The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-05-21
RELIGIOUS.
A WORKING CHRISTIAN.

n WOlNAANfH AAHksAS NJ
THE following article is extracted from a u rmoir
in the Wesleym Methodist Rogosle, Of Richard Ford
Sturges, exemplary member st the Wesleyan
Methodist Church in birmingham, England How
much mightier the instrumontalitv in the reforma
ton Of the world wuud the Caris,ian Church be
were tithc of its members as earnest in their
religious life as was this devoted man. And vet is
itnot the duty of all who name the nlm, of Christ
to devote their lives for him wlo gave lis life for
them
There is q certain grandeur in the spectacle Of an
educated and vigorous mind. pcrmnat,d by the spir
it of religion laboring in Oh. mIs. Of society to do
good living soul deriving from living God
constant supplies Of strength Tor the race of duty.
and for conflict against sin, is among the most in-
terestng objects in the universe. Established in
the principles Of godlincss and walking in fellow
ship with God, MIR. Sturgas trttl, burden Of souls.
and devoted himself with n true zeal which never
declined, to bring them to Christ. Tine working Of
an adult school, which he established for the pocr
and neglected, will furnish one example Of his man
itod an successful efforts. Through his inctS-
SAINT labcrs," writes who was identified with the
Belmont-row Church at tina. time. great agl Wns
done both to body and soul. som, OF the most
profigate were brought 20 Col. l have seen the
room crowded with sweayers. drunk ards, Sabbath
breakers, and know not what besides. Many Of
these converted through the instrumcutaitv OF Mr..
Sturges, have been heard in lOvc-fcas's 10 bless
God on his account, and many are now in glory.
Pere, too, he established a Bible ani LYNN Book
Club that all might be able to read words of
life and comfort. From house to house he visited
in the most degraded localities comforting the
hicted and relieving the needy. i may be truly
said of him, When the ear heard him. then it
blessed him and when the eye saw him, then il
gave witness to him: because n delivered the
poor that cried, and him that had none to help"
Such a life aboulds with incident. From the
time he received the pledge Of Gods adopted love,
TO that Of his exit from earth. nc was an earnest
working Christian. Herein he was only acting out
the principles Of his inner life. pu lii,ilg the no.
tions of that sentimental school which regards the
terms duty and service as hard AMI dista ,tltul lie
regarded himself as servant of God, and delight
ed in spending and being spent in his cause. |
DESIRE he often said, in the language Of SWnnock
that God Will allow me rather to wear out with
work than consume like garment nd bv for wa t
OF 1t; so that when death shall give me- a writ of
ease from my particular calling. | may die in the
Lord, rest from my labors, and have my works
following me, through free grace, into an exceed
ing and eternal weight of glory
While the true life vigorous within, no ser.
vice came unwelcome. In the Sabbath-school cy-
erything he touched felt the impulse Of his consc
Grated energy. At Isliugton. an aftcrward at
Bristol-road, the schools rapidly increas d. and
many young persons were drawn into the Church
of the living God. AS a class leader, he possessed
more than common talents. H- found a real luXu-
ry in raising new clases. ShaNgcr5 who appeared
at chapel he promptly MT with frank and generous
invitation and by this means, in the course Of one
comparatively short period, fifty persons were in.
roduced INTO Church communion. With assidu.
GUS care he attended to the poor and the afflicted
In his own extensive mandatory he sought, by
means of Bible classes, to bring tie -vCu1g
people under the influence of Divine truth, and nc
expense or toll was spared TO render The classes cf-
fcient and attractive. AS promoter Of dlv-schoo
education, he was anxious 10 bear Lis par, in the
fufllment of sacred duty too long neglected and
a careful correspondence with the authorities at
Westmlnlster in 1870, shows how intense were his
,,1 hon J.