Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-11-15


! writings may be under the influence of the Holy
Spirit: their effect, when thus read, is to promote
an increase oil practical piety. and The right per-
Torrance of all our civil and religious duties and
not 20 encourage vain and frnitiess inyestiga
| tiOns, Remember, dear friends, that they are
Improbable for doctrine. for reprooi, for correc
! ton, for instruction in righteousness, that The
man Of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished
urto all good works !"
And. whilst we fully acknowledge that 8. all
scripture is given by inspiration OF God" view
supported b. sound aud nndeniabie rational evi
dence, let US ever bear in mind, that 1t is only
through faith which is in Christ Jesus that they
are able 10 make wise unto salvatun. As this
precious faith is sought for and prevails, the evl-
dence of the Spirit of God in our hearts most sa-
tsfactorily confirms ou belief in the divine au-
thority Of these inestimabe writings, und ,.creas.
es our gratitude for the possession Of then, and
for the knowledge Of that redemption which
comes BY the Lord Jesus.
| One Of the evidences Of our drpenience upon
God, aud that we do indeed acknaN edge Hin,
! is the dilgent attendance of ovr meetings for
public worship. We are panied on hsarDg that
numerous omissions in the righ, performance Ut
this indispensable duty still exist We would
gladly persuade you, beloved friends. who are
remiss in this important part Of our Christian
practice, closely to examine yourselves. and to
strive to ascertain the cause of this neglect. l.
il that You are not concerned for the salvation Of
your souls? Is it that you are disrrgardins the
divine injunction, Thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy mIght!" Has luke arm-
ness, or uncOncern in regard to ,elisious duties,
taken possession ct your minds? or has the love
Of this world, or its decei'ful alarements, the
pursuit of its riches and it's pleasures the ascen.
dancr in our heart-a
Be al ouset. we beseech you, in The love Of the
Gospel to close searching of the motives Of YOUR
conduct You are not in the habi,uai neglect Of
all our meetings for worship. Be earnest in
spirit before the Lord, when you do attend;
wait patiently upon Him, ask, for the assistance
Of his grace, that he may incline his ear unto yuu,
and hear your cry: come before him under sense
Of your past transgressious, and the natural De.
pravity Of your own hearts; for if this c"nvirion
prevail not, your state is truly alarming: apply in
faith unto him, through Jesus CHRIST the sighteous.
our advocate with the Father. IfaD evidence Of
the love of God Ia your souls be not immediately
granted, persevere and faint not. Then will you
become careful t. omit no opportunity 81 present.
ing yourselves before the Lord from time to time
with YOUR assembled brethren and sisters
MANY are the instances. furnished in the histo-
nv OF our Society, of the Christian attanments
% those who have duly attended our religious
meetings, seeking, in deep prostratl"n Of soul,
To draw nigh unto Gud, and to worship Him IN
spirit aud in truth. They have been favored
| unitediy to partake Of that meat which endureth
unto everlasting life; and have returned from
their silent assemblies with humbing sense OF
the spiritual lavors which they had received I'M
medately from Him who is the way, he truth.
and the life. Instrumental ministry in the life
and power Of the Gospel IL great favor To the
church; but the Distinguishing excellence ct the
| Christi an dispensati0n is the immediate comma
n,caion with our Heavenly Father, though the
Inward re veatou of the Spirit of Christ. Let
us, therefore, submit to the bapizius operations
Of the Holy Spirit which purify the soul and pro-
duce the capacity for communion, wi III God.''-
Earnestly besecch the Lord. to grant you, in his
mercy, the communion of the Holy Ghost; at
the same time pray that yeu NAV be preserved IN
reverent humility. steadfasty looking unto the
Lord Jesus. Live in the pure aud holy tear OF
God, striving to keep all his commandments
| Then will at times be granted an inward persus-
sion, that Christ is indeed your Shepherd, and
that you are OF those WIN Lear hi. voice; faith
and hope in the Gospel, which give stability to the
soul. will be experienced; aud, being ~eaned
from all inferior dependence, YOU NAV AT times
reverentlY apply the language, '.Lo, this is our
God: we have waited for him, and he will s've
us: this is the Lord; we have waiIcd for him, We
will be glad and rejoice in his salvati"n."
| Our views Of tue simple and spiritual charac.
ter Of the Gospel Of Christ and of his i'm mediate
government ofbisChurch. have led our religious
society constientiously to refuse the payment oI
ali ecelesiasticst demands. We consider them
as having their origin IN the nsurpation and excr-
else Of power which Jesus Ghost never confer
red; and. as it ia testimony to the supreme au-
thorty of our blessed Lord which we think II our
F! duty io uphold. we earnestly eyhort all our mem
pers to act ina meek and quiet spirit. apd to
! maintain this testimony With consistency, as
unto God and not unto men The amount OF
d;strsints under this heal. az now repnrted is
upwards Of twelve tnousand six hundred pounds
excIusi, Of a small sum for purposes Of Mill
tary nature
Our conviction Of the peaeeable nature OF the
Christian dispensation has been often stated
We do not consider that the proper maintenance
of this testimony prevents us from exercising
our civil rights a. members Of the community,
or interferes with our acting as good and faith.
a