The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1846-03-11


Is not here light for the darkest hour
We may rest in Gods prOyidence--weep.
ing may endure for lsgha but 10y epm.
eth IN the morning. Religion slso makes
orr hours Of peace brighter, teaching "a
To trace fathers love in our merries, olus
awaking gratitude and thanksgiving, those
delightful emotions OF a happy soul h
removes the fear OF death, takes away The
sting Of sin, robs the grave Of its victory.
II inplants the hope Of pardon. the as.
suranee Of heaven. What is IL then hai
glad tidings! Is il net rilT from the RI
yer Of life, clear rs crystal, rolled down 70
earth from the eternal throne! Can va
drink rs pure waters and thirst Can
We battle our souls in its liie-giying stream,
and be sad! IL was never deslsaed 10
make our pleasures less.
The men Of grace have found. t
GLORY begun below.
Celestial fruits on earthly ground,
FEsn hope and tash may grow
Tho hill Of Zion yiells
A thousand sacred sweees. as
Befos We rach the heavenly iSeIds.
Or walk the golden stEccts.'' $3.50
II such be the nature Of true religion,
how can we have an evidence Of our in
serest in 10. unless Il add 10 our happiness
on eaIlh! The laIsented Nevins has well
said, /" Ii our religion does not make us
happy, hos do we our dutyi We are
commanded TO rejoice. II is a part of
practical Christianity 10 be happy. Ilbe-
longs TO a doer Of the word. Moreover.
! how aEe We @ have s.sisIas!e.y sxd ssss
not JOY inili Suppose we had no love,
would we be Christians then No, GER
tainly; for without charity a man is no
thing. But why cannot we be Christians
without love! Because i, is the fruit Of
the Spirit. II love be the first named Of
the nine, joy is the second. The frui. Of
the Spirit is love, joy and these are not
said to be fruils-the plural is not used
they are not distinct productions they
are all one clustcr-the fruit Of the Spirit.
While there are many things that may
and do diminish our joy, they do not an
initiate it. There was much to interfere
in the case Of those TO whom Peter wrote.
They were in heaviness. through mani
fold temptations. nevertheless they rcioic-
ed greatly. Every Christian would do
well to remember this passage. Cheer
iulness should be one evidence OF the sin.
cerity Of our faith. TO rejoice in tribu-
lations; in whatever state we are, TO he
content; TO let none Of these things move
US, is a part Of Christian character, an at
tainmenl We should daily seek. an evil
dence VIC should most earnestly desire.
IL we would commend religion to 9TH
ers, we must exhibi, in our example its
power to make us happy. Too often is
it made to wear forbidding aspect Eve
ny one may see the justice Of DIR. Beech
er's language: "Ihere is class Of chris
tians, who appear taciturn, unsocial and
even sad. This is inconsistent with the
spirit of religion. Christians ought to APP
pear cheerful and happy: to appear 10
receive with pleasure and gratitude all the
lawful enjoyments bestowed by their hea-
venly Father A gloomy department does
not honor religion, but causes those whom
we wish TO win TO the ways Of pleasant
ness and peace, to feel that religion is a
melancholy, unsocial, and forbidding sub
ject. All professors Of religion should
endeavor TO have such views of God, his
love, providence and care, and should SO
live as to be cheerful and happy, and ap-
pear SO. But trifling and le,ity is quite
as inconsistent and injurious as the former.
Let the Christians distinguish between
cheerfulness and levity." The caution
which closes this paragraph is well.timedl
We are creatures of extremes. Too often
to avoid moroseness, we take refuge in
levity. 10 shun levity we wrap our
selves in gloom. Either is inconsislen.
with the spirit Of religion, and injuries oui
influence upon Others. While, then, we
guard against both, let US commend reliI
gion by cheerful. happy temper; let US
win Others to the faith, by showing its
power to strengthen and comfort in the
darkest hour. Let US draw others to love-
by showing its influence to shed peace on
the heart, and battle the countenance id
smiles, Then shall our example be felt
II will have winning power. Men viii
love and honor religion, as an angel Of
blessing, shedding the dews of heaven o.
earth's parched wilderness.
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