The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-09-23

oo'OilIy, mohoiouoHeoS, VI i0'0hSo, Va
very tender sensibilities thatin their quiet
development approached volatility-and
hastiness-all under the direction of a
deep moral principle. He would be more
enraptured and enrapturing than Hart;
and then would be cast down when his
elder was serene. The elder warmed
himself in the fire of his pastors Sabbath
day worship; and basked in the sun.
shine of his pulpit services. And the
pastor leaned upon the steadfast faith,
and cheering presence, and kind words of
his unruf1ed elder The pastor thought
Mr.. Hart was doing his daily work elder
like; and the eldsr thought his minister
was doing his work like the devoted
Scotch6Ian whose tolls and -suiIerings
were familiar in his nursery days.
The pastor and elder harmonized in
their views of human nature, and of the
Divine nature; of the two natures of the
Son of God and his atonement; and of
the work of the Holy Spirit; the know.
ledge of all which is in the Word of'God,
and forms its substance. But when they
came to work with men, the pastor would
in his ardor somtimes confuse classes and
individuals, and get religion sometimes
entangled with politics, believing that one
set of politics was more favorable to rell-
gion than another. The elder would
keep the things separate both in fact and
in form. His religion was part of him
self wherever he was; and who took him,
took his religion along; and no one could
refuse Andrew Hart when he bowed for
a conference or admittance. He had no
aspiration in political life more than to
be good citizen; and his pastor had no
desires beyond that of successful, faith
full minister of the Gospel.
The friendship of those men was rem
dered still more tender by the marriage
relation formed between Mr.. Robinson
and a sister of Mrs. Hart, and daughter of
Mr.. Leake, the first pastor. Thus they
stood equals in age and bodily vigor.
agreeing in the great principles of reli-
gion, and morals and general politics, as
sociated in the same session, and living
in near neighborhooa, and their families
connected by the closest ties, the mothers
being sisters; both possessed of high prin-
ciples of personal bPnor and rectitude in
all their dealingsJyi yith men. Without
rivalry, each presEs-cn in his line of
duty; and it was not easy to tell which
excelled in the performance of the duties
of his office. AMI yet Robinson had
more difficulties in the fulflment of his
office than Hart did in his; had more
hard speeches about him, without, how
ever, any personal violence.
Robinsons active ministry was during
that period that the truth or falsehood of
Christianity was in some sections of the
country so intermingled with politics that
it seemed to be part-if not avowed-
at least an implied part of the platform
of action that Christianity vas or was
not essential to the welfare of men. And
when Robinson, in his impassioned ser
mons, with his heavy brows waving with
his emotions, and his eyes glaring with
his intense earnestness, said anything
against French Philosophy and the favor
ers of freethinking, he was accredited as
speaking against the dominant party, and
was pointing out some Of the influential
leaders and condemning all to the flames
of perdition. Of course he was not a
favorite of such as thought well of the
freethinking philosophy of France. And
yet no one could say he reviled the mag
istrates of the nation. Hart would have
said all he did in his quiet way without
offence. But Robinson thundered and
lightened and come down like a tempest;
and whatever affected the person or dig
nifty of Jesus Christ, or undervalued the
fulness and blessedness of the redemption
through him, moved his very soul. He
looked at every thing in its conaexion
with Jesus Christ; and valued it accord
ing to its nearness,or-iss more disssnt or
opposite relations. Whatever was against
the Saviour disturbed him. And proba-
bly he found it difficult to do like the
French Protestants who held to their al
legiance to the Bourbon Kings, and
opposed their religion and suffered perse
cution for so doing. But in the vehe-
mence of Robinson there was no bitter
ness it was alarm and distress; he was
weeping all the time more or less in view
of the coming ruin, and would have re-
ioiced to see salvation carried to the
worst Infdel in France, and would have
shouted for joy to have been the messen-
ger of mercy to them all.
The principal places of preaching, oc-
cupied on the Sabbath, BY Mr.. Robinson,
were the Cove, which has been frequently
mentioned, and Rockfsa, to which gath
cred the inhabitants of that beautiful
country that spreads out to the right at
the eastern base of the Blue Ridge, at the