Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-03-18

ana OF the most respectable standi.
in society.
The a1stof June and 4th of Octo
tober are appointed for fast days.
The next annual Conference vii
be heldat Richmond, Va. on the goth
OF February next.
! The following was received from, /,
society of the convicts In the VIRGINS
Penitentiary.
Richmond, ooh ssysanuary 1871.
10 ne Bishoeg Elders, Deacons and Ministers
;91ich eo',pose The gfrgiafa Conference 10 be
! ne.a az Rafeigh, NORTH Caroiina, February
The Members OF the Church of
Christ, united 70 the Methodist So.
ciety, called by Grace while confined
in the Virginia Penitentiary, and who
are still continued under that couine-
ment wisheth Grace, Mercy and
Peace from God the Father and from
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ii is with unspeakable 10y that we
address you to declare unto you the
abundant goodness of God towards
us. In nature's darkness we were in
love with sin; we pursued divers va
mites and sought the qualification of
various lusts, which were contrary to
our real happiness, and very often in
haned our hearts with anguish. The
gay pleasures of the world ENGAGED
our pursuits. They appeared fair to
US, and strongly struck our ambition.
lhe force OF our imagination worked
on this illusion, which was so power.
fui as 10 strike dead within us every
Inclination to virtue. We lost SIGHT
OF our real interests, and were chained
20 the world BY its charms, and even
when we attained the objects of our
pursuits, we were still unsatis6ed and
sighed for other scenes to amnse us.
The grand adversary of our peace
poured such blaze of false glory in
our minds, that it made the vani,ies of
the world illustrious objects to our
view. The fascination was poweriul.
We did not clearly perceive that
these were mere empty bubbles riding
high on the foaming pillows of life
nor did we with propriety consider that
vast eternity, whi.her we were hast.
ening, which swallows UP all the vain
ambitions oftime aud we continued
our vain pursuits which has brought
us to the serious catastrophe of vice,
under which We have fallen, where the
God OF grace has sent TO US the minis
ters OF his word, and the ilIuminatiops
OF his spirit, which gave Us a correct
view OF our folly, by which we saw
our danger; we saw ourselves exposed
to an awful, inhamed devouring He'll.
AWKWARD sense of guilt flied our
souls with anguish, in secret stiugs &
racks and scourees of Conscience.
We felt a conviction that we had an
immortal spirit within us, that is un.
satisfied with all attain .aents that re.
lates to this state of existence that
we were accountable to God, who
with a jealous eye marks the actions OF
our hearts, beholds the rise and pro.
gress of each desire and records the
fruit that it brings forth 10 cur lives /;
his presence filed our souls with awe.
and though exposed to much tempta-
ton and Distress, yet our souls beheid
with full desire, the best mercy and
resolved TO cieaye unto the Lord with
purpose OF heart. The word of God
faithfully preached unto US enabled US
to discover thar God was pleased to
offer to us, poor out casts Of mankind,
she pardon of our offences, and to be-
come reconciled 20 ns 10 Christ. Con.
vinced how much we needed his par
don, ON our paris. we accepted OF the
grace of God, thus offered to US, and
embraced the service, love aud obedi-
ence OF that precious Christ, who had
done and suffered SO much for u.s.
Being justified by faith, we have as
fruit of II, peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ. We feel the
power of inimitable love and passion
OF our dying Saviour in our hearts /;
our minds are impressed with a seri-
Gus sense Of God, Religion aud Eter-
nity. We NOW have found that the
path of peace is in the way OF rishte-
BUSINESS. M1pv OF the servants OF the