diff options
Diffstat (limited to '25709-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 25709-8.txt | 10824 |
1 files changed, 10824 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/25709-8.txt b/25709-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9b37ef4 --- /dev/null +++ b/25709-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10824 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Practical View of the Prevailing +Religious System of Professed Christians, in the Middle and Higher Classes in this Country, Contrasted with Real Christianity., by William Wilberforce + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians, in the Middle and Higher Classes in this Country, Contrasted with Real Christianity. + +Author: William Wilberforce + +Release Date: June 6, 2008 [EBook #25709] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PROFESSED CHRISTIANS *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Shimmin, Nigel Blower, Greg Alethoup +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + A + PRACTICAL VIEW + OF THE + PREVAILING RELIGIOUS SYSTEM + OF + PROFESSED CHRISTIANS, + IN THE + HIGHER AND MIDDLE CLASSES + IN THIS + COUNTRY, + CONTRASTED WITH + REAL CHRISTIANITY. + + + By WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, Esq; +Member of Parliament for the County of York. + + +Search the Scriptures!---- JOHN, v. 39. + + How charming is DIVINE PHILOSOPHY! +Not harsh, and crabbed, as dull Fools suppose, +But Musical as is Apollo's lute, +And a perpetual feast of nectar'd sweets, +Where no crude surfeit reigns. MILTON. + + + DUBLIN: + Printed by Robert Dapper, + FOR B. DUGDALE, NO. 6, DAME-STREET. + + M.DCC.XCVII. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +It has been, for several years, the earnest wish of the writer of the +following pages to address his countrymen on the important subject of +Religion; but the various duties of his public station, and a +constitution incapable of much labour, have obstructed the execution of +his purpose. Long has he been looking forward to some vacant season, in +which he might devote his whole time and attention to this interesting +service, free from the interruption of all other concerns; and he has +the rather wished for this opportunity of undistracted and mature +reflection, from a desire that what he might send into the world might +thus be rendered less undeserving of the public eye. Meanwhile life is +wearing away, and he daily becomes more and more convinced, that he +might wait in vain for this season of complete vacancy. He must, +therefore, improve such occasional intervals of leisure as may occur to +him in the course of a busy life, and throw himself on the Reader's +indulgence for the pardon of such imperfections, as the opportunity of +undiverted and more mature attention might have enabled him to discover +and correct. + +But the plea here suggested is by no means intended as an excuse for the +opinions which he shall express, if they be found mistaken. Here, if he +be in an error, it is however a deliberate error. He would indeed +account himself unpardonable, if he were to intrude his first thoughts +upon the Public on a question of such importance; and he can truly +declare, that what he shall offer will be the result of much reading, +observation, and inquiry, and of long, serious, and repeated +consideration. + +It is not improbable that he may be accused of deviating from his proper +line, and of impertinently interfering in the concerns of a Profession +to which he does not belong. If it were necessary, however, to defend +himself against this charge, he might shelter himself under the +authority of many most respectable examples. But surely to such an +accusation it may be sufficient to reply, that it is the duty of every +man to promote the happiness of his fellow-creatures to the utmost of +his power; and that he who thinks he sees many around him, whom he +esteems and loves, labouring under a fatal error, must have a cold +heart, or a most confined notion of benevolence, if he could refrain +from endeavouring to set them right, lest in so doing he should be +accused of stepping out of his proper walk, and expose himself on that +ground to the imputation of officiousness. + +But he might also allege as a full justification, not only that Religion +is the business of every one, but that its advancement or decline in any +country is so intimately connected with the temporal interests of +society, as to render it the peculiar concern of a political man; and +that what he may presume to offer on the subject of Religion may perhaps +be perused with less jealousy and more candour, from the very +circumstance of its having been written by a Layman, which must at least +exclude the idea (an idea sometimes illiberally suggested to take off +the effect of the works of Ecclesiastics) that it is prompted by motives +of self-interest, or of professional prejudice. + +But if the writer's apology be not found in the work itself, and in his +avowed motive for undertaking it, he would in vain endeavour to satisfy +his readers by any excuses he might assign; therefore, without farther +preamble, he will proceed to the statement and execution of his +purpose. + +The main object which he has in view is, not to convince the Sceptic, or +to answer the arguments of persons who avowedly oppose the fundamental +doctrines of our Religion; but to point out the scanty and erroneous +system of the bulk of those who belong to the class of orthodox +Christians, and to contrast their defective scheme with a representation +of what the author apprehends to be real Christianity. Often has it +filled him with deep concern, to observe in this description of persons, +scarcely any distinct knowledge of the real nature and principles of the +religion which they profess. The subject is of infinite importance; let +it not be driven out of our minds by the bustle or dissipations of life. +This present scene, and all its cares and all its gaieties, will soon be +rolled away, and "we must stand before the judgment seat of Christ." +This awful consideration will prompt the writer to express himself with +greater freedom than he should otherwise be disposed to use. This +consideration he trusts, also, will justify his frankness, and will +secure him a serious and patient perusal. But it would be trespassing on +the indulgence of the reader to detain him with introductory remarks. +Let it only be farther premised, that if what shall be stated should to +any appear needlessly austere and rigid, the writer must lay in his +claim not to be condemned, without a fair inquiry whether or not his +statements accord with the language of the sacred writings. To that test +he refers with confidence; and it must be conceded by those who admit +the authority of Scripture (such only he is addressing) that from the +decision of the word of God there can be no appeal. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + Page + +INTRODUCTION. v + +CHAP. I. +_Inadequate Conceptions of the Importance of Christianity._ 1 + +CHAP. II. +_Corruption of Human Nature._ 14 + +CHAP. III. +_Chief Defects of the Religious System of the bulk of +professed Christians, in what regards our Lord Jesus Christ, +and the Holy Spirit--with a Dissertation concerning the use +of the Passions in Religion._ 43 + +CHAP. IV. +_On the prevailing inadequate Conceptions concerning the +Nature and the Strictness of Practical Christianity._ 100 + +CHAP. V. +_On the Excellence of Christianity in certain important +Particulars. Argument which results thence in Proof of its +Divine Origin._ 252 + +CHAP. VI. +_Brief Inquiry into the present State of Christianity in +this Country, with some of the Causes which have led to its +critical Circumstances. Its Importance to us as a political +Community, and practical Hints for which the foregoing +Considerations give occasion._ 262 + +CHAP. VII. +_Practical Hints to various Descriptions of Persons._ 305 + + + + +A PRACTICAL VIEW, &c. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +INADEQUATE CONCEPTIONS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIANITY. + +_Popular Notions.--Scripture Account.--Ignorance in this Case +criminal.--Two false Maxims exposed._ + + +Before we proceed to the consideration of any particular defects in the +religious system of the bulk of professed Christians, it may be proper +to point out the very inadequate conception which they entertain of the +importance of Christianity in general, of its peculiar nature, and +superior excellence. If we listen to their conversation, virtue is +praised, and vice is censured; piety is perhaps applauded, and +profaneness condemned. So far all is well. But let any one, who would +not be deceived, by these "barren generalities" examine a little more +closely, and he will find, that not to Christianity in particular, but +at best to Religion in general, perhaps to mere Morality, their homage +is intended to be paid. With Christianity, as distinct from these, they +are little acquainted; their views of it have been so cursory and +superficial, that far from discerning its characteristic essence, they +have little more than perceived those exterior circumstances which +distinguish it from other forms of Religion. There are some few facts, +and perhaps some leading doctrines and principles, of which they cannot +be wholly ignorant; but of the consequences, and relations, and +practical uses of these, they have few ideas, or none at all. + +Does this seem too strong? View their plan of life and their ordinary +conduct; and not to speak at present of their general inattention to +things of a religious nature, let us ask, wherein can we discern the +points of discrimination between them and professed unbelievers? In an +age wherein it is confessed and lamented that infidelity abounds, do we +observe in them any remarkable care to instruct their children in the +principles of the faith which they profess, and to furnish them with +arguments for the defence of it? They would blush, on their child's +coming out into the world, to think him defective in any branch of that +knowledge, or of those accomplishments which belong to his station in +life, and accordingly these are cultivated with becoming assiduity. But +he is left to collect his religion as he may; the study of Christianity +has formed no part of his education, and his attachment to it (where any +attachment to it exists at all) is, too often, not the preference of +sober reason, but merely the result of early prejudice and groundless +prepossession. He was born in a Christian country, of course he is a +Christian; his father was a member of the church of England, so is he. +When such is the hereditary religion handed down from generation to +generation, it cannot surprise us to observe young men of sense and +spirit beginning to doubt altogether of the truth of the system in which +they have been brought up, and ready to abandon a station which they are +unable to defend. Knowing Christianity chiefly in the difficulties which +it contains, and in the impossibilities which are falsely imputed to it, +they fall perhaps into the company of infidels; and, as might be +expected, they are shaken by frivolous objections and profane cavils, +which, had they been grounded and bottomed in reason and argument, would +have passed by them, "as the idle wind," and scarcely have seemed worthy +of serious notice. + +Let us beware before it be too late. No one can say into what discredit +Christianity may hereby grow, at a time when the free and unrestrained +intercourse, subsisting amongst the several ranks and classes of +society, so much favours the general diffusion of the sentiments of the +higher orders. To a similar ignorance is perhaps in no small degree to +be ascribed the success, with which Christianity has been attacked of +late years in a neighbouring country. Had she not been wholly unarmed +for the contest, however she might have been forced from her untenable +posts, and compelled to disembarrass herself from her load of +incumbrances, she never could have been driven altogether out of the +field by her puny assailants, with all their cavils, and gibes, and +sarcasms; for in these consisted the main strength of their petty +artillery. Let us beware, lest we also suffer from a like cause; nor let +it be our crime and our reproach, that in schools, perhaps even in +Colleges, Christianity is almost if not altogether neglected. + +It cannot be expected, that they who are so little attentive to this +great object in the education of their children, should be more so in +other parts of their conduct, where less strongly stimulated by +affection, and less obviously loaded with responsibility. They are of +course therefore, little regardful of the state of Christianity in their +own country; and still more indifferent about communicating the light of +divine truth to the nations which "still sit in darkness." + +But Religion, it may be replied, is not noisy and ostentatious; it is +modest and private in its nature; it resides in a man's own bosom, and +shuns the observation of the multitude. Be it so. + +From the transient and distant view then, which we have been taking of +these unassuming Christians, let us approach a little nearer, and listen +to the unreserved conversation of their confidential hours. Here, if any +where, the interior of the heart is laid open, and we may ascertain the +true principles of their regards and aversions; the scale by which they +measure the good and evil of life. Here, however, you will discover few +or no traces of Christianity. She scarcely finds herself a place amidst +the many objects of their hopes, and fears, and joys, and sorrows. +Grateful, perhaps, (as well indeed they may be grateful) for health, and +talents, and affluence, and other blessings belonging to their persons +and conditions in life, they scarcely reckon in the number this grand +distinguishing mark of the bounty of Providence; or if they mention it +at all, it is noticed coldly and formally, like one of those obsolete +claims to which, though but of small account in the estimate of our +wealth or power, we think it as well to put in our title from +considerations of family decorum or of national usage. + +But what more than all the rest establishes the point in question: let +their conversation take a graver turn: here at length their religion, +modest and retired as it is, must be expected to disclose itself; here +however you will look in vain for the religion of Jesus. Their standard +of right and wrong is not the standard of the gospel: they approve and +condemn by a different rule; they advance principles and maintain +opinions altogether opposite to the genius and character of +Christianity. You would fancy yourself rather amongst the followers of +the old philosophy; nor is it easy to guess how any one could satisfy +himself to the contrary, unless, by mentioning the name of some +acknowledged heretic, he should afford them an occasion of demonstrating +their zeal for the religion of their country. + +The truth is, their opinions on these subjects are not formed from the +perusal of the word of God. The Bible lies on the shelf unopened; and +they would be wholly ignorant of its contents, except for what they hear +occasionally at church, or for the faint traces which their memories may +still retain of the lessons of their earliest infancy. + +How different, nay, in many respects, how contradictory, would be the +two systems of mere morals, of which the one should be formed from the +commonly received maxims of the Christian world, and the other from the +study of the Holy Scriptures! it would be curious to remark in any one, +who had hitherto satisfied himself with the former, the astonishment +which would be excited on his first introduction to the latter. We are +not left here to bare conjecture. This was, in fact, the effect produced +on the mind of a late ingenious writer[1], of whose little work, though +it bears perhaps some marks of his customary love of paradox, we must at +least confess, that it exposes, in a strong point of view, the _poverty_ +of that superficial religion which has been above condemned; and that it +every where displays that happy perspicuity, and grace, which so +eminently characterize all the compositions of its author. But after +this willing tribute of commendation, we are reluctantly compelled to +remark, that the work in question discredits the cause which it was +meant to serve, by many crude and extravagant positions; from which no +one can be secure who forms a hasty judgment of a deep and comprehensive +subject, the several bearings and relations of which have been +imperfectly surveyed; and above all, it must be lamented, that it treats +the great question which it professes to discuss, rather as a matter of +mere speculation, than as one wherein our everlasting interests are +involved. Surely the writer's object should have been, to convince his +readers of their guilt still more than of their ignorance, and to leave +them impressed rather with a sense of their danger than of their folly. + +It were almost a waste of time to multiply arguments in order to prove +how criminal the voluntary ignorance, of which we have been speaking, +must appear in the sight of God. It must be confessed by all who believe +that we are accountable creatures, and to such only the writer is +addressing himself, that we shall have to answer hereafter to the +Almighty for all the means and occasions we have here enjoyed of +improving ourselves, or of promoting the happiness of others. And if, +when summoned to give an account of our stewardship, we shall be called +upon to answer for the use which we have made of our bodily organs, and +of the means of relieving the wants and necessities of our fellow +creatures; how much more for the exercise of the nobler and more exalted +faculties of our nature, of invention, and judgment, and memory; and for +our employment of all the instruments and opportunities of diligent +application, and serious reflection, and honest decision. And to what +subject might we in all reason be expected to apply more earnestly, than +to that wherein our eternal interests are at issue? When God has of his +goodness vouchsafed to grant us such abundant means of instruction in +that which we are most concerned to know, how great must be the guilt, +and how aweful the punishment of voluntary ignorance! + +And why, it may be asked, are we in this pursuit alone to expect +knowledge without inquiry, and success without endeavour? The whole +analogy of nature inculcates on us a different lesson, and our own +judgments in matters of temporal interests and worldly policy confirm +the truth of her suggestions. Bountiful as is the hand of Providence, +its gifts are not so bestowed as to seduce us into indolence, but to +rouse us to exertion; and no one expects to attain to the height of +learning, or arts, or power, or wealth, or military glory, without +vigorous resolution, and strenuous diligence, and steady perseverance. +Yet we expect to be Christians without labour, study, or inquiry. This +is the more preposterous, because Christianity, being a revelation from +God, and not the invention of man, discovering to us new relations, with +their correspondent duties; containing also doctrines, and motives, and +practical principles, and rules, peculiar to itself, and almost as new +in their nature as supreme in their excellence, we cannot reasonably +expect to become proficients in it by the accidental intercourses of +life, as one might learn insensibly the maxims of worldly policy, or a +scheme of mere morals. + +The diligent perusal of the Holy Scriptures would discover to us our +past ignorance. We should cease to be deceived by superficial +appearances, and to confound the Gospel of Christ with the systems of +philosophers; we should become impressed with that weighty truth, so +much forgotten, and never to be too strongly insisted on, that +Christianity calls on us, as we value our immortal souls, not merely in +_general_, to be _religious_ and _moral_, but _specially_ to believe the +doctrines, and imbibe the principles, and practise the precepts of +Christ. It might be to run into too great length to confirm this +position beyond dispute by express quotations from Scripture. And (not +to anticipate what belongs more properly to a subsequent part of the +work) it may be sufficient here to remark in general, that Christianity +is always represented in Scripture as the grand, the unparalleled +instance of God's bounty to mankind. It was graciously held forth in the +original promise to our first parents; it was predicted by a long +continued series of prophets; the subject of their prayers, inquiries, +and longing expectations. In a world, which opposed and persecuted them, +it was their source of peace, and hope, and consolation. At length it +approached--the Desire of all Nations--The long expected Star announced +its presence--A multitude of the heavenly host hailed its introduction, +and proclaimed its character; "Glory to God in the highest, on earth +peace, good will towards men." It is every where represented in +scripture by such figures as may most deeply impress on us a sense of +its value; it is spoken of as light from darkness, as release from +prison, as deliverance from captivity, as life from death. "Lord, now +lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy +salvation," was the exclamation with which it was welcomed by the pious +Simeon; and it was universally received and professed among the early +converts with thankfulness and joy. At one time, the communication of it +is promised as a reward; at another, the loss of it is threatened as a +punishment. And, short as is the form of prayer taught us by our blessed +Saviour, the more general extension of the kingdom of Christ constitutes +one of its leading petitions. + +With what exalted conceptions of the importance of Christianity ought we +to be filled by such descriptions as these? Yet, in vain have we "line +upon line and precept upon precept."--Thus predicted, thus prayed and +longed for, thus announced and characterized and rejoiced in, this +heavenly treasure poured into our lap in rich abundance we scarce +accept. We turn from it coldly, or at best possess it negligently, as a +thing of no account or estimation. But a due sense of its value would be +assuredly impressed on us by the diligent study of the word of God, that +blessed repository of divine truth and consolation. Thence it is that +we are to learn our obligations and our duty, what we are to believe and +what to practise. And, surely, one would think it could not be required +to press men to the perusal of the sacred volume. Reason dictates, +Revelation commands; "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of +God."--"Search the Scriptures,"--"Be ready to give to every one a reason +of the hope that is in you." Such are the declarations and injunctions +of the inspired writers; injunctions confirmed by commendations of those +who obey the admonition. Yet, is it not undeniable that with the Bible +in our houses, we are ignorant of its contents; and that hence, in a +great measure, it arises, that the bulk of the Christian world know so +little, and mistake so greatly, in what regards the religion which they +profess? + +This is not the place for inquiring at large, whence it is that those +who assent to the position, that the Bible is the word of God, and who +profess to rest their hopes on the Christian basis, contentedly +acquiesce in a state of such lamentable ignorance. But it may not be +improper here to touch on two kindred opinions, from which, in the minds +of the more thoughtful and serious, this acquiescence appears to derive +much secret support. The one is, that it signifies little what a man +believes; _look to his practice_. The other (of the same family) _that +sincerity is all in all_. Let a man's opinions and conduct be what they +may, yet, provided he be sincerely convinced that they are right, +however the exigencies of civil society may require him to be dealt with +amongst men, in the sight of God he cannot be criminal. + +It would detain us too long fully to set forth the various merits of +these favourite positions, of which it is surely not the smallest +excellence, that they are of unbounded application, comprehending within +their capacious limits, all the errors which have been believed, and +many of the most desperate crimes which have been perpetrated among men. +The former of them is founded altogether on that grossly fallacious +assumption, that a man's opinions will not influence his practice. The +latter proceeds on this groundless supposition, that the Supreme Being +has not afforded us sufficient means of discriminating truth from +falsehood, right from wrong: and it implies, that be a man's opinions or +conduct ever so wild and extravagant, we are to presume, that they are +as much the result of impartial inquiry and honest conviction, as if his +sentiments and actions had been strictly conformable to the rules of +reason and sobriety. Never indeed was there a principle more general in +its use, more sovereign in its potency. How does its beautiful +simplicity also, and compendious brevity, give it rank before the +laborious subtleties of Bellarmine! Clement, and Ravaillac, and other +worthies of a similar stamp, from whose purity of intention the world +has hitherto withheld its due tribute of applause, would here have found +a ready plea; and their injured innocence shall now at length receive +its full though tardy vindication. "These however," it may be replied, +"are excepted cases." Certainly they are cases of which any one who +maintains the opinion in question would be glad to disencumber himself; +because they clearly expose the unsoundness of his principle. But it +will be incumbent on such an one, first to explain with precision why +they are to be exempted from its operation, and this he will find an +impossible task; for sincerity, in its popular sense, so shamefully is +the term misapplied, can be made the criterion of guilt and innocence on +no grounds, which will not equally serve to justify the assassins who +have been instanced. The conclusion cannot be eluded; no man was ever +more fully persuaded of the innocence of any action, than these men +were, that the horrid deed they were about to perpetrate was not lawful +merely, but highly meritorious. Thus Clement and Ravaillac being +unquestionably sincere, they were therefore indubitably innocent. Nay, +the absurdity of this principle might be shewn to be even greater than +what has yet been stated. It would not be going too far to assert, that +whilst it scorns the defence of petty villains, of those who still +retain the sense of good and evil, it holds forth, like some well +frequented sanctuary, a secure asylum to those more finished criminals, +who, from long habits of wickedness, are lost alike to the perception as +to the practice of virtue; and that it selects a seared conscience and a +heart become callous to all moral distinctions as the special objects of +its care. Nor is it only in prophane history that instances like these +are to be found, of persons committing the greatest crimes with a +sincere conviction of the rectitude of their conduct. Scripture will +afford us parallels; and it was surely to guard us against the very +error which we have been now exposing, that our blessed Saviour +forewarned his disciples: "The time cometh, that whosoever killeth you +will think that he doeth God service." + +A principle like this must then be abandoned, and the advocates for +sincerity must be compelled to restore this abused term to its genuine +signification, and to acknowledge that it must imply honesty of mind, +and the faithful use of the means of knowledge and of improvement, the +desire of being instructed, humble inquiry, impartial consideration, and +unprejudiced judgment. It is to these we would earnestly call you; to +these (ever to be accompanied with fervent prayers for the divine +blessing) Scripture every where holds forth the most animating promises. +"Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be +opened unto you; Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters;" +such are the comfortable assurances, such the gracious encouragements to +the truly sincere inquirer. How deep will be our guilt if we slight all +these benevolent offers. "How many prophets and kings have desired to +hear the things that we hear, and have not heard them!" Great indeed are +our opportunities, great also is our responsibility. Let us awaken to a +true sense of our situation. We have every consideration to alarm our +fears, or to animate our industry. How soon may the brightness of our +meridian sun be darkened! Or, should the long suffering of God still +continue to us the mercies which we so much abuse, it will only +aggravate our crime, and in the end enhance our punishment. The time of +reckoning will at length arrive. And when finally summoned to the bar of +God, to give an account of our stewardship, what plea can we have to +urge in our defence, if we remain willingly and obstinately ignorant of +the way which leads to life, with such transcendent means of knowing it, +and such urgent motives to its pursuit? + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +CORRUPTION OF HUMAN NATURE. + + +SECT. I. + +_Inadequate Conceptions of the Corruption of Human Nature._ + +After considering the defective notions of the importance of +Christianity _in general_, which prevail among the higher orders of the +Christian world, the particular misconceptions which first come under +our notice respect the corruption and weakness of human nature. This is +a topic on which it is possible that many of those, into whose hands the +present work shall fall, may not have bestowed much attention. If the +case be so, it may be requisite to intreat them to lend a patient and a +serious ear. The subject is of the deepest import. We should not go too +far if we were to assert, that it lies at the very root of all true +Religion, and still more, that it is eminently the basis and ground-work +of Christianity. + +So far as the writer has had an opportunity of remarking, the generality +of professed Christians among the higher classes, either altogether +overlook or deny, or at least greatly extenuate the corruption and +weakness here in question. They acknowledge indeed that there is, and +ever has been in the world, a great portion of vice and wickedness; that +mankind have been ever prone to sensuality and selfishness, in +disobedience to the more refined and liberal principles of their nature; +that in all ages and countries, in public and in private life, +innumerable instances have been afforded of oppression, of rapacity, of +cruelty, of fraud, of envy, and of malice. They own that it is too often +in vain that you inform the understanding, and convince the judgment. +They admit that you do not thereby reform the hearts of men. Though they +_know_ their duty, they will not practice it; no not even when you have +forced them to acknowledge that the path of virtue is that also of real +interest, and of solid enjoyment. + +These facts are certain; they cannot be disputed; and they are at the +same time so obvious, that one would have thought that the celebrated +apophthegm of the Grecian sage, "the majority are wicked," would +scarcely have established his claim to intellectual superiority. + +But though these effects of human depravity are every where acknowledged +and lamented, we must not expect to find them traced to their true +origin. + + Causa latet, vis est notissima. + +Prepare yourself to hear rather of frailty and infirmity, of petty +transgressions, of occasional failings, of sudden surprisals, and of +such other qualifying terms as may serve to keep out of view the true +source of the evil, and without shocking the understanding, may +administer consolation to the pride of human nature. The bulk of +professed Christians are used to speak of man as of a being, who, +naturally pure, and inclined to all virtue, is sometimes, almost +involuntary, drawn out of the right course, or is overpowered by the +violence of temptation. Vice with them is rather an accidental and +temporary, than a constitutional and habitual distemper; a noxious +plant, which, though found to live and even to thrive in the human mind, +is not the natural growth and production of the soil. + +Far different is the humiliating language of Christianity. From it we +learn that man is an apostate creature, fallen from his high original, +degraded in his nature, and depraved in his faculties; indisposed to +good, and disposed to evil; prone to vice, it is natural and easy to +him; disinclined to virtue, it is difficult and laborious; that he is +tainted with sin, not slightly and superficially, but radically and to +the very core. These are truths which, however mortifying to our pride, +one would think (if this very corruption itself did not warp the +judgment) none would be hardy enough to attempt to controvert. I know +not any thing which brings them home so forcibly to my own feelings, as +the consideration of what still remains to us of our primitive dignity, +when contrasted with our present state of moral degradation, + + "Into what depth thou seest, + From what height fallen." + +Examine first with attention the natural powers and faculties of man! +invention, reason, judgment, memory; a mind "of large discourse," +"looking before and after," reviewing the past, and thence determining +for the present, and anticipating the future; discerning, collecting, +combining, comparing; capable not merely of apprehending but of admiring +the beauty of moral excellence: with fear and hope to warn and animate; +with joy and sorrow to solace and soften; with love to attach, with +sympathy to harmonize, with courage to attempt, with patience to endure, +and with the power of conscience, that faithful monitor within the +breast, to enforce the conclusions of reason, and direct and regulate +the passions of the soul. Truly we must pronounce him "majestic though +in ruin." "Happy, happy world," would be the exclamation of the +inhabitant of some other planet, on being told of a globe like ours, +peopled with such creatures as these, and abounding with situations and +occasions to call forth the multiplied excellencies of their nature. +"Happy, happy world, with what delight must your great Creator and +Governor witness your conduct, and what large and merited rewards await +you when your term of probation shall have expired. + + "I, bone, quo virtus tua te vocat, i pede fausto, + Grandia laturus meritorum præmia." + +But we have indulged too long in these delightful speculations; a sad +reverse presents itself on our survey of the _actual_ state of man, +when, from viewing his _natural_ powers, we follow him into _practice_, +and see the uses to which he applies them. Take in the whole of the +prospect, view him in every age, and climate, and nation, in every +condition and period of society. Where now do you discover the +characters of his exalted nature? "How is the gold become dim, and the +fine gold changed?" How is his reason clouded, his affections +perverted; his conscience stupified! How do anger, and envy, and +hatred, and revenge, spring up in his wretched bosom! How is he a slave +to the meanest of his appetites! What fatal propensities does he +discover to evil! What inaptitude to good! + +Dwell awhile on the state of the ancient world; not merely on that +benighted part of it where all lay buried in brutish ignorance and +barbarism, but on the seats of civilized and polished nations, on the +empire of taste, and learning, and philosophy: yet in these chosen +regions, with whatever lustre the sun of science poured forth its rays, +the moral darkness was so thick "that it might be felt." Behold their +sottish idolatries, their absurd superstitions, their want of natural +affection, their brutal excesses, their unfeeling oppression, their +savage cruelty! Look not to the illiterate and the vulgar, but to the +learned and refined. Form not your ideas from the conduct of the less +restrained and more licentious; you will turn away with disgust and +shame from the allowed and familiar habits of the decent and the moral. +St. Paul best states the facts, and furnishes the explanation; "because +they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, he gave them over to +a reprobate mind[2]." + +Now direct your view to another quarter, to the inhabitants of a new +hemisphere, where the baneful practices and contagious example of the +old world had never travelled. Surely, among these children of nature we +may expect to find those virtuous tendencies, for which we have hitherto +looked in vain. Alas! our search will still be fruitless! They are +represented by the historian of America, whose account is more +favourable than those of some other great authorities, as being a +compound of pride, and indolence, and selfishness, and cunning, and +cruelty[3]; full of a revenge which nothing could satiate, of a ferocity +which nothing could soften; strangers to the most amiable sensibilities +of nature[4]. They appeared incapable of conjugal affection, or parental +fondness, or filial reverence, or social attachments; uniting too with +their state of barbarism, many of the vices and weaknesses of polished +society. Their horrid treatment of captives taken in war, on whose +bodies they feasted, after putting them to death by the most cruel +tortures, is so well known, that we may spare the disgusting recital. No +commendable qualities relieve this gloomy picture, except fortitude, and +perseverance, and zeal for the welfare of their little community; if +this last quality, exercised and directed as it was, can be thought +deserving of commendation. + +But you give up the heathen nations as indefensible, and wish rather to +form your estimate of man from a view of countries which have been +blessed with the light of revelation.--True it is, and with joy let us +record the concession, Christianity has set the general tone of morals +much higher than it was ever found in the Pagan world. She has every +where improved the character and multiplied the comforts of society, +particularly to the poor and the weak, whom from the beginning she +professed to take under her special patronage. Like her divine Author, +"who sends his rain on the evil and on the good," she showers down +unnumbered blessings on thousands who profit from her bounty, while they +forget or deny her power, and set at nought her authority. Yet even in +this more favoured situation we shall discover too many lamentable +proofs of the depravity of man. Nay, this depravity will now become even +more apparent and less deniable. For what bars does it not now overleap? +Over what motives is it not now victorious? Consider well the superior +light and advantages which we enjoy, and then appreciate the superior +obligations which are imposed on us. Consider in how many cases our evil +propensities are now kept from breaking forth, by the superior +restraints under which vice is laid among us by positive laws, and by +the amended standard of public opinion; and we may be assisted in +conjecturing what force is to be assigned to these motives, by the +dreadful proofs which have been lately exhibited in a neighbouring +country, that when their influence is withdrawn, the most atrocious +crimes can be perpetrated shamelessly and in the face of day. Consider +then the superior excellence of our moral code, the new principles of +obedience furnished by the gospel, and above all, the awful sanction +which the doctrines and precepts of Christianity derive from the clear +discovery of a future state of retribution, and from the annunciation of +that tremendous day, "when we shall stand before the judgment seat of +Christ." Yet, in spite of all our knowledge thus enforced and pressed +home by this solemn notice, how little has been our progress in virtue? +It has been by no means such as to prevent the adoption, in our days, of +various maxims of antiquity, which, when well considered, too clearly +establish the depravity of man. It may not be amiss to adduce a few +instances in proof of this assertion. It is now no less acknowledged +than heretofore, that prosperity hardens the heart: that unlimited power +is ever abused, instead of being rendered the instrument of diffusing +happiness: that habits of vice grow up of themselves, whilst those of +virtue, if to be obtained at all, are of slow and difficult formation; +that they who draw the finest pictures of virtue, and seem most +enamoured of her charms, are often the least under her influence, and by +the merest trifles are drawn aside from that line of conduct, which they +most strongly and seriously recommend to others, that all this takes +place, though most of the pleasures of vice are to be found with less +alloy in the paths of virtue; whilst at the same time, these paths +afford superior and more exquisite delights, peculiar to themselves, and +are free from the diseases and bitter remorse, at the price of which +vicious gratifications are so often purchased. + +It may suffice to touch very slightly on some other arguments, which it +would hardly be right to leave altogether unnoticed: one of these (the +justice of which, however denied by superficial moralists, parents of +strict principles can abundantly testify) may be drawn from the perverse +and froward dispositions perceivable in children, which it is the +business and sometimes the ineffectual attempt of education to reform. +Another may be drawn from the various deceits we are apt to practice on +ourselves, to which no one can be a stranger, who has ever contemplated +the operations of his own mind with serious attention. To the influence +of this species of corruption it has been in a great degree owing, that +Christianity itself has been too often disgraced. It has been turned +into an engine of cruelty, and amidst the bitterness of persecution, +every trace has disappeared of the mild and beneficent spirit of the +religion of Jesus. In what degree must the taint have worked itself into +the frame, and have corrupted the habit, when the most wholesome +nutriment can be thus converted into the deadliest poison! Wishing +always to argue from such premises as are not only really sound, but +from such as cannot even be questioned by those to whom this work is +addressed, little was said in representing the deplorable state of the +Heathen world, respecting their defective and unworthy conceptions in +what regards the Supreme Being, who even then however "left not himself +without witness, but gave them rain and fruitful seasons, filling their +hearts with food and gladness." But surely to any who call themselves +Christians, it may be justly urged as an astonishing instance of human +depravity, that we ourselves, who enjoy the full light of revelation; to +whom God has vouchsafed such clear discoveries of what it concerns us to +know of his being and attributes; who profess to believe "that in him we +live, and move, and have our being;" that to him we owe all the comforts +we here enjoy, and the offer of eternal Glory purchased for us by the +atoning blood of his own Son; ("thanks be to God for his unspeakable +gift,") that we, thus loaded with mercies, should every one of us be +continually chargeable with forgetting his authority, and being +ungrateful for his benefits; with slighting his gracious proposals, or +receiving them at best but heartlessly and coldly. + +But to put the question concerning the natural depravity of man to the +severest test: take the best of the human species, the watchful diligent +self-denying Christian, and let _him_ decide the controversy; and that, +not by inferences drawn from the practices of a thoughtless and +dissolute world, but by an appeal to his personal experience. Go with +him into his closet, ask him _his_ opinion of the corruption of the +heart, and he will tell you that he is deeply sensible of its power, for +that he has learned it from much self-observation and long acquaintance +with the workings of his own mind. He will tell you, that every day +strengthens this conviction; yea, that hourly he sees fresh reason to +deplore his want of simplicity in intention, his infirmity of purpose, +his low views, his selfish unworthy desires, his backwardness to set +about his duty, his languor and coldness in performing it: that he +finds himself obliged continually to confess, that he feels within him +two opposite principles, and that "he cannot do the things that he +would." He cries out in the language of the excellent Hooker, "The +little fruit which we have in holiness, it is, God knoweth, corrupt and +unsound: we put no confidence at all in it, we challenge nothing in the +world for it, we dare not call God to reckoning, as if we had him in our +debt books; our continual suit to him is, and must be, to bear with our +infirmities, and pardon our offences." + +Such is the moral history, such the condition of man. The figures of the +piece may vary, and the colouring is sometimes of a darker, sometimes of +a lighter hue; but the principles of the composition, the grand +outlines, are every where the same. Wherever we direct our view, we +discover the melancholy proofs of our depravity; whether we look to +ancient or modern times, to barbarous or civilized nations, to the +conduct of the world around us, or to the monitor within the breast; +whether we read, or hear, or act, or think, or feel, the same +humiliating lesson is forced upon us, + + Juppiter est quodcunque vides, quocunque moveris. + +Now when we look back to the picture which was formerly drawn of the +_natural powers_ of man, and compare this his _actual_ state with that +for which, from a consideration of those powers, he seems to have been +originally calculated, how are we to account for the astonishing +contrast! will frailty or infirmity, or occasional lapses, or sudden +surprisals, or any such qualifying terms, convey an adequate idea of the +nature, or point out the cause of the distemper? How, on any principles +of common reasoning, can we account for it, but by conceiving that man, +since he came out of the hands of his Creator, has contracted a taint, +and that the venom of this subtle poison has been communicated +throughout the race of Adam, every where exhibiting incontestible marks +of its fatal malignity? Hence it has arisen, that the appetites deriving +new strength, and the powers of reason and conscience being weakened, +the latter have feebly and impotently pleaded against those forbidden +indulgences which the former have solicited. Sensual gratifications and +illicit affections have debased our nobler powers, and indisposed our +hearts to the discovery of God, and to the consideration of his +perfections; to a constant willing submission to his authority, and +obedience to his laws. By a repetition of vicious acts, evil habits have +been formed within us, and have rivetted the fetters of sin. Left to the +consequences of our own folly, the understanding has grown darker, and +the heart more obdurate; reason has at length altogether betrayed her +trust, and even conscience herself has aided the delusion, till, instead +of deploring our miserable slavery, we have too often hugged, and even +gloried in our chains. + +Such is the general account of the progress of vice, where it is +suffered to attain to its full growth in the human heart. The +circumstances of individuals will be found indeed to differ; the +servitude of some, if it may be allowed us to continue a figure so +exactly descriptive of the case, is more rigorous than that of others, +their bonds more galling, their degradation more complete. Some too (it +will be remembered that we are speaking of the natural state of man, +without taking Christianity into question) have for a while appeared +almost to have escaped from their confinement; but none are altogether +free; all without exception, in a greater or less degree bear about +them, more visible or more concealed, the ignominious marks of their +captivity. + +Such on a full and fair investigation must be confessed to be the state +of facts; and how can this be accounted for on any other supposition, +than that of some original taint, some radical principle of corruption? +All other solutions are unsatisfactory, whilst the potent cause which +has been assigned, does abundantly, and can alone sufficiently account +for the effect. Thus then it appears, that the corruption of human +nature is proved by the same mode of reasoning, as has been deemed +conclusive in establishing the existence, and ascertaining the laws of +the principle of gravitation: that the doctrine rests on the same solid +basis as the sublime philosophy of Newton: that it is not a mere +speculation, and therefore an uncertain though perhaps an ingenious +theory, but the sure result of large and actual experiment; deduced from +incontestable facts, and still more fully approving its truth by +harmonizing with the several parts and accounting for the various +phænomena, jarring otherwise and inexplicable, of the great system of +the universe. + +Revelation, however, here comes in, and sustains the fallible +conjectures of our unassisted reason. The Holy Scriptures speak of us as +fallen creatures: in almost every page we shall find something that is +calculated to abate the loftiness and silence the pretensions of man. +"The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." "What is man, +that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should +be righteous[5]." "How much more abominable and filthy is man, which +drinketh iniquity like water[6]?" "The Lord looked down from heaven upon +the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and +seek God. They are all gone aside; they are altogether become filthy: +there is none that doeth good, no not one[7]." "Who can say, I have made +my heart clean, I am pure from my sin[8]?" "The _heart_ is deceitful +above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it." "Behold, I +was shapen in wickedness, and in sin hath my mother conceived me." "We +were by nature the children of wrath, even as others, fulfilling the +desires of the flesh and of the mind." "O wretched man that I am, who +shall deliver me from the body of this death!"--Passages might be +multiplied upon passages, which speak the same language, and these again +might be illustrated and confirmed at large by various other +considerations, drawn from the same sacred source; such as those which +represent a thorough change, a renovation of our nature, as being +necessary to our becoming true Christians; or as those also which are +suggested by observing that holy men refer their good dispositions and +affections to the immediate agency of the Supreme Being. + + +SECTION II. + +_Evil Spirit.--Natural State of Man._ + +But in addition to all which has been yet stated, the word of God +instructs us that we have to contend not only with our own natural +depravity, but with the power of darkness, the Evil Spirit, who rules in +the hearts of the wicked, and whose dominion we learn from Scripture to +be so general, as to entitle him to the denomination of "the Prince of +this world." There cannot be a stronger proof of the difference which +exists between the religious system of the Scriptures, and that of the +bulk of nominal Christians, than the proof which is afforded by the +subject now in question. The existence and agency of the Evil Spirit, +though so distinctly and repeatedly affirmed in Scripture, are almost +universally exploded in a country which professes to admit the authority +of the sacred volume. Some other Doctrines of Revelation, the force and +real meaning of which are commonly in a great degree explained away, are +yet conceded in general terms. But this seems almost by universal +consent to have been abandoned, as a post no longer tenable. It is +regarded as an evanescent prejudice, which it would now be a discredit +to any man of understanding to believe. Like ghosts and witches and +other phantoms, which haunted the night of superstition, it cannot in +these more enlightened times stand the test of our severer scrutiny. To +be suffered to pass away quietly, is as much as it can hope for; and it +might rather expect to be laughed off the stage as a just object of +contempt and derision. + +But although the Scripture doctrine concerning the Evil Spirit is thus +generally exploded, yet were we to consider the matter seriously and +fairly, we should probably find ground for believing that there is no +better reason for its being abandoned, than that many absurd stories, +concerning spirits and apparitions, have been used to be believed and +propagated amongst weak and credulous people; and that the Evil Spirit +not being the object of our bodily eyes, it would be an instance of the +same weakness to give credit to the doctrine of its existence and +agency. But to be consistent with ourselves, we might almost as well, on +the same principle, deny the reality of all other incorporeal beings. +What is there, in truth, in the doctrine, which is in itself improbable, +or which is not confirmed by analogy? We see, in fact, that there are +wicked men, enemies to God, and malignant towards their fellow +creatures, who take pleasure, and often succeed, in drawing in others to +the commission of evil. Why then should it be deemed incredible, that +there may be one or more spiritual intelligences of similar natures and +propensities, who may in like manner be permitted to tempt men to the +practice of sin? Surely we may retort upon our opponents the charge of +absurdity, and justly accuse them of gross inconsistency, in admitting, +without difficulty, the existence and operation of these qualities in a +material being, and yet denying them in an immaterial one (in direct +contradiction to the authority of Scripture, which they allow to be +conclusive) when they cannot, and will not pretend for a moment, that +there is any thing belonging to the nature of matter, to which these +qualities naturally adhere. + +But to dilate no farther on a topic which, however it may excite the +ridicule of the inconsiderate, will suggest matter of furious +apprehension to all who form their opinions on the authority of the word +of God: thus brought as we are into captivity, and exposed to danger; +depraved and weakened within, and tempted from without, it might well +fill our hearts with anxiety to reflect, "that the day will come," when +"the Heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall +melt with fervent heat;" "when the dead, small and great, shall stand +before the tribunal of God;" and we shall have to give account of all +things done in the body. We are naturally prompted to turn over the page +of revelation with solicitude, in order to discover the qualities and +character of our Judge, and the probable principles of his +determination; but this only serves to turn painful apprehension into +fixed and certain terror.--First of the qualities of our Judge. As all +nature bears witness to his irresistible power, so we read in Scripture +that nothing can escape his observation, or elude his discovery; not our +actions only, but our most secret cogitations are open to his view. "He +is about our path and about our bed, and spieth out all our ways[9]." +"The Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations +of the thoughts[10]."--"And he will bring to light the hidden things of +darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart." + +Now, hear his description and character and the rule of his award: "The +Lord our God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God."--"He is of purer +eyes than to behold iniquity."--"The soul that sinneth, it shall +die."--"The wages of sin is death." These positive declarations are +enforced by the accounts which, for our warning, we read in sacred +history, of the terrible vengeance of the Almighty: His punishment "the +angels who kept not their first estate, and whom he hath reserved in +everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day:" +The fate of Sodom and Gomorrah; the sentence issued against the +idolatrous nations of Canaan, and of which the execution was assigned to +the Israelites, by the express command of God, at their own peril in +case of disobedience: The ruin of Babylon, and of Tyre, and of Nineveh, +and of Jerusalem, prophetically denounced as the punishment of their +crimes, and taking place in an exact and terrible accordance with the +divine predictions. These are indeed matter of awful perusal, sufficient +surely to confound the fallacious confidence of any who, on the ground +that our Creator must be aware of our natural weakness, and must be of +course disposed to allow for it, should alledge that, though unable +indeed to justify ourselves in the sight of God, we need not give way to +such gloomy apprehensions, but might throw ourselves, with assured hope, +on the infinite benevolence of the Supreme Being. It is indeed true, +that with the threatenings of the word of God, there are mixed many +gracious declarations of pardon, on repentance, and thorough amendment. +But, alas! which of us is there, whose conscience must not reproach him +with having trifled with the long-suffering of God, and with having but +ill kept the resolutions of amendment, which he had some time or other +formed in the seasons of recollection and remorse?