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

NO. 35.
I want of conformity and interest. man,
! plead that they contribute largely to th'
minister's salary and every fncidenta
expense of the church, that thev affenf
regularly upon al its services: that M
be true and 1t is right and proper thsi
they should do 80, but l. It from : sense
} of their own unworthiuees and duty
they owe to God. or Is It ffom force o,
habit or to crafty curiosityf Is there
any light in their dead and darkened
souls? Do they engage In the concord
of spirit, and union Of effort. manifest.
ed by Ithe more diligent part Of the
members? Would that they knew that
there is such lamentable thing a. 4
church that is only hollow shell, With
out any religious life within form dee.
titute Of power. services devoid Of mean
ing! How perfectly did Jesus under
stand the dark corruption of the heart.
the engross1ng proclivities of carnal de-
sires, the perndious deception Of human
nature, for He said, s'Not every one that
saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter
Into the kingdom Of heaven. In that
day will confess unto them. I never
knew you: depart from me. We that
work iniquitv. ." He knew that there
would be tares among the wheat
wolves In sleeps clothing. II you tell
man of his On-conformity he will
readily rebuke and reprove you by as
serting that the Bible says: "Judge
not, that ye be not judged" He is wei
come to all the satisfaction he can get
out Of that passage, which he is rolling
under his tongue rs a sweet m0rsel, with
which to protect himself from the invi-
tations of the preacher, the influence of
the church. and the curse of God, while
his famished soul is cryingfor the bread
of life. But did not Christ in that same
sermon say: "By their fruits ye shall
know them" If SO, then they are Of
equal force upon either side, and the
mans vain and idle plea for his pro-
crastination and misdoings is fully met, |
he has gained no advantage from the |
comparison. nor created q plausible rea-
son for his prolonged neglect. If, then,
these assertions regarding acting chris |
tians are true, and who can doubt them,
Is 1t In the least surprising that it re-
quires such assiduous labors, earnest
prayers, and constant entreaties upon
the part of the minister to persuade sim
ners to become christians, when such
open hypocrisy is practiced by church.
members upon every turn, in every act,
in every look? There Is more real sim
cerity and consistency in the much-
abused, non-prOfessing, moral man,
than In self-righteous, acting chris.
tian. Woman, do not pride and hatter
yourself that you are innocent, because
you have not been mentioned In our
criticism. Yes, even this deplorable
spirit is manifested in the actions Of q
few Of that superior creation of human.
ity, without whom the paradise Of God
was not complete, the Divinely- selected
and appointed medium through whom
this same Jesus was presented to the
world, the last at His tomb, and the first
1t His resurrection The beings who
are at all times and in every position of
life, admired and bepraised for their pu-
rity, fidelity, consistency, and candor,
The guide Of every household, the mould
sr OF ever destiny, the honored and re-
no matter of which sex they may be, of
any church are the granite pillars which
uphold and sustain that church, and the
relation they bear to it by virtue of their
profession, regarding its support, pros-
perity, and perpetuation, is SO closely
allied, so identified, and 80 vital, that
he slightest defect in the composition,
neglect In the construction, will ter
inmate In its speedy downfall and total
destruction, and result in overpoweringl
The good influence it may have mad upon F.
the people in the midst of whom it
stands-a towering emblem denoting
and attesting their civilization, christi
anity, purity, morality and virtue, for a
without church would be
similar ito hell without the fire. We .
firmly maintain and believe that if ever
is overthrown and super
,eded by the works of iniquity, and the
become lazar-houses of crime,
It will be caused by and can be attribu-
led solely to the presence of hypocrites, !
,ians, and protesting believers in the
church. When that day does dawn the
world will receive such q laundering !,
shock that it will tremble and reverber-
ate from centre to circumference, and
she remaining fnnumerable, surging !
mass, who are STEPPED in corruption and :
will receive the maledictions
Of incensed God, and be consumed by !.
she blazing wrath of His righteous in ;;
1ignation It requires no man of su- r
perior acumen to discern these manifold
assertions and stupendous accusations
! single cursory glance is sufficient to I,
observe their existence and prove their .
ruth. Seeing, then, what an essential !,
relation all professors of religion bear in
,he maintenance, spread, and success Of !.
he gospel, does it not behoove every
one who proclaims to the world his :
IDENTITY to the church, to so live, so act, !;
10 walk, SO speak, that it will strength
IN and further the means Of grace, con" !
vince ungodly men and women that no =
happiness is SO complete as that experi-
snced and enjoyed by mingling with
,ation implore God to redeem mankind
rom the great vortex of corruption, the I
FALLING bonds of vice and wickedness, g
ind turn their feet from darkness unto
light, from the ways of sin unto right
sousness. Eve7y man IS perfect behind 2
Z mask. but if you do that you will set
IN example worthy your own family to ;
Ollow, your neighbors to initiate, so
hat others seeing your good works may
De constrained to accept Christ and His I
,ffers of mercy, then will you have jew
lis for your crown, and heaven for your
reward. There is no more sublime hap. {
9iness or more perfect pleasure than in !
being an humble, submissive, God-fear-
ng, and GOd-lOving christian, for we !
ire certain of His assistance and approx |
Il in time, and His welcome and bless
ng in eternity. Religion satisfies every
lesire, binds up every wound, assuages
avery grief, soothes every pain, quiets
every fear, and, b;st of all. bears witness
with our spirit that God is our father
and we are His children; and assures
Is that after faithful life we shall en-
.er the rest and experience the joy and
he blissful felicity He has promised to
md will give all who love Him and
Keep His commandments. Then, at
asst, when ife's lamp ceases to burn and
ts fitful dream is over, we will 60 down
% the egrave praising God, and awake on
he eternal shore in the home of the
)lest, surrounded by the great multitude
who "have washed their robes and made
hem white In the blood of the Lamb. )"
May, 1882. P. A. Ross.
The SMALLEST BABY ALIvE.-A !
gentleman from Candelaria informs US
shatsthe smallest baby in the world was
porn in that camp at noon on the 3rd I
nst. The father is miner in the em- !
oloy of the Northern Belle mine, and :
weighs 100 pounds. The mother is a 9