The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-12-05
We'll Pat On.

liriOn could consent TO make public, tie cOntfite
confession Of broken hearted peIit,ut. Tie
transaction, il appears strikes others in the same
light, for tbs Albany Journal thus well puts On
the lash Of satire upon the back Of the derelict,
and iaitllless depository Of confidence. Il says:
We have been waiting, and watching, for sew
eral days, for some appropriate and fitting eulo
GUM, from the Press, upon that model Pastor,
the Reverend Mr.. Patterson, of Chicago, whose
emineniIy Christian mode Of discharsins the -a,-
cred duties Of TIE Confessional, insGgurat"s a
more peif-c law OF confidence between Pentent
and Pastor, \ Daughter of the Church, in
deep affection, laid her sorrows in peuitential
and touching language, before her Spiritual Faith
er, entreating bin to present them, in her be-
half to that Merciful Judge before whom all
WAC are heavy laden are invited to cast their
burthei-. That rigid Pastor, who treads
' tie -'-~. an' tha-uy way 10 Heaven"
instead o! going wi:l his Penitent-bruised in
heart and crushed in spisit-betore Him Who il
easily TO be entreated handed her Petition over
TO Human Tribunal, The appeal TO an ~ ing
but contritc Daughter of the Church, TO. her
PASTOR in,ercesSiou with her Heavenly Father,
goes before earthly court, to be used for the
intiction Of temporal punishment and before
the world, TO agGravatc her modification and
misery!
This, We repeat, inaugufates new era in
Clerical ethics. IL reforms the relation between
Confessor and Penitent. 1t corrects and dispels
n I :.
A Pastor takes the confession II "A member Of
his Church and hands il over 8" civil Magis-
tra:ei This certainly conlcjs viii "n. cher
ished prejudices Pastors has, III "a ,lns
and penalties, lansaished il Prisons, ani deh:':
,orures rather tlan diygise the secrets Of tic
Confessional. Indeed, there Is higher brgh:
or, hUiicr example when an cf'in.; but pcni-
tent woman came t,p,c oar Saviour, in reply To
those who desired hsin 20 repel her, he rcbuked
them all 10y telling ntN WAC = wirIlpUT SIN TO
CAST TIRE FIRST sIC.g.
Oar modern and model Chicago Pastor r,ver.
ses the teachings and example OF his Divine
Master. by himself sToNINa the renitent vino
asked for his PGaYERs!
II Ms. Bureh was guilty, it only agsravtcs the
perfiy of Patterson. Here is the letter:
ALBANY, Jun y, 1860.
Ny DEAR Mr.. PATTERSON: WIZ YOU pardon
me for thus addressing y0u, but am in such dis
tress this morning, feel "a though must look 10
YOU NV former friend and pastor, tor advice aud
sympathy. feel that q t.w words Of cous0la-
ton from you, with ihe assurance that Lad
your prayers, would 30 me great good | beg
that you will not ccd1, To take interest in me-,
for il ever needed the prayers of Christians, |
90 now, when am au ou;c.,>t-a poor lone wa,,-
dercr upon the oafth--SliuHI ed by all and loved
by nOne try, 20 feel that for such as | our Sa-
viour died ard pray that nv sins NAV be wash.
ed away. - But your inigui,ies have separated
between you and your God, aud your has
hii his face from you that he will not hear"
This feel most deeply Do you think he will
hear mc when call upon him? My lips have
indeed spoken lies. and NV tongue hath uttered
pcrversencss." feel all this most deeply, and
try To find comfort la His blessed word BE.
hold the Lord heard His arm is not shortened
that it cannot save; neither is his ear heavy
that IL cannot hear" This comforts me: but
oil. ut times my sin j. so great, the sense Of my
iniquity is such, that feel utterly lost and uu.
done. pray, and often, that may be forgiven
know that the vilent sinner may repent" but
think, sometimes, that there was never one so
vile rs |. My doubts, fear and despair then
Overwhclm me. try to feel that God will, in
his ONE good time. 10 ali things well. | kno,
he does; but oh my burden is - heavy. nv
sin so great, do cast all upon the Lord and
know he will sustain me-. viii you give NE
your prayers; will you, Mr.. Patterson, ask Inv
husband to ever pray for me? he is a Christian
aud SO are you. Perhaps your prayers with
mine may be- heard, ana | may be forgiven
Wi! you and he sometimes pray toceihe- for
me? | do need such prayers And perhaps
Tor the love he once bore his eriiug wife, he will
play tor me. He did pay for aid with me he
fore left him, and perhaps il you al. him he
VIII continue that prayer. | know ihat he
loathes me now; but pray that he will forgive
me, for il is Christkc TO forgive, and he is GOOD
oh, Mr. Patterson, have SO wrongod him. 1
cannot tel! you ho. was led on so. step bv
step, fiom all that VAS right and good; can
only siy thar have 50 deeply sinnel fear |
shall newer BE- forgiven, and can ONLY hope and
pray without ceaSing; do you and Mr. l!nch pray
Tor me: can ask tie prayers OF none Others
and though have 50 sinncd against him. | be
heve he val! pray Tor me, AID You know "thc
fesyeut prayer Of The righteous uIan aya;l.;h
much ' az times, 50 great is my faith in Gods
promises, feel tina; shall BE- sayed-shaIl b.,
iorgiven-ior Tie says those who truly rencnt
shall be saved. and lie knows how earnestly i re-
pcnt OF my sans; and Mr.. Patterson. will YOU
comfort my dear husband; do pray for him and
those dear children; God only knows and has
witnessed my agony when thinking of and pray
ing Tor my loved ones: Oh, the thought that INV
husband, who once so londiy loved me, now
looks upon me with loatI.ing and hatred, is Amos,
unbeatable; but pray God that his heart NAV
be more sottened towards me that he will feel
less anger and more pity, and that he too will
forgive the great wrong have done him hope
YOU will sometimes see ny dear children thew
will never know how I love them, how pray
for them; my heart aches to think NAV never
see them again; and yet Mr. Burch has promised
that should, aud believe him.
Again, viii you pray Tor me: VIII YOU ask
Mr. buscil 10 pray for NE. Your join: prayers
with mine may be answered. VIII you write me
rs soon az Won can conveniently? lnclose the let
ter in an envelope to Mr.. Corning. Albany.
Your friend, NJ. w. BURCH.
SENsinLr.-Sherrard Clemens. a Democratic