The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-12-21
[FoR THE CENTRAL PRrsBrrrRIAS.l
Gods Witnesses.

Even in this apostate world, God has
never left himself without witness. The
heavens declare his eternal power and
Godhead. Providence, giving rain from
heaven and fruitful seasons, testifes of
his goodness. The still small voice of
conscience proclaims his authority.
But besides and above all these, God
has provided for himself in all ages more
intelligent and emphatic witnesses. Com
inc down through the vOiceless but elo-
quent array of the armament, and stand
ing before the cloudy curtain which Provi-
dence so often spreads upon the face of
his throne, he summons his covenant peo-
pie to the continual making of a solemn
act and testimony; saying, Let all the
nations be gathered together, and let the
people be assembled-let them bring
f5rth 6ei Witnesses; We are ing witness
ses saith the Lord, and my servants whom
| have chosen, that We may know and be-
ieve me, and understand that am the
Lord, and beside me there is no Sa-
viour."
1t is simple but sublime thought !;
Gods people are his chosen witnesses.
The unbroken succession of the right
eous, perpetuated by supernatural gene
rations through all ages aud dispensa-
tions, and constituting by virtue Of their
common relation TO the Saviour, ga
chosen generation, royal priesthood, a
holy nation, peculiar people" is a
standing memorial of Divine wisdom,
power and grace. To collect and CON
solidate such nation-to erect and per-
petuate such living monument, is Gods
original, comprehensive and eternal pur-
pose. 1t antedates creation. 1t under
lies and controls all the dispensations of
Providence. Its imperishable results will
survive the destruction of all things
earthly. For thus it is written, and
blessed is he who understands the record; ;
che hath created all things by Jesus
Christ, to the intent that now unto prin-
cipalities and powers in heavenly places
might be made known By the Church the
manifold wisdom of God.
But Gods people are his witnesses,
not merely by their preservation as a
righteous seed in the earth, realizing
through all time the true significance of
that bush that was burned with fire, and
vet not consumed, because Ged dwelt in
it; the holy Church universal is much
more than a monument standing imper-
ishably amid all the assaults and muta-
tions of time; it is a ligiagl temple, built
on living foundations, and vital in every
part Every true member Of that Church
is a living sstone, polished chrysolite,
rejecting the image and Illustrating the
grand design of the master builder. The
great business uG'eyery believers life is
to testify the gospel of the grace of God;
and just in proportion as he is fitted for
his work by Gods effectual calling and
the conservation of the Holy Spirit he
becomes "a living epistle, known and
read of all men. His light shines, not
as the world shines, in the gliding which
wealth and power put upon the body and
its dwelling place, but in the efulgence
of life whose springs are hidden and
divine, and whose outgoings are the beau
tv of holiness. He comes down to the
camp and the market place, like Moses
from the Mount, his countenance glowing
with the impress of a divine communion,
and his soul chastened by self-forget-
fulness that knows not that his face
shines. Men take knowledge of him that
he has been with Jesus, and learned of
him who was meek and lowly in heart,
and went about doing good,
Nor is his patient endurance less ex-
pressive Of his revived life than his ac-
tive duties. As the Centurion, gazing at
the meek sufferer on the cross, exclaimed,
"Surely this man was the Son of God )"
the world are constrained to admit the
reality of religion when they see the
steadfastness of those who neither de-
spise the Lords chastening, nor faint
when they are rebuked of him. The
cloud of witnesses, of whom Paul tells
us in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews,
is not yet completed. The long muster
roll of faith and patience is receiving adj
ditions continually. There is no witness
bearing more sweet and powerful than
the song which goes from the inner prison
when the feet of Gods servants are fast
in the stocks; no trial in which be-
LEVERS testimony is more emphatic, than
in that trial of faith from which he comes
out, like gold seven times purified.
Nor does this testimony cease with the
close of life. lie being dead yet speak
eth. His memory in the earth Is fra
grant as Mary's box of ointment, whose
odor filled all the house where Christ sat
awelcome guest; and his witness bearing
in the skies, is perpetual. Death endow:
him with more celestial eloquence, anc
exalts him to a wider sphere. In the day
of Judgment, and to all eternity, Christ
will "be glorifed in his saints, and adj
mired in all them that believe" Angel;
l. will stand and listen while they sing
"-Unto him who hath loved us and made
us kings ard priests unto Cod and {
great cloud of angelic spectators will re
peat from mouth to mouth, the admirin9
report, ''These are they that have come
out of great tribulation, and have washed
their robes and made them white in thc
blood of the Lamb" II. J. "
PROMPT BENEyoLENCE.-The benevo
lent DR.. Wilson once discovereda a clergy,
man at Bath, who, he was informed, was
sick, poor, and had q numerous family