Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1855-01-17

from the cross itself Ills holy teachings.
10 there any relation Of life forgottea r.
Even the duties Of masters to their slayes--
OF slaves TO their masters, are to be found 81
clearly and as distinctly enunciated as those
Of son to fatber.--aDd what mean the
rawlings Of fanatics about the fugitive slave
Law, (Which, BY the way. arc apt to end in
tho Reputation Of Scriptare--because men
will hate the light that reveals their deeds,
and false stand point, when 81. Paul him
self, under the law Of Christ, sent back run
away TO bis master, and not only so. bu. pro-
missed IL be would receive him kindly, and 10
Christian spirit, he, Paul, would repay to
this master, whatever loss or damage be had
sustained By this dssertion OF bis service, aud
signed bis name With bis own hand, TO bind
brethren. who are wise above What Is written,
the Epistie Of Paul to Philemon.
But why dwell upon these marks Of ext
cellence. circumspicc Look around and see
what the spirit Of the Gospel has done in the
reformation Of society. Look at the working
Of the law Of love, ia the Hospitals for tho
sick the foundations for schools for the indi
gent the institutions Of holy charity for the
cripples, tho blind the deaf and dumb, the
destitute, the insane, thefriendless. and even
The vicious tho substitution ofthe peuiten-
tiary for the gibbet; reformation instead Of
the branding iron; and the chaplain for the
executioner read thro ancient and modern
history, and 6ud mc these institutions under
any other than Christian governments. and
then will poiut you to the brotberboods OF
mercy. tho kind hearted christians who visit
the poor and relieve them, the sisters Of char
b., the Towards, the Frys. the Wilbcrforces,
rud Clarksons; to show you that the origin
Of these heaven. born charities springs out OF
hearts regenerated by the grace Of God
But as yet bave only walked about Zion.
have only spoken Of tho indirect and col
lateral influences and effects. Its great spe
cifc and most mouentous mission lie, in it's
direct influence upon the individual heart it
addresses itself to each man, woman and
shild, as personal thing, as a renovating
bower. asa reforming agent. as a generating
moral influence, thro the spirit of g cd speak
Ing to the spirit Of the intelligent and respou-
sible being, called Man.
There are those here who DO not know this,
they have heard it told to them, but they
have not realized it, they, in fact, doubt it,
disbelieye it, regarding this branch Of the
subject as delusion. Is il not SO? Aud
yet, thousands of minds and hearts, wiser and
greater than ours. have testified to this mys
FERROUS fact yea, and have scaled it with their
blood The noble army Of martyrs, 10 ali
ages, tho confessors and witnesses, and to
come down from carly times, and to pass over
the goodly number Of ministers of the Cos
pei; the ranks o. the medical profession can
point to q Bosrbaye, Goldsmith and a g or
den, the legal to sush names rs Sir Matthew
Hale, Lord Bacon, and Lord Mansfield We
have seen such in our own day and laud, as
Story and Key, Clay, and Webster, and it needs
not to cite such men as Newton, Milton and
Locke.--there are too maLy ripe, full and
eminent men, who have pledged their yeracity
and reputation to the fact, that in their own
hearts they have experienced this saving
change by spirit other than their own. and
by power which could have been welded by
the hand OF Omnipotence alone. but there
Is no man that may not SEQ in bis own bisto
ry, if he vii! not smother the truth, evidence
OF the warnings Of q still small voce,-G Cd IS
witness in his own bosom, the pointings Of a
viewless finger, as that which traced the doom
Of BABYLON on the wall Of the banquetng
ball the providential erents Of bis own pri-
vate life, which have often brought him th-o'
dangers, when no human aid could avail, and
ne human calculation count upon the inter
vention.
But to leave the reference to this hidden
We,-known only to those who have obtain
cd it this joy, that no stranger informed
dleth With, this peace which the world can
not impart and cannot take away; as high
theme which is more meet for those who are
commissioned from this place to proclaim il.
Let me coutine myself to my proper view, and
ask any and all such, that now bear me,
but who may hesitate to accord TO tie Bible
the value | attach to it, what would you
have been If you had been born in a heathen
land. where the Gospel bad never been heard
and your prayers az your mothers knee had
never beea lisped, and the Sabbath School.
and the Church had never been entered, and
the holy lessons Of this blessed book never SC
much as heard Of? Can you tell me how far
the Indirect Influence of its high, civilzing
and humanizing principles have moulded your
character and influenced your fortune {?
You know the Christians God, tho you
serve him not. His blessed Instructions are
interviewer into your moral nature tho you
ignore the great Teacher. The moral law.
of this comprehensive code have been your
steady guide in all your dealings and inter,
course; and have governed others in their
treatment Of you and yours; tho these stat
utes have not "been your songs in the house
of your pilgrimage The polity of your ma
tive land. founded on them, has shielded you
The laws based on them have defended you
The brotherly kindness and charity ofits spr
it have surrounded you. The ties o. father
mother, and kindred. sancti6ed by it, have
wrapped around you their holy bonds, and
now, 10 conclusion, demand OK you whethe
you do not believe in your Utmost heart, tina
no man. woman, or child, was ever the wors,
for trusting to and following the guidance O
this blessed book ? whether you would no
sooner place your life, your honor, or you
property, in the keeping of that man who wa
sincere seeker after its truths, ard an hon