Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-01-11


in the filth of sin, will before this year ends,
have hearts pure and holy. Some who are
now careless, will be made careful Some
whose knees have never been bent 10 PRAYER.
will, before another twelve month, pray earn
estly. Some who leave the church, or con-
tinue in their pews when Christ's board is
spread. will be seen leaving their places and
coming to remember Saviour crucifed for
them. What blessed thought. And shall
not this happen among US Doubtless it
will. 1t may not with many. But may
we not expect that some Few of us will be on
Gods side, and Christ's side. before the close
of this year, Let us not be discouraged, my
christian friends God loves all here; aud
Christ died for all here; aud the Holy Spirit,
IN some measure, is given to al here. God
will work among us for bis own glory and be-
cause Christ prays for us. There be many,
even among us. who. consciously or uncon-
sclously, are saying. "who will show us any
good 7" Some of us, indeed, are still salts
fed with the good" which they can procure
from the pleasures of the world or from it's
riches, or its honors. Bot some, in their
hearts, are becoming dissatisfied. They will
tell you, 1t you ask them when 10 favorable
mood, they have no great pleasure here, nor
Go they expect it" they are becoming DISCUS
ted, it is not too strong word. becoming
disguised with every thing which once gave
them pleasure. 1t may be with such the be-
ginning of better things. and of nobler things
1t may be soon such win be praying as they
ask who will show them any good "Lord
lift thou up the light of thy countenance up
on u.s."
Now, it would be easy for me to prove that
the earth, with its pleasures, and riches and
honors. does not and cannot fill the soul with
perfect good. The soul is immortal, and has
cravings. for God put them in the soul, which
cannot be satisfied by any thing the world can
supply. fla man crave riches and obtain
them, he is not perfectly happy, be is not
even satisfied. So Of pleasure. and Of honors,
They look, at distance, as il they would I'll
our souls with delight; we obtain them
like child With new plaything, we are
pleased for an hour; then we must have some
thing new. No one is satisfied with mere
earthly pleasures or qualifications; God new
er designed that we should be; and therefore,
if for no other reason, these things cannot be
to US the great good. live bad every earth
ly blessing that heart could wish. and yet had
not the fear of God and the likeness of God
in our souls, we should still be craving some
thing more, and we should not be perfectly
happy ] fear some Of you will not believe
what say. Delusive hope, Notwithstanding
all your past experience, cheats you into the
belief, if you could only gain this or that. you
would be satisfied My dear friend have you
not Often, in your past life, supposed if you
could gaiu something or other that you wished
for, you would feel satisfied Well you OBJ
tanned your wish, Now how long did you
enjoy what you obtained ? Is your soul nop
filed with happiness in obtaining what you
desired You know that it is not. So it
,oiH eper be. God intended it to be so.
Now, wish you would dwell upon this
idea. Here. this day is the first day of the
year, .ime surely for seriousrefection. 1t
is also Sunday, day God has given us in
which we have nothing to do. but to think
Of God and duty about Christ and serving
Him. Won't you then to-day, when you 60
home, think to yourself, 1T is just as certain
as am alive, that all the good which this
world can give will not satisfy me God
will rot permit it, Can't you think this,
this afternoon, and think it over and over
agaius &
Take proper view ofliFe. Do not be like
little children, thinking every day is to be a
day of sunshine, and that your whole life is
to be hoppy. Such thoughts are bad enough
for little children But foi grown men and
women, who have had some experience of life,
it is really foolish. Then as you think this
afternoon, remember this. "my life is to be-,
must necessarily be. chcquerei. One day
will feel glad, another day sad, another
gloomy, another almost desperate. One day
JOY will be in my house. another day grief
Some days will be well, at oher times sick
Soon, maybe This year, maybehext year; but
soon at any rate, shall become very sick,
and shall diego away from all the good
things Of this life, and 60 sway where p
Where shall gos Aye! think Of that,
aokere shall l go2 This is The way to look
upon life. Looking upou I thus. just ask
yourself "Who will show ne any good ~-
good, | mean taking life. MT as you find it