Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-11-08
From the Watchman Of the South
RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE.


RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE.
Itis an interesting question, whether, new
there are any persons sancl'hed from 1i'e
womb? If the communication Of grace
ever took place a, so early period OF hu.
man existence, there is no reason why it
should not now sometimes occur. God
says to Jeremiah, "Before formed thee in
the belly, | knew thee, and before thou
canes, out of the womb, I sanclifed thee. ="
And Of John the Baptist. GABRIEL said to
Zacharias, his father, "And he shall be filled
with the Holy Ghost even from his moth
er's womb" The prophet Samuel ALSO
seems TO have feared the Lord from his
earliest childhood. And in later times, ca.
ses have often occurred, in which eminentiy
p;ous persons could not remember the time
when they did not love the Saviour and
experience godly sorrow for their sins. And
rs we believe that infants may be toe sub.
jects of regeneration, and cannot be saved
without it, Why may it not be the fact that
some who are regenerated live to mature
agel know, indeed, that many conceive,
that infants ar. naturally free from moral
pollution, and ofcourse need no regenera-
ton but this opinion is diametrically oppo-
size to the doctrine OF Scripture, and incon
sis,eu, with the acknowledged fact, that as
soon as they are capable Of moral action all
do go as,ray, and sin against God. lf
children were not deprayed, they would DO
naturally inclined to love God, and delight
in bis holy law; but the reverse is true.-
Perhaps one reason why so few are regen.
Grated at this early age is lest some should
adopt the opinion, that grace came by na.
ture, or that man was not corrupt from his
birth. Some have opposed the idea that
any are sanctified from their birth, for fear
thst moralists and those rcligioasly educa.
ted. shou d indulge tho hope that they were
born of God, aithongh h they have experience
ed no particular change, in any part of their
lives. as for back as memory reaches. But
allowing that some may properly make this
use Of the doctrine, it only proves that
sound doctrine may be abused. All the
doctrines of grace have been thus abused,
and will be, as long as "the heart is deceit
fulabove oil things" There is. however,
10 ground for those who are still impenitent
TO comfort themselves with the notion that
.thsy are regenerared in early infancy; for
pieiy in child will be manifest as in an
adult, as soon as such child come to the
exercise Of reason; and in some respects.
more SO, because there are SO few young
childsen who are pious and because they
have moro simplicity Of character, and are
much less liable to play the hypocrite than
persons Of mature age. More dccency OF
external behaviour, with freedom from
gross sins. is no evidence Of regeneration
Cor these things may be found in many
whose spirit is proud and self righteous, and
entirely opposite to the religion Of Christ
aud we know, that outward regularity and
sobnety may be produced by the restraints
ofa religious education, and good example,
where fhera ase- -fssrd neue-o IF iuscruut
characteristics Of genuine picty. Suppose
then, that, in acertain case, grace has been
communicated at so early aperiod, that its
first exercises canno, be remembered. what
will be the evidence which we should OK.
poet to find Of It's existence : Surely, we
ought not to look for the wisdom. iudg-
snent and stability OF adult years, even in
picus child. We should expect-ifl
may say so--a childish piety--a simple,
deyou,. and tender state of heart. As soon
as such child should obtain the first ideas
ofGod, as its creator, P,eseryer, and Ben.
efactor, and os Christ as its Saviour, who
shed his blood and laid down his life for us,
On the cross. il would be piously affected
with these truths, and woa'd give manifest
proof, that il possessed susceptibility Of
emotions and affections of heart, cores.
ponding with the conceptions Of truth which
il was capable taking 10. Such child
wouh be liable 10 sin, as all Christians are,
but when made sensible of its faults, it
would manifest tenderness Of conscience
and gcruine sorrow f; and would be fearful
Of shining afterwards. When taught that
prayer was both du,y and privilege, It
would take pleasure in drawing nigh to
God. and would be conscientious in the
discharge Of secret duties. A truly pious
child would be an aGectionate and obedient
child, to its parents, and teachers; and
kind TO brothers, and sisters and indeed to
all other persons; and would take lively
interest in hearing of the conversion Of
sinners, and the advancement Of Christ's
Kingdom in the world. We ought moi to
expec, from regenerated child, uniform
attention to serious subjects, or freedom
from that gaiety and volatility which is
characteristic Of that tender age but we
should expect TO and the propensity mode.
rated. and the temper softened and season.
ed, BY the commingling Of pous thoughts
and affections with those which naturally