A Practical Directory for Young Christian Females eBook

Harvey Newcomb
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 308 pages of information about A Practical Directory for Young Christian Females.

A Practical Directory for Young Christian Females eBook

Harvey Newcomb
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 308 pages of information about A Practical Directory for Young Christian Females.
do not rejoice in iniquity, it is nevertheless “sweet in their mouth,” and they “drink it in like water.”  Their plea is, that they do not speak of it with pleasure, but with grief bear their testimony against it.  But grief is a very different passion from that which swells in their bosoms.  Grief is solitary and silent.  “He sitteth alone and keepeth silence.”  Who ever heard of a man’s proclaiming his grief to every passing stranger?  Yet, you may not be five minutes in the company of one of these persons, till he begins to proclaim his grief at the delinquencies of his Christian brethren.  And the harsh and bitter spirit, which palms itself on the conscience as a testimony against sin, is but an exhibition of impenitent pride.  It bears not the most distant semblance of Christian humility and fidelity.  “Brethren,” says the apostle, “if a man be overtaken in a fault, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” But, from the fault-finding and censorious spirit of some people, one would suppose it never came into their minds to consider whether it might not be possible for them to fall into the same condemnation; although an examination of the lamentable falls that have taken place might show a fearful list of delinquents from this class of persons.  David, while in his fallen state, pronounced sentence of death upon the man in Nathan’s parable, whose crime was but a faint shadow of his own.  The Scribes and Pharisees were indignant at the wretched woman who had been taken in sin; yet they afterwards, by their own conduct, confessed themselves guilty of the same crime.  Judas was one of your censorious fault-finders.  He was the one that found fault with the tender-hearted Mary, for her affectionate tribute of respect to the Lord of Life, before his passion.  He thought it a great waste to pour such costly ointment on the feet of Jesus; and that it would have been much better to have sold it and given the money to the poor.  He was very compassionate to the poor, and a great enemy of extravagance; but a little while afterwards, he sold his Lord for thirty pieces of silver.  So, in every age, if you examine into the character of apostates, you will find that they have been noted for their severity against the sins of others; and particularly in making conscience of things indifferent, and pronouncing harsh judgment against those who refuse to conform to their views.  Especially will such persons be grieved with their brethren on account of their dress, or style of living, or their manner of wearing the hair; or some such matter that does not reach the heart.  I was once acquainted with a woman, who (except in her own family and among her neighbors) had the reputation of being very devotedly pious, who went to her pastor, (an aged and venerable man,) greatly grieved because he was in the habit of combing his hair upwards, so as to cover his baldness.  She was afraid it was pride.  She was a great
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A Practical Directory for Young Christian Females from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.