Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-02-07

characteristic of a christian? They are to
love mercy, deal justly, and walk humbly
before God. Is there any love of mercy in
dealing out to your neighbor that which you
know will turn him into a fend in human
shape, and cause him to plunge the dagger
into the heart of his truest friend or what
IS still worse, cause him to go home to his
family and there abuse by words and blows
her he has pledged to protect and cherish
through life? Can that man be considered
as dealing justly with his neighbor, who is
constantly dealing cut to him that which not
only does him an injury, but deprives that
aged father or mother of their only support,
their only reliance in their old age; or is he
dealing justly who takes from that cOmpan-
ion, from those little children their daily
bread and causes them to 90 half and often
times very nearly naked, exposed to the in
slemency of all kinds of weather, that they
may crafty an unholy desire and thereby fill
their Golfers with gold? Surely are they
'trcasuring up unto themselves wrath against
the day of wrath and revelation Of the right
eous Judgement of God.'.
Again-Can q man who is continually en-
gagged in the sale Of that which he knows
will produce these effects, walk humbly or
tas we understand the meaning of the express
slon( act in such a manner as to please God
in all things, and yet continue to SOW broad
cast over the land that which causes man to
violate all the commandments of God, tram
pie under foot all the mercies and blessings
purchased for guilty man by the blood Of
Jesus Christ, the son of God, and to bias
pheme against the Holy Ghost can such q
man when he pretcndS to hold communion
with Him whose eyeis so pure as not to allow
Him to behold sin with impunity, look back
upon the day that has just passed and ask
Gods blessing upon himself and family, and
his blessing and guidance in his business?
But lastly-Can any man, after seeing the
effects produced by this traffic, say that it is
not a sin, q sin of the deepest dye We
think not, and if so, is it possible for any
) man to continue in it, day after day, and yet
say that he is a christian-a follower of the
meek and lowly Jesus-who went about con.
t~inually doing good to all?
They may sag they are they may remain
e in their blinded condition and their friends
may make excuses for them, but judging tho
= tree BY its fruits, we cannot believe that such
: are of the Kingdom of God.
= IF the foregoing remarks are true, what is
the duty of the Minister Of God-those who
G are set upon the walls of Zion to sound the
o trumpet of alarm? Is it not to seek out such
explain to them the awful position they oc
cupy, to advise, pors Iade, entreat them fol
c their own sakes, for the sake of all they hOlC
near md dear to them, to forsake this sin
But, says one, suppose they will not hear you
e but still persist in its continuance, what mus
we do then =? Why, simply purgethe churcl
is of God Of them. But they are the most in
huential men in the church. So much th
more need of the church being rid of them
'e for the longer they stay the more effect wi
10 they nave on the members for evil. You g
z to Bro. j. S. and try to persuade him to sto
k drinking, and what will he say to you? i
ct it is so wrong for me to drink, why do 20
is not stop Bro. A. b. from selling it for
f should think it was worse to sell than t
E. drink it, And thus it is Bro. A. B. contir
ID ues to sell and therefore Bro. J. S.. contir
ues to drink. But says another, they are til
only ones that keep the church up by thei
contributions. Well, admit that they are
do you not believe that He who has sustain
ed the church up to the present time is abb
DC to keep it up without them ? or if not, d
Il you think it is right ? or that God will b
L pleased with q church that is sustained b
70 the tears and blood of innocent wives an
is children and the broken hearts of aged fatf
ers and mothers Can you believe this? ]
not, l warn you to purge the house Of Go
of this accursed thing, and wash your skirt
, Of the blood of their victims.
c But has not the true follower of Chris
> something to do in this work? Are you NJ
> encouraging them in this traffic by dealin
: with them in preference to those who don
{ sell it? IL so, is it not your duty to refu'
; to purchase from them until they stop tt
sale of it? Ask yourself these questions,
a in the sight of God, and decide them f
e yourself, look around you and see if yC
cannot follow the example of your maste
and do some good to those around you. Nj
s. God speed the day when i~ntemperance sha
VI be banished from the land, and men ms
learn to love mercy, deal justly, and wa
O. humbly before God N1CODEMUS
r Petersburg, Va.