2
PACIFIC CHRISTIAN MESSENGER, FRIDAY, SEPT. 19, 1879.
Predestination and Foreknowl- doctrine of the extract is not true in
z edge.
fact."
9
1
Poverty.
and burst into tears. The old woman
seemed much surprised, enquired if
she could do anything for her and
seemed anxious to soothe her pain,
but when she told her that she had
never till then comprehended what
poverty was and that in a moment
the terrible thought, that her daugh­
ter who lived “ as the liilies of
the field,” might by some unexpected
turn of fortune’s wheel, be reduced to
a life like this and ended with, “ Oh
impossible, I could not live and bear
it/ The white-haired woman smiled
gently and said, “ is that all my dear
lady ? You call me poor ?. I km
rich. I have all I want. I have
shelter, food, raiment and this,” laying
her toil-worn hand upon a much used
Bible. “ What more do 1 want ? He
has promised me a glorious crown up
there. I know it will be mine, for I
have kept the faith. Ah, yes, it
won’t be long dear lady, you see my
hair is blossomed for the grave. I
am content; yea, more, I am happy.
Can I do anything that can make you
happier ? Oh learn that Jesus is in­
deed your elder brother, then you will
not fear poverty nor worship at the
shrine of your ancestral wealth.”
Ah, that is the poverty that the rich­
est parvenue in the land will not dare
to patronize—the poverty before
whom the mightiest ruler in christen­
dom will bow. And this proud wo­
man went away humbled. She who
had every advantage of long amassed
wealth, old and honored name, educa­
tion and refinement—she who was
wont to be acknowledged and to feel
herself a queen in the polished circles
of society in which she moved, had
won not homage from this lowly cot­
tager but proffered aid! So gentle,
too, it was, so holy, bo like a mother
pitying the sorrows of a child that
many, many a bitter day this mother­
less woman’s heart yearned for the
holy influence of that happy lowly
woman.
“ Poverty is the nurse of manly
Mr. Mathews affirmed.
energy
and heaven-climbing thoughts,
Since writing my article on Rom.
The synopsis of the sermon and ne­
attended
by love, and faith, and hope,
wiiL 28,1 have thought it may be of gation of Mr. Mathews is almost a de­
around"
whose
steps the mountain
interest to your readers to say a few bate of itself, how well he succeeded
breezes blow, and from whose coun­
things under the above heading.
with such a burden with the wit and
all the virtues gather
Twenty years ago in some, indeed genius of Bro. Franklirf falling after tenance
strength."
in almost all communities, this was can be faintly imagined by the reader.
X It is not so much the hardships
the all absorbing theme In religious No doubt the length and form of this
of labor that poverty brings, which
circles. ’ It was the central pillow of proposition was of Mr. Mathews
makes the poor unhappy as the fret­
the popular creed»; the one upon choosing, and it is said that the pre­
ting, because of missing luxuries.
which- nil the preachers were dis­ liminary correspondence was quite
Labor is healthful and honorable, and
coursing, and by which almost every­ spirited and lengthy; but the final
is really a source of happiness. Ne­
body’s orthodoxy
was
decided, debate held in Carlisle was pleasant.
cessary labor sharpens the faculties
whether the judges understood the Ex-Governor Metcalf, Dr. McMillen
and privation and sacrifice brace the
question or not. The more people and Esquire Sharpe, were the modera­
moral nature. A lack of a supera­
talked about it the less they knew of tors.
bundance of this world’s goods does
it, and the less they knew of it the
The second proposition was affirmed not always constitute poverty, nor
more they seem to like it. It is al­ by Mr. Franklin, and is more specific
does the possession of them always
most impossible to conceive of the11 in substance—" That predestination,
constitute riches. Poverty or riches
ideas entertained, upon this and as taught in the Presbyterian Con­
lie much in the mind. One man with
kindred subjects, the purposes for fession of Faith, ch. 3, sect. 3, 4 and 5,
five hundred a year is rich, while
which it was used, and the varied is unreasonable, unscriptural, and in
another with three times five thousand
effects it produced upon the popular opposition to the spread of the Gos­
is poor. The one with five hundred
mind. It 'Was the hot bed out of pel,’’ which he, no doubt, sustained-to
is rich because he does not live be­
which grew Universalism, some the satisfaction of many of his aud­
yond his means, and has few wants ;
phases of modern Spiritualism, and ience, and to the dismay and discon-
the other is poor because his desires
various other forms of modern skep­ fiture of his opjionents, and many
are extravagant and he indulges them •
ticism and infidelity. While many of who had not before heard such things
beyond his income.
the good people, who long since re­ in Israel.
