord, help me"—Lord, have mercy upon me by showing mercy to my daughter. So a father prays for his prodigal son, and ceases not until he returns to God, and he can say in the joy of his heart, "This my son which was dead is alive again, was lost and is found." So we should feel for our unconverted neighbors. Our language should be, "Lord, this my neighbor, whom I so highly esteem, is unacquainted with thee, have mercy to me by showing mercy to him." What saith the law in this case? "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself;" no matter if he do not live near me, if he be a man, he is a fellow-creature, and I am bound to remember him in my prayers to God always. So Jeremiah remembered his countrymen for good—"For the hurt of my people am I hurt." So St. Paul desired the salvation of all Israel—"Brethren," says he, "my heart's desire and prayer for Israel is, that they might be saved." His heart was in his prayer, and so must ours be in our prayers.
4. Sincere supplications, whether for ourselves or for others, may meet with sore discouragements, as in the case of the Canaanitish woman. How must her heart have sunk within her at the first impulse, when "Jesus answered her not a word." She had heard or read, perhaps, in a fragment of a book, "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom." I have heard of one, even in Zidon, that he opens the eyes of the blind, and even raises the dead, and I supposed that this was he, but surely I am mistaken. I have used the same prayers that others used, and yet he answers me not; surely this cannot be he. Unasked he raised the dead son of the widow of Nain to life. I come to him, not with a dead son, but a living daughter, and he answers me not.
Such, my brethren, and much more of the same kind, might have passed in this woman's mind, and at first view we may be ready to wonder at his conduct; but we may rest assured that whatever Jesus does he has good and sound reasons for doing. And let us always remember that delay is not denied! If the blessing be delayed, that is no proof that it is denied. The conduct of the disciples is worthy of notice; they joined their prayers with those of this poor woman. Ah! my brethren, we cannot tell how many blessings we enjoy in answer the prayers of the people of God. We may observe, also, the wisdom of Jesus still farther. Had he granted this heathen woman an answer to her prayer at first, the jealous and envious Jews might have been prejudiced against him. Had he granted her her request at first, she might not have valued the blessing so highly; for that blessing which is easily obtained is seldom as much valued as that which costs so much labor and toil. And besides, Jesus knew what was in her heart. He knew how much she could bear. He knew the strength of her faith, and this called it forth for the edification of his disciples, who at this time were but young and weak in the faith. As to affliction, it may be better for us to bear it for a while, than to have it removed; for affliction, when sanctified, "worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." The first prayer of many persons in the time of affliction is, "Lord, remove thy hand;" but, my friends, there is another prayer that ought to come before that; it is this, "Lord, let the end of this affliction be answered;" for when the end is answered, the affliction will be removed.
5. Genuine prayer is always humble and persevering. All her discouragements only served to bring this woman nearer to Jesus, till at last she fell at his feet, crying, "Lord, help me." Mark these expressions, "Lord, help me!" I do not profess to understand the rationality of the sentiment which supposes Jesus Christ to be but a mere man, and yet a good man. What would you think of these my brother ministers, if any one should address such language to them as this woman addressed to Christ and fall prostrate before them, as she fell prostrate before him? Would you not esteem such conduct idolatrous, for such it would certainly be; but it is not idolatry to worship Christ, for he is both God and man. I am glad to meet with those doxologies which ascribe equal glory to the Son as to the Father and Spirit, and would say, in the words of the excellent liturgy of the Church, "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen." And let all the people say, Amen. [Here the loud Amen was heard from every part of the house.]
6. There was an ingenuity as well as humility and fervency in this woman's prayer. Christ had said to her, "It is not meet to take the children's bread and give it to dogs." And who, my brethren, would have thought that she could extract an argument out of such a seeming repulse as this? Yet so it was: she admits the justice of the decision that the children's portion should not be given to the dogs, but yet claims that portion which, by common consent of all, belongs to them: "Give me the crumbs; I ask no more." This was enough; her suit was gained. "O woman, great is thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt." The treasury of divine benevolence was now opened to her. She had not only found the treasury, but the door into that treasury, and the key to open that door, and a hand to turn that key, and open that door, and take out of that treasury a supply of all her wants.
