The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-09-28
For the Central Presbyterian.
A E" Kill or Cure" Remedy.
(CoNCLUDED.)


A "KHI or Cure" Remedy.
(ooNCLUDED)
A dispassionate view of the face of society
viii present us with several other grounds of
anxiety. Our losses and calanlities are evil
IDENTIFY affecting the hearts of many, Just as
the rejecting mind would anticipate, where
/ the sauctfyiug grace of God is not bestowed
/ Multitudes have suffered sweeping losses of
property, and they are made to feel that all
the future of their worldly estate IS lnjeop-
ardy. The legitimate. effect Of these crosses
7 should De to train US to heavenIy-mlndednesS
4 to teach us to lay up our treasures in heaven,
aud not upon earth If the Holy Ghost APP
ply these lessons, such will be their blessed
result But if the natural heart be left TO
receive ,acm according % its natife pr5pea-
sity, their only effect will be to whet the in
ordinate desires more kecnly. The apparent
uncertainty of our food and raiment, will
only cause US TO inquire with heathenish
greed, "What shall we eat, and what shall
we drink, and wherewithal shall we be
clothed" The soul will excuse to itself a
more thorough devotion to mammon, by the
plea that it has great losses to repair Dan
( gers in prospect, threatening its wealth, will
only awaken more consuming anxiety, and
more unscrupulous efforts to preserve it
Hence, among worldly Christians, this afilic-
tiou will deyelope, in many, still more
greedy avarice.
These causes viii produce, upon an oppo-
site temperament, an opposite effect; many
men will be inclined, by the disappointment
of legitimate aud honorable aspirations on
earth, to resign themselves to life of epicu-
roan ease and sensuous indulgence. Aud twill
be especially the nober Spirits the more gen
erous, susceptible and sensitive, who will fall
under this temptation. They will feel as
though nothing now remained but to cultivate
the po-ocaranie spirit, so characteristic of the
soft subjects Of the governments Of Southern
Europe, and to pluck what sonsuous good
they may, as they proceed along the aimless
and dishouored track of their remaining life.
Although they may not consciously say to
/ themselves, "Let US eat and drink, for to-
morrow we dix" such has become, virtually,
| the purpose of their lives 1t is greatly to
/ be feared that these influences are already de-
grading many generous and sensitive spirits;
many who, under happier circumstances,
would have been energized by noble aspira-
tions, and would have blessed their fellow
men by a career of public-spirited eXertons,
will become epicurean dHleHauti Some will
gradually sinl; into gluttons, more into drunk
ards, and still more into idlers, prey to self
rcproach and to every grosser temptation.
A few of the spiritual dangers arising out
iof ;fiieti0DS Savc aGE feel brtfv noirt-
5 ed o4- NJ hen 10 Is rCmeinb 1'sd ti.at hie
native tendency of every soul, while involved
in the flesh, is to backsliding; that the sus-
miuiug of an active spiritual life is a work
requiring the perpetual interference of the
Spirit and effort of the Christian; that to
keep grace is Ike keeping iron hot in cold
atmosphere, like maintaining the balance Of a
body in unstable equilibrium, like propelling
boat up stream, it will not appear improba-
| be that. in such circumstances as ours, there
will be great and lameutable derelctions.-
The inquirer, ten years hence, may be COM
PEELED to chronicle stories, which, if told now,
would be pronounced monstrous; of minis
ters, once Jealous to appearance, first secular
| lied (iu part through the unjust neglect of
their charges and then apostate; Of promi-
nent Christians openly profnc, Of churches
lapsed into dangling hercsy, or actually ex-
tingUshcd, aud Of pollUtiug customs and
dissipations prevalent in the Church unre-
bukcd.
Now is it asserted that these mournful con-
sequences must necessarily follow? BY no
means; but that they are possible, and if we
are left to the uuaided powers of human ma
ture, so possible aud probable, that every
Christian should arise to contend against
them with all his might by prayer and labor.
One thing Is now most manifest that the
occurrence Of such trials places US in the very
crisis Of a spiritual exigeucy; where there is
no alternative save, on the one hand, great
blessing to Christians through sanctifed af-
fictions, or, on the other, great and speedy
detection through the neglect of them The
conduct and life of Christians during the
next few months, will probably decide which
it shall be.
What then should Christians do, to secure
the happier of these results? God does not
leave us in doubt concerning the answer To
an afflicted church in similar circumstances, he
says: (IIeb xii; y, I6,) "Wherefore lift
up the hands which hang down, and the fee
bic knees and make straight paths for your
feet, lest that which Is lame be turned out of
the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow
peace with all men, and holiness, without
which no man shall see the Lord Looking
diligently lest any man fail of the grace Of
God lest any root of bitterness springing up
trouble you, and thereby many be defled
lest there be any foruicator or proiane person,
as Esau, who, for one morsel of meat, sold
his birthrght." God now explicitly calls
each Christian to the punctual performance
of his religious duties, to strictness Of con-
science, to- watchGuluess, to the maintenance
Of high and pure Integrity, and to renewed
Christian activity.