The unhappy, poor man, is he who
nounced it as set forth in the sermons
The author further says of Mr. is dissatisfied with his lot and spends
of by gone days,'and as still found in Franklijfs sermon, that it was predic­
his strength fretting because he is not
the creeds at this time, yet they are ated of Eph. i. 46, and the elect spoken
rich. He fancies that he is looked
not wholly free from its paralyzing of was the character referred to in the
down upon because he is poor, when
effects on their perception of divine text—this was the apostles and pro­
at the same time he is the one that
truth.
phets; he did not deny but what hates poverty. He is constantly look­
Our early pioneer preachers had to Christians are sometimes in other
ing for slights. If he meets an ac-
fight the popular dogmas upon This Scriptures called the elect.
quaintancéawho happens to be in a
question, when it was in its fullest • If the reader feels interested to
pre occupied state of mind and per­
vigor and strength, therefore it was know more of the subject, let him
chance does not see him, he cries,
tire subject of many debates. Perhaps keep this paper, and at some future
“Ab, he ignores me because I’m
no man was more dreaded by the time we will send the extract given
poor.” -Or if a man of “ wealth and
popular theologians upon this ques­ by the author of Bro. Franklin’s man­
position ” shows him considerable at­
tion than the late Bejamin Franklin, ner of treating this subject. In mean
tention he is being “ patrenize'd.” He
as we glean from “ The Life and Times time you can buy the book of the
is so much afraid of being slighted or
of Benjamin Franklin,” written by publisher for 82.00 per volume, and it
patronized that he wraps himself in
his son Joseph Franklin, and J. A. will in very many ways be instructive
such a thick mantle of loftiness, in­
Headington, published by John and entertaining reading on many
difference and far-awayness that
Burns, St. Louis, Mo. On ¡»age 201 things of the past and present, while
those who would be to him, what he
the author says, “ As early as 184G it exhibits much Gospel truths which
desires, warm and generous friends,
Mr.Franklin published the opinion that never grows old.
are turned away indeed. Many a “Poor and content is rich, and rich
* enough,”
the 1 Foreknowledge of God,” referred
Fraternally yours,
rich man is hated—called proud and
to in the Scriptures, was not what
S. II. H edrix .
cold, whose bosom is full of warm and —Ex.
God simply knew before, but rather
Fairfield, Iowa, Sept. 1, 1879.
tender sympathies for those who en­
Elegant Simplicity.
that which he made known before it
dure privations but dares not offer
A Humming-Bird’s Nest.
Came to pass. He held' at the same
BY DB. DEEMS.
them lest he be thought officious. We
time, that ‘eternal purpose of God’
Recently a humming-bird’s nest hear daily of the duties ef the rich to
It is a dangerous thing for a party
was, ‘ He would justify the heathen
was found by some persons who had the poor, but not often of the duties of the male sex to discourse on the
through faith,’ and not that he had
sufficient natural curiosity to over­ of the poor to the rich. I think often subject of female attire.
* from all eternity ’ determined to
come their compassion, and who cap­ of this, not that I would shield one or
Every man of even the least culti­
save some persons and permit others
tured the nest., two young hummers condemn the Other. But, who makes vation delights in seeing woman well
to perish without the opportunity of
and the old one, took them home, and the disparity between the two dressed. The difficulty lies in settling
salvation; it was a purpose in regard
had them stuffed. They are to be classes ? Does one do it all ? Why the question of what it is to be “ well
to a plan or scheme, rather than a pur­
sent to a museum of natural curiosi­ should not the poor man be as frank dressed,” and that lifficulty arises
pose to us individual human beings.
ties in London. The nest is built on and open-hearted with the man of from the masculine ignorance of the
At the request of four resident
a little twig, and scarcely the size of much means as with one who is desti­ details. As women pass before a
ministers of Cincinnatti, Ohio, he
half an English walnut. Both nest tute ? Does money make the man ? man’s eyes he knows a? once whether
wrote a sermon of the title of the
and twig are covered with patches of Because you have none, need you be the impression made upon him is
heading of this artiele, which was
less worthy ? Because he has it does
pleasieg or otherwise. But weeannot
stereotyped *in 1851, and circulated lichen until if is almost impossible to
tell one from the other, and the nest he not need love and sympathy—not tell why. He does not know ljow
wherever there were Disciples.”
