The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-05-11
Neal and Dickey Again,

49,
1t has been saiG Of Archbishop Leighton
that if any man did him injury be was eve
afterward most anxious to do that man
good turn. The same has been remarked
Cotton Matber, and other eminent Christian!
Burkett beautifully observes in his %jouruaI
that some persons would never have had
share in his prayers but for the injuries the
had done him. When som Of the cOurtier
of Philip the Good would have persuade,
him to punish a person who had used hin
i'll, he declined, saying, " 1t Is a fine thing Il
have revenge in ones power, but 1t is
finer thing not to use IT,"
There is a way, however, Of reyerging our
selves which is always in our power, anC
which we should always avail ourselves Of
Love your enemies, bless them that curse
YOU, do good 10 them that hate you, and
pray for them which dispitefully use you
and prosecute you. A missionary once
preached upon these words of our Saviour
and a Hindoo gentleman who was present
was so impressed by them, that he said tC
some Of his friends, " what u beautiful doc
trine love your enemies certainly there is
nothing in our shasters like that"
The following is n touching illustration Of
the spirit which Christianity begets, con-
trasted with that which heatheniGm inspires;
Two men living in the Southern part Of Afri-
ca had a quarrel and became bitter enemies
to each other. Soon after one ofthem found
a little girl belonging to his enemy in the
woods at som distance from her fathers
! house. lie seized her and cut of two OF her
fingers; and as he sent her home screaming
with her bleeding hands, he cried, al have
had my revenge p Years passed away. The
little girl had grown up to be almost a young
woman. One day there came to her ather'S
door a poor worn out, gray headed old man,
who asked for something 10 eat. She knew
him ut once MS the cruel man who had cut
Of her fingers. She went in to the tent and
ordered the servant 20 take him bread and
milk as much as be could eat, and sat down
ard watched him eat it. When he had fin
ished she dropped the covering that hid her
hands from view, and holding them up be-
fore him she said " have had my revenge"
The man was overwhelmed with surprise.
The secret Of the girls conduct was, that in
the meantime she had become a Christian,
and had learned the meaning Of the verse.
+" II thine enemy be husgry give him bread
to eat If he be thirsty, give him water TO
drink, for then thou shalt heap Goals .of fire
upon his head How beautiful the conduct
Of this inspired Christian girl appears in con-
trast with that Of her heather enemy,
/ am indebted TO the Christian Banner, for
the above true Christian sentiments, and
would say to Rev. Neal ind Dickey, let us
who are the professed Ministers Of the Lord
Jesus Christ, strive TO be actuated by the
same Christian spirit. Let us further re-
member that the Saviour Of the world con-
quered by kindness and love, and If we are
his disciples we must have His mind, and
possess His spirit. Unless we speak and
write in a proper Christian spirit, II will
be better for us and for all our readers u
cease this pen warfare. II is sometimes al
LoWabls for politicians 10 deal in personalities
but never in Christian Ministers, for wher
we are reviled we are not TO reVile again, IL
imitation Of Him who spake as never NAT
spake. We should furthermore remembei
Bro. Neal, that sacred obligation, will no
sneak evil Of a companion, behind his bacl
nor before his face ETC.; all this we get from
that "great light which is destined to il
illuminate the whole world.
would say in conclusion, that you havl
permitted to be published to the world, tina
which has made a false impression uPon Oh
minds Of some Of your readers. | will no
charge you with any improper motives in do
ing 80, but will say that under the excite
ment Of the occasion, you have put a falls
construction Upon my letter Published !
the Uxfos FAC Of the goth ult. II you hay
gathered from my language that | wished {
convey the idea that the two Methodist ObnT
ches had united as an ecclesiastical body
YOU nre in an error, for I did notintend 10 d
30. a. the whole article taken together vii
clearly show. / remarked that il will b
seen ~ the following article taken from th
New York OBservv, I" that q proposition ha
been made for a Union Of the two Methods
families, and that every Christian and ever
lover Of bis country will be happy to kno'
that the proposition has been reeiProeate
etc." II you had published the whole ART
eig thu readers Of your paper would hsT
plainly discovered Whist that union meant 9
the tro MsihodiH 6anilta-Wbieh was to pfa
for the peace and unity Of heart Of our CON
mon country, ADD for a full restoration {
Christian sympathy and love between the dt
fsrent branches OF Msthodism 10 this nalion
n you had even Published the last few lihe
Of my letter every reader could have see
what Intended. I remarked, that, " one .
two other Conferences Of our Church baV
been Animaiad By the same Christi n spirit,
Thai Il, they had passed resolutions Of asin
llss character 10 those ofthe New York Bal
Co bisrspee' a. yi tf.es.
You might as well have Published that
bad stated that the Presbyterian Church be
matted with oar Chnoh, for said 10 the san
Ar,lels that our P rssbyteriAn friends are ais
equally alive 70 the: interests o. our believe
country, snd are n akiBg pEsPaEiiious q