The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-11-25
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For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
We Should not Yield to Dependency.


his disciples privately. They had no
doubt many reasons for being surprised
at his addressing such language to them.
Their eyes had been familiar with many
scenes of affliction and of sorrow They
were poor men, and had been dependent
all their lives for their bread upon their
own exertions. The country in which
they lived was not prosperous. They
were conquered people. The sceptre
had departed from Judah, and a lawgiv-
er from between his feet. A military
government had been established over
them. They had to pay tribute to Caesar.
A form-a shadow of Independence had
been left to them, but yoke was upon
their necks grievous to be borne. They
still offered up sacrifices in the temple at
Jerusalem, and attended to all the reli-
gious ceremonies, prescribed by the law
of Moses. Their priests, and the mem
bers of their high courts still ASSEMBLED
in solemn conclave, and tried those who
had offended against their laws; but the
power of affecting punishment of death
had been taken from them and the Ro-
man Eagle was the only true symbol of
authority in the land of Palestine.
The Jews were an oppressed and af-
ficted people at that time. Spectacles
of misery no doubt filled the land. A
foreign soldiery were every where lead
ing the native-born citizens of the coun-
try to Imprisonment and to death. Such
sights must have been painful to them.
The prosperity of the country had de-
parted from it. It's glory was eclipsed !;
its pride humbled; and every thing
seemed portentous of coming evil. Yet
out Saviour said to some of the poorest
and most obscure of this oppressed peo
pie, "blessed are the eyes, that see the
things, that ye see.'
Nor was there any exaggeration in the
language that he made use of, Many kings
and prophets had desired to see what all
the disciples of our Saviour saw, but
died without the sight. Language could
not have been made use of better calcu-
lated to impress their minds with a con-
viction of the greatness of the privileges
they enjoyed. And yet is it not true
that we enjoy as people, at the present
time, under all the disadvantages with
which We have to contend, even greater
privileges than those which were bestow-
ed upon the immediate disciples of the
Saviour? All the blessings of the Cos
pei dispensation are ours. We have our
churches in which we can worship. We
have the Bible to instruct US. Our eyes
see our teachers. The Holy Spirit is
our Comforter, and it has been promised
that he will lead us into the knowledge
of all truth. We have not been left
without many signs of the Divine favor.
Let us then be thankful for what,we still
enjoy.
There is true philosophy in comparing
ourselves, not with those who are better
off than we are, but with those who are
deprived of the advantages that have
been conferred upon us. In the dark
days of persecution, when so many of
the followers of the Saviour had to hide in
dens and caves of the earth, or to wander
about destitute, afflicted and torment
ed" how highly would they have priced
privileges the value of which many of
our people strangely overlook. in some
parts of our country the services of the
sanctuary are not as regularly attended
as they ought to be, and efforts are not
made to stem the torrent of vice and in
fidelity, which is setting in upon us, like
a food. Our losses, great as they have
been, should prompt us to make more
diligent use of all the means still in our
power to promote our own growth in
grace, and to be instrumental in the sal
vation of our fellow-men. Above all, the
interests of the Redeemer's Kingdom
should be dear to our hearts. We should
still highly prize the privilege of labor
ing for the welfare of Zion. Let our
hands be busy still in the work of prayer
and praise. Let us not be discouraged.
In due time we shall reap if we faint not.
Let us not yield to dependency There
is danger-great danger of our permit
ting our own individual sorrows and af-
flictions so completely to engross our
minds as to render us negligent in attend
ing to the duties that we owe to the
Church of God, and to the world around
US. If God should send upon us lean
ness of soul, and general lukewarm-
ness should become apparent among the
professed followers of the Saviour, it
would be the greatest calamity that has
yet come upon us. Let us then strength.
en- the things that remain, and not over
look, while mourning over our loss Of
wealth and independence, the inestima-
BILE value of the spiritual blessings, which
no earthly power can take away from us
While in some of our congregations
there are cheering signs of promise from