Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-03-10
SIR, # te< 1s<-3ef<tss, 81. s.

repeatedly TO him, his convictions deepened, |
and in this state he was led to get a Blb4e, /
which he never before owned in his family OF
. wife and FIVE children. This he had read
with the TrAcpby 3 friend who visited hlm.
He then began to be an attentive nearer OF
the preached gospel. About 8 years ago he
moved to this City and soon called to see me.
On visiting him for religious exercises L saw
that he had . studious mind.
He was supplied with suitable books by
which to improve him in spelling: AS ne
progressed In learning, he continued praying
and at times seemed overwhelmed in distress.
After reading the 'Primer, peep of Day"
&c, I gave him a copy of James Anxious
Inquirer" sent me to give away in
! Grafton of the Authors closing his 5Oth year
as Pastor of a church in birmingham Eng,
which he read as directed and before he got
through reading it he was ENABLED to be-
iieye ON Christ. He has been an accepted
member of q church here about 9 months
He bears the daily fruits of an humble chris
tan in his family, his work, and among sim
ners, to whom he loves to talk and give tracts
which | supply him with regularly. And his
influence among the poor and ungodiy IS very
hopeful for abundant good. He reads closely
such books as the Pig. Prog, Saints Rest,
Baxter's Call, and which he loans to others.
He reads aloud for the benefit of hS wife and
!, children. His wife, who has been deeply
concerned about her soul for more than two
!, years, said to me on q recent visit, Il feel as
, if | was in . new world almost, as to ENJOY
ment in my family, for just a few years ago
when my dear husband would come home az
night | and the children were afraid to meet
him, but now when he returns at night, after
eating, he reads the Bible, sings and prays
with u.s." Recently" said she, Il went
8 with our children to visit our old neighbor-
hood in an adjoining county, and when our
children told their cousins Is and Is years
old that their father had family prayers, they
did not even know what such was, and when
: : our children kneeled at the bed to pray, their
= cousins left the room, seeming to be afraid OF
+ them"
This visit has made a lasting impression in
that dark neighborhood, and now a stream
of light is being poured upon it by tracts
through this man.
3. Interest in Sabbath Schools has in
creased through the instruI mentality of this
work, by its developing the wants OF families
and neighborhoods, and by placing IN the
hands of christians publications that have in
le structed and aroused them in tt us and other
r benevolent objects. And l am more than
ever impressed with the great i'm portance OF
y our Colporteurs placing in the han DIS of every
christian such books as Memoir OF 'Normano
Smith"-which is only 10 and5 cen ts-"Har
Ian Page" Isabel" "Nevans' Practica
,r- Thoughts and "Zacheus." which ar e so wei
oil calculated to impress any child of God witt
or the duty of individual christian qnJ9u6nc
and action. And | here suggest tina t ever.
Colporteur prayerfully read or re-re. I'D tn
above named books and strive to get we o
~ all, if possible, in the hands of every chris
We tan and every person. For to success full
en- promote Sab. Schools or any good work, e &C
osc christian must feel that he and she has S0a M
az thing to do and be sUer ready to do 1t. /
en- Colporteur cannot be expected to remain il
-. q neighborhood to carry on a Sab. School,
= He can awaken an interest or organize th'
Ie School, supply it with books, and aid occa
he' sionally perhaps, but others must be so in
W. terested and instructed as to carry it on
the Many christians / know by reading thes
lall books have been aroused and gone with m
ov- and continued to go after [ left, first teachin
the poor at their firesides and in q few week
or months would gather them into Sab
."y, Schools. Ihaye aided in 81 such schools, az
er&ging 40 scholars each. But we still hav
our cnupties ir N --I'Off Sn0lV Is hoC
IUer single Sunday School, as Ihave been informeG
erly Second. Obstacles.
lter /. The amount IF bad books, novels &c
the is quite numerous, and even members
churches allow them to remain in their house
~ and IN many instances know that their chi
dren's minds and hearts are sadly injured b
them. And | regret to say that even son
e. ministers allow such to be kept and read
their houses. Satan is busy in having h
'A1n agents to go about scattering books that co
rupt both soul and body and surely chri
tians shouldbe as active, andmore SO, in g0j1
he about Everywhere to scatter good books. O.
ness portage is doing much to correct this evil
life, But it is most difficult to get the Bible or 7
e, In ligious books taken and read by a regul
dim novel reader, and hence it is highly impc
good tant that christians be active to first supp
ty to all families with good books.
gent, 2. The amount of Sabbath dissertation
900 great, more or less, in almost every county
lies: have visited; by neglecting public worsh
ship, travelling, social visiting, cooking, feastir
the cutting wood, making and settling accoun
fami- hunting, gambling, and children allowed, a
er Of laughed at by parents, in playing ball, m;
6 ~ bles, &c, which are the seed vices that spri
sub up and ripen into gross Dissertation. These
to not apply to the more pious and intelligt
hum generally, but | fear that one or more of tn
lslble species of sabbath breaking will apply to M
fail than half of our population. The Colporte
.e, to with the Sab. Manual, &C., is aiding great
to correct this God-daring and insulting S
high 8. The great amount Of intemperance fir
I'd: ardent spirits is a dreadful obstacle to
tians, progress of religion. The example of Ma
ate in members of churches in selling and drink
oring liquor is most woful, rendering the correct
ing . of the evil most difficult and painful, for
sodly, are told boldly by the dealers in ardent 81
'mpli- its, that their ''6est patrons, in buying
drinking, are members Of churches and 9
ogeth- tlemen Of high position p But God is b
ccess- sing various means to difuse light, caus
men to give up the traffic and rescuing h
IN, as dreds of mer, women and children from
sad effects of liquor. In this our books
hurch tracts are doing great things and there is
ell, and Gently a greatly renewed interest in the s.
istian, tering broadcast temperance tracts over n
but May God direct and greatly bless the M
nd out ment.
S any Third. Colportage IN toarns and the CT
with try.-From my observation | am salts
We for that this work is adapted to both towns
country, because in both we have the p
I'm the sick, the prejudiced to church-going
ons of those Indifferent to all means of grace
so sig the most ~effectual way to reach them il
as an carry gospel truth in christian love by
cause prayer of faith into their houses. If we do
al de- thus go to them, thousands cannot and
Christ, not receive the gospel, and many will live
knowl- die heathens in our midst
But Colportage has a greater field in
n have more destitute places of the country, bee
cts dis in many such there is no preacher With