Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-07-10
SPIRIT OF THE AGE.

our friend. And now that he has been con-
signed to the mansions of rest, the past ap-
pears more vivid than ever,
"When musing on companions gone
We doubly feel ourselves alone"
In our conversations we frequently dis
cussed in an intellectual point of view the
merits of religion, but not with much desire
or intention of embracing the truth should
we succeed in coming to a conclusion. On
certain occasion our friend remarked that to
him religion was mysterious and incompre-
hensible. He said that he entertained pro-
found respect for it and its Votar ies, but real
" could not understand it. Religion is al
ways mysterious to those who allow their
minds 10 dwell alone on the Incompetent
sible parts Of il, such as election, predesti-
nation, free grace and the motives and de-
signs Of Coda discussion on any one Of
which always involves the others. Persons
are seldom, if ever, benefited by conversing
on such subjects. The religious world has
been kept in commotion for many centuries
by learned discussions on those points and
if they were determined, they would be OF
no great Importance, or at least of no prac-
ticaI utility, as a knowledge of them is by
no means essential to salvation. The path
o Neternal glory is SO plain that none, who
seek it, need 60 astray. But to return to
our friend.
An intimate friendship of a few years
brought us to a period when a change took
place in our relations. God was pleased to
visit the community in which we lived with
a season Of refreshing from His presence
lie made bare His almighty arm in our
midst, so that many saw his salvation, and
were called from the region and shadow Of
death into the marvellous light of the gospel
of grace. Needing the admonitions Of the
Holy Spirit we ourself enlisted under the
banner of Prince Emmanuel, and joined the
company which then and there took up the
line of march for the City of the Great King.
We wen with the people of God, aud can
say that they did us good. The manifesto
tons of the Holy Spirit were probably never
more visible than on that occasion. Even
the chiefest of sinners found peace in be-
lieving on the name Of Christ. No perioC
in the history of any ones lite can be mort
important than that of a revival. What VIZ
have seen since that time, has convinced u:
of the truth of this. 1t has been said, ant
it is as true too as gospel, that those who pas
through such seasons, and yield not ebedl-
ence to the mandate of the voice that is cry
ing behind them and saying, This is tn
way: walk We in ii" are seldom, If ever
again visited with like blessings.
AROUSE the tiger of Hyrcanian deserts,
Strive with the half starved lion for his prey,
but resist not the spirit of the Living Goo
No thought can be more awful than that
being left in darkness to finish ones cours
and sink in the gloom of eternity's night
In thinking of our friend, but one thin
grieves US and when we think of him, "
cannot but think Of this. He passed throug
!, the revival without giving his heart to Go
/ though most powerfully operated on by tt
! Spirit and most tenderly and urgently e
!, treated by the people OF God to join theI
, We saw him several times take his seat
the inquircrs' bench. We did not love hi
l the less because we thought that our Savior
had chosen US to be one of his follower
nay, we loved him even the more. Our hea
y yearned to see his soul washed in that bio
g that cleanseth from all sin. But not to DIV
: longer on this point, our friend passed TIL
f this precious visitation from God without
: ceiving the blessing. The impressions ma
n on his mind were soon erased and his wont
h gayety and cheerfulness again returned. y
saw him but once or twice after We saw h
seated at the inquirers' bench, cvident
seeking the right course to pursue it.
Al blhAO 4 W. bo W NRNAGN
it turned out to be a final separation. \
Te went TO a literary institution to complete
IN studies, and our friend went to a medi
g College Of high standing TO attend an &C
Is. tional course of lectures, to be the bet
g prepared for the discharge of his professi
d. al duties. From thence he went to the s.
OF ny South to ride amongst the pralrles .
re minister to the wants OF suffering humani
a. As all who knew him expected, he 81
re gained the confidence and esteem OF the k
and hospitable people amongst whom he
ne tied. But his having failed to obtain a sh
as of that rich gift purchased by Christ, \
is ever a drawback to him. Wehoped the |
lily ! for him, and longed to hear that he had p
ny ed from death unto life. He always talked
Pc if he would become a Christian at some
ed ture period-some more convenient seas
di- But he that has once refused to accept
OF treasure of inestirnable value, has nett
he ground nor right to hope that the same
to portunity will ever again be offered.
est We became acquainted with two physic
al who were pious, upright men, and who
lie with abundant success in the practice oft
ms professions. We wrote to our friend a 81
In account of these useful men, and of v
lie rendered them SO eminently SO, think
NY. perhaps, it might have some influence on
But he never seemed disposed after our
I'M a~ration to have any thing to say on the S
18th ject of religion. In his letters he n
mentioned the subject at all, though in
at we never failed to remind him OF his d
nee He had been in the sunny South but
bile over a year, when news came to US in a
IN ter, saying Of him, " lie is dead" lie {
too, so far as any man knows, without ha
! to obtained that boon of great price, whicl
'ver so confidently expected to obtain bt
D oil death. Like Felix he deferred the acc
his plishment of the great object for which
was created for 4 more convenient sea
tire and like Felix, SO far as human knowl
the goes, he never met with it. He was nj
tn too, like a flower by the early frost, il
Ho- very bloom of youth when bright yisio
d in future happiness and long life were fiji
no across his pathway.
The feelings produced on our mind b
!, he intelligence of his death, may be ima|
ions but cannot be easily described. Our
hea- thought was about his immortal soul. y
ife's indeed, will it profit a man, if he gair
lew whole world andlose his own soul Tho,
], as Of the privileges our friend enjoyed-o
each ing him in the midst of q revival, anxi
wishing to know what was right-of h
the ted mind-apd lastly of his closing his
the in death without God and without b
t our frequently con into our mind. We
think of him, but we involuntarily tn
path his soul. Where is it? If Gods as o
'hich his word, that noble, gifted youth after
II ca ing comprised himself about with spa
and his own kindling, having walked in tn,
10th of his own fire, finally had this at the
lend, of God, to lie down in sorrow.