--And how is the +disquietude naturally excited by such a retrospect, confirmed and +heightened by passages like these? "Because I have called, and ye +refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have +set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; I also will +laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh: when your +fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; +when distress and anguish cometh upon you: then shall they call upon me, +but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find +me: for that they hated knowledge, and did not chuse the fear of the +Lord[11]." The apprehensions, which must be excited by thus reading the +recorded judgments and awful language of Scripture, are confirmed to the +inquisitive and attentive mind, by a close observation of the moral +constitution of the world. Such a one will find occasion to remark, that +all, which has been suggested of the final consequences of vice, is in +strict analogy to what we may observe in the ordinary course of human +affairs, wherein it will appear, on a careful survey, that God has so +assigned to things their general tendencies, and established such an +order of causes and effects, as (however interrupted here below by +hindrances and obstructions apparently of a temporary nature) loudly +proclaim the principles of his moral government, and strongly suggest, +that vice and imprudence will finally terminate in misery[12]. Not that +this species of proof was wanted; for that which we must acknowledge, on +weighing the evidence, to be a revelation from God, requires not the aid +of such a confirmation: but yet, as this accordance might be expected +between the words and the works, the past and the future ordinations of +the same Almighty Being, it is no idle speculation to remark, that the +visible constitution of things in the world around us, falls in with the +representations here given from Scripture of the dreadful consequences +of vice, nay even of what is commonly termed inconsiderateness and +imprudence. + +If such then be indeed our sad condition, what is to be done? Is there +no hope? Nothing left for us, "but a fearful looking for of judgment, +and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries[13]?" Blessed +be God! we are not shut up irrecoverably in this sad condition: "Turn +you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope;" hear one who proclaims +his designation, "to heal the broken-hearted, to preach liberty to the +captives, and recovering of sight to the blind." They who have formed a +true notion of their lost and helpless state, will most gladly listen to +the sound, and most justly estimate the value of such a deliverance. And +this is the cause, which renders it of such pressing moment not to pass +cursorily over those important topics of the original and superinduced +corruption, and weakness of man; a discussion painful and humiliating +to the pride of human nature, to which the mind lends itself with +difficulty, and hearkens with a mixture of anger and disgust; but well +suited to our case, and like the distasteful lessons of adversity, +permanently useful in its consequences. It is here, never let it be +forgotten, that our foundation must be laid; otherwise our +superstructure, whatever we may think of it, will one day or other prove +tottering and insecure. This is therefore no metaphysical speculation, +but a practical matter: Slight and superficial conceptions of our state +of natural degradation, and of our insufficiency to recover from it of +ourselves, fall in too well with our natural inconsiderateness, and +produce that fatal insensibility to the divine warning to "flee from the +wrath to come," which we cannot but observe to prevail so generally. +Having no due sense of the malignity of our disease, and of its dreadful +issue, we do not set ourselves to work in earnest to obtain the remedy, +as to a business arduous indeed, but indispensable: for it must ever be +carefully remembered, that this deliverance is not _forced on us_, but +_offered to us_; we are furnished indeed with every help, and are always +to bear in mind, that we are unable of ourselves to will or to do +rightly; but we are plainly admonished to "work out our own salvation +with fear and trembling[14]."--Watchful, for we are encompassed with +dangers; "putting on the whole armour of God," for "we are beset with +enemies." + +May we be enabled to shake off that lethargy which is so apt to creep +upon us! For this end, a deep practical conviction of our natural +depravity and weakness will be found of eminent advantage. As it is by +this we must at first be rouzed from our fallacious security, so by this +we must be kept wakeful and active unto the end. Let us therefore make +it our business to have this doctrine firmly seated in our +understandings, and radically worked into our hearts. With a view to the +former of these objects, we should often seriously and attentively +consider the firm grounds on which it rests. It is plainly made known to +us by the light of nature, and irresistibly enforced on us by the +dictates of our unassisted understandings. But lest there should be any +so obstinately dull, as not to discern the force of the evidence +suggested to our reason, and confirmed by all experience, or rather so +heedless as not to notice it, the authoritative stamp of Revelation is +superadded, as we have seen, to complete the proof; and we must +therefore be altogether inexcusable, if we still remain unconvinced by +such accumulated mass of argument. + +But we must not only _assent_ to the doctrine clearly, but _feel_ it +strongly. To this end, let the power of habit be called in to our aid. +Let us accustom ourselves to refer to our natural depravity, as to their +primary cause, the sad instances of vice and folly of which we read, or +which we see around us, or to which we feel the propensities in our own +bosoms; ever vigilant and distrustful of ourselves, and looking with an +eye of kindness and pity on the faults and infirmities of others, whom +we should learn to regard with the same tender concern as that with +which the sick are used to sympathize with those who are suffering under +the same distemper as themselves. This lesson once well acquired, we +shall feel the benefit of it in all our future progress; and though it +be a lesson which we are slow to learn, it is one in which study and +experience, the incidents of every day, and every fresh observation of +the workings of our own hearts, will gradually concur to perfect us. Let +it not, after all then, be our reproach, and at length our ruin, that +these abundant means of instruction are possessed in vain. + + +SECTION III. + +_Corruption of Human Nature.--Objection._ + +But there is one difficulty still behind, more formidable than all the +rest. The pride of man is loth to be humbled. Forced to abandon the plea +of innocence, and pressed so closely that he can no longer escape from +the conclusion to which we would drive him, some more bold objector +faces about and stands at bay, endeavouring to justify what he cannot +deny, "Whatever I am," he contends, "I am what my Creator made me. I +inherited a nature, you yourself confess, depraved, and prone to evil: +how then can I withstand the temptations to sin by which I am environed? +If this plea cannot establish my innocence, it must excuse or at least +extenuate my guilt. Frail and weak as I am, a Being of infinite justice +and goodness will never try me by a rule, which however equitable in the +case of creatures of a higher nature, is altogether disproportionate to +mine." + +Let not my readers be alarmed! The writer is not going to enter into the +discussion of the grand question concerning the origin of moral evil, +or to attempt at large to reconcile its existence and consequent +punishment with the acknowledged attributes and perfections of God. +These are questions, of which, if one may judge from the little success +with which the acutest and profoundest reasoners have been ever +labouring to solve the difficulties they contain, the full and clear +comprehension is above the intellect of man. Yet, as such an objection +as that which has been stated is sometimes heard from the mouths of +professed Christians, it must not be passed by without a few short +observations. + +Were the language in question to be addressed to us by an avowed +sceptic, though it might not be very difficult to expose to him the +futility of _his_ reasonings, we should almost despair of satisfying him +of the soundness of our own. We should perhaps suggest impossibilities, +which might stand in the way of such a system as he would establish: we +might indeed point out wherein (arguing from concessions which he would +freely make) his pre-conceptions concerning the conduct of the Supreme +Being, had been in fact already contradicted, particularly by the +existence at all of natural or moral evil: and if thus proved erroneous +in one instance, why might they not be so likewise in another? But +though by these and similar arguments we might at length silence our +objector, we could not much expect to bring him over to our opinions. We +should probably do better, if we were to endeavour rather to draw him +off from these dark and slippery regions, (slippery in truth they are to +every human foot) and to contend with him, where we might tread with +firmness and freedom, on sure ground, and in the light of day. Then we +might fairly lay before him all the various arguments for the truth of +our holy religion; arguments which have been sufficient to satisfy the +wisest, and the best, and the ablest of men. We should afterwards +perhaps insist on the abundant confirmation Christianity receives from +its being exactly suited to the nature and wants of man; and we might +conclude, with fairly putting it to him, whether all this weight of +evidence were to be overbalanced by this one difficulty, on a subject so +confessedly high and mysterious, considering too that he must allow, we +see but a part (O how small a part!) of the universal creation of God, +and that our faculties are wholly incompetent to judge of the schemes of +his infinite wisdom. This, if the writer may be permitted to offer his +own judgment, is (at least in general) the best mode, in the case of the +objection now in question, of dealing with unbelievers; and to adopt the +contrary plan, seems somewhat like that of any one, who having to +convince some untutored Indian of the truth of the Copernican system, +instead of beginning with plain and simple propositions, and leading him +on to what is more abstruse and remote, should state to him at the +outset some astonishing problems, to which the understanding can only +yield its slow assent, when constrained by the decisive force of +demonstration. The novice, instead of lending himself to such a mistaken +method of instruction, would turn away in disgust, and be only hardened +against his preceptor. But it must be remembered, that the present work +is addressed to those who acknowledge the authority of the holy +Scriptures. And in order to convince all such that there is somewhere or +other, a fallacy in our objector's reasoning, it will be sufficient to +establish that though the word of God clearly asserts the justice and +goodness of the Supreme Being, and also the natural depravity of man, +yet it no less clearly lays down that this natural depravity shall never +be admitted as an excuse for sin, but that "they which have done evil, +shall rise to the resurrection of damnation[15]."--"That the wicked +shall be turned into hell, and all the people that forget God." And it +is worthy of remark, that, as if for the very purpose of more +effectually silencing those unbelieving doubts which are ever springing +up in the human heart, our blessed Saviour, though the messenger of +peace and good will to man, has again and again repeated these awful +denunciations. + +Nor (it must also be remarked) are the holy Scriptures less clear and +full in guarding us against supposing our sins, or the dreadful +consequences of them, to be chargeable on God.--"Let no man say when he +is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, +neither tempteth he any man[16]:" "The Lord is not willing that any +should perish[17]." And again, where the idea is repelled as injurious +to his character,--"Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should +die? saith the Lord God; and not that he should return from his ways, +and live[18]?" "For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, +saith the Lord God[19]." Indeed almost every page of the word of God +contains some warning or invitation to sinners; and all these, to a +considerate mind, must unquestionably be proofs of our present position. + +It has been the more necessary not to leave unnoticed the objection +which we have been now refuting, because, where not admitted to such an +unqualified extent as altogether to take away the moral responsibility +of man, and when not avowed in the daring language in which it has been +above stated; if may frequently be observed to exist in an inferior +degree: and often, when not distinctly formed into shape, it lurks in +secret, diffusing a general cloud of doubt or unbelief, or lowering our +standard of right, or whispering fallacious comfort, and producing a +ruinous tranquillity. Not to anticipate what will more properly come +under discussion, when we consider the nature and strictness of +practical Christianity; let us here, however, remark, that though the +holy Scriptures so clearly state the natural corruption and weakness of +man, yet they never, in the most minute degree, countenance, but +throughout directly oppose, the supposition to which we are often too +forward to listen, that this corruption and weakness will be admitted as +lowering the demands of divine justice, and in some sort palliating our +transgressions of the laws of God. It would not be difficult to shew +that such a notion is at war with the whole scheme of redemption by the +atonement of Christ. But perhaps it may be enough when any such +suggestions as those which we are condemning force themselves into the +imagination of a Christian, to recommend it to him to silence them by +what is their best practical answer: that if our natural condition be +depraved and weak, our temptations numerous, and our Almighty Judge +infinitely holy; yet that the offers to penitent sinners of pardon and +grace, and strength, are universal and unlimited. Let it not however +surprise us, if in all this there seem to be involved difficulties which +we cannot fully comprehend. How many such every where present +themselves! Scarcely is there an object around us, that does not afford +endless matter of doubt and argument. The meanest reptile which crawls +on the earth, nay, every herb and flower which we behold, baffles the +imbecility of our limited inquiries. All nature calls upon us to be +humble. Can it then be surprising if we are at a loss on this question, +which respects, not the properties of matter, or of numbers, but the +counsels and ways of him whose "Understanding is infinite[20]," "whose +judgments are declared to be unsearchable, and his ways past finding +out[21]?" In this our ignorance however, we may calmly repose ourselves +on his own declaration, "That though clouds and darkness are round about +him, yet righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his +throne[22]." Let it also be remembered, that if in Christianity some +things are difficult, that which it most concerns us to know, is plain +and obvious. To this it is true wisdom to attach ourselves, assenting to +what is revealed where above our faculties, we do not say contradictory +to them, on the credit of what is clearly discerned, and satisfactorily +established. In truth, we are all perhaps too apt to plunge into depths, +which it is beyond our power to fathom; and it was to warn us against +this very error, that the inspired writer, when he has been threatening +the people, whom God had selected as the objects of his special favour, +with the most dreadful punishments, if they should forsake the law of +the Lord, and has introduced surrounding nations as asking the meaning +of the severe infliction, winds up the whole with this instructive +admonition; "Secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those which +are revealed belong unto us, and to our children for ever, that we may +_do_ all the words of this law[23]." + +To any one who is seriously impressed with a sense of the critical state +in which we are here placed, a short and uncertain space in which to +make our peace with God, and then the last judgment, and an eternity of +unspeakable happiness or misery, it is indeed an awful and an affecting +spectacle, to see men thus busying themselves in these vain speculations +of an arrogant curiosity, and trifling with their dearest, their +everlasting interests. It is but a feeble illustration of this exquisite +folly, to compare it to the conduct of some convicted rebel, who, when +brought into the presence of his Sovereign, instead of seizing the +occasion to sue for mercy, should even neglect and trifle with the +pardon which should be offered to him, and insolently employ himself in +prying into his Sovereign's designs, and criticising his counsels. Our +case indeed is, in another point of comparison, but too much like that +of the convicted rebel. But there is this grand difference--that at the +best, his success must be uncertain, ours, if it be not our own fault, +is sure; and while, on the one hand, our guilt is unspeakably greater +than that of any rebel against an earthly monarch; so, on the other, we +know that our Sovereign is "Long-suffering, and easy to be intreated;" +more ready to grant, than we to ask, forgiveness. Well then may we adopt +the language of the poet: + + What better can we do, than - - - prostrate fall + Before him reverent; and there confess + Humbly our faults, and pardon beg; with tears + Watering the ground, and with our sighs the air + Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign + Of sorrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek? + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +_Chief defects of the Religious System of the bulk of professed +Christians, in what regards our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy +Spirit--with a Dissertation concerning the use of the Passions in +Religion._ + + +SECT. I + +SCRIPTURE DOCTRINES. + +That "God so loved the world, as of his tender mercy to give his only +Son Jesus Christ for our redemption:" + +That our blessed Lord willingly left the glory of the Father, and was +made man; + +That "he was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and +acquainted with grief:" + +That "he was wounded for our transgressions; that he was bruised for our +iniquities:" + +That "the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all:" + +That at length "he humbled himself even to the death of the Cross, for +us miserable sinners; to the end that all who with hearty repentance and +true faith, should come to him, might not perish, but have everlasting +life:" + +That he "is now at the right hand of God, making intercession" for his +people: + +That "being reconciled to God by the death of his Son, we may come +boldly unto the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and find grace to help +in time of need:" + +That our Heavenly Father "will surely give his Holy Spirit to them that +ask him:" + +That "the Spirit of God must dwell in us;" and that "if any man have not +the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his:" + +That by this divine influence "we are to be renewed in knowledge after +the image of him who created us," and "to be filled with the fruits of +righteousness, to the praise of the glory of his grace;"--that "being +thus made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light," we shall +sleep in the Lord; and that when the last trumpet shall sound, this +corruption shall put on incorruption--and that being at length perfected +after his likeness, we shall be admitted into his heavenly kingdom. + +These are the leading Doctrines concerning our Saviour, and the Holy +Spirit, which are taught in the Holy Scriptures, and held by the Church +of England. The truth of them, agreeably to our general plan, will be +taken for granted. Few of those, who have been used to join in the +established form of worship, can have been, it is hoped, so inattentive, +as to be ignorant of these grand truths, which are to be found every +where dispersed throughout our excellent Liturgy. Would to God it could +be presumed, with equal confidence, that all who assent to them in +terms, discern their force and excellency in the understanding, and feel +their power in the affections, and their transforming influence in the +heart. What lively emotions are they calculated to excite in us of deep +self-abasement, and abhorrence of our sins; and of humble hope, and firm +faith, and heavenly joy, and ardent love, and active unceasing +gratitude! + +But here, it is to be feared, will be found the grand defect of the +religion of the bulk of professed Christians; a defect, like the palsy +at the heart, which, while in its first attack, it changes but little +the exterior appearance of the body, extinguishes the internal principle +of heat and motion, and soon extends its benumbing influence to the +remotest fibres of the frame. This defect is closely connected with that +which was the chief subject of the last chapter: "they that are whole +need not a physician, but they that are sick." Had we duly felt the +burthen of our sins, that they are a load which our own strength is +wholly unable to support, and that the weight of them must finally sink +us into perdition, our hearts would have danced at the sound of the +gracious invitation, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy +laden, and I will give you rest[24]." But in those who have scarcely +felt their sins as any incumbrance, it would be mere affectation to +pretend to very exalted conceptions of the value and acceptableness of +the proffered deliverance. This pretence accordingly, is seldom now kept +up; and the most superficial observer, comparing the sentiments and +views of the bulk of the Christian world, with the articles still +retained in their creed, and with the strong language of Scripture, must +be struck with the amazing disproportion. + +To pass over the throng from whose minds Religion is altogether excluded +by the business or the vanities of life, how is it with the more decent +and moral? To what criterion shall we appeal? Are their hearts really +filled with these things, and warmed by the love which they are adapted +to inspire? Then surely their minds are apt to stray to them almost +unseasonably; or at least to hasten back to them with eagerness, when +escaped from the estrangment imposed by the necessary cares and business +of life. He was a masterly describer of human nature, who thus +pourtrayed the characters of an undissembled affection; + + "Unstaid and fickle in all other things, + Save in the constant image of the object, + That is beloved." + +"And how," it may be perhaps replied, "do you know, but that the minds +of these people are thus occupied? Can you look into the bosoms of men?" +Let us appeal to a test to which we resorted in a former instance. "Out +of the abundance of the heart," it has been pronounced, "the mouth +speaketh."--Take these persons then in some well selected hour, and lead +the conversation to the subject of Religion. The utmost which can be +effected is, to bring them to talk of things in the gross. They appear +lost in generalities; there is nothing precise and determinate, nothing +which implies a mind used to the contemplation of its object. In vain +you strive to bring them to speak on that topic, which one might expect +to be ever uppermost in the hearts of redeemed sinners. They elude all +your endeavours; and if you make mention of it yourself, it is received +with no very cordial welcome at least, if not with unequivocal disgust; +it is at the best a forced and formal discussion. The excellence of our +Saviour's moral precepts, the kindness and simplicity, and self-denial +and unblemished purity of his life, his patience and meekness in the +hour of death, cannot indeed be spoken of but with admiration, when +spoken of at all, as they have often extorted unwilling praise from the +most daring and malignant infidels. But are not these mentioned as +qualities in the abstract, rather than as the perfections and lineaments +of our patron and benefactor and friend, "who loved us, and gave himself +for us;" of him "who died for _our_ offences, and rose again for _our_ +justification;" who is even now at the "right hand of God, making +intercession for _us_?" Who would think that the kindness and humanity, +and self-denial, and patience in suffering, which we so drily commend, +had been exerted towards _ourselves_, in acts of more than finite +benevolence of which _we_ were to derive the benefit, in condescensions +and labours submitted to for _our_ sakes, in pain and ignominy, endured +for _our_ deliverance? + +But these grand truths are not suffered to vanish altogether from our +remembrance. Thanks to the compilers of our Liturgy, more than to too +many of the occupiers of our pulpits, they are forced upon our notice in +their just bearings and connections, as often as we attend the service +of the church. Yet is it too much to affirm, that though there +entertained with decorum, as what belong to the day and place, and +occupation, they are yet too generally heard of with little interest; +like the legendary tales of some venerable historian, or other +transactions of great antiquity, if not of doubtful credit, which, +though important to our ancestors, relate to times and circumstances so +different from our own, that we cannot be expected to take any great +concern in them? We hear of them therefore with apparent indifference; +we repeat them almost as it were by rote, assuming by turns the language +of the deepest humiliation and of the warmest thankfulness, with a calm +unaltered composure; and when the service of the day is ended, they are +dismissed altogether from our thoughts, till on the return of another +Sunday, a fresh attendance on public worship gives occasion for the +renewed expressions of our periodical gratitude. In noticing such +lukewarmness as this, surely the writer were to be pardoned, if he were +to be betrayed into some warmth of condemnation. The Unitarian and +Socinian indeed, who deny, or explain away the peculiar doctrines of the +Gospel, may be allowed to feel, and talk of these grand truths with +little emotion. But in those who profess a sincere belief in them, this +coldness is insupportable. The greatest possible services of man to man +must appear contemptible, when compared with "the unspeakable mercies of +Christ:" mercies so dearly bought, so freely bestowed--A deliverance +from eternal misery--The gift of "a crown of glory, that fadeth not +away." Yet, what judgment should we form of such conduct, as is here +censured, in the case of any one who had received some signal services +from a fellow creature? True love is an ardent, and an active +principle--a cold, a dormant, a phlegmatic gratitude, are contractions +in terms. When these generous affections really exist in vigour, are we +not ever fond of dwelling on the value, and enumerating the merits of +our benefactor? How are we moved when any thing is asserted to his +disparagement! How do we delight to tell of his kindness! With what +pious care do we preserve any memorial of him, which we may happen to +possess? How gladly do we seize any opportunity of rendering to him, or +to those who are dear to him, any little good offices, which, though in +themselves of small intrinsic worth, may testify the sincerity of our +thankfulness! The very mention of his name will cheer the heart, and +light up the countenance! And if he be now no more, and if he had made +it his dying request that, in a way of his own appointment, we would +occasionally meet to keep the memory of his person, and of his services +in lively exercise; how should we resent the idea of failing in the +performance of so sacred an obligation! + +Such are the genuine characters, such the natural workings of a lively +gratitude. And we believe, without doing violence to the most +established principles of human nature, that where the _effects_ are so +different, the _internal principle_ is in truth the same? + +If the love of Christ be thus languid in the bulk of nominal Christians, +their joy and trust in him cannot be expected to be very vigorous. Here +again we find reason to remark, that there is nothing distinct, nothing +specific, nothing which implies a mind acquainted with the nature, and +familiarized with the use of the Christian's privileges, habitually +solacing itself with the hopes held out by the Gospel, and animated by +the sense of its high relations, and its glorious reversion. + +The doctrine of the sanctifying operations of the Holy Spirit, appears +to have met with still worse treatment. It would be to convey a very +inadequate idea of the scantiness of the conceptions on this head, of +the bulk of the Christian world, to affirm merely, that they are too +little conscious of the inefficacy of their own unassisted endeavours +after holiness of heart and life, and that they are not daily employed +in humbly and diligently using the appointed means for the reception and +cultivation of the divine assistance. It would hardly be to go beyond +the truth to assert, that for the most part their notions on this +subject are so confused and faint, that they can scarcely be said in any +fair sense to believe the doctrine at all. + +The writer of these sheets is by no means unapprized of the objections +which he may expect from those, whose opinions he has been so freely +condemning. He is prepared to hear it urged, that often where there have +been the strongest pretences to the religious affections, of which the +want has now been censured, there has been little or nothing of the +reality of them; and that even omitting the instances (which however +have been but too frequent) of studied hypocrisy, what have assumed to +themselves the name of religious affections, have been merely the +flights of a lively imagination, or the working of a heated brain; in +particular, that this love of our Saviour, which has been so warmly +recommended, is no better than a vain fervor, which dwells only in the +disordered mind of the enthusiast. That Religion is of a more steady +nature; of a more sober and manly quality; and that she rejects with +scorn, the support of a mere feeling, so volatile and indeterminate, so +trivial and useless, as that with which we would associate her; a +feeling varying in different men, and even in the same man at different +times, according to the accidental flow of the animal spirits; a +feeling, lastly, of which it may perhaps be said, we are from our very +nature, hardly susceptible towards an invisible Being. + +"As to the operations of the Holy Spirit," it may probably be further +urged, that "it is perhaps scarcely worth while to spend much time in +inquiring into the theory, when, in practice at least, it is manifest, +that there is no sure criterion whereby any one can ascertain the +reality of them, even in his own case, much less in that of another. All +we know is, that pretenders to these extraordinary assistances, have +never been wanting to abuse the credulity of the vulgar, and to try the +patience of the wise. From the canting hypocrites and wild fanatics of +the last century, to their less dangerous, chiefly because less +successful, descendants of the present day, we hear the same unwarranted +claims, the same idle tales, the same low cant; and we may discern not +seldom the same mean artifices and mercenary ends. The doctrine, to say +the best of it, can only serve to favour the indolence of man, while +professing to furnish him with a compendious method of becoming wise and +good, it supersedes the necessity of his own personal labours. Quitting +therefore all these slothful and chimerical speculations, it is true +wisdom to attach ourselves to what is more solid and practical; to the +work which you will not yourself deny to be sufficiently difficult to +find us of itself full employment: the work of rectifying the disorders +of the passions, and of implanting and cultivating the virtues of the +moral character."--"It is the service of the understanding which God +requires of us, which you would degrade into a mere matter of bodily +temperament, and imaginary impulses. You are contending for that which +not only is altogether unworthy of our Divine Master, but which, with +considerate men, has ever brought his religion into suspicion and +disrepute, and under a shew of honouring him, serves only to injure and +discredit his cause." Our Objector, warming as he proceeds, will perhaps +assume a more impatient tone. "Have not these doctrines," he may +exclaim, "been ever perverted to purposes the most disgraceful to the +Religion of Jesus? If you want an instance, look to the standard of the +inquisition, and behold the pious Dominicans torturing their miserable +victims for the Love of Christ[25]. Or would you rather see the effects +of your principles on a larger scale, and _by wholesale_ (if the phrase +may be pardoned;) cast your eyes across the Atlantic, and let your zeal +be edified by the holy activity of Cortez and Pizarro, and their +apostles of the western hemisphere. To what else have been owing the +extensive ravages of national persecutions, and religious wars and +crusades; whereby rapacity, and pride, and cruelty, sheltering +themselves (sometimes even from the furious bigots themselves) under the +mask of this specious principle, have so often afflicted the world? The +Prince of Peace has been made to assume the port of a ferocious +conqueror, and forgetting the message of good will to men, has issued +forth like a second Scourge of the Earth[26], to plague and desolate the +human species." + + +_Objection discussed._ + +That the sacred name of Religion has been too often prostituted to the +most detestable purposes; that furious bigots and bloody persecutors, +and self-interested hypocrites of all qualities and dimensions, from the +rapacious leader of an army, to the canting oracle of a congregation, +have falsely called themselves Christians, are melancholy and +humiliating truths, which (as none so deeply lament them) none will more +readily admit, than they who best understand the nature, and are most +concerned for the honour of Christianity. We are ready to acknowledge +also without dispute, that the religious affections, and the doctrine of +divine assistances, have almost at all times been more or less disgraced +by the false pretences and extravagant conduct of wild fanatics and +brain-sick enthusiasts. All this, however, is only as it happens in +other instances, wherein the depravity of man perverts the bounty of +God. Why is it here only to be made an argument, that there is danger of +abuse? So is there also in the case of all the potent and operative +principles, whether in the natural or moral world. Take for an instance +the powers and properties of matter. These were doubtless designed by +Providence for our comfort and well-being; yet they are often +misapplied to trifling purposes, and still more frequently turned into +so many agents of misery and death. On this fact indeed is founded the +well-known maxim, not more trite than just, that "the best things when +corrupted become the worst;" a maxim which is especially just in the +instance of Religion. For in this case it is not merely, as in some +others, that a great power, when mischievously applied, must be hurtful +in proportion to its strength; but that the very principle on which in +general we depend for restraining and retarding the progress of evil, +not only ceases to interpose any kindly check, but is actively operative +in the opposite direction. But will you therefore discard Religion +altogether? The experiment was lately tried in a neighbouring country, +and professedly on this very ground. The effects however with which it +was attended, do not much encourage its repetition. But suppose Religion +were discarded, then Liberty remains to plague the world; a power which +though when well employed, the dispenser of light and happiness, has +been often proved, and eminently in this very instance, to be capable +when abused, of becoming infinitely mischievous. Well then, extinguish +Liberty. Then what more abused by false pretenders, than Patriotism? +Well, extinguish Patriotism. But then the wicked career to which we have +adverted, must have been checked but for Courage. Blot out Courage--and +so might you proceed to extinguish one by one, Reason, and Speech, and +Memory, and all the discriminating prerogatives of man. But perhaps more +than enough has been already urged in reply to an objection, which +bottoms on ground so indefensible, as that which would equally warrant +our condemning any physical or moral faculty altogether, on account of +its being occasionally abused. + +As to the position of our Opponent, that there is no way whereby the +validity of any pretensions to the religious affections may be +ascertained; it must partly be admitted. Doubtless we are not able +always to read the hearts of men, and to discover their real characters; +and hence it is, that we in some measure lie open to the false and +hypocritical pretences which are brought forward against us so +triumphantly. But then these pretences no more prove all similar claims +to be founded in falsehood and hypocrisy, than there having been many +false and interested pretenders to wisdom and honesty, would prove that +there can be no such thing as a wise or an honest man. We do not argue +thus but where our reason is under a corrupt bias. Why should we be so +much surprised and scandalized, when these importers are detected in the +church of Christ? It is no more than our blessed Master himself taught +us to expect; and when the old difficulty is stated, "didst thou not sow +good seed in thy field, whence then hath it tares?" his own answer +furnishes the best solution,--"an enemy hath done this."--Hypocrisy is +indeed _detestable_, and enthusiasm sufficiently mischievous to justify +our guarding against its approaches with jealous care. Yet it may not be +improper to take this occasion for observing, that we are now and then +apt to draw too unfavourable conclusions from unpleasant appearances, +which may perhaps be chiefly or altogether owing to gross or confused +conceptions, or to a disgusting formality of demeanor, or to +indeterminate, low, or improperly familiar expressions. The mode and +language, in which a vulgar man will express himself on the subject of +Religion, will probably be vulgar, and it is difficult for people of +literature and refinement not to be unreasonably shocked by such +vulgarities. But we should at least endeavour to correct the rash +judgments which we may be disposed to form on these occasions, and +should learn to recognize and to prize a sound texture and just +configuration, though disguised beneath a homely or uncouth drapery. It +was an Apostle who declared that he had come (to the learned and +accomplished Grecians too) "not with excellency of speech, or the wisdom +of words." From these he had studiously abstained, lest he should have +seemed to owe his success rather to the graces of oratory, than to the +efficacy of his doctrines, and to the divine power with which they were +accompanied. Even in our own times, when, the extraordinary operations +and miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit having ceased, the necessity of +study and preparation, and of attention to manner as well as matter, in +order to qualify men to become teachers of religion, are no longer +superseded, yet it is no more than an act of justice explicitly to +remark, that a body of Christians, which from the peculiarly offensive +grossnesses of language in use among them, had, not without reason, +excited suspicions of the very worst nature, have since reclaimed their +character[27], and have perhaps excelled all mankind in solid and +unequivocal proofs of the love of Christ, and of the most ardent, and +active, and patient zeal in his service. It is a zeal tempered with +prudence, softened with meekness, soberly aiming at great ends by the +gradual operation of well adapted means, supported by a courage which no +danger can intimidate, and a quiet constancy which no hardships can +exhaust. + + +SECT. II. + +_On the Admission of the Passions into Religion._ + +The objection of our Opponent, that by insisting on the obligation of +making our blessed Saviour the object of our religious affections, we +are degrading the worship of the understanding, and are substituting and +raising up a set of mere feelings in its stead, is one which deserves +our most serious consideration. If it be just, it is decisive; for ours +must be unquestionably "a reasonable service[28]." The Objector must +mean, either, that these affections are unreasonable in themselves, or +that they are misplaced in religion. He can scarcely however intend that +the affections are in their own nature unreasonable. To suppose him to +maintain this position, were to suppose him ignorant of what every +schoolboy knows of the mechanism of the human mind. We shall therefore +take it for granted, that this cannot be his meaning, and proceed to +examine the latter part of the alternative. Here also it may either be +intended, that the affections are misplaced in Religion, _generally_, or +that our blessed Saviour is not the proper object of them. The strain of +our Objector's language, no less than the objections themselves which +he has urged, render it evident that (perhaps without excluding the +latter position) the former is in full possession of his mind. + +This notion of the affections being out of place in Religion, is indeed +an opinion which appears to be generally prevalent. The affections are +regarded as the strong-holds of enthusiasm. It is therefore judged most +expedient to act, as prudent generals are used to do, when they raze the +fortress, or spike up the cannon, which are likely to fall into the +hands of an enemy. Mankind are apt to be the dupes of misapplied terms; +and the progress of the persuasion now in question, has been +considerably aided by an abuse of language, not sufficiently checked in +its first advances, whereby that species of Religion which is opposite +to the warm and affectionate kind, has been suffered almost without +disturbance, to usurp to itself the epithet of _rational_. But let not +this claim be too hastily admitted. Let the position in question be +thoroughly and impartially discussed, and it will appear, if I mistake +not, to be a gross and pernicious error. If amputation be indeed +indispensable, we must submit to it; but we may surely expect to be +heard with patience, or rather with favour and indulgence, while we +proceed to shew that there is no need to have recourse to so desperate +an enemy. The discussion will necessarily draw us into length. But our +prolixity will not be greater than may well be claimed by the importance +of the subject, especially as it scarcely seems to have hitherto +sufficiently engaged the attention of writers on the subject of +Religion. + +It cannot methinks but afford a considerable presumption against the +doctrine which we are about to combat, that it proposes to exclude at +once from the service of Religion so grand a part of the composition of +man; that in this our noblest employment it condemns as worse than +useless, all the most active and operative principles of our nature. One +cannot but suppose that like the organs of the body, so the elementary +qualities and original passions of the mind were all given us for +valuable purposes by our all-wise Creator. It is indeed one of the sad +evidences of our fallen condition, that they are now perpetually +tumultuating and rebelling against the powers of reason and conscience, +to which they should be subject. But even if Revelation had been silent, +natural reason might have in some degree presumed, that it would be the +effect of a Religion which should come from God, completely to repair +the consequences of our superinduced depravity. The schemes of mere +human wisdom had indeed tacitly confessed, that this was a task beyond +their strength. Of the two most celebrated systems of philosophy, the +one expressly confirmed the usurpation of the passions, while the other, +despairing of being able to regulate, saw nothing left but to extinguish +them. The former acted like a weak government, which gives independence +to a rebellious province, which it cannot reduce. The latter formed its +boasted scheme merely upon the plan of that barbarous policy, which +composes the troubles of a turbulent land by the extermination of its +inhabitants. This is the calm, not of order, but of inaction; it is not +tranquillity, but the stillness of death; + + Trucidare falso nomine imperium, & ubi solitudinem faciunt, + pacem appellant-- + +Christianity, we might hope, would not be driven to any such wretched +expedients; nor in fact does she condescend to them. They only thus +undervalue her strength, who mistake her character, and are ignorant of +her powers. It is her peculiar glory, and her main office, to bring all +the faculties of our nature into their just subordination and +dependence; that so the whole man, complete in all his functions, may be +restored to the true ends of his being, and be devoted, entire and +harmonious, to the service and glory of God. "My son, give me thine +_heart_"--"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy _heart_:"--Such +are the direct and comprehensive claims which are made on us in the holy +Scriptures. We can scarcely indeed look into any part of the sacred +volume without meeting abundant proofs, that it is the religion of the +Affections which God particularly requires. Love, Zeal, Gratitude, Joy, +Hope, Trust, are each of them specified; and are not allowed to us as +weaknesses, but enjoined on us as our bounden duty, and commended to us +as our acceptable worship. Where passages are so numerous, there would +be no end of particular citations. Let it be sufficient therefore, to +refer the reader to the word of God. There let him observe too, that as +the lively exercise of the passions towards their legitimate object, is +always spoken of with praise, so a cold, hard, unfeeling heart is +represented as highly criminal. Lukewarmness is stated to be the object +of God's disgust and aversion; zeal and love, of his favour and delight; +and the taking away of the heart of stone and the implanting of a warmer +and more tender nature in its stead, is specifically promised as the +effect of his returning favour, and the work of his renewing grace. It +is the prayer of an inspired teacher, in behalf of those for whom he was +most interested, "that their love" (already acknowledged to be great) +"might abound yet more and more:" Those modes of worship are set forth +and prescribed, which are best calculated to excite the dormant +affections, and to maintain them in lively exercise; and the aids of +music and singing are expressly superadded to increase their effect. If +we look to the most eminent of the Scripture Characters, we shall find +them warm, zealous, and affectionate. When engaged in their favourite +work of celebrating the goodness of their Supreme Benefactor, their +souls appear to burn within them, their hearts kindle into rapture; the +powers of language are inadequate to the expression of their transports; +and they call on all nature to swell the chorus, and to unite with them +in hallelujahs of gratitude, and joy, and praise. The man after God's +own heart most of all abounds in these glowing effusions; and his +compositions appear to have been given us in order to set the tone, as +it were, to all succeeding generations. Accordingly (to quote the words +of a late excellent prelate[29], who was himself warmed with the same +heavenly flame) "in the language of this divine book, the praises of the +church have been offered up to the Throne of Grace from age to age." +Again, when it pleased God to check the future apostle of the Gentiles +in his wild career, and to make him a monument of transforming grace; +was the force of his affections diminished, or was it not only that +their direction was changed? He brought his affections entire and +unabated into the service of his blessed Master. His zeal now burned +even with an increase of brightness; and no intenseness, no continuance +of suffering could allay its ardor, or damp the fervors of his +triumphant exultations. Finally--The worship and service of the +glorified spirits in Heaven, is not represented to us a cold +intellectual investigation, but as the worship and service of gratitude +and love. And surely it will not be disputed, that it should be even +here the humble endeavour of those, who are promised while on earth "to +be made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light," +to bring their hearts into a capacity for joining in those everlasting +praises. + +BUT it may not be unadvisable for the writer here to guard against a +mistaken supposition, from which the mind of our Objector by no means +appears exempt, that the force of the religious affections is to be +mainly estimated (I had almost said by the thermometer) by the degree of +mere animal fervor, by ardors, and transports, and raptures, of which, +from constitutional temperament, a person may be easily susceptible; or +into which daily experience must convince us, that people of strong +conceptions and of warm passions may work themselves without much +difficulty, where their hearts are by no means truly or deeply +interested. Every tolerable actor can attest the truth of this remark. +These high degrees of the passions bad men may experience, good men may +want. They may be affected; they may be genuine; but whether genuine or +affected, they form not the true standard by which the real nature or +strength of the religious affections is to be determined. To ascertain +these points, we must examine, whether they appear to be grounded in +knowledge, to have their root in strong and just conceptions of the +great and manifold excellences of their object, or to be ignorant, +unmeaning, or vague: whether they are natural and easy, or constrained +and forced; wakeful and apt to fix on their great objects, delighting in +their proper nutriment (if the expression may be allowed) the exercises +of prayer and praise, and religious contemplation; or voluntarily +omitting offered occasions of receiving it, looking forward to them with +little expectation, looking back on them with little complacency, and +being disappointed of them with little regret: by observing whether +these religious affections are merely occasional visitants, or the +abiding inmates of the soul: whether they have got the mastery over the +vicious passions and propensities, with which in their origin, and +nature, and tendency, they are at open variance; or whether if the +victory be not yet complete, the war is at least constant, and the +breach irreconcilable: whether they moderate and regulate all the +inferior appetites and desires which are culpable only in their excess, +thus striving to reign in the bosom with a settled undisputed +predominance: by examining, whether above all they manifest themselves +by prompting to the active discharge of the duties of life, the +personal, and domestic, and relative, and professional, and social, and +civil duties. Here the wideness of their range and the universality of +their influence, will generally serve to distinguish them from those +partial efforts of diligence and self-denial, to which mankind are +prompted by subordinate motives. All proofs other than this deduced from +conduct, are in some degree ambiguous. This, this only, whether we +argue from Reason or from Scripture, is a sure infallible criterion. +From the daily incidents of conjugal and domestic life, we learn that a +heat of affection occasionally vehement, but superficial and transitory, +may consist too well with a course of conduct, exhibiting incontestable +proofs of neglect and unkindness. But the passion, which alone the Holy +Scriptures dignify with the name of Love, is a deep, not a superficial +feeling; a fixed and permanent, not an occasional emotion. It proves the +validity of its title, by actions corresponding with its nature, by +practical endeavours to gratify the wishes and to promote the interests +of the object of affection. "If a man love me, he will keep my sayings." +"This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." This therefore +is the best standard by which to try the quality, or, the quality being +ascertained, to estimate the strength of the religious affections. +Without suffering ourselves to derive too much complacency from +transient fervors of devotion, we should carefully and frequently prove +ourselves by this less dubitable test; impartially examining our daily +conduct; and often comparing our actual, with our possible services, the +fair amount of our exertions, with our natural or acquired means and +opportunities of usefulness. + +After this large explanation, the prolixity of which will we trust be +pardoned on account of the importance of the subject, and the danger of +mistakes both on the right hand and on the left, we are perfectly ready +to concede to the objector, whose arguments we have so long been +considering, that the religious affections must be expected to be more +or less lively in different men, and in the same man at different times, +in proportion to natural tempers, ages, situations, and habits of life. +But, to found an objection on this ground, would be as unreasonable as +it were altogether to deny the obligation of the precepts, which command +us to relieve the necessities of the indigent, because the infinitely +varying circumstances of mankind must render it impossible to specify +beforehand the sum which each individual ought on the whole to allot to +this purpose, or to fix in every particular instance, on any determinate +measure, and mode of contribution. To the one case no less than to the +other, we may apply the maxim of an eminent writer; "An honest heart is +the best casuist." He who every where but in Religion is warm and +animated, there only phlegmatic and cold, can hardly expect (especially +if this coldness be not the subject of unfeigned humiliation and sorrow) +that his plea on the ground of natural temper should be admitted; any +more than that of a person who should urge his poverty as a +justification of his not relieving the wants of the necessitous, at the +very time that he should be launching out into expence without +restraint, on occasions in which he should be really prompted by his +inclinations. In both cases, "it is the _willing_ mind which is +required." Where that is found "every man will be judged according to +what he hath, and not according to what he hath not[30]." + +After the decisive proofs already adduced from the word of God, of the +unreasonableness of the objection to the admission of the passions into +Religion, all farther arguments may appear superfluous to any one who is +disposed to bow to scriptural authority. Yet the point is of so much +importance, and it is to be feared, so little regarded, that it may not +be amiss to continue the discussion. The best results of our +understanding will be shewn to fall in with what clearly appears to be +the authoritative language of revelation; and to call in the aid of the +affections to the service of Religion, will prove to be not only what +sober reason may permit, as in some sort allowable; but to be that which +she clearly and strongly dictates to our deliberate judgments, as being +what the circumstances of our natural condition indispensably require. +We have every one of us a work to accomplish, wherein our eternal +interests are at stake; a work to which we are naturally indisposed. We +live in a world abounding with objects which distract our attention and +divert our endeavours; and a deadly enemy is ever at hand to seduce and +beguile us. If we persevere indeed, success is certain; but our efforts +must know no remission. There is a call on us for vigorous and continual +resolution, self-denial, and activity. Now, man is not a being of mere +intellect. + + Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor, + +is a complaint which, alas! we all of us might daily utter. The +slightest solicitation of appetite is often able to draw us to act in +opposition to our clearest judgment, our highest interests, and most +resolute determinations. Sickness, poverty, disgrace, and even eternal +misery itself, sometimes in vain solicit our regards; they are all +excluded from the view, and thrust as it were beyond the sphere of +vision, by some poor unsubstantial transient object, so minute and +contemptible as almost to escape the notice of the eye of reason. + +These observations are more strikingly confirmed in our religious +concerns than in any other; because in them the interests at stake are +of transcendant importance: but they hold equally in every instance +according to its measure, wherein there is a call for laborious, +painful, and continued exertions, from which any one is likely to be +deterred by obstacles, or seduced by the solicitations of pleasure. What +then it to be done in the case of any such arduous and necessary +undertaking? The answer is obvious--You should endeavour not only to +convince the understanding, but also to affect the heart; and for this +end, you must secure the reinforcement of the passions. This is indeed +the course which would be naturally followed by every man of common +understanding, who should know that some one for whom he was deeply +interested, a child, for instance, or a brother, were about to enter on +a long, difficult, perilous, and critical adventure, wherein success was +to be honour and affluence; defeat was to be contempt and ruin. And +still more, if the parent were convinced that his child possessed +faculties which, strenuously and unremittingly exerted, would prove +equal to all the exigences of the enterprize, but knew him also to be +volatile and inconstant, and had reason to doubt his resolution and his +vigilance; how would the friendly monitor's endeavour be redoubled, so +to possess his pupil's mind with the worth and dignity of the +undertaking, that there should be no opening for the entrance of any +inferior consideration!