Columbus Whig. (Columbus, Miss.) 1843-18??, 1844-03-21
NUMRER o.


The inquiry then arises, for what object did
Christ die and the answer is gwen il almost
every page of his history. His advent inte the
world, his ministry, his miracles, his death and
resurrection are each part ofthat great design
which he was commissioned by his Father TO
fulfil for mans salvation. He did not Weave
his Fathers throne and come down into the
world that he might PEI yith his Father, and
purchase from him PlaA q salvation for man.
kind. That, ifrequired night have been done
in heaven. But be came TO reconcile nan to
God and noiGod TO men;to redeem them by the
light of The Gospel, from the moral darkness
INTO which they had strayed in their wander
ings from God; to teach them that then were in
state of enmity towards God and not God to.
wards them, and to reveal TO them true svs-
tenn ofreligion, plan Of salvation, by which
they might obtain pardon and favor from God.
thstanding their arrangement from him:
for, as a Father, he loved them and was unwl,
ling that any should perish but that all should
turn TO him and live. And he diedto seal this
religion with his blood and to establish il bv his
resurrection, that men might be both persuad-
ed and convinced. That liz the great evidence
OF his divine commission For says one of his
Apcstles-"If the dead rise not, then is Christ
not risen; and if Christ be not risen then is our
preaching vain; And we are found false wit
nesses of God; because we have testified of
God, that he raised up Christi
But there is another person in the Trinity
oil whom we have not yet spoken. The trim
iarlans, it seems, as ifunwilling to soften the
repulsIve character which they draw of Go !,
by one lovely trait or one act ofmercy, deny to
him all possible share-either director mediate
IN mans salvation; and ascribe TO the Holu
Ghost, as the author and the agent, whatever
is lett unaccomplished by Jesus Christ. The
office OF Christ Is to prepare way OF escape
from his Fathers vengeance, whilst the FIolv
Ghost seeks out those whom he wills TO save.
and by his influence draws them into the
sphere Of mercy. God is passive and man a
puppet, whilst Christ and me HOLY Ghost are
the only active agents of salvation. They tell
us that IN state OF nature we are totally de-
PRAYED, anG our souls are locked against the
light OF truth, that "thc truth cannot effect the
mind, Unless the mind perceive it," (why,,hen
hug the mysteries of their doctrineD and that
consequently we are Poweress vic inns of DER.
dltion, and the light of revelation is of no val
ue to US, unless the chambers of our souls be
unlocked by the invisible hand of the Holy
Ghost, and that light be admitted. They scoff
at those who would make man an agent in his
own salvation, and who depend, for grace upon
a heart made pure by rational faith in Jesus
Christ and upon works, the fruits and evidence.
of faith. They call this modern discovery
and railroad way, or a short way to heaven.
And at the same time they stand up, like the
proud PharIsee, and thank God that thew are
more favored than other men; that whilst 9TH
ers have been left in darkness, they have been
sought and saved, and not by any merit of their
own, nor by any works which they have done
or can do, but by the power ofthe Holy Ghost,
who sought them whilst they were wanderers
IN darkness and brought them into the light OF
Grace. Now 1t seems TO me that this, If any,
must be the ''rail road to heaven, They
have no weary road to travel and no loilsome
duties to perform; they are the passive subjects
of the Holy Ghost; and they are taken I'D bv
his power and seated in celestial cars. and
borne without effort or labor oftheir own into
the gates of heaven. But those whom thew
condemn look upon man in nobier and ulster
light; as a creature made and beloved by God;
as endowed with reason, and placed in a state
Of probation here; as favored with plan ofsaI-
walton and threatened with the penalty OF
death;as gifted with the capacity to understand
his condition and the power to work out his
salvation by the plan revealed. Believing that
his word is true, and sustained by faith in the
promises Of the Gospe', they undertake to adopt
its spirit and obey its tecepts.-Knowedge
Of the gospel and faith in its truth sustain
them in purifying their hearts, reforming their
lives; and living unto God. Thev learn it as a
sacred duty,to minister to the wants of their
fellowmen to visit the sick, to feed the hungry,
and to clothe the naked. The life which they re-
qure of the christian is lie Of labor, abound.
ing n works and evidences of their faith, such
as the eternal hear. unSustained by the hopes
and fears held out by the gospel would never
yield: This is the "purfying and regenera-
ting influence of the Holy Chest" But this
is no railroad 10 heaven: and there are no &C.
lestial cars on this highway to relieve the
chris ian from his laborS and bear him in repose
and idleness to heaven.
But it is astonishing TO me how the idea, that
the Holy Ghost is person was ever oonceiv-
ed: and that in view the language of the Bi-
bic it should ever have been considered per-
son equal with God, is beyond conc option,
strange. It is always spoken of as Gods Ho- |
ly Ghost, or Gods Holy Spirit, which he sent
down to men. And, if il be distinct person |
and equal with God, what can such language
mean! 1t seems to me therefore, impossible |
to mistake the true meaning of the Holy Spir-
it. 1t is the Spirit OF God, or the viii of God,
revealed to men through his written word |
What could we know of God except through |
his revealed and written word! And. who can
read the Bible without discovering in il the
Spirit of God! Every page of it breathes
holy and divine spirit emanating from pure
and holy Beng, And he who reads. and be-
lieYes it with all his heart, if his soul be hui
man, or susceptible of one tender thought,
will yield himself in gratitude and love to God.
VIR SIMPLEX.
For the Wing.
THE cnnD.R