"Were half the breath that's vainly spent,
To heaven in supplication sent,
Our cheerful song would oftener be,
'Hear what the Lord hath done for me.'"
[Youth's Magazine.]
WORDS OF CHEER.
By D. T. T.
We are going home.
Long, long on weary foot we've pressed our way
Through time's drear night, till beams of endless day
Climb up heaven's cloudless dome.
The dews have chilled
Our spirits, and death's shafts sent through the gloom
Have thinned our ranks. Glad hearts the sullen tomb
In cold embrace hath stilled.
But He who died
Hath evermore been with us, and will be,
To bring us to that home where we shall see
Him, once the Crucified.
Soft unseen hands,
And rod, and staff shall guide our wandering feet
Gently o'er hill and dale, the blest to greet
'Mid glorious angel bands.
We're hastening now
To where death's shafts no more our hearts shall pain
And death divided friends shall meet again
In circles sweet, to bow
Before that throne
Where night comes not, nor ill, nor leaden foot
Of care, nor disappointment's crushing lot,
Nor toil, nor pain, nor groan.
O nevermore
Shall passion wild, or rage, or sin's dark shade
Or hate, or strife, or war's black wing invade
That calm and blissful shore.
O nevermore
In that pure, sinless world, shall we defile
The robes our King hath decked us with; the while
Our bursting grief outpour.
Courage, my soul!
Soon shall the weary fight of faith be past,
And thou shalt wear the conqueror's crown at last,
And gain the blessed goal!
D. T. T.—[Ad. Herald.
JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST.
By Evander
Such is one designation of the followers of Christ. Theirs is not an inheritance of which the world thinks much. It has little to do with time. It nearly all lies out beyond it. But it is an inheritance of which Christ himself partakes. It is a portion of his portion. Christians are to "enter into the joys of their Lord"—to partake of the same joy of which he partakes; rich, enduring, heavenly, unspeakable as it is. They are to "eat and drink at his table, in his kingdom." So he says, "Where he is, they are to be also." Not only so, but the nature of their happiness is to be the same as his. If his is to be great, so is theirs. If his is to be eternal, so is theirs. Such declarations startle the dull understanding and unbelief, from out its secret lurking place in the heart, lifts up its voice in seeming denial of the assertion. And the heart of even God's trusting people desires to be re-confirmed respecting promises so amazing. So slow are they, at times, to believe all that prophets and apostles have revealed concerning the plans, and greatness, and grace of the mediatorial work of our Saviour. Poor, grovelling worms, in truth, we are. What we see not, we are disposed to believe not. With natures prone earthward, we are become "willingly ignorant" of truths, adapted to raise us heavenward. We ask not, therefore we receive so little. We seek not, therefore our faith is so feeble, and we are ready to stumble, even at what God himself has said.
But might it not be reasonably expected that when God spoke of himself, and his plans of grace, he would sometimes speak in a manner likely to excite our amazement? His ways and thoughts are above man's. "His judgments are a great deep." Were it not better then to bow before him and adore, than to yield to the suggestions of blind unbelief? This, at least, is but just, that the doubter search, long and diligently, and with mind disposed to seize upon the enriching jewels of truth wherever met. If God speaks, let all the world hear. Let his words be searched, again and again. If what claims to be his revelation is but of doubtful authority, then it is but just that its demands be sifted. Let learning, and criticism, and candor be brought to the work, for it is for the interest of no man to be deceived concerning his spiritual welfare.
But the work of criticism and sifting comparison and exposition has been in progress for these many centuries; and yet, like a mountain of adamant amid an ocean, where lashing tempests rave and foam out their fury, so has stood the Word, which claims, and by its own indestructibility thus far, proves itself to be the Word of God. On this Rock then, we plant our feet, and listen, if hopefully, we may hear a voice amid the waving elements that tells us of a more peaceful abode, and tells us what we are, why we are here, whether our existence is to be ephemeral, or eternal; and if it is to be long drawn out, where and how it must be passed away. Our souls long for such a voice. "If God is," they cry, "if he is just and good, he will speak to his creatures. He will reveal himself to them, and tell them somewhat of the present and future."