--"Weigh well (he would say) the value of the +object for which you are about to contend, and contemplate and study its +various excellences, till your whole soul be on fire for its +acquisition. Consider too, that, if you fail, misery and infamy are +united in the alternative which awaits you. Let not the mistaken notion +of its being a safe and easy service, for a moment beguile you into the +discontinuance or remission of your efforts. Be aware of your imminent +danger, and at the same time know your true security. It is a service of +labour and peril; but one wherein the powers which you possess, +strenuously and perseveringly exerted, cannot but crown you with +victory. Accustom yourself to look first to the dreadful consequences of +failure; then fix your eye on the glorious prize which is before you; +and when your strength begins to fail, and your spirits are well nigh +exhausted, let the animating view rekindle your resolution, and call +forth in renewed vigour the fainting energies of your soul." + +It was the remark of an unerring observer, "The children of this world +are wiser in their generation than the children of light." And it is +indisputably true, that in religion we have to argue and plead with men +for principles of action, the wisdom and expediency of which are +universally acknowledged in matters of worldly concern. So it is in the +instance before us. The case which has been just described, is an exact, +but a faint representation of our condition in this life. Frail and +"infirm of purpose," we have a business to execute of supreme and +indispensable necessity. Solicitations to neglect it every where abound: +the difficulties and dangers are numerous and urgent; and the night of +death cometh, how soon we know not, "when no man can work." All this is +granted. It seems to be a state of things wherein one should look out +with solicitude for some powerful stimulants. Mere knowledge is +confessedly too weak. The affections alone remain to supply the +deficiency. They precisely meet the occasion, and suit the purposes +intended. Yet, when we propose to fit ourselves for our great +undertaking, by calling them in to our help, we are to be told that we +are acting contrary to reason. Is this reasonable, to strip us first of +our armour of proof, and then to send us to the sharpest of encounters? +To summon us to the severest labours, but first to rob us of the +precious cordials which should brace our sinews and recruit our +strength? + +Let these pretended advocates for reason at length then confess their +folly, and do justice to the superior wisdom as well as goodness of our +heavenly Instructor, who better understanding our true condition, and +knowing our frowardness and inadvertency, has most reasonably as well as +kindly pointed out and enjoined on us the use of those aids which may +counteract our infirmities; who commanding the effect, has commanded +also the means whereby it may be accomplished. + +And now, if the use of the affections in religion, in _general_, be at +length shewn to be conformable to reason, it will not require many words +to prove that our blessed Saviour is the proper object of them. We know +that love, gratitude, joy, hope, trust, (the affections in question) +have all their appropriate objects. Now it must be at once conceded, +that if these appropriate objects be not exhibited, it is perfectly +unreasonable to expect that the correspondent passions should be +excited. If we ask for love, in the case of an object which has no +excellence or desirableness; for gratitude, where no obligation has +been conferred; for joy, where there is no just cause of +self-congratulation; for hope, where nothing is expected; for trust, +where there exists no ground of reliance; then indeed, we must kiss the +rod, and patiently submit to correction. This would be indeed Egyptian +bondage, to demand the effects without the means of producing them. Is +the case then so? Are we ready to adopt the language of the avowed +enemies of our adorable Saviour; and again to say of him "in whom +dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," that "he hath no form +nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we +should desire him[31]?" Is it no obligation, that he who "thought it not +robbery to be equal with God," should yet for our sakes "make himself of +no reputation, and take upon him the form of a servant, and be made in +the likeness of men; and humble himself, and become obedient unto death, +even the death of the cross[32]?" Is it no cause of "_joy_, that to us +is born a Saviour[33]", by whom we may "be delivered from the power of +darkness; and be made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the +saints in light[34]?" Can there be a "_hope_ comparable to that of our +calling[35]"--"Which is Christ in us, the hope of glory[36]?" Can there +be a _trust_ to be preferred to the reliance on "Christ Jesus; who is +the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever[37]?" Surely, if our Opponent +be not dead to every generous emotion, he cannot look his own objection +in the face, without a blush of shame and indignation. + + +SECTION III. + +_Consideration of the Reasonableness of Affections towards an invisible +Being._ + +But forced at last to retreat from his favourite position, and compelled +to acknowledge that the religious affections towards our blessed Saviour +are not unreasonable; he still however maintains the combat, suggesting +that by the very constitution of our nature, we are not susceptible of +them towards an invisible Being; in whose case, it will be added, we are +shut out from all those means of communication and intercourse, which +knit and cement the union between man and man. + +We mean not to deny that there is something in this objection. It might +even seem to plead the authority of Scripture in its favour--"He that +loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he +hath not seen[38]?" And it was indeed no new remark in Horace's days, + + Segnius irritant animos demissa per aures, + Quam quæ sunt oculis subjecta fidelibus. + +We receive impressions more readily from visible objects, we feel them +more strongly, and retain them more durably. But though it must be +granted that this circumstance makes it a more difficult task to +preserve the affections in question in a healthful and vigorous state; +is it thereby rendered impossible? This were indeed a most precipitate +conclusion; and any one who should be disposed to admit the truth of it, +might be at least induced to hesitate, when he should reflect that the +argument applies equally against the possibility of the love of God, a +duty of which the most cursory reader of Scripture, if he admit its +divine authority, cannot but acknowledge the indispensable obligation. +But we need only look back to the Scripture proofs which have been +lately adduced, to be convinced that the religious affections are +therein inculcated on us, as a matter of high and serious obligation. +Hence we may be assured that the impossibility stated by our Opponent +does not exist. + +Let us scrutinize this matter, however, a little more minutely, and we +shall be compelled to acknowledge, though the conclusion may make +against ourselves, that the objection vanishes when we fairly and +accurately investigate the circumstances of the case. With this view, +let us look a little into the nature of the affections of the human +mind, and endeavour to ascertain whence it is that they derive their +nutriment, and are found from experience to increase in strength. + +The state of man is such, that his feelings are not the obedient +servants of his reason, prompt at once to follow its dictates, as to +their direction, and their measure. Excellence is the just object of +love; good in expectancy, of hope; evil to be apprehended, of fear; our +fellow creatures' misfortunes, and sufferings, constitute the just +objects of pity. Each of these passions, it might be thought, would be +excited, in proportion to what our reason should inform us were the +magnitude and consequent claims of its corresponding object. But this is +by no means the case. Take first for a proof the instance of pity. We +read of slaughtered thousands with less emotion, than we hear the +particulars of a shocking accident which has happened in the next +street; the distresses of a novel, which at the same time we know to be +fictitious, affect us more than the dry narrative of a battle. We become +so much interested by these incidents of the imagination (aware all the +while that they are merely such) that we cannot speedily banish them +from our thoughts, nor recover the tone of our minds; and often, we +scarcely bring ourselves to lay down our book at the call of real +misfortune, of which we go perhaps to the relief, on a principle of +duty, but with little sense of interest or emotion of tenderness. It +were easy to shew that it is much the same in the case of the other +affections. Whatever be the cause of this disproportion, which (as +metaphysics fall not within our province) we shall not stop to examine, +the fact is undeniable. There appears naturally to be a certain +strangeness between the passion and its object, which familiarity and +the power of habit must gradually overcome. You must contrive to bring +them into _close contact_; they must be jointed and glued together by +the particularities of little incidents. Thus in the production of heat +in the physical world, the flint and the steel produce not the effect +without collision; the rudest Barbarian will tell us the necessity of +attrition, and the chemist of mixture. Now, an object, it is admitted, +is brought into _closer contact_ with its corresponding passion, by +being seen and conversed with. This we grant is one way; but does it +follow that there is no other? To assert this, would be something like +maintaining, in contradiction to universal experience, that objects of +vision alone are capable of attracting our regard. But nothing can be +more unfounded than such a supposition. It might appear to be too +nearly approaching to the ludicrous, to suggest as an example to the +contrary, the metaphysician's attachment to his insubstantial +speculations, or the zeal displayed in the pursuit, + + Extra flammantia moenia mundi, + +of abstract sciences, where there is no idea of bringing them "within +the visible diurnal sphere" to the vulgarity of practical application. +The instance of the novel before-mentioned, proves, that we may be +extremely affected by what we know to be merely ideal incidents and +beings. By much thinking or talking of any one; by using our minds to +dwell on his excellences; by placing him in imaginary situations which +interest and affect us; we find ourselves becoming insensibly more and +more attached to him: whereas it is the surest expedient for +extinguishing an attachment which already exists, to engage in such +occupations or society, as may cause our casual thoughts and more fixed +meditations to be diverted from the object of it. Ask a mother who has +been long separated from her child, especially if he has been in +circumstances of honour, or of danger, to draw her attention to him, and +to keep it in wakefulness and exercise, and she will tell you, that so +far from becoming less dear, he appears to have grown more the object of +her affections. She seems to herself to love him even better than the +child who has been living under her roof, and has been daily in her +view. How does she rejoice in his good fortune, and weep over his +distresses! With what impatience does she anticipate the time of his +return! + +We find therefore that sight and personal intercourse do not seem +necessary to the production or increase of attachment, where the means +of _close contact_ have been afforded; but on the other hand, if an +object have been prevented from coming into _close contact_, sight and +personal intercourse are not sufficient to give it the power of exciting +the affections in proportion to its real magnitude. Suppose the case of +a person whom we have often seen, and may have occasionally conversed +with, and of whom we have been told in the general, that he possesses +extraordinary merits. We assent to the assertion. But if we have no +knowledge of particulars, no close acquaintance with him, nothing in +short which brings his merits home to us, they interest us less than +what we know to be a far inferior degree of the very same qualities in +one of our common associates. A parent has several children, all +constantly under his eye, and equally dear to him. Yet if any one of +them be taken ill, it is brought into so much _closer contact_ than +before, that it seems to absorb and engross the parent's whole +affection. Thus then, though it will not be denied that an object by +being visible may thereby excite its corresponding affection with more +facility; yet this is manifestly far from being the prime consideration. +And so far are we from being the slaves of the sense of vision, that a +familiar acquaintance with the intrinsic excellences of an object, +aided, it must be admitted, by the power of habit, will render us almost +insensible to the impressions which its outward form conveys, and able +entirely to lose the consciousness of an unsightly exterior. + +We may be permitted to remark, that the foregoing observations furnish +an explanation, less discreditable than that which has been sometimes +given, of an undoubted phænomenon in the human mind, that the greatest +public misfortunes, however the understanding may lecture, are apt +really to affect our feelings less than the most trivial disaster which +happens to ourselves. An eminent writer[39] scarcely overstated the +point when he observed, "that it would occasion a man of humanity more +real disturbance to know that he was the next morning to lose his little +finger, than to hear that the great empire of China had been suddenly +swallowed up by an earthquake. The thoughts of the former, would keep +him awake all night; in the latter case, after making many melancholy +reflections on the precariousness of human life, and the vanity of all +the labours of man which could be thus annihilated in a moment; after a +little speculation too perhaps on the causes of the disaster, and its +effects in the political and commercial world; he would pursue his +business or his pleasure with the same ease and tranquillity as if no +such accident had happened; and snore at night with the most profound +serenity over the ruin of a hundred million of his fellow creatures. +Selfishness is not the cause of this, for the most unfeeling brute on +earth would surely think nothing of the loss of a finger, if he could +thereby prevent so dreadful a calamity." This doctrine of _contact_ +which has been opened above, affords a satisfactory solution; and from +all which has been said (the writer has reason perhaps to apologize for +the length of the discussion) the circumstances, by which the affections +of the mind towards any particular object are generated and +strengthened, may be easily collected. The chief of these appear to be, +whatever tends to give a distinct and lively impression of the object, +by setting before us its minute parts, and by often drawing towards it +the thoughts and affections, so as to invest it by degrees with a +confirmed ascendency: whatever tends to excite and to keep in exercise a +lively interest in its behalf: in other words; full knowledge, distinct +and frequent mental entertainment, and pathetic contemplations. +Supposing these means to have been used in any given degree, it may be +expected, that they will be more or less efficacious, in proportion as +the intrinsic qualities of the object afford greater or less scope for +their operation, and more or fewer materials with which to work. Can it +then be conceived, that they will be of no avail when steadily practised +in the case of our Redeemer! If the principles of love, and gratitude, +and joy, and hope, and trust, are not utterly extinct within us, they +cannot but be called forth by the various corresponding objects which +that blessed contemplation would gradually bring forth to our view. Well +might the language of the apostle be addressed to Christians, "Whom +having _not seen_ ye love; in whom, though now ye _see him not_, yet +believing, ye _rejoice_ with joy unspeakable, and full of glory[40]." + +BUT fresh considerations pour in to render in this instance, the plea of +its being impossible to love an invisible being, still more invalid. Our +blessed Saviour, if we may be permitted so to say, is not removed far +from us; and the various relations in which we stand towards him, seem +purposely made known to us, in order to furnish so many different bonds +of connection with him, and consequent occasions of continual +intercourse. He exhibits not himself to us "dark with excessive +brightness," but is let down as it were to the possibilities of human +converse. We may not think that he is incapable of entering into our +little concerns, and sympathizing with them; for we are graciously +assured that he is not one "who cannot be touched with the feeling of +our infirmities, having been in all points tempted like as we are[41]." +The figures under which he is represented, are such as convey ideas of +the utmost tenderness. "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he +shall gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and +shall gently lead those that are with young[42]."--"They shall not +hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor sun smite them; for he +that hath mercy on them, shall lead them, even by the springs of water +shall he guide them[43]." "I will not leave you orphans[44]" was one of +his last consolatory declarations[45]. The children of Christ are here +separated indeed from the personal view of him; but not from his +paternal affection and paternal care. Meanwhile let them quicken their +regards by the animating anticipation of that blessed day, when he "who +is gone to prepare a place for them, will come again to receive them +unto himself." Then shall they be admitted to his more immediate +presence: "Now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: +now I know in part; but then shall I know, even as I am known[46]." + +Surely more than enough has been now said to prove that this particular +case, from its very nature, furnishes the most abundant and powerful +considerations and means for exciting the feelings; and it might be +contended, without fear of refutation, that by the diligent and habitual +use of those considerations and means, we might with confident +expectation of success, engage in the work of raising our affections +towards our blessed Saviour to a state of due force and activity. But, +blessed be God, we have a still better reliance; for the grand +circumstance of all yet remains behind, which the writer has been led to +defer, from his wish to contend with his opponents on their own ground. +This circumstance is, that here, no less than in other particulars, the +Christian's hope is founded, not on the speculations or the strength of +man, but on the declaration of Him who cannot lie, on the power of +Omnipotence. + +We learn from the Scriptures that it is one main part of the operations +of the Holy Spirit, to implant these heavenly principles in the human +mind, and to cherish their growth. We are encouraged to believe that in +answer to our prayers, this aid from above will give efficacy to our +earnest endeavours, if used in humble dependence on divine grace. We may +therefore with confidence take the means which have been suggested. But +let us, in our turn, be permitted to ask our opponents, have _they_ +humbly and perseveringly applied for this divine strength? or +disclaiming that assistance, perhaps as tempting them to indolence, +have they been so much the more strenuous and unwearied in the use of +their own unaided endeavours? or rather have they not been equally +negligent of both? Renouncing the one, they have wholly omitted the +other. But this is far from being all. They even reverse all the methods +which we have recommended as being calculated to increase regard; and +exactly follow that course which would be pursued by any one who should +wish to reduce an excessive affection. Yet thus leaving untried all the +means, which, whether from Reason or Scripture, we maintain to be +necessary to the production of the end, nay using such as are of a +directly opposite nature, these men presume to talk to us of +impossibilities! We may rather contend that they furnish a fresh proof +of the soundness of our reasonings. We lay it down as a fundamental +position, that speculative knowledge alone, that mere superficial +cursory considerations, will be of no avail. Nothing is to be done +without the diligent continued use of the appointed method. They +themselves afford an instance of the truth of our assertions; and while +they supply no argument against the efficacy of the mode prescribed, +they acknowledge at least that they are wholly ignorant of any other. + +BUT let us now turn our eyes to Christians of a higher order, to those +who have actually proved the truth of our reasonings; who have not only +assumed the name, but who have possessed the substance, and felt the +power of Christianity; who though often foiled by their remaining +corruptions, and shamed and cast down under a sense of their many +imperfections, have known in their better seasons, what it was to +experience its firm hope, its dignified joy, its unshaken trust, its +more than human consolations. In their hearts, love also towards their +Redeemer has glowed; a love not _superficial_ and unmeaning (think not +that this would be the subject of our praise) but constant and rational, +resulting from a strong impression of the worth of its object, and +heightened by an abiding sense of great, unmerited, and continually +accumulating obligations; ever manifesting itself in acts of diligent +obedience, or of patient suffering. Such was the religion of the holy +martyrs of the sixteenth century, the illustrious ornaments of the +English church. They realized the theory which we have now been faintly +tracing. Look to their writings, and you will find that their thoughts +and affections had been much exercised in habitual views of the blessed +Jesus. Thus they used the required _means_. What were the _effects_? +Persecution and distress, degradation and contempt in vain assailed +them--all these evils served but to bring their affections into _closer +contact_ with their object; and not only did their love feel no +diminution or abatement, but it rose to all the exigencies of the +occasion, and burned with an increase of ardor; and when brought forth +at last to a cruel and ignominious death, they repined not at their +fate; but rather rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for +the name of Christ. By the blessing of God the writer might refer to +still more recent times. But lest his authorities should be disputed, +let us go to the Apostles of our Lord; and while, on a very cursory +perusal of their writings, we must acknowledge that they commend and +even prescribe to us the love of Christ, as one of the chief of the +Christian graces; so on a more attentive inspection of those writings, +we shall discover abundant proofs that they were themselves bright +examples of their own precept; that our blessed Saviour was really the +object of their warmest affection, and what he had done and suffered for +them the continual matter of their grateful remembrance. + +The disposition so prevalent in the bulk of nominal Christians, to form +a religious system for themselves, instead of taking it from the word of +God, is strikingly observable in their scarcely admitting, except in the +most vague and general sense, the doctrine of the influence of the Holy +Spirit. If we look into the Scriptures for information on this +particular, we learn a very different lesson. We are in them distinctly +taught, that "of ourselves we can do nothing;" that "we are by nature +children of wrath," and under the power of the evil spirit, our +understandings being naturally dark, and our hearts averse from +spiritual things; and we are directed to pray for the influence of the +Holy Spirit to enlighten our understandings, to dissipate our +prejudices, to purify our corrupt minds, and to renew us after the image +of our heavenly Father. It is this influence which is represented as +originally awakening us from slumber, as enlightening us in darkness, as +"quickening us when dead[47]," as "delivering us from the power of the +devil," as drawing us to God, as "translating us into the kingdom of his +dear Son[48]," as "creating us anew in Christ Jesus[49]," as "dwelling +in us, and walking in us[50];" so that "putting off the old man with his +deeds," we are to consider ourselves as "having put on the new man, +which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created +him[51]"; and as those who are to be "an habitation of God through the +Spirit[52]." It is by this Divine assistance only that we can grow in +Grace, and improve in all Holiness. So expressly, particularly, and +repeatedly does the word of God inculcate these lessons, that one would +think there were scarcely room for any difference of opinion among those +who admit its authority. Sometimes[53] the whole of a Christian's +repentance and faith, and consequent holiness, are ascribed _generally_ +to the Divine influence; sometimes these are spoken of separately, and +ascribed to the same Almighty power. Sometimes different particular +graces of the Christian character, those which respect our duties and +tempers towards our fellow-creatures, no less than those which have +reference to the Supreme Being, are particularly traced to this source. +Sometimes they are all referred collectively to this common root, being +comprehended under the compendious denomination of "the Fruits of the +Spirit." In exact correspondence with these representations, this aid +from above is promised in other parts of Scripture for the production of +those effects; and the withholding or withdrawing of it is occasionally +threatened as a punishment for the sins of men, and as one of the most +fatal consequences of the Divine displeasure. + +The Liturgy of the church of England strictly agrees with the +representation, which has been here given of the instructions of the +word of God. + + +SECT. IV. + +_Inadequate conceptions entertained by nominal Christians of the terms +of acceptance with God._ + +If then it be indeed as so has been now stated; that, in contradiction +to the plainest dictates of Scripture, and to the ritual of our +established Church, the sanctifying operations of the Holy Spirit, the +first fruits of our reconciliation to God, the purchase of our +Redeemer's death, and his best gift to his true disciples, are too +generally undervalued and slighted; if it be also true, as was formerly +proved, that our thoughts of the blessed Saviour are confused and faint, +our affections towards him languid and lukewarm, little proportioned to +what they, who at such a price have been rescued from ruin, and endowed +with a title to eternal glory, might be justly expected to feel towards +the Author of their deliverance; little proportioned to what has been +felt by others, ransomed from the same ruin, and partakers of the same +inheritance: if this, let it be repeated, be indeed so, let us not shut +our eyes against the perception of our real state; but rather endeavour +to trace the evil to its source. We are loudly called on to _examine +well our foundations_. If any thing be _there_ unsound and hollow, the +superstructure could not be safe, though its exterior were less +suspicious. Let the question then be asked, and let the answer be +returned with all the consideration and solemnity which a question so +important may justly demand, whether, in the grand concern of all, _the +means of a sinner's acceptance with God_, there be not reason to +apprehend, that the nominal Christians whom we have been addressing, too +generally entertain very superficial, and confused, and (to speak in the +softest terms) highly dangerous notions? Is there not cause to fear, +that with little more than an indistinct and nominal reference to Him +who "bore our sins in his own body on the tree," they really rest their +eternal hopes on a vague, general persuasion of the unqualified mercy of +the Supreme Being; or that, still more erroneously, they rely in the +main, on their own negative or positive merits? "They can look upon +their lives with an impartial eye, and congratulate themselves on their +inoffensiveness in society; on their having been exempt, at least, from +any gross vice, or if sometimes accidentally betrayed into it, on its +never having been indulged habitually; or if not even so" (for there are +but few who can say this, if the term vice be explained according to the +strict requisitions of the Gospel) "yet on the balance being in their +favour, or on the whole, not much against them, when their good and bad +actions are fairly weighed, and due allowance is made for human +frailty." These considerations are sufficient for the most part to +compose their apprehensions; these are the cordials which they find most +at hand in the moments of serious thought, or of occasional dejection; +and sometimes perhaps in seasons of less than ordinary self-complacency, +they call in also to their aid the general persuasion of the unbounded +mercy and pity of God. Yet persons of this description by no means +disclaim a Saviour, or avowedly relinquish their title to a share in the +benefits of his death. They close their petitions with the name of +Christ; but if not chiefly from the effect of habit, or out of decent +conformity to the established faith, yet surely with something of the +same ambiguity of principle which influenced the expiring philosopher, +when he ordered the customary mark of homage to be paid to the god of +medicine. + +Others go farther than this; for there are many shades of difference +between those who flatly renounce, and those who cordially embrace the +doctrine of Redemption by Christ. This class has a sort of general, +indeterminate, and ill understood dependence on our blessed Saviour. But +their hopes, so far as they can be distinctly made out (for their views +also are very obscure) appear ultimately to bottom on the persuasion +that they are now, through Christ, become members of a new dispensation, +wherein they will be tried by a more lenient rule than that to which +they must have been otherwise subject. "God will not now be extreme to +mark what is done amiss; but will dispense with the rigorous exactions +of his law, too strict indeed for such frail creatures as we are to hope +that we can fulfil it. Christianity has moderated the requisitions of +Divine Justice; and all which is now required of us, is thankfully to +trust to the merits of Christ for the pardon of our sins, and the +acceptance of our sincere though imperfect obedience. The frailties and +infirmities to which our nature is liable, or to which our situation in +life exposes us, will not be severely judged: and as it is practice that +really determines the character, we may rest satisfied, that if on the +whole our lives be tolerably good, we shall escape with little or no +punishment, and through Jesus Christ our Lord, shall be finally +partakers of heavenly felicity." + +We cannot dive into the human heart, and therefore should always speak +with caution and diffidence, when from external appearances or +declarations we are affirming the existence of any internal principles +and feelings; especially as we are liable to be misled by the +ambiguities of language, or by the inaccuracy with which others may +express themselves. But it is sometimes not difficult to any one who is +accustomed, if the phrase may be allowed, to the anatomy of the human +mind, to discern, that generally speaking, the persons who use the above +language, rely not so much on the merits of Christ, and on the agency of +Divine Grace, as on their own power of fulfilling the moderated +requisitions of Divine Justice. He will hence therefore discover in them +a disposition rather to extenuate the malignity of their disease, than +to magnify the excellence of the proffered remedy. He will find them apt +to palliate in themselves what they cannot fully justify, to enhance the +merit of what they believe to be their good qualities and commendable +actions, to set as it were in an account the good against the bad; and +if the result be not very unfavourable, they conceive that they shall be +entitled to claim the benefits of our Saviour's sufferings as a thing of +course. They have little idea, so little, that it might almost be +affirmed that they have no idea at all, of the importance or difficulty +of the duty of what the Scripture calls "submitting ourselves to the +righteousness of God;" or of our proneness rather to justify ourselves +in his sight, than in the language of imploring penitents to acknowledge +ourselves guilty and helpless sinners. They have never summoned +themselves to this entire and unqualified renunciation of their own +merits, and their own strength; and therefore they remain strangers to +the natural loftiness of the human heart, which such a call would have +awakened into action, and roused to resistance. ALL THESE THEIR SEVERAL +ERRORS NATURALLY RESULT FROM THE MISTAKEN CONCEPTION ENTERTAINED OF THE +FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIANITY. They consider not that +Christianity is a scheme for "justifying _the ungodly_[54]," by Christ's +dying for them "_when yet sinners_[55][56];" a scheme "for reconciling +us to God--_when enemies_;" and for making the fruits of holiness _the +effects[57], not the cause_, of our being justified and reconciled: +that, in short, it opens freely the door of mercy, to the greatest and +vilest of penitent sinners; that obeying the blessed impulse of the +grace of God, whereby they had been awakened from the sleep of death, +and moved to seek for pardon, they might enter in, and through the +regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit might be enabled to bring +forth the fruits of Righteousness. But they rather conceive of +Christianity as opening the door of mercy, that those who on the ground +of their own merits could not have hoped to justify themselves before +God, may yet be admitted for Christ's sake, on condition of their having +previously satisfied the moderated requisitions of Divine Justice. In +speaking to others also of the Gospel scheme, they are apt to talk too +much of terms and performances on our part, on which we become entitled +to an interest in the sufferings of Christ; instead of stating the +benefits of Christ's satisfaction as extended to us freely, "without +money and without price." + +THE _practical_ consequences of these errors are such as might be +expected. They tend to prevent that sense which we ought to entertain of +our own natural misery and helplessness; and that deep feeling of +gratitude for the merits and intercession of Christ, to which we are +wholly indebted for our reconciliation to God, and for the will and the +power, from first to last, to work out our own salvation. They consider +it too much in the light of a contract between two parties, wherein +each, independently of the other, has his own distinct condition to +perform; man--to do his duty; God--to justify and accept for Christ's +sake: If they fail not in the discharge of their condition, assuredly +the condition on God's part will be faithfully fulfilled. Accordingly, +we find in fact, that they who represent the Gospel scheme in the manner +above described, give evidence of the subject with which their hearts +are most filled, by their proneness to run into merely moral +disquisitions, either not mentioning at all, or at least but cursorily +touching on the sufferings and love of their Redeemer; and are little +apt to kindle at their Saviour's name, and like the apostles to be +betrayed by their fervor into what may be almost an untimely descant on +the riches of his unutterable mercy. In addressing others also whom they +conceive to be living in habits of sin, and under the wrath of God, they +rather advise them to amend their ways as a preparation for their coming +to Christ, than exhort them to throw themselves with deep prostration of +soul at the foot of the cross, there to obtain pardon and find grace to +help in time of need. + +The great importance of the subject in question will justify our having +been thus particular. It has arisen from a wish that on a question of +such magnitude, to mistake our meaning should be impossible. But after +all which has been said, let it also be remembered, that except so far +as the instruction of others is concerned, the point of importance is, +the internal disposition of the mind; _where_ the dependence for pardon, +and for holiness, is really placed; not what the language is, in which +men express themselves. And it is to be hoped that he who searches the +heart, sees the right dispositions in many who use the mistaken and +dangerous language to which we have objected. + +If this so generally prevailing error concerning the nature of the +Gospel offer be in any considerable degree just; it will then explain +that so generally prevailing languor in the affections towards our +blessed Saviour which was formerly remarked, and that inadequate +impression of the necessity and value of the assistance of the divine +Spirit. According to the soundest principles of reasoning, it may be +also adduced as an additional proof of the correctness of our present +statement, that it so exactly falls in with those phænomena, and so +naturally accounts for them. For even admitting that the persons above +mentioned, particularly the last class, do at the bottom rely on the +atonement of Christ; yet on their scheme, it must necessarily happen, +that the object to which they are most accustomed to look, with which +their thoughts are chiefly conversant, from which they most habitually +derive complacency, is rather their own qualified merit and services, +though confessed to be inadequate, than the sufferings and atoning death +of a crucified Saviour. The affections towards our blessed Lord +therefore (according to the theory of the passions formerly laid down) +cannot be expected to flourish, because they receive not that which was +shewn to be necessary to their nutriment and growth. If we would love +him as affectionately, and rejoice in him as triumphantly as the first +Christians did; we must learn like them to repose our entire trust in +him, and to adopt the language of the apostle, "God forbid that I should +glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ[58]"--"Who of God is +made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification, and +redemption[59]." + +Doubtless there have been too many who, to their eternal ruin, have +abused the doctrine of Salvation by Grace; and have vainly trusted in +Christ for pardon and acceptance, when by their vicious lives they have +plainly proved the groundlessness of their pretensions. The tree is to +be known by its fruits; and there is too much reason to fear that there +is no principle of faith, when it does not decidedly evince itself by +the fruits of holiness. Dreadful indeed will be the doom, above that of +all others, of those loose professors of Christianity, to whom at the +last day our blessed Saviour will address those words, "I never knew +you; depart from me, all ye that work iniquity." But the danger of error +on this side ought not to render us insensible to the opposite error; an +error against which in these days it seems particularly necessary to +guard. It is far from the intention of the writer of this work to enter +into the niceties of controversy. But surely without danger of being +thought to violate this design, he may be permitted to contend, that +they who in the main believe the doctrines of the church of England, are +bound to allow that our dependence on our blessed Saviour, as alone the +meritorious cause of our acceptance with God, and as the means of all +its blessed fruits and glorious consequences, must be not merely formal +and nominal, but real and substantial: not vague, qualified, and +partial, but direct, cordial, and entire. "Repentance towards God, and +faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ," was the sum of the apostolical +instructions. It is not an occasional invocation of the name, or a +transient recognition of the authority of Christ, that fills up the +measure of the terms, _believing in Jesus_. This we shall find no such +easy task; and if we trust that we do believe, we should all perhaps do +well to cry out in the words of an imploring suppliant (he supplicated +not in vain) "Lord help thou our unbelief." We must be deeply conscious +of our guilt and misery, heartily repenting of our sins, and firmly +resolving to forsake them: and thus penitently "fleeing for refuge to +the hope set before us," we must found altogether on the merit of the +crucified Redeemer our hopes of escape from their deserved punishment, +and of deliverance from their enslaving power. This must be our first, +our last, our only plea. We are to surrender ourselves up to him to "be +washed in his blood[60]," to be sanctified by his Spirit, resolving to +receive him for our Lord and Master, to learn in his school, to obey all +his commandments. + +It may perhaps be not unnecessary, after having treated so largely on +this important topic, to add a few words in order to obviate a charge +which may be urged against us, that we are insisting on nice and +abstruse distinctions in what is a matter of general concern; and this +too in a system, which on its original promulgation was declared to be +peculiarly intended for the simple and poor. It will be abundantly +evident however on a little reflection, and experience fully proves the +position, that what has been required is not the perception of a subtile +distinction, but a state and condition of heart. To the former, the poor +and the ignorant must be indeed confessed unequal; but they are far less +indisposed than the great and the learned, to bow down to that +"preaching of the cross which is to them that perish foolishness, but +unto them that are saved the power of God, and the wisdom of God." The +poor are not liable to be puffed up by the intoxicating fumes of +ambition and worldly grandeur. They are less likely to be kept from +entering into the strait and narrow way, and when they have entered to +be drawn back again or to be retarded in their progress, by the cares or +the pleasures of life. They may express themselves ill; but their views +may be simple, and their hearts humble, penitent, and sincere. It is as +in other cases; the vulgar are the subjects of phænomena, the learned +explain them: the former know nothing of the theory of vision or of +sentiment; but this ignorance hinders not that they see and think, and +though unable to discourse elaborately on the passions, they can feel +warmly for their children, their friends, their country. + +After this digression, if that be indeed a digression which by removing +a formidable objection renders the truth of the positions we wish to +establish more clear and less questionable, we may now resume the thread +of our argument. Still intreating therefore the attention of those, who +have not been used to think much of the necessity of this undivided, +and, if it may be so termed, unadulterated reliance, for which we have +been contending; we would still more particularly address ourselves to +others who are disposed to believe that though, in some obscure and +vague sense, the death of Christ as the satisfaction for our sins, and +for the purchase of our future happiness, and the sanctifying influence +of the Holy Spirit, are to be admitted as fundamental articles of our +creed, yet that these are doctrines so much above us, that they are not +objects suited to our capacities; and that, turning our eyes therefore +from these difficult speculations, we should fix them on the practical +and moral precepts of the Gospel. "These it most concerns us to know; +these therefore let us study. Such is the frailty of our nature, such +the strength and number of our temptations to evil, that in reducing the +Gospel morality to practice we shall find full employment: and by +attending to these moral precepts, rather than to those high mysterious +doctrines which you are pressing on us, we shall best prepare to appear +before God on that tremendous day, when 'He shall judge every man +according to his WORKS.'" + + "Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy!" + +It will at once destroy this flimsy web, to reply in the words of our +blessed Saviour, and of his beloved Disciple--"This is the _work_ of +God, that ye _believe_ in him whom he hath sent[61]." "This is his +_commandment_, that we should _believe_ on the name of his Son Jesus +Christ[62]." In truth, if we consider but for a moment the opinions +(they scarcely deserve the name of system) of men who argue thus, we +must be conscious of their absurdity. This may be not inconsistently the +language of the modern Unitarian; but surely it is in the highest degree +unreasonable to admit into our scheme all the grand peculiarities of +Christianity, and having admitted, to neglect and think no more of them! +"Wherefore" (might the Socinian say) "Wherefore all this costly and +complicated machinery? It is like the Tychonic astronomy, encumbered and +self-convicted by its own complicated relations and useless +perplexities. It is so little like the simplicity of nature, it is so +unworthy of the divine hand, that it even offends against those rules of +propriety which we require to be observed in the imperfect compositions +of the human intellect[63]." + +Well may the Socinian assume this lofty tone, with those whom we are now +addressing. If these be indeed the doctrines of Revelation, common sense +suggests to us that from their nature and their magnitude, they deserve +our most serious regard. It is the very theology of Epicurus to allow +the existence of these "heavenly things," but to deny their connection +with human concerns, and their influence on human actions. Besides the +unreasonableness of this conduct, we might strongly urge also in this +connection the prophaneness of thus treating as matters of subordinate +consideration those parts of the system of Christianity, which are so +strongly impressed on our reverence by the dignity of the person to whom +they relate. This very argument is indeed repeatedly and pointedly +pressed by the sacred writers[64]. + +Nor is the prophane irreverence of this conduct more striking than its +ingratitude. When from reading that our Saviour was "the brightness of +his Father's glory, and the express image of his person, upholding all +things by the word of his power," we go on to consider the purpose for +which he came on earth, and all that he did and suffered for us; surely +if we have a spark of ingenuousness left within us, we shall condemn +ourselves as guilty of the blackest ingratitude, in rarely noticing, or +coldly turning away, on whatever shallow pretences, from the +contemplation of these miracles of mercy. For those baser minds however +on which fear alone can operate, that motive is superadded: and we are +plainly forewarned, both directly and indirectly, by the example of the +Jewish nation, that God will not hold them guiltless who are thus +unmindful of his most signal acts of condescension and kindness. But as +this is a question of pure Revelation, reasonings from probability may +not be deemed decisive. To Revelation therefore we must appeal; and as +it might be to trespass on the reader's patience fully to discuss this +most important subject, we must refer him to the sacred Writings +themselves for complete satisfaction. We would earnestly recommend it to +him to weigh with the utmost seriousness those passages of Scripture +wherein the peculiar doctrines of Christianity are expressly mentioned; +and farther, to attend with due regard to the illustration and +confirmation, which the conclusions resulting from those passages +receive incidentally from the word of God. They who maintain the opinion +which we are combating, will hereby become convinced that their's is +indeed an _unscriptural_ Religion; and will learn instead of turning off +their eyes from the grand peculiarities of Christianity, to keep these +ever in view, as the pregnant principles whence all the rest must derive +their origin, and receive their best support[65]. + +Let us then each for himself solemnly ask ourselves, whether _we_ have +fled for refuge to the appointed hope? And whether we are habitually +looking to it, as to the only source of consolation? "Other foundation +can no man lay:" there is no other ground of dependence, no other plea +for pardon; but _here_ there _is_ hope, even to the uttermost. Let us +labour then to affect our hearts with a deep conviction of our need of a +Redeemer, and of the value of his offered mediation. Let us fall down +humbly before the throne of God, imploring pity and pardon in the name +of the Son of his love. Let us beseech him to give us a true spirit of +repentance, and of hearty undivided faith in the Lord Jesus. Let us not +be satisfied till the cordiality of our belief be confirmed to us by +that character of the Apostle, "that to as many as believe Christ is +precious;" and let us strive to increase daily in _love_ towards our +blessed Saviour; and pray earnestly that "we may be filled with _Joy_ +and _Peace_ in believing, that we may abound in _Hope_ through the power +of the Holy Ghost." Let us diligently put in practice the directions +formerly given for cherishing and cultivating the principle of the Love +of Christ. With this view let us labour assiduously to increase in +knowledge, that ours may be a deeply rooted and rational affection. By +frequent meditation on the incidents of our Saviour's life, and still +more on the astonishing circumstances of his death; by often calling to +mind the state from which he proposes to rescue us, and the glories of +his heavenly kingdom; by continual intercourse with him of prayer and +praise, of dependence and confidence in dangers, of hope and joy in our +brighter hours, let us endeavour to keep him constantly present to our +minds, and to render all our conceptions of him more distinct, lively, +and intelligent. The title of Christian is a reproach to us, if we +estrange ourselves from Him after whom we are denominated. The name of +Jesus is not to be to _us_ like the Allah of the Mahometans, a talisman +or an amulet to be worn on the arm, as an external badge merely and +symbol of our profession, and to preserve us from evil by some +mysterious and unintelligible potency; but it is to be engraven deeply +on the heart, there written by the finger of God himself in everlasting +characters. It is our title known and understood to present peace and +future glory. The assurance which it conveys of a bright reversion, will +lighten the burthens, and alleviate the sorrows of life; and in some +happier moments, it will impart to us somewhat of that fulness of joy +which is at God's right hand, enabling us to join even here in the +heavenly Hosannah, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, +and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and +blessing[66]." "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him +that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever[67]." