Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-02-09

completes sixty years. slDce nDy set
element here in the gospel ministry;
and nearly sixty one and half, since
| first beheId, from that elevated spot
yonder, the abodes of your venerable
ancestors; bearing even then, impress
siye marks of primitive simplicity; and
disclosing as they came TO be uniolded,
a character like that OF the ancIents;
an inside often better looking than the
outer; and precious remainder of
such pety as the first pilgrims brought
with them; or such as the nera ic
NORTON, RoGERs, CoBBET, HUB.
BARD and the three other RoGERs's
IN their generations contribute d, under
Heavens blessing, TO originate, TO en-
liven and prolong
Thanks be to God. he has not left
this ministry TO an essential filling OFT
from the principles, which your tsth-
ers were wiling to suffer so muciH for.
Nor ought | to say, that its generas
intention has not been the same. Bot
conceive, my dear brethren, how such
a monument of the Lords mercy, as
you now have before you, coming af.
ter such predecessors, and permitted
TO outlive such catalogue of your
younger brethren, of achom the aoorld
teaS not 1Uort]ig; must to have done
more, and better, in this great and
good work, for the Redeeme. 8 hon.
our, and the immortal good of my
people! You will irnplore The Divine
favor, that the hand breadth of time
yet left me, may be rendered be-
neficial in one form or other, 10 your
selves or TO your children. And God
forbid, that should cease praying
for you!
We are called to note with great
thankfnlness, that some mercy drops,
at different seasons, have been grant
ed to us: and that between May 1898.
and May 1901, fifty were added to
the communion; twenty five since: and
that the whole number of additions
since 1855 IS 121. Shall | not add
With affection, that within The last year.
hopes are entertained OF a desirable
number more? May Divine mercy
grant, that none OF these hopes may
prove abortive! Grant likewise; that,
instead of decline of soul reforma-
ton, all praying people may be reused
and strengthened airesh, to contribute
their foil part 10 1t; and that Spirit of
grace, on whom all depends, awake
you all my beloved people, and that
so. there shall be no more slumberiDg,
"
When | look around, am struck
with the absence OF almost all, who
were heads of families, at the com.
mencement of this sacred relation, all
except FIVE, If j am correct, and of
these, one man only - What numbers
hesides, have retired OF younger per. (
sons Part OF my minutes are misiaid.
But Is 10 year - " hIch seems to
have been our average numheF--a-
'noant to nine hundred What gloom
this sheds on the state of society -
how many excellent persons, male
and female, and much endeared to
their pastor, have been follow ed to the
grave! What can relieve this gloom,
but powerful, and extended revival
OF religion, pure and unde6led!
Shall we nol then for this redouble
our prayers? o Lord, revive thy work!
Lord God Of Israel, turn US again.
cause thy face TO shine, and we shall
be saved?
LET not sleep (sGys PythGsoras,)
fall upan thy eyes, till toou hast fkice
reviewed the transactions of the past
day Where have turned aside from
rectitude? What have / been doing2
What have ! left undone, which r.
ought to have done? Begin thus from
the first act, and proceed, and in con.
cIusion, at the i'll whch.thou hast done
be troubled, and rejoice at the good"
Hypocrisy is cruel stepmother,
an "injusta noue' ca" to the honest,
whom she cheats of their birth right,
in order to confer il on kna,es, to
" hom she is indeed mother Ve' ily
theg haze their re,Card" Let them
enjoy it, hot not accuse the upright of
an ignorance OF the world. which