The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-04-30
Our Faults Near Our Virtues.

| The sins of good men are not unfra
qnently found in the neighboshood O
their most distinguishing virtues. Til,
weak places are carefully watched, buI
the strong places are left unruafdet
because they are strong, and Just there
the tempter makes his fiercest assault anG
enters the Getty fortified It is we'll te
know our elements of atrength and &c
put confidence in them; but this conf
dence should not tend to a relaxation ot
watchfulneas. Satan is q vigilant advar.
sary; whenever he sees q sentinel called
away, or sleeping at his post, he improve,
the opportunity.
The greatest saints have failed JUS,
where they seemed strongest.
Peter, the Apostle, was characterized
above all the other disciples for sincerity
and courage. He could not disguise his
feelings. His character was transparent
You could read him at glance. Gun.
ming and duplicity were foreign to hil
nature. He always uttered the senti.
ments of his heatt, even though his worda
seemed rash and irreverent Of times and
exposed him to the sharp rebukes of hir
Master.
Nor was Peter D. coward. The declara.
ton Though I should die with thee, yet
will I not deny thee; am ready to 70
with thee both to prison and death ! !
will lay down my life for thy sake :" was
no sudden burst of enthusiastic devotion
to his master. It came from the inner
sanctuary of his heart. It revealed the
true inwardness of his character.
urnn The dag 0f Feutel0st aud before
the Jewish Council, Peter stepped boldly
to the front and continued fesolute and
unbending until the last. Aud vet Pc.
ter's twofold ain was deceit and co,raydice
The man, whose characteristic was hon.
esty, attempts to practice deception. The
man, who was ready to lay down HE life
for his master, denies with the emphasis
OF an oath that he never knew the Man.
So Of many other holy men of old.
Abraham was called the "father of the
faithful" and yet he failed most signally
in faith. Job was remarkable for his
patience, and yet that very grace gave
way under repeated trials.
Moses was "meek above all the men
that dwelt upon the earth" and vet at
Meribah his meekness gave place to
irritability. He lost self control and by
shifting the rock, contrary to Gods COM
mand, displayed, vindiclive spirit
strangely out of harmony with his usual
department. The man Of gentle, humble
and quiet temper became peevish and
angriIy scolded the people for their muir.
murings.
So also of Jacob. The great and ne.
culiar excellence of his character was the
religious faith and intensity of feeling
with which he cherished the Divine
promise made to his fathers. "Iu thee
and in thy seed shall all the families of
the earth be blessed" But in. this was
exhibited the frality of Jacob and from
itproceeded his folly and sins.
How important and solemn the lesson
conveyed BY these examples
The holiest motives and soundest prin.
ciples of christian life and character
require constant watching.
Let the child of God beware-lest
when he thinks himself distinguished
for some great principle or grace, he fail
in that very thing.
Mt only guard the weak places, but
also post q wary sentinel at the point of
greatest strength and security. "Let him
that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest
he fall. Associate Reformed Presbyteri.
an. sEf' #