Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-05-25
From the Christian Messenger.
Heavy Losses,

Mr. EDIroR-l indulge the hope that my friends
and fellow citizens will never be so unfortunate as
have been, within the last five years, of my pilgrim
age. will not speak of all the losses have sustain
ed, but of such only as have most deeply affected and
afflicted me. Within the last five gears, have been
afflicted with the following heavy losses. | have
lost
! l. The favour Of God. do not mean to say that
God does not now favor me in any sense, for enjoy
tolerable health, and good share of worldly prosper
lty. But His favor in the form of present. personal
justification, have lost and great loss it is to me.
9. The Image Of God l once possessed conform
ity Of heart to the Divine image-internal righteous
ness, experimental heliness-bu this treasure of SUI
perlatve value, is no longer mine, 1t is gone, and
gone, fear, forever.
3. The confidence Of Christians, To be deprived Of
the confidence of those of whom Christ has said Eye
are the light of the world ye are the salt of the
earth" regard as great calamity. Thus am | af
ficted.
A. Arelish for devotional exercises Such exercises
in the closet Classroom the prayer CIRCLE the sanctu
ary and at the family altar, were once the delight Of
my soul, the Joy of my heart but now have no taste
for any thing of the kind Whereas could once see
am now blind, to their overpowering charms, and
seek to ouench my thirst at other fountains. that
were as in days past! when the 'joy of salvation
was mine!
5. A disposition to sustain the cause Of Christ. Once
and with the first fruits of all my ncrease"-found de-
light and real satisfaction in supporting to the full
extent of my ability, the Gospel, with its various and
valuable institutions say from the heart "God
forbid that should offer to the Lord sacrifice that
costs me nothing But now feel inclined to treat the
cause with entire neglect, or to offer "the blind and
the lame for sacrifice" seldom pay, or give, to aid
the Church.
'The world too much has galnd my heart,
Lord help me to get free;
With sin and folly fain I'd part
And give myself to thee"
g. Internal Peace. When obeyed God, my "peace
was as a river, my righteousness as the waves of
the sea" when 'my mind was stayed on the Lord
was kept in perfect peace )" when "loved His law,
had great peace, and nothing did offend me-" But
now | often excaim-
''What peaceful hours once enjoyed.
How sweet their mem'ry still
But they have left an aching void,
The world can never fill"
Z. FINALLY, my prospect gf HoaUot, is lost Once
could read my title clear to mansions in the skies
but now in reference to the changeess future, all is
dark. Truly am an heir of multiplied msfortunes
When, or how l lost the treasures of which have
spoken, cannot tell am quite sure, however, that
did not lose them while engaged in, and absorbed
by the exercises of secret social Or public worship;
for have not been thus employed to any considerable
extent, for many years. | sometimes go to Church,
especially when. we have a new preacher; Or some
smart man. but the social exercises of religion, l
abandoned long ago. At times feel sad, very sad,
in view of my condition and fear have passed the
rubicon; and that everlasting ruin will be my final
doom. hope my friends, Gf have any, will pray
for me and that compassionate God will yet extend
saving mercy to a miserable
BACKSLIDER.