And they listen not long in vain; for he does speak. THE VOICE COMES! Amid the surging waters, and above the murmur of all earthly tongues it speaks. And prophet-like it becomes every son of man to wrap his face in his mantle, and bow to earth in adoration, while a voice from heaven falls on his ear. For such a voice declares itself. The Word of God is its own proof. Laboring and sighing from her deepest self, the soul of man answers back, "It is the voice of God!"
And what should it reveal, next to the existence of God himself, if not man's spiritual wants and prospects? And shall it be thought strange, or incredible, if its revelations bring great and glorious things to light? Are not these just the things for which the restless spirit longs? It is disgusted with the mere dogmas of men. It has "tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and has found them liars." It returns heart sick, and in anguish from "the spirits of devils working miracles." And yet such is the power of unbelief, that the soul yet unrenewed starts back, and broods in unbelief over the very lines that reveal its own career. Oh! wretched, suicidal unbelief! It fetters the spirit in which it inheres. It drives its peace away. Over all that God has made beautiful and truthful, it would fling the dark pall of doubt and distrust. The "glad tidings" of the redeeming work of "God manifest in the flesh," and of eternal heirship with him, it would scout as the wild vagary of dreaming enthusiasm.
But man must trust in something. This cannot be in unaided human wisdom. Our hope must have anchorage somewhere. But it cannot be on the quicksands of time. We must be led, or we are sure to fall. But on what arm are we willing to lean except of omnipotence? We must have instruction. But for these thousands of years man has been listening to man, but he has only groped from shade onward to deeper shade. No light springs up from below. Then let God be our sun. This world has looked everywhere else, but has only wearied itself by gazing out upon the thick darkness that has mantled over the abodes of men. Except those portions where the light of the Sun of Righteousness has fallen, all is still darkness profound. "The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."
We are then "shut up to faith in the gospel." If that is not true, then it is certain no confidence can be placed in aught else that man has ever found; and touching our present, and still more touching our future, we are enveloped in darkness that may be felt. It is something worse than mockery to point us to the old wives fables, of profane babblings of necromancers, or any other effete, dug up and galvanised doctrines of heathenism. The father of lies has long enough tantalized the children of men with "signs, and lying wonders, and deceivableness of unrighteousness."
Back then to the Word which claims and substantiates its own claims to be the Word of God, we will command our hearts. All else is certainly dark. Here are gleams of light. Nay, here is glorious day. Experience proves that nought else ever really pacifies the soul. Here God has revealed himself, as the confiding soul feels, in a manner consonant with his own greatness, holiness and truth. From the "kingdom which cannot be moved," the believer19exclaims, "Neither sophistry of man, nor machination of devil, shall ever drive me, God being my help!" Here the joint heirship of Christ's people with God, and joint heirship with Christ himself is made certain. Such joys as dwell in the Saviour's mind, such will be those of his people. If his fellowship is with the Father, so will be theirs. That of which he partakes, will be their portion. His blessedness will be also theirs. The Spirit that dwells in him, will also dwell in them. Most amazing thought! Who would dare to give it utterance, had not the holy Spirit first uttered it? But here it is, written out by the finger of God, "If children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ." EVANDER.—[Gen. Evangelist.
Death Conquered Through Christ
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction. Hos. xiii, 14. Christ having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Col. ii, 15.
The world is afraid of a hidden poison where there is none. The real hidden poison is sin, which, the Lord grant me to fear, is everywhere, for it has infected all things and all places. But O, my dear Saviour, thou being my all-sufficient preservative and antidote in all places, O dwell in me continually, and increase thou my faith, that I may know thee and enjoy thee more and more. Take away all slavish fears of death and hell from my soul, for thou hast conquered both for me.
Hosanna to the Prince of light,
That clothed himself in clay;
Entered the iron gates of death,
And tore the bars away.
Death is no more the king of dread!
Since our Immanuel rose;
He took the tyrant's sting away,
And spoiled our hellish foes.
Now holy triumphs of the soul
Shall death itself outbrave,
Leave dull mortality behind,
And fly beyond the grave. Gold. Treas.
Bible Valued.
