Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-09-22
gahiss department.
For the Spirit of the Age.
THE LORDS PRAYER.
DEDICATED TO MINNIE E. RAY.

DEDICATED TO MINNIE f. RAY.
NEAR wILMIsGroN, x. C.
A lovely maiden (more lovely because a
child Of God1 had been left alone in the
world, She had been beret Of every re-
latiye her kindred had gone to the hills
of the dead. Her bosom had often been
wruBg with anguish, and her tender heart
had been pierced wis many SORROWS, as
she had seen the friends of her youth
around her fall, "likc leavesi in wintry wealth
or" Father, mother brother, sister-aIl
were gone. Each loved companion of life's
glad morning had joined "the innumerable
caravan that moves to the pale realms Of
shade"-cach one occupied a character
in the silent halls Of death" and she was
left alone. Alone mo, not alone. For
faith pierced through the surrounding
gloom, and revealed the orphans Father
hard by His confling child-His c%verlas-
ting arm ever underneath her. Bowling
with deep reverence in the divine presence,
folding her hands upon her snowy bosom,
and directing her fearful gaze towards
heaven, she lifted up her heart in PRAYER
TO the Rock Of Ages, and the words she
brcathed in the beginning Of her supplica-
tion were swcetcr to her soul than the sum
Of all earthly bliss "Our Father which
art in Heaven"
Acknowledging, she looked around up1-
aher fellow ~reaturcs, and rememberedt
49, once the moral image Of the) Deity
had been stamped upon the spiritual nan
turc Of man. But now sin had so corrup-
ted and marrcd the divine impress, that
she looked in vain for a perfect man. The
most perfect was still unholy his best feel
ings wcro deprayed, his purest thoughts
tainted, his most sincere words deceptive,
and his noblcst actions selfish. Amid such
moral debascment, il were vain to look for
a righteous person, Tone who was naturally
SOY for all had gone astray, and there were
none that did good. When no existence
in the general ruin and devastation furnish
cs q beau ideal Of spiritual excellence, it Is
unspeakably pleasant to the devout heart,
striving for dcliycrance from the remains
of inherent corruption, though still under
its influence, to have clearly revealed to
it such an one, in whom there is no sin,
and in regard to whom there is no posi-
bility Of change, because "with Him there
is no yariablencss, neither shadow Of tur.
ullk. DlS ~ iPIlllE tNloL'j biOuSh y
earth, within the confines Of the christian
faith. For while his fears and appreher
sions are rs deep as the lowest hell, III
faith embraces ubiquity, and reaches a
high as the highest heaven. No wonder
then. that the piouS maiden, having a pro
per appreciation Of the divine charactel
should cxclaim, "IIallowed be thy name
Every man, who, when tried by tn
standard Of Gods word, and weighed !
the balances Of eternal truth, is found wal
ting in sympathy for his fellow-men, is q
void of that great principle of love whic
distinguishes the regcncrate heart, and a
lies the soul to the Saviour; because 9
any man have not the spirit Of Christ, !
is none Of his" His was emphatically
sympathi.ing, missionary spirit, developc
not only in the anxiety which he cypress
for the veal of men, but also in the gre
cork which he undertook and cORSunmdt
for their amelioration. The first way
which this spirit m%anifests itself, is by I
bursting. forth of that "hidden fire viii
trembles in the breast" and the hone
utterance ofthe next sentence in the LORI
prayer. When men knew God, they g
rifed him not as God and because tn
uIu uOI llkG 10 Iclhlil MN III GllC AIN
edge, the knowledge ofhim was taken trC
them, and their foolish hearts were d
kened. This darkness settled down ii
the night Of heathenism. The black p
impenctrable rs the shadows which res
upon the face of the waters before the
mighty fiat Of Jehovah went forth, &C
mandiug light, still hangs over the spi
ual vision, and obscurcs the eternal dest
Of the major portion Of mankind. 1t is
be removed, and the lost knowledge Of
true God restored, only by n complete
triumphant answer to the petition WI
lie, who spake as never man spakc, tau
his disciples to otfcg up. Right earnes
therefore, did the young Made plead
cause Of the heather "Thy kingd
come. Thy will be done on earth, as
heaven"
Belief not only in a general superin
ding power, but also in special providen
has always consoIcd those who %enterta'
it. Especially has it been comfortin
those who feel assured that "all til
shall work together for good to them
love the Lord" That Omniscience I
eognizance OF, and directs the min
occurrences whichitake place in refer
TO MS chllufen, seems clearly taught II
word. lie even sees the sparrow VIII
falls, and either DEGREES or permits its
throw. And so well known to Him
all His creatures, that the very hail
their heads are all numbered. And
is His constant supervision, that alth
facts with regard to the state OF cond
Of men are continually changing,
change is always observed and noted
n number of hairs were this morning
bed from my head, leaving the qua
less, the supervising power made the
traction, and was well acquainted wit
exact remainder. If these comparat
insignificant matters arc regulated b
will, much more, then, are vastly MOI
portant concerns specifically provide
Hence we learn that He causes the s
shine upon the evil and the good, al
rains to descend upon the just and IL
just aud that every good and p%erfec
cometh down from the Father Of