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_On the prevailing inadequate Conceptions concerning the Nature and the +Strictness of_ PRACTICAL _Christianity._ + + +SECT. I. + +One part of this title may perhaps on the first view excite some +surprise in any one, who may have drawn a hasty inference from the +charges conveyed by the two preceding chapters. Such an one might be +disposed to expect, that they who have very low conceptions of the +corruption of human nature, would be proportionably less indulgent to +human frailty; and that they who lay little stress on Christ's +satisfaction for sin, or on the operations of the Holy Spirit, would be +more high and rigid in their demands of diligent endeavours after +universal holiness; since their scheme implies that we must depend +chiefly on our own exertions and performances for our acceptance with +God. + +But any such expectations as these would be greatly disappointed. There +is in fact a region of truth, and a region of errors. They who hold the +fundamental doctrines of Scripture in their due force, hold also in its +due degree of purity the practical system which Scripture inculcates. +But they who explain away the former, soften down the latter also, and +reduce it to the level of their own defective scheme. It is not from any +confidence in the superior amount of their own performances, or in the +greater vigour of their own exertions, that they reconcile themselves to +their low views of the satisfaction of Christ, and of the influence of +the Spirit; but it should rather seem their plan so to depress the +required standard of practice, that no man need fall short of it, that +no superior aid can be wanted for enabling us to attain to it. It +happens however with respect to their simple method of morality, as in +the case of the short ways to knowledge, of which some vain pretenders +have vaunted themselves to be possessed: despising the beaten track in +which more sober and humble spirits have been content to tread, they +have indignantly struck into new and untried paths; but these have +failed of conducting them to the right object, and have issued only in +ignorance and conceit. + +It seems in our days to be the commonly received opinion, that provided +a man admit in general terms the truth of Christianity, though he know +not or consider not much concerning the particulars of the system; and +if he be not habitually guilty of any of the grosser vices against his +fellow creatures, we have no great reason to be dissatisfied with him, +or to question the validity of his claim to the name and consequent +privileges of a Christian. The title implies no more than a sort of +formal, general assent to Christianity in the gross, and a degree of +morality in practice, but little if at all superior to that for which we +look in a good Deist, Mussulman, or Hindoo. + +If any one be disposed to deny that this is a fair representation of the +religion of the bulk of the Christian world, he might be asked, whether +if it were proved to them beyond dispute that Christianity is a mere +forgery, would this occasion any great change in their conduct or habits +of mind? Would any alteration be made in consequence of this discovery, +except in a few of their speculative opinions, which, when distinct from +practice, it is a part of their own system, as has been before remarked, +to think of little consequence, and in their attendance on public +worship, which however (knowing the good effects of religion upon the +lower orders of the people) they might still think it better to attend +occasionally for example's sake? Would not their regard for their +character, their health, their domestic and social comforts, still +continue to restrain them from vicious excesses, and to prompt them to +persist in the discharge, according to their present measure, of the +various duties of their stations? Would they find themselves +dispossessed of what had been to them hitherto the repository of counsel +and instruction, the rule of their conduct, their habitual source of +peace, and hope, and consolation? + +It were needless to put these questions. They are answered in fact +already by the lives of many known unbelievers, between whom and these +professed Christians, even the familiar associates of both, though men +of discernment and observation, would discover little difference either +in conduct or temper of mind. How little then does Christianity deserve +that title to novelty and superiority which has been almost universally +admitted; that pre-eminence, as a practical code, over all other systems +of ethics! How unmerited are the praises which have been lavished upon +it by its friends; praises, in which even its enemies (not in general +disposed to make concessions in its favour) have so often been unwarily +drawn in to acquiesce! + +Was it then for this, that the Son of God condescended to become our +instructor and our pattern, leaving us an example that we might tread in +his steps? Was it for this that the apostles of Christ voluntarily +submitted to hunger and nakedness and pain, and ignominy and death, when +forewarned too by their Master that such would be their treatment? That, +after all, their disciples should attain to no higher a strain of virtue +than those who rejecting their Divine authority, should still adhere to +the old philosophy? + +But it may perhaps be objected that we are forgetting an observation +which we ourselves have made, that Christianity has raised the general +standard of morals; to which therefore Infidelity herself now finds it +prudent to conform, availing herself of the pure morality of +Christianity, and sometimes wishing to usurp to herself the credit of +it, while she stigmatizes the authors with the epithets of ignorant +dupes or designing impostors! + +But let it then be asked, are the motives of Christianity so little +necessary to the practice of it, its principles to its conclusions, that +the one may be spared and yet the other remain in undiminished force? +Still then, its _Doctrines_ are no more than a barren and inapplicable +or at least an unnecessary theory, the place of which, it may perhaps be +added, would be well supplied by a more simple and less costly scheme. + +But can it be? Is Christianity then reduced to a mere creed? Is its +practical influence bounded within a few external plausibilities? Does +its essence consist only in a few speculative opinions, and a few +useless and unprofitable tenets? And can this be the ground of that +portentous distinction, which is so unequivocally made by the Evangelist +between those who accept, and those who reject the Gospel: "He that +believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not +the Son, shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth on him?" This +were to run into the very error which the bulk of professed Christians +would be most forward to condemn, of making an unproductive faith the +rule of God's future judgment, and the ground of an eternal separation. +Thus not unlike the rival circumnavigators from Spain and Portugal, who +setting out in contrary directions, found themselves in company at the +very time they thought themselves farthest from each other; so the bulk +of professed Christians arrive, though by a different course, almost at +the very same point, and occupy nearly the same station as a set of +enthusiasts, who also rest upon a barren faith, to whom on the first +view they might be thought the most nearly opposite, and whose tenets +they with reason profess to hold in peculiar detestation. By what +pernicious courtesy of language is it, that this wretched system has +been flattered with the name of Christianity. + +The morality of the Gospel is not so slight a fabric. Christianity +throughout the whole extent exhibits proofs of its Divine original, and +its practical precepts are no less pure than its doctrines are sublime. +Can the compass of language furnish injunctions stricter in their +measure or larger in their comprehension, than those with which the word +of God abounds; "_Whatsoever_ ye do in _word_ or _deed_, do _all_ in the +name of the Lord Jesus;"--"Be _ye_ holy, _for God is holy_:"--"Be ye +_perfect_ as your Father which is in Heaven is _perfect_?" We are +commanded to _perfect_ holiness, to go on unto _perfection_. + +Such are the Scripture admonitions; and surely they to whom such +admonitions are addressed, may not safely acquiesce in low attainments: +a conclusion to which also we are led by the force of the expressions by +which Christians are characterized in Scripture, and by the radical and +thorough change, which is represented as taking place in any man on his +becoming a real Christian. "Every one," it is said, "that hath this +hope, purifieth himself even as God is pure:" true Christians are said +to be "partakers of the Divine nature;"--"to be created anew in the +image of God;"--"to be temples of the Holy Ghost;" the effects of which +must appear "in _all_ goodness and righteousness and truth." + +Great as was the progress which the apostle Paul had made in all virtue, +he declares of himself that _he_ still presses forward, "forgetting the +things which are behind, and reaching forth unto the things which are +before." He prays for his beloved disciples, "that they may be _filled_ +with _all_ the fulness of God;" that they may be _filled_ "with the +fruits of righteousness:" "that they might walk worthy of the Lord unto +_all_ pleasing, being fruitful in _every_ good work." Nor is it a less +pregnant and comprehensive petition, which, from our blessed Saviour's +inserting it in that form of prayer which he has given as a model for +our imitation, we may infer ought to be the habitual sentiment of our +hearts; "Thy will be done in Earth _as it is in Heaven_." + +These few extracts from the word of God will serve abundantly to +vindicate the _strictness_ of the Christian morality: but this point +will however be still more fully established, when we proceed to +investigate the _nature_, _essence_, and _governing principles_ of the +Christian character. + +It is the grand essential practical characteristic of true Christians, +that relying on the promises to repenting sinners of acceptance through +the Redeemer, they have renounced and abjured all other masters, and +have cordially and unreservedly devoted themselves to God. This is +indeed the very figure which baptism daily represents to us: like the +father of Hannibal, we there bring our infant to the altar, we +consecrate him to the service of _his proper owner_, and vow _in his +name_ eternal hostilities against all the enemies of his salvation. +After the same manner Christians are become the sworn enemies of sin; +they will henceforth hold no parley with it, they will allow it in no +shape, they will admit it to no composition; the war which they have +denounced against it, is cordial, universal, irreconcilable. + +But this not all--It is now their determined purpose to yield themselves +without reserve to the reasonable service of their rightful Sovereign. +"They are not their own:"--their bodily and mental faculties, their +natural and acquired endowments, their substance, their authority, their +time, their influence; all these, they consider as belonging to them, +not for their own gratification, but as so many instruments to be +consecrated to the honour and employed in the service of God. This must +be the master principle to which every other must be subordinate. +Whatever may have been hitherto their ruling passion; whatever hitherto +their leading pursuit; whether sensual, or intellectual, of science, of +taste, of fancy, or of feeling, it must now possess but a secondary +place; or rather (to speak more correctly) it must exist only at the +pleasure, and be put altogether under the controul and direction, of its +true and legitimate superior. + +Thus it is the prerogative of Christianity "to bring into captivity +_every thought_ to the obedience of Christ." They who really feel its +power, are resolved (in the language of Scripture) "to live no longer to +themselves, but to him that died for them;" they know indeed their own +infirmities; they know, that the way on which they have entered is +strait and difficult, but they know too the encouraging assurance, +"They who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;" and relying on +this animating declaration, they deliberately purpose that, so far as +they may be able, the grand governing maxim of their future lives shall +be, "_to do all to the glory of God_." + +Behold here the seminal principle, which contains within it, as in an +embryo state, the rudiments of all true virtue; which, striking deep its +roots, though feeble perhaps and lowly in its beginnings, silently +progressive; and almost insensibly maturing, yet will shortly, even in +the bleak and churlish temperature of this world, lift up its head and +spread abroad its branches, bearing abundant fruits; precious fruits of +refreshment and consolation, of which the boasted products of philosophy +are but sickly imitations, void of fragrance and of flavour. But, + + Igneus est ollis vigor & _coelestis_ origo. + +At length it shall be transplanted into its native region, and enjoy a +more genial climate, and a kindlier soil; and, bursting forth into full +luxuriance, with unfading beauty and unexhausted odours, shall flourish +for ever in the paradise of God. + +But while the servants of Christ continue in this life, glorious as is +the issue of their labours, they receive but too many humiliating +memorials of their remaining imperfections, and they daily find reason +to confess, that they cannot do the things that they would. Their +_determination_, however, is still unshaken, and it is the fixed desire +of their hearts to improve in _all holiness_--and this, let it be +observed, on many accounts. Various passions concur to push them +forward; they are urged on by the dread of failure, in this arduous but +necessary work; they trust not, where their all is at stake, to lively +emotions, or to internal impressions however warm; the example of Christ +is their pattern, the word of God is their rule; there they read, that +"without holiness no man shall see the Lord." It is the description of +real Christians, that "they are gradually changed into the image of +their Divine Master;" and they dare not allow themselves to believe +their title sure, except so far as they can discern in themselves the +growing traces of this blessed resemblance. + +It is not merely however the fear of misery, and the desire of +happiness, by which they are actuated in their endeavours to excel in +all holiness; they love it for its own sake: nor is it _solely_ by the +sense of self-interest (this, though often unreasonably condemned, is +but it must be confessed a principle of an inferior order) that they are +influenced in their determination to obey the will, and to cultivate the +favour of God. This determination has its foundations indeed in a deep +and humiliating sense of his exalted Majesty and infinite power, and of +their own extreme inferiority and littleness, attended with a settled +conviction of its being their duty as his creatures, to submit in all +things to the will of their great Creator. But these awful impressions +are relieved and ennobled by an admiring sense of the infinite +perfections and infinite amiableness of the Divine Character; animated +by a confiding though humble hope of his fatherly kindness and +protection; and quickened by the grateful recollection of immense and +continually increasing obligations. This is the Christian love of God! A +love compounded of admiration, of preference, of hope, of trust, of +joy; chastised by reverential awe, and wakeful with continual gratitude. + +I would here express myself with caution, lest I should inadvertently +wound the heart of some weak but sincere believer. The elementary +principles which have been above enumerated, may exist in various +degrees and proportions. A difference in natural disposition, in the +circumstances of the past life, and in numberless other particulars, may +occasion a great difference in the predominant tempers of different +Christians. In one the love, in another the fear of God may have the +ascendency; trust in one, and in another gratitude; but in greater or +less degrees, a cordial complacency in the sovereignty, an exalted sense +of the perfections, a grateful impression of the goodness, and a humble +hope of the favour of the Divine Being, are common to them +all.--Common--the determination to devote themselves without exceptions, +to the service and glory of God.--Common--the desire of holiness and of +continual progress towards perfection.--Common--an abasing consciousness +of their own unworthiness, and of their many remaining infirmities, +which interpose so often to corrupt the simplicity of their intentions, +to thwart the execution of their purer purposes, and frustrate the +resolutions of their better hours. + +But some perhaps, who will not directly and in the gross oppose the +conclusions for which we have been contending, may endeavour to elude +them. It may be urged, that to represent them as of general application, +is going much too far; and however true in the case of some individuals +of a higher order, it may be asserted they are not applicable to +ordinary Christians; from these so much will not surely be expected; and +here perhaps there may be a secret reference to that supposed +mitigation of the requisitions of the divine Law under the Christian +dispensation, which was formerly noticed. This is so important a point +that it ought not to be passed over: let us call in the authority of +Scripture; at the same time, not to tire the patience of our readers, +but a few passages shall be cited, and we must refer to the word of God +itself those who wish for fuller satisfaction. The difficulty here is +not to find proofs, but to select with discretion from the multitude +which pour in upon us. Here also, as in former instances, the positive +injunctions of Scripture are confirmed and illustrated by various +considerations and inferences, suggested by other parts of the sacred +Writings, all tending to the same infallible conclusion. + +In the first place, the precepts are expressed in the broadest and most +general terms; there is no hint given, that any persons are at liberty +to conceive themselves exempted from the obligation of them; and in any +who are disposed to urge such a plea of exemption, it may well excite +the most serious apprehension to consider how the plea would be received +by an earthly tribunal: no weak argument this to any who are acquainted +with the Scriptures, and who know how often God is there represented as +reasoning with mankind on the principles, which they have established +for their dealings with each other. + +But in the next place the precepts in question contain within themselves +abundant proofs of their _universal_ application, inasmuch as they are +grounded on circumstances and relations common to _all_ Christians, and +of the benefits of which, even our Objectors themselves (though they +would evade the practical deductions from them) would not be willing to +relinquish their share. Christians "are not their own," because "_they +are bought with a price_;" they are not "to live unto themselves, but +_to him that died for them_;" they are commanded to do the most +difficult duties, "that they may be the children of their Father which +is in heaven;" and "except a man _be born again of the Spirit_" (thus +again becoming one of the sons of God) "_he cannot enter into the +kingdom of heaven_." It is "_because they are sons_," that God has given +them what in Scripture language is styled _the Spirit of adoption_. It +is only of "as many _as are led by the Spirit of God_," that it is +declared that "they are the sons of God;" and we are expressly warned +(in order as it were to prevent any such loose profession of +Christianity as that which we are here combating) "_If any man_ have not +the Spirit of Christ, _he is none of his_." In short, Christians in +general are every where denominated _the servants and the children_ of +God, and are required to serve him with that submissive obedience, and +that affectionate promptitude of duty, which belong to those endearing +relations. + +Estimate next, the force of that well known passage--"Thou shalt love +the Lord thy God with _all_ thy heart, and with _all_ thy mind, and with +_all_ thy soul, and with _all_ thy strength!" The injunction is +multiplied on us, as it were, to silence the sophistry of the caviller, +and to fix the most inconsiderate mind. And though, for the sake of +argument, we should concede for the present, that, under _the +qualifications formerly suggested_, an _ardent_ and _vigorous_ affection +were not indispensably required of us; yet surely if the words have any +meaning at all, the least which can be intended by them is that settled +predominant esteem and cordial preference for which we are now +contending. The conclusion which this passage forces on us, is +strikingly confirmed by other parts of Scripture, wherein the love of +God is positively commended to the _whole_ of a Christian church[68]; or +wherein the want of it[69], or wherein its not being the chief and +ruling affection, is charged on persons professing themselves +Christians, as being sufficient to disprove their claim to that +appellation, or as being equivalent to denying it[70]. Let not therefore +any deceive themselves by imagining, that only an absolute unqualified +renunciation of the desire of the favour of God is _here_ condemned. God +will not accept of a _divided_ affection; a _single_ heart, and a +_single_ eye are in express terms declared to be indispensably required +of us. We are ordered, under the figure of amassing heavenly treasure, +to make the favour and service of God our _chief_ pursuit, for this very +reason, because "_where our treasure is, there will our hearts be +also_." It is on this principle that in speaking of particular vices, +such phrases are often used in Scripture, as suggest that their +criminality mainly consists in drawing away the HEART from Him who is +the just object of its preference; and that sins, which we might think +very different in criminality, are classed together, because they all +agree in this grand character. Nor is this preference asserted only over +affections which are vicious in themselves, and to which therefore +Christianity might well be supposed hostile; but over those also which +in their just measure are not only lawful, but even most strongly +enjoined on us. "He that loveth father and mother more than me," says +our blessed Saviour, "is not worthy of me;" "and he that loveth son or +daughter more than me, is not worthy of me[71]." The spirit of these +injunctions harmonizes with many commendations in Scripture of zeal for +the honour of God; as well as with that strong expression of disgust and +abhorrence with which the lukewarm, those that are neither cold nor hot, +are spoken of as being more loathsome and offensive than even open and +avowed enemies. + +Another class of instances tending to the same point is furnished by +those many passages of Scripture, wherein the promoting of _the glory_ +of God is commanded as our supreme and universal aim, and wherein the +honour due unto _Him_ is declared to be that in which He will allow no +competitor to participate. On this head indeed the Holy Scriptures are, +if possible, more peremptory than on the former; and at the same time so +full as to render particular citations unnecessary, in the case of any +one who has ever so little acquaintance with the word of God. + +To put the same thing therefore in another light. All who have read the +Scriptures must confess that idolatry is the crime against which God's +highest resentment is expressed, and his severest punishment denounced. +But let us not deceive ourselves. It is not in bowing the knee to idols +that idolatry consists, so much as in the internal homage of the heart; +as in the feeling towards them of any of that supreme love, or +reverence, or gratitude, which God reserves to himself as his own +exclusive prerogative. On the same principle, whatever else draws off +the heart from him, engrosses our prime regard, and holds the chief +place in our esteem and affections, _that_, in the estimation of reason, +is no less an idol to us, than an image of wood or stone would be; +before which we should fall down and worship. Think not this a strained +analogy; it is the very language and argument of inspiration. The +servant of God is commanded not to set up his idol in his _Heart_; and +sensuality and covetousness are repeatedly termed _Idolatry_. The same +God who declares--"My glory will I not give to another, neither my +praise _to graven images_," declares also--"Let not the wise man glory +in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man _glory_ in his might; let not +the rich man _glory_ in his riches[72]." "No flesh may _glory_ in his +presence;" "he that _glorieth_, let him glory in the Lord." The sudden +vengeance by which the vain-glorious ostentation of Herod was punished, +when, acquiescing in the servile adulation of an admiring multitude, "he +gave not God the _glory_," is a dreadful comment on these injunctions. + +These awful declarations, it is to be feared, are little regarded. Let +the Great, and the Wise, and the Learned, and the Successful lay them +seriously to heart, and labour habitually to consider their superiority, +whether derived from nature, or study, or fortune, as the unmerited +bounty of God. This reflection will naturally tend to produce a +disposition, instead of that proud self complacency so apt to grow upon +the human heart, in all respects opposite to it; a disposition +honourable to God, and useful to man, a temper composed of reverence, +humility, and gratitude, and delighting to be engaged in the praises, +and employed in the benevolent service of the universal Benefactor. + +But, to return to our subject, it only remains to be remarked, that here +as in the former instances, the characters of the righteous and of the +wicked, as delineated in Scripture, exactly correspond with the +representations which have been given of the Scripture injunctions. + +The necessity of this cordial unreserved devotedness to the glory and +service of God, as being indispensable to the character of the true +Christian, has been insisted on at the greater length, not only on +account of its own extreme importance, but also because it appears to be +a duty too generally overlooked. Once well established, it will serve as +a fundamental principle both for the government of the heart and +regulation of the conduct; and will prove eminently useful in the +decision of many practical cases, which it might be difficult to bring +under the undisputed operation of any subordinate or appropriate rule. + + +SECT. II. + +And now, having endeavoured to establish the strictness, and to +ascertain the essential character of true practical Christianity, let us +investigate a little more in detail the practical system of the bulk of +professed Christians among ourselves[73]. + +It was formerly remarked, that the whole subject of Religion was often +viewed from such a distance as to be seen only in the gross. We now, it +is to be feared, shall find too much cause for believing that they who +approach a little nearer, and do discover in Christianity somewhat of a +distinct form, yet come not close enough to discern her peculiar +lineaments and conformation. The writer must not be understood to mean +that the several misconceptions, which he shall have occasion to point +out, will be generally found to exist with any thing like precision, +much less that they are regularly digested into a system; nor will it be +expected they all should meet in the same person, nor that they will not +be found in different people, and under different circumstances, +variously blended, combined, and modified. It will be enough if we +succeed in tracing out great and general outlines. The human countenance +may be well described by its general characters, though infinitely +varied by the peculiarities which belong to different individuals, and +often by such shades and minutenesses of difference, as though +abundantly obvious to our perceptions, it would exceed the power of +definition to discriminate, or even of language to express. + +A very erroneous notion appears to prevail concerning the true nature of +Religion. Religion, agreeably to what has been already stated, (the +importance of the subject will excuse repetition) may be considered as +the implantation of a vigorous and active principle; it is seated in +the heart, where its authority is recognized as supreme, whence by +degrees it expels whatever is opposed to it, and where it gradually +brings all the affections and desires under its complete controul and +regulation. + +But though the heart be its special residence, it may be said to possess +in a degree the ubiquity of its Divine Author. Every endeavour and +pursuit must acknowledge its presence; and whatever does not, or will +not, or cannot receive its sacred stamp, is to be condemned as +inherently defective, and is to be at once abstained from or abandoned. +It is like the principle of vitality, which, animating and informing +every part, lives throughout the whole of the human body, and +communicates its kindly influence to the smallest and remotest fibres of +the frame. But the notion of Religion entertained by many among us seems +altogether different. They begin indeed, in submission to her clear +prohibitions, by fencing off from the field of human action, a certain +district, which, though it in many parts bear fruits on which they cast +a longing eye, they cannot but confess to be forbidden ground. They next +assign to Religion a portion, larger or smaller according to whatever +may be their circumstances and views, in which however she is to possess +merely a qualified jurisdiction, and having so done, they conceive that +without let or hindrance they have a right to range at will over the +spacious remainder. Religion can claim only a stated proportion of their +thoughts, and time, and fortune, and influence; and of these, or perhaps +of any of them, if they make her any thing of a liberal allowance, she +may well be satisfied: the rest is now their own to do what they will +with; they have paid their tythes, say rather their composition, the +demands of the Church are satisfied, and they may surely be permitted to +enjoy what she has left without molestation or interference. + +It is scarcely possible to state too strongly the mischief which results +from this fundamental error. At the same time its consequences are so +natural and obvious, that one would think it scarcely possible not to +foresee that they must infallibly follow. The greatest part of human +actions is considered as indifferent. If men are not chargeable with +actual vices, and are decent in the discharge of their religious duties; +if they do not stray into the forbidden ground, if they respect the +rights of the conceded allotment, what more can be expected from them? +Instead of keeping at a distance from _all sin_, in which alone consists +our safety, they will be apt not to care how near they approach what +they conceive to be the boundary line; if they have not actually passed +it, there is no harm done, it is no trespass. Thus the free and active +spirit of Religion is "cribbed and hemmed in;" she is checked in her +disposition to expand her territory, and enlarge the circle of her +influence. She must keep to her prescribed confines, and every attempt +to extend them will be resisted as an encroachment. + +But this is not all. Since whatever can be gained from her allotment, or +whatever can be taken in from the forbidden ground, will be so much of +addition to that land of liberty, where men may roam at large, free from +restraint or molestation, they will of course be constantly, and almost +insensibly, straitening and pressing upon the limits of the religious +allotment on the one hand; and on the other, will be removing back a +little farther and farther the fence which abridges them on the side of +the forbidden ground. If Religion attempt for a time to defend her +frontier, she by degrees gives way. The space she occupies diminishes +till it be scarcely discernible; whilst, her spirit extinguished, and +her force destroyed, she is little more than the nominal possessor even +of the contracted limits to which she has been avowedly reduced. + +This it is to be feared is but too faithful a representation of the +general state of things among ourselves. The promotion of the glory of +God, and the possession of his favour, are no longer recognized as the +objects of our highest regard, and most strenuous endeavours; as +furnishing to us, a vigorous, habitual, and universal principle of +action. We set up for ourselves: we are become our own masters. The +sense of constant homage and continual service is irksome and galling to +us; and we rejoice in being emancipated from it, as from a state of base +and servile villainage. Thus the very tenure and condition, by which +life and all its possessions are held, undergo a total change: our +faculties and powers are now our own: whatever we have is regarded +rather as a property than as a trust; or if there still exist the +remembrance of some paramount claim, we are satisfied with an occasional +acknowledgment of a nominal right; we pay our pepper corn, and take our +estates to ourselves in full and free enjoyment. + +Hence it is that so little sense of responsibility seems attached to the +possession of high rank, or splendid abilities, or affluent fortunes, or +other means or instruments of usefulness. The instructive admonitions, +"give an account of thy stewardship,"--"occupy till I come;" are +forgotten. Or if it be acknowledged by some men of larger views than +ordinary, that a reference is to be had to some principle superior to +that of our own gratification, it is, at best, to the good of society, +or to the welfare of our families: and even then the obligations +resulting from these relations, are seldom enforced on us by any higher +sanctions than those of family comfort, and of worldly interest or +estimation. Besides; what multitudes of persons are there, people +without families, in private stations, or of a retired turn, to whom +they are scarcely held to apply! and what multitudes of cases to which +it would be thought unnecessary scrupulosity to extend them! Accordingly +we find _in fact_, that the generality of mankind among the higher +order, in the formation of their schemes, in the selection of their +studies, in the choice of their place of residence, in the employment +and distribution of their time, in their thoughts, conversation, and +amusements, are considered as being at liberty, if there be no actual +vice, to consult in the main their own gratification. + +Thus the generous and wakeful spirit of Christian Benevolence, seeking +and finding every where occasions for its exercise, is exploded, and a +system of _decent selfishness_ is avowedly established in its stead; a +system scarcely more to be abjured for its impiety, than to be abhorred +for its cold insensibility to the opportunities of diffusing happiness. +"Have we no families, or are they provided for? Are we wealthy, and bred +to no profession? Are we young and lively, and in the gaiety and vigour +of youth? Surely we may be allowed to take our pleasure. We neglect no +duty, we live in no vice, we do nobody any harm, and have a right to +amuse ourselves. We have nothing better to do, we wish we had; our time +hangs heavy on our hands for want of it." + +I pity the man who can travel from Dan to Beer-sheba, and cry "It is all +barren." No man has a right to be idle--Not to speak of that great work +which we all have to accomplish, and surely the _whole_ attention of a +short and precarious life is not more than an eternal interest may well +require; where is it that in such a world as this, health and leisure +and affluence may not find some ignorance to instruct, some wrong to +redress, some want to supply, some misery to alleviate? Shall Ambition +and Avarice never sleep? Shall they never want objects on which to +fasten? Shall they be so observant to discover, so acute to discern, so +eager, so patient to pursue, and shall the Benevolence of Christians +want employment? + +Yet thus life rolls away with too many of us in a course of "shapeless +idleness." Its recreations constitute its chief business. Watering +places--the sports of the field--cards! never failing cards!--the +assembly--the theatre--all contribute their aid--amusements are +multiplied, and combined, and varied, "to fill up the void of a listless +and languid life;" and by the judicious use of these different +resources, there is often a kind of sober settled plan of domestic +dissipation, in which with all imaginable decency year after year wears +away in unprofitable vacancy. Even old age often finds us pacing in the +same round of amusements, which our early youth had tracked out. +Meanwhile, being conscious that we are not giving into any flagrant +vice, perhaps that we are guilty of no irregularity, and it may be, that +we are not neglecting the offices of Religion, we persuade ourselves +that we need not be uneasy. In the main we do not fall below the general +standard of morals, of the class and station to which we belong, we may +therefore allow ourselves to glide down the stream without apprehension +of the consequences. + +Some, of a character often hardly to be distinguished from the class we +have been just describing, take up with _sensual_ pleasures. The chief +happiness of their lives consists in one species or another of animal +gratification; and these persons perhaps will be found to compose a +pretty large description. It will be remembered, that it belongs not to +our purpose to speak of the grossly and scandalously profligate, who +renounce all pretensions to the name of Christians; but of those who, +maintaining a certain decency of character, and perhaps being tolerably +observant of the forms of Religion, may yet be not improperly termed +_sober sensualists_. These, though less impetuous and more measured, are +not less staunch and steady, than the professed votaries of licentious +pleasure, in the pursuit of their favourite objects. "Mortify the flesh, +with its affections and lusts," is the Christian _precept_; a soft +luxurious course of habitual indulgence, is the _practice_ of the bulk +of modern Christians: and that constant moderation, that wholesome +discipline of restraint and self-denial, which are requisite to prevent +the unperceived encroachments of the inferior appetites, seem altogether +disused, as the exploded austerities of monkish superstition. + +Christianity calls her professors to a state of diligent watchfulness +and active services. But the persons of whom we are now speaking, +forgetting alike the duties they owe to themselves and to their +fellow-creatures, often act as though their condition were meant to be a +state of uniform indulgence, and vacant, unprofitable sloth. To multiply +the comforts of affluence, to provide for the gratification of appetite, +to be luxurious without diseases, and indolent without lassitude, seems +the chief study of their lives. Nor can they be clearly exempted from +this class, who, by a common error, substituting the means for the end, +make the preservation of health and spirits, not as instruments of +usefulness, but as sources of pleasure, their great business and +continual care. + +Others again seem more to attach themselves to what have been well +termed the 'pomps and vanities of this world.' Magnificent houses, grand +equipages, numerous retinues, splendid entertainments, high and +fashionable connections, appear to constitute, in their estimation, the +supreme happiness of life. This class too, if we mistake not, will be +found numerous in our days; for it must be considered, _that it is the +heart_, _set on these things_, which constitutes the essential +character. It often happens, that persons, to whose rank and station +these indulgences most properly belong, are most indifferent to them. +The undue solicitude about them is more visible in persons of inferior +conditions and smaller fortunes, in whom it is not rarely detected by +the studious contrivances of a misapplied ingenuity to reconcile parade +with oeconomy, and glitter at a cheap rate. But this temper of display +and competition is a direct contrast to the lowly, modest, unassuming +carriage of the true Christian: and wherever there is an evident effort +and struggle to excel in the particulars here in question, a manifest +wish thus to rival superiors, to outstrip equals, to dazzle inferiors; +it is manifest the great end of life, and of all its possessions, is too +little kept in view, and it is to be feared that the gratification of a +vain ostentatious humour is the predominant disposition of the heart. + +As there is a sober sensuality, so is there also a sober avarice, and a +sober ambition. The commercial and the professional world compose the +chief sphere of their influence. They are often recognized and openly +avowed as just master principles of action. But where this is not the +case, they assume such plausible shapes, are called by such specious +names, and urge such powerful pleas, that they are received with +cordiality, and suffered to gather strength without suspicion. The +seducing considerations of diligence in our callings, of success in our +profession, of making handsome provisions for our children, beguile our +better judgments. "We rise early, and late take rest, and eat the bread +of carefulness." In our few intervals of leisure, our exhausted spirits +require refreshment; the serious concerns of our immortal souls, are +matters of speculation too grave and gloomy to answer the purpose, and +we fly to something that may better deserve the name of relaxation, till +we are again summoned to the daily labours of our employment. + +Meanwhile Religion seldom comes in our way, scarcely occurs to our +thoughts; and when some secret misgivings begin to be felt on this head, +company soon drowns, amusements dissipate, or habitual occupations +insensibly displace or smother the rising apprehension. Professional and +commercial men perhaps, especially when they happen to be persons of +more than ordinary reflection, or of early habits of piety not quite +worn away, easily quiet their consciences by the plea, that necessary +attention to their business leaves them no time to think on these +serious subjects at present. "Men of leisure they confess should +consider them; they themselves will do it hereafter when they retire; +meanwhile they are usefully or at least innocently employed." Thus +business and pleasure fill up our time, and the "one thing needful," is +forgotten. Respected by others, and secretly applauding ourselves, +(perhaps congratulating ourselves that we are not like such an one who +is a spendthrift or a mere man of pleasure, or such another who is a +notorious miser) the true principle of action is no less wanting in us, +and personal advancement or the acquisition of wealth is the object of +our supreme desires and predominant pursuit. + +It would be to presume too much on the reader's patience to attempt a +delineation of the characters of the politician, the metaphysician, the +scholar, the poet, the virtuoso, the man of taste, in all their +varieties. Of these and many other classes which might be enumerated, +suffice it to remark, and to appeal to every man's own experience for +the truth of the observation, that they in like manner are often +completely engrossed by the objects of their several pursuits. In many +of these cases indeed a generous spirit surrenders itself wholly up with +the less reserve, and continues absorbed with the fuller confidence, +from the consciousness of not being led to its object by self-interested +motives. Here therefore these men are ardent, active, laborious, +persevering, and they think, and speak, and act, as those, the whole +happiness of whose life turns on the success or failure of their +endeavours. When such, as we have seen it, is the undisturbed composure +of mere triflers, it is less wonderful that the votaries of learning and +of taste, when absorbed in their several pursuits, should be able to +check still more easily any growing apprehension, silencing it by the +suggestion, that they are more than harmlessly, that they are +meritoriously employed. "Surely the thanks of mankind are justly paid to +those more refined spirits who, superior alike to the seductions of +ease, and the temptations of avarice, devote their time and talents to +the less gainful labours of increasing the stores of learning or +enlarging the boundaries of science; who are engaged in raising the +character and condition of society, by improving the liberal arts, and +adding to the innocent pleasures or elegant accomplishments of life." +Let not the writer be so far misunderstood, as to be supposed to +insinuate that Religion is an enemy to the pursuits of taste, much less +to those of learning and of science. Let these have their _due_ place in +the estimation of mankind; but this must not be the _highest_ place. Let +them know their just _subordination_. They deserve not to be the +_primary_ concern, for there is another, to which in importance they +bear no more proportion than our span of existence to eternity. + +Thus the supreme desires of the heart, the center to which they should +tend, losing its attractive force, are permitted without controul to +take that course, whatever it may be, which best suits our natural +temper, or to which they are impelled by our various situations and +circumstances. Sometimes they manifestly appear to be almost entirely +confined to a single track; but perhaps more frequently the lines in +which they move are so intermingled and diversified, that it becomes not +a little difficult, even when we look into ourselves, to ascertain the +object by which they are chiefly attracted, or to estimate with +precision the amount of their several forces, in the different +directions in which they move. "Know thyself," is in truth an injunction +with which the careless and the indolent cannot comply. For this +compliance, it is requisite, in obedience to the Scripture precept, "to +keep the heart with all diligence." Mankind are in general deplorably +ignorant of their true state; and there are few perhaps who have any +adequate conception of the real strength of the ties, by which they are +bound to the several objects of their attachment, or who are aware how +small a share of their regard is possessed by those concerns on which it +ought to be supremely fixed. + +But if it be indeed true, that except the affections of the soul be +supremely fixed on God; that unless it be _the leading and governing +desire and primary pursuit_ to possess his favour and promote his glory, +we are considered as having transferred our fealty to an usurper, and as +being in fact revolters from our lawful sovereign; if this be indeed the +Scripture doctrine, all the several attachments which have been lately +enumerated, of the different classes of society, wherever they interest +the affections, and possess the soul in any such measure of strength as +deserves to be called _predominance_, are but so many varied expressions +of _disloyalty_. God requires to set up his throne in the heart, and to +reign in it without a rival: if he be kept out of his right, it matters +not by what competitor. The revolt may be more avowed or more secret; +it may be the treason of deliberate preference, or of inconsiderate +levity; we may be the subjects of a more or of a less creditable master; +we may be employed in services more gross or more refined: but whether +the slaves of avarice, of sensuality, of dissipation, of sloth, or the +votaries of ambition, of taste, or of fashion; whether supremely +governed by vanity and self-love, by the desire of literary fame or of +military glory, we are alike estranged from the dominion of our rightful +sovereign. Let not this seem a harsh position; it can appear so only +from not adverting to what was shewn to be the _essential nature_ of +true Religion. He who bowed the knee to the god of medicine or of +eloquence, was no less an idolater than the worshipper of the deified +patrons of lewdness or of theft. In the several cases which have been +specified, the _external acts_ indeed are different; but in _principle_ +the disaffection is the same; and unless we return to our allegiance, we +must expect the title, and prepare to meet the punishment, of rebels on +that tremendous day, when all false colours shall be done away, and +(there being no longer any room for the evasions of worldly sophistry, +or the smooth plausibilities of worldly language) "that which is often +highly esteemed amongst men, shall appear to have been abomination in +the sight of God." + +These fundamental truths seem vanished from the mind, and it follows of +course, that every thing is viewed less and less through a religious +medium. To speak no longer of instances wherein _we ourselves_ are +concerned, and wherein the unconquerable power of indulged appetite may +be supposed to beguile our better judgment, or force us on in defiance +of it; not to insist on the motives by which the conduct of men is +determined, often avowedly, in what are to _themselves_ the most +important incidents of life; what are the judgments which they form in +the case of _others_? Idleness, profusion, thoughtlessness, and +dissipation, the misapplication of time or of talents, the trifling away +of life in frivolous occupations or unprofitable studies; all these +things we may regret in those around us, in the view of their temporal +effects; but they are not considered in a religious connection, or +lamented as endangering everlasting happiness. Excessive vanity and +inordinate ambition are spoken of as weaknesses rather than as sins; +even covetousness itself, though a hateful passion, yet, if not extreme, +scarcely presents the face of _Irreligion_. Is some friend, or even some +common acquaintance sick, or has some accident befallen him? How +solicitously do we inquire after him, how tenderly do we visit him, how +much perhaps do we regret that he has not better advice, how apt are we +to prescribe for him, and how should we reproach ourselves, if we were +to neglect any means in our power of contributing to his recovery! But +"the mind diseased" is neglected and forgotten--"_that_ is not our +affair; we hope (we do not perhaps really believe) that here it is well +with him." The truth is, we have no solicitude about his spiritual +interest. Here he is treated like the unfortunate traveller in the +Gospel; we look upon him; we see but too well his sad condition, but +(Priest and Levite alike) we pass by on the other side, and leave him to +the officious tenderness of some poor despised Samaritan. + +Nay, take the case of our very children, when our hearts being most +interested to promote their happiness, we must be supposed most desirous +of determining on right principles, and where therefore the real +standard of our deliberate judgments may be indisputably ascertained: in +their education and marriage, in the choice of their professions, in our +comparative consideration and judgment of the different parts of their +several characters, how little do we reflect that they are immortal +beings! Health, learning, credit, the amiable and agreeable qualities, +above all, fortune and success in life, are taken, and not unjustly +taken, into the account; but how small a share in forming our opinions +is allowed to the probable effect which may be produced on their eternal +interests! Indeed the subjects of our mutual inquiries, and +congratulations, and condolences, prove but too plainly what +considerations are in these cases uppermost in our thoughts. + +Such are the fatal and widely spreading effects, which but too naturally +follow from the admission of the grand fundamental error before +mentioned, that of not considering Religion as a principle of universal +application and command. Robbed of its best energies, Religion now takes +the form of a cold compilation of restraints and prohibitions. It is +looked upon simply as a set of penal statutes; these, though wise and +reasonable, are however, so far as they extend, abridgments of our +natural liberty, and nothing which comes to us in this shape is +extremely acceptable: + + Atqui nolint occidere quemquam, posse volunt. + +Considering moreover, that the matter of them is not in general very +palatable, and that the partiality of every man where his own cause is +in question, will be likely to make him construe them liberally in his +own favour, we might beforehand have formed a tolerable judgment of the +manner in which they are actually treated. Sometimes we attend to the +words rather than to the spirit of Scripture injunctions, overlooking +the principle they involve, which a better acquaintance with the word of +God would have clearly taught us to infer from them. At others, "the +spirit of an injunction is all;" and this we contrive to collect so +dexterously, as thereby to relax or annul the strictness of the terms. +"Whatever is not expressly forbidden cannot be _very_ criminal; whatever +is not positively enjoined, cannot be indispensably necessary--If we do +not offend against the laws, what more can be expected from us?--The +persons to whom the strict precepts of the Gospel were given, were in +very different circumstances from those in which we are placed. The +injunctions were drawn rather tighter than is quite necessary, in order +to allow for a little relaxation in practice. The expressions of the +sacred Writers are figurative; the Eastern style is confessedly +hyperbolical." + +By these and other such dishonest shifts (by which however we seldom +deceive ourselves, except it be in thinking that we deceive others) the +pure but strong morality of the word of God is explained away, and its +too rigid canons are softened down, with as much dexterity as is +exhibited by those who practise a logic of the same complexion, in order +to escape from the obligations of human statutes. Like Swift's +unfortunate Brothers[74], we are sometimes put to difficulties, but our +ingenuity is little inferior to their's. If totidem verbis[75] will not +serve our turn, try totidem syllabis; if totidem syllabis fail, try +totidem literis: then there is in our case, as well as in theirs, "an +allegorical sense" to be adverted to; and if every other resource fail +us, we come at last to the same conclusion as the Brothers adopted, that +after all, those rigorous clauses require some allowance, and a +favourable interpretation, and ought to be understood "cum grano salis." + +But when the law both in its spirit and its letter is obstinate and +incorrigible, what we cannot bend to our purpose we must break--"Our +sins we hope are of the smaller order; a little harmless gallantry, a +little innocent jollity, a few foolish expletives which we use from the +mere force of habit, meaning nothing by them; a little warmth of +colouring and licence of expression; a few freedoms of speech in the +gaiety of our hearts, which, though not perhaps strictly correct, none +but the over-rigid would think of treating any otherwise than as venial +infirmities, and in which very grave and religious men will often take +their share, when they may throw off their state, and relax without +impropriety. We serve an all-merciful Being, who knows the frailty of +our nature, the number and strength of our temptations, and will not be +extreme to mark what is done amiss. Even the less lenient judicatures of +human institution concede somewhat to the weakness of man. It is an +established maxim--'De minimis non curat lex.' We hope we are not worse +than the generality. All men are imperfect. We own we have our +infirmities; we confess it is so; we wish we were better, and trust as +we grow older we shall become so; we are ready to acknowledge that we +must be indebted for our admission into a future state of happiness, not +to our own merit, but to the clemency of God, and the mercy of our +Redeemer." + +But let not this language be mistaken for that of true Christian +humiliation, of which it is the very essence to feel the burden of sin, +and to long to be released from it: nor let two things be confounded, +than which none can be more fundamentally different, the allowed want of +universality in our determination, and our endeavour to obey the will of +God, and that defective accomplishment of our purposes, which even the +best of men will too often find reason to deplore. In the persons of +whom we have been now speaking, the unconcern with which they can amuse +themselves upon the borders of sin, and the easy familiarity with which +they can actually dally with it in its less offensive shapes, shew +plainly that, distinctly from its consequences, it is by no means the +object of their aversion; that there is no love of holiness as such; no +endeavour to acquire it, no care to prepare the soul for the reception +of this divine principle, and to expel or keep under whatever might be +likely to obstruct its entrance, or dispute its sovereignty. + +It is indeed a most lamentable consequence of the practice of regarding +Religion as a compilation of statutes, and not as an internal principle, +that it soon comes to be considered as being conversant about _external +actions_ rather than about _habits of mind_. This sentiment sometimes +has even the hardiness to insinuate and maintain itself under the guise +of extraordinary concern for _practical Religion_; but it soon discovers +the falsehood of this pretension, and betrays its real nature. The +expedient indeed of attaining to superiority in practice, by not wasting +any of the attention on the internal principles from which alone +practice can flow, is about as reasonable, and will answer about as +well, as the oeconomy of the architect, who should account it mere +prodigality to expend any of his materials in laying foundations, from +an idea that they might be more usefully applied to the raising of the +superstructure. We know what would be the fate of such an edifice. + +It is indeed true, and a truth never to be forgotten, that all +pretensions to internal principles of holiness are vain when they are +contradicted by the conduct; but it is no less true, that the only +effectual way of improving the latter, is by a vigilant attention to the +former. It was therefore our blessed Saviour's injunction, "Make the +tree good" as the necessary means of obtaining good fruit; and the holy +Scriptures abound in admonitions, to let it be our chief business to +cultivate our hearts with all diligence, to examine into their state +with impartiality, and watch over them with continual care. Indeed it is +the _Heart_ which constitutes the _Man_; and external actions derive +their whole character and meaning from the motives and dispositions of +which they are the indications. Human judicatures, it is true, are +chiefly conversant about the former, but this is only because to our +limited perceptions the latter can seldom be any otherwise clearly +ascertained. The real object of inquiry to human judicatures is the +_internal_ disposition; it is to this that they adapt the nature, and +proportion the degree, of their punishments. + +Yet though this be a truth so obvious, so established, that to have +insisted on it may seem almost needless; it is a truth of which we are +apt to lose sight in the review of our religious Character, and with +which the _habit_, of considering Religion as consisting rather in +external actions, than internal principles, is at direct and open war. +This mode of judging may well be termed _habitual_: for though by some +persons it is advisedly adopted, and openly avowed, yet in many cases +for want of due watchfulness, it has stolen insensibly upon the mind; it +exists unsuspected, and is practised, like other habits, without +consciousness or observation. + +In what degree soever this pernicious principle prevails, in that degree +is the mischief it produces. The vicious affections, like noxious weeds, +sprout up and increase of themselves but too naturally; while the graces +of the Christian temper, exotics in the soil of the human heart, like +the more tender productions of the vegetable world, though the light and +breath of Heaven must quicken them, require on our part also, in order +to their being preserved in health and vigour, constant superintendence +and assiduous care. But so far from their being earnestly sought for, or +watchfully reared, with unremitted prayers for that Divine Grace, +without which all our labours must be ineffectual; such is the result of +the principle we are here condemning, that no endeavours are used for +their attainment, or they are suffered to droop and die almost without +an effort to preserve them. The culture of the mind is less and less +attended to, and at length perhaps is almost wholly neglected. Way +being thus made for the unobstructed growth of other tempers, the +qualities of which are very different, and often directly opposite, +these naturally overspread and quietly possess the mind; their +contrariety to the Christian spirit not being discerned, and even +perhaps their presence being scarcely acknowledged, except when their +existence and their nature are manifested in the conduct by marks too +plain to be overlooked or mistaken. + +Some of the most important branches of the Christian temper, wherein the +bulk of nominal Christians appear eminently and allowedly defective, +have been already noticed in this and in the preceding chapter. Many +others still remain to be particularized. + +First then, it is the comprehensive compendium of the character of true +Christians, that "they are walking by faith, and not by sight." By this +description is meant, not merely that they so firmly believe in the +doctrine of future rewards and punishments, as to be influenced by that +persuasion to adhere in the main to the path of duty, though tempted to +forsake it by present interest, and present gratification; but farther, +that the great truths revealed in Scripture concerning the unseen world, +are the ideas for the most part uppermost in their thoughts, and about +which habitually their hearts are most interested. This state of mind +contributes, if the expression may be allowed, to rectify the illusions +of vision, to bring forward into nearer view those eternal things which +from their remoteness are apt to be either wholly overlooked, or to +appear but faintly in the utmost bounds of the horizon; and to remove +backward, and reduce to their true comparative dimensions, the objects +of the present life, which are apt to fill the human eye, assuming a +false magnitude from their vicinity. The true Christian knows from +experience however, that the former are apt to fade from the sight, and +the latter again to swell on it. He makes it therefore his continual +care to preserve those just and enlightened views, which through Divine +mercy he has obtained. Not that he will retire from that station in the +world which Providence seems to have appointed him to fill: he will be +active in the business of life, and enjoy its comforts with moderation +and thankfulness; but he will not be "totus in illis," he will not