Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-10-25

herself IN battle array as Missionary
Church. Her array is excellent. In its
chief features, it is Just that of the days
when Apostles led the advance and new
victories every day crowned their banners.
But their battle array was not their strength.
The life of their host was the constranlng
love of Christ. The strength of their host,
was a lively faith that first in each soldier
overcamc the world 'rithin, and so made
the whole army mighty through God to
overcome the world wuhom. Only let
such love be our life, circulating freely
through our whole system; only let such
faith be our strength, binding in holy sub
lection each minister and member TO life
of faith in she Son of God, and our array
also will be "mighty through God"
| But is this the spirit Of our Church at
this time? acknowledge with gratitude
that there is this spirit IN the Church. How
! farit pcrmdes the Church is another ques-
ton. 1t has greatly increased within lew
Years. 1t seems to be now fast extending.
1t has raised up missionaries; it has taken
positions far in advance Of the Christian
! camp; it is increasing those means tor
their support, which man is expected to
supply, and seeking the rest from God.
Ali this is animating. But let us beware Of
too much congratulation. am afraed we
are in danger of depending too much on the
arrangement for operations, and the men
and means; as if the neediul spirit of holy
enterprise to sustain them and TO carry
them into full effect would follow of course.
While hear much ofthe language Of Just
satisfaction with the plan; | would there
were Il deeper, humble, more universal
sense of our need of 4 great deal more of
the mind OF Christ and of devoted love be-
fore that plan can be prosecuted with eX-
tensive success. The general organization
of our Church for missionary movement,
admits, perhaps, Of but little improvement.
But, brethren, what vast improvement must
be made in the spiritual elevation, the same
dcyotcdness of our whole communion If
we would make the internal qualification
of our Church for "the vocation wherewlth
she is Called" in a good degree correspon-
dent 10 the completeness Of her external
array. Considering her state in this re-
specf, BY comparison with that ofpast times,
sec great deal to comfort us. But
when we think of the spirit which God ex-
poets his Church; and the holy pattern
of His love, and zeal, and purity "who
left us an example that we should follow his
steps," when We turn to the world for
which he died and behold what must be
done for its conversion; and then consider
what God will have us to do, how many
messengers mus be sent forth-what SELF
devocdness and faith and holy boldncss for
Christ is required in them, what consecra-
ton of worldly substance by members ofthe
Church to sustain the cost of war, and what
spirit of prayer must breathe throughou
our congregations, to hold up the hands OF
a missionary ministry and draw down upon
their efforts that increase which cometh
only of God; when we consider what in.
difference 10 the world and "holiness to the
Lord" is required of" all sorts and condI-
tons of men, in the Church. for these ends;
is there any thing to bid us feel as if we
had done more than just make good be-
ginning! Is there not every thingto make
us feel the necessity, and to animate us
with the earnest desire of very great
and universal growth ofour Church in the
life and power of u fervent love and a llv-
ing faith! Oh! did we only enjoy this
most precious blessing; could We receive
the rcviving influences of the Holy Ghost
descending " as rain upon the mown grass
as showers that water The earth, revlv-
ing every where the face of the Church;
quickening all her powers to newness OF
life; causing a general growth i'll the per.
sonal holiness and the living faith of our
ministry, and setting the affections of our
aity upon much higher standard of at
tainment in the hidden life and unreservcd
devotedness Of genuine plcty-then what
new beauty would spread over our exter-
nal institutions; what new impulse would
be given to our sacred enterprises; how
many more of our youth would consccrac
their talents to the ministry how many
more of our ministry would rejoice in the
sacrifices of the missionary; how much
more ofthc worldly possessions of our peo-
pie would be held in solemn consecratlonto
the glory of God; how many more ofour
laity would be willing to labor in self.deny-
ing services for the salvation of souls;
what an increase of divine blessings upon
every effort of the Church for the promo
ton of the gospel would descend, in an.
swer to the great increase of the spirit of
humble, importunate supplcation to God.
Is not this the great thing, the one thing
needful for the Church; Does not every
Christian heart acknowledge and deeply
feel that in view of the dangers to be es-
capped, the talents to be improved, and the