The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-10-07

have an opportunity of seeing a minis
ter. There are many more who cannot
attend church but once in two weeks, or
even once in four weeks. The Church
sittings every where, in city and coun-
try, are far, very far from beiug able TO
accommodate the people that might as
semble 10 worship God, if they chose.
And then, in the streets and lanes Of
crowded towns, and in the highways and
byways of the rural districts, there are
vast multitudes who from years eud to
years end never cross the threshold OF
the house of God,-as debased and be-
sotted as the blinded heather who bow
Town TO idols of wood and stone.
Shall wei be satisfied for these deStieu
NtiOns to continue? Shall the Church of
Christ, intended by its Founder to pour
the light Of saving grace into the sur
rounding darkness of the world, be con-
tent when so much darkness prevails in
those localities which are most illumina-
ted? Shall we view with sort of self
gratulatory pride and indifferent ease the
laurels that Christianity has already
gathered and bound about her brow, when
faith and Industrious, prayerful effort
would secure much brighter laurels even
in those places where the Cross has par
italy triumphed? Can we be willing to
see so many thousand wretched slaves of
Satan lying at our very doors and ap-
pealing to our aid by all the worth of
their undying souls, yet make no attempt
to strike off their chains and introduce
them into the liberty of Gods dear chill
dren?
But if the work is to be done, we must
have laborers. There is limit to hu-
man ability. The powers of mind and
body cannot be taxed beyond certain
point. A few men cannot possibly do
what would be great task for many.
The present number of ministers is to-
tally inadequate to the thorough cultiva-
ton of those fields which are presented
even by our own country; and if the
supply hereafter shall not be much more
prOpOrtioned to our increasing popula-
ton, than it now is to our existing popu-
lation, even in comparatively favored
lands, Satan will continue to maintain
his supremacy over multitudes of precious
souls.
co. Tue peculiar surroundings Of.he
times in which we live imperatively de
mand an increase of able, active, and
efficient laborers in the Gospel ministry.
We have fallen upon days that are
fraught with no ordinary dangers to the
cause of Christ. And now, if ever, it
becomes the watchmen upon the walls of
Zion to sound no uncertain notes, but
cry aloud and spare not. Besides, there
is an urgent call for other trumpeters
than those who are already at their posts.
Whenever the public mind is excited
to an unusual degree, without an extra
ordinary outpouring of the Spirit we may
look for corresponding decay of vital
piety. Whenever men become deeply
absorbed in great temporal questions, the
cause of Christ is but too apt to Ian
guish. Seasons of this sort are always
unfavorable to serious thought, and con-
sideration must always precede the en-
trance of true religion into the soul
Satan is ever active,-ever on the watch
for mischief,-is ever availing himself of
those opportunities which promise most
effectually to serve his own malicious
ends; and of all occasions which most
successfully promote his evil designs,
none perhaps is more fruitful in its per-
nicious results than time of general en-
grossment in stirring, arousing affairs of
national Importance and lasting signif-
canoe. No harvest is more rich in the
everlasting ruin of souls than that which
natures when the minds of a people are
carried here and there in the whirl of an
almost universal excitement; then Satan
holds high carnival, and gloats with fend-
ish glee over the widespread destruction
that follows ms march.
And is not the present such an era in
our history? For four long years the
land was racked by the storms of war.
All the energies of a nation were cen
tered, on the one hand, upon the scheme
of gigantic conquest, and, on the other,
upon a work of heroic defence. The
press teemed with thrilling accounts of
bloody battles which were rehearsed not
only by soldiers around their evening
camp-fres, but also by civilians in almost
every domestic circle. Even the plough
was made subservient to the sword,
and the arts of peace were summoned
to strengthen the hand of war. 1t
would be strange, when such mighty agen-
cies, in the very midst of US were at work
for evil, to expect that our country should
prove an exception to the general rule,
and the morals of our people not suffer
from so tremendous a shock. When the