give +up his whole soul to them, they will be habitually subordinate in his +estimation to objects of more importance. The awful truth has sunk deep +into his mind, "the things which are seen are temporal, but the things +which are not seen are eternal;" and in the tumult and bustle of life, +he is sobered by the still small voice which whispers to him "the +fashion of this world passes away." This circumstance alone must, it is +obvious, constitute a vast difference between the habitual temper of his +mind, and that of the generality of nominal Christians, who are almost +entirely taken up with the concerns of the present world. They _know_ +indeed that they are mortal, but they do not _feel_ it. The truth rests +in their understandings, and cannot gain admission into their hearts. +This speculative persuasion is altogether different from that strong +_practical_ impression of the infinite importance of eternal things, +which attended with a proportionate sense of the shortness and +uncertainty of all below, while it prompts to activity from a conviction +that "the night cometh when no man can work," produces a certain +firmness of texture, which hardens us against the buffets of fortune, +and prevents our being very deeply penetrated by the cares and +interests, the goods or evils, of this transitory state. Thus this just +impression of the relative value of temporal and eternal things, +maintains in the soul a dignified composure through all the vicissitudes +of life. It quickens our diligence, yet moderates our ardour; urges us +to just pursuits, yet checks any undue solicitude about the success of +them, and thereby enables us, in the language of Scripture, "to use this +world as not abusing it," rendering us at once beneficial to others and +comfortable to ourselves. + +But this is not all--besides the distinction between the nominal and the +real Christian, which results from the impressions produced on them +respectively by the _eternal duration_ of heavenly things, there is +another grounded on their _nature_, no less marked, nor less important. +They are stated in Scripture, not only as entitling themselves to the +notice of the true Christian from considerations of interest, but as +approving themselves to his judgment from a conviction of their +excellence, and yet farther, as recommending themselves to his feelings, +by their being suited to the renewed dispositions of his heart. Indeed +were the case otherwise, did not their qualities correspond with his +inclinations; however he might endure them on principles of duty, and be +coldly conscious of their superior worth, he could not lend himself to +them with cordial complacency, much less look to them as the surest +source of pleasure. But this is the light in which they are habitually +regarded by the true Christian. He walks in the ways of Religion, not +by constraint, but willingly; they are to him not only safe, but +comfortable; "ways of pleasantness as well as of peace." Not but that +here also he is from experience aware of the necessity of constant +support, and continual watchfulness; without these, his old estimate of +things is apt to return on him, and the former objects of his affections +to resume their influence. With earnest prayers, therefore, for the +Divine Help, with jealous circumspection, and resolute self-denial, he +guards against, and abstains from, whatever might be likely again to +darken his _enlightened judgment_, or to vitiate his reformed taste; +thus making it his unwearied endeavour to grow in the knowledge and love +of heavenly things, and to obtain a warmer admiration, and a more +cordial relish of their excellence. + +That this is a just representation of the habitual judgment, and of the +leading disposition of true Christians, will be abundantly evident, if, +endeavouring to form ourselves after our proper model, we consult the +sacred Scripture. But in vain are Christians there represented as having +set their _affections_ on things above, as _cordially rejoicing_ in the +service, and delighting in the worship of God. Pleasure and Religion are +contradictory terms with the bulk of nominal Christians. They may look +back indeed on their religious offices with something of a secret +satisfaction, and even feel it during the performance of them, from the +idea of being engaged in the discharge of a duty; but this is altogether +different from the pleasure which attends an employment in itself +acceptable and grateful to us. The writer must here again guard against +being understood to speak of a deficiency in the _warmth_ and +_vehemence_ merely of religious affections. Are the service and worship +of God _pleasant_ to these persons? it is not asked whether they are +_delightful_. Do they diffuse over the soul any thing of that calm +complacency, that mild and grateful composure, which bespeaks a mind in +good humour with itself and all around it, and engaged in a service +suited to its taste, and congenial with its feelings? + +Let us appeal to that Day which is especially devoted to the offices of +Religion: Do they joyfully avail themselves of this blessed opportunity +of withdrawing from the business and cares of life; when, without being +disquieted by any doubt whether they are not neglecting the duties of +their proper callings, they may be allowed to detach their minds from +earthly things, that by a fuller knowledge of heavenly objects, and a +more habitual acquaintance with them, their hope may grow more "full of +immortality?" Is the day cheerfully devoted to those holy exercises for +which it was appointed? Do they indeed "come into the courts of God with +gladness?" And how are they employed when not engaged in the public +services of the day? Are they busied in studying the word of God, in +meditating on his perfections, in tracing his providential +dispensations, in admiring his works, in revolving his mercies, (above +all, the transcendent mercies of redeeming love) in singing his praises, +"and speaking good of his name?" Do their secret retirements witness the +earnestness of their prayers and the warmth of their thanksgivings, +their diligence and impartiality in the necessary work of +self-examination, their mindfulness of the benevolent duty of +intercession? Is the kind purpose of the institution of a Sabbath +answered by them, in its being made to their servants and dependents a +season of rest and comfort? Does the instruction of their families, or +of the more poor and ignorant of their neighbours, possess its due share +of their time? If blessed with talents or with affluence, are they +sedulously employing a part of this interval of leisure in relieving the +indigent, and visiting the sick, and comforting the sorrowful, in +forming plans for the good of their fellow-creatures, in considering how +they may promote both the temporal and spiritual benefit of their +friends and acquaintance: or if their's be a larger sphere, in devising +measures whereby through the Divine blessing, they may become the +honoured instruments of the more extended diffusion of religious truth? +In the hours of domestic or social intercourse, does their conversation +manifest the subject of which their hearts are full? Do their language +and demeanor shew them to be more than commonly gentle, and kind, and +friendly, free from rough and irritating passions? + +Surely an entire day should not seem long amidst these various +employments. It might well be deemed a privilege thus to spend it, in +the more immediate presence of our Heavenly Father, in the exercises of +humble admiration and grateful homage; of the benevolent, and domestic, +and social feelings, and of all the best affections of our nature, +prompted by their true motives, conversant about their proper objects, +and directed to their noblest end; all sorrows mitigated, all cares +suspended, all fears repressed, every angry emotion softened, every +envious or revengeful or malignant passion expelled; and the bosom, thus +quieted, purified, enlarged, ennobled, partaking almost of a measure of +the Heavenly happiness, and become for a while the seat of love, and +joy, and confidence, and harmony. + +The nature, and uses, and proper employments of a Christian Sabbath, +have been pointed out more particularly, not only because the day will +be found, when thus employed, eminently conducive, through the Divine +blessing, to the maintenance of the religious principle in activity and +vigour; but also because we must all have had occasion often to remark, +that many persons, of the graver and more decent sort, seem not seldom +to be nearly destitute of religious resources. The Sunday is with them, +to say the best of it, a _heavy_ day; and that larger part of it, which +is not claimed by the public offices of the church, dully drawls on in +comfortless vacuity, or without improvement is trifled away in vain and +unprofitable discourse. Not to speak of those who by their more daring +profanation of this sacred season, openly violate the laws and insult +the religion of their country, how little do many seem to enter into the +_spirit_ of the institution, who are not wholly inattentive to its +exterior decorums! How glad are they to qualify the rigor of their +religious labours! How hardly do they plead against being compelled to +devote the _whole_ of the day to Religion, claiming to themselves no +small merit for giving up to it a part, and purchasing therefore, as +they hope, a right to spend the remainder more agreeably! How +dexterously do they avail themselves of any plausible plea for +introducing some weekday employment into the Sunday, whilst they have +not the same propensity to introduce any of the Sunday's peculiar +employment into the rest of the week! How often do they find excuses +for taking journeys, writing letters, balancing accounts; or in short +doing something, which by a little management might probably have been +anticipated, or which, without any material inconvenience, might be +postponed! Even business itself is recreation, compared with Religion, +and from the drudgery of this day of Sacred Rest they fly for relief to +their ordinary occupations. + +Others again who would consider business as a prophanation, and who +still hold out against the encroachments of the card table, get over +much of the day, and gladly seek for an innocent resource, in the social +circle or in family visits, where it is not even pretended that the +conversation turns on such topics as might render it in any way +conducive to religious instruction, or improvement. Their families +meanwhile are neglected, their servants robbed of Christian privileges, +and their example quoted by others, who cannot see that they are +themselves less religiously employed, while playing an innocent game at +cards, or relaxing in the concert room. + +But all these several artifices, _whatever they may be_, _to unhallow_ +the Sunday and to change its character (it might be almost said "to +relax its horrors,") prove but too plainly, however we may be glad to +take refuge in Religion, when driven to it by the loss of every other +comfort, and to retain as it were a reversionary interest in an asylum, +which may receive us when we are forced from the transitory enjoyments +of our present state; that _in itself_ it wears to us a gloomy and +forbidding aspect, and not a face of consolation and joy; that the +worship of God is with us a _constrained_ and not a _willing_ service, +which we are glad therefore to abridge though we dare not omit it. + +Some indeed there are who with concern and grief will confess this to be +their uncomfortable and melancholy state; who humbly pray, and +diligently endeavour, for an imagination less distracted at devotional +seasons, for a heart more capable of relishing the excellence of divine +things; and who carefully guard against whatever has a tendency to chain +down their affections to earthly enjoyments. Let not such be +discouraged. It is not they whom we are condemning: but such as knowing +and even acknowledging this to be their case, yet proceed in a way +directly contrary: who, scarcely seeming to suspect that any thing is +wrong with them, voluntarily acquiesce in a state of mind which is +directly contrary to the positive commands of God, which forms a perfect +contrast to the representations given us in Scripture of the Christian +character, and accords but too faithfully in one leading feature with +the character of those, who are stated to be the objects of Divine +displeasure in this life, and of Divine punishment in the next. + +It is not however only in these essential constituents of a devotional +frame that the bulk of nominal Christians are defective. This they +freely declare (secretly feeling perhaps some complacency from the +frankness of the avowal) to be a higher strain of piety than that to +which they aspire. Their forgetfulness also of some of the leading +dispositions of Christianity, is undeniably apparent in their allowed +want of the spirit of kindness, and meekness, and gentleness, and +patience, and long suffering; and above all, of that which is the stock +on which alone these dispositions can grow and flourish, that +_humility_ and _lowliness of mind_, in which perhaps more than in any +other quality may be said to consist the true essence and vital +principle of the Christian temper. These dispositions are not only +neglected, but even disavowed and exploded, and their opposites, if not +rising to any great height, are acknowledged and applauded. _A just +pride, a proper and becoming pride_, are terms which we daily hear from +Christian lips. To possess _a high spirit_, to behave with _a proper +spirit_ when used ill,--by which is meant a quick feeling of injuries, +and a promptness in resenting them,--entitles to commendation; and a +meek-spirited disposition, the highest Scripture eulogium, expresses +ideas of disapprobation and contempt. Vanity and vain glory are suffered +without interruption to retain their natural possession of the heart. +But here a topic opens upon us of such importance, and on which so many +mistakes are to be found both in the writings of respectable authors, +and in the commonly prevailing opinions of the world, that it may be +allowed us to discuss it more at large, and for this purpose to treat of +it in a separate section. + + +SECTION III. + +_On the Desire of human Estimation and Applause--The generally +prevailing Opinions contrasted with those of the true Christian._ + +The desire of human estimation, and distinction, and honour, of the +admiration and applause of our fellow creatures, if we take it in its +full comprehension, and in all its various modifications, from the +thirst of glory to the dread of shame, is the passion of which the +empire is by far the most general, and perhaps the authority the most +commanding. Though its power be most conspicuous and least controulable +in the higher classes of society, it seems, like some resistless +conqueror, to spare neither age, nor sex, nor condition; and taking ten +thousand shapes, insinuating itself under the most specious pretexts, +and sheltering itself when necessary under the most artful disguises, it +winds its way in secret, when it dares not openly avow itself, and mixes +in all we think, and speak, and do. It is in some instances the +determined and declared pursuit, and confessedly the main practical +principle; but where this is not the case, it is not seldom the grand +spring of action, and in the Beauty and the Author, no less than in the +Soldier, it is often the master passion of the soul. + +This is the principle which parents recognize with joy in their infant +offspring, which is diligently instilled and nurtured in advancing +years, which, under the names of honourable ambition and of laudable +emulation, it is the professed aim of schools and colleges to excite and +cherish. The writer is well aware that it will be thought he is pushing +his opinions much too far, when he ventures to assail this great +principle of human action; "a principle," its advocates might perhaps +exclaim, "the extinction of which, if you could succeed in your rash +attempt, would be like the annihilation in the material world of the +principle of motion; without it all were torpid and cold and +comfortless. We grant," they might go on to observe, "that we never +ought to deviate from the paths of duty in order to procure the applause +or to avoid the reproaches of men, and we allow that this is a rule too +little attended to in practice. We grant that the love of praise is in +some instances a ridiculous, and in others a mischievous passion; that +to it we owe the breed of coquettes and coxcombs, and, a more serious +evil, the noxious race of heroes and conquerors. We too are ready, when +it appears in the shape of vanity, to smile at it as a foible, or in +that of false glory, to condemn it as a crime. But all these are only +its perversions; and on account of them to contend against its true +forms, and its legitimate exercise, were to give into the very error +which you formerly yourself condemned, of arguing against the use of a +salutary principle altogether, on account of its being liable to +occasional abuse. When turned into the right direction, and applied to +its true purposes, it prompts to every dignified and generous +enterprise. It is erudition in the portico, skill in the lycæum, +eloquence in the senate, victory in the field. It forces indolence into +activity, and extorts from vice itself the deeds of generosity and +virtue. When once the soul is warmed by its generous ardor, no +difficulties deter, no dangers terrify, no labours tire. It is this +which, giving by its stamp to what is virtuous and honourable its just +superiority over the gifts of birth and fortune, rescues the rich from a +base subjection to the pleasures of sense, and makes them prefer a +course of toil and hardship to a life of indulgence and ease. It +prevents the man of rank from acquiescing in his hereditary greatness, +and spurs him forward in pursuit of _personal_ distinction, and of a +nobility which he may justly term his own. It moderates and qualifies +the over-great inequalities of human conditions; and reaching to those +who are above the sphere of laws, and extending to cases which fall not +within their province, it limits and circumscribes the power of the +tyrant on his throne, and gives gentleness to war, and to pride, +humility. + +"Nor is its influence confined to public life, nor is it known only in +the great and the splendid. To it is to be ascribed a large portion of +that courtesy and disposition to please, which naturally producing a +mutual appearance of good will, and a reciprocation of good offices, +constitute much of the comfort of private life, and give their choicest +sweets to social and domestic intercourse. Nay, from the force of habit, +it follows us even into solitude, and in our most secret retirements we +often act as if our conduct were subject to human observation, and we +derive no small complacency from the imaginary applauses of an ideal +spectator." + +So far of the _effects_ of the love of praise and distinction: and if +after enumerating some of these, you should proceed to investigate its +_nature_, "We admit," it might be added, "that a hasty and misjudging +world often misapplies commendations and censures: and whilst we +therefore confess, that the praises of the discerning few are alone +truly valuable; we acknowledge that it were better if mankind were +always to act from the sense of right and the love of virtue, without +reference to the opinions of their fellow-creatures. We even allow, +that independently of consequences, this were perhaps in itself a higher +strain of virtue; but it is a degree of purity which it would be vain to +expect from the bulk of mankind. When the _intrinsic excellence_ of this +principle however is called in question, let it be remembered, that in +its higher degrees it was styled, by one who meant rather to detract +from its merits than to aggravate them, 'the infirmity of _noble_ +minds;' and surely, that in such a soil it most naturally springs up, +and flourishes, is no mean proof of its exalted origin and generous +nature. + +"But were these more dubious, and were it no more than a splendid error; +yet considering that it works so often in the right direction, it were +enough to urge in its behalf, that it is a principle of real _action_, +and approved energy. That, as much as practice is better than theory, +and solid realties than empty speculation, so much is it to be preferred +for general use before those higher principles of morals, which however +just and excellent in themselves, you would in vain attempt to bring +home to the 'business and bosoms of mankind' at large. Reject not then a +principle thus universal in its influence, thus valuable in its effects; +a principle, which, by whatever name you may please to call it, acts by +motives and considerations suited to our condition; and which, putting +it at the very lowest, must be confessed, in our present infirm state, +to be an habitual aid and an ever present support to the feebleness of +virtue! In a selfish world it produces the effects of disinterestedness, +and when public spirit is extinct, it supplies the want of patriotism. +Let us therefore with gratitude avail ourselves of its help, and not +relinquish the good which it freely offers, from we know not what vain +dreams of impracticable purity and unattainable perfection." + +All this and much more might be urged by the advocates of this favourite +principle. It would be however no difficult task to shew that it by no +means merits this high eulogium. To say nothing of that larger part of +the argument of our opponents, which betrays, and even proceeds upon, +that mischievous notion of the innocence of error, against which we have +already entered our formal protest, the principle in question is +manifestly of a most inconstant and variable nature; as inconstant and +variable as the innumerably diversified modes of fashions, habits, and +opinions in different periods and societies. What it tolerates in one +age, it forbids in another; what in one country it prescribes and +applauds, in another it condemns and stigmatizes! Obviously and openly, +it often takes vice into its patronage, and sets itself in direct +opposition to virtue. It is calculated to produce rather the +_appearance_ than the _reality_ of excellence; and at best not to check +the _love_ but only the _commission_ of vice. Much of this indeed was +seen and acknowledged by the philosophers, and even by the poets, of the +Pagan world. They declaimed against it as a mutable and inconsistent +principle; they lamented the fatal effects which, under the name of +false glory, it had produced on the peace and happiness of mankind. They +condemned the pursuit of it when it led its followers out of the path of +virtue, and taught that the praise of the wise and of the good only was +to be desired. + +But it was reserved for the page of Scripture to point out to us +distinctly, wherein it is apt to be essentially defective and vicious, +and to discover to us more fully its encroaching nature and dangerous +tendencies; teaching us at the same time, how, being purified from its +corrupt qualities, and reduced under just subordination, it may be +brought into legitimate exercise, and be directed to its true end. + +In the sacred volume we are throughout reminded, that we are originally +the creatures of God's formation, and continual dependents on his +bounty. There too we learn the painful lesson of man's degradation and +unworthiness. We learn that humiliation and contrition are the tempers +of mind best suited to our fallen condition, and most acceptable in the +sight of our Creator. We learn that these (to the repression and +extinction of that spirit of arrogance and self-importance, so natural +to the heart of man) it should be our habitual care to cherish and +cultivate; studiously maintaining a continual sense, that, not only for +all the _natural_ advantages over others which we may possess, but that +for all our _moral_ superiority also, we are altogether indebted to the +unmerited goodness of God. It might perhaps be said to be the great end +and purpose of all revelation, and especially to be the design of the +Gospel, to reclaim us from our natural pride and selfishness, and their +fatal consequences; to bring us to a just sense of our weakness and +_depravity_; and to dispose us, with unfeigned humiliation, to abase +ourselves, and give glory to God. "No flesh may glory in his presence; +he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord"--"The lofty looks of man +shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and +the Lord alone shall be exalted[76]." + +These solemn admonitions are too generally disregarded, and their +intimate connection with the subject we are now considering, appears to +have been often entirely overlooked, even by Christian moralists. These +authors, without reference to the main spring, and internal principle of +conduct, are apt to speak of the love of human applause, as being +meritorious or culpable, as being the desire of true or of false glory, +accordingly as the external actions it produces, and the pursuits to +which it prompts, are beneficial or mischievous to mankind. But it is +undeniably manifest, that in the judgment of the word of God, the love +of worldly admiration and applause is in its _nature_ essentially and +radically corrupt; so far as it partakes of a disposition to exalt and +aggrandize ourselves, to pride ourselves on our natural or acquired +endowments, or to assume to ourselves the merit and credit of our good +qualities, instead of ascribing all the honour and glory where only they +are due. Its _guilt_ therefore in these cases, is not to be measured by +its effects on the happiness of mankind; nor is it to be denominated +_true or false_ glory, accordingly as the ends to which it is directed +are beneficial or mischievous, just or unjust objects of pursuit; but it +is _false_, because it exalts that which ought to be abased, and +_criminal_, because it encroaches on the prerogative of God. + +The Scriptures further instruct us, not merely that mankind are liable +to error, and therefore that the world's commendations _may be_ +sometimes mistaken; but that their judgment being darkened and their +hearts depraved, its applauses and contempt will for the most part be +systematically misplaced; that though the beneficent and disinterested +spirit of Christianity, and her obvious tendency to promote domestic +comfort and general happiness, cannot but extort applause; yet that her +aspiring after more than ordinary excellence, by exciting secret +misgivings in others, or a painful sense of inferiority not unmixed with +envy, cannot fail often to disgust and offend. The word of God teaches +us, that though such of the doctrines and precepts of Christianity, as +are coincident with worldly interests and pursuits, and with worldly +principles and systems, may be professed without offence; yet, that what +is opposite to these, or even different from them, will be deemed +needlessly precise and strict, the indulgence of a morose and gloomy +humour, the symptoms of a contracted and superstitious spirit, the marks +of a mean, enslaved, or distorted understanding. That for these and +other reasons, the follower of Christ must not only make up his mind to +the _occasional relinquishment_ of worldly favour, but that it should +even afford him matter of holy jealousy and suspicion of himself, when +it is very lavishly and very generally bestowed. + +But though the standard of worldly estimation differed less from that of +the Gospel; yet since our affections ought to be set on heavenly things, +and conversant about heavenly objects; and since in particular the love +and favour of God ought to be the matter of our supreme and habitual +desire, to which every other should be subordinated; it follows, that +the love of human applause must be manifestly injurious, so far as it +tends to draw down our regards to earthly concerns, and to bound and +circumscribe our desires within the narrow limits of this world. +Particularly, that it is _impure_, so far as it is tinctured with a +disposition to estimate too highly, and love too well, the good opinion +and commendations of man. + +But though, by these and other instructions and considerations, the Holy +Scripture warns us against the inordinate desire or earnest pursuit of +worldly estimation and honour; though it so greatly reduces their value, +and prepares us for losing them without surprise, and for relinquishing +them with little reluctance: yet it teaches us, that Christians in +general are not only not called upon absolutely and voluntarily to +renounce or forego them; but that when, without our having solicitously +sought them, they are bestowed on us for actions intrinsically good, we +are to accept them as being intended by Providence, to be sometimes, +even in this disorderly state of things, a present solace, and a reward +to virtue. Nay more, we are instructed, that in our general deportment, +that in little particulars of conduct otherwise indifferent, that in the +_circumstances_ and _manner_ of performing actions in themselves of a +determined character and indispensable obligation, (guarding however +against the smallest degree of artifice or deceit) that by watching for +opportunities of doing little kindnesses, that by avoiding +singularities, and even humouring prejudices, where it may be done +without the slightest infringment on truth or duty, we ought to have a +due respect and regard to the approbation and favour of men. These +however we should not value, chiefly as they may administer to our own +gratification, but rather as furnishing means and instruments of +influence, which we may turn to good account, by making them subservient +to the improvement and happiness of our fellow creatures, and thus +conducive to the _glory of God_. The remark is almost superfluous, that +on occasions like these we must even watch our hearts with the most +jealous care, lest pride and self love insensibly infuse themselves, and +corrupt the purity of principles so liable to contract a taint. + +Credit and reputation, in the judgment of the true Christian, stand on +ground not very different from riches; which he is not to prize highly, +or to desire and pursue with solicitude; but which, when they are +allotted to him by the hand of Providence, he is to accept with +thankfulness, and use with moderation; relinquishing them when it +becomes necessary, without a murmur; guarding most circumspectly, so +long as they remain with him, against that sensual and selfish temper, +and no less against that pride and wantonness of heart, which they are +too apt to produce and cherish; thus considering them as in themselves +acceptable, but, from the infirmity of his nature, as highly dangerous +possessions, and valuing them chiefly not as instruments of luxury or +splendour, but as affording the means of honouring his heavenly +Benefactor, and lessening the miseries of mankind. + +Christianity however, as was formerly observed, proposes not to +extinguish our natural desires, but to bring them under just controul, +and direct them to their true objects. In the case both of riches and of +honour, she maintains the consistency of her character. While she +commands us not to set our hearts on _earthly_ treasures, she reminds us +that "we have in _Heaven_ a better and more enduring substance" than +this world can bestow; and while she represses our solicitude respecting +earthly credit, and moderates our attachment to it, she holds forth to +us, and bids us habitually to aspire after, the splendours of that +better state, where is true glory, and honour, and immortality; thus +exciting in us a just ambition, suited to our high origin, and worthy of +our large capacities, which the little, misplaced, and perishable +distinctions of this life would in vain attempt to satisfy. + +It would be mere waste of time to enter into any laboured argument to +prove at large, that the light in which worldly credit and estimation +are regarded, by the bulk of professed Christians, is extremely +different from that in which they are placed by the page of Scripture. +The _inordinate_ love of _worldly glory_ indeed, implies a passion, +which from the nature of things cannot be called into exercise in the +generality of mankind, because, being conversant about great objects, it +can but rarely find that field which is requisite for its exertions. But +we every where discover the same principle reduced to the dimensions of +common life, and modified and directed according to every one's sphere +of action. We may discover it in a supreme love of distinction, and +admiration, and praise; in the universal acceptableness of flattery; and +above all in the excessive valuation of our worldly character, in that +watchfulness with which it is guarded, in that jealousy when it is +questioned, in that solicitude when it is in danger, in that hot +resentment when it is attacked, in that bitterness of suffering when it +is impaired or lost. All these emotions, as they are too manifest to be +disputed, so are they too reputable to be denied. Dishonour, disgrace, +and shame present images of horror too dreadful to be faced; they are +evils, which it is thought the mark of a generous spirit to consider as +excluding every idea of comfort and enjoyment, and to feel, in short, as +too heavy to be borne. + +The consequences of all this are natural and obvious. Though it be not +openly avowed, that we are to follow after worldly estimation, or to +escape from worldly disrepute, when they can only be pursued or avoided +by declining from the path of duty; nay though the contrary be +recognized as being the just opinion; yet all the effect of this +speculative concession is soon done away _in fact_. Estimating worldly +credit as of the highest intrinsic excellence, and worldly shame as the +greatest of all possible evils, we sometimes shape and turn the path of +duty itself from its true direction, so as it may favour our acquisition +of the one, and avoidance of the other; or when this cannot be done, we +boldly and openly turn aside from it, declaring the temptation is too +strong to be resisted. + +It were easy to adduce numerous proofs of the truth of these assertions. +It is proved, indeed, by that general tendency in Religion to conceal +herself from the view, (for we might hope that in these cases she often +is by no means altogether extinct) by her being apt to vanish from our +conversations, and even to give place to a pretended licentiousness of +sentiments and conduct, and a false shew of infidelity. It is proved, by +that complying acquiescence and participation in the habits and manners +of this dissipated age, which, has almost confounded every external +distinction between the Christian and the Infidel, and has made it so +rare to find any one who dares incur the charge of Christian +singularity, or who can say with the Apostle that "he is not ashamed of +the Gospel of Christ." It is proved (how can this proof be omitted by +one to whose lot it has so often fallen to witness and lament, sometimes +he fears to afford an instance of it?) by that quick resentment, those +bitter contentions, those angry retorts, those malicious triumphs, that +impatience of inferiority, that wakeful sense of past defeats, and +promptness to revenge them, which too often change the character of a +Christian deliberative Assembly, into that of a stage for prize +fighters: violating at once the proprieties of public conduct, and the +rules of social decorum, and renouncing and chasing away all the +charities of the Religion of Jesus! + +But from all lesser proofs, our attention is drawn to one of a still +larger size, and more determined character. Surely the reader will here +anticipate our mention of the practice of Duelling: a practice which, to +the disgrace of a Christian society, has long been suffered to exist +with little restraint or opposition. + +This practice, whilst it powerfully supports, mainly rests on, that +excessive over-valuation of character, which teaches that worldly credit +is to be preserved at _any_ rate, and disgrace at _any_ rate to be +avoided. The _unreasonableness_ of duelling has been often proved, and +it has often been shewn to be criminal on various principles: sometimes +it has been opposed on grounds hardly tenable; particularly when it has +been considered as an indication of malice and revenge[77]. But it +seems hardly to have been enough noticed in what chiefly consists its +_essential_ guilt; that it is a deliberate preference of the favour of +man, before the favour and approbation of God, _in articulo mortis_, in +an instance, wherein our own life, and that of a fellow creature are at +stake, and wherein we run the risk of rushing into the presence of our +Maker in the very act of offending him. It would detain us too long, and +it were somewhat beside our present purpose, to enumerate the +mischievous consequences which result from this practice. They are many +and great; and if regard be had merely to the temporal interests of men, +and to the well being of society, they are but poorly counterbalanced by +the plea, which must be admitted in its behalf by a candid observer of +human nature, of a courtesy and refinement in our modern manners unknown +to ancient times. + +But there is one observation which must not be omitted, and which seems +to have been too much overlooked: In the judgment of that Religion which +requires purity of heart, and of that Being to whom, as was before +remarked, "thought is action," he cannot be esteemed innocent of this +crime, who lives in a settled habitual determination to commit it, when +circumstances shall call upon him so to do[78]. This is a consideration +which places the crime of duelling on a different footing from almost +any other; indeed there is perhaps NO other, which mankind habitually +and deliberately resolve to practise whenever the temptation shall +occur. It shews also that the crime of duelling is far more general in +the higher classes than is commonly supposed, and that the whole sum of +the guilt which the practice produces is great, beyond what has perhaps +been ever conceived! It will be the writer's comfort to have solemnly +suggested this consideration, to the consciences of those by whom this +impious practice might be suppressed: If such there be, which he is +strongly inclined to believe, their's is the crime, and their's the +responsibility of suffering it to continue[79]. + +In the foregoing observations, it has not been the writer's intention to +discuss completely that copious subject, the love of worldly estimation. +It would be to exceed the limits of a work like this, fully to +investigate so large, and at the same time so important a topic. Enough +however may have perhaps been said, to make it evident that this +principle is of a character highly _questionable_; that it should be +brought under absolute subjection, and watched with the most jealous +care: That, notwithstanding its lofty pretensions, it often can by no +means justly boast that high origin and exalted nature, which its +superficial admirers are disposed to concede to it. What real intrinsic +essential value, it might be asked, does there appear to be in a +virtue, which had wholly changed its nature and character, if public +opinion had been different? But it is in truth of base extraction, and +ungenerous qualities, springing from selfishness and vanity, and low +ambition; by these it subsists, and thrives, and acts; and envy, and +jealousy, and detraction, and hatred, and variance, are its too faithful +and natural associates. It is, to say the best of it, a root which bears +fruits of a poisonous as well as of a beneficial quality. If it +sometimes stimulates to great and generous enterprises, if it urges to +industry, and sometimes to excellence, if in the more contracted sphere +it produces courtesy and kindness; yet to its account we must place the +ambition which desolates nations, and many of the competitions and +resentments which interrupt the harmony of social life. The former +indeed has been often laid to its charge, but the latter have not been +sufficiently attended to; and still less has its _noxious_ influence on +the vital principle, and distinguishing graces of the Christian +character, been duly pointed out and enforced. + +To read indeed the writings of certain Christian moralists,[80] and to +observe how little they seem disposed to call it in question, except +where it raves in the conqueror, one should be almost tempted to +suspect; that, considering it as a principle of such potency and +prevalence, as that they must despair of bringing it into just +subjection, they were intent only on complimenting it into good humour +(like those barbarous nations which worship the evil Spirit through +fear;) or rather, that they were making a sort of composition with an +enemy they could not master, and were willing, on condition of its +giving up the trade of war, to suffer it to rule undisturbed, and range +at pleasure. + +But the truth is, that the reasonings of Christian moralists too often +exhibit but few traces of the genius of Christian morality. Of this +position, the case before us is an instance. This principle of the +desire of worldly distinction and applause, is often allowed, and even +commended, with too few qualifications, and too little reserve. To covet +wealth is base and sordid, but to covet honour is treated as the mark of +a generous and exalted nature. These writers scarcely seem to bear in +mind, that though the principle in question tends to prevent the +commission of those grosser acts of vice which would injure us in the +general estimation; yet that it not only stops there, but that it there +begins to exert almost an equal force in the opposite direction. They do +not consider how apt this principle is, even in the case of those who +move in a contracted sphere, to fill us with vain conceits, and vicious +passions; and above all how it tends to fix the affections on earthly +things, and to steal away the heart from God. They acknowledge it to be +criminal when it produces mischievous effects, but forget how apt it is, +by the substitution of a false and corrupt motive, to vitiate the purity +of our good actions, depriving them of all which rendered them truly and +essentially valuable. That, not to be too hastily approved, because it +takes the side of virtue, it often works her ruin while it asserts her +cause, and like some vile seducer, pretends affection only the more +surely to betray. + +It is the distinguishing glory of Christianity not to rest satisfied +with superficial appearances, but to rectify the _motives_, and purify +the _heart_. The true Christian, in obedience to the lessons of +Scripture, no where keeps over himself a more resolute and jealous +guard, than where the desire of human estimation and distinction is in +question. No where does he more deeply feel the insufficiency of his +unassisted strength, or more diligently and earnestly pray for divine +assistance. He may well indeed watch and pray against the encroachments +of a passion, which, when suffered to transgress its just limits, +discovers a peculiar hostility to the distinguishing graces of the +Christian temper; a passion which must insensibly acquire force, because +it is in continual exercise; to which almost every thing _without_ +administers nutriment, and the growth of which _within_ is favoured and +cherished by such powerful auxiliaries as pride and selfishness, the +natural and perhaps inexterminable inhabitants of the human heart; of +which the predominance, if established, is thus so pernicious, and which +possesses so many advantages for effecting its establishment. + +Strongly impressed therefore with a sense of the indispensable necessity +of guarding against the progress of this encroaching principle, in +humble reliance on superior aid, the true Christian thankfully uses the +means, and habitually exercises himself in the considerations and +motives, suggested to him for that purpose by the word of God. He is +much occupied in searching out, and contemplating his own infirmities. +He endeavours to acquire and maintain a just conviction of his great +unworthiness; and to keep in continual remembrance, that whatever +distinguishes himself from others, is not properly his own, but that he +is altogether indebted for it to the undeserved bounty of Heaven. He +diligently endeavours also, habitually to preserve a _just_ sense of the +real worth of human distinction and applause, knowing that he shall +covet them less when he has learned not to over-rate their value. He +labours to bear in mind, how undeservedly they are often bestowed, how +precariously they are always possessed. The censures of good men justly +render him suspicious of himself, and prompt him carefully and +impartially to examine into those parts of his character, or those +particulars of his conduct, which have drawn on him their +animadversions. The favourable opinion and the praises of good men are +justly acceptable to him, where they accord with the testimony of his +own heart; that testimony being thereby confirmed and warranted. Those +praises favour also and strengthen the growth of mutual confidence and +affection, where it is his delight to form friendships, rich not less in +use than comfort, and to establish connections which may last for ever. +But even in the case of the commendations of good men, he suffers not +himself to be beguiled into an over-valuation of them, lest he should be +led to substitute them in the place of conscience. He guards against +this by reflecting how indistinctly we can discern each other's motives, +how little enter into each other's circumstances, how mistaken therefore +may be the judgments formed of us, or of our actions, even by good men, +and that it is far from improbable, that we may at some time be +compelled to forfeit their esteem, by adhering to the dictates of our +own consciences. + +But if he endeavours thus to set loose to the favour and applause even +of good men, much more to those of the world at large; not but that he +is sensible of their worth as means and instruments of usefulness and +influence; and under the limitations and for the ends allowed in +Scripture (these it is needless to repeat) he is glad to possess, +observant to acquire, and careful to retain them. He considers them +however, if we may again introduce the metaphor, like the precious +metals, as having rather an exchangeable than an intrinsic value, as +desirable not simply in their possession, but in their use. In this +view, he holds himself to be responsible for that share of them which he +enjoys, and, to continue the figure, as bound not to let them lie by him +unemployed, this were hoarding; not to lavish them prodigally, this +would be waste; not imprudently to misapply them, this were folly and +caprice: but as under an obligation to regard them as conferred upon him +that they might be brought into action, and as what therefore he may by +no means throw away, though ready, if it be required, to relinquish them +with cheerfulness; and never feeling himself at liberty, in +consideration of the use he intends to make of them, to acquire or +retain them unlawfully. He holds it to be his bounden duty to seek +diligently for occasions of rendering them subservient to their true +purposes; and when any such occasion is found, to expend them cheerfully +and liberally, but with discretion and frugality; being no less prudent +in determining the measure, than in selecting the objects of their +application, that they may go the farther by being thus managed with +oeconomy. + +Acting therefore on these principles, he will studiously and diligently +use any degree of worldly credit he may enjoy, in removing or lessening +prejudices; in conciliating good-will, and thereby making way for the +less obstructed progress of truth; and in providing for its being +entertained with candour, or even with favour, by those who would bar +all access against it in any rougher or more homely form. He will make +it his business to set on foot and forward benevolent and useful +schemes; and where they require united efforts, to obtain and preserve +for them this co-operation. He will endeavour to discountenance vice, to +bring modest merit into notice; to lend as it were his light to men of +real worth, but of less creditable name, and perhaps of less +conciliating qualities and manners; that they may thus shine with a +reflected lustre, and be useful in their turn, when invested with their +just estimation. But while by these and various other means he strives +to render his reputation, so long as he possesses it, subservient to the +great ends of advancing the cause of Religion and Virtue, and of +promoting the happiness and comfort of mankind, he will not transgress +the rule of the Scripture precepts in order to obtain, to cultivate, or +to preserve it, resolutely disclaiming that dangerous sophistry of +"doing evil that good may come." Ready however to relinquish his +reputation when required so to do, he will not throw it away; and so far +as he allowably may, he will cautiously avoid occasions of diminishing +it, instead of studiously seeking, or needlessly multiplying them, as +seems sometimes to have been the practice of worthy but imprudent men. +There will be no capricious humours, no selfish tempers, no moroseness, +no discourtesy, no affected severity of deportment, no peculiarity of +language, no indolent neglect, or wanton breach, of the ordinary forms +or fashions of society. His reputation is a possession capable of uses +too important to be thus sported away; if sacrificed at all, it shall be +sacrificed at the call of duty. The world shall be constrained to allow +him to be amiable, as well as respectable in other parts of his +character; though in what regards Religion, they may account him +unreasonably precise and strict. In this no less than in other +particulars, he will endeavour to reduce the enemies of Religion to +adopt the confession of the accusers of the Jewish ruler, "we shall not +find any fault or occasion against this Daniel--except concerning the +law of his God:" and even there, if he give offence, it will only be +where he dares not do otherwise; and if he fall into dis-esteem or +disgrace it shall not be chargeable to any conduct which is justly +dishonourable, or even to any unnecessary singularities on his part, but +to the false standard of estimation of a misjudging world. When his +character is thus mistaken, or his conduct thus misconstrued, he will +not wrap himself up in a mysterious sullenness; but will be ready, where +he thinks any one will listen to him with patience and candour, to clear +up what has been dubious, to explain what has been imperfectly known, +and "speaking the truth in love" to correct, if it may be, the erroneous +impressions which have been conceived of him. He may sometimes feel it +his duty publicly to vindicate his character from unjust reproach, and +to repel the false charges of his enemies; but he will carefully however +watch against being led away by pride, or being betrayed into some +breach of truth or of Christian charity, when he is treading in a path +so dangerous. At such a time he will also guard, with more than ordinary +circumspection, against any undue solicitude about his worldly +reputation for its own sake; and when he has done what duty requires for +its vindication, he will sit down with a peaceable and quiet mind, and +it will be matter of no very deep concern to him if his endeavours +should have been ineffectual. If good men in every age and nation have +been often unjustly calumniated and disgraced, and if, in such +circumstances, even the darkness of paganism has been able contentedly +to repose itself on the consciousness of innocence, shall one who is +cheered by the Christian's hope, who is assured also, that a day will +shortly come in which whatever is secret shall be made manifest, and the +mistaken judgments of men, perhaps even of good men, being corrected, +that "he shall then have praise of God;" shall such an one, I say, sink? +shall he even bend or droop under such a trial? They might be more +excusable in over-valuing human reputation to whom all beyond the grave +was dark and cheerless. They also might be more easily pardoned for +pursuing with some degree of eagerness and solicitude that glory which +might survive them, thus seeking as it were to extend the narrow span of +their earthly existence: but far different is our case, to whom these +clouds are rolled away, and "life and immortality brought to light by +the Gospel." Not but that worldly favour and distinction are amongst the +best things this world has to offer: but the Christian knows it is the +very condition of his calling, _not_ to have his portion here; and as in +the case of any other earthly enjoyments, so in that also of worldly +honour, he dreads, lest his supreme affections being thereby gratified, +it should be hereafter said to him "remember that thou in thy life time +receivedst thy good things." + +He is required by his holy calling to be victorious over the world; and +to this victory, the conquest of the dread of its dis-esteem and +dishonour is essentially and indispensably required. He reflects on +those holy men who "had trial of cruel mockings;" he remembers that our +blessed Saviour himself "was despised and rejected of men;" and what is +he, that he should be exempted from the common lot, or think it much to +bear the scandal of his profession? If therefore he is creditable and +popular, he considers this, if the phrase may be pardoned, as something +beyond his bargain; and he watches himself, with double care, lest he +should grow over-fond of what he may be shortly called upon to +relinquish. He meditates often on the probability of his being involved +in such circumstances, as may render it necessary for him to subject +himself to disgrace and obloquy; thus familiarizing himself with them +betimes, and preparing himself, that when the trying hour arrives they +may not take him unawares. + +But the cultivation of the desire of "that honour which cometh from +God," he finds the most effectual means of bringing his mind into a +proper temper, in what regards the love of human approbation. Christian! +would thou indeed reduce this affection under just controul--_sursum +corda!