Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1854-12-20

ed Dr. raSeT.
ssRut Doctor,' said Mrs. Mercer, eagerly,
ssit seems to me altogether laudable and
praise-worthy to wish to deserve the good
word Of the world.''
II have nothing to say against wishing to
deserre it, Mrs. Mercer; though the life of ma
ny good man. and woman too, can testify,
that tits not the surest way to obtain it; but
you are aware there is a wide difference be-
tween deserving and determining to win it, at
any rate, by any means.''
'"Certainly," replied the lady; eSbut very few
would go that length in our moral and Christian
community; and in all doubtful cases l think it
quite right to fall in with the general voices
eSWhen we have once persuaded ourselves
of that, doubtful cases viii be always recur-
ring; and they viii decrease in number, only
as we increase in singleness of heart, and sim
plicity of purpose; only, and just in proper
ton, as take for rule of action, Gods
perfect and unvarying law, instead of the
countless worldly motives and opinions which
too often sway us.''
''Tt is marvellous, my dear Mrs. Mercer"
said Mr.. Ogden, show difficulties are cleared
away, and the whole system Of ethics is sim
plifed, and made plain, by having an unvary-
ing standard to refer to; and by allowing it land
IL alone, TO decide in ali cases. Why what an
exceedingly harrassing and perpiexing business
it must be to try to regulate our conduct BY
the discordant and fuctuating opinions of the
many the few; or by the jarring interests,
prejudices, and passions, in our own bosoms;
and more pFeposterous still, to attempt at the
same time to make it harmonic with the pure
and simple precepts of the Gospel
esYet, how many are striving to do it, oh
served pr. Fraser, ''striying to reconcile con-
tradictions-to perform impossiblites; are
they not in truth spending their strength for
nauGht-'laboring in the fire for vanity p And
how many have set up the idol Opinion, in
their hearts, and then laid upon its altar the
best gifts they have TO Offer, reason, conscience
truth, independence OF mind. How many with
hold their countenance from good cause till
they arS sure IL is aoT4ier, and dare not frown
down a bad one If 1t find Tavor ~rtti
tude How many inquire more diligently,
Swhat is the opinion of the world than what
is truth q How many ask first, what does the
world think, say, do p and then, perhdp,,
'what is right 2 Aye, how many are loboring
earnestly as if life, everlasting peace de
pended upon success, and as if success were
possible, to please the mutable, the inconsist-
ent, the unreasonable, the exacting public 2
and how many are trying, truly and sincere
ly, just to DO their duty 2''
ssBut, Doctor, St. Paul says in one of his
epistles, abstain from all appearance of evil;
and in another, that he made himself all things
to all men. Now this looks as if he respected
the opinion Of the world. You see that he
says, 'aPpe0rance of evil;' that which the
community around, the Christians he address
ed, thought evil
DIR. Fraser would have smiled at this strange
exposition, but that he had heard stranger ones.
81 da"e say you believe, Mrs. Merccr,'' he said
ssthat one portion OF Scripture never contra
diets another; but yet if your explanation be
correct, the apostle does not practice accord
ing to his own preaching. You will have no
difficulty in recollecting many instances, in
which ne provoked the fury of popular assem-
bly,, because he preached boldly in opposition
to its opinions. No, st. Paul 'siwhole life af-
| ter his conversion, declares that he did not in
! tend TO teach the followers of Him who went
about doing good not only when the multi
/ tude cast their garments in the way and cried
shosanna in the highest but when they said
she castheth out devils by Beelzebub, the
| prince of devils;' not only when they would
| have made him a king, but when they perse
cuted and saught to slay him; that they mus
! do it, only when every voice cheers them on
ward, and every hand is stretched out to help
| He did not mean to teach the disciples of Hin
who fearlessly asserted the great principles o
| truth and right. unawed alike by the deter
mined opposition of the chief priests and Phar
isees, and the nlurmurings of the people, tha
they must bend like withe before the lightes
breath of censure-that they must tremble at
sneer. and resign their better judgment, to 81
lence the tongue of ridicule, or slander-tha
they must shape their course by the ever-va-
rying weather-cock of the worlds opinion
that their consciences must be obeyed, onl,
when it pleased the many CT the few to suffe
it. No. indeed. His was a consistently inde
pendent spirit, that boldly reproved wron
even in brother apostle; and firmly and fear
icssly preached truth, and rebuked error, i
the very face of opposition and obloquy."
Mrs. Mercer was evidently uneasy, but sh
remained silent; and Mr.. Ogden, taking boo
from the table, observed, 'sIn looking owe
Harriet's album yesterday, came across a
extract purporting to be taken from the Ne
York Mirror; and which deserves to be record
ed in every heart.'' we call that mind FRI
which is not imprisoned in ifsetf, or in q secl
which recognises in all human beings the in
age of God, and the rights of his children