TO AN ABSENT FRIEND. We own, had justice urg'd his rigid claim, Through which all blessings to mankind are giv'n, Of heav'n prevail'd; stern justice sheath'd his sword; Triumphant mercy bore the blest report; And God himself pronounc'd th' omnific word! And, Savior, now a mightier boon—a joy Surpassing even this, from thee we craveA life that death itself cannot destroy That undecaying, blooms beyond the grave. Loose from our souls the last dread grasp of sin, And rouse their energies to "second birth;" O let them now their heavenly course begin, And soar untiring from the scenes of earth! Mercy, sweet pleader! tune thy voice again, And sue once more before the Prince of heav'n— Now let the theme of thy prevailing strain, Be the blest knowledge of all sin forgiv❜nThat, sav'd from endless death by Jesus' blood, We all may rise into the life of God. I LOVE to look upon the evening sky, To gaze upon the gentle moon on high, And trace the courses of the starry throng. I love to float a-down the gentle stream, I love to wander over nature's wilds, Where yet the foot of man hath never been; And hunt in shady grove and flowery mead, Each beautiful, unknown, sequestered scene. I love to watch the setting of the sun, While softly, light in darkness melts away! "THE Child of Fancy oft in silence bends, Original. TO AN ABSENT FRIEND. BY G. WATERMAN, JR. THOUGH by-gone days no more return, She darts some kind irradiant beam, By change of place be burst in twain, Like mountain oaks, alone be riven, Except the fiery bolts of heaven. Let memory oft around her bring The phantom forms of other days; Pursue their distant trackless ways. For as the rose-bud's bursting bloom So here the PARTING TEAR must fall- Till from on high the Savior's call Shall summons us from earth to heaven; And though lone pilgrims we may roam, Nor meet again on time's broad shore, We'll meet in heaven, our final home, Where parting scenes are known no more. 207 THIRD CHAPTER OF HABBAKKUK. The sun, Original. THE SAMPLER. I LIKE the sampler. Neatly framed in plain mahogany, with a glass cover, it wears the appearance of a decent, respectable old friend. It serves as a remembrancer of by-gone days, pleasantly and profitably spent, and is a token of early genius and industry. Beside, the inscriptions upon it are often of such a character as to inspire and cherish religious, devotional feelings. For instance, after practicing on the alphabet, in various forms, the young seamstress is likely to exercise herself in working upon her sampler the initials of beloved names, such as a father, a mother, brothers and sisters. Years after these letters have been woven into the canvass, the eye glancing upon it calls up the recollection of those absent, it may be, departed friends; and then of early, perchance of pious admonitions, and paternal prayers. The mind thus called into action, will run up with the alacrity of youth to the very dawn of its remembrance, and then, more slowly retracing its steps, travel down the history of the family, carefully gathering up every incident of joy, of sorrow, and of bereavement, and bind them up in a single volume, to be stored away as precious treasures in the secret chambers of the soul. This is not unmixed pleasure, yet there is pleasure in it, mingled with a kind of savory sadness, that induces the soul to steal away in the sweet solitude of holy contemplation, which may terminate in the closet before the throne of the heavenly grace, in a shower of penitential tears. And as in the natural, so in the spiritual world, after the storm is broken, the sun of hope will beam forth more brightly and benignantly than before. VARIETIES OF MIND. AMONG the contemplations of the thinking and intelligent, the varieties incident to the human mind will not be overlooked. What is man? He is indeed a creature; but he possesses a spark which was imparted by the Almighty. What, we may ask, was he in his primeval state? Then that spark shone in all its brilliancy-then he was spotless and innocent; but, at present, he is degraded, and he has lost that happiness which he before enjoyed. Even now, however, he shows himself superior to other creatures; but let him beware of being proud of a bestowed eminence. We are all at present liable to passion, and subject to change. It is pleasing to observe this not only in other persons, but also in ourselves. At one time cast down, at another time cheerful, we are, and must necessarily be influenced by circumstances; and we bend to them all, being affected in as many different shapes as there may be circumstances to cause the variations. Prosperity elates us; we should, therefore, remember that we do not exceed proper bounds; nor indulge so much in our joy, that we should be unable to bear sorrow whenever it may come. Adversity depresses us; Christians can bear it with patience, knowing that this world is not their home and resting place: others can tell better than we can, how they endure it. People are too often apt to lay their losses and gains to fortune: I think that a good and wise Providence ordains what shall befall a man; that there is no acting