Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-06-21
"New Carts.''

King David showed praise-worthy |
zeal in having the Ark of the Covenant |
to Jerusalem but he commit
ted q grievous mistake in the mode he
at first set about it. The Divine order
was that the sacred ark must be carried
by the Kohathites on their SHOULDERS
In removing it from Kirjath,jearim,
David had it placed on new cart."-l
He probably thought the mode of tran
sit was of no consequences; or, perhaps,
he thought his plan of the new carts''
was an improvement-that it would be
easier and more seemly. But the con-
SEQUENCES were most disastrous. The
sacred ark was much jolted, "the Lord
made a breach upon Uzza'-he was
struck dead, and, moreover, the praise
worthy desire of David was for the time
dashed-the ark did not reach Jerusalem
on the new cart"
Now this striking incident affords, we
think, an apt illustration ofwhat Is TAX
ing place in many of our churches. In
stead of serving the Lord according to
'sthe due order"-to the Divinely ap-
pointed way-'new carts" have been
introduced to bear the ark of God. We
give an example or two.
/. High culture seems to be new
cart" fabricated in our colleges. Gull
ture, if rightly directed, is most COM
mendable most desirable. But the Gull
ture possessed by many of our ministers
seems greatly to jolt the ark of God
The Gospel is often wanting in their
ministrations or if there at all, it is in
a very diluted form. Fhe couture
which leads to the salvation of sinners
and to the upbuilding of saints, and so
rebounds to the glory of God, has been
neglected. The sacred ark has been put
upon "new cart" How many spir-
itual "breaches" have been made in the
Church through the introduction of this
unsanctified culture!
2. In the matter of the praises of the
sanctuary, NEW carts" have been very
freely introduced. What with organs
or harmoniums, bands, hymns, sole
song-singing, &C., &C., the "due orator.
of the services of the sanctuary is in
danger of being lost sight of. The
''new carts" have become greatly in
vogue. 1t seems strange that when the
Lord Himself has furnished us with
divinely inspired songs for the service
should dare to attempt to improve or
them by putting human hymns in theil
place. It seems very daring conduct
1t is putting the ark of God upon 8
''new cart" We believe that innova
lions in the matter of praise have great
~ tended to reduce the services of tn,
sanctuary to mere entertainment; an(
that much dangerous heresy has beer
insinuated into the Church by means o.
human hymns. These "neW carts
have sadly jolted the ark of God.
8. In the means sometimes taken Il
raise money for church purposes, VI
have another specimen of the introduc
ton of the new cart" We do not refe
at present to DR.. Wilson % remarkable
statement as to the enforced celibacy o
Free Church ministers. What we al
lude to more specially is raising money
for the cause of Christ by means o
fancy fairs or bazaars, with the usua
accomplishments of lotteries and lucky
bags, sc, and sometimes the exhibition
of mermaids, punch and judy, &c. Ar
such modes of raising money according
to "due order ?" Are they Scriptural
Can BILE ssing be asked, or expected OF
money raised by such means? Her
we have assuredly the introduction o
the "new cart" Will it bring the arl
of God to jerusalem?
Many other Instances might bs given
but we forbear, at least for the present
David found the new cart" q griev
GUS mistake. because We did it not a
the first" he says, 1.-THE Lord our Coo
made breach upon us, for that W
sought Him not after the due order."-
So, in removing the ark from the hous
of Obed- edom to Jerusalem the "nev
cart" is laid aside, and he instructs tn
chief of the fathers of the Levites
"Sanctify yourselves, both ye and you
brethren, that We may bring up the ark
of the Lord God of Israel unto the plac
that have prepared for it," And W,
are told that 1.-The children of the Levite
bare the ark of God upon their should
ers, with slaves thereon, as Noses com
madnded according to the s0ord of tn
Lord" and so the ark was taken safely
to Jerusalem. Would that the churche
now did likewise-would that they pu
all the NEW carts" aside and returned
to the good old paths-to the Lord
divinely appointed way. Surely tn
more closely the Lords way lie adhered
to, the richer blessing may warranta
bly, be expected. The. Introduction o
the NEW carts" often tends to confu
sion and ill-will; it diverts the attention
of ministers from. their own prope
work it wounds many q humble, sim
pie minded believer-many of tn
Lords hidden ones and it is special,
noteworthy that the thew cart" coull
not convey the ark of God to Jerusalem
and so it is unwise to employ it in tn
service of God.-PerthsIsire Courier
Oct. 26. 1880.