Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-03-15
UNGOVERNED SENSlBlLITY.
From Martha," by Rev. Andrcw Rec

PosSeSSCu IlCT OH TIC reality vi llcI lcHS'ou
professions. She had incautiously ming
led her hopes with her cnjoymcnts and ROW
these were gone, she was tempted to think
nothing was left; that she had been dccciv-
cd herself. and had deceived others; and
that her religion had been superficial and
transtory us the morning cloud, which pas
scs away and is seen no more.
Insisted that her case, was not peculiar,
but common to the people of God, that con.
fict was not an accident of Christian life,
but essential to it: that it belonged not to the
commencement of this life, but that it ran
through every stage oft ; that it was not 4
conflict merely with the world, with the pow
~crs darkness, or with :hc disordcrv appc-
titcs ol'thc body, but that it was deep, in
warl, unceasing warfare against ourSclrrs
our original and strongly-rootcd prlncl.
pies. desires, and propcnsit!cs. supported
my remarks by the mastery and admirable
exposition of the subject in the 7th Of Ro-
mans; and maintained, with the apostle,
that constant and decided conflict of the
spirit against the flesh, Of grace againstsin,
OF the new nature against the old, painful as
1t may be, is both 4 more safe and accessi-
ble evidence Of Christian character, than the
most assured hopes or abounding joys. x =
Martha was much Interested in this inter-
course. did not expect her to be sudden
l. relieved ; but her countcnancc was some
what clearer, and her heart evidently lighter.
than at the moment of our meeting. | had
a stronger conviction than formerly, that al
indul gence ofcXccSsivc feeling was likely to
be snare to her: and indeed | could not
avoid ascribmg her present distress princi-
pally, ii not entirely, to this undue scnsbilitv
operated on by q growing perception of hu-
:man frailty and sinfulness. 1t was q t;lvora.
bic opportunity, and resolved to acqt,aint
her with my impressions.
Martha had said she wished to know the
worst of herself.
The worst | know of you." | replied,
is, that YOU have 100 much feeling"
20, brother wish it wcrc!'" she said,
incrcdulouslv surely we cannot have too
much feeling, if it is right feeling"
But. my dear, if right feeling, as you
term 1t is crccsSirc. it becomes wrong feel
ing"
But one cannot always govern ones
feelings" she continued: sand is it not bet
ter to have sometimes an excess of feeling
aid suffer for it, than to sink into indiifcr.
cncc and scliishness
"Ict why," replied should You deter
mine Oh choosing one of two extremes, /,
when there is q middle path Of safety and
comfort open to us? | do not commend
| do blame seliSbilitv: | con- !
dcm the ercess fit.
IL bcsecch you," continued, with great !;
cr carncstness. in these words, or words to
this effect; {" bcsccch YOU, my dear, not :;
to trifc with this evil. consider il TO be
your natural in:irmity and if YOU nurture .
lndindulge it, innocent as it appears in
your eyes, it will be as Z Vi per in Your bo-
som. l cannot help ascribing all Your pre-
sent uncasiness and sorrow 10 this source
indeed cannot - :.
Martha heard 4 voice i'll these words
could not hear; they sank into her heart !.
md she became thoughtful. | knew not .
that they bore SO large an application as >
she was making but considered that her
reflections once fixed on the bIcct. would .
be of abundautly more advantage to her
han any additional remarks | could otler. !
That her thoughts might not be premature ;
" disturbed. | left her to the mc.lltatlons j
She evidently courtcd.
Martha's reflections were not those Of an |
evening they ran through several days and
weeks OF this period. All our conversa.
ions had been interesting to her; but her
attention was especially arrested by the !!
closing one, which, from her peculiar situa- !
Oh, fell like a sudden glcam Of light. Oh i
weakness of character which, until then,
sh >had considered an excellence. She found
il difficult to receive the unpleasant truth ;
and her pampcred feelings had innumcrablc |
spccious pleas to urge in their own favor.
But Martha was always ingenious with her.
self; and her Indulgence passed into leal-
lousy, led to watchfulness and her watchlul-
ness to detection. She saw how easily
an ungoverncd sensibity might mislead
the Judgment, bctray the heart, and undo the
character which, in all things else, may be
truly admirable. More than this, she saw
that sensibility, refined and noble as it may
appear. which is not under the rule and d.
roction Of high religious principle, is only
another name for that gross scltishmesn which
it processes to scorn and rcprobatc.
From the Companion to Maternal Solicitudc.
The sin Of the first mother of mankind
is visited upon her female offspring. If!
they arc called to sustain the relation of pa.
rent, they cannot be strangers to the mean
ing of the original sentence. In the present
,h,ntar vn shall royert IN tho poipf,l ceones