Gospel Herald, 1859-06-18

              GOSPEL HERALD.
Devoted, to OHi'lstianity-, Morality, tlie interests of SaTalDatJx Scliools, Social Improvement, TeirLperaiice, Education, and. General Ne^vs.
BEHOLD,   I   BBING   YOTI   GOOD   TIDINGS   OF   GREAT   JOY
ON-EABTH   PEACE,   GOOD   AVILL   TOAYARD   MEN."
VOL. 16.
DAYTON, 0., SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1859.
NO. 7.
ORIGINAL POETRY.
Writieit/or the Gospd Herald,
Banner of the Cross,
liX '
r,LOT
Aye, lift tho banner liigli,
And let it alream afar ; ¦\Vluly ou it xenii the radiancy
Of Kcthlchcni's morning star.
EmhroidcL' on. its field, ,.,
TIiQ spirit's i>GiicefnI dove;
I>eftiaded hy the ample shield/ Oi" perfect, ftjrvent love.
Upon is border write, "Holiness to tho Lord;"
While n-ll its folds in Jines of light, DiMpiay his written word.
Aye, raise the haHncr high— The l>anner of the cra.^s ;
Beneath which earth is vanity, Aud all it35 treasures drosa.
March on—from sea to sea, And o'er tho islo-.set wave :
Till all the huniiin family. Know Him who came to save.
Till every spirit feels,
De'TOtion'.'^ sacred llame; Till every lu'ing creature kneels,
I'o our IJcdoomcr's jianie.
Till ii!ced!o.=s of earth's fame,
Her avari-ec and pride; ^Ve gloiy but in Jesus' name,
In Clu'ist, the crucified.
0, lift his hiiiiner high,
And pray his kingdom come;—• Till crowned with joy aud victory,
lie leads his armies home.
ORIGINALITIES.
Written for the Gospel Herald.
The World in -wliioli we Live.
BY  OBSEEVER.
Many iiorsons are ahvays finding fault with, aud complaining of, tlio world. They can find but littlo if any thing that is' good in it; and but little, if any good to say about it. In their distorted judgmnnt it is a very bad, ¦wicked -vvorld. They are al-ways com¬ plaining and finding fault ^Yitl^ almost every thing they meet in it—it is all wrong from first to last; can't see why the Lord did not arrange things differ¬ ently, and make abetter world while he Avaa .about it. This is a sin polluted, sin cursed world, a miserable place in which to live.
If such persons could be prevailed upon to stop and think, to examiiio this world from a better stand point, they would in the course of human events, and by a calm deliberate inves¬ tigation, find it much better than they have heretofore been disposed, or in¬ clined to think it was. Such would soon begin to sqe men as trees walking, light siiining out of what they had sup]iosed to be nothing but midnight darkness—this world a.paradise com¬ pared with their former conceptions of it.
Perhaps, it has been to such persons all and more than they have been la¬ bouring to make it, perhaps their own actions have been the cause of making it appear so bad in their minds. Ma¬ ny of this class have been abusing themselves and the world all the days of their lives; and hence the reason why it is made to appear so very bad in their eyes. Poor deluded creatures, would that thoy could see and feel their oWn condition. Such liad better hold a moment and examine minutely
the history of the past, as they have I been connected as actors in the events of the same. Something may doveloj)e itself to them by vidiich their eyes may bo opened, that they may be per¬ mitted to see things as they are. Such would do well to a.sk themselves the serious questions: 1. Have we been doing all that wo could to make life desirable and interesting to ourselves and others ? 2. Have we been acting well our part in the great drama of human life? 3. Have wo been mak¬ ing a wise and proper use of all the times, means and oppdrtunitios offered us, to advance tho sum of human hap¬ piness in the world—to aid in remov¬ ing the many evils of which wo liavc been complaining ? 4. Have wc been true to the better feelings of our na¬ ture, or, have we been giving ourselves up to tho evil temptations of the wick¬ ed one ? 5. Have wc not been living in the neglect of tho many important obligations Avliich have devolved on us, to ourselves, and others; and thereby been making the world ap¬ pear so bad, and ourselves so misera¬ ble?
If such persons w3iild take those questions, with many others that might be named, and answer them in an hon¬ est serious manner, it Avould aid them very much in solving the afflicting events under which they suppose they must live, and with which they must, without any paliating conditions con¬ tinue to live, and contend until death shall conic along and relieve them. Then they expect to be happy and not until then—when they are out of this miserable world; otlier men, under equally adverse circumstances with them—good aud wise men—have come to a diitbrent conclusion in reference to the world. Thoy have thought and said better things of it. They have found many things to please and in¬ terest tho mind of man. Such have come to the rational conclusion, fi'om a long and well tried experience in the world, that it is not so bad after all that has boon said about it by thoso who have been living on the siiady side of it all their days. Q^hoy have concluded tliat there are many things in this world to please, interest and amuse the minds of man, as they are contending witli its living realities; and filling up the short measure of their days, and waiting for the last days work to come ; wlien they think of leaving it with joy and not with grief Tliey are living content and happy hero, and expect to advance to a much higher state of bliss in the fu¬ ture life; of such it will bo said, they acted well their part in this life.
Such have been of tha opinion that this world will be to mon, about what they are disposed and resolved to make it. They may make it such by their actions, that -they may be con¬ tented and happy, or they may be mis¬ erable and unhappy; just about as they choose and live to have it. When G-od made the world he made it good; yes, just right. There was nothing left ont that should have been put in, to make all thin,gs perfect and in its place. Ho in his great goodness and wisdom, made it for man, and man to use it and not abuse its rick and val¬ uable blessings. He made it that man might be content and happy in the use of lt-,*that ali its blessings might
be secured by man, as tend to His glory, and the highest state of enjoy¬ ment to man in this life.
