St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-05-17
Whittier are Ue Drifting a.?

which were once exclusively devoted TO
the so-called ''world p In perplexity |
ask these questions. Christians, in whom
have confidence, do, perhaps infre-
quently, nut still do, attend, and when
not quite ready TO 60 TO the theatre, still
attend the opera, private theatriasls, and
select card parties. The spiritual world
seems to reel before my eyes. Is it be-
cause am giddy } Are the foundations
still standing
For long time these questions have
whispered in my mind, and l think
should express the feelings of many 9th
ers by relating my own experience and
observation.
Born and brought up, not in ''Puri-
tanicar' New England village, but in the
metropolis of our nation, | have no So
called preJudices, no recollection OF long
New England SabbathS, OF catechislns.
of peculiarly sacred associations clinging
to my early home. Yet that home was
a home OF religion, and the question of
attending I theatre, for instance. never
arose. Though worldly means brought
luxurieS which would have allowed the
indulgence, it was question with which
money had nothing 10 do. Thu, from
early education, and an instructive
sense of Christian prOprietv, | have been
kept from participating in these things
But is it all a matter Of education , Is
there not a right and a wrong in the
case This is the question which seems
TO be forcing itsslf upon my mind.
Things have certainly changed very
much in the last ten, nav, five wears.
Now ii Is the exception 10 mee; a Chris
tian who is conscientiously firm in his
adherence TO what used 10 be considered
necessary to spiritual walk with God
believe that this is felt. even when not
expressed. acknowledgements com
munion with Cola >erse of the divine
nearncss and abiding presence a. real
thing-a walking by faith. not hy >ignt
a preparedness of the heart for death
and realization in any sense that the
things which are seen are temporal. does
not >e.7a 10 exist, except in rare cases
&" Let him that i without >ii." in this
respect, ''iir>t cast 4 stone"
individually and socially. do we not
live n if this world. in some shape. Were
all al , Does not every Christian.
either in himself or in Others. allow what
al one time. perhaps, i'll his earlier rc-
ligious course. he would have ihva.ht
and acknowledged to he a sin The sa-
cred observance of the Sabla;h-,locs he
not ignore 10 Il great extent the command
"Remember the Sabbath day II keep it
holy J" Is the bible used IL muci. on
that day as it used TO bc-as much A.
the religious. 10 say nothing of the secu-
lar paper Individual effort for the
conversion Of otherS-is this thing
much known. except among ministers
whose business it Is? How rare it is 10
see Christian III society. whose conycr-
aation evidently Is in heaven: aud is
it not rarer than it used to bc Would
not such an one lc regarded somewhat
Is Pilgrim and Faithful in Vanity Fair d,
Our social religion l. almost. | NAV say
quite, confined 10 the weekly PRAYER
meeting. When we meet in '.sociciv. :.
the subject is not approached.
The same subtle, all-pcryading inilu-
ence. whatever Al may h.. extends 10 ey-
cry part of our being Our minds are
STEPPED in the Intoxicating. fascinating
productions of writers who paint our
Lords character in exquisite color>, but
take from Him that which We have been
taught TO believe Is the cornerstone of
our taith-llis atoning death We are
spiritually narcotizei. The older ones
of this generation NAV withstand such
influences. but what viii become of the
next generation !
Even the ministers of the gospel are
looking at thing. in different light from
what they once did. One saws. the .'Iu-
rltanical are Is past. that Christians
have more influence hy min-lilr indi>-
criminatcly with the world, than 10y ab-
staining. Another Is helpless. seeing the
difficulties, but not knowing how TO adj
just matters. \ third realizes the state
ot things, and prays for another Luther
TO arise and rcbuke the church. A
fourth is not decided in his own mind.
and remains silent OH the whole subject
lie does not know the right AMI wrong
IN the case. We must have alnuSemcnts
say semc, how are we 10 have them
When are we to have them We are
in 4 state of reaction from extreme strict
ness, say Others. Others maintain that
if we only have a loving spirit. we can
90 where We please we shall not 90 far
astray. But gentleneSs. lovcliness, char
ity, philanthropy, are all claimed, and in
good measure possessed. by many who
do not possess any but worldly aim ii
life. Is there no difference, really, be-
tween an amiable worldling and an anna,
ble Christian 1t Is called an '.age o
progress" Is it progress towards God
towards heaven, towards an eternity %
holiness
My firm conviction is that many
Christian hearts beat unknown and un.
recognized by the worldling. Let pcrse
cution arise, and many one who now
leads seemingly easy, indulgent Chris
tian life would die rather than deny thC
Lord that bought him. But are we tC
wait for persecution before it is known
, where we stand God forbid.
What, again | ask, is the difficulty
Judging from my own experience
: should say it was want of a realizin.
, sense of the powers of the world TO come
: Sometimes, in "the visions of the nigh
when deep sleep falleth upon men," the
veil seems lifted, and these great realitie.
stand out, stripped of all delusiveness
, Then l ttel that the things whicl
are seen are temporal, and tn,
= things which are not seen are eternal
, Then kn0v that there is God, lifi
| havond this sensible ono ,,-boro me-