at random. Sometimes a man has to blame his own negligence, when adversity overtakes him. Act with a good conscience in all things; humbly rely on the Almighty; act up to the great doctrines of Christianity, and the precepts of our blessed Redeemer; and you will be his care, and he will give you needful things for body and soul. Those who despise our holy relig Again, the sampler often has wrought upon it some favorite verse, perhaps one with which the mother was wont to beguile the hour, when pressed with the bur-ion, have no consolation afforded them in the season den of domestic care. The sight of such a poetic fragment, will call up the recollection of that honored, perhaps sainted mother; and who, under such circumstances, has not proved the truth of the divine record, that, by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better? Whether the verse below is one that was thus a mother's favorite, I know not; but it is one that well deserves to be recorded, not only upon the sampler, but on the heart. "In its true light this transient life regard, SOUTHRON. "WE know the effects of many things, but the causes of few; experience, therefore, is a surer guide than imagination, and inquiry than conjecture. But those physical difficulties which you cannot account for, be very slow to arraign, for he that would be wiser than nature, would be wiser than God." of adversity: they are worse off than even the Roman moralist, who was a heathen. He could with rapture adopt those words so consoling to his mind, “O præclanum diem, cum ad illud divinam animorum, consilium cœlumque proficiscar; cumque ex hac turba et colluvione discedam." There is one passion so closely knit with the human heart, that I cannot forbear mentioning it; viz., sympathy. In misfortunes, as they are called, half the sting is blunted, if sympathy extend her aid. But for the assistance of kind friends, many a one could hardly have sustained the heavy burden. So strong is the desire of sympathy, that we often hear people recount their troubles, I could almost say, with a sort of satisfaction. In fact, the desire of it is inherent in human nature; and all must allow its beauty. Who, that has experienced the burden of ill-timed mirth, would wish to feel it again? There is a season for every thing, both for mirth and sorrow. Nature will have her way in this imperfect state. Perfection will not arrive till the immortal spirit, unfettered from the shackles of flesh and sense, shall enjoy its primitive freedom and blessedness. THE RECREANT FOILED. 209 Original. THE RECREANT FOILED. BY A. M. LORRAINE. consent to marry you while the world stands. It is true I am wild and irreligious; but the pious instructions of my parents, the religious opportunities which I have had, the many heart-searching sermons which I have heard, have for a long time disturbed my peace; Ar a very early period of my ministry, I labored in a and have determined me not to choose death. In view portion of the country where a singular circumstance of my natural proneness to ruin, I had determined to happened in the common walks of life. A well bred marry none but a man who would help me to save my young man, apparently under much religious concern, soul. I had flattered myself that you were such a charunited himself with an excellent religious society.acter, but thought it would be safe to try your steadAlthough he had formerly been rather wayward and fastness. When the proposal to leave your class was inconstant in his life, yet by his steady attendance on all first made, if you had rejected it with a manly and holy the means of grace, and the rapid improvement which indignation, you would have received my hand on the he seemed to make, in his religious course, he had gained spot. When you promised to consider the matter, I largely on the affections of his class-mates; and some saw an indecision of character that made me tremble. of the most pious and discerning had already begun to But even after so many days' deliberation, if you had regard him as a youth of some promise. In the same returned and said that you loved Zion above your chief neighborhood resided a comely, and in many re-joy-above father and mother and wife and all, then I spects, a very amiable girl. Heaven had, in mercy, could have confided my life in your hands. But the granted her one of the greatest of all earthly blessings, die is cast. You will please never mention the subject a pious parentage. But she was of an unusually vola-again-for ever." We hope the reader will never realtile disposition, and passionately fond of the world, its ize the anguish of the rejected suitor. The Church fashions and amusements. Our young friend saw avoided him as an insincere and dangerous character. her, loved her, and finally made proposals of marriage. The world, more cruel, reserved him as a standing Eliza acknowledged that she was pleased with him. target of ridicule. Some think that a compromising "But, William," said she, "there is one insuperable course, in religious matters, is most likely to win over barrier to our union. You profess religion, and I have their irreligious