every hour we have duties to perform. If the duties of one day are deferred, we crowd too much upon the next; therefore something must be neglected, or everything will be done in a hurried and imperfect manner. The whole of life is made up of single actions, and will be successful only to the extent that our single actions shall have been well done. Life and its duties may be compared to a river. So long as there are no impediments in the channel, the waters will flow freely and majestically onward until they reach the mighty deep. If by any means the waters are obstructed in their course, they will soon so accumulate as to overflow their banks and thus be forever prevented from reaching their destined goal. Life is the channel; its duties are the swiftly gliding waters; procrastination is the obstruction that causes neglected duties to accumulate until we find it impossible to perform them all. When, in addition to present duties, those of the past gather upon us, some of them must remain forever unperformed, as surely as the water of the torrent that overleaps its banks can never, in its accustomed channel, reach the sea. If, then, the habit of idling away the present, and waiting to act in the future prevails, the true end of life can not be realized. Instead of being cheered at the close of life with the consolation of having acted well our part, the bitter cup of regret will be our portion. The habit of procrastination brings its victims to shame and disgrace. How strange that "very thoughtful man" should, in spite of sad experience, be allured time after time, with the insiduous prompting, "There is time enough yet." But such is the painful truth. Too often it occurs that we put off duty to the very last, and fail in accomplishing that in which we might have sncceeded by commencing in time. How often we break promises we could have easily fulfilled, and must meet with shame those who have claims upon us, and whom we have deceived. It is truly a lamentable spectacle, to witness, as evidence of inward shame, the flushed face and downcast eyes of f those confessing a wilful neglect of duty. It is of the first importance to be on our guard against this evil. To prevent being led astray, we should form and faithfully adhere to the resolution to do everything in its proper time. In this way nothing will be left undone, we can act without hurry and do everything well. The waste of time, the broken promises, the ruin of body and soul, and the bitter regrets which procrastination has caused, eternity alone can tell. It then becomes us, in order to insure success in life, to avoid this fair-pretending but treacherous enemy, and to act well our part in the living present. If we are faithful now, a glorious future, a good name, and a peaceful end will be our lot. TIME. "HE that is choice of his time," writes the ever-to-be-revered Jeremy Taylor, "will also be choice of his company and choice of his actions." "A moment is a mighty thing, How much of life, life cannot see, Darts onward to eternity." SOLEMN THOUGHTS FOR YOUNG CHURCH MEMBERS. BY THE EDITOR. In former article we drew a lesson of instruction and warning from the life and acts of Judas-the Betrayer. Let us draw another lesson from the same source. It is against betraying Christ in your profession that we are warning you. Why did Judas betray the Saviour? The immediate motive which actuated him to this deed was "thirty pieces of silver !"-about fifteen dollars! What a price for Him that was valued. What a commentary on the love of money. How true is it, as the Holy Apostle declares: "They that will be rich, fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which, while some coveted after, they have erred from faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." No wouder that he adds the earnest exhortation: "But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, Godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." Thirty pieces of silver is the price at which one of his disciples valued his Lord! and for this paltry sum he was willing to sell his Master into the hands of sinners, and his own soul into endless perdition. But here let us beware, lest in condemning Judas, we condemn ourselves, or those near us. His children are still alive, and have inherited his covetous and miserly propensities. The honor of Christ and of religion, together with the soul of him that does it, have often been sold for much less than thirty pieces of silver, by professed friends of Christ. Every sin which a professed follower of Christ commits, especially those open sins, which cast reproach upon his holy religion, is in an important sense a dishonoring and betraying of Christ. Christ is wounded when his cause is wounded-he is betrayed when his cause is betrayed. Has not often a christian profession been disgraced for a glass of liquor? Has not many an one been allured to drink, and thus to take his first step in his fall, for a sixpence? Has not the cause of Christ been made to bleed for the sake of a few hours, silly amusement in the ball room or at the card table? Has not many a man been dishonest, and thus disgraced his religion before sinners, for less than one dollar. Hear it, O heavens! this is the price at which the modern Judases value their Saviour, and the honor of His holy religion! Though the immediate cause of his betrayal was his desire after the money, yet there was a deeper cause. Judas was unconverted-he never had been a true friend of Christ and his religion. He was a son of perdition, all the while that he outwardly walked with Christ and His apostles. That covetous spirit which ended finally in the betrayal of Christ, had been working for a long time before in his heart-long be fore he "was a thief and had the bag." Though a professed follower of Christ, he was inwardly renewed, and dead in trespasses and in sin. When the devil entered into him to urge him to the final deed, he found in Judas a man, in all respects prepared by previous life of sin, of averice, and of deceit, for such an awful and daring deed. His wicked heart had long been laying snares for his feet, and now they have all fallen upon him suddenly. He had all his life been gathering fuel for this final fire, and treasuring up for himself wrath against this day of wrath. We see how dangerous it is to hide an unrenewed heart under cover of an outward profession of religion. It is like covering fire with fuel; for a time the flames and coals may be hid, but at last it will break out the more fearful in proportion as it was previously hidden. It is with all those whose professions of religion are merely outward as it was with Judas; it will lead them to constant betrayals of Christ. What is in their hearts will break out into open acts, to the shame of their own professions, and to the disgrace of the church. Look at those who once knelt and vowed at the altar of confirmation as you, young friends have done; look at those whose names stand for many years recorded in the church-books, but who now live wicked and shameless lives. Why do they thus disgrace their professions and dishonor religion? Why are they now sons of perdition? The answer is plainthey never were changed in heart; they never had inwardly turned unto the Lord. They trusted in a mere profession, and when temptations came they had no grace in their hearts to enable them to withstand their fierce assaults. Let this remind you, young friends, that your work is not done when you have once united with the church. Seek not merely for the lamp of an outward profession, but seek also the true oil of grace. Be not satisfied, like Judas to be among the disciples, but seek to be yourself a disciple in heart and in life. Seek not only the form of godliness, but seek also its power. Let your prayer be that which you have no doubt often sung: Oh for a heart to praise my God, A heart from sin set free; A heart that always feels thy blood, So freely shed for me. A heart in every thought renewed, And full of love divine; Holy, and right, and pure, and good, A copy, Lord, of thine. BOOK NOTICE. THE Protestant Theological and Ecclesiastical Encyclopedia: being a condensed translation of Herzog's Real Encyclopedia, with additions from other sources. By Rev. J. H. A. Bomberger, D. D. Assisted by distinguished Theologians of various denominations. Part IX. Philadelphia. Lindsay & Blakiston. The present part of this important work is a very interesting one. The first article is Exra, and the last George III. It contains lengthy, elaborate and highly interesting articles on Festivals, Fasting, Franke, Freedom, French Catholic Church, French Reformed Church, French Reformation, Gallicanism, Geography, besides many others equally interesting. These articles are all originally prepared by celebrated German Theologians who are proverbial for their learning, patient research, and impartial spirit; and the substance, much condensed, seems to be nevertheless faithfully given in this translation. It is published very neatly, in double column pages, 128 pages in each part, at 50 cents a part. To have brothers and sisters a thousand miles off whom you have not seen for fourteen years, is adequate cause for a desire in your heart to see them. But then "you cannot get off." So we thought year after year, but found at length that one can get off if he will-not by "taking the cars" for that is better and more easily done by the Locomotivebut by meekly letting the cars take you. So we found it. The day set-the preparations made-the time arrives-and behold! the Editor goeth West. It may not be unpleasant to you, kind reader, to hear a little of whither we went, how we fared, and what we saw. You shall be gratified. We left Lancaster in the first morning train west, on the Fourth of July, just as the first waves of patriotism were beginning to break upon the still air of night in those brave powder noises, to which we are so well accustomed in the Inland city. If letting off "Chinese thunder" is the measure of love of country, the Lancasterians are number one in this respect; for, except a pretty fair echo in Mount Joy, as we rolled westward, this kind of demonstration " grew smaller by degrees, and beautifully less," till we arrived at Pittsburg, where (mirabile dictu!) that whole business is positively and wholly prohibited by the powers that be. As we are not wont to express our patriotism in that form, we felt no curtailing of our liberty by the ordinance. Sweeping along the levels and around the graceful curves of "the blue Juniata," and winding over the lofty Alleghenies, we preferred to employ ourselves with sights rather than sounds. What beautiful scenery, often rising to the grand, and even the sublime! We need not attempt a description. Thousands of our readers have seen it for themselves; and all "the rest of mankind" have heard the sound thereof, and will endeavor some time or other to see it. The great Central Pennsylvania Railroad has opened this world of nature's charms to the world. The myriads of western merchants and others whom business or pleasure calls to the Atlantic sea-board, know of this fine stretch of mountain scenery, and on that account, as well as on account of the excellent make and management of the road, take this route in preference to any other. This is decidedly the pleasantest road in the country, especially in Summer. The whole distance is ballasted--that is, filled up between the cross-ties with broken stones, which not only gives it solidity, but also prevents any dust being started up by the train. Any one who passes from other roads to this in Summer, will at once see the difference in point of comfort. The Pittsburg Post, in an article commenting upon the recent fatal casualty on the Southern Michigan Railroad, in the course of which it refers to similar occurrences on other lines, within six years, resulting in the death of 393, and the wounding of 612 persons, has well said, that it is a remarkable and note-worthy fact, which speaks volumes for the management of those roads, that not one of those terrible accidents have occurred upon either the Pennsylvania, or the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago roads. These two roads compose the longest line in the country. Both are under the direction and control of a man who is admitted to possess the greatest administrative ability in railroad matters of any man in the world, J. Edgar Thompson, Esq. His controlling intellect regards with almost superhuman power the details of the immense iron line which connects the East with the West, and so admirably are the subdivisions of direction and authority apportioned among men of exact adaptation, each to his position, that the whole thing appears to move like a vast and perfect machine. As a consulting engineer, Mr. Thompson's great talents are rendered useful to half the railroads of the country. His judgment, his prudence, his great regard for the safety and welfare of the traveling community, are most successfully shown in the whole history of the roads over which he at present presides He has built up and perfected the best and largest railroad in the world, the safest to travel upon, the best managed for the interests both of the stockholders and the community. In railroading he has done for the public an inestimable benefit in showing how exactly all things can be reduced to a perfect system and governed by rules equal and just to all, and at the same time inuring to the public wellfare. As long as we were east of the Alleghenies we had occasion to admire the "golden harvest" which so richly cover the fields; but as we got west of the mountain-how changed! There it was, "the copper harvest;" for that was the color presented by the grain fields. Sadly has the frost done its work! The fields, well covered, presented a dark red, rusty appearance, indicating that they were entirely ruined by the frost of the 5th of June. Pittsburg, you know, is a smoky place. The citizens, knowing this fact, take the opportunity afforded by such days as the fourth of July, to go into the country. You will be glad to learn that the Editor, as fond of rural life as any one, was fortunate to fall into the very best of hands immediately on his arrival in Pittsburg. Be it known to you then, that directly east of Pittsburg there is a lovely region of country called "the Colony," in which are located scores of the most charming country residences. Into this Paradise we were hurried in company with generous social men, cheerful ladies, and prattling children. There, at the rural residence of MR. FABER, the afternoon was spent in delightful social intercourse, and the evening in the sending off of various balloons and a grand display of fireworks. Besides, there were other things there, |
