Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1864-04-21
A Pastors Reputation.

1
sacrificed, he is, like Samson shern
Of his hair, a poor, feeble, faltering
creature, the pity Of his friends, and
the derision of his enemies. would
not have bad ministers screened, nor
would Irhave good zones maligned.
When a preacher Of Righteousness
had stood in the way OF sinners aadl
walked in the counsel Of the. IN
godly, he should never again open
his lips in the great congregation un-
til his repentance is as notorious as
1 his sin. But while his character IS
unsullied, his friends should preserve
it with as, much care against the
tongue of the slanderer, as they would
his life againstthe hand Of the assas-
sin. WhenI consider the restless
malignity of the greatenemy of God,
and holiness, and add to this his SUBJ
tlety and craft when [ consider how
much his maiiceswoufd be gratifed,
and bis schemes promoted by black
ening. the character Of the ministers
of the Gospel, when consider what
multitudes of creatures there are who
are his yassals, and under his@infu
ence, creatures SC. destitute OF moral
principle, and so filed with venomous
spite against religion, as to be pre-
pared to 90 any lengths In maiigning
the righteous, and especially their
ministers. can account for it on
no other ground than an especial in
terposition Of Providence, that the
reputation Of Christian pastors is not
frequently attacked by SANDER and
destroyed by .calumny. But proba
bly, we see in this, as in other cases,
that wise arrangement Of Providence
by which things Of delicacy and con
sequence are preserved by calling
forth greater solicitude for their safe
ty. Church members should, there
fore, be tremblipgly valve to the i'm
portance Of defending their minis
ters character. They should neither
expect to see him perfect, nor hunt
after his imperfections. When they
cannot but see his imperfections-
imperfections which, after all, may
be consistent with not only real but
eminent piety-they should not take
pleasure in either ma gnifying or look
ing at them, but make all reasonable
excuse for them, and endeavor to
lose sightof his iinfrmities in his yir-
tues, as the spots of sun amid the
blaze of radiances with which they
are surrounded-John Angel James
HINTS FOR THE NEW YEAR. :,
Establish court Of equity in your
heart wherein you pronounce on any
of those domestic errors and crimes
Of which the law can take no cog
aizance-zM Make your good sense the
judge, and the wholesome command
ments Of 4Scriptureryour jury. Ex7
anime, and cross-exami ne your wit |
nesses-listen to the counsel for the
plaintiff, Mr.. Peeling, and the coun- |
sci for the defendant, Mr.. Passion. /
You already Know the evidence, and
if the jury return a verdict of gull
ty lay a heavy fine ON the delinquent,
and bind him in heavy sureties to-
keep in future the moral peace which
he has violated: Payroll every debt
of kindness chat you are able, and
call in by gentle remembrance all
that is owing to lyeotu.- Unhnomn.
The LOTTERY OF IIFE.-Life has
circumstances, that he
who frststermedit aslottery was Ger
tainly apt in his conclusions. When
its morning is~fair5 the light of hpelt
adds to tie beauty and brilliancy Of /
the prospects; but when it-damns
amid Sorrows, wants, woes, and all
the ills that burthen, rather than
cheer it, it is its winter-tide even be-
fore the first breaking Of its spring |
The buds are withered ere they have
power to expand into blossoms, and
the heart is frosted, and the spirits
are sunken when the one ought to
be in the pride of It's warmth and
the others in the bouyancy.-Leigh
CiBe.
TIME.-Consider that time is the
most precious Of. all our possessions:
by far the greatest deposit we have |
received in regard to what depends
on its use. There is nothing in eter-
nifty but what springs out of time ::
all the good which eternity has in
store, and all the all the prom !
Uses and allthe threatetlings of God
in Scripture-all will be realized in
consequence Of, and in proportion
to the improvement or abuse of the
present time OF our probation.-R. |
Hall.
PRACTICAL KsowLEDGE.- They |
who'have readmany books are more
exalted than such as have seldom
studied they who retain what they
read than forgetful readers; theyt
who fully understand than such as
only remember; and they who per-
form their known duty than such as
barely know it. Sacred knowledge