Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-09-01

the knowledge Of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ.
We have been once more led to take q
view OF the responsibility which attache:
to parents and heads of families. 1c
train up our children, servants, and those
under our care, both by example and
precept, in religious life and convcrsa.
ton, consistent with our Christian pro.
fcssion, is duty Of n very serious ma
ture. We besecch our dear friends Ia
reflect on its vast importance, and in or
der to perform it rightly, to press after
true godliness. Never shall we be found
faithful stewards in this respect, until we
are ourselves men of prayer, weancd
from the spirit Of the world, and walking
in the revercnt fear of God our Father.
We have, on the present occasion,
deeply felt the loss Of some OF our be-
loved friends, lately removed by death,
whose labors were greatly esteemed a.
mongst us, and who, we humbIy believe,
have entered into THEN rest. Our hearts
are also turned in Christian sympathy to
those who, by their increasing miirmi-
ties, are prevented from giving us their
company. We highly value that travail
of soul which our elder brethren and sis-
ters in the Lord (now that their day OF
active service is nearly over are main
tainlng for the good of the church, and
IT. preservation in Christian purity; we
honor them for their works sake " e
tenderly desire that now, in the evening
OF life, they may partake of the rich con
solutions which are in Christ Jesus; and
that, being preserved in faith and pa
tience unto the end, whilst they bave To
say with the Psalmist, "Ny flesh and
my heart taileth," they may adopt ,he
language, "but God is the strength OF
my heat, and my portion forever"
10 our young friends particularly, we
would atlectonately recommend fire.
quent recurrence to the first principles of
our religious profession, which we con-
slider to be those of pure Christianity -
An establishment in these prime piles
would, We believe, preserve US consist
ent both in faith and practice, and pre-
vent our being improperly moved, by the
varying notions which are so common in
the present day. We long to impress
upon yon, dear your friends, the beauty
and value Of an early and o! unrcservcd
dedication of yourselves to God: cult
vatc tender and enlightened conscience
and obey His law with all sincerity -
BE faithful in maintaining your plain
ness of speech, behaviour, ard apparel
Cherish those Wholesome restraints of
guarded and religious education, of
which the evident tendency is to keep
you out OF the way of evil.-We intreat
you to avoid speculation and disputation
on religious subjects; far these will him
der instead OF promoting your growth in
grace. Let all your conversations on the
sacred truths Of the Gospel be conduct
ed under a due sense of their importance,
and in the true fear of God. Carefully
peruse the Holy Scriptures, and medi-
tate upon them in private. Above all,
delight yourselves in communion with
God; and lead life of prayer; then will
the blessed word of promise be yours,
81 will be Father unto you, and ye
shall be my sons and daughters, saith the
Lord Almighty"
1t is satisfactory to observe, that with
little exception, Friends continue to bear
a faithful and Christian testimony against
the payment of tithes and other eccle-I
siastical demands. The amount of dis
traints made upon the members Of our
Society for these claims, during the last
year, as reported to this Meeting, is up
wards of fourteen thousand two hundred
pounds. May we ever bear in mind the
ground of our testimony against the anti
christian imposition Of tithes, and be
steadtast and consistent in upholding our
views of the spirituality and freedom of
the ministry OF the Gospel. We consid
er those views to be founded on the very
nature of the Christian dispensation, as.
well as on the plain command of Christ,
Freely ye have received, freely give.
Our testimony on this subject is purely
Christians; and hence it becomes highly
that in all our proceedings Tor
its maintenance, we should act as be-
cometh our high profession, and by the
meekness and consistency Of our con-
duct, exat i. in the sight of those with
whom we associate. We are much i'm
pressed with the belief that in this and
other respects, there is more than com
mon call on the Christian for watchful-
ness. II is IA time OF unusual excitement,
as relates both to religion and politics.:
while, therefore, we rcIoio in the assur-
I'd belief that the Most High ruleth I'M
The Kingdoms of men, and that the events
which he ordans or permits, will ulti-'
matcly promote the welfare of his chll-I
Iren, we feel an earnest solicitude that
Friends every where may be weaned'
from the spirit Of Il contentious and hunct-'