Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-05-16

L
matured schemes; utter disappoint
ments OF the fondest and most cherishe
! hopes; yet. intrepid and undismsyed
they go madly and eagerly on, forgetfu
that every earthly thing stops at tn
grave Except salvati0n. oh, God
blinded by their own prejudices, ignol
ance, and greed for gain, they are In
sulting the entreaties of Thy woin
spirit, and forfeiting their own souls
Going down, down to everlasting ruin
prepared for and awaiting all who for
get Thee! There is Byronic descrip
ton of sin which allures and destroys
while the Bible description of sin warm
and saves. We draw this distinction
between the two elements-the faithful
and .faithless-which compose every
church, 80 that those who are culpabis
may be warned in due season what ef
feet their lives and acts have upon all
with whom they come in contact, and
what vast weight Of responsibility Ii
resting upon their shoulders, and the
penalty they will reap if they slight OF
refuse to perform their individual and
heaven-appointed work. In every foun-
tain of delight there is secret and evil
spring eternally bubbling up, and scat
tering its bitter waters even over the
very flowers that surround Its margin.
Man is omnipotent, 30 far as his own
individual destiny is concerned. Per-
sons can work out and perfect their
own ruin. and congregations have abb
solute and viii control of q church, be
it short~lived or aged. We are not look.
ing at this subject through q glass
smoked with the fires of hatred against
Christianity. Neither is this q fancy
sketch of assumed incidents to instigate
an argument, for every person, in the
face of these deplorable and constantly
witnessed stern realities, is compelled
to acknowledge that there are in every
community, city, and town, iconoclasts
of the church, and Nihilists in relig.
ion. God requires and expects the love
of our lives and obedience of our acts,
and q fulfillment or failure merits its
own requital. He promises us rewards
for obedience, and threatens us with
penalties for violation. No matter how
crimson pollution may have stained
your soul, the blood of Jesus cleanseth
from all sin then pray God to pardon
your failures and sins of the past, and
not only resolve, but LIVE more Christ
like in the future
"For sweetest things turn sourest by their
deeds;
Lilies that tester smell far worse than weeds"
The life of a true and sincere Chris
tian is like beautiful, sparkling river
all see it, yet it flows on in steady, even
course; the storms and battles of time
may ripple its surface, but the deep un-
der-current moves on calmly and undis-
turbed. In justice to all, we admit that
full, and gOdly Christians, who possess
"that chastity of honor which feels q
stain like wound" even though they
sit in the same pew with the scorner,
partake of the same emblems, and re.
peat the same creed and prayer together.
But. in spite Of all that, we do consci-
entiously believe and assert, that two
thirds of the professed Christians of to.
day are but acting saints, merely folloW.
ers of the Divine Master, and upon
whose polluted lips His pure name
should never rest. We concede that it
is q very difficult and uncertain under-
taking to judge q man while engaged
in worship, under the eyes of the min
lister, in the presence of 8 multitude,
but there are other and almost hourly
periods in his life when you have ample
opportunity to verify the depth of his
proclaimed religious convictions. The
little every day acts try q man, prove
what he is; the trying circumstances
which each day present test mans
religion, demonstrate the stability of
his character, and affirm the effect of
his devOtedness.
An institution or any enterprise is re-
spected in proportion to the commend
able way in which it is conducted, the
self sacrificing devotion of its origina-
tors. the zeal of its beneficiaries, and de-
for inn nf ifo AAf
man exerts an influence either for good
or evil over some one. Some one Is
watching, is governed by, shaping his
career, and moulding his destiny under
an intuitive guidance, and that same
man will be eventually responsible for
the mastery he has welded over his
willing, though perhaps entirely un-
known subject. This may appear
strange, yet it is true.
In the mighty and ephemeral drama
of religious life every person has his or
her own special and peculiar part as.
signed. and ia expected, by both God
and man, to fulfil it to the most minute
particular, and any dereliction of duty
Is seen, remembered, and treasured by
Its enemies, as stone more upon the
great mountain of contumely and re-
proach, that is looming up and imped-
ing the cause of Christ, the expansion
of the chuIch, the acceptance of religion,
and the finsl redemption of Sinners
Any misstep upon the part of church
member has demoralizing and repul-
sive effect upon the eunregenerated. The
professor is closely watched, especially
by every sinner, and any departure
from right or depression from the mar
row path, is hurled with double force in
the face of the minister, who implores
them to repent, and they lessen the in
fuence of his persuasion by claiming
that they are as good as some of his pre-.
sent members. All must admit and sue.
cumb to the power of truth, no matter
on what occasion, or in what FORM
Thus is the preacher baffed, the church
censured, and salvation spurned. HUI
mans are prone to wander, to excuse,
and justify themselves, and If they are
ever convinced, converted, and saved,
it will have to be accomplished through
the united efforts, prayer and pleadings,
of the minister and his congregation,
aided, sustained, and encouraged, by
the spirit CT Christ working in them the
hope of salvation for all, and the ulti-
mate deliverance of His saints. A min
lister may spend life. time, day after
day, in proclaiming Christ's power and
willingness to save fallen race, but
single misdemeanor on the part Of one
of his members may do more to deplete
the theory of his profession, and injure
the result of his practice, than he could
repair in generation. We do not wish
to be considered as erecting barricade
out of the lOathsome and corrupt bodies
of acting christians, behind which sin
ners may ensconce themselves, heap
derision upon q glorious cause, and es-
cape from the consequences of neg
lect of their own personal responsibility
and accountability to God, but to illus.
trate to the protesting christians how
necessary it Is for them to live in strict
accordance with the faith they profess
to have embraced, to perfect the end for
which they claim to be working, and the
completed erection of the life. giving
cross they so conspicuously bear. When
approached upon the subject of their