Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-07-05
From the Southern Churchman.
THE CHRISTIAN SPIRIT,

He who has felt the love of God shed
abroad in his heart, feels that there are
cords many fold er,d strong binding him
10 his Redeemer, aud motives irresistible
Urging him TO live for Christ. His cause
ID the s:hi,s;ian's cause. His soul feels
xhss- ihnn Of delight at its triumphs, and
mourns when the adversary prevaiIs.-
For this he plans and labours and pleads,
bestows his treasure and offers up his
prayers. The field Of his vision is the
kingdom of Chris,---his enquiries and et-
Esxts are cifcumscribed by no other limits
sAsa the wants Of man. and the promise
II usefulness. Has he by assuming the
COWS of the sacraments entered fully with
fn the pale Of the church! 1t was not to
enjoy insIorious sloth but that he might
he a labourer in the Lords vineyard
nas he consecrated all that he has to his
Saviour? 1t was not that they should be
wasted in self indulgence or boarded up to
rust in uselessness, but that they might be
employed in promoting the glory Of God
and the good of men. He and they are
..to spend and be spent for Christ" This
determination will lead him to advance
every scheme by which God may be hon-
,oured--so watch with sofictlude the OPEN
inss of Providence, and eagerly to EN-
brace every opportunity of doing something
IN the great cause.
There are secular employments and
temporal duties not TO be neglected, which
religion enjoins us to discharge with fidel-
ity and punctuality. But the great busi-
ness Of the christian in this world is TO
live for eternity-the main objects Of this
life have reference to the kingdom ofGod.
flour first concern be to amass wealth,
or to take care Of it, TO secure oil the
comforts which we desire for ourselves
and oil. families, or to crafty some other
passion whose influence may control US,
and we give to religion and the soul only
fragments of time and fractions Of money
which can be spared without imposing any
degree Of constraintu upon ourselves. arc we
living for ourselves or for God. Are we not
exhaus,iag life in the pursuit Of that which
is unworthy such devotion DO we not
sacrifice our greater interest for the less /!
How little satisfaction will be felt by us
when at the close Of life We shall be COM
pelled To review our course and dis
cover that although bound by solemn en-
gagements to "spend and to be spent for
Christ" we have devoted our affections,
our powers and oil our efforts to secular
concerns. We may have amassed those
perishing riches which God may make
curse instead Of a blessing to our offspring,
and feel that for this sordd portion We
have been traitors to our Benefactor
and sold our souls to death.
How lovely is the following picture Of
the feelings and life Of the devoted be-
lever:
"Befere Goo, in his closet, he protests
that he is child. and that the interest Of
ofreiigion are dear to him. His family
bear witness to the earnestness Of his
prayers for the church. His face is seen
foul with weeping, when Zion is covered
With cloud in the day Of Gods anger,
and, again, his countenance brightens
when the word Of the Lord has free
course, and is glorifed. His children see
him more deeply interested in the con