friends and connections. Hence they no reason to doubt your sincerity. You see what a have relaxed their fervor in the services of the sanctugiddy, vain, and heedless sinner I am. What domestic ary. They have even admitted the propriety of things happiness do you suppose will arise from our marriage? | which were doubtful, and shaped their profession too You, as a man of God, would feel it to be your duty to || much in conformity with the views of the world. This, erect a family altar; I am illy qualified to participate in holy exercises. You would love to see every thing clothed in the sombre aspect of Christianity; I might love to shine out with my fashionable friends. Consider the great gulf that lies between us. It is true, it is not impassable. But I am not prepared to come over to you, at present. It remains for you to consider whether you can forego your religious associations to accommodate me." William, with a sorrowful countenance and heavy sigh, observed that he would consider "One Sunday," said he, "when I had done reading the matter. A few days after, in a heartless and reluc-prayers at Madley, I went up into the pulpit, intending tant manner, he requested the leader to have his name to preach a sermon which I had prepared for that purerased from the class-book, when the preacher came round. The leader, supposing he was laboring under some cruel temptation of the enemy, urged him to confide in his integrity, and unbosom all his sorrows. The more solicitous the leader was to dissuade him from his purpose, the more earnestly he pressed his suit. The preacher, judging from the vehemency of his manner that all was not right, and that it might be more creditable to the Church to let him go, granted his request. It was not long before he stood before Eliza, and renewed his suit. She observed, "You are aware of the only difficulty that lies in the way -." Before she finished the sentence, he exclaimed, with a smile, "O that is removed-my name is taken from the bookI am no longer a Church member." The young lady fell back in her chair. A deadly paleness overspread her face, and with quivering lips she said, "I will never Vol. I.-27 we will admit, has often warded off persecution, and has sometimes restored peace in families; but it is a peace that impoverishes piety, enervates the soul, and is always bought at the expense of the cross and kingdom of Jesus Christ. We doubt whether this vacillating policy has ever saved a soul. Steadfastness and decision of faith have, and always will, where salvation is possible. What a remarkable illustration of this did Mr. Fletcher meet with in his ministry! I pose. But my mind was so confused, that I could not recollect either my text or any part of my sermon. was afraid I should be obliged to come down without saying any thing. But having recollected myself a little, I thought I would say something on the 1st Lesson, which was the third chapter of Daniel, containing the account of the three children cast into the fiery furnace. I found in doing it such extraordinary assistance from God, and such a peculiar enlargement of heart, that I supposed there must be some peculiar cause for it. I therefore desired, if any of the congregation found any thing particular, they would acquaint me with it in the ensuing week. In consequence of this the Wednesday after, a woman came and gave me the following account: 'I have been for sometime much concerned about my soul. I have attended the Church at all opportunities, and have spent much time in pri 210 GENIUS WORKING FOR HIRE. this transfer; but she became in a measure alienated from the Church of her choice, and estranged from many privileges and enjoyments which she had highly prized, and all without accomplishing her object. Neither do we question her motive. Doubtless she thought she was making a noble sacrifice, which God would highly approve. But we contend that the policy, itself, is founded on a mistake; that there is no safety 170 which is at once both the plea and the proof of their justice: an eloquence, so much above all present and all perishable things, that like the beam of the sun, it warms while it enlightens, and as it descends from heaven to earth, raises our thoughts from earth to heaven. When the great Kepler had at length discov ered the harmonious laws that regulate the motions of the heavenly bodies, he exclaimed, “Whether my discoveries will be read by posterity, or by my contemporaries, is a matter that concerns them, more than me. vate prayer. At this my husband (who is a butcher) || leave her in a society of comparative strangers. We has been exceedingly enraged, and threatened me se- do not mean that the good woman was destroyed by verely what he would do, if I did not leave off going to John Fletcher's Church; yea, if I dared to go any more to any religious meeting whatever. When I told him I could not in conscience refrain from going at least to our parish Church, he grew quite outrageous, and swore dreadfully if I went any more, he would cut my throat as soon as I came home. This made me cry mightily to God, that he would support me in the trying