WHAT an invaluable blessing is it to have the Bible in our own tongue! Our forefathers rejoiced when they were first favored with the opportunity of reading for themselves. We are told, that when Archbishop Cranmer’s edition of the Bible was printed in 1538, and fixed to a desk in all parochial churches, the ardor with which men flocked to read it was incredible. They who could, procured it; and they who could not, crowded to read it, or to hear it read in churches, where it was common to see little assemblies of mechanics meeting together for that purpose after the labor of the day. Many even learned to read in their old age that they might have the pleasure of instructing themselves from the Scriptures. Mr. Fox mentions two apprentices who joined each his little stock, and bought a Bible, which at every interval of leisure they read; but being afraid of their master, who was a zealous papist, they kept it under the straw of their bed.
By law, however, in the 34th of Henry VIII, it was enacted, that no women, except noblewomen and gentlewoman, might read to themselves alone, or to others, any texts of the Bible, &c.; nor artificers, apprentices, journeymen, husbandmen, nor laborers, were to read the Bible or New Testament in English to themselves, or to any other person, privately or openly. With what pleasure ought we to reflect on our deliverance from those times of darkness, and that now we live in a land of Bibles, and in a time when they are circulating in almost every part of the world!
The Rev. Mr. Newton, of Wakefield, speaking in favor of Bible Associations, mentioned a circumstance which took place in one of the Associations at the west end of London. The persons who had undertaken to solicit subscriptions called on the master of an ale-house, who refused to subscribe. They proceeded to state some of the benefits of the Associations, and the great want of Bibles; but still he refused. They then asked his reason. He replied, “They do harm.” “How so?” “Why since the poor have subscribed to your Association, they have not frequented my house so much as they did.” “But they still will come to you for what they want.” “True; but before they used to come on Sunday evenings, and smoke their pipes, but now they stay at home and read their Bibles—I will therefore have nothing to say to you.” The friends of the Bible, however, still persevered, saying, “Those who read their Bibles, there find it written, ‘owe no man anything’; they therefore learn to pay for what they have.” “Ah! ah! I never thought of that,” cried he; “it is better, then; I find, to sell less, than to have many bad debts;” and with this he immediately subscribed.
Admonitions of the Bible.
Among the Lacedæmonians there was a law that none should inform his neighbor of any evil that had befallen him; but every man should be left to find it out in process of time. How many ministers and people act as if such law existed in Britain! They dare not tell, and are unwilling to be told, that “the wages of sin is death,” and that the wrath of God abideth on every unbeliever. But the law of God’s house is exactly the reverse of that we have mentioned. “Son of man,” saith the Lord, “I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel;” &c., &c.
Attachment to the Bible.
One thing which evidently distinguishes the Christian from other characters, is his attachment to the Bible. Some have been ready to part with all rather than with the Scriptures. We read of one that gave a load of hay for only a leaf of one of the epistles. The famous Boyle, who died 30th December, 1691, said, speaking of the Scriptures, “I prefer a sprig of the tree of life to a whole load of hay.” Judge Hale, that ornament of his profession and country, said that if he did not honor God’s word by reading a portion of it every morning, things went not well with him all the day. Robert, king of Sicily, said, “The holy books are dearer to me than my kingdom, and were I under any necessity of quitting one, it should be my diadem.” And such is the love of every Christian to the sacred volume, that he esteems it, as Job says “more than his necessary food.”—Relig. Anec.
Christians Must Endure Persecution
All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Tim. iii, 12. The world hath hated them, because they are not of the world. John xvii, 14.
The children of God do not love and please the world, and are oftentimes greatly afflicted on account of abounding wickedness, and particularly the profanation of the Lord’s name. Now, when you can like the world, and the world can like you, there must be much worldliness in you; for the world loves its own.
Many pretend to be Christians, but they will not endure persecution. Instead of this, they blame others for too much rashness, and not acting prudently enough to avoid the mockings and hatred of the world. Therefore, they propose to take wiser measures; and, in order to do more good, take great care not to be despised and rejected; but under this pretense of wisdom and prudence, very often lie concealed a dangerous love of the world and fear of man. Be thou nobler minded, live as a Christian indeed, and be not ashamed to bear the cross of Christ. “The disciple is not above his master.” Has eternal love, wisdom, and power endured the20contradiction and reproach of sinners? Thou wouldst be wiser than he indeed, if thou couldst escape the reproach and hatred of the world.