_ Rise on the wings of contemplation, until the praises and the +censures of men die away upon the ear, and the still small voice of +conscience is no longer drowned by the din of this nether world. Here +the sight is apt to be occupied with earthly objects, and the hearing to +be engrossed with earthly sounds; but there thou shalt come within the +view of that resplendent and incorruptible crown, which is held forth to +thy acceptance in the realms of light, and thine ear shall be regaled +with Heavenly melody! Here we dwell in a variable atmosphere--the +prospect is at one time darkened by the gloom of disgrace, and at +another the eye is dazzled by the gleamings of glory: but thou hast now +ascended above this inconstant region; no storms agitate, no clouds +obscure the air, and the lightnings play, and the thunders roll beneath +thee. + +Thus, at chosen seasons, the Christian exercises himself; and when, from +this elevated region he descends into the plain below, and mixes in the +bustle of life, he still retains the impressions of his more retired +hours. By these he realizes to himself the unseen world; he accustoms +himself to speak and act as in the presence of "an innumerable company +of angels, and of the spirits of just men made perfect, and of God the +Judge of all;" the consciousness of _their_ approbation cheers and +gladdens his soul, under the scoffs and reproaches of an undiscerning +world, and to his delighted ear, their united praises form a _harmony_ +which a few discordant earthly voices cannot interrupt. + +But though the Christian be sometimes enabled thus to triumph over the +inordinate love of human applause, he does not therefore deem himself +secure from its encroachments. On the contrary, he is aware, so strong +and active is its principle of vitality, that even where it seems +extinct, let but circumstances favour its revival, and it will spring +forth again in renewed vigour. And as his watch must thus during life +know no termination, because the enemy will ever be at hand; so it must +be the more close and vigilant, because he is no where free from danger, +but is on every side open to attack. "Sume superbiam quæsitam meritis," +was the maxim of a worldly moralist: but the Christian is aware, that he +is particularly assailable where he really excels; there he is in +especial danger, lest his motives, originally pure, being insensibly +corrupted, he should be betrayed into an anxiety about worldly favour, +false in principle or excessive in degree, when he is endeavouring to +render his virtue amiable and respected in the eyes of others, and in +obedience to the Scripture injunction, is willing to let his "light so +shine before men, that they may see his good works, and glorify his +Father which is in heaven." + +He watches himself also on small as well as on great occasions: the +latter indeed, in the case of many persons, can hardly ever be expected +to occur, whereas the former are continually presenting themselves: and +thus, whilst on the one hand they may be rendered highly useful in +forming and strengthening a just habit of mind in the particular in +question; so, on the other, they are the means most at hand for enabling +us to discover our own real character. Let not this be slightly passed +over. If any one finds himself shrinking from disrepute or dis-esteem in +little instances; but apt to solace himself with the persuasion, that +his spirits being fully called forth to the encounter, he could boldly +stand the brunt of sharper trials; let him be slow to give entertainment +to so beguiling a suggestion; and let him not forget that these little +instances, where no credit is to be got, and the vainest can find small +room for self-complacency, furnish perhaps the truest tests whether we +are ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, and are willing, on principles +really pure, to bear reproach for the name of Jesus. + +The Christian too is well aware that the excessive desire of human +approbation is a passion of so subtile a nature, that there is nothing +into which it cannot penetrate; and from much experience, learning to +discover it where it would lurk unseen, and to detect it under its more +specious disguises, he finds, that elsewhere disallowed and excluded, it +is apt to insinuate itself into his very religion, where it especially +delights to dwell, and obstinately maintains its residence. Proud piety +and ostentatious charity, and all the more open effects it there +produces, have been often condemned, and we may discover the tendencies +to them in ourselves, without difficulty. But where it appears not so +large in bulk, and in shape so unambiguous, let its operation be still +suspected. Let not the Christian suffer himself to be deceived by any +external dissimilitudes between himself and the world around him, +trusting perhaps to the sincerity of the principle to which they +originally owed their rise; but let him beware lest through the +insensible encroachments of the subtle usurper, his religion should at +length have "only a name to live," being gradually robbed of its +vivifying principle; lest he should be mainly preserved in his religious +course by the dread of incurring the charge of levity, for quitting a +path on which he had deliberately entered. Or where, on a strict and +impartial scrutiny of his governing motives, he may fairly conclude +this not to be the case, let him beware lest he be influenced by this +principle in particular parts of his character, and especially where any +external singularities are in question; closely scrutinizing his +apparent motives, lest he should be prompted to his more than ordinary +religious observances, and be kept from participating in the licentious +pleasures of a dissipated age, not so much by a vigorous principle of +internal holiness, as by a fear of lessening himself in the good opinion +of the stricter circle of his associates, or of suffering even in the +estimation of the world at large, by violating the proprieties of his +assumed character. + +To those who, in the important particular which we have been so long +discussing, wish to conform themselves to the injunctions of the word of +God, we must advise a laborious watchfulness, a jealous guard, a close +and frequent scrutiny of their own hearts, that they may not mistake +their real character, and too late find themselves to have been +mistaken, as to what they had conceived to be their governing motives. +Above all, let them labour, with humble prayers for the Divine +assistance, to fix in themselves a deep, habitual, and practical sense +of the excellence of "that honour which cometh from God," and of the +comparative worthlessness of all earthly estimation and pre-eminence. In +truth, unless the affections of the soul be thus predominantly engaged +on the side of heavenly in preference to that of human honour, though we +may have relinquished the pursuit of fame, we shall not have acquired +that firm contexture of mind, which can bear disgrace and shame, without +yielding to the pressure. Between these two states there is a wide +interval, and he who, on a sober review of his conduct and motives, +finds reason to believe he has arrived at the one, must not therefore +conclude he has reached the other. To the one, a little natural +moderation and quietness of temper may be sufficient to conduct us: but +to the other, we can only attain by much discipline and slow advances; +and when we think we have made great way, we shall often find reason to +confess in the hour of trial, that we had greatly, far too greatly, +over-rated our progress. + +When engaged too in the prosecution of this course, we must be aware of +the snares which lie in our way, and of the deceits to which we are +liable: and we must be provided against these impositions, by having +obtained a full and distinct conception of the temper of mind with +regard to human favour, which is prescribed to us in Scripture; and by +continually examining our hearts and lives to ascertain how far they +correspond with it. This will prevent our substituting contemplation in +the place of action, and giving ourselves too much up to those religious +meditations which were formerly recommended, in which we must not +indulge to the neglect of the common _duties_ of life: this will prevent +our mistaking the gratification of an indolent temper for the +Christian's disregard of fame; for, never let it be forgotten, we must +_deserve_ estimation, though we may not _possess_ it, forcing men of the +_world_ to acknowledge, that we do not want their boasted spring of +action to set us in motion; but that its place is better supplied to us +by another, which produces all the good of their's without its evil; +thus demonstrating the superiority of the principle which animates us, +by the superior utility and excellence of its effects. This principle, +in order to be pure and genuine, though nerved with more than mortal +firmness, must be sweetened by love, and tempered with humility. The +former of these qualities will render us kind, friendly, and beneficent, +preventing our being no longer on the watch to promote the happiness or +comfort of others, than whilst we are stimulated by the desire of their +applause; the produce of which passion, whatever may be vaunted of its +effects on social intercourse, is often nothing better than selfishness, +but ill concealed under a superficial covering of exterior courtesy. + +Humility, again, reducing us in our own value, will moderate our claims +on worldly estimation. It will check our tendency to ostentation and +display, prompting us rather to avoid, than to attract notice. It will +dispose us to sit down in quiet obscurity, though, judging ourselves +impartially, we believe ourselves better entitled to credit, than those +on whom it is conferred; closing the entrance against a proud, painful, +and malignant passion, from which, under such circumstances, we can +otherwise be hardly free, the passion of "high disdain from sense of +injured merit." + +Love and humility will concur in producing a frame of mind, not more +distinct from an ardent thirst of glory, than from that frigid +disregard, or insolent contempt, or ostentatious renunciation of human +favour and distinction, which we have sometimes seen opposed to it. +These latter qualities may not infrequently be traced to a slothful, +sensual, and selfish temper; to the consciousness of being unequal to +any great and generous attempts; to the disappointment of schemes of +ambition or of glory; to a little personal experience of the world's +capricious and inconstant humour. The renunciation in these cases, +however sententious, is often far from sincere; and it is even made not +unfrequently, with a view to the attainment of that very distinction +which it affects to disclaim. In some other of these instances, the +over-valuation and inordinate desire of worldly credit, however +disavowed, are abundantly evident, from the merit which is assumed for +relinquishing them; or from that sour and surly humour, which betrays a +gloomy and a corroded mind, galled and fretting under the irritating +sense of the want of that which it most wishes to possess. + +But the Christian's is a far different temper: not a temper of sordid +sensuality, or lazy apathy, or dogmatizing pride, or disappointed +ambition: more truly independent of worldly estimation than philosophy +with all her boasts, it forms a perfect contrast to Epicurean +selfishness, and to Stoical pride, and to Cynical brutality. It is a +temper compounded of firmness, and complacency, and peace, and love; and +manifesting itself in acts of kindness and of courtesy; a kindness, not +pretended but genuine; a courtesy, not false and superficial, but +cordial and sincere. In the hour of popularity it is not intoxicated, or +insolent; in the hour of unpopularity, it is not desponding or morose; +unshaken in constancy, unwearied in benevolence, firm without roughness, +and assiduous without servility. + +Notwithstanding the great importance of the topic which we have been +investigating, it will require much indulgence on the part of the +reader, to excuse the disproportionate length into which the discussion +has been almost insensibly drawn out: yet this, it is hoped, may not be +without its uses, if the writer have in any degree succeeded in his +endeavour, to point out the dangerous qualities and unchristian +tendencies of a principle, of such general predominance throughout the +higher classes of society, and to suggest to the serious inquirer some +practical hints for its regulation and controul. Since the principle +too, of which we have been treating, is one of the most ordinary +modifications of pride; the discussion may also serve in some degree to +supply a manifest deficiency, a deficiency to be ascribed to the fear of +trespassing too far on the reader's patience, in having but slightly +touched on the allowed prevalence of that master passion, and on the +allowed neglect of its opposite, humility. + + +SECTION IV. + +_The generally prevailing Error, of substituting amiable Tempers and +useful Lives in the place of Religion, stated and confuted; with Hints +to real Christians._ + +There is another practical error very generally prevalent, the effects +of which are highly injurious to the cause of Religion; and which in +particular is often brought forward when, upon Christian principles, any +advocates for Christianity would press the practice of Christian +virtues. Before we proceed, therefore, to comment upon what remains to +be discussed, of the misconceptions and defects of the bulk of professed +Christians, it may not be amiss to dispose of this objection to our +whole scheme. + +The error in question is that of exaggerating the merit of certain +amiable and useful qualities, and of considering them as of themselves +sufficient to compensate for the want of the supreme love and fear of +God. + +It seems to be an opinion pretty generally prevalent, that kindness and +sweetness of temper; sympathizing, and benevolent, and generous +affections; attention to what in the world's estimation are the +domestic, relative, and social duties; and above all a life of general +activity and usefulness, may well be allowed, in our imperfect state, to +make up for the defect of what in strict propriety of speech is termed +Religion. + +Many indeed will unreservedly declare, and more will hint the opinion, +that "the difference between the qualities above-mentioned and Religion, +is rather a verbal or logical, than a real and essential difference; for +in truth what are they but Religion in substance if not in name? Is it +not the great end of Religion, and in particular the glory of +Christianity, to extinguish the malignant passions; to curb the +violence, to controul the appetites, and to smooth the asperities of +man; to make us compassionate and kind, and forgiving one to another; to +make us good husbands, good fathers, good friends, and to render us +active and useful in the discharge of the relative, social, and civil +duties? We do not deny that in the general mass of society, and +particularly in the lower orders, such conduct and tempers cannot be +diffused and maintained by any other medium than that of Religion. But +if the end be effected, surely it is only unnecessary refinement to +dispute about the means. It is even to forget your own principles; and +to refuse its just place to solid practical virtue, while you assign too +high a value to speculative opinions." + +Thus a fatal distinction is admitted between Morality and Religion: a +great and desperate error, of which it is the more necessary to take +notice; because many who would condemn, as too strong, the language in +which this opinion is sometimes openly avowed, are yet more or less +tinctured with the notion itself; and under the habitual and almost +unperceived influence of this beguiling suggestion, are vainly solacing +their imaginations, and repressing their well-grounded fears concerning +_their own_ state; and are also quieting their just solicitude +concerning the spiritual condition of _others_, and soothing themselves +in the neglect of friendly endeavours for their improvement. + +There can hardly be a stronger proof of the cursory and superficial +views, with which men are apt to satisfy themselves in religious +concerns, than the prevalence of the opinion here in question; the +falsehood and sophistry of which must be acknowledged by any one who, +admitting the authority of Scripture, will examine it with ever so +little seriousness and impartiality of mind. + +Appealing indeed to a less strict standard, it would not be difficult to +shew that the moral worth of these sweet and benevolent tempers, and of +these useful lives, is apt to be greatly over-rated. The former +involuntarily gain upon our affections and disarm our severer judgments, +by their kindly, complying, and apparently disinterested nature; by +their prompting men to flatter instead of mortifying our pride, to +sympathize either with our joys or our sorrows, to abound in obliging +attentions and offices of courtesy; by their obvious tendency to produce +and maintain harmony and comfort in social and domestic life. It is not +however unworthy of remark, that from the commendations which are so +generally bestowed on these qualities, and their rendering men +universally acceptable and popular, there is many a false pretender to +them, who gains a credit for them which he by no means deserves; in whom +they are no more than the proprieties of his assumed character, or even +a mask which is worn in public, only the better to conceal an opposite +temper. Would you see this man of courtesy and sweetness stripped of his +false covering, follow him unobserved into his family; and you shall +behold, too plain to be mistaken, selfishness and spleen harassing and +vexing the wretched subjects of their unmanly tyranny; as if being +released at length from their confinement, they were making up to +themselves for the restraint which had been imposed on them in the +world. + +But where the benevolent qualities are genuine, they often deserve the +name rather of amiable instincts, than of moral virtues. In many cases, +they imply no mental conflict, no previous discipline: they are apt to +evaporate in barren sensibilities, and transitory sympathies, and +indolent wishes, and unproductive declarations: they possess not that +strength and energy of character, which, in contempt of difficulties and +dangers, produce alacrity in service, vigour and perseverance in action. +Destitute of proper firmness, they often encourage that vice and folly +which it is their especial duty to repress; and it is well if, from +their soft complying humour, they are not often drawn in to participate +in what is wrong, as well as to connive at it. Thus their possessors +are frequently, in the eye of truth and reason, bad magistrates, bad +parents, bad friends; defective in those very qualities, which give to +each of those several relations its chief and appropriate value. And +this, let it be also observed, is a defect which might well bring into +question that freedom from selfishness, which is so often claimed for +them; inasmuch as there is too great reason to fear, that it often +arises in us chiefly from indisposition to submit to a painful effort, +though real good-will commands the sacrifice, or from the fear of +lessening the regard in which we are held, and the good opinion which is +entertained of us. + +It should farther also be observed concerning these qualities, when they +are not grounded and rooted in religion, that they are of a sickly and +short-lived nature, and want that hardy and vigorous temperament, which +is requisite for enabling them to bear without injury, or even to +survive, the rude shocks and the variable and churlish seasons, to which +in such a world as this they must ever be exposed. It is only a +_Christian_ love of which it is the character, that "it suffereth long, +and yet is kind;" "that it is not easily provoked, that it beareth all +things, and endureth all things." In the spring of youth indeed, the +blood flows freely through the veins; we are flushed with health and +confidence; hope is young and ardent, our desires are unsated, and +whatever we see has the grace of novelty; we are the more disposed to be +good-natured because we are pleased; pleased, because universally well +received. Wherever we cast our eyes, we see some face of friendship, and +love, and gratulation: All nature smiles around us. Now the amiable +tempers of which we have been speaking naturally spring up. The soil +suits, the climate favours them. They appear to shoot forth vigorously +and blossom in gay luxuriance. To the superficial eye, all is fair and +flourishing; we anticipate the fruits of Autumn, and promise ourselves +an ample produce. But by and by the sun scorches, the frost nips, the +winds rise, the rains descend; our golden dreams are blasted, all our +fond expectations are no more. Our youthful efforts let it be supposed +have been successful; and we rise to wealth or eminence. A kind flexible +temper and popular manners have produced in us, as they are too apt, a +youth of easy social dissipation, and unproductive idleness; and we are +overtaken too late by the consciousness of having wasted that time which +cannot be recalled, and those opportunities which we cannot now recover. +We sink into disregard and obscurity when, there being a call for +qualities of more energy, indolent good nature must fall back. We are +thrust out of notice by accident or misfortunes. We are left behind by +those with whom we started on equal terms, and who, originally perhaps +having less pretensions and fewer advantages, have greatly outstripped +us in the race of honour: and their having got before us is often the +more galling, because it appears to us, and perhaps with reason, to have +been chiefly owing to a generous easy good-natured humour on our part, +which disposed us to allow them at first to pass by us without jealousy, +and led us to give place without a struggle to their more lofty +pretensions. Thus we suffered them quietly to occupy a station to which +originally we had as fair a claim as they; but, this station being once +tamely surrendered, we have forfeited it for ever. Our aukward and vain +endeavours meanwhile to recover it, while they shew that we want +self-knowledge and composure in our riper years, as much as in our +younger we had been destitute of exertion, serve only to make our +inferiority more manifest, and to bring our discontent into the fuller +notice of an ill-natured world, which however not unjustly condemns and +ridicules our misplaced ambition. + +It may be sufficient to have hinted at a few of the vicissitudes and +changes of advancing life; let the reader's own mind fill up the +catalogue. Now the bosom is no longer cheerful and placid; and if the +countenance preserve its exterior character, this is no longer the +honest expression of the heart. Prosperity and luxury, gradually +extinguishing sympathy, and puffing up with pride, harden and debase the +soul. In other instances, shame secretly clouds, and remorse begins to +sting, and suspicion to corrode, and jealousy and envy to embitter. +Disappointed hopes, unsuccessful competitions, and frustrated pursuits, +sour and irritate the temper. A little personal experience of the +selfishness of mankind, damps our generous warmth and kind affections; +reproving the prompt sensibility and unsuspecting simplicity of our +earlier years. Above all, ingratitude sickens the heart, and chills and +thickens the very life's-blood of benevolence: till at length our +youthful Nero, soft and susceptible, becomes a hard and cruel tyrant; +and our youthful Timon, the gay, the generous, the beneficent, is +changed into a cold, sour, silent misanthrope. + +And as in the case of amiable tempers, so in that also of what are +called useful lives, it must be confessed that their intrinsic worth, +arguing still merely on principles of reason, is apt to be greatly +over-rated. They are often the result of a disposition naturally +bustling and active, which delights in motion, and finds its labour more +than repaid, either by the very pleasure which it takes in its +employments, or by the credit which it derives from them. More than +this; if it be granted that Religion tends in general to produce +usefulness, particularly in the lower orders, who compose a vast +majority of every society; and therefore that these irreligious men of +useful lives are rather exceptions to the general rule; it must at least +be confessed that they are so far useless, or even positively +mischievous, as they either neglect to encourage or actually discourage +that principle, which is the great operative spring of usefulness in the +bulk of mankind. + +Thus it might well perhaps be questioned, estimating these men by their +own standard, whether the _particular_ good in this case, is not more +than counterbalanced by the _general_ evil; still more, if their conduct +being brought to a strict account, they should be charged, as they +justly ought, with the loss of the good which, if they had manifestly +and avowedly acted from a higher principle, might have been produced, +not only directly in themselves, but indirectly and remotely in others, +from the extended efficacy of a religious example. They may be compared, +not unaptly, to persons whom some peculiarity of constitution enables to +set at defiance those established rules of living, which must be +observed by the world at large. These healthy debauchees, however they +may plead in their defence that they do themselves no injury, would +probably, but for their excesses, have both enjoyed their health +better, and preserved it longer, as well as have turned it to better +account; and it may at least be urged against them, that they disparage +the laws of temperance, and fatally betray others into the breach of +them, by affording an instance of their being transgressed with +impunity. + +But were the merit of the qualities in question greater than it is, and +though it were not liable to the exceptions which have been alleged +against it, yet could they be in no degree admitted, as a compensation +for the want of the supreme love and fear of God, and of a predominant +desire to promote his glory. The observance of one commandment, however +clearly and forcibly enjoined, cannot make up for the neglect of +another, which is enjoined with equal clearness and equal force. To +allow this plea in the present instance, would be to permit men to +abrogate the first table of the law on condition of their obeying the +second. But Religion suffers not any such _composition_ of duties. It is +on the very self same miserable principle, that some have thought to +atone for a life of injustice and rapine by the strictness of their +religious observances. If the former class of men can plead the diligent +discharge of their duties to their fellow-creatures, the latter will +urge that of their's to God. We easily see the falsehood of the plea in +the latter case; and it is only self deceit and partiality which prevent +its being equally visible in the former. Yet so it is; such is the +unequal measure, if I may be allowed the expression, which we deal out +to God, and to each other. It would justly and universally be thought +false confidence in the religious thief or the religious adulterer, (to +admit for the sake of argument such a solecism in terms) to solace +himself with the firm persuasion of the Divine favour: but it will, to +many, appear hard and precise, to deny this firm persuasion of Divine +approbation to the avowedly irreligious man of social and domestic +usefulness. + +Will it here be urged, that the writer is not doing justice to his +opponent's argument; which is not, that irreligious men of useful lives +may be excused for neglecting their duties towards God, in consideration +of their exemplary discharge of their duties towards their +fellow-creatures; but that in performing the latter they perform the +former _virtually_, and _substantially_, if not in name? + +Can then our opponent deny, that the Holy Scriptures are in nothing more +full, frequent, strong, and unequivocal, than in their injunctions on us +supremely to love and fear God, and to worship and serve him continually +with humble and grateful hearts; habitually regarding him as our +Benefactor, and Sovereign, and Father, and abounding in sentiments of +gratitude and loyalty, and respectful affection? Can he deny that these +positive precepts are rendered, if possible, still more clear, and their +authority still more binding, by illustrations and indirect +confirmations almost innumerable? And who then is that bold intruder +into the counsels of infinite wisdom, who, in palpable contempt of these +precise commands, thus illustrated also and confirmed, will dare to +maintain that, knowing the intention with which they were primarily +given and the ends they were ultimately designed to produce, he may +innocently neglect or violate their plain obligations; on the plea that +he conforms himself, though in a different manner, to this primary +intention, and produces, though by different means, these real and +ultimate ends? + +This mode of arguing is one, with which, to say nothing of its insolent +prophaneness, the heart of man, prone to deceive himself and partial in +his own cause, is not fit to be trusted. Here again, more cautious and +jealous in the case of our worldly, than of our religious interests, we +readily discern the fallacy of this reasoning and protest against it, +when it is attempted to be introduced into the commerce of life. We see +clearly that it would afford the means of refining away by turns every +moral obligation. The adulterer might allow himself with a good +conscience, to violate the bed of his unsuspecting friend, whenever he +could assure himself that his crime would escape detection; for then, +where would be the evil and misery, the prevention of which was the real +ultimate object of the prohibition of adultery? The thief, in like +manner, and even the murderer, might find abundant room for the +_innocent_ exercise of their respective occupations, arguing from the +primary intention and real objects of the commands, by which theft and +murder were forbidden. There perhaps exists not a crime, to which this +crooked morality would not furnish some convenient opening. + +But this miserable sophistry deserves not that we should spend so much +time in the refutation of it. To discern its fallaciousness, requires +not acuteness of understanding, so much as a little common honesty. +"There is indeed no surer mark of a false and hollow heart, than a +disposition thus to quibble away the clear injunctions of duty and +conscience[81]:" It is the wretched resource of a disingenuous mind, +endeavouring to escape from convictions before which it cannot stand, +and to evade obligations which it dares not disavow. + +The arguments which have been adduced would surely be sufficient to +disprove the extravagant pretensions of the qualities under +consideration, though those qualities were _perfect_ in their _nature_. +But they are not perfect. On the contrary, they are radically defective +and corrupt; they are a body without a soul; they want the vital +actuating principle, or rather they are animated and actuated by a false +one. Christianity, let me avail myself of the very words of a friend[82] +in maintaining her argument, is "a Religion of Motives." _That_ only is +Christian practice, which flows from Christian principles; and none else +will be admitted as such by Him, who will be obeyed as well as +worshipped "in spirit and in truth." + +This also is a position of which, in our intercourse with our +fellow-creatures, we clearly discern the justice, and universally admit +the force. Though we have received a benefit at the hands of any one, we +scarcely feel grateful, if we do not believe the intention towards us to +have been friendly. Have we served any one from motives of kindness, and +is a return of service made to us? We hardly feel ourselves worthily +requited, except that return be dictated by gratitude. We should think +ourselves rather injured than obliged by it, if it were merely prompted +by a proud unwillingness to continue in our debt[83]. What husband, or +what father, not absolutely dead to every generous feeling, would be +satisfied with a wife or a child; who, though he could not charge them +with any actual breach of their respective obligations, should yet +confessedly perform them from a cold sense of duty, in place of the +quickening energies of conjugal, and filial affection? What an insult +would it be to such an one, to tell him gravely that he had no reason to +complain! + +The unfairness, with which we suffer ourselves to reason in matters of +Religion, is no where more striking than in the instance before us. It +were perhaps not unnatural to suppose that, as we cannot see into each +other's bosoms, and have no sure way of judging any one's internal +principles but by his external actions, it would have grown into an +established rule, that when the latter were unobjectionable, the former +were not to be questioned; and on the other hand, that in reference to a +Being who searches the heart, our motives, rather than our external +actions, would be granted to be the just objects of inquiry. But we +exactly reverse these natural principles of reasoning. In the case of +our fellow-creatures, the motive is that which we principally inquire +after and regard. But in the case of our Supreme Judge, from whom no +secrets are hid, we suffer ourselves to believe that internal principles +may be dispensed with, if the external action be performed! + +Let us not however be supposed ready to concede, in contradiction to +what has been formerly contended, that where the true motive is wanting, +the external actions themselves will not generally betray the defect. +Who is there that will not confess in the instance so lately put, of a +wife and a child who should discharge their respective obligations +merely from a cold sense of duty, that the inferiority of their +actuating principle would not be confined to its _nature_, but would be +discoverable also in its _effects_? Who is there that does not feel that +these domestic services, thus robbed of their vital spirit, would be so +debased and degraded in our estimation, as to become not barely lifeless +and uninteresting, but even distasteful and loathsome? Who will deny +that these would be performed in fuller measure, with more wakeful and +unwearied attention, as well as with more _heart_; where with the same +sense of duty the enlivening principle of affection should be also +associated? + +The enemies of Religion are sometimes apt to compare the irreligious +man, of a temper naturally sweet and amiable, with the religious man of +natural roughness and severity; the irreligious man of natural activity, +with the religious man who is naturally indolent; and thence to draw +their inferences. But this mode of reasoning is surely unjust. If they +would argue the question fairly, they should make their comparisons +between persons of similar natural qualities, and not in one or two +examples, but in a mass of instances. They would then be compelled to +confess the efficacy of Religion, in heightening the benevolence and +increasing the usefulness of men: and to admit that, granting the +occasional but rare existence of genuine and persevering benevolence of +disposition and usefulness of life, where the religious principle is +wanting; yet that experience gives us reason to believe, that true +Religion, while it would have implanted these qualities in persons in +whom before they had no place, would in general have given, to these +very characters in whom they do exist, additional force in the same +direction. It would have rendered the amiable more amiable, the useful +more useful, with fewer inconsistencies, with less abatement. + +Let _true Christians_ meanwhile be ever mindful, that _they_ are loudly +called upon to make this argument still more clear, these positions +still less questionable. You are every where commanded to be tender and +sympathetic, diligent and useful; and it is the character of that +"wisdom from above," in which you are to be proficients, that it "is +gentle and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits." Could +the efficacy of Christianity in softening the heart be denied by those, +who saw in the instance of the great Apostle of the Gentiles, that it +was able to transform a bigotted, furious, and cruel persecutor, into an +almost unequalled example of candour, and gentleness, and universal +tenderness and love? Could its spirit of active beneficence be denied by +those, who saw its Divine Author so diligent and unwearied in his +benevolent labours, as to justify the compendious description which was +given of him by a personal witness of his exertions, that he "went about +doing good?" Imitate these blessed examples: so shall you vindicate the +honour of your profession, and "put to silence the ignorance of foolish +men:" so shall you obey those Divine injunctions of adorning the +doctrine of Christ, and of "letting your light shine before men, that +they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in +heaven." Beat the world at its own best weapons. Let your love be more +affectionate, your mildness less open to irritation, your diligence more +laborious, your activity more wakeful and persevering. Consider +sweetness of temper and activity of mind, if they naturally belong to +you, as talents of special worth and utility, for which you will have to +give account. Carefully watch against whatever might impair them, +cherish them with constant assiduity, keep them in continual exercise, +and direct them to their noblest ends. The latter of these qualities +renders it less difficult, and therefore more incumbent on you, to be +ever abounding in the work of the Lord; and to be copious in the +production of that species of good fruit, of which mankind in general +will be most ready to allow the excellence, because they best understand +its nature. In _your_ instance, the solid substance of Christian +practice is easily susceptible of that high and beautiful polish, which +may attract the attention, and extort the admiration of a careless and +undiscerning world, so slow to notice, and so backward to acknowledge, +intrinsic worth, when concealed under a less sightly exterior. Know +then, and value as ye ought, the honourable office which is especially +devolved on you. Let it be your acceptable service to recommend the +discredited cause, and sustain the fainting interests of Religion, to +furnish to her friends matter of sound and obvious argument, and of +honest triumph; and if your best endeavours cannot conciliate, to refute +at least, and confound her enemies. + +If on the other hand, you are conscious that you are naturally rough and +austere, that disappointments have soured, or prosperity has elated you, +or that habits of command have rendered you quick in expression, and +impatient of contradiction; or if, from whatever other cause, you have +contracted an unhappy peevishness of temper, or asperity of manners, or +harshness and severity of language, (remember that these defects are by +no means incompatible with an aptness to perform services of substantial +kindness); if nature has been confirmed by habit till at length your +soul seems thoroughly tinctured with these evil dispositions, yet do not +despair. Remember that the Divine Agency is promised, "to take away the +heart of stone, and give a heart of flesh," of which it is the natural +property to be tender and susceptible. Pray then earnestly and +perseveringly, that the blessed aid of Divine Grace may operate +effectually on your behalf. Beware of acquiescing in the evil tempers in +question, under the idea that they are the ordinary imperfections of the +best of men; that they shew themselves only in little instances; that +they are only occasional, hasty, and transient effusions, when you are +taken off your guard; the passing shade of your mind, and not the +settled colour. Beware of excusing or allowing them in yourself, under +the notion of warm zeal for the cause of Religion and virtue, which you +perhaps own is now and then apt to carry you into somewhat over-great +severity of judgment, or sharpness in reproof. Listen not to these, or +any other such flattering excuses, which your own heart will be but too +ready to suggest to you. Scrutinize yourself rather with rigorous +strictness; and where there is so much room for self-deceit, call in the +aid of some faithful friend, and unbosoming yourself to him without +concealment, ask his impartial and unreserved opinion of your behaviour +and condition. Our unwillingness to do this, often betrays to others, +(not seldom it first discovers to ourselves) that we entertain a secret +distrust of our own character and conduct. Instead also of extenuating +to yourself the criminality of the vicious tempers under consideration, +strive to impress your mind deeply with a sense of it. For this end, +often consider seriously, that these rough and churlish tempers are a +direct contrast to the "meekness and gentleness of Christ;" and that +Christians are strongly and repeatedly enjoined to copy after their +great Model in these particulars, and to be themselves patterns of +"mercy and kindness, and humbleness of mind, and meekness, and long +suffering." They are to "put away all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, +and clamour, and evil speaking," not only "being ready to every good +work, but being _gentle_ unto _all_ men," "shewing _all_ meekness unto +_all_ men," "forbearing, forgiving," tender hearted. Remember the +Apostle's declaration, that "if any man bridleth not his tongue, he only +seemeth to be religious, and deceiveth his own heart;" and that it is +one of the characters of that love, without which all pretensions to the +name of Christian are but vain, that "it doth not behave itself +unseemly." Consider how much these acrimonious tempers must break in +upon the peace, and destroy the comfort, of those around you. Remember +also that the honour of your Christian profession is at stake, and be +solicitous not to discredit it: justly dreading lest you should disgust +those whom you ought to conciliate; and by conveying an unfavourable +impression of your principles and character, should incur the guilt of +putting an "offence in your brother's way;" thereby "hindering the +Gospel of Christ," the advancement of which should be your daily and +assiduous care. + +Thus having come to the full knowledge of your disease, and to a just +impression of its malignity, strive against it with incessant +watchfulness. Guard with the most jealous circumspection against its +breaking forth into act. Force yourself to abound in little offices of +courtesy and kindness; and you shall gradually experience in the +performance of these a pleasure hitherto unknown, and awaken in yourself +the dormant principles of sensibility. But take not up with external +amendment; guard against a false shew of sweetness of disposition; and +remember that the Christian is not to be satisfied with the world's +superficial courtliness of demeanor, but that his "Love is to be without +dissimulation." Examine carefully, whether the unchristian tempers, +which you would eradicate, are not maintained in vigour by selfishness +and pride; and strive to subdue them effectually, by extirpating the +roots from which they derive their nutriment. Accustom yourself to +endeavour to look attentively upon a careless and inconsiderate world, +which, while it is in such imminent peril, is so ignorant of its danger. +Dwell upon this affecting scene, till it has excited your pity; and this +pity, while it melts the mind to Christian love, shall insensibly +produce a temper of habitual sympathy and softness. By means like these, +perseveringly used in constant dependence on Divine aid, you may +confidentially hope to make continual progress. Among men of the world, +a youth of softness and sweetness will often, as we formerly remarked, +harden into insensibility, and sharpen into moroseness. But it is the +office of Christianity to reverse this order. It is pleasing to witness +this blessed renovation: to see, as life advances, asperities gradually +smoothing down, and roughnesses mellowing away: while the subject of +this happy change experiences within, increasing measures of the comfort +which he diffuses around him; and feeling the genial influences of that +heavenly flame which can thus give life, and warmth, and action, to what +had been hitherto rigid and insensible, looks up with gratitude to him +who has shed abroad this principle of love in his heart; + + Miraturque novas frondes et non sua poma. + +Let it not be thought that in the foregoing discussion, the amiable and +useful qualities, where they are not prompted and governed by a +principle of religion, have been spoken of in too disparaging terms. Nor +would I be understood as unwilling to concede to those who are living in +the exercise of them, their proper tribute of commendation: Inest sua +gratia. Of such persons it must be said, in the language of scripture, +"they have their reward." They have it in the inward complacency, which +a sweet temper seldom fails to inspire; in the comforts of the domestic +or social circle; in the pleasure which from the constitution of our +nature accompanies pursuit and action. They are always beloved in +private, and generally respected in public life. But when devoid of +Religion, if the word of God be not a fable, "they cannot enter into the +kingdom of Heaven." True practical Christianity (never let it be +forgotten) consists in devoting the heart and life to God; in being +supremely and habitually governed by a desire to know, and a disposition +to fulfil his will, and in endeavouring under the influence of _these +motives_ to "live to his glory." Where these essential requisites are +wanting, however amiable the character may be, however creditable and +respectable among men; yet as it possesses not the grand distinguishing +essence, it must not be complimented with the name, of Christianity. +This however, when the external decorums of Religion are not violated, +must commonly be a matter between God and a man's own conscience; and we +ought never to forget how strongly we are enjoined to be candid and +liberal in judging of the motives of others, while we are strict in +scrutinizing and severe in questioning our own. And this strict scrutiny +is no where more necessary, because there is no where more room for the +operation of self-deceit. We are all extremely prone to lend ourselves +to the good opinion which, however falsely, is entertained of us by +others; and though we at first confusedly suspect, or even indubitably +know, that their esteem is unfounded, and their praises undeserved, and +that they would have thought and spoken of us very differently, if they +had discerned our secret motives, or had been accurately acquainted with +all the circumstances of our conduct; we gradually suffer ourselves to +adopt their judgment of us, and at length feel that we are in some sort +injured or denied our due, when these false commendations are +contradicted or withheld. Without the most constant watchfulness, and +the most close and impartial self-examination, irreligious people of +amiable tempers, and still more those of useful lives, from the general +popularity of their character, will be particularly liable to become the +dupes of this propensity. Nor is it they only who have here need to be +on their guard: men of real religion will also do well to watch against +this delusion. There is however another danger to which these are still +more exposed, and against which it is the rather necessary to warn them, +because of our having insisted so strongly on their being bound to be +diligent in the discharge of the active duties of life. In their +endeavours to fulfil this obligation, let them specially beware, lest +setting out on right principles, they insensibly lose them in the course +of their progress; lest engaging originally in the business and bustle +of the world, from a sincere and earnest desire to promote the glory of +God, their minds should become so heated and absorbed in the pursuit of +their object, as that the true motive of action should either altogether +cease to be an habitual principle, or should at least lose much of its +life and vigour; lest their thoughts and affections being engrossed by +temporal concerns, their sense of the reality of "unseen things" should +fade away, and they should lose their relish for the employments and +offices of Religion. + +The Christian's path is beset with dangers--On the one hand, he justly +dreads an inactive and unprofitable life; on the other, he no less +justly trembles for the loss of that spiritual-mindedness, which is the +very essence and power of his profession. This is not quite the place +for the full discussion of the difficult topic here in question: and if +it were, the writer of these sheets is too conscious of his own +incompetencies, not to be desirous of asking rather than of giving +advice respecting it. Yet, as it is a matter which has often engaged his +most serious consideration, and has been the frequent subject of his +anxious inquiry into the writings and opinions of far better +instructors, he will venture to deliver a few words on it, offering +them with unaffected diffidence. + +Does then the Christian discover in himself, judging not from accidental +and occasional feelings, on which little stress is either way to be +laid, but from the permanent and habitual temper of his mind, a settled, +and still more a growing, coldness and indisposition towards the +considerations and offices of Religion? And has he reason to apprehend +that this coldness and indisposition are owing to his being engaged too +much or too earnestly in worldly business, or to his being too keen in +the pursuit of worldly objects? Let him carefully examine the state of +his own heart, and seriously and impartially survey the circumstances of +his situation in life; humbly praying to the Father of light and mercy, +that he may be enabled to see his way clearly in this difficult +emergency. If he finds himself pursuing wealth, or dignity, or +reputation, with earnestness and solicitude; if these things engage many +of his thoughts; if his mind naturally and inadvertently runs out into +contemplations of them; if success in these respects greatly gladdens, +and disappointments dispirit and distress his mind; he has but too plain +grounds for self-condemnation. "No man can serve two masters." The world +is evidently in possession of his heart, and it is no wonder that he +finds himself dull, or rather dead, to the impression and enjoyment of +spiritual things. + +But though the marks of predominant estimation and regard for earthly +things be much less clear and determinate; yet if the object which he is +pursuing be one which, by its attainment, would bring him a considerable +accession of riches, station, or honour, let him soberly and fairly +question and examine whether the pursuit be warrantable? here also, +asking the advice of some judicious friend; his backwardness to do +which, in instances like these, should justly lead him, as was before +remarked, to distrust the reasonableness of the schemes which he is +prosecuting. In such a case as this, we have good cause to distrust +ourselves. Though the inward hope, that we are chiefly prompted by a +desire to promote the glory of our Maker, and the happiness of our +fellow-creatures, by increasing our means of usefulness, may suggest +itself to allay, yet let it not altogether remove, our suspicions. It is +not improbable, that beneath this plausible mask we conceal, more +successfully perhaps from ourselves than from others, an inordinate +attachment to the pomps and transitory distinctions of this life; and as +this attachment gains the ascendency, it will ever be found, that our +perception and feeling of the supreme excellence of heavenly things will +proportionably subside. + +But when the consequences which would follow from the success of our +worldly pursuits do not render them so questionable, as in the case we +have been just considering; yet, having such good reason to believe that +there is somewhere a flaw, could we but discover it, let us carefully +scrutinize the whole of our conduct, taking that word in its largest +sense; in order to discover whether we may not be living either in the +breach or in the omission of some known duty, and whether it may not +therefore have pleased God to withdraw from us the influence of his Holy +Spirit; particularly inquiring, whether the duties of self-examination, +of secret and public prayer, the reading of the Holy Scriptures, and +the other prescribed means of Grace, have not been either wholly +intermitted at their proper seasons, or at least been performed with +precipitation or distraction? And if we find reason to believe, that the +allotment of time, which it would be most for our spiritual improvement +to assign to our religious offices, is often broken in upon and +curtailed; let us be extremely backward to admit excuses for such +interruptions and abridgments. It is more than probable, for many +obvious reasons, that even our worldly affairs themselves will not on +the long run, go on the better for encroaching upon those hours, which +ought to be dedicated to the more immediate service of God, and to the +cultivation of the inward principles of Religion. Our hearts at least +and our conduct will soon exhibit proofs of the sad effects of this +fatal negligence. They who in a crazy vessel navigate a sea wherein are +shoals and currents innumerable, if they would keep their course or +reach their port in safety, must carefully repair the smallest injuries, +and often throw out their line and take their observations. In the +voyage of life also the Christian who would not make shipwreck of his +faith, while he is habitually watchful and provident, must often make it +his express business to look into his state, and ascertain his progress. + +But to resume my subject; let us when engaged in this important +scrutiny, impartially examine ourselves whether the worldly objects +which engross us, are all of them such as properly belong to our +profession, or station, or circumstances in life; which therefore we +could not neglect with a good conscience? If they be, let us consider +whether they do not consume a larger share of our time than they really +require; and whether, by not trifling over our work, by deducting +somewhat which might be spared from our hours of relaxation, or by some +other little management, we might not fully satisfy their just claims, +and yet have an increased overplus of leisure, to be devoted to the +offices of Religion. + +But if we deliberately and honestly conclude that we ought not to give +these worldly objects less of our _time_, let us endeavour at least to +give them less of our _hearts_: striving that the settled frame of our +_desires_ and affections may be more spiritual; and that in the motley +intercourses of life we may constantly retain a more lively sense of the +Divine presence, and a stronger impression of the reality of unseen +things; thus corresponding with the Scripture description of true +Christians, "walking by faith and not by sight, and having our +conversation in Heaven." + +Above all, let us guard against the temptation, to which we shall +certainly be exposed, of lowering down our views to our state, instead +of endeavouring to rise to the level of our views. Let us rather +determine to know the worst of our case, and strive to be suitably +affected with it; not forward to speak peace to ourselves, but patiently +carrying about with us a deep conviction of our backwardness and +inaptitude to religious duties, and a just sense of our great weakness +and numerous infirmities. This cannot be an unbecoming temper, in those +who are commanded to "work out their salvation with fear and trembling." +It prompts to constant and earnest prayer. It produces that sobriety, +and lowliness and tenderness of mind, that meekness of demeanor and +circumspection in conduct, which are such eminent characteristics of +the true Christian. + +Nor is it a state devoid of consolation--"O tarry thou the Lord's +leisure, be strong and he shall comfort thy heart."--"They that wait on +the Lord, shall renew their strength."--"Blessed are they that mourn, +for they shall be comforted." These Divine assurances sooth and +encourage the Christian's disturbed and dejected mind, and insensibly +diffuse a holy composure. The tint may be solemn, nay even melancholy, +but it is mild and grateful. The tumult of his soul has subsided, and he +is possessed by complacency, and hope, and love. If a sense of +undeserved kindness fill his eyes with tears, they are tears of +reconciliation and joy: while a generous ardour springing up within him +sends him forth to his worldly labours "fervent in spirit;" resolving +through the Divine aid to be henceforth more diligent and exemplary in +living to the Glory of God, and longing meanwhile for that blessed time, +when, "being freed from the bondage of corruption," he shall be enabled +to render to his Heavenly Benefactor more pure and acceptable service. + +After having discussed so much at large the whole question concerning +amiable tempers in general, it may be scarcely necessary to dwell upon +that particular class of them which belongs to the head of generous +emotions, or of exquisite sensibility. To these almost all which has +been said above is strictly applicable; to which it may be added, that +the persons in whom the latter qualities most abound, are often far from +conducing to the peace and comfort of their nearest connections. These +qualities indeed may be rendered highly useful instruments, when +enlisted into the service of Religion. But we ought to except against +them the more strongly, when not under her controul; because there is +still greater danger than in the former case, that persons in whom they +abound, may be flattered into a false opinion of themselves by the +excessive commendations often paid to them by others, and by the +beguiling complacencies of their own minds, which are apt to be puffed +up with a proud though secret consciousness of their own superior +acuteness and sensibility. But it is the less requisite to enlarge on +this topic, because it has been well discussed by many, who have +unfolded the real nature of those fascinating qualities; who have well +remarked, that though shewy and apt to catch the eye, they are of a +flimsy and perishable fabric, not of that less gaudy but more +substantial and durable texture, which, imparting permanent warmth and +comfort, will long preserve its more sober honours, and stand the wear +and tear of life, and the vicissitudes of seasons. It has been shewn, +that these qualities often fail us when most we want their aid; that +their possessors can solace themselves with their imaginary exertions in +behalf of ideal misery, and yet shrink from the labours of active +benevolence, or retire with disgust from the homely forms of real +poverty and wretchedness. In fine, the superiority of true Christian +charity and of plain practical beneficence has been ably vindicated; and +the school of Rousseau has been forced to yield to the school of Christ, +when the question has been concerning the best means of promoting the +comfort of family life, or the temporal well-being of society[84]. + + +SECTION V. + +_Some other grand defects in the practical system of the Bulk of nominal +Christians._ + +In the imperfect sketch which has been drawn of the Religion of the bulk +of nominal Christians, their fundamental error respecting the essential +nature of Christianity has been discussed, and traced into some of its +many mischievous consequences. Several of their particular +misconceptions and allowed defects have also been pointed out and +illustrated. It may not be improper to close the survey by noticing +some others, for the existence of which we may now appeal to almost +every part of the preceding delineation. + +In the first place, then, there appears throughout, both in the +principles and allowed conduct of the bulk of nominal Christians, a most +inadequate idea of the _guilt and evil of sin_. We every where find +reason to remark, that, as was formerly observed, Religion is suffered +to dwindle away into a mere matter of _police_. Hence the guilt of +actions is estimated, not by the proportion in which, according to +Scripture, they are offensive to God, but by that in which they are +injurious to society. Murder, theft, fraud in all its shapes, and some +species of lying, are manifestly, and in an eminent degree, injurious to +social happiness. How different accordingly, in the moral scale, is the +place they hold, from that which is assigned to idolatry, to general +irreligion, to swearing, drinking, fornication, lasciviousness, +sensuality, excessive dissipation; and in particular circumstances, to +pride, wrath, malice, and revenge! + +Indeed, several of the above-mentioned vices are held to be grossly +criminal in the lower ranks, because manifestly ruinous to their +temporal interests: but in the higher, they are represented as "losing +half their evil by losing all their grossness," as flowing naturally +from great prosperity, from the excess of gaiety and good humour; and +they are accordingly "regarded with but a small degree of +disapprobation, and censured very slightly or not at all[85]."