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CHAPTER VIII.

DISCOURAGEMENTS WHICH PRESENT THEMSELVES AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF A RELIGIOUS COURSE.

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THE word of God teaches us to expect these. What means "the strait gate," but an entrance attended with difficulty? What means counting the cost," but contemplating obstacles, and preparing to meet them? Bunyan knew the course to heaven, when he placed the slough of despond in the first stage of the journey. You are mistaken if you expect by one easy stride to reach the firm and solid ground beyond this dismal swamp. Sincerity will diminish difficulties, and finally overcome them, but it will not prevent them. Prepare then for discouragement, for you will be sure to meet with it; and it is both wise and merciful to forewarn you of it, lest you should conclude that some strange thing has happened to you. But observe, no part of this discouragement comes from God. He interposes no obstacle, raises no difficulties, presents no objection. A doubt of his willingness to save, a suspicion of his mercy, would be fatal to your hopes. But all is clear ground, so far as he is concerned. Dwell on this thought, it is a blissful one; ponder here, before you go another step; arm yourselves to meet every discouragement, come from what quarter it may, with this conviction, that God waits to be gracious; yes, like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, he is out, looking for you; his infinite mercy is in motion towards you; he runs towards

you faster than you go to him. discouragement?

What then is your

1. The cold indifference, the repulsive shyness, of professing christians. You thought that the very look of anxiety, the very countenance that seemed to say to their eyes, if not to their ears, "What shall I do to be saved?" would draw the sympathies of many upon you; instead of which, you are left without a friend to commiserate, to guide, to soothe you, and are compelled, in the agony of your soul, to say, even to the multitude that go up to Zion, "Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by; come, see, if there be any sorrow like unto mine. Will no man care for my soul?" Ah, my friend, let me tell you in the beginning of your career, that you cannot expect too little from man, nor too much from God. It is the scandal of the church of Christ, and in some measure also, of its ministers, that serious inquirers after salvation are shamefully neglected. But shall this discourage you? What, when all heaven is interested on your behalf? When Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are concerned for you? When the blessed angels are rejoicing over you, and flying on wings of love to minister to you, as an heir of salvation? Cast away your gloom, look to God; and if the neglect of christians should lead you to a more simple dependence upon Christ, you will be a gainer in the end. Too many friends, and too much attention, might do you injury, by leading you to depend too much upon an arm of flesh.

2. Many are discouraged by witnessing the low state of religion among professors. They see no counterpart to their own anxiety among those who have long borne the christian name. While they themselves are crying, "What shall we do to be saved ?"

they hear little from the lips of many christian professors, but, "What shall we eat or drink; wherewithal shall we be clothed; what is the news of the day; or what is the state of trade?" They see so much worldly-mindedness, so much imperfection of temper, so many things unworthy of the christian character, that they can scarcely believe there is a reality in religion, and are sometimes ready to give up all as a mere name. Nay, from some of these very professors, they receive plain hints that they are too anxious, too precise, too earnest and urgent. O, ye wicked professors! ye child-murderers! for by what softer name can I call you, in thus attempting to strangle the children of God in the birth? I beseech you to consider the mischief you are doing, and abandon this effort to extinguish the solicitude of souls beginning to feel the energies of spiritual life. And, ye inquirers after salvation, do not be discouraged. If these men are living below their profession, this is their business, not yours. Salvation is necessary for you, whether they are sincere and earnest in seeking it or not. It will be no compensation for the loss of your soul, to think that they lost theirs. If there were not yet one real christian in all the world, this would be no excuse for your neglecting to become one. Look into the Bible, rather than to professors. Instead of giving up the matter, you should gather this inference from what you see, that it is no easy thing to be a christian. Should the bad tempers, the unworthy conduct of professors induce you to relinquish the pursuit of salvation, it will be poor consolation in the bottomless pit, to look back upon the cause of your ruin.

3. You are, perhaps, discouraged by the prospect of opposition from your nearest friends. You see them all worldly, and plainly perceive that your real

conversion to God will place you in direct opposition to them; that your becoming a christian, and acting as such, will bring into your house the scene described by our Lord, Matt. x. 34-38. "Oh," say you, "how fearful is the prospect before me! my piety will sound a note of discord in a family where all has been peace till now, although a peace founded on a common disregard of religion; and will introduce confusion and strife where all has been union and harmony." "I must brave the anger of my husband," says the wife," and perhaps alienate that heart, on which my spirit has hitherto reposed with such delight." Or, says the child, "I must seem to be disobedient to a parent, whom I have hitherto found it to be my duty and bliss to obey. Oh, can I do it? Is there no other way to heaven? are there no milder terms of submission to the authority of Christ ?" None, none whatever. I do not conceal that it is an awful alternative. I should be destitute of all sympathy, my friend, if I did not feel for you. But I dare not withdraw the cross. My soul would perish with yours, if I successfully attempted to persuade you that, in your circumstances, repentance, faith, the love of God, and all the other graces and virtues included in decided spiritual religion, could be dispensed with. God will not, cannot, relax his demands, and I dare not. Husband and wife, parent and child, houses and lands, worldly reputation, and the applause of men, must all give place to Him. He demands the heart; and he has infinite compensation to make for all you sacrifice for him. He will make the crown infinitely more valuable than the cross is terrible. You may be, you ought to be discreet in your profession; you must avoid all unnecessary opposition to the wishes of unconverted relatives; you should, if possible, be ten times more

obliging, more devoted, more sweetly kind, in all other matters; you should return good for evil; you should exhibit the most undisturbed meekness; you should try to conquer violence by patience, but you must not, you dare not give up your convictions; you must be willing to die of a broken heart, and by the wrongs of persecution, rather than give up your pursuit of salvation. Trust in God, he will support you. If he call you to be a martyr in this way, he will first give you a martyr's faith, and then a martyr's crown.

Let the following impressive fact be read by you with solemn awe. "An accomplished and amiable young woman, in the town ofhad been deeply affected by a sense of her spiritual danger. She was the only child of a fond and affectionate parent. The deep impressions which accompanied her discovery of guilt and depravity, awakened all the jealousies of the father. He dreaded the loss of that sprightliness and vivacity which constituted the life of his domestic circle. He was startled by the answers which his questions elicited; while he foresaw, or thought he foresaw, an encroachment on the hitherto unbroken tranquillity of a deceived heart. Efforts were made to remove the cause of her disquietude; but they were such efforts as unsanctified wisdom directed. The Bible at last-O how little may a parent know the far reaching of the deed, when he snatches the word of life from the hand of a child !—the Bible, and other books of religion, were removed from her possession, and their place was supplied by works of fiction. An excursion of pleasure was proposed, and declined; an offer of gayer amusement shared the same fate; promises, remonstrances, and threatenings followed. But the father's infatuated perseverance at last brought compliance. Alas, how little may a

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