Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-06-09
For the Spirit of the Age.
Something suited to the Times.
BY MANSE.

ANb
1t has been long weeks since we presumed
to disturb the Age, or its readers, with a line.
but to prevent mistake, the reason for this is
that we have had so much work to do, and
SO much to learn, in order to rightly divide
the word OF TRUTH" that we could not find
m to pen a valuable article now. we
snail make the effort, and leave it to our
friend, the Editor, to decide whether it be
that are. o
If there be any one sin which might be
termed the san Of the churches, at the present
Jay, 1t is lnhdelity. Not such inidelity as
aenles the being of God and openly derides
MS revelation but a practical infdelity in re-
gard TO the teachings of the Bible. Of the
many indications of this state of things, a few
VIII surnce TO give the reader a clear view of
the whole matter. And in selecting these,
we snail endeavor to give the most prominent:
The first, is the neglect of Family Religion.
Here IS a parent: he processes to believe the
biole there ne is taught the immortality
OF the soul, its destiny after death. and that
eternal life is given to those only "who by
wen dong seek Tor glory, honor, and immor-
al truths, he permits his children to grow nm
like the wild ass colt upon the mountains
without proper moral training, leaving their
ideas of religion and God to be formed In ma
turer years. In every thing that concerns
his child's welfare in temporal matters bo ;s
careful indeed. The first rudiments of edn-
cation, the way to make and keep money he
is careful to inculcate; and this is as it s6ould
be; but of how much greater importance Is
the welfare of the spiritual, Immortal mart
how much greater the interests of eternity
than those of time! Yet the formation If
moral character is left to fortuitous circrm-
stances, and in a majority of instances. that
character is only evil. This is a fact. Every
one who has any knowledge of society can
testify thereto; and what does it argue p
Simply this, that men do not "belieye from
the heart unto righteousness !" do not really
and earnestly subscribe to the teaching of
God's word. AT heart they are infdels,
Butasecond indication, and the only one we
snail yet notice, Is the want of practical piety
in the churches. How many are there h
attend to the ministry of the word ? How
many who study the scriptures with praverp
How many who are passionate, and envions
and given to evil speaking? How MANY who
are unforgiving, while Christ assures them
that they must forgive, if they expect to be
forglvenY How many who, by evil commu-
nications, show that they love the world more
than God? How many who bow the knee
and cry hail master to the rm-god? How
lew who by doing right, and speaking RIGHT
and thinking right, show that thew believe as
sod has declared, that every secret THING
shall be brought into judgment, and that men
shall be judged by their works. or as their
works have been? Hundreds there are who
are not careful to depart from ~iniouitv and
the wordof God. If they received 40 - ~
sessing the authority it does possess. what
~carefulness it would produce in their lives
But they do not. Reader, pursue this idea
for it is not exhausted here-we have mereI7
glanced at it.
me cure: AS ministers we must preach
more on the practical duties of christian;ty
and less of the beautiful, the sublime. More
of the heart-searching and practical should
DC heard from our pulpits. If we would save
: men, we must get them to do right. to live