Let us hear him again. |
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¢TJ, Another thing which checks the work of reli-gion every where, but especially in Kentucky, is ex-travagance in worldly things. ‘l’housands of brethrenthere are wasting the Lord’s goods. They seem to haveforgotten, or never have been taught, that they them-selves are living sacrifices to God. If they are Chris-tians, their whole soul, body, and spirit are his, and allthe substance they possess. ‘They are but the Lord’sstewards, to manage to his interest and glory what hehas entrusted to them, and to render a just account to » him in the day of judgment. Dare we then waste it,or spend it in the pride of life, and to please the lustsofthe flesh and of the eye? O, what an awful reck-oning there will be at the last day! There must be areformation here, else all our labor will be lost, and thework put into more faithful hands.” Beloved brethren, this is a grave charge; and as itwas made bya beloved Father in Israel, one. whosepiety, good judgment, and disinterestedness are unques-tioned and unquestionable, we should prayerfully con-sider it. I know that the proper management of ourworldly goods, is a question of great delicacy, and con-siderable difficulty. Yet, certainly, it is one of vast \ practical importance. We should, therefore, examineit most carefully, in the best lights we have. We areJehovah’s by creation, preservation and redemption ;and are therefore bound to him by a three-fold cord, thatcannot be broken. And being the Lord’s, body, soul,and spirit, all we have, or can acquire of this world’sgoods are his; and therefore, all must be used to pro-mote his glory; in the promotion of our personal holi-ness, the purity and unity of the church, and the salva-tion of sinners. ‘That wealth was the ruin of the greatnations of antiquity is most palpable. That it has al-ways been unfavorable to physical, mental, and moral BARTON W. STONE. 07 health, is just as true. Let us, then, endeavor to usethis world as not abusing it. Under the influence ofChristian principle, let us cultivate a spirit of physical,mental, and moral improvement, and we shall lay uptreasure in heaven, not upon earth. O, if the true spiritof Christian benevolence pervaded the hearts of all theprofessors of Christianity, how soon might the lights ofeducation and of the gospel of peace be carried intoevery dark corner of the earth! “III. Another thing that has, without doubt, checkedthe growth of religion, is, that brethren have too greedilyfollowed in the wake of the world, by conforming to itsspirit and practice. By this means many have involvedthemselves and friends in debt, and have failed to paytheir lawful contracts, to the ruin of themselves andothers. ‘This is a source of great distress in societies,and has almost destroyed confidence in one another.”’ God help us to improve the caution here given. In-stead of aping the world, and conforming to its maximsof extravagance and folly, should we not as Christiansset the world an example of honesty, punctuality, tem-perance and moderation in all things? The venerable Stone continued in the regular dis-charge of his editorial duties till within a very shorttime of his death ; and it was remarked generally, thathis pieces, from the time of his paralysis, possessed anenergy and clearness beyond what they had exhibitedfor years before. The last article he wrote for the presswas addressed to a young man who had graduated atthe Missouri University, and asked his advice as to thebest course to pursue to prepare himself to be useful,as a preacher of the gospel. Here follows the piece. | “To a Youne Strupent, R G ee My Son :—You have just graduated at the Universityof Missouri, at the age of twenty years. You had pre-viously devoted yourself to the Lord, and identifiedyourself with his people: now you inquire of me whatcourse | would recommend to you, in order that you J
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