looks like a kind of natural excres­ for his money but for himself? Need much of an artist that woman had to
We are informed by the author
cence on the twig. It is pliable, like your mind and heart be less bright become in order ■ to be able to array
that James Mathews, of the Presbyt­
a tiny cup of velvet, and the inside is and warm because you have not lain herself in different garments that
erian church, was the first to attack
lined with a white substance, as rich in the liilies nor fed on the roses of should have perfect adjustment to her
the discourse, and after several months
and soft as white silk. The little life ? Ah,
person aud perfect harmony of color­
correspondence between the parties, a
” If every one’s internal ?are
birds are about the size of bumble­
ing. She has had to study, first, oth-
protracted discussion followed. The
Were written on his brow '
bees, very pretty, and they sit on a
women; secondly, herself; thirdly,
first proposition being simply a syn­
How many would our pity share
little perch just outside the neat, with
the masculine intelligence, in order to
opsis of the sermon as follows. First
Who bear our envy now.”
open bills, while the old bird hovers
sundry points of doctrine, viz.:
Jqst here comes to mind an inci- reach the consumation to which she
over them to feed them.— New Jertey
1. When God speaks of knowing^
dent related to me by a friend long has attained.
paper.
Sometimes it costs pecuniarily to
certain things, it is in contradietion
ago. It is very simple—simple as
make
such an achievement. The cost
from things which be does not ap­
U nder thz S ea .—A profesMsnsl diver the tiny golden star of the wild broom
will
vary
according to the artist’s
prove or make known as his.
said be bad in hia bouse—what would that, nods in the breeze here at my
32. The foreknowledge of God is the probably atrike a visitor aa a very strange door. From this tiny star will fall a skill in using her materials. The
knowledge which God has before chunney ornament—the shells at an oyster seed from whose germ will rise untold men who have to pay the bills, the
given by the prophets respecting bolding fast a piece of printed paper. The numbers in time to come. Yes, it is husbands and papas know something
possessor of this ornament was diving on
about this, and in the course of years
Christ and his sufferings.
coast, when he dbserved st the bottom of simple but precious to me aa long re­
3. God’s elect are the apostles and the sea this oyster on a rock, with a piece membered words of a dear and distant secure a valuable education in this de­
prophets.
of paper in its mouth, which be detached, friend: ¿>he was out walking enjoy­ partment of art and economy; and,
4. The object for which God’s elect and commenced to read through the gog­ ing the prosperous condition of her ordinarily this class of gentlemen, if
were chosen was to make known the gles of bis head-dress. It was a gospel broad acres, when she’ was led outside thoughtful, deliver tolerably rational
tract, and, coming to him thus •traegely,
_ _ .
Gospel.
ao iaspresaed his unconverted heart that the borders of her domain by curiosi­ criticisms on this subject. The men
Second.—Sundry interpretations of he said ; u I can bold ont
it againat
against Ood'
God's
outside, the bachelors generally, arc
mercy in Christ no longer, >, since it pm
pur­ ty to a rude hirt on a hillside. It
Scripture, and
sues me thus." He became while at the was picturesque in its rudeness so she these who make mistakes in uttering :
Third.-—A declaration that the pre­ ocean’s depth, a re
converted anti
their dicta on dasss. As an example I
ven man-- resolved to peep in. Mhe had never
destination of the confession of faith, (aa he was assured) sin-
of
thi«, a young uian says to his sla­
” saved at the Bottom of
met poverty face to face liefore. One
as given in the extract on page 4, is
ter
;
f
■m,
« US.-S »»»»..■
room with dirt floor; the only fur
not of the Bible or any thing liko it.
We never did like the unbecoming hab­ niture a bed, a table and a few chairs.
“ Why can’t yon imitate the econo-'
The four points of doctrine are in op­ it of grabhing hets and leaving the bonne
my aud elegant simplicity of the Van
The
occupant
was
an
old
white-
just
aa
soon
as
services
are
over.