--"Non +meus hic sermo est." These are the remarks of authors, who have +surveyed the stage of human life with more than ordinary observation; +one of whom in particular cannot be suspected of having been misled by +religious prejudices, to form a judgment of the superior orders too +unfavourable and severe. + +Will these positions however be denied? Will it be maintained that there +is not the difference already stated, in the moral estimation of these +different classes of vices? Will it be said, that the one class is +indeed more generally restrained, and more severely punished by human +laws, because more properly cognizable by human judicatures, and more +directly at war with the well-being of society; but that when brought +before the tribunal of internal opinion they are condemned with equal +rigour? + +Facts may be denied, and charges laughed out of countenance: but where +the general sentiment and feeling of mankind are in question, our common +language is often the clearest and most impartial witness; and the +conclusions thus furnished, are not to be parried by wit, or eluded by +sophistry. In the present case, our ordinary modes of speech furnish +sufficient matter for the determination of the argument; and abundantly +prove our disposition to consider as matters of small account, such sins +as are not held to be injurious to the community. We invent for them +diminutive and qualifying terms, which, if not, as in the common uses of +language[86], to be admitted as signs of approbation and good will, must +at least be confessed to be proofs of our tendency to regard them with +palliation and indulgence. Free-thinking, gallantry, jollity[87], and a +thousand similar phrases might be adduced as instances. But it is worthy +of remark, that no such soft and qualifying terms are in use, for +expressing the smaller degrees of theft, or fraud, or forgery, or any +other of those offences, which are committed by men against their +fellow-creatures, and in the suppression of which we are interested by +our regard to our temporal concerns. + +The charge which we are urging is indeed undeniable. In the case of any +question of honour, or of moral honesty, we are sagacious in discerning +and inexorable in judging the offence. No allowance is made for the +suddenness of surprise, or the strength of temptations. One single +failure is presumed to imply the absence of the moral or honourable +principle. The memory is retentive on these occasions, and the man's +character is blasted for life. Here, even the mere suspicion of having +once offended can scarcely be got over: "There is an aukward story about +that man, which must be explained before he and I can become +acquainted." But in the case of sins against God, there is no such +watchful jealousy, none of this rigorous logic. A man may go on in the +frequent commission of known sins, yet no such inference is drawn +respecting the absence of the religious principle. On the contrary, we +say of him, that "though his _conduct_ be a little incorrect, his +_principles_ are untouched;"--that he has _a good heart_: and such a man +may go quietly through life, with the titles of a _mighty worthy +creature_, and a _very good Christian_. + +But in the Word of God actions are estimated by a far less accommodating +standard. There we read of no little sins. Much of our Saviour's sermon +on the mount, which many of the class we are condemning affect highly to +admire, is expressly pointed against so dangerous a misconception. +_There_, no such distinction is made between the rich and the poor. No +notices are to be traced of one scale of morals for the higher, and of +another for the lower classes of society. Nay, the former are expressly +guarded against any such vain imagination; and are distinctly warned, +that their condition in life is the more dangerous, because of the more +abundant temptations to which it exposes them. Idolatry, fornication, +lasciviousness, drunkenness, revellings, inordinate affection, are, by +the apostle likewise classed with theft and murder, and with what we +hold in even still greater abomination; and concerning them all it is +pronounced alike, that "they which do such things shall not inherit the +kingdom of God[88]." + +In truth, the instance which we have lately specified, of the loose +system of these nominal Christians, betrays a fatal absence of the +principle which is the very foundation of all Religion. Their slight +notions of the guilt and evil of sin discover an utter want of all +suitable reverence for the Divine Majesty. This principle is justly +termed in Scripture, "the beginning of wisdom," and there is perhaps no +one quality which it is so much the studious endeavour of the sacred +writers to impress upon the human heart[89]. + +Sin is considered in Scripture as rebellion against the sovereignty of +God, and every different act of it equally violates his law, and, if +persevered in, disclaims his supremacy. To the inconsiderate and the gay +this doctrine may seem harsh, while, vainly fluttering in the sunshine +of worldly prosperity, they lull themselves into a fond security. "But +the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the +Heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt +with fervent heat; the earth also and the works that are therein shall +be burnt up"--"Seeing then, that all these things shall be dissolved, +what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and +Godliness?"[90] We are but an atom in the universe.--Worlds upon worlds +surround us, all probably full of intelligent creatures, to whom, now or +hereafter, we may be a spectacle, and afford an example of the Divine +procedure. Who then shall take upon him to pronounce what might be the +issue, if sin were suffered to pass unpunished in one corner of this +universal empire? Who shall say what confusion might be the consequence, +what disorder it might spread through the creation of God? Be this +however as it may, the language of Scripture is clear and +decisive;--"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the people +that forget God." + +It should be carefully observed too, that these awful denunciations of +the future punishment of sin derive additional weight from this +consideration, that they are represented, not merely as a judicial +sentence which, without violence to the settled order of things, might +be remitted through the mere mercy of our Almighty Governor, but as +arising out of the established course of nature; as happening in the way +of natural consequence, just as a cause is necessarily connected with +its effect; as resulting from certain connections and relations which +rendered them suitable and becoming. It is stated, that the kingdom of +God and the kingdom of Satan are both set up in the world, and that to +the one or the other of these we must belong. "The righteous have +_passed_ from death unto life"--"they are delivered from the power of +darkness, and are translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son[91]." +They are become "the children," and "the subjects of God." While on +earth, they love his day, his service, his people; they "speak good of +his name;" they abound in his works. Even here they are in some degree +possessed of his image, by and by it shall be perfected; they shall +awake up after his "likeness," and being "heirs of eternal life," they +shall receive "an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that +fadeth not away." + +Of sinners, on the other hand, it is declared, that "they are of their +father the devil;" while on earth, they are styled "his children," "his +servants;" they are said "to do his works," "to hold of his side," to +be, "subjects of his kingdom:" at length "they shall partake his +portion," when the merciful Saviour shall be changed into an avenging +Judge, and shall pronounce that dreadful sentence, "depart from me, ye +cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels." + +Is it possible that these declarations should not strike terror, or at +least excite serious and fearful apprehension in the lightest and most +inconsiderate mind? But the imaginations of men are fatally prone to +suggest to them fallacious hopes in the very face of these positive +declarations. "We cannot persuade ourselves that God will in fact prove +so severe." It was the very delusion to which our first parents +listened; "Ye shall not surely die." + +Let me ask these rash men, who are thus disposed to trifle with their +immortal interests, had they lived in the antediluvian world, would they +have conceived it possible that God would then execute his predicted +threatening? Yet the event took place at the appointed time; the flood +came and swept them all away: and this awful instance of the anger of +God against sin is related in the inspired writings for our instruction. +Still more to rouse us to attention, the record is impressed in +indelible characters on the solid substance of the very globe we +inhabit; which thus, in every country upon earth, furnishes practical +attestations to the truth of the sacred writings, and to the actual +accomplishment of their awful predictions. For myself I must declare, +that I never can read without awe the passage, in which our Saviour is +speaking of the state of the world at the time of this memorable event. +The wickedness of men is represented to have been great and prevalent; +yet not as we are ready to conceive, such as to interrupt the course, +and shake the very frame of society. The general face of things was, +perhaps, not very different from that which is exhibited in many of the +European nations. It was a selfish, a luxurious, an irreligious, and an +inconsiderate world. They were called, but they would not hearken; they +were warned, but they would not believe--"They did eat, they drank, they +married wives, they were given in marriage:" such is the account of one +of the Evangelists; in that of another it is stated nearly in the same +words; "They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, +and knew not until the flood came and swept them all away." + +Again, we see throughout, in the system which we have been describing a +most inadequate conception of the difficulty of becoming true +Christians; and an utter forgetfulness of its being the great business +of life to secure our admission into Heaven, and to prepare our hearts +for its service and enjoyments. The general notion appears to be, that, +if born in a country of which Christianity is the established religion, +we are born Christians. We do not therefore look out for positive +evidence of our really being of that number; but putting the _onus +probandi_, (if it may be so expressed) on the wrong side, we conceive +ourselves such _of course_, except our title be disproved by positive +evidence to the contrary. And we are so slow in giving ear to what +conscience urges to us on this side; so dexterous in justifying what is +clearly wrong, in palliating what we cannot justify, in magnifying the +merit of what is fairly commendable, in flattering ourselves that our +habits of vice are only occasional acts, and in multiplying our single +acts into habits of virtue, that we must be bad indeed, to be compelled +to give a verdict against ourselves. Besides, having no suspicion of our +state, we do not set ourselves in earnest to the work of +self-examination; but only receive in a confused and hasty way some +occasional notices of our danger, when sickness, or the loss of a +friend, or the recent commission of some act of vice of greater size +than ordinary, has awakened in our consciences a more than usual degree +of sensibility. + +Thus, by the generality, it is altogether forgotten, that the Christian +has a great work to execute; that of forming himself after the pattern +of his Lord and Master, through the operation of the Holy Spirit of God, +which is promised to our fervent prayers and diligent endeavours. +Unconscious of the obstacles which impede, and of the enemies which +resist their advancement; they are naturally forgetful also of the ample +provision which is in store, for enabling them to surmount the one, and +to conquer the other. The scriptural representations of the state of the +Christian on earth, by the images of "a race," and "a warfare;" of its +being necessary to rid himself of every encumbrance which might retard +him in the one, and to furnish himself with the whole armour of God for +being victorious in the other, are, so far as these nominal Christians +are concerned, figures of no propriety or meaning. As little (as was +formerly shewn) have they, in correspondence with the Scripture +descriptions of the feelings and language of real Christians, any idea +of acquiring a relish while on earth, for the worship and service of +Heaven. If the truth must be told, their notion is rather a confused +idea of future gratification in Heaven, in return for having put a force +upon their inclinations, and endured so much religion while on earth. + +But all this is only _nominal_ Christianity, which exhibits a more +inadequate image of her real excellencies, than the cold copyings, by +some insipid pencil, convey of the force and grace of Nature, or of +Raphael. In the language of Scripture, Christianity is not a +geographical, but a moral term. It is not the being a native of a +Christian country: it is _a condition, a state_; the possession of a +_peculiar nature_, with the _qualities_ and _properties_ which belong to +it. + +Farther than this, it is a state into which we are not _born_, but into +which we must be _translated_; a nature which we do not _inherit_, but +into which we are to be _created anew_. To the undeserved grace of God, +which is promised on our use of the appointed means, we must be indebted +for the attainment of this nature; and, to acquire and make sure of it, +is that great "work of our salvation," which we are commanded to "work +out with fear and trembling." We are every where reminded, that this is +a matter of labour and difficulty, requiring continual watchfulness, and +unceasing effort, and unwearied patience. Even to the very last, towards +the close of a long life consumed in active service, or in cheerful +suffering, we find St. Paul himself declaring, that he conceived bodily +self-denial and mental discipline to be indispensably necessary to his +very safety. Christians, who are really worthy of the name, are +represented as being "made meet for the inheritance of the Saints in +light;" as "waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ;" as +"looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God." It is +stated as being enough to make them happy, that "Christ should receive +them to himself;" and the songs of the blessed spirits in Heaven are +described to be the same, as those in which the servants of God on earth +pour forth their gratitude and adoration. + +Conscious therefore of the indispensable necessity, and of the arduous +nature of the service in which he is engaged, the true Christian sets +himself to the work with vigour, and prosecutes it with diligence. His +motto is that of the painter; "_nullus dies sine linea_." Fled as it +were from a country in which the plague is raging, he thinks it not +enough just to pass the boundary line, but would put out of doubt his +escape beyond the limbs of infection. Prepared to meet with +difficulties, he is not discouraged when they occur; warned of his +numerous adversaries, he is not alarmed on their approach, or unprovided +for encountering them. He knows that the beginnings of every new course +may be expected to be rough and painful; but he is assured that the +paths on which he is entering will ere long seem smoother, and become +indeed "paths of pleasantness and peace." + +Now of the state of such an one the expressions of Pilgrim and Stranger +are a lively description; and all the other figures and images, by which +Christians are represented in Scripture, have in his case a determinate +meaning and a just application. There is indeed none, by which the +Christian's state on earth is in the word of God more frequently imaged, +or more happily illustrated, than by that of a journey: and it may not +be amiss to pause for a while in order to survey it under that +resemblance. The Christian is travelling on business through a strange +country, in which he is commanded to execute his work with diligence, +and pursue his course homeward with alacrity. The fruits which he sees +by the way-side he gathers with caution; he drinks of the streams with +moderation; he is thankful when the sun shines, and his way is +pleasant; but if it be rough and rainy, he cares not much, he is but a +traveller. He is prepared for vicissitudes; he knows that he must expect +to meet with them in the stormy and uncertain climate of this world. But +he is travelling to "a better country," a country of unclouded light and +undisturbed serenity. He finds also by experience, that when he has had +the least of external comforts, he has always been least disposed to +loiter; and if for the time it be a little disagreeable, he can solace +himself with the idea of his being thereby forwarded in his course. In a +less unfavourable season, he looks round him with an eye of observation; +he admires what is beautiful; he examines what is curious; he receives +with complacency the refreshments which are set before him, and enjoys +them with thankfulness. Nor does he churlishly refuse to associate with +the inhabitants of the country through which he is passing; nor, so far +as he may, to speak their language, and adopt their fashions. But he +neither suffers pleasure, nor curiosity, nor society, to take up too +much of his time, and is still intent on transacting the business which +he has to execute, and on prosecuting the journey which he is ordered to +pursue. He knows also that, to the very end of life, his journey will be +through a country in which he has many enemies; that his way is beset +with snares; that temptations throng around him, to seduce him from his +course or check his advancement in it; that the very air disposes to +drowsiness, and that therefore to the very last it will be requisite for +him to be circumspect and collected. Often therefore he examines +whereabouts he is, how he has got forward, and whether or not he is +travelling in the right direction. Sometimes he seems to himself to +make considerable progress, sometimes he advances but slowly, too often +he finds reason to fear that he has fallen backward in his course. Now +he is cheered with hope, and gladdened by success; now he is disquieted +with doubts, and damped by disappointments. Thus while in nominal +Christians, Religion is a dull uniform thing, and they have no +conception of the desires and disappointments, the hopes and fears, the +joys and sorrows, which it is calculated to bring into exercise; in the +true Christian all is life and motion, and his great work calls forth +alternately the various passions of the soul. Let it not therefore be +imagined that his is a state of unenlivened toil and hardship. His very +labours are "the labours of love;" if "he has need of patience," it is +"the patience of hope;" and he is cheered in his work by the constant +assurance of present support, and of final victory. Let it not be +forgotten, that this is the very idea given us of happiness by one of +the ablest examiners of the human mind; "a constant employment for a +desired end, with the consciousness of continual progress." So true is +the Scripture declaration, that "Godliness has the promise of the life +that now is, as well as of that which is to come." + +Our review of the character of the bulk of nominal Christians has +exhibited abundant proofs of their allowed defectiveness in that great +constituent of the true Christian character, _the love of God_. Many +instances, in proof of this assertion, have been incidentally pointed +out, and the charge is in itself so obvious, that it were superfluous to +spend much time in endeavouring to establish it. Put the question fairly +to the test. Concerning the proper marks and evidences of affection, +there can be little dispute. Let the most candid investigator examine +the character, and conduct, and language of the persons of whom we have +been speaking; and he will be compelled to acknowledge, that so far as +love towards the Supreme Being is in question, these marks and evidences +are no where to be met with. It is in itself a decisive evidence of a +contrary feeling in those nominal Christians, that they find no pleasure +in the service and worship of God. Their devotional acts resemble less +the free-will offerings of a grateful heart, than that constrained and +reluctant homage, which is exacted by some hard master from his +oppressed dependents, and paid with cold sullenness, and slavish +apprehension. It was the very charge brought by God against his +ungrateful people of old, that, while they called him Sovereign and +Father, they withheld from him the regards which severally belong to +those respected and endearing appellations. Thus we likewise think it +enough to offer to the most excellent and amiable of Beings, to our +supreme and unwearied Benefactor, a dull, artificial, heartless +gratitude, of which we should be ashamed in the case of a +fellow-creature, who had ever so small a claim on our regard and +thankfulness! + +It may be of infinite use to establish in our minds a strong and +habitual sense of that first and great commandment--"Thou shalt love the +Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy mind, and with all thy +soul, and with all thy strength." This passion, operative and vigorous +in its very nature, like a master spring, would put and maintain in +action all the complicated movements of the human soul. Soon also would +it terminate many practical questions concerning the allowableness of +certain compliances; questions which, with other similar difficulties, +are often only the cold offspring of a spirit of reluctant submission, +and cannot stand the encounter of this trying principle. If, for +example, it were disputed, whether or not the law of God were _so_ +strict as had been stated, in condemning the slightest infraction of its +precepts; yet, when, from the precise demands of justice, the appeal +should be made to the more generous principle of love, there would be at +once an end of the discussion. Fear will deter from acknowledged crimes, +and self-interest will bribe to laborious services: but it is the +peculiar glory, and the very characteristic, of this more generous +passion, to shew itself in ten thousand little and undefinable acts of +sedulous attention, which love alone can pay, and of which, when paid, +love alone can estimate the value. Love outruns the deductions of +reasoning; it scorns the refuge of casuistry; it requires not the slow +process of laborious and undeniable proof that an action would be +injurious and offensive, or another beneficial or gratifying, to the +object of affection. The least hint, the slightest surmise, is +sufficient to make it start from the former, and fly with eagerness to +the latter. + +I am well aware that I am now about to tread on very tender ground; but +it would be an improper deference to the opinions and manners of the age +altogether to avoid it. There has been much argument concerning the +lawfulness of theatrical amusements[92]. Let it be sufficient to +remark, that the controversy would be short indeed, if the question were +to be tried by this criterion of love to the Supreme Being. If there +were any thing of that sensibility for the honour of God, and of that +zeal in his service, which we shew in behalf of our earthly friends, or +of our political connections, should we seek our pleasure in that place +which the debauchee, inflamed with wine, or bent on the gratification of +other licentious appetites, finds most congenial to his state and temper +of mind? In that place, from the neighbourhood of which, (how justly +termed a school of morals might hence alone be inferred) decorum, and +modesty, and regularity retire, while riot and lewdness are invited to +the spot, and invariably select it for their chosen residence! where the +sacred name of God is often prophaned! where sentiments are often heard +with delight, and motions and gestures often applauded, which would not +be tolerated in private company, but which may far exceed the utmost +licence allowed in the social circle, without at all transgressing the +large bounds of theatrical decorum! where, when moral principles are +inculcated, they are not such as a Christian ought to cherish in his +bosom, but such as it must be his daily endeavour to extirpate; not +those which Scripture warrants, but those which it condemns as false and +spurious, being founded in pride and ambition, and the over-valuation of +human favour! where surely, if a Christian should trust himself at all, +it would be requisite for him to prepare himself with a double portion +of watchfulness and seriousness of mind, instead of selecting it as the +place in which he may throw off his guard, and unbend without danger! +The justness of this last remark, and the general tendency of +theatrical amusements, is attested by the same well instructed master in +the science of human life, to whom we had before occasion to refer. By +him they are recommended as the most efficacious expedient for relaxing, +among any people, that "_preciseness and austerity_ of morals," to use +his own phrase, which, under the name of holiness, it is the business of +Scripture to inculcate and enforce. Nor is this position merely +theoretical. The experiment was tried, and tried successfully, in a city +upon the continent[93], in which it was wished to corrupt the simple +morality of purer times. + +Let us try the question by a parallel instance. + +What judgment should we form of the warmth of that man's attachment to +his Sovereign, who, at seasons of recreation, should seek his pleasures +in scenes as ill accordant with the principle of loyalty, as those of +which we have been speaking are with the genius of religion? If for this +purpose he were to select the place, and frequent the amusements, to +which Democrats and Jacobins[94] should love to resort for +entertainment, and in which they should find themselves so much at home, +as invariably to select the spot for their abiding habitation; where +dialogue, and song, and the intelligible language of gesticulation, +should be used to convey ideas and sentiments, not perhaps palpably +treasonable, or directly falling within the strict precision of any +legal limits, but yet palpably contrary to the spirit of monarchical +government; which, further, the highest authorities had recommended as +sovereign specifics for cooling the warmth, and enlarging the narrowness +of an excessive loyalty! What opinion should we form of the delicacy of +that friendship, or of the fidelity of that love, which, in relation to +their respective objects, should exhibit the same contradictions? + +In truth, the _hard measure_, if the phrase may be pardoned, which, as +has been before remarked, we give to God; and the very different way in +which we allow ourselves to act, and speak, and feel, where he is +concerned, from that which we require, or even practise in the case of +our fellow-creatures, is in itself the most decisive proof that the +principle of the love of God, if not altogether extinct in us, is at +least in the lowest possible degree of languor. + +From examining the degree in which the bulk of nominal Christians are +defective in the love of God, if we proceed to inquire concerning the +strength of their love towards their fellow-creatures, the writer is +well aware of its being generally held, that here at least they may +rather challenge praise than submit to censure. And the many beneficent +institutions in which this country abounds, probably above every other, +whether in ancient or modern times, may be perhaps appealed to in proof +of the opinion. Much of what might have been otherwise urged in the +discussion of this topic, has been anticipated in the inquiry into the +grounds of the extravagant estimation, assigned to amiable tempers and +useful lives, when unconnected with religious principle. What was then +stated may serve in many cases to lower, in the present instance, the +loftiness of the pretensions of these nominal Christians; and we shall +hereafter have occasion to mention another consideration, of which the +effect must be, still further to reduce their claims. Meanwhile, let it +suffice to remark, that we must not rest satisfied with merely +superficial appearances, if we would form a fair estimate of the degree +of purity and vigour, in which the principle of good will towards men +warms the bosoms of the generality of professed Christians in the higher +and more opulent classes in this country. In a highly polished state of +society, for instance, we do not expect to find moroseness; and in an +age of great profusion, though we may reflect with pleasure on those +numerous charitable institutions, which are justly the honour of Great +Britain; we are not too hastily to infer a strong principle of internal +benevolence, from liberal contributions to the relief of indigence and +misery. When these contributions indeed are equally abundant in frugal +times, or from individuals personally oeconomical, the source from +which they originate becomes less questionable. But a vigorous principle +of philanthropy must not be at once conceded, on the ground of liberal +benefactions to the poor, in the case of one who by his liberality in +this respect is curtailed in no necessary, is abridged of no luxury, is +put to no trouble either of thought or of action; who, not to impute a +desire of being praised for his benevolence, is injured in no man's +estimation; in whom also familiarity with large sums has produced that +freedom in the expenditure of money, which (thereby affording a fresh +illustration of the justice of the old proverb, "Familiarity breeds +contempt,") it never fails to operate, except in minds under the +influence of a strong principle of avarice. + +Our conclusion, perhaps, would be less favourable, but not less fair, if +we were to try the characters in question by those surer tests, which +are stated by the Apostle to be less ambiguous marks of a real spirit of +philanthropy. The strength of every passion is to be estimated by its +victory over passions of an opposite nature. What judgment then shall we +form of the force of the benevolence of the age, when measured by this +standard? How does it stand the shock, when it comes into encounter with +our pride, our vanity, our self-love, our self-interest, our love of +ease or of pleasure, with our ambition, with our desire of worldly +estimation? Does it make us self-denying, that we may be liberal in +relieving others? Does it make us persevere in doing good in spite of +ingratitude; and only pity the ignorance, or prejudice, or malice, which +misrepresents our conduct, or misconstrues our motives? Does it make us +forbear from what we conceive may probably prove the occasion of harm +to a fellow-creature; though the harm should not seem naturally or even +fairly to flow from our conduct, but to be the result only of his own +obstinacy or weakness? Are we slow to believe any thing to our +neighbour's disadvantage? and when we cannot but credit it, are we +disposed rather to cover, and as far as we justly can, to palliate, than +to divulge or aggravate it? Suppose an opportunity to occur of +performing a kindness, to one who from pride or vanity should be loth to +receive, or to be known to receive, a favour from us; should we honestly +endeavour, so far as we could with truth, to lessen in his own mind and +in that of others the merit of our good offices, and by so doing dispose +him to receive them with diminished reluctance, and a less painful +weight of obligation? This end, however, must be accomplished, if to be +accomplished at all, by a simple and fair explanation of the +circumstances, which may render the action in no wise inconvenient to +ourselves, though highly beneficial to another; not by speeches of +affected disparagement, which we might easily foresee, and in fact do +foresee, must produce the contrary effect. Can we, from motives of +kindness, incur or risk the charge of being deficient in spirit, in +penetration, or in foresight? Do we tell another of his faults, when the +communication, though probably beneficial to _him_, cannot be made +without embarrassment or pain to ourselves, and may probably lessen his +regard for our person, or his opinion of our judgment? Can we stifle a +repartee which would wound another; though the utterance of it would +gratify our vanity, and the suppression of it may disparage our +character for wit? If any one advance a mistaken proposition, in an +instance wherein the error may be mischievous to him; can we, to the +prejudice perhaps of our credit for discernment, forbear to contradict +him in public, if it be probable that in so doing, by piquing his pride +we might only harden him in his error? and can we reserve our counsel +for some more favourable season, the "mollia tempora fandi," when it may +be communicated without offence? If we have recommended to any one a +particular line of conduct, or have pointed out the probable mischiefs +of the opposite course, and if our admonitions have been neglected, are +we _really hurt_ when our predictions of evil are accomplished? Is our +love superior to envy, and jealousy, and emulation? Are we acute to +discern and forward to embrace any fair opportunity of promoting the +interests of another; if it be in a line wherein we ourselves also are +moving, and in which we think our progress has not been proportioned to +our desert? Can we take pleasure in bringing his merits into notice, and +in obviating the prejudices which may have damped his efforts, or in +removing the obstacles which may have retarded his advancement? If even +to this extent we should be able to stand the scrutiny, let it be +farther asked how, in the case of our enemies, do we correspond with the +Scripture representations of love? Are we meek under provocations, ready +to forgive, and apt to forget injuries? Can we, with sincerity, "bless +them that curse us, do good to them that hate us, and pray for them +which despitefully use us, and persecute us?" Do we prove to the +Searcher of hearts a real spirit of forgiveness, by our forbearing not +only from avenging an injury when it is in our power, but even from +telling to any one how ill we have been used; and that too when we are +not kept silent by a consciousness that we should lose credit by +divulging the circumstance? And lastly, can we not only be content to +return our enemies good for evil, (for this return, as has been remarked +by one of the greatest of uninspired authorities,[95] may be prompted by +pride and repaid by self-complacency) but, when they are successful or +unsuccessful without our having contributed to their good or ill +fortune, can we not only be content, but cordially rejoice in their +prosperity, or sympathize with their distresses? + +These are but a few specimens of the characteristic marks which might be +stated, of a true predominant benevolence; yet even these may serve to +convince us how far the bulk of nominal Christians fall short of the +requisitions of Scripture, even in that particular, which exhibits their +character in the most favourable point of view. The truth is, we do not +enough call to mind the exalted tone of Scripture morality; and are +therefore apt to value ourselves on the heights to which we attain, when +a better acquaintance with our standard would have convinced us of our +falling far short of the elevation prescribed to us. It is in the very +instance of the most difficult of the duties lately specified, the +forgiveness and love of enemies, that our Saviour points out to our +imitation the example of our Supreme Benefactor. After stating that, by +being kind and courteous to those who, even in the world's opinion, had +a title to our good offices and good will, we should in vain set up a +claim to _Christian_ benevolence, he emphatically adds, "Be ye +therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." + +We must here again resort to a topic which was lately touched on, that +of theatrical amusements; and recommend it to their advocates to +consider them in connection with the duty, of which we have now been +exhibiting some of the leading characters. + +It is an undeniable fact, for the truth of which we may safely appeal to +every age and nation, that the situation of the performers, particularly +of those of the female sex, is remarkably unfavourable to the +maintenance and growth of the religious and moral principle, and of +course highly dangerous to their eternal interests. Might it not then be +fairly asked, how far, in all who confess the truth of this position, it +is consistent with the sensibility of Christian benevolence, merely for +the entertainment of an idle hour, to encourage the continuance of any +of their fellow-creatures in such a way of life, and to take a part in +tempting any others to enter into it? how far, considering that, by +their own concession, they are employing whatever they spend in this +way, in sustaining and advancing the cause of vice, and consequently in +promoting misery; they are herein bestowing this share of their wealth +in a manner agreeable to the intentions of their holy and benevolent +Benefactor? how far also they are not in this instance the rather +criminal, from there being so many sources of innocent pleasure open to +their enjoyment? how far they are acting conformably to that golden +principle of doing to others as we would they should do to us? how far +they harmonize with the spirit of the Apostle's affectionate +declaration, that he would deny himself for his whole life the most +innocent indulgence, nay, what might seem almost an absolute necessary, +rather than cause his weak fellow Christian to offend? or lastly, how +far they are influenced by the solemn language of our Saviour himself; +"It must needs be that offences come, but woe to that man by whom the +offence cometh; it were better for him that a mill-stone were hanged +about his neck, and that he were cast into the depths of the sea?" The +present instance is perhaps another example of our taking greater +concern in the temporal, than in the spiritual interests of our fellow +creatures. That man would be deemed, and justly deemed, of an inhuman +temper, who in these days were to seek his amusement in the combats of +gladiators and prize fighters: yet _Christians_ appear conscious of no +inconsistency, in finding their pleasure in spectacles maintained at the +risk at least, if not the ruin, of the eternal happiness of those who +perform in them! + + +SECT. VI. + +_Grand defect.--Neglect of the peculiar Doctrines of Christianity._ + +But the grand radical defect in the practical system of these nominal +Christians, is their forgetfulness of all the peculiar doctrines of the +Religion which they profess--the corruption of human nature--the +atonement of the Saviour--and the sanctifying influence of the Holy +Spirit. + +Here then we come again to the grand distinction, between the Religion +of Christ and that of the bulk of nominal Christians in the present +day. The point is of the utmost _practical importance_, and we would +therefore trace it into its actual effects. + +There are, it is to be apprehended, not a few, who having been for some +time hurried down the stream of dissipation in the indulgence of all +their natural appetites, (except, perhaps, that they were restrained +from very gross vice by a regard to character, or by the yet unsubdued +voice of conscience); and who, having all the while thought little, or +scarcely at all about Religion, "living," to use the emphatical language +of Scripture, "without God in the world," become in some degree +impressed with a sense of the infinite importance of Religion. A fit of +sickness, perhaps, or the loss of some friend or much loved relative, or +some other stroke of adverse fortune, damps their spirits, awakens them +to a practical conviction of the precariousness of all human things, and +turns them to seek for some more stable foundation of happiness than +this world can afford. Looking into themselves ever so little, they +become sensible that they must have offended God. They resolve +accordingly to set about the work of reformation.--Here it is that we +shall recognize the fatal effects of the prevailing ignorance of the +real nature of Christianity, and the general forgetfulness of its grand +peculiarities. These men _wish_ to reform, but they know neither the +real _nature_ of their distemper nor its true remedy. They are aware, +indeed, that they must "cease to do evil, and learn to do well;" that +they must relinquish their habits of vice, and attend more or less to +the duties of Religion: but having no conception of the actual +malignity of the disease under which they labour, or of the perfect cure +which the Gospel has provided for it, or of the manner in which that +cure is to be effected, + + "They do but skin and film the ulcerous place, + While rank corruption, mining all within, + Infects unseen." + +It often happens therefore but too naturally in this case, that where +they do not soon desist from their attempt at reformation, and relapse +into their old habits of sin; they take up with a partial and scanty +amendment, and fondly flatter themselves that it is a thorough change. +They now conceive that they have a right to take to themselves the +comforts of Christianity. Not being able to raise their practice up to +their standard of right, they lower their standard to their practice: +they sit down for life contented with their present attainments, +beguiled by the complacencies of their own minds, and by the favourable +testimony of surrounding friends; and it often happens, particularly +where there is any degree of strictness in formal and ceremonial +observances, that there are no people more jealous of their character +for Religion. + +Others perhaps go farther than this. The dread of the wrath to come has +sunk deeper into their hearts; and for a while they strive with all +their might to resist their evil propensities, and to walk without +stumbling in the path of duty. Again and again they resolve; again and +again they break their resolutions[96]: All their endeavours are +foiled, and they become more and more convinced of their own moral +weakness, and of the strength of their indwelling corruption. Thus +groaning under the enslaving power of sin, and experiencing the futility +of the utmost efforts which they can use for effecting their +deliverance, they are tempted (sometimes it is to be feared they yield +to the temptation) to give up all in despair, and to acquiesce under +their wretched captivity, conceiving it impossible to break their +chains. Sometimes, probably, it even happens that they are driven to +seek for refuge from their disquietude in the suggestions of infidelity; +and to quiet their troublesome consciences by arguments which they +themselves scarcely believe, at the very moment in which they suffer +themselves to be lulled asleep by them. In the mean time while this +conflict has been going on, their walk is sad and comfortless, and their +couch is nightly watered with tears. These men are pursuing the right +object, but they mistake the way in which it is to be obtained. _The +path in which they are now treading is not that which the Gospel has +provided for conducting them to true holiness, nor will they find in it +any solid peace._ + +Persons under these circumstances naturally seek for religious +instruction. They turn over the works of our modern Religionists, and +as well as they can collect the advice addressed to men in their +situation: the substance of it is, at the best, of this sort; "Be sorry +indeed for your sins, and discontinue the practice of them, but do not +make yourselves so uneasy. Christ died for the sins of the whole world. +Do your utmost; discharge with fidelity the duties of your stations, not +neglecting your religious offices; and fear not but that in the end all +will go well; and that having thus performed the conditions required on +your part, you will at last obtain forgiveness of our merciful Creator +through the merits of Jesus Christ, and be aided, where your own +strength shall be insufficient, by the assistance of his Holy Spirit. +Meanwhile you cannot do better than read carefully such books of +practical divinity, as will instruct you in the principles of a +Christian life. We are excellently furnished with works of this nature; +and it is by the diligent study of them that you will gradually become a +proficient in the lessons of the Gospel." + +But the holy Scriptures, and with them the Church of England, call upon +those who are in the circumstances above-stated, to _lay afresh the +whole foundation of their Religion_. In concurrence with the Scripture, +that Church calls upon them, in the first place, gratefully to adore +that undeserved goodness which has awakened them from the sleep of +death; to prostrate themselves before the Cross of Christ with humble +penitence and deep self-abhorrence; solemnly resolving to forsake all +their sins, but relying on the Grace of God alone for power to keep +their resolution. Thus, and thus only, she assures them that all their +crimes will be blotted out, and that they will receive from above a new +living principle of holiness. She produces from the Word of God the +ground and warrant of her counsel; "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, +and thou shalt be saved."--"No man," says our blessed Saviour, "cometh +unto the Father but by me."--"I am the true Vine. As the branch cannot +bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more can ye except +ye abide in me."--"He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth +forth much fruit; for without" (or severed from) "me ye can do +nothing,"--"By grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of +yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should +boast: for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good +works." + +Let us not be thought tedious, or be accused of running into needless +repetitions, in pressing this point with so much earnestness. It is in +fact a point which can never be too much insisted on. It is the cardinal +point on which the whole of Christianity turns; on which it is +peculiarly proper in this place to be perfectly distinct. There have +been some who have imagined that the wrath of God was to be deprecated, +or his favour conciliated, by austerities and penances, or even by forms +and ceremonies, and external observances. But all men of enlightened +understandings, who acknowledge the moral government of God, must also +acknowledge, that vice must offend and virtue delight him. In short they +must, more or less, assent to the Scripture declaration, "without +holiness no man shall see the Lord." But the grand distinction, which +subsists between the true Christian and all other Religionists, (the +class of persons in particular whom it is our object to address) is +concerning the _nature_ of this holiness, and the _way in which it is to +be obtained_. The views entertained by the latter, of the _nature_ of +holiness, are of all degrees of inadequateness; and they conceive it is +to be _obtained_ by their own natural unassisted efforts: or if they +admit some vague indistinct notion of the assistance of the Holy Spirit, +it is unquestionably obvious, on conversing with them, that this does +not constitute the _main practical_ ground of their dependence. _But the +nature of the holiness, to which the desires of the true Christian are +directed, is no other than the restoration of the image of God: and as +to the manner of acquiring it, disclaiming with indignation every idea +of attaining it by his own strength, all his hopes of possessing it rest +altogether on the divine assurances of the operation of the Holy Spirit, +in those who cordially embrace the Gospel of Christ. He knows therefore +that this holiness is not to_ PRECEDE _his reconciliation to God, and be +its_ CAUSE; _but to_ FOLLOW _it, and be its_ EFFECT. _That in short it +is by_ FAITH IN CHRIST _only[97] that he is to be justified in the sight +of God; to be delivered from the condition of a child of wrath, and a +slave of Satan; to be adopted into the family of God; to become an heir +of God and a joint heir with Christ, entitled to all the privileges +which belong to this high relation; here, to the Spirit of Grace, and a +partial renewal after the image of his Creator; hereafter, to the more +perfect possession of the Divine likeness, and an inheritance of eternal +glory._ + +And as it is in this way, that, in obedience to the dictates of the +Gospel, the true Christian must originally become possessed of the vital +spirit and living principle of universal holiness; so, in order to grow +in grace, he must also study in the same school; finding in the +consideration of the peculiar doctrines of the Gospel, and in the +contemplation of the life, and character, and sufferings of our blessed +Saviour, the elements of all practical wisdom, and an inexhaustible +storehouse of instructions and motives, no otherwise to be so well +supplied. From the neglect of these peculiar doctrines arise the main +practical errors of the bulk of professed Christians. These gigantic +truths retained in view, would put to shame the littleness of their +dwarfish morality. It would be impossible for them to make these +harmonize with their low conceptions, of the wretchedness and danger of +their natural state, which is represented in Scripture as having so +powerfully called forth the compassion of God, that he sent his only +begotten Son to rescue us. Where _now_ are their low conceptions of the +worth of the soul, when means like these were taken to redeem it? Where +_now_ their inadequate conceptions of the guilt of sin, for which in the +divine counsels it seemed requisite that an atonement no less costly +should be made, than that of the blood of the only begotten Son of God? +How can they reconcile their low standard of Christian practice with the +representation of our being "temples of the Holy Ghost?" Their cold +sense of obligation, and scanty grudged returns of service, with the +glowing gratitude of those who, having been "delivered from the power of +darkness, and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son," may well +conceive that the labours of a whole life will be but an imperfect +expression of their thankfulness. + +The peculiar doctrines of the Gospel being once admitted, the +conclusions which have been now suggested are clear and obvious +deductions of reason. But our neglect of these important truths is still +less pardonable, because they are distinctly and repeatedly applied in +Scripture to the very purposes in question, and the whole superstructure +of Christian morals is grounded on their deep and ample basis. Sometimes +these truths are represented in Scripture, _generally_, as furnishing +Christians with a vigorous and ever present principle of universal +obedience. And our slowness in learning the lessons of heavenly wisdom +is still further stimulated, by almost every particular Christian duty +being occasionally traced to them as to its proper source. They are +every where represented as warming the hearts of the people of God on +earth with continual admiration, and thankfulness, and love, and joy; as +triumphing over the attack of the last great enemy, and as calling forth +afresh in Heaven the ardent effusions of their unexhausted gratitude. + +If then we would indeed be "filled with wisdom and spiritual +understanding;" if we would "walk worthy of the Lord unto all well +pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the +knowledge of God;" here let us fix our eyes! "Laying aside every weight, +and the sin that does so easily beset us; let us run with patience the +race that is set before us, LOOKING UNTO JESUS, the Author and Finisher +of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the +cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the +throne of God[98]." + +Here best we may learn the infinite _importance_ of Christianity. How +little it can deserve to be treated in that slight and superficial way, +in which it is in these days regarded by the bulk of nominal Christians, +who are apt to think it may be enough, and almost equally pleasing to +God, to be religious _in any way_, and upon _any_ system. What exquisite +folly it must be to risk the soul on such a venture, in direct +contradiction to the dictates of reason, and the express declaration of +the word of God! "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great +salvation?" + + +LOOKING UNTO JESUS! + +Here we shall best learn the duty and reasonableness of an absolute and +unconditional surrender of soul and body to the will and service of +God.