The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-02-27
Tia SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY
Tuesday, February ~. 1877
lWritten for The Spirit Of Democraey,l
From seneca TOxVnShip.

FEBRUARY Z, 1877.
RD SPIRIT: The memories of the past
year will not be forgotten soon. The
loss of life and of property has been
wonderful.and cur PRAYER is that the pres.
ent year will be one Of unusual blessing.
So far, have noticed that there has heen
the greatest outpourings of the H 'ly
Spirit in the different branches of the
Church that ever knew Atevery pro.
tracted meeting have heard of there has
been great revival; many are the mum
bers that have been added to the churches
during the winter. have attended seve-
raj meetings, and find that large mum.
Der of the converts are backslidets This
shoul,i not he the case And now want
to tell them few " the causes which
think is why so many bsckslide:
1. Neglect Of reading the Bible
g. Neglect of attending their class
meetings and public worship.
8. And the greatest cause Is, not deny
ing themselves and taking up their cross
and folio wing their Savior,as he has com.
manded.
They continue to follow the world 10
all its vain and foolish fashions. look
over those at Church, protesting to be
Christians, and see them wearing gold,
their heads looking like portable flower
garden. The Bible says that man horn
into the kingdom OF grace is new crea-
ture. All things are past aud all things
become new What we once loved we
now hate, and what we hated we now love.
II the young convert, or old member,
continues to cherish pride in his heart, he
is sure to backslde-for God says that he
hates a proud look. We will cite them to
few verses of Scripture:
See 1st Timothy, ii 9-10-"In like
manner. also, that women ad1rn them
selves in modest apparel, with shame
facedness and sobriety, not with braided
hair or gold or pealls or costly array, but
which becomeih women professil g God
liness with good works. /"
lst Peter, Sd and 4th verses-"Thou.
sands of years ago what should come
upon the naughty daughters of Zion"
Then do not ask what harm does it do
to adorn ourselves with gold orpearls
or costly array. Suppose you can afford
it;ihati is, suppose it does not hurt or i'm
povcrish your family. The first harm it
doesis to engender pride, and where it
already, increases it.
: Secondly, the wearing of gay and
costly apparel naturally tends to vanity !;
There mean the love and desire of bring
admired and praised. Every one of you
that is fond of fine dress has witness Of
this in your own bosom. Whether you
will confess II or not, you know that it is
not done to the glory of G'd- And see
ing that pride is of SO ruinous nature
Imerely from the passages of Scripture
quoted and cited to in this article. and
the hatred God bears toward it,al d would
have us not only not foster and encour-
age, but avoid the very appearance OF
evil, What will become of those teachers
who not only say nothing agsinst, hut
license this broad road to hell? We have
these facts to rest upon Every one that
is proud in heart is an abomination to the
Lord. Though hand join in hand he
shall not be unpunished.- Proc. God re-
sisteth the proud, James iv 6. The
proud be knoweth afar off, Psalms Il
The Lord OF hosts hath prepared it to
stain the pride of all glory and to bring
into contempt all the honorable of the
earth -Isaiah xiii 8 Therefore, dear
readers. be persuaded by the mercies of
God to submit yourselves to Him Hear
We and give ear, for-Be not proud, for
The Lord hath spoken Give glory to the
Lord your God before he cause darkness,
and before yonr feet stumble upon the
dark mountains, and while you lookfor
light lie turns it into the shadow OF death
and make itgross darkness We mns'
also deny our appetites as well as our
bodies. Whether we eat or drink, or
whatsoever we do, let it be done to the
glory OF God. Hear the conclusion Of
the whole matter: Fear God and keel
His commandments, for this is the whole
duty Of man For God shall bring very
work into judgment with every secret
thing, whether it he good or whether il be
svil.-Eccl. xii 13-l4. j. MAsslE