The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-05-24
sELF-DEDICATIoN.
CHARLESTON. Sen. 1S. 1861

CHARLESTON, Sep. 1S, 1861.
This day | complete my sixty, second year
and enter on my sixty-third. In looking
over my past life am humbled to remember
that the first years were spent in thought
lessness and 10 sin. The careful instruction.
of my parents were disregarded, and fol
lowed many pernicious ways, of which
trust | now feel deeply ashamed. | see very
clearly that 1 have great cause to admire the
long suffering of God exercised toward me.
Ungrateful and rebellious as l was, He
gave me health, and crowned my life with
countless blessings. And since, by His
grace, my course has been changed, good
ness and mercy have never ceased to follow
me. In my wife, my children, my friends,
my pastoral charges, | have been peculiarly
blessed. Bless the Lord, D my soul, and
forget not all His benefits.
know have not much longer to stay in
this world, and | desire to leave on record an
expression Of the ground of my hope for the
world beyond the grave. kaOa0 there is no
way of escape from Gods wrath and curse,
to which l am justly liable for my sins, but
through Jesus Christ. To His atOnement |
look as my only ground of hope for the par
don of my sins; to His Righteousness, as the
ground of my Justification; and to His con-
slant intercesslOn as the source of the grace
that l need day by day while live; the
grace that need when come to die, and
the mercy | will need when | come to stand
to answer for the deeds done in the body.
II know my own heart, it is my earnest
desire to be holy. trust cannot be under
a mistake when 1 say, hunger and thirst
after righteousness; to be now holy, as God
is holy; and that do daily pray for the
work of the Holy Spirit on my heart-that
its work there may be finished
| trust that my heart has been so changed
that love God, hate sin, and seek for
spirit of cheerful submission to the will of
God in all things.
| am conscious that, in all things, come
short of being what should be, or doing as
/ should. Imperfection and sin are mixed
up with all that l am, and with all that do.
have never been as active in the service of
God as / should have been. But from all
my sin and imperlectiOn fly to the Cross of
Christ. Mercy, bought with blood, is my
only plea. But this is plea that will never
fail.
As l enter on this year, not knowing
whether | shall live to see its close, | enter
on it in the midst of many trials; and sur
rounded by great difficulties, desire to cast
myself renewedly and more entirely on the
grace of God; to commit my soul and all
that concerns me FIR time and eternity into
the hands of Him whom | have believed, well
assured that He is able to keep what have
committed to Him. To Gods grace in Christ
commit my wife, my children, from whom
at this time | am painfully separated, my
servants, my pastoral charge, all my friends,
Il rejoice in here recording that | do not be-
lieye have an enemy on earth,) aud the
bloOd-bOught Church. Lord, have mercy on
it in the day of trial; and my beloved, but
convulSed, suffering, bleeding country Lord,
interpose speedily to bring about just, hon.
Orable, lasting peace.
Lord, am Thine; the son Of Thine hand
maid. Thou hast been merciful aud kind to
me through youth and manhood; and now,
when ] am old, forsake me not. Through |
Christ, l give Thee thanks for past mercies,
and for His sake plead with Thee for all l
need in the time to come. Amen.
JAMES M BROWN.