--"We are not our own; for we are bought with a price," and must +"therefore" make it our grand concern to "glorify God with our bodies +and our spirits, which are God's." Should we be base enough, even if we +could do it with safety, to make any reserves in our returns of service +to that gracious Saviour, who "gave up _himself_ for us?" If we have +formerly talked of compounding by the performance of some commands for +the breach of others; can we now bear the mention of a _composition_ of +duties, or of retaining to ourselves the right of practising _little_ +sins! The very suggestion of such an idea fills us with indignation and +shame, if our hearts be not dead to every sense of gratitude. + + +LOOKING UNTO JESUS! + +Here we find displayed, in the most lively colours, the guilt of sin, +and how hateful it must be to the perfect holiness of that Being, "who +is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity." When we see that, rather than +sin should go unpunished, "God spared not his own Son," but "was +_pleased_[99], to bruise him and put him to grief" for our sakes; how +vainly must impenitent sinners flatter themselves with the hope of +escaping the vengeance of Heaven, and buoy themselves up with I know not +what desperate dreams of the Divine benignity! + +Here too we may anticipate the dreadful sufferings of that state, "where +shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth;" when rather than that we should +undergo them, "the Son of God" himself, who "thought it no robbery to be +equal with God," consented to take upon him our degraded nature with all +its weaknesses and infirmities; to be "a man of sorrows," "to hide not +his face from shame and spitting," "to be wounded for our +transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities," and at length to endure +the sharpness of death, "even the death of the Cross," that he might +"deliver us from the wrath to come," and open the kingdom of Heaven to +all believers. + + +LOOKING UNTO JESUS! + +_Here_ best we may learn to grow in the love of God! The certainty of +his pity and love towards repenting sinners, thus irrefragably +demonstrated, chases away the sense of tormenting fear, and best lays +the ground in us of a reciprocal affection. And while we steadily +contemplate this wonderful transaction, and consider in its several +relations the amazing truth, that "God spared not his own Son, but +delivered him up for us all;" if our minds be not utterly dead to every +impulse of sensibility, the emotions of admiration, of preference, of +hope, and trust, and joy, cannot but spring up within us, chastened with +reverential fear, and softened and quickened by overflowing +gratitude[100]. _Here_ we shall become animated by an abiding +disposition to endeavour to please our great Benefactor; and by a humble +persuasion, that the weakest endeavours of this nature will not be +despised by a Being, who has already proved himself so kindly affected +towards us[101]. _Here_ we cannot fail to imbibe an earnest desire of +possessing his favour, and a conviction, founded on his own declarations +thus unquestionably confirmed, that the desire shall not be +disappointed. Whenever we are conscious that we have offended this +gracious Being, a single thought of the great work of Redemption will be +enough to fill us with compunction. We shall feel a deep concern, grief +mingled with indignant shame, for having conducted ourselves so +unworthily towards one who to us has been infinite in kindness: we shall +not rest till we have reason to hope that he is reconciled to us; and we +shall watch over our hearts and conduct in future with a renewed +jealousy, lest we should again offend him. To those who are ever so +little acquainted with the nature of the human mind, it were superfluous +to remark, that the affections and tempers which have been enumerated, +are the infallible marks and the constituent properties of Love. Let +_him_ then who would abound and grow in this Christian principle, be +much conversant with the great doctrines of the Gospel. + +It is obvious, that the attentive and frequent consideration of these +great doctrines, must have a still more direct tendency to produce and +cherish in our minds the principle of the love of Christ. But on this +head, so much was said in a former chapter, as to render any farther +observations unnecessary. + +Much also has been already observed concerning the love of our +fellow-creatures, and it has been distinctly stated to be the +indispensable, and indeed the characteristic duty of Christians. It +remains, however to be here farther remarked, that this grace can no +where be cultivated with more advantage than at the foot of the cross. +No where can our Saviour's dying injunction to the exercise of this +virtue be recollected with more effect; "This is my commandment, that ye +love one another as I have loved you." No where can the admonition of +the Apostle more powerfully affect us; "Be ye kind one to another, +tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, +hath forgiven you." The view of mankind which is here presented to us, +as having been all involved in one common ruin; and the offer of +deliverance held out to all, by the Son of God's giving of himself up to +pay the price of our reconciliation, produce that sympathy towards our +fellow-creatures, which, by the constitution of our nature, seldom +fails to result from the consciousness of an identity of interests and a +similarity of fortunes. Pity for an unthinking world assists this +impression. Our enmities soften and melt away: we are ashamed of +thinking much of the _petty injuries_ which we may have suffered, when +we consider what the Son of God, "who did no wrong, neither was guile +found in his mouth," patiently underwent. Our hearts become tender while +we contemplate this signal act of loving-kindness. We grow desirous of +imitating what we cannot but admire. A vigorous principle of enlarged +and active charity springs up within us; and we go forth with alacrity, +desirous of treading in the steps of our blessed Master, and of +manifesting our gratitude for his unmerited goodness, by bearing each +others burdens, and abounding in the disinterested labours of +benevolence. + + +LOOKING UNTO JESUS! + +_He_ was meek and lowly of heart, and from the study of _his_ character +we shall best learn the lessons of humility. Contemplating the work of +Redemption, we become more and more impressed with the sense of our +natural darkness, and helplessness, and misery, from which it was +requisite to ransom us at such a price; more and more conscious that we +are utterly unworthy of all the amazing condescension and love which +have been manifested towards us; ashamed of the callousness of our +tenderest sensibility, and of the poor returns of our most active +services. Considerations like these, abating our pride and reducing our +opinion of _ourselves_, naturally moderate our pretensions towards +_others_. We become less disposed to exact that respect for our persons, +and that deference for our authority, which we naturally covet; we less +sensibly feel a slight, and less hotly resent it; we grow less +irritable, less prone to be dissatisfied; more soft, and meek, and +courteous, and placable, and condescending. We are not literally +required to practise the same humiliating submissions, to which our +blessed Saviour himself was not ashamed to stoop[102]; but the _spirit_ +of the remark applies to us, "the servant is not greater than his Lord:" +and we should especially bear this truth in mind, when the occasion +calls upon us to discharge some duty, or patiently to suffer some ill +treatment, whereby our pride will be wounded, and we are likely to be in +some degree degraded from the rank we had possessed in the world's +estimation. At the same time the Sacred Scriptures assuring us, that to +the powerful operations of the Holy Spirit, purchased for us by the +death of Christ, we must be indebted for the success of all our +endeavours after improvement in virtue; the conviction of this truth +tends to render us diffident of our own powers, and to suppress the +first risings of vanity. Thus, while we are conducted to heights of +virtue no otherwise attainable, due care is taken to prevent our +becoming giddy from our elevation[103]. It is the Scripture +characteristic of the Gospel system, that by it all disposition to +exalt ourselves is excluded; and if we really grow in grace, we shall +grow also in humility. + + +LOOKING UNTO JESUS! + +"He endured the cross, despising the shame."--While we steadily +contemplate this solemn scene, that sober frame of spirit is produced +within us, which best befits the Christian, militant here on earth. We +become impressed with a sense of the shortness and uncertainty of time, +and that it behoves us to be diligent in making provision for eternity. +In such a temper of mind, the pomps and vanities of life are cast behind +us as the baubles of children.--We lose our relish for the frolics of +gaiety, the race of ambition, or the grosser gratifications of +voluptuousness. In the case even of those objects, which may more justly +claim the attention of reasonable and immortal beings; in our family +arrangements, in our plans of life, in our schemes of business, we +become, without relinquishing the path of duty, more moderate in +pursuit, and more indifferent about the issue. Here also we learn to +correct the world's false estimate of things, and to "look through the +shallowness of earthly grandeur[104];" to venerate what is truly +excellent and noble, though under a despised and degraded form; and to +cultivate within ourselves that true magnanimity, which can make us rise +superior to the smiles or frowns of this world; that dignified composure +of soul which no earthly incidents can destroy or ruffle. Instead of +repining at any of the little occasional inconveniences we may meet with +in our passage through life; we are almost ashamed of the multiplied +comforts and enjoyments of our condition, when we think of him, who, +though "the Lord of glory," "had not where to lay his head." And if it +be our lot to undergo evils of more than ordinary magnitude, we are +animated under them by reflecting, that we are hereby more conformed to +the example of our blessed Master: though we must ever recollect one +important difference, that the sufferings of Christ were voluntarily +borne for _our_ benefit, and were probably far more exquisitely +agonizing than any which we are called upon to undergo. Besides, it must +be a solid support to us amidst all our troubles to know, that they do +not happen to us by chance; that they are not even merely the punishment +of sin; but that they are the dispensations of a kind Providence, and +sent on messages of mercy.--"The cup that our Father hath given us, +shall we not drink it?"--"Blessed Saviour! by the bitterness of thy +pains we may estimate the force of thy love; we are _sure_ of thy +kindness and compassion; thou wouldst not willingly call on us to +suffer; thou hast declared unto us, that all things shall finally work +together for good to them that love thee; and therefore, if thou so +ordainest it, welcome disappointment and poverty, welcome sickness and +pain, welcome even shame, and contempt, and calumny. If this be a rough +and thorny path, it is one in which thou hast gone before us. Where we +see thy footsteps we cannot repine. Meanwhile, thou wilt support us with +the consolations of thy grace; and even here thou canst more than +compensate to us for any temporal sufferings, by the possession of that +peace, which the world can neither give nor take away." + + +LOOKING UNTO JESUS! + +"The Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set +before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at +the right hand of God." From the scene of our Saviour's weakness and +degradation, we follow him, in idea, into the realms of glory, where "he +is on the right hand of God; angels, and principalities, and powers +being made subject unto him."--But though changed in place, yet not in +nature, he is still full of sympathy and love; and having died "to save +his people from their sins," "he ever _liveth_ to make intercession for +them." Cheered by this animating view, the Christian's fainting spirits +revive. Under the heaviest burdens he feels his strength recruited; and +when all around him is dark and stormy, he can lift up an eye to Heaven, +radiant with hope, and glistening with gratitude. At such a season, no +dangers can alarm, no opposition can move, no provocations can irritate. +He may almost adopt, as the language of his sober exultation, what in +the philosopher was but an idle rant: and, considering that it is only +the garment of mortality which is subject to the rents of fortune; while +his spirit, cheered with the divine support, keeps its place within, +secure and unassailable, he can sometimes almost triumph at the stake, +or on the scaffold, and cry out amidst the severest buffets of +adversity, "Thou beatest but the case of Anaxarchus." But it is rarely +that the Christian is elevated with this "joy unspeakable and full of +glory:" he even lends himself to these views with moderation and +reserve. Often, alas! emotions of another kind fill him with grief and +confusion: and conscious of having acted unworthy of his high calling, +perhaps of having exposed himself to the just censure of a world ready +enough to spy out his infirmities, he seems to himself almost "to have +crucified the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." But let +neither his joys intoxicate, nor his sorrows too much depress him. Let +him still remember that his _chief_ business while on earth is not to +meditate, but to act; that the seeds of moral corruption are apt to +spring up within him, and that it is requisite for him to watch over his +own heart with incessant care; that he is to discharge with fidelity the +duties of his particular station, and to conduct himself, according to +his measure, after the example of his blessed Master, whose meat and +drink it was to do the work of his heavenly Father; that he is +diligently to cultivate the talents with which God has entrusted him, +and assiduously to employ them in doing justice and shewing mercy, while +he guards against the assaults of any internal enemy. In short, he is to +demean himself, in all the common affairs of life, like an _accountable_ +creature, who, in correspondence with the Scripture character of +Christians, is "waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ." Often +therefore he questions himself, "Am I employing my time, my fortune, my +bodily and mental powers, so as to be able to 'render up my account with +joy, and not with grief?' Am I 'adorning the doctrine of God my Saviour +in all things;' and proving that the servants of Christ, animated by a +principle of filial affection, which renders their work a service of +perfect freedom, are capable of as active and as persevering exertions, +as the votaries of fame, or the slaves of ambition, or the drudges of +avarice?" + +Thus, without interruption to his labours, he may interpose occasional +thoughts of things unseen; and amidst the many little intervals of +business, may calmly look upwards to the heavenly Advocate, who is ever +pleading the cause of his people, and obtaining for them needful +supplies of grace and consolation. It is these realizing views, which +give the Christian a relish for the worship and service of the heavenly +world. And if these blessed images, "seen but through a glass darkly," +can thus refresh the soul: what must be its state, when on the morning +of the resurrection it shall awake to the unclouded vision of celestial +glory! when, "to them that look for him, the Son of God shall appear a +second time without sin unto salvation!" when "sighing and sorrow being +fled away;" when doubts and fears no more disquieting, and the painful +consciousness of remaining imperfections no longer weighing down the +spirit, they shall enter upon the fruition of "those joys, which eye +hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of +man to conceive;" and shall bear their part in that blessed +anthem--"Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto +the Lamb," for ever and ever! + +Thus (never let it be forgotten) the main distinction between real +Christianity, and the system of the bulk of nominal Christians, chiefly +consists in the different place which is assigned in the two schemes to +the peculiar doctrines of the Gospel. These, in the scheme of nominal +Christians, if admitted at all, appear but like the stars of the +firmament to the ordinary eye. Those splendid luminaries draw forth +perhaps occasionally a transient expression of admiration, when we +behold their beauty, or hear of their distances, magnitudes, or +properties: now and then too we are led, perhaps, to muse upon their +possible uses: but however curious as subjects of speculation, after +all, it must be confessed, they twinkle to the common observer with a +vain and "idle" lustre; and except in the dreams of the astrologer, have +no influence on human happiness, or any concern with the course and +order of the world. But to the _real_ Christian, on the contrary, THESE +_peculiar doctrines constitute the center to which he gravitates! the +very sun of his system! the soul of the world! the origin of all that is +excellent and lovely! the source of light, and life, and motion, and +genial warmth, and plastic energy!_ Dim is the light of reason, and cold +and comfortless our state, while left to her unassisted guidance. Even +the Old Testament itself, though a revelation from Heaven, shines but +with feeble and scanty rays. But the blessed truths of the Gospel are +now unveiled to _our_ eyes, and _we_ are called upon to behold, and to +enjoy "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of +Jesus Christ," in the full radiance of its meridian splendor. The words +of inspiration best express our highly favoured state: "We all, with +open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed +into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the +Lord." + + Thou art the source and center of all minds, + Their only point of rest, ETERNAL WORD + From thee departing, they are lost, and rove + At random, without honour, hope, or peace: + From thee is all that soothes the life of man; + His high endeavour, and his glad success; + His strength to suffer, and his will to serve. + But O! thou bounteous Giver of all good! + Thou art of all thy gifts thyself the crown: + Give what thou canst, without thee we are poor, + And with thee rich, take what thou wilt away. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +_On the Excellence of Christianity in certain important Particulars. +Argument which results thence in Proof of its divine Origin._ + + +The writer of the present work, having now completed a faint delineation +of the leading features of real Christianity, may be permitted to +suspend for a few moments the farther execution of his plan, for the +purpose of pointing out some excellences which she really possesses; but +which, as they are not to be found in that superficial system which so +unworthily usurps her name, appear scarcely to have attracted sufficient +notice. If he should seem to be deviating from the plan which he +proposed to himself, he would suggest as his excuse; that the +observations which he is about to offer will furnish a strong argument, +in favour of the correctness of his preceding delineation of +Christianity, since she will _now_ appear to exhibit more clearly, than +as she is usually drawn, the characters of her Divine original. + +It holds true, indeed, in the case of Christianity, as in that of all +the works of God, that though a superficial and cursory view cannot +fail to discover to us somewhat of their beauty; yet, when on a more +careful and accurate scrutiny we become better acquainted with their +properties, we become also more deeply impressed by a conviction of +their excellence. We may begin by referring to the last chapter for an +instance of the truth of this assertion. Therein was pointed out that +intimate connection, that perfect harmony, between the leading doctrines +and the practical precepts of Christianity, which is apt to escape the +attention of the ordinary eye. + +It may not be improper also to remark, though the position be so obvious +as almost to render the statement of it needless, that there is the same +close connection and perfect harmony in the leading doctrines of +Christianity among each other. It is self-evident, that the corruption +of human nature, that our reconciliation to God by the atonement of +Christ, and that the restoration of our primitive dignity by the +sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit, are all parts of one whole, +united in close dependence and mutual congruity. + +Perhaps, however, it has not been sufficiently noticed, that in the +chief practical precepts of Christianity, there is the same essential +agreement, the same mutual dependency of one upon another. Let us survey +this fresh instance of the wisdom of that system, which is the only +solid foundation of our present or future happiness. + +The virtues most strongly and repeatedly enjoined in Scripture, and by +our progress in which we may best measure our advancement in holiness, +are the fear and love of God and of Christ; love, kindness, and meekness +towards our fellow-creatures; indifference to the possessions and +events of this life, in comparison with our concern about eternal +things; self-denial, and humility. + +It has been already pointed out in many particulars, how essentially +such of these Christian graces as respect the Divine Being are connected +with those, which have more directly for their objects our +fellow-creatures and ourselves. But in the case of these two last +descriptions of Christian graces; the more attentively we consider them +with reference to the acknowledged principles of human nature, and to +indisputable facts, the more we shall be convinced that they afford +mutual aid towards the acquisition of each other; and that when +acquired, they all harmonize with each other in perfect and essential +union. This truth may perhaps be sufficiently apparent from what has +been already remarked; but it may not be useless to dwell on it a little +more in detail. Take then the instances of loving-kindness and meekness +towards others; and observe the solid foundation which is laid for them +in self-denial, in moderation as to the good things of this life, and in +humility. The chief causes of enmity among men are, pride and +self-importance, the high opinion which men entertain of themselves, and +the consequent deference which they exact from others: the +over-valuation of worldly possessions and of worldly honours, and in +consequence, a too eager competition for them. The rough edges of one +man rub against those of another, if the expression may be allowed; and +the friction is often such as to injure the works, and disturb the just +arrangements and regular motions of the social machine. But by +Christianity all these roughnesses are filed down: every wheel rolls +round smoothly in the performance of its appointed function, and there +is nothing to retard the several movements, or break in upon the general +order. The religious system indeed of the bulk of nominal Christians is +satisfied with some tolerable appearances of virtue: and accordingly, +while it recommends love and beneficence, it tolerates, as has been +shewn, pride and vanity in many cases; it even countenances and commends +the excessive valuation of character; and at least allows a man's whole +soul to be absorbed in the pursuit of the object which he is following, +be it what it may of personal or professional success. But though these +latter qualities may, for the most part, fairly enough consist with a +soft exterior and courtly demeanor, they cannot so well accord with the +genuine internal principle of love. Some cause of discontent, some +ground of jealousy or of envy will arise, some suspicion will corrode, +some disappointment will sour, some slight or calumny will irritate and +provoke reprisals. In the higher walks of life, indeed, we learn to +disguise our emotions; but such will be the real inward feelings of the +soul, and they will frequently betray themselves when we are off our +guard, or when we are not likely to be disparaged by the discovery. This +state of the higher orders, in which men are scuffling eagerly for the +same objects, and wearing all the while such an appearance of sweetness +and complacency, has often appeared to me to be not ill illustrated by +the image of a gaming table. There, every man is intent only on his own +profit; the good success of one is the ill success of another, and +therefore the general state of mind of the parties engaged may be pretty +well conjectured. All this, however, does not prevent, in well-bred +societies, an exterior of perfect gentleness and good humour. But let +the same employment be carried on among the lower orders, who are not so +well schooled in the art of disguising their feelings; or in places +where, by general connivance, people are allowed to give vent to their +real emotions; and every passion will display itself, by which the +"human face divine" can be distorted and deformed. For those who never +have been present at so humiliating a scene, the pencil of Hogarth has +provided a representation of it, which is scarcely exaggerated; and the +horrid name[105], by which it is familiarly known among its frequenters, +sufficiently attests the fidelity of its resemblance. + +But Christianity is not satisfied with producing merely the specious +guise of virtue. She requires the substantial reality, which may stand +the scrutinizing eye of that Being "who searches the heart." Meaning +therefore that the Christian should live and breathe; in an atmosphere, +as it were, of benevolence, she forbids whatever can tend to obstruct +its diffusion or vitiate its purity. It is on this principle that +Emulation is forbidden: for, besides that this passion almost insensibly +degenerates into envy, and that it derives its origin chiefly from pride +and a desire of self-exaltation; how can we easily love our neighbour as +ourselves, if we consider him at the same time our rival, and are intent +upon surpassing him in the pursuit of whatever is the subject of our +competition? + +Christianity, again, teaches us not to set our hearts on earthly +possessions and earthly honours; and thereby provides for our really +loving, or even cordially forgiving, those who have been more successful +than ourselves in the attainment of them, or who have even designedly +thwarted us in the pursuit. "Let the rich," says the Apostle, "rejoice +in that he is brought low." How can he who means to attempt, in any +degree, to obey this precept, be irreconcilably hostile towards any one +who may have been instrumental in his depression? + +Christianity also teaches us not to prize human estimation at a very +high rate; and thereby provides for the practice of her injunction, to +love from the heart those who, justly or unjustly, may have attacked our +reputation, and wounded our character. She commands not the shew, but +the reality of meekness and gentleness; and by thus taking away the +aliment of anger and the fomenters of discord, she provides for the +maintenance of peace, and the restoration of good temper among men, when +it may have sustained a temporary interruption. + +It is another capital excellence of Christianity, that she values moral +attainments at a far higher rate than intellectual acquisitions, and +proposes to conduct her followers to the heights of virtue rather than +of knowledge. On the contrary, most of the false religious systems which +have prevailed in the world, have proposed to reward the labour of their +votary, by drawing aside the veil which concealed from the vulgar eye +their hidden mysteries, and by introducing him to the knowledge of their +deeper and more sacred doctrines. + +This is eminently the case in the Hindoo, and in the Mahometan Religion, +in that of China, and, for the most part, in the various modifications +of ancient Paganism. In systems which proceed on this principle, it is +obvious that the bulk of mankind can never make any great proficiency. +There was accordingly, among the nations of antiquity, one system, +whatever it was, for the learned, and another for the illiterate. Many +of the philosophers spoke out, and professed to keep the lower orders in +ignorance for the general good; plainly suggesting that the bulk of +mankind was to be considered as almost of an inferior species. Aristotle +himself countenanced this opinion. An opposite mode of proceeding +naturally belongs to Christianity, which without distinction professes +an equal regard for all human beings, and which was characterized by her +first Promulgator as the messenger of "glad tidings to the poor." + +But her preference of moral to intellectual excellence is not to be +praised, only because it is congenial with her general character, and +suitable to the ends which she professes to have in view. It is the part +of true wisdom to endeavour to excel there, where we may really attain +to excellence. This consideration might be alone sufficient to direct +our efforts to the acquisition of virtue rather than of knowledge.--How +limited is the range of the greatest human abilities! how scanty the +stores of the richest human knowledge! Those who undeniably have held +the first rank, both for natural and acquired endowments, instead of +thinking their pre-eminence a just ground of self-exaltation, have +commonly been the most forward to confess that their views were bounded +and their attainments moderate. Had they indeed been less candid, this +is a discovery which we could not have failed to make of ourselves. +Experience daily furnishes us with examples of weakness, and +short-sightedness, and error, in the wisest and the most learned of men, +which might serve to confound the pride of human wisdom. + +Not so in morals.--Made at first in the likeness of God, and still +bearing about us some faint traces of our high original, we are offered +by our blessed Redeemer the means of purifying ourselves from our +corruptions, and of once more regaining the image of our Heavenly +Father[106]. In love, the compendious expression for almost every +virtue, in fortitude under all its forms, in justice, in humility, and +in all the other graces of the Christian character, we are made capable +of attaining to heights of real elevation: and were we but faithful in +the use of the means of grace which we enjoy; the operations of the Holy +Spirit, prompting and aiding our diligent endeavours, would infallibly +crown our labours with success, and make us partakers of a Divine +nature. The writer has himself known some who have been instances of the +truth of this remark. To the memory of one,[107] now no more, may he be +permitted to offer the last tribute of respectful friendship? His +course, short but laborious, has at length terminated in a better world; +and his luminous tract still shines in the sight, and animates the +efforts of all who knew him, and "marshals them the way" to Heavenly +glory. Let me not be thought to undervalue any of the gifts of God, or +of the fruits of human exertion: but let not these be prized beyond +their proper worth. If one of those little industrious reptiles, to +which we have been well sent for a lesson of diligence and foresight, +were to pride itself upon its strength, because it could carry off a +larger grain of wheat than any other of its fellow-ants; should we not +laugh at the vanity which could be highly gratified with such a +contemptible pre-eminence? And is it far different to the eye of reason, +when man, weak, short-sighted man, is vain of surpassing others in +knowledge, in which at best his progress must be so limited; forgetting +the true dignity of his nature, and the path which would conduct him to +real excellence? + +The unparalleled value of the precepts of Christianity ought not be +passed over altogether unnoticed in this place, though it be needless to +dwell on it; since it has been often justly recognized and asserted, and +has in some points been ably illustrated, and powerfully enforced by the +masterly pen of a late writer. It is by no means however the design of +this little work to attempt to trace the various excellencies of +Christianity; but it may not have been improper to point out a few +particulars, which, in the course of investigation, have naturally +fallen under our notice, and hitherto perhaps may scarcely have been +enough regarded. Every such instance, it should always be remembered, is +a fresh proof of Christianity being a revelation from God. + +It is still less, however, the intention of the writer to attempt to +vindicate the Divine origin of our Holy Religion. This task has often +been executed by far abler advocates. In particular, every Christian, +with whatever reserves his commendations must be disqualified, should be +forward to confess his obligations _on this head_ to the author before +alluded to; whose uncommon acuteness has enabled him, in a field already +so much trodden, to discover arguments which had eluded the observation +of all by whom he was preceded, and whose unequalled perspicuity puts +his reader in complete possession of the fruits of his sagacity. +Anxious, however, in my little measure, to contribute to the support of +this great cause, may it be permitted me to state one argument, which +impresses my mind with particular force. This is, the great variety of +the _kinds_ of evidence which have been adduced in proof of +Christianity, and the confirmation thereby afforded of its truth:--the +proof from prophecy--from miracles--from the character of Christ--from +that of his Apostles--from the nature of the doctrines of +Christianity--from the nature and excellence of her _practical +precepts_--from the accordance we have lately pointed out between the +doctrinal and practical system of Christianity, whether considered each +in itself or in their mutual relation to each other--from other species +of internal evidence, afforded in the more abundance in proportion as +the sacred records have been scrutinized with greater care--from the +account of co-temporary or nearly co-temporary writers--from the +impossibility of accounting on any other supposition, than that of the +truth of Christianity, for its promulgation and early prevalence: these +and other lines of argument have all been brought forward and ably urged +by different writers, in proportion as they have struck the minds of +different observers more or less forcibly. Now, granting that some +obscure and illiterate men, residing in a distant province of the Roman +empire, had plotted to impose a forgery upon the world; though some +foundation for the imposture might, and indeed must, have been attempted +to be laid; it seems, at least to my understanding, morally impossible +that _so many different species of proofs_, and all so strong, should +have lent their _concurrent_ aid, and have united their _joint_ force in +the establishment of the falsehood. It may assist the reader in +estimating the value of this argument, to consider upon how different a +footing, in this respect, has rested every other religious system, +without exception, which was ever proposed to the world; and, indeed, +every other historical fact, of which the truth has been at all +contested. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_Brief Inquiry into the present State of Christianity in this Country, +with some of the Causes which have led to its critical Circumstances. +Its Importance to us as a political Community, and practical Hints for +which the foregoing considerations give occasion._ + + +It may not be altogether improper to remind the reader, that hitherto +our discussion has been concerning the prevailing Religious opinions +merely of _professed Christians_: no longer confining ourselves to +persons of this description, let us now extend our inquiry, and briefly +investigate the _general_ state of Christianity in this country. + +The tendency of Religion in general to promote the temporal well-being +of political communities, is a fact which depends on such obvious and +undeniable principles, and which is so forcibly inculcated by the +history of all ages, that there can be no necessity for entering into a +formal proof of its truth. It has indeed been maintained, not merely by +Schoolmen and Divines, but by the most celebrated philosophers, and +moralists, and politicians of every age. + +The peculiar excellence in this respect also of Christianity, considered +independently of its truth or falsehood, has been recognized by many +writers, who, to say the least, were not disposed to exaggerate its +merits. Either or both of these propositions being admitted, the state +of Religion in a country at any given period, not to mention its +connection with the eternal happiness of the inhabitants, immediately +becomes a question of great _political_ importance: and in particular it +must be material to ascertain whether Religion be in an advancing or in +a declining state; and if the latter be the case, whether there be any +practicable means for preventing at least its farther declension. + +If the representations contained in the preceding chapters, of the state +of Christianity among the bulk of professed Christians, be not very +erroneous; they may well excite serious apprehension in the mind of +every reader, when considered merely in a political view. And this +apprehension would be encreased, if there should appear reason to +believe that, for some time past, Religion has been on the decline +amongst us, and that it continues to decline at the present moment. + +When it is proposed, however, to inquire into the actual state of +Religion in any country, and in particular to compare that state with +its condition at any former period; there is one preliminary observation +to be made, if we would not be liable to gross error. There exists, +established by tacit content, in every country, what may be called a +general standard or tone of morals, varying in the same community at +different periods, and different at the same period in different ranks +and situations in society. Whoever falls below this standard, and, not +unfrequently, whoever also rises above it, offending against this +general rule, suffers proportionably in the general estimation. Thus a +regard for character, which, as was formerly remarked, is commonly the +grand governing principle among men, becomes to a certain degree, though +no farther, an incitement to morality and virtue. It follows of course, +that where the practice does no more than come up to the required level, +it will be no sufficient evidence of the existence, much less will it +furnish any just measure of the force, of a real internal principle of +Religion. Christians, Jews, Turks, Infidels, and Heretics, persons of +ten thousand different sorts of passions and opinions, being members at +the same time of the same community, and all conscious that they will be +examined by this same standard, will regulate their conduct accordingly, +and, with no great difference, will all adjust themselves to the +required measure. + +It must also be remarked, that the causes which tend to raise or to +depress this standard, commonly produce their effects by slow and almost +insensible degrees; and that it often continues for some time nearly the +same, when the circumstances, by which it was fixed, have materially +altered. + +It is a truth which will hardly be contested, that Christianity, +whenever it has at all prevailed, has raised the general standard of +morals to a height before unknown. Some actions, which among the +ancients were scarcely held to be blemishes in the most excellent +characters, have been justly considered by the laws of every Christian +community, as meriting the severest punishments. In other instances, +virtues formerly rare have become common; and in particular a merciful +and courteous temper has softened the rugged manners, and humanized the +brutal ferocity prevalent among the most polished nations of the heathen +world. But from what has been recently observed, it is manifest, that, +so far as external appearances are concerned, these effects, when once +produced by Christianity, are produced alike in those who deny and in +those who admit her divine original; I had almost said in those who +reject and those who cordially embrace the doctrines of the Gospel: and +these effects might and probably would remain for a while, without any +great apparent alteration, however her spirit might languish, or even +her authority decline. The form of the temple, as was once beautifully +remarked, may continue, when the _dii tutelares_ have left it. When we +are inquiring therefore into the real state of Christianity at any +period; if we would not be deceived in this important investigation, it +becomes us to be so much the more careful not to take up with +superficial appearances. + +It may perhaps help us to ascertain the advancing or declining state of +Christianity in Great Britain at the present moment; and still more to +discover some of the causes by which that state has been produced, to +employ a little time in considering what might naturally be expected to +be its actual situation; what advantages or disadvantages such a +religion might be expected to derive, from the circumstances in which +it has been placed among us, and from those in which it still continues. + +Experience warrants, and reason justifies and explains the assertion, +that Persecution generally tends to quicken the vigour and extend the +prevalence of the opinions which she would eradicate. For the peace of +mankind, it has grown, at length almost into an axiom, that "her +devilish engine back recoils upon herself." Christianity especially has +always thriven under persecution. At such a season she has no lukewarm +professors; no adherents concerning whom it is doubtful to what party +they belong. The Christian is then reminded at every turn, that his +Master's kingdom is not of this world. When all on earth wears a black +and threatening aspect, he looks up to heaven for consolation; he learns +practically to consider himself as a pilgrim and stranger. He then +cleaves to fundamentals, and examines well his foundation, as at the +hour of death. When Religion is in a state of external quiet and +prosperity, the contrary of all this naturally takes place. The soldiers +of the church militant then forget that they are in a state of warfare. +Their ardour slackens, their zeal languishes. Like a colony long settled +in a strange country[108], they are gradually assimilated in features, +and demeanour, and language, to the native inhabitants, till at length +almost every vestige of peculiarity dies away. + +If, in general, persecution and prosperity be productive respectively of +these opposite effects; this circumstance alone might teach us what +expectations to form concerning the state of Christianity in this +country, where she has long been embodied in an establishment, which is +intimately blended, and is generally and justly believed to have a +common interest with our civil institutions; which is liberally, though +by no means too liberally, endowed, and, not more favoured in wealth +than dignity, has been allowed "to exalt her mitred front in courts and +parliaments:" an establishment--the offices in which are extremely +numerous, and these, not like the priesthood of the Jews, filled up from +a particular race, or, like that of the Hindoos, held by a separate cast +in entailed succession; but supplied from every class, and branching by +its widely extended ramifications into almost every individual family in +the community: an establishment--of which the ministers are not, like +the Roman Catholic clergy, debarred from forming matrimonial ties, but +are allowed to unite themselves, and multiply their holdings to the +general mass of the community by the close bonds of family connection; +not like some of the severer of the religious orders, immured in +colleges and monasteries, but, both by law and custom, permitted to mix +without restraint in all the intercourses of society. + +Such being the circumstances of the pastors of the church, let the +community in general be supposed to have been for some time in a rapidly +improving state of commercial prosperity; let it also be supposed to +have been making no unequal progress in all those arts, and sciences, +and literary productions, which have ever been the growth of a polished +age, and are the sure marks of a highly finished condition of society. +It is not difficult to anticipate the effects likely to be produced on +_vital_ Religion, both in the clergy and the laity, by such a state of +external prosperity as has been assigned to them respectively. And these +effects would be infallibly furthered, where the country in question +should enjoy a free constitution of government. We formerly had occasion +to quote the remark of an accurate observer of the stage of human life, +that a much looser system of morals commonly prevails in the higher, +than in the middling and lower orders of society. Now, in every country, +of which the middling classes are daily growing in wealth and +consequence, by the success of their commercial speculations; and, most +of all, in a country having such a constitution as our own, where the +acquisition of riches is the possession also of rank and power; with the +comforts and refinements, the vices also of the higher orders are +continually descending, and a mischievous uniformity of sentiments, and +manners, and morals, gradually diffuses itself throughout the whole +community. The multiplication of great cities also, and above all, the +habit, ever increasing with the increasing wealth of the country, of +frequenting a splendid and luxurious metropolis, would powerfully tend +to accelerate the discontinuance of the religious habits of a purer age, +and to accomplish the substitution of a more relaxed morality. And it +must even be confessed, that the commercial spirit, much as we are +indebted to it, is not naturally favourable to the maintenance of the +religious principle in a vigorous and lively state. + +In times like these, therefore, the strict precepts and self-denying +habits of Christianity naturally slide into disuse; and even among the +better sort of Christians, are likely to be softened, so far at least +as to be rendered less abhorrent from the general disposition to +relaxation and indulgence. In such prosperous circumstances, men, in +truth, are apt to think very little about religion. Christianity, +therefore, seldom occupying the attention of the bulk of nominal +Christians, and being scarcely at all the object of their study, we +should expect, of course, to find them extremely unacquainted with its +tenets. Those doctrines and principles indeed, which it contains in +common with the law of the land, or which are sanctioned by the general +standard of morals formerly described, being brought into continual +notice and mention by the common occurrences of life, might continue to +be recognized. But whatever she contains peculiar to herself, and which +should not be habitually brought into recollection by the incidents of +every day, might be expected to be less and less thought of, till at +length it should be almost wholly forgotten. Still more might this be +naturally expected to become the case, if the peculiarities in question +should be, from their very nature, at war with pride, and luxury, and +worldly mindedness, the too general concomitants of rapidly increasing +wealth: and this would particularly happen among the laity; if the +circumstance of their having been at any time abused to purposes of +hypocrisy or fanaticism, should have prompted even some of the better +disposed of the clergy, perhaps from well intentioned though erroneous +motives, to bring them forward less frequently in their discourses on +Religion. + +When so many should thus have been straying out of the right path, some +bold reformer might, from time to time, be likely to arise, who should +not unjustly charge them with their deviation: but, though right perhaps +in the main; yet deviating himself also in an opposite direction, and +creating disgust by his violence, or vulgarity, or absurdities, he might +fail, except in a few instances, to produce the effect of recalling them +from their wanderings. + +Still, however, the Divine Original of Christianity would not be +professedly disavowed; partly from a real, and more commonly from a +political, deference for the established faith, but most of all, from +the bulk of mankind being not yet prepared, as it were, to throw away +the scabbard, and to venture their eternal happiness on the issue of its +falsehood. Some bolder spirits, indeed, might be expected to despise the +cautious moderation of these timid reasoners, and to pronounce +decisively, that the Bible was a forgery: while the generality, +professing to believe it genuine, should, less consistently, be +satisfied with remaining ignorant of its contents; and when pressed, +should discover themselves by no means to believe many of the most +important particulars contained in it. + +When, by the operation of causes like these, any country has at length +grown into the condition which has been here stated; it is but too +obvious, that, in the bulk of the community, Religion, already sunk very +low, must be hastening fast to her entire dissolution. Causes, energetic +and active like these, though accidental hindrances may occasionally +thwart their operation, will not at once become sluggish and +unproductive. Their effect is sure; and the time is fast approaching, +when Christianity will be almost as openly disavowed in the language, as +in fact it is already supposed to have disappeared from the conduct of +men; when infidelity will be held to be the necessary appendage of a man +of fashion, and _to believe_ will be deemed the indication of a feeble +mind and a contracted understanding. + +Something like what have been here premised are the conjectures which we +should naturally be led to form, concerning the state of Christianity in +this country, and its probable issue, from considering her own nature, +and the peculiar circumstances in which she has been placed. That her +real condition differs not much from the result of this reasoning from +probability, must, with whatever regret, be confessed by all who take a +careful and impartial survey of the actual situation of things among us. +But our hypothetical delineation, if just, will have approved itself to +the reader's conviction, as we have gone along, by suggesting its +archetypes; and we may therefore be spared the painful and invidious +task of pointing out, in detail, the several particulars wherein our +statements are justified by facts. Every where we may actually trace the +effects of increasing wealth and luxury, in banishing one by one the +habits, and new-modelling the phraseology, of stricter times; and in +diffusing throughout the middle ranks those relaxed morals and +dissipated manners, which were formerly confined to the higher classes +of society. We meet, indeed, with more refinement, and more generally +with those amiable courtesies which are its proper fruits: those vices +also have become less frequent, which naturally infest the darkness of a +ruder and less polished age, and which recede on the approach of light +and civilization: + + Defluxit numerus Saturnius, & grave virus + Munditiæ pepulere: + +But with these grossnesses, Religion, on the other hand, has also +declined; God is forgotten; his providence is exploded; his hand is +lifted up, but we see it not; he multiplies our comforts, but we are not +grateful; he visits us with chastisements, but we are not contrite. The +portion of the week set apart to the service of Religion we give up, +without reluctance, to vanity and dissipation. And it is much if, on the +periodical return of a day of national humiliation, having availed +ourselves of the certainty of an interval from public business to secure +a meeting for convivial purposes; we do not insult the Majesty of Heaven +by feasting and jollity, and thus deliberately disclaim our being +included in the solemn services of this season of penitence and +recollection[109]. + +But when there is not this open and shameless disavowal of Religion, few +traces of it are to be found. Improving in almost every other branch of +knowledge, we have become less and less acquainted with Christianity. +The preceding chapters have pointed out, among those who believe +themselves to be orthodox Christians, a deplorable ignorance of the +Religion they profess, an utter forgetfulness of the peculiar doctrines +by which it is characterized, a disposition to regard it as a mere +system of ethics, and, what might seem an inconsistency, at the same +time a most inadequate idea of the nature and strictness of its +practical principles. This declension of Christianity into a mere system +of ethics, may partly be accounted for, as has been lately suggested; by +considering the corruption of our nature, what Christianity is, and in +what circumstances she has been placed in this country. But it has also +been considerably promoted by one peculiar cause, on which, for many +reasons, it may not be improper to dwell a little more particularly. + +Christianity in its best days (for the credit of our representations let +this be remembered, by those who object to our statement as austere and +contracted) was such as it has been delineated in the present work. This +was the Religion of the most eminent Reformers, of those bright +ornaments of our country who suffered martyrdom under queen Mary; of +their successors in the times of Elizabeth; in short of all the pillars +of our Protestant church; of many of its highest dignitaries; of +Davenant, of Hall, of Reynolds, of Beveridge, of Hooker, of Andrews, of +Smith, of Leighton, of Usher, of Hopkins, of Baxter[110], and of many +others of scarcely inferior note. In their pages the peculiar doctrines +of Christianity were every where visible, and on the deep and solid +basis of these doctrinal truths were laid the foundations of a +superstructure of morals proportionably broad and exalted. Of this fact +their writings still extant are a decisive proof: and they who may want +leisure, or opportunity, or inclination, for the perusal of these +valuable records, may satisfy themselves of the truth of the assertion, +that, such as we have stated it, was the Christianity of those times, by +consulting our Articles and Homilies, or even by carefully examining our +excellent Liturgy. But from that tendency to deterioration lately +noticed, these great fundamental truths began to be somewhat less +prominent in the compositions of many of the leading divines before the +time of the civil wars. During that period, however, the peculiar +doctrines of Christianity were grievously abused by many of the +sectaries, who were foremost in the commotions of those unhappy days; +who, while they talked copiously of the free grace of Christ, and the +operations of the Holy Spirit, were by their lives an open scandal to +the name of Christian[111]. + +Towards the close of the last century, the divines of the established +Church (whether it arose from the obscurity of their own views, or from +a strong impression of former abuses, and of the evils which had +resulted from them) began to run into a different error. They professed +to make it their chief object to inculcate the moral and practical +precepts of Christianity, which they conceived to have been before too +much neglected; but without sufficiently maintaining, often even without +justly laying the grand foundation, of a sinner's acceptance with God; +or pointing out how the practical precepts of Christianity grow out of +her peculiar doctrines, and are inseparably connected with them[112]. +By this fatal error, the very genius and essential nature of +Christianity imperceptibly underwent a change. She no longer retained +her peculiar characters, or produced that appropriate frame of spirit by +which her followers had been characterized. Facilis descensus. The +example thus set was followed during the present century, and its effect +was aided by various causes already pointed out. In addition to these, +it may be proper to mention as a cause of powerful operation; that for +the last fifty years the press has teemed with moral essays, many of +them published periodically, and most extensively circulated; which, +being considered either as works of mere entertainment, or, in which at +least entertainment was to be blended with instruction, rather than as +religious pieces, were kept free from whatever might give them the air +of sermons, or cause them to wear an appearance of seriousness, +inconsistent with the idea of relaxation. But in this way the fatal +habit, of considering Christian morals as distinct from Christian +doctrines, insensibly gained strength. Thus the peculiar doctrines of +Christianity went more and more out of sight; and, as might naturally +have been expected, the moral system itself also began to wither and +decay, being robbed of that which should have supplied it with life and +nutriment. At length, in our own days, these peculiar doctrines have +almost altogether vanished from the view. Even in many sermons, as we +have formerly noticed, scarcely any traces of them are to be found. + +But the degree of neglect into which they are really fallen, may perhaps +be rendered still more manifest by appealing to another criterion. There +is a certain class of publications, of which it is the object to give +us exact delineations of life and manners: and when these are written by +authors of accurate observation and deep knowledge of human nature; (and +many such there have been in our times) they furnish a more faithful +picture, than can be obtained in any other way, of the prevalent +opinions and feelings of mankind. It must be obvious that novels are +here alluded to. A careful perusal of the most celebrated of these +pieces would furnish a strong confirmation of the apprehension, +suggested from other considerations, concerning the very low state of +Religion in this country; but they would still more strikingly +illustrate the truth of the remark, that the grand peculiarities of +Christianity are almost vanished from the view. In a sermon, although +throughout the whole of it there may have been no traces of these +peculiarities, either directly or indirectly, the preacher closes with +an ordinary form; which, if one were to assert that they were absolutely +omitted, would immediately be alledged in contradiction of the +assertion, and may just serve to protect them from falling into entire +oblivion. But in novels, the writer is not so tied down. In these, +people of Religion, and clergymen too, are placed in all possible +situations, and the sentiments and language deemed suitable to the +occasion are assigned to them. They are introduced instructing, +reproving, counselling, comforting. It is often the author's intention +to represent them in a favourable point of view, and accordingly he +makes them as well informed and as good Christians as he knows how. They +are painted amiable, benevolent, and forgiving; but it is not too much +to say, that if all the peculiarities of Christianity had never +existed, or had been proved to be false, the circumstance would scarcely +create the necessity of altering a single syllable in any of the most +celebrated of these performances. It is striking to observe the +difference which there is in this respect in similar works of Mahometan +authors, wherein the characters, which they mean to represent in a +favourable light, are drawn vastly more observant of the peculiarities +of their religion[113]. + +But to make an end of this discussion, concerning the degree in which +the peculiarities of Christianity have fallen into neglect, and +concerning one of the principal of the causes which have produced it: if +this be the state of things even in the case of sermons, and of the +compositions of those, whose sphere of information must be supposed +larger than that of the bulk of mankind; it must excite less wonder, +that in the world in general, though Christianity be not formally +denied, people know little about it; and that in fact you find, when you +come to converse with them, that, admitting in terms the Divine +Revelation of Scripture, they are far from believing the propositions +which it contains. + +It has also been a melancholy prognostic of the state to which we are +progressive, that many of the most eminent of the literati of modern +times have been professed unbelievers: and that others of them have +discovered such lukewarmness in the cause of Christ, as to treat with +especial good will, and attention, and respect, those men, who, by their +avowed publications, were openly assailing, or insidiously undermining +the very foundations of the Christian hope; considering themselves as +more closely united to them, by literature, than severed from them by +the widest religious differences[114]. Can it then occasion surprise, +that under all these circumstances, one of the most acute and most +forward of the professed unbelievers[115] should appear to anticipate, +as at no great distance, the more complete triumph of his sceptical +principles; and that another author of distinguished name[116], not so +openly professing those infidel opinions, should declare of the writer +above alluded to, whose great abilities had been systematically +prostituted to the open attack of every principle of Religion, both +natural and revealed, "that he had always considered him, both in his +life-time and since his death, as approaching as nearly to the idea of a +perfectly wise and virtuous man, as perhaps the nature of human frailty +will permit?" + +Can there then be a doubