The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-02-02
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
R E S o L 7 S.

Christians, What, in their judgments, has
been the spiritual results, of the Affections
and troubles, through which the prOfessed
people of God have been led during the past
few years? Whether all things, including
lOS8esofproperty and diSappointmentS ofplans
and hopes, seemed to have worked together
for good to these tried brethren? The re-
sponses to these enquiries have not been en-
couraging, but, in majority of instances,
have been depressing. There are, sad to
relate, cases, since the war, in which mem.
bers of Christian churches seem to have lost
much of that unfaltering trust, which leads
to unquestioning acquiescence in the will of
God and in His dispensations. Others ap-
pear not to manifest zeal in looking for the
advancement of the cause of Christ; and
there are few, who have, since the war,
either wholly absented themselves from the
house of God, or have not felt the comfort
and pleasure in attending the ordinances of
the Church of Christ, which it is the high
privilege of His followers ever to experience.
This development of Christian experience
and of the results of individual piety among
Christians. has received no special promi-
nence in the narratives, which our ecclesias'
tical courts send out to the churches.
If it be true, that the unprecedented trials
and sorrows through which protesting
Christians have passed, since April, 1865,
have not resulted in spiritual good, then
there is great occasion for a thorough and
honest enquiry into the existence and causes
of these alleged facts. If it be true that
afflictions have not been sanctifed, then well
may the Church pause and earnestly enquire,
why such sad results have occurred =? For,
thanks be to our heavenly Father, He has
some great design in leading us through
deep waters He does not willingly aflict
His children, and chastisements are evidences
of His love.
But we hope and believe that brethren
who thus report the results of their observa-
tions, are mistaken The oldest, wisest and
most experienced of members and others
have never known period of four years, in
which so great social revolution, affecting
so many, has ever taken place. More men
and women in our churches have been re-
duced from affluence to poverty, and often
to absolute suffering and want in that time,
than has probably been ever known before.
The developments and records of our Bank
rupt courts have been sad, sudden and wholly
unprecedented. Good men have been sub.
ected to great humiliations and temptations.
Earthly comforts, hopes, and plans have been
taken away, crushed, and have resulted in
failures. Griefs and sorrows have not been
told even to nearest and dearest friends
Those who are called to experience them,
often keep them in their own hearts and
memories, prefering rather to bear them in
silence, than to parade them before others.
Now we know not yet the ultimate results
of all these secret griefa. We do not be-
lieve, we cannot think, that these troubles
are wholly unsanctifed. If ministers and
elders will improve opportunities to talk
in true and unmistakable sympathy, with
such afflicted and tried ones, they will find
to their great joy that growth in grace has
often resulted from these trials; if they gel
to the inner life and daily experience of their
brethren, we believe they will find that many
son and daughter of God is richer in faith
and is more trusting than he had hoped and
believed.
Believing that there is danger of taking
gloomy and unsuStained views of the current
history of our churches and church members
we regard it as a duty to be more hopeful
and to try to find, as can be found, evidences
that in the experience of many, when theil
experiences are known, they have founC
God present he p in time of trouble, that
all over our land, daily bread is given in an
Swer to daily prayer for it,-that the love o
God and his Church, though possibly no
very demonstrative, has increased in thu
hearts of many. In some congregations, tn,
weekly prayer meeking is better attended
and enjoyed to higher degree, than in times
of temporal prosperity. Systematic benev
olence is better understood and practseC
both from principle and as an act of wor
ship, than during ante bellum times. At
tachmentS between people and ministers arr
stronger. We have sent out more foreigl
missionaries than for quarter of centur,
before.
1t is true that much yet remains to b.
done; that we are very far from full AM
Scriptural knowledge and practice of duty
that deeper sense of our failures in dut,
and higher attainments in holiness are tn
great wants of our times. But it become
us to be thankful for our mercies and bless
ings, and for our many trials and Affections
and to be more hopeful and to exercis
J greater trust and faith. SAURIN.
HARD WoRK.-No doubt hard work is
great police-agent. If every body wer
worked from morning till night, and the
carefully locked up, the register of crime
s might be greatly diminished. But wha
e would become of human nature? Wher
would be the room for growth in such sys
tenn of things? 1t is through sorrow an
: mirth, plenty and want, variety of passn