Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-12-20

Own communion. Here cmphatically is the
secret of her Strength. And 70 mistake
can be greater than f + her to look away IN
some other direction for the means of ma
king herself efficient, while she neglects 10
make this her first and greatest care.
But there is strong tendency at the
present time, to lose sight of the value and
power of holiness, as the great agency ap-
pointed of Christ for the building up of its
kingdom. The course of things in this
country especially, is such as to fill mems
minds with quite different idea Of power.
The deep, silent effect, with which the truth
of God addressing itself Immediately to the
inward sense ofthe soul, under the influence
of the Holy Ghost, works for the produc-
ton ofrighteousness, comes not upto their
notion generally Oh the subject of moral
changes. They are slow TO understand
tha, expression, /, 1Ibe lifted up, uiHdraw
all men unto me. They would have some
thingmore obvious to sense, more analogous
with The order of things in the material
world; something that may be weighed, or
measured, or reduced to mechanical calcu-
lation. Truth ITSELF to meet their views,
must work by force; and the only concep-
tons they seem to have at least of power
derived from the spirit Of the Lord, is too
often such as to include merely refined
scheme of worldly might, brought to ope-
rae within the realm of mind. Views Of
this sort tend to bcgct too high a regard
for outward, secular resources and human
arrangements and efforts, as means Of ad-
vancing the Interests of the church. Re-
gious ends are too frequently pursued on
worldly principles. Christianity is pushed
and driven, like an enterprise in trade or a
question of politics or literature, instead OF
bling suflercdto make its way with light and
love, and to assert its true heavenly majes-
ty TO the souls Of mcn, as the wisdom Of
God, for their everlasting salvation.
All this might be illustrated, at large, by
referring to various exempliGcations of our
disposition, SO far as the religious commu.
nifty is concerned, to make great deal of
money and worldly influence for the pro-
motion Of religious objects. This sort of
power seems, in many cases, to he sought
after and counted upon, as of more value
than the influence of holiness ITSELF The
idea Of its being attended with danger to
moral character, is TO q great extent lost
sight Of, in the thought of the increased
abii Y to do good which it confcrs upon
mon; and any tendency which it may have
to dctract from the weight Of christian ex-
ample, is supposed to be amply coun'erbal-
anccd by the new instrumena!ItIes with
which it arms christian enterprise. Even
speculation itself is held to be lawful and
good, in this light for religious uses. Ii
seems TO be thought at times, that money
making schemes are of more consequence
to the church than tie preaching of the
gospel itsc:@:.
Tie religious spirit Of the times might
well bear 10 be noticed in other particulars,
having relation to our general subject
But it is time 10 bring these reflections to
q close. Ifthere be any truth in the repre-
senta;ions already made, enough has been
exhibited TO show, that the modes of think
inc which characterize the church at this
time, as well as the genius ofthe age general
" are unl:iendly to The old orthodoxy OF the
Puriians, and favorable to Pclaglanism.-
There is a rast amount Of undereloped error
among US, leaning this ,cay, and only rat:
ing for the hindrances and restraints Of
custom to fall away in order that it may as
same an open shape in opposition to the truth;
'chich is more to be deprecated Il great deal
than any specific demonstrations, Confessed
A serious as some Of these hare been) that
haze get appeared from the pulpit or the
press. j. w. N.