An Apt Reply.
A boy was once converted while at sea. His wicked companions began at once to tease and vex him in every possible way, but he stood firm, and nothing was able to move him. At length even some of the officers were so base and unmanly as to endeavor to overthrow his faith. One of them used to send for the lad during the only period he had to read and improve his mind, and then try him with perplexing questions.
Once he asked him where Cain got his wife? Now, mark the wisdom and propriety of the young believer’s reply:
“Sir, I am ignorant. The only answer I can give you is, my God knows where Cain got his wife, and I did not ask him this question when I felt the burden of my sins, but I cried, God be merciful to me a sinner.”
This was the perfection of right reason. No speculative question can trouble a soul convinced of sin. Whether it can answer objections or not, is of no moment. The great truths of duty, sin, punishment, and atonement, are so impressed upon the conscience, that it cheerfully remits all debatable points to the period of full and cloudless light in a future world. As in the case before us, the sailor boy did not know the easy and sufficient answer to the officer’s difficulty, but his ignorance did not hinder his peace, or his faith. He knew by the witness of the Spirit with his own spirit, that the Bible was of God, and he knew, therefore, that there was an answer to every rational inquiry, although he might not then be acquainted with it. He instinctively felt that all truth was consistent with itself, whether men can see its consistency or not.
Persons older in years and far more favored in opportunities than this poor boy, might with advantage borrow a leaf from his experience.
How Slavery Makes Infidels
HOW TO MAKE INFIDELS.—The profound silence of many of our churches, missionary enterprises, Sunday school unions, and tract societies, on one of the greatest sins of the age, has been the cause of much rebuke and open blasphemy! What must an eagle-eyed world of sinners think and say to see such men as Rev. N. Adams, an advocate of “the sum of all villanies,” placed on the executive committee of the American Tract Society! And such men as Judge O’Neil, a wicked, cruel, inveterate slaveholder, chosen as vice-president of the American Bible Society! The Zion’s Herald alluding to these facts, says:
“This discussion is of grave import. Much of the Christianity in this country is weakened and crippled. A religion that dares not rebuke stealing, adultery, and blasphemy, under the general name of slavery, is a whited sepulchre, and is in alliance with the bitterest foes of Christ. If the American Tract Society, through a squeamish conservatism, a most unmartyr-like fear and liberalism has been betrayed into this sin, let it repent, and bring forth works meet for repentance.”—Golden Rule.
GET THEIR HATRED.
Well brother, suppose you do get their hatred, what then? neglect your duty? refuse to rebuke the Sabbath-breaker, the profane swearer, the rum-seller, the whore-monger, the slave-holder, the time server, because you may perchance stir the sediment of the wicked, corrupt, selfish heart?
Suppose Christ and the apostles had taken this course? They rebuked sin, every sin, all sin, specified sins, laid their finger on the spot of the leprosy. Why was Christ hated?
Will this refusal to reprove sin in high places and low places, for fear of giving offense, be acceptable to God? “Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor and not suffer sin upon him.” Do your duty in the Spirit of Christ, and leave the results with God; come life, come death, clear your skirts of blood. This lack of Christian faithfulness is the cause of the present corrupt state of the church and the world.
Golden Rule.
Book of Conscience.
Wouldst thou know whether thy name be written in the book of life? Why then read what thou hast written in the book of conscience. Thou needst not ask, who shall ascend up into heaven, to search the records of eternity; thou mayest but descend down into thine own heart, and there read what thou art, and what thou shalt be. Though God's book of providence be closed and kept above with God, yet thy book of conscience is open, and kept below in thy very bosom; and what thou writest here, thou shalt be sure to read there. If I write nothing in this book but the black lines of sin, I shall find nothing in God's book but the red lines of condemnation: but, if I write God's words in the book of conscience, I may be sure God has written my name in the book of life. At the great day of judgment, when all books shall be opened, there I shall either read the sweetest or the sharpest lines; I will therefore so write here, that I may not be ashamed to read hereafter.