Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-07-11

the ocean of fire rolled on without touching
them, and they were saved. The grateful
children of God fell on their knees, and re-
turned thanks for so surprising deliverance
from so terrible death.
/ Now there are more things than one IL !
Illustrated by this thrilling incident but the
point we wish to dwell upon is this, that in
the conflict with sin and temptation, fire
must meet fire. The fire of Divine Grace
must meet the fire of sin and Satan. What
DIR. Chalmers calls the expulsive power of
new affection, must come in to drive out
the enemies of God from the heart and the
habits, and to take such possession Of the man
for Christ and virtue, that temptation and
the fire of sin shall have no more material to
work upon, no longer possible lodgment in
the soul. Even our natural passions have
been known to burn out and conquer one
another how much more, if man cry ear
nestly to God, shall the fire of his grace pu-
rify and cleanse the soul, so that, though Sa-
tan should sweep over it in a flaming storm
{ of temptation, like tempest of fire in the
f dry prairies, he should find nothing to lay
, hold upon, no lodging place, nor possible
conquest.
; Now, this is what we call the Fire-care
Ministered by the grace of God, it is perfect
and everlasting. In regard to the vice of
5 intemperance, it is the only infallible cure,
: always effective, always successful. Even
t the pledge of abstinence may clear such a
t space in the soul that the most sweeping fire
T Of temptation shall keep at respectful dis
y tance. Let a man cry nightly to God, and
r apply this match, though it be the last one,
and it shall gain him the victory it shall not
: fail. The fire Of grace defends the soul from
J. every other fire Gods fire clears the way
n so that Satan's fire shall find no elements tc
e prey upon.
d But this fire of sinful habit. sinful indul
gence in any shape, especially sensual in
,e diligence, is fearful thing. Much better
1t it would be, much safer it is, never to let i
h be kindled in the soul, never to have it Sc
d there, than to trust to the interposition of
a divine fire to meet and conquer it, after it il
10 confirmed and strengthened You are no
le sure that it ever can be conquered, afte
ID it has reached certain point. 1t begin
70 by little and little. Habit at first is like
le spiders web, but afterwards it is the devil
re cable. Break it in season, or rather, let
a. never be begun. The only safety for tn
young is not to begin it, not to suffer it t
be fastened at all. If it once gets hold,
grows.
There is great danger in secret indulgenc
Secrecy in sin hardens the conscience, an
'ss leads imperceptibly from step to step, ii
nd perhaps the young mans reputation, cha
"a acter, and prospects are blasted for th
'ss world, and his soul is lost forever Seer
ry cy in sin at first, or supposed secrecy, is Q
m ten the greatest certainty of shame and run
ag- The very Imagination of security binds ii
IDS man. hand and foot, over to the power
he the Destroyer. But there is no such thir
nd as secrecy. There is nothing that you ev
eat sinfully keep secret. but God has this pu
lg' pose respecting it, that 1t shall come abroo
ld- Whatever temptation you are indulgm
the whatever habit of sin you are forming, t
me prospect is, that even in this world it Vt
ter overtake you, and come abroad. Ever
icy where the Eye Of God is on you.
ion Let that be remembered, which one
the the greatest men of this, or any other age
ust the world. S. 7. Coleridge, has taught
nld from his own experience, and with his ov
es' peculiar power of illustration, that the plei
are ures of sin are but the fastening of ruino
SCI habits. When men, says he, are putti
the up bridge, centre pieces. or wooden frame
few are put under the arches, while it is in pl
pro cess of building. to support the masonry. b
hey to remain there only until the solid arch
ing themselves are fully constructed. Wh
'0m that is once done, the wood is taken aw
and for kindling fires. And just so, the pie
ford ures of sin are only the devils tempora
tre seaffolding, to build a habit upon, and VIII
lem that habit is once formed and steady, th
lge, the pleasures are taken away and sent
ible fre-wood, and the hell begins in this life.
The only perfect security against ut
the ruin by any evil habit, is total abstire,,
of never letting the habit be begun. A
- the only salvation from all sin, and fr
pom all habits of evil, that have ever had poss
box sion of the soul, is the FTre-cure in
up grace of Christ Jesus, burning them out.
'uld The fire of Divine grace must cleanse
ght- soul, OF the fire of Satan will sweep o
they it. uHquenctable and eternal. But to e
new ry miserable captive of sin and Sat
trial Christ calls to-day Come unto me. all
- that labor and are heavy laden, and !
for give you rest rest from your angry
h a sions, rest for your troubled soul, delivera
nope from the fever of sin, holiness and. salvat
oble, for ever
der,
- A Judge of Probate in Minnesota territ