Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-04-23
MOr0I and Religious.
For the Spectator.
Faith. Hope, and Charity.


When person is seriously impressed with a
sense of the importance of true piety, as essen
tlal to peace of mind here, and true happiness
in the future life, he reads the scriptures with
prayerful attention. In prosecuting his inqui-
ries with reference to what are the evidences
of true religion in the soul, he will find the 18th
chapter of first Corinthians among the most in
structive 1t begins hus-"Though l speak
with the tongues of men and of angels, and
have not charity, | am become as sounding
brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though [
have the gift of prophecy, and understand all
mysteries, and all knowledge; and though |
have all faith, SO that | could remove noun
tains and have not charity, | am nothing
This inquiry at once presents itself to the anx-
lous mind What is charity? What is that es-
sentlal christian grace, without which, all pre-
tensions to other gifts and graces, however fat
terDg, will profit nothing, further than what
may be derived from perpetrating pious fraud
| upon fellow beings?
| 1t has pleased the Holy Spirit to define
christian charity in terms so plain that he who
runs may read, as being the lore of God, with
all the heart, the soul, and nsind, and of our
aeigh6or as ouyselUes. 1t is greater than faith
and hope: "And now abideth faith, hope. and
| charity, these three, but the greatest of these
is charity" The reason of this will be readily
| perceived, when, We reflect, that it is only in
| this. life, we need faith. While here amid
earthly scenes of mingled joys and tears, and
where all is so mournfuly dark, and fortuitous,
We need faith to penetrate the darkness that
oyershadows the tomb, and reveal to us, the
sweet and peaceful homes of the spirits of the
just made perfect. One of the sweet singers
of our modern Israel, indites these words,
IT'S by the faith of joys to come
We walk through deserts, dark as night
Till we arrive at heaven, our home,
Faith our guide, and faith our light.
"The want of sight she well supplies,
And makes the pearly gates appear.
Far into distant worlds she prys,
And brings eternal glories near
But the mere knowing, that there is a home
OF peaceful rest, for mourning ones may not of
itself be source of much comfort. The fallen
angels and lost souls, know that there is hap
py heaven, yet they derive no special pleasure
from such a knowledge, based on actual expe-
rience or on belief The traveller in want of
home, sad and weary, may pass along his way.
He may know that there is lovely residence
quite near him, and yet the spacious mansion
with chambers rendered alluring by every lux
ury; with gardens fragrant with flowers, and
vocal with the songs of BIRDS and with fields
teemlng with verdure, may afford him no pleas
ure; he bestows passing glance, and he may
sigh from sense of wretchedness greatly en-
HANGED by the contrast, presented to his own
homeless and forlorn situation, and prepare to
journey on, and gladly forget what he had just
witnessed.
Now should he be met by some one, who
could assure him, that here home was provi-
ded, that amid these charming scenes, his days
would be ended, how instantaneous his feel
lngs would change, and how sudden would be
the alienation from neglect, to heartfelt inter-
est This change we term hope, feeling of
assurance, that what we see or hear of is ours
a fO hn hxy
and by.
| 80 In regard to Heaven, we may not feel
| specially moved by the mere knowledge of it's
existence but let hope take possession of the
heart let there be sweet assurance, that we
shall stand on its holy hills, have one of the
many mansions in waiting for us, then we can
| rejoice In hope of the glory of God
| Faith and hope attend us here they are with
| us IN our last hours, they are the rod and staff,
with which our good shepherd will comfort us
In the dark valley of the shadow of death But
when we have passed through, they are are no
longer needed. All the powers of the soul, will
| be merged in the love of God and one another.
This will be the souls employment in heaven,
to glorify God and enjoy him forever Then is
charity as much greater than faith and hope as
eternity is greater than time.
How earnestly, then, we should follow after
charity. and covet the best gifts, which are free
ly dispensed by Him who hath the residue of
the spirits, and giveth to all men literally and
upbraideth not w. TIP.
Monterey, April IL, 1867
Nor YET.-'My son, give me thine heart"
Not yet, said the little boy, as he was busy
with his trap and ball; when | grow older I
will think about it. y g
The boygrew to be young man. Not yet,"
said the young man. . am now about to enter
trade when | see my business nrosper then T
shall have more time than now
Business did prosper, mot yet, said the
man of business )" my children must have my
care; when they are settled in life, l shall be
better able to attend to religion.
He lived to be a gray headed old man. "Not
Yet, !" still he cried; Il shall soon retire from
trade, and then [ shall have nothing else to do
but to read and pray"
And SO he died. He put off to another time,
what should have been done when child. He
lived without God, and died without hope
| Prayer tranquilizes and cleanses the soul, so
as to render it more fit for the reception of
God s gifts