People
position to sound philology, correct
should take time to stop and shake hands
philosophy and the Scripture truth ; end impart and receive friendly greetings. haired woman, with scant and worn Böcker girls ? They don’t dress in
the interpretation of Scripture do not Regard each other as belonging to the garments. At a glance she took it all silks as you do ? For curiosity I in­
same family, and part as tbongh you bad
convey the true meaning of the spirit, some respect for each other and the in—a life of pain, toil, misery. She quired of a lady what a certain morn­
sat down on one of the rude chairs ing dress which I saw on one of the“
and th« declaration respecting The church of Ood.
Van Böcker girls at Saratoga, ought
to cost. I learned that it was thirty-
five cents a yard, and they did look so
sweetand fresh."
" Quite true,” said his bister ; “ but
you must recollect that few ladies in­
dulge in that kind or toilet, they
must have several changes and each
dress must have a large quantity oF
furbelowing - and fixing to make it-
logk well! and the laundrying of dres­
ses of that kind costs more than thè
washing of pocket handkerchiefs. So
that if economy is what you have in
view, dear brothèr, a good dress that
costs more at the beginning may last
longer and in the end cost less.”
The fact is, we may as well under-
that elegant simplicity in dress as in
manners requires an outlay which de­
mands a good income. Sbowiness is
cheap. Elegance must be paid for by
b th money and taste ; but still more
Cort-ly is elegant simplicity, which for
its indulgence demands more money
and more taste. To a looker-on noth­
ing seems so easy as to make graceful
motion, as he beholds a gymnast or
danseuse it seems to him as though it
only required him to will to do the
same thing in order to have it accom­
plished. But let him step out into
the middle of the floor and try it. A
few movements of his limbs will con­
vince him that it will require months
of practice, under tuition, to move
with the simple grace of the person
whom he supposed -it would be so
easy to inimitate.
’In literature we take our models of
simple elegance, the writings in which
the paragraphs run after one another
as the ripples of a brook. It seems as
though we could certainly write m
that way, if we could not employ a
more ambitious style. And what a
mistake we find this to bel Our at­
tempts soon show us that it is much
taore easy to turn off’our period’s full**'
of sesquipedatlan words and inflited
bombast, and that a little imagination
Webster’s Dictionary anil Roget’s The­
saurus will enable us to write in a-
style which seems absolutely sublime
to the uneducated inassos. But if we
are to write like an Emerson we must
write over and oft, and take pains to
correct, expurgate and polish, so that
each word shall seem to be the very
best possible in its place.
Our readers can carry this thought
i.nto their meditations upon the for­
mation of character. An elegant sim­
ple character is one of the most charm­
ing things in the world. But what
thought, what care, what constant
discipline, what incessant practice oF
every virtue, through what a number
of years, are required to give a man
the character of elegant simplicity !
Let our young readers ask themselves-
whether it is not worth while to en­
deavor to attain such a character as
will remain for the admiration of the
ages, like the Apollo Belvidere in
statuary, and the Great Pyramid,,
which shall be the admiration of man­
kind when ten thousand ephemeral
prettinesses, produced by sculptors-
and architects,shall have passed away..
—Sunday Magazine.
A Quaint Pic ure.
A fearless writer gir >s this picture of a
school within his 1. .<■ . Iclge : “ Teacher
knew very little. Boyr khuw leas. Teach­
er taught but little, Boys paid no atten­
tion to that little. Te*e «•< languidly ask­
ing questions. Boys lUdessly read the
printed answers. TeseLrr got done Boys
glad. Hymn g»ven <.«|. r.^feer <ltd not
sing. Boys did not o-rf> l><> it it. Teach­
er said he guessed be would not be there
next Sunday. Boys . jj they guessed
they would not either. Teacher did not
care much. B >ya did not leem to dare at
ail. School dkanisy**d.
Bet result of.
Sunday . hcuoo I teaching, n itoiog» abso­
lutely uocaing,— HcckiiKfi-..
1 In-re s never a day so annuy
tint a little cloud appear» ; —
There h never a life so happy
But had ite tiuu» at ta.r» ;
* ‘.f 1 *'e •Bo shine» out the brighter
When the »toruiy t«rupe«t cie^ra,
There s never a way so u arrow
But.tiia entrance is made straight ;
Tuere s always a guide to point us
To the “ little wicket gate,”
And the angels will be nearer
lot soul that is desolate.
b
*