The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-03-13

matter of justice and necessity by the
very conditions of our nature, and as
matter of religion between man and man,
and man and his God, by the same nature,
and by divine revelation and the univer-
sal sense of mankind. He considered
failure to meet an obligation that direct
ly, or indirectly implied the payment Of
money or its acknowledged equivalent, if
it were owing to design or extravaganza,
or inattention, or carelessness, was evil
dence against q mans piety. If man
had the power to pay his debts, and did
not do it, or satisfy his creditor for the
failure, he could not consider him as an
honorable man however he might talk or
carry himself; or a generous man, how
pever lavishly, and often he gave away,
in answer to calls for assistance, for any
object however interesting. Wherever
he owed money he expected to pay, and
when money was owing to him he ex-
pected it to be paid. He did not think
that because man was minister of the
Gospel, therefore, he might excuse him
self from paying his just debts, or excuse
others from paying him; but the contra
ry. Yet he was not litigious or oppres-
sive. Bankruptcy he considered always
dreadful misfortune; often great
crime. AS a misfortune, it would exhibit
the strength and purity of mans char
acter in his rallying again to take his
place among his fellow-citizens; as a
crime, it deserved the severest censure.
I'd. Compelled to sustain himself by
working the soil, he believed that he had
right to make the best Of the produc-
tions he had to spare. Living near q
market, he could easily know the propi-
tious times to buy and sell. As the pro-
ductions he had to sell were not in the
general way, those necessary for the sup
port of life, he did not consider that he
was expressing any one or standing in
the way of any one, if he took advan-
tage of the market to obtain good price
for his tobacco. And when he went to
buy, if he took the advantage of cash
prices and made the most of his income,
he did not think he gave any cause Of
complaint or hard thoughts; but, on the
contrary, had set good example by keep
ing free from debt.
His views on money matters he eneither
concealed from the public nor obtruded
them on others. AS minister, he thought
men ought to be called at proper times to
remember the "injunction "-"Owe no
man anything" "but to love one anoth-
er;" and another injunction of Paul to
Timothy, "Keep thyselfpure," "Let no
man despise thee"
Sd. Your grandfather was reverential.
Aged people, however low in circum-
stances, if meritorious, he reverenced.
An aged minister that had been faithful
he venerated. In ecclesiastical bodies he
was particularly respectful to the aged
and courteous to the young; and as DR..
Rogers, of New York, said to one in
procession that crowded in before him:
"Young man, keep your place." and re-
took his position; DR.. Leach was not
afraid to rebuke presumption; and has
been known to leave Presbytery where
presumption was not checked in man.
ner he thought becoming.
There were things in nature that al
ways awakened strong emotions. The
old oaks around Cumberland church, the
survivors of the original forest, seemed to
him the solemn witnesses Of passing gen.
erations of worshippers. They had heard
prayers and praises from the people that
gathered to hear Davies tell that he had
liberty to preach there, unmolested, the
Gospel of the Son of God. Gould they
speak, what prayers what praise what
sermons! they would bring out to our
ears; passed indeed from men, but living
in the book of God, and in the hearts
and memories of immortal Christians.
How often has he been seen, as he ap-
preached his home, looking up to the
venerable old oaks at his gateway, and
the still more grand ones at his door,
with emotions in the face, that words
could not easily express! INTO whose
ever hands his once beloved home may
fall, long may those old trees be spared
to rustic in the summers breeze, and
roar in the winters storm.
Your grandfather addressed himself,
with all his powers of mind and body, to
the duties of his last pastorate, well
knowing that with the exertions he in
tended to make, the crisis of his body
would soon come, either in sudden death,
or withering decrepitude. God chose
the first in mercy. And what God does,
he does well.
Farewell, my young friends, and re-
member the last text Of your grand
father-"Who is on tho Lords side |!
Let him come over unto us" Yours, in
great kindness.
CoMITIs CoNaEREI RECORDER.