hour. Last Sunday, after many struggles with || in trampling on the divine injunction, "Be ye steadfast the devil and my own heart, I came down stairs ready and immovable, always abounding in the work of the for Church. My husband asked me whether I was re- Lord." solved to go thither. I told him I was. Well then, said he, I shall not (as I intended) cut your throat; but I will heat the oven and throw you in the moment you REWARDS OF GENIUS. come home. Notwithstanding this threatening, which THE drafts which true genius draws upon posterity, he enforced with many bitter oaths, I went to Church, although they may not always be honored so soon as praying all the way that God would strengthen me to they are due, are sure to be paid with compound intersuffer whatever might befall me. While you were est, in the end. Milton's expressions on his right to speaking of the three children whom Nebuchadnezzar this remuneration, constitute some of the finest efforts cast into the burning fiery furnace, I found it all be- of his mind. He never alludes to these high pretenlonged to me, and God applied every word to my heart.sions, but he appears to be animated by an eloquence, And when the sermon was ended, I thought if I had a thousand lives, I could lay them all down for God. I felt my whole soul so filled with love, that I hastened home fully determined to give myself to whatsoever God pleased; nothing doubting, but that either he would take me to heaven if he suffered me to be burned to death, or that he would some way deliver me, even as he did his three servants who trusted in him. When I got almost to our own door, I saw the flames issuing out of the mouth of the oven; and I expected nothing else but that I should be thrown into it immediately. II may well be contented to wait one century for a reader, felt my heart rejoice that if it were so, the will of the Lord would be done. I opened the door, and to my utter astonishment, saw my husband upon his knees, wrestling with God in prayer for the forgiveness of his sins. He caught me in his arms, earnestly begged my GENIUS WORKING FOR HIRE. pardon, and has continued diligently seeking God ever since.' I now know why my sermon was taken from It is perhaps impossible for great genius to work exme; namely, that God might magnify his mercy." If pressly and avowedly for hire without being haunted or this woman had relaxed her faith in God, to accommo-injured by that unhappy consciousness. A book-seller date her religion to the unreasonable whims of her hus-offered the Rev. Robert Hall a thousand guineas for ten band, could she have expected the same favorable result? sermons, and after his first refusal, strenuously and reWe meet with too many facts in the Church, to linger peatedly urged him to accept the offer. Mr. Hall one moment in doubt on this question. replied, that if it were no other obstacle in the way of I remember a pious lady, who in early life for- his accepting the proposals, the mere business-like charsook all for Christ. She loved her Church, and was acter of the transaction, the bare naked form in which warmly attached to all its institutions. In expressing pecuniary remuneration was mixed up with it, would the love which she had for the people of her choice, form an objection quite insuperable, and transform an she would sometimes incautiously observe, that no con- occupation which ought to be spontaneous, and theresideration under heaven could induce her to leave her fore delightful, into intolerable drudgery. "A thousand Church and join another, but the salvation of her hus-guineas, sir!" said Robert Hall, “I should soon begin band. He was not only irreligious, but particularly to calculate how much it was for each sermon; then I opposed to that Church. At a certain time he became, ||should get down to a page, and from pages to paraapparently, very thoughtful, and joined another Church. graphs and sentences, and at last to words and syllaShe, with the purest motive in the world, followed him. bles; should think every word clear gain, and become But it soon became evident that he had used this strat-impatient of erasure and correction!-Sir, it is imposagem to seduce her from her religious associates, and to sible that I could do it." when God himself, during so many thousand years, has waited for an observer like myself."-Colton. w@©�་་་་- CHRISTIAN PATRIOTISM. 211 Original. CHRISTIAN PATRIOTISM. -- of perfect and universal sanctification, and it would not render civil government unnecessary or inexpedient. It would modify our political constitutions, by relaxing ▲ DISCOURSE DELIVERED IN ASBURY CHAPEL, CINCINNATI, the rigor of their provisions and rendering penalties MAY 14, 1841.