Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-07-19
!enfllan.


DE- Bcdcll fof the Episcopal,
leNs with what fidelity and tenderness
]lehargcd the most delicate and trying duties
tSat devolvc upon the Christian pastor
ssMy DEAR FaIENp,-IIad / this NOR
aing received the melancholy Y intelligence
of the death of some near relative, il could
not prove so oppressive to my feelings as
something which T have this morning
heard in relation to yourself, and some
thing which can scarcely yet bring my
self to bclicve. Can it be- possible, that
you suffer yourself to be enticcd to the
thcatre-and is it possible that you have
permitted bali a. your house, aud oE an
evening too, when l had been accustomed
to. sec you in the house of God!
did not believe these things, because
YOU fully knew my views on all these mat
tiers, and as far as my recollection serves,
always agreed with me, in their being
utterly inconsistent with the true Christian
profession. And was still less inclined
~ believe these things, because it was
enly lately that you voluntarily mentioned
your dislike even 10 the character that
Your musical parties had assumed. 1t is
utterly impossible for me to tell You the
sorrow which oppresseS my heart, on the
eseption of this acknowledgements on
nv own account, for am selfish in my
grief, becarSe there is not an individual
upon whom my confidence has been more
fully placed. Sorrow OH your account,
for how can these things he without an
abandonment Of Christ, and the prospect
sfciernal ruin as the consequcnce2-Sor-
row on account of religion, for oh! how
many will stumble and fall over this
"stumbling block" If | could deny the
truth of the information | would mos;
willingly do it with tears, and even write
il in my own blood. | know perfectly
well that there may be such things as fam.
" obstacles, in the way of the pleasant
discharge Of duty. Blu, it is impossible
that any thing should offer an excuse for
the departure from the line of Christian
duty.
ale that loveth father or mother, wife or
children, mare than Christ, canno, be his
disciple; and it is Christians duty at
hazards to rule his household after the pre-
cepts of the Lord.
"Oh, let me beg of you, my dear
friend, TO rctrace those wandering foot
steps-to repent ofthis departure, and in
slle deepest humility. TO seek the pardon
ing OF the Lord, and grace to be decided
Christian. If YOU are not willing to be
on the Lords side, pray you, for your
souls sake, do not add to worldly
course, the great condemnation of a !
Christian profession. Give up the one or
he other. The most dangerous of all
states is an attempt to unite the two. Oh,
that could hear you say, g. will arise
and 90 to my Father" For this, will
pray; for who in this world do love
better than my friend and my benefac-
tor?
al hope have not hurt your feelings.
As minister of God, under whose iustru-
mentality you made a profession Of reli-
gion, have only discharged my duty,
and discharged it faithfully, because l ain
more attached TO you than to any other.
If You cannot purpose to adorn the doc
trine of Christ by a CONSTANT profession,
God give me grace to mourn as one
mourns for the dead. &c.
"Yeur afflicted Friend,
&C. Il. BEDELL."