Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-08-10
From the Christian Waterman.
ON cARIsrIAN AcTlyITY.

Genuine Christianity is connected with
strong and prevailing desire to promote
the happiness OF mankind.-The gospel
inspires unremitting diligence aud activity.
Like some majestic river, its salutary
waters not only cleanse and purify, bul
impart health, fertility and vigor. Dl
vine grace, when it gains abundance to
the mind, is accompanied with wonder
lul power aud efficacy. lis quickening
impulse resuscitates the dormant faculties,
and unfoids to the believer sphere oil
action exactly corresponding with his
renewed taste and disposition. Incidence
cannot be Incorporated with those pure
and active principles, which form the
legibie characteristics Of pure and una
duiterated pieiy. Like the Conseaiins
irosts OF winter, it would paralyze the
tenderest seGsibilities OF the heart, aud
suspend the influence OF those heavenly
and benign graces which impart the high
est dignity to the christian profession.
The religion of Christ Is Transforming in
its nature; and the effects it produces are
commensurate with lis power. Those who
are under its gracious influence, often ex
hibit degree of zeal and activity OF
holy warmth and spiritual energy; which
the loose wording, and cold Journalist
whose conceptions are less elevated, and
whose views are limited by sublunary OBJ.
j, cts, consider quite unnecessary aud en-.
thusiastic. Where religion is not mere
nominal thing, it reigns without rival in
The breast. The individual who feels its
power will joyiully devote his time, his
talents and his property, TO promote and
extend its peaceful triumphs. Such an
one cannot remain inactive. The con.
straining influence of Savior's love will
silence the guilty pleadings OF sioth and
supineness. 'ris not for him to fold his
arms in criminal iusensibility, or careless
" reciine upon the Jap OF indulgence
He has become new creature new
aud spiritual world is revealed to his
view. The thick darkness has fled away
and the Sun of Righteousness rising in
mild respiendence, has enkindIed in his
bosom flame of inextinguishabIe devo-
ton. Suppose man blind should sud
denly be blessed with the full and perfect
enjoyment Of vision; what effect would
the astonishing change produce Would
be sicken at the prospect of a lovely
world, arrayed in surprising beauty aud
magnifcence No--the numberless and
Enchanting scenes displayed before him,
would electrify his soul, and dilfuse new
life and energy through every faculty.
And thus it is with the believer 10 Jesus
By the energetic power Of divine grace,
he is brought out Of darkness into Gods
marvellous light ;--his joy full spirit is
completely emancipated from the wretch
ed servitude of sin and Satan the agony
of guilt is removed from his agitated con-
science; and " joy unspeakable and full Of
glory y is freely aud abundantly impaired :
"Then liberty, like day,
Breaks on the soul, and by flash from heaven,
Fires all his faculties with glorious joy
The understanding energies from the
midnight gloom 10 which it had been en-
veloped. The will bows 10 sweet SUBJ
mission to crucified Saviour and the
affections glow with unmingled philan-
thropy. o, how lovely is Piety, when
arrayed in her native gIory-when dis
playing her own unborrowed Iustre and
projections !! She possesses attractions ia
finiteIy superior to all the destinations of
the world. The bliss of heaven is 10 her
smile-her visitations are accompanied
with all that can enoble and elevate the
soul. With the cord of love, she draws
the believer from the seductive objects of
sense, and enables him with holy con-
stancy to stem the torrent of popular
prejudices, and to hold on his way to the
mansions OF unchanging fruition and Oh.
rity. The smile of hope, Christian,
should ever be seated upon thy counte-
nance, aud the beam Of inward tranquiIli-
ty repose upon the brow. Soon the
clouds Of aflliction win dispense, and the
chilling glooms of dependency vanish
away.-Take courage, trembling believer
-redouble thy diligence and activity
thy tolls and ahxieties will close for ever.
aud the bosom of heavenly felicity shall
be thy final rest. Thou art now on the
ocean Of life, exposed to painful vicissi-
tudes---the winds howl around thee--the
snrges roar, and rocks and quicksands
threaten thy destruction. But thou art
still a happy voyager.--He who rules the
storm, and rides upon the tempest, is thy
friend the Bible is thy chart, and Jesus
is thy pilot. Persevere, then, to the end
Every day thou art approaching nearer to
the "New-JerusaIem," the final aud bliss
ill abode Of all the redeemed. There
shalt thou partake of g the tree of life. .
and battle 10 that squire river of water. .
as " clear as chrystal, proceeding ou,
of the throne Of God and the Lamb"
And on thy trinmphant entry into thai