Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-07-10

laugh OF scorners, who could re
fate their arguments, resist their ex
ample, and defy their violence. There
has never been an hour or an age, 10
which this formidable weapon has
been more actively employed against
the Christian faith than our own day
Wit aud ridicule have formed The polg
nant sauce with which iufIdels have
seasoned their abstract reasoning, and
volupluaries the swinish messes of pol
lotion, which they have spread IN
blushingIy before the public. 1t is a
weapon suited to the character OF The
Apostate Spirit himself, such as we
conceive him to be--IoVing nothing,
honcring nothing, feeling neither The
enthusiasm OF religion nor OF praise,
but striving TO debasc all that is excel.
lent, and degrade all that is praise
worthy, by cold irony and contemp-
tuous Snecrlng
We are far from terming harmless
qualification of gay and lively spirit
sinful or even useless
But supposing it true that Jest
mug sometimes hit hIm who flies SER
mon, toe surely there are hundred
cases for one, where the sermon can
not remedy tn evil which a Jest ha,
produced. According to oer strangely
varied faculties, our sense oil rldIcu,c,
although silent. remiins in amaush
| and upon the watch during Offices Of
The deepest solemnity, and actions Of
he highest subIimity; and II aughf
happens to call it into action, the seu5e
If the lud,crous becomes more resist
less, from the previous contrast, and
| the considerations of decorum, which
ought TO restrain our Inrth, prove like
oil seeibed upon the fame. There is
also an unhappy desire in onr corrup1
nature, to approve oil an iaci'y even in
wickedness, as men chiefly applaud
hose leals OF agility which are perform.
ID at the risk Of the artists HE. AM
such Is the strength and Frequency OF
this unhallowed temptation, tina, there
are, perhaps, but few, who have not,
at one time or other, fallen into the
snare, and laughed al thar, AT which
they ought 10 have trembied. But. o
my soul, come not thou into their secret
nor yield thy part oflhe promised bles
sing, for the poor qualification of SIT
ting IN the seat of the scornCr, and sha
iring in the Improbable mir,h of fools
" hich is like the cracking of thorn,
under poI
| The truly pious man
| For The Lord knoapeth The auag of
the righteous, but the auay Of the IN
godiy shaa PERISH The otpniscience
Of the Deity is the touchsone by which
The. merits of the righteous, and the
guilt of the wicked, shall ultimately be
| determined No false opinions formed
{ concerning them during life, can de
ceive that unerring Judge; no counter
| cit however brilliant, can pass for pure
gold; no forgery, however ingenious
can supply the place Of the testimonial
which he demands. The Lo, d kno,p
eth the aoay Of The righteous. III.
vas perhaps lightly esteemed among
MS fellow mrn, considered as an On.
ocial aud scropulous devo,ee: an enc
my 10 flee investigation, because he
walked not by the counsel of the un
cody; q severe censuter OF bar mless
leyitles, because he stood not in the
| way OF sinners; a foe to iunocen, mlrth
because be sat not in the seat of the
scorner. Let him nevertheless come
heldly before the heavenly Judge: I'll
knoweth his ways When bus left
hand knew not the good deeds which
were wrought by his right, the Lord
beheld them HIS eye was upon him
in solitude and secrecy, and his Spirit
guided him during his daily and night
~ medltsiions on his law Atthe lime
when the righteous was perhaps most
mlsconstrued by bis brethren Of men,
he was most acceptable TO his heavenly
Father, who knew his way-not his
actions only however secret. but the
principles upon which these actions
were founded.