Foolish, short sighted man, to com¬ plain, murmur and find fault with the works, and wise arrangements of his Good Pather in heaven, who. has done all things well for our good. Men are in many things blind to their own best interest in time, and eternity.
Written for the Gospel Heralth
'Itt Union there is Strength," By d. e. m.
Union, both of spirit and labor, is an im])ortant element of success in the af¬ fairs of tho church as well as in tho af¬ fairs of tho world. To efi:ect any re.for- m ati oil in society, oi" to succeed in any enterprise to promote the general good of a community or class, it is of tho first importance that the friends of tho object to bo attained bo united in their efforts as well as in their aim. Independently and alone men can do but littlo tow¬ ards eftbcting important and valuable changes in society. But when their scat¬ tered forces are brought together; Avhon a band of mon are united; when they labor as one man to effect their pur¬ pose—then there is power in thoir ef¬ forts, and all are made to realize that "in union there ia strength."
It is -under tho recognition of this truth that reformatory associations and political parties are formed. It lies at the basis of all organizations an(i! socie¬ ties. It is recognized and expressed by our Savior when, he prays that his dis¬ ciples may be one even as ho and his Pather are one.
Without this element of union in the church its power must, of necessity, be broken, just as the power of a jiolitioal party or any association is broken by the disaffection of its members. Sup¬ pose for example, a body of nien agi'ee to organize and concentrate their ef¬ forts to tho attainment of a given ejid, Tliey unite and labor together harmo¬ niously for a while—constant aecos- siouB are made to their niimbcj's—and flatteringprospects Of success are before them. But suddenly a change comes. During tho progi-ess of thoir labors, a question arises of minor importance to the general issue, and concerning whieh the party or association is divided. When as they should be, (and as they really are on tho groat principle at stake,) tliej^ may soon be sufficiently strong to obtain a complete and thor¬ ough victory. But because they can¬ not agree upon a question perhaps having no bearing upon .the object which they especially organized to reach, they refuse to act in concert, and the noble principles which sliould have triumphed are thus permitted to suffer a shameful defeat.
Just so precisely It is in tho church. AVhen her members aro united, and work in harmony, success always crowns their efforts. But when a spirit of disunion prevails, and the members refuse to act in concert—the ]K)wei's of darkness prevail over the principles of truth, Zion is made to mourn, and her name becomes the scoff of infidels and the reproach of tho world.
The principles of the "christians" are the principles of the Bible. • They.have stood th e test of a.ges. TJiey have been gradually takingroot in the'hearts of|
men and, as to give evidence of their truthfulness, they are fast winning re¬ spect from thoso who once honestly, but bitterly, opposed them.
"i?o creed kit the Bible;" "Every man responsible for his opinions to his Conscience  and his G-od;" "Christian Character the only test of  Christian Fellowship;"—fJiese ave true and just sentiments, and are destined to a com¬ plete triumph.    They may and should triumph  in ouy hands, whose fathers raised and fought under tho banner bearing tliem more tlian fifty years ago.. They will triumph with us ii'we cher¬ ish the s])irit of peace and union among ourselves.    Already we can discern the signs of a coming victory.   TJio sects aro abandcHiing their former fiilse ]»- sitions and are gradually coming over to the truth.   And now since, if wo re¬ main united, success bids fair soon to crown our oft''orts, let us pray that no "root of bitterness," no. personal ani¬ mosity, no jealous feeling be siift'ered to grow among us—but that peace and good will  may prevail over their qp- positos.   We ]nay have differed in rcSr tion to tho disposal heretofore ramf of certain enterprises  established foi^' the general good  of our  cause..   Let noit our ptist differences produce pre¬ sent or future  divisions-.    "In Union there is Strength.."    Our Educational and   Publishing   interests  are all in good hands.   Let us rally to their siiji- port.   Let us labor and ]:)ray for tlieir prosperity  and the prosperity of the cause of God.
Writtenfor the Gospd Herald.
Stay up the Hands of your Prea.(;her8.
BY E. II. IIAKVEY.
Mr. Editor;—With youi- liberty I would address myself to the members of churches every where, and say to tiiem. Stay vp the hands of your preach¬ ers ; a religious duty, growing out of tiio relation which they sustain to you, as your teachers and spiritual guides. God liimsclf has instituted that rela¬ tion, by appointing a ministry to preach the Everlasting Gospel, to eve¬ ry nation, kindred, -tongue and lan¬ guage under heaven, and to lead along the liock of God's people committed to their charge. He 6ver-/(.a,s had a min¬ istry, and ho ever will have a ministry, as llis chosen instrumentality in en¬ lightening the world, and saving lost inon. They are Christ's ministers, "praying men iu Christ's s^tead to be reconciled to God." "TJieyare called of God as was Aaron," Paul says, "But when it pleased God, Afho separ¬ ated me from niy mother's womb, and called mo by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, tliat I might preach him among tlio heathen,."&c. So it is Avith all God's ministers, they ave called of God, they are his by appointment and claim, they are hi.s servtuits, your teach¬ ers and guides, to instruct y«u, and watch over j'ou, ami jn-omotc your spiritaal happiness and ])ros;p6rity. Their obligations to God who has call¬ ed them,, and to you, is. groat. Their labors and conflicts are great; and an awfal sense of their responsibility weighs thc-m down to tho earth, and they are ready to cry out, "Who is sufliciont for these things." Your ob¬ ligations to your ministers too, my dear brethren aro great: you hav©great