* BY L. L. HAMLINE. useless. But national distinctions would remain, and would perpetuate the bonds of civil compacts. Before government can be dispensed with, men must be infallible in understanding as well as immaculate in purpose. I repeat, therefore, that civil government is ne CHRISTIAN CITIZENS,-We are brought, just now, to a solemn pause. An unexpected and deplored event assembles millions in the temples of religion, to hum-cessary, and its worst form is better than none. ble themselves devotionally before God, and to consider But all forms are not of equal utility. Some govthe meaning of his providences. Thus we are assem-ernments are evil, though less evil than anarchy. bled. The tenor of the Proclamation which convenes Good government is among the choicest donations of us must govern our meditations. It calls us, not to pronounce eulogies on the illustrious dead; but to offer prayer to the supreme Governor of nations, for our country-for its government, so much the object of our solicitude and prayers-for its surviving rulers, burdened with such delicate and vital trusts; and for ourselves, under God the sovereign guardians of its integ-usages which create the depositories of civil power. rity and welfare. Providence. It is good in itself, and it enhances the value of every other gift. Whether government shall be a blessing or a curse, or both by turns, or both with subtractions and mitigations, depends much on the provisions of the civil constitution. By constitution I mean those written instruments, or those cherished The Constitution prescribes that the supreme power Prayer is helped by meditation. To contemplate shall be in one, in many, or in a majority. It dictates the good which our prayers are intended to secure, will how much power public officers shall sway-whether feed the fervor of our devotions. Let us, then, while they shall be elective or hereditary-whether the legisperforming acts of national humiliation, glance at those lative, judicial, and executive departments shall be social interests, whose perpetual preservation we anx-blended or severed, and other cardinal principles of iously implore. The genius of our Federal Constitu- equal and of vital moment. tion demands that we institute frequent and solemn inquisitions to assure us of the integrity of its ministers and of its beneficent operation. And it is in harmony with the event which has convened us, and with the patriotism which glowed in the bosom of our lamented Chief Magistrate, that our thoughts and sympathies should travel forth, and be busied in devices for the welfare of the nation. Assembled as we are, to implore blessings on our country, how meet it is to inquire what will make that country blest! The Constitution, then, has much to do with the prosperity or adversity of any nation. It is true that under the worst constitution the people may enjoy prosperous periods. In an absolute monarchy, where the will of the sovereign is law, and where the most cruel mandates are unquestioned, tyranny cannot always occupy the throne. It will now and then leave an interregnum to be filled by a gentler spirit, under whose generous sceptre the oppressed may breathe. But these are only accidental or providential intervals I shall invite your patient but brief attention to the in the career of tyranny. Government should secure following questions: something to its subjects. Men should so fashion it as to enforce its contributions to their peace and happiness. God has nowhere commanded us to erect I. What blessings should we seek for our country? 1. Amongst national blessings, I will name a benefi- thrones, invest them with the indefeasible prerogatives cent form of civil government. Government is necessary. This is implied in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures, and has been confessed in all ages. A few years since it could not have been believed that an American would rise up and denounce all human government. It remained for recent times, with its unprecedented ultraisms-its neological advances in religion, in philanthropy and in social improvement, to commence crusades against all political institutions. It has been justly held that the worst government is better than none, because without it society could not exist. Let religion reach the point of tyranny, and yield them to the possession of whomsoever the issues of war or stratagem may place thereon. Nor has he called us to construct governments whose principles shall subject us to the ministry of mercy or of malevolence, according as good or evil men shall chance to ascend the seats of power. So far from this, we are morally obliged to secure, if possible, forms of government which shall not only yield brief periods of prosperity, but which shall secure to us unremitted thrift and happiness-forms which shall not render tyranny facile and protection difficult; but such as shall make equity and clemency inevitable, and oppression, as nearly as may be, impossible. Under the in*This discourse was written amidst pressing cares and influence of such governments, society assumes new and the greatest haste, with so little thought of its being published, attractive forms. Where they exist, they should be that it was deemed scarcely fit for an audience. But as the cherished with almost as much solicitude as was the meeting of Trustees and the Leaders' meeting have each called for its publication by formal vote, the writer does not feel fire upon the Jewish altar. at liberty to withhold it. In all these respects no government excels our own. |