Morning Star

MORNING STAR.

Moral Reform.

The following is the letter alluded to in the Star of last week. May it find a candid perusal. It is truth may it prove, "all-redeeming."

M. J. STEERE.

For the Morning Star.

Dear Friend Steere:—Though I have never seen you in the flesh and may never, yet I feel constrained to lift my pen to address you in behalf of the suffering sensualist, or rather in behalf of those unhappy persons who have wandered from the paths of virtue and purity and are now endeavoring to return. The drunkard may forsake his cups, the gamester his gaming, the liar his habits of falsehood, and the idle man become industrious and frugal; the cruel, merciless, unrelenting savage, a tender-hearted, forgiving Christian. I say all this and much more may be done by the power of the gospel—the force of truth operating on the conscience. These are sins which seem to operate only on the surface, not so deep, so damning, comparatively—tho' loathsome enough to a holy being. But what power in heaven or earth, shall raise the miserable victim of licentiousness—the wretch who has by his uncleanness, solitary or social, or both combined, debilitated his body, and shrouded every power of his mind? He cannot plead that he was ignorant as to the wickedness of the course which has brought him to this miserable condition, tho' he were unwarned by mortal tongue; for the Spirit, the grieved, insulted Spirit even the Spirit of truth which lighteth every man that cometh into the world, and warneth every person against the commission of sin of every kind, and especially the defilement of the body, which is the temple of the living God when kept pure and holy, did protest against this abominable course. O sir, imagine if you can, the condition of that person, who in his juvenile years was instructed by the devil and his emissaries, initiated as it were from very childhood, into the practice of self-defilement, with no dear, faithful "friend to admonish him of his danger," and lead his young soul into the paths of purity. Think of him pursuing this practice till the course of nature is changed and the habit so firmly fixed that, tho' by the grace of God he has repented and forsaken his wickedness so far as voluntary action is concerned, still the foul spirit may haunt him, destroying him soul and body. Again, think of him for a time relieved, imagining himself so restored as to be under no fears as to the return of the curse; presently, when he has fallen into some error in diet, or been called to some extra exertion, it may be in a good cause, or become the victim of unusual excitement, he is again prostrated; the withering, blighting, damning curse seizes him again—he is held in the jaws of the monster Is he a man of letters? a scholar? he finds that his mind is withering; he cannot grasp difficult subjects; he feels continually that while in this condition he is losing the power of application. Is he a farmer or mechanic, with a family to support? What bitter reflections tear his heart while feeling the loss of that strength which the God of nature designed should be expended in honest toil for the support of himself and family; how the sins of youth & of more mature years come to his remembrance, as he feels imbecility and old age creeping upon him before he has arrived at middle age! Is he a Christian and can he live? Yes, thank God, he can live and bear all, suffer all, endure all patiently, rejoicing in prospect of a better life.' He can thank the All-wise Creator that tho' he is called to suffer in consequence of the violation of his righteous laws governing his physical system, yet he can feel to give God the praise for the deliverance he has wrought within his mind, causing him to loath the iniquity which has been the cause of all his wo, and also for the hope of soon exchanging this vile body of sin for an immortal one. O, Sir, may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding that you may continue to lay the truth before the world. Nothing but truth will do this vile world any good." Do you not see thousands in the church and out of it, (ministers (!) as well as private members,) of all ranks and conditions, sinking into premature graves in consequence of the sin of uncleanness? Can any one tell how much a life is shortened by years of self-violence in the tender period of youth? Oh! the destruction of mind as well as of body: who can estimate it? Then there are the constitutional tendencies and infirmities transmitted to children by diseased parents. God have mercy on our fallen world, lest it become like Sodom and Gomorrah. I say will you not sound the alarm? and Martin Cheney too. Will he not continue to lift up his voice like a trumpet long and loud, against this damning sin? How shall this polluted land be cleansed? these corruptions, sunk so deep in depraved hearts, be rooted out? Must the reclaimed victims begin to speak out in confession and exhortation? It would make the sun blush and the moon turn pale. How would hearts sicken! Alas! thousands are now suffering in silence the penalties attending disobedience. They have been the corrupters, perhaps, as well as the corrupted, in their turn. Is it not right and just then for them to speak out and let the world profit by their sad experience? It is a pity that they should bear so much for nothing. 'Tho' some may run headlong in spite of all warning and entreaty, yet many will shun the road to ruin if instruction is given. There are many seeming inequalities here in the condition of men. Some will transgress but little comparatively and yet owing to the peculiarity of their constitutions be great sufferers, while others of more robust health and less sensitiveness, commit greater enormities and suffer but little apparently in this life. But all will be adjusted at the last judgment. Let all parents, ministers of the gospel, and all teachers of youth every where, enforce the principles of chastity and purity as they now do the other virtues; and with the divine blessing the aspect of things might be speedily changed. That there is a fearful excess of sensual indulgence among the married portion of community, is very obvious to every candid observer. How plainly do we see that the greatest blessings are by a misuse or abuse, converted into curses! Men must be trained to temperance in all things, and learn that the Creator requires nothing but what is for their highest good. now & eternally. It is sometimes, & I do not know but I may say, generally, the case with poor sinful man, that when he is beat off from one indulgence, he will go deeper into some other pit, that is, if he has not resolved on a general reform—a thorough turning to God. Many ministers and church members in different parts of the country, are but little aware of the extent of the evil now under consideration, and will not at all aid in any attempt at reform. This may appear astonishing to some, yet it is true. Nothing but truth, all redeeming truth, can do any good. But I must close. I ask no pardon for thus intruding upon your attention. I feel that the magnitude of the evil spoken of is sufficient apology. That God would enable both you and me to do all with an eye single to his glory, is the desire of the writer.

Yours in the cause of Reform.

Z.