Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-08-14

in the profitable use Of other parts OF the
day for their spiritual improvement. being
at the same time careful that they do not
by undue exerion. even for laudable OBJ
jects. disqualify themselves for the per-
formance Of public worship. 1t is a real
privilege to live. as we do. in a country in
which there is so little to interfere with the
performance of this duty. We further
encourage our dear friends to wait before
the Lord in private. when in consequence
Of travelling in foreign lands. or from any
other circumstance they may be unable
to attend meeting The truly awaken
ed mind will not coniine itself to the oc-
caslonS TO which we have alluded. but
amid the daily avocations of life will Of
ten b, lifted up TO God: and will seek for
opportunities TO draw nigh unto Him. and
10 pray for wisdom and strength to live
acceptably before Him.
We take comfort in the belief that the
practice of the family daily reading OF the
Holy Scriptures is very generally preva-
lent among our members: we desire that
it may be observed by all Friends. And
we would at this time further recommend
the dilgent private reading OF them. They
are revelation of the will of God 10 the
children of men-the records Of the way
Of life and salvation most surely TO be be-
lieved by US. they contain divine myste-
ries which are to be accepted in the sim
plicity of faith. As the enlghtenina in
luence of the Holy Spirit is sought for,
they are opened and applied to our vari-
Gus wants. contributing to our growth in
grace. They are thus felt to be most
precious and invaluable, being made in
,t,l l.,,> i, Il
ment on Him who is the ..wav, and the
truth. and the life
The precepts Of our Lord and his
Apostles apply to US, whatever may be our
pursuits or avocationS. In the counting
house. IN the shOp. or in the market; in
tae crowded city, or in the retired hamlet.
in the most solitary allotment. as well as
in the performance of our duties one to
another. and in our endeavors to serve
our fellow men, we are all exposed to
temptation to violate the pure and holy
law of God The adversary Of man s
happiness adspts his temptations to all the
varied circumstances of life. The Lord
is our only refuge and sure defence against
these as ssaults; the help of his Spirit is
graciously afforded in all our exigencies
But if we expect to be thus preserved and
led along in safety through the Journey of
lie. we must ask in prayer for the help of
the Spirit. and be concerned to follow its
guidance.
The believers in Christ are spoken Of
as royal priesthood. To the great pri
vilegc Of offering ''spiritual sacrifices. ac
ceptable to God by Jesus Christ" we are
all invited under the new covenant. As
We come TO ENJOY this privilege, are
brought not TO depend one upon another.
or upon stated performances in the public
worship Of God. and are confirmed in the
truth. that typical rites and ceremonies
are no part OF the spiritual dispensation
under which we live. In the love of the
Gospel. we would express our warm de-
sire that not only all the members of our
own Society. but that all who profess the
name OF Christ may be brought to feel and
10 acknowledge. and to be established in
the truth. that ''the kingdom Of God is not
meat and drink; but righteousness. and
peace. and JOY in the HOLY Ghost
This view of the spirituality and free
dom of the Gospel leads TO the non -ob
Servance of days enjoined by the civil or
ecclesiastical authority. as those Of humi
liatlon or thanksgiving. Whilst endeavor-
ing faithfully to obey all laws which do
not infringe upon the divine law. we con-
hnue to believe that to impose such OBJ
scrvancc. IN the name Of anv ecclesiasti-
cal rulers whatever. is an Interference
with the prerogative of Christ. who alone
IS the head over his own Church 1t is
the great duty Of Christians 50 to live. that
when public Calamities visit a n nation, their
sense OF the Christening which is laid upon
them may be manifested bv humiliation of
soul. under a feeling Of that constant de-
Pendance upon God in which our spritu al
strength SO greatly consists In connec-
ton with the support Of the principles
already stated, we have in usual course
received the reports Of the sufferinos of
our members on account Of ecclesiastical
claims. to the amount of upwards Of eight
thousand eight hundred pounds We
press upon all our dear friends faithful
refusal. IN the spirit Of meekness, Of all
those demands which are made for the
support of system from which we are
we'll known to dissent
Our love to our absent brethren has
aresh extended to those on the American
Continent; from all the Yearly MEETINGS.
OF which. as we'll as from our dear friends
IA i'Si"its We nave dl tflS UfDc received
acceptable Epistles in usual course. In
tins love we desire that the power Of the
Lord may be sought and felt among them.
IN all their assemblies for his service, and
in all their efforts for the spreading of his
truth upoE earth.
And now. dear Friends. in conclusion
let US encourage one another to walk
worthy of the voc alton wherewith we are
called as a Church and as individuals
This vocation is nothing less than TO up
hold the standard of Gospel Truth in its
primitive purity and power. The recent
agitations of the public mind on many i'm
portant subjects of doctrine and of dis
cipline. and especially on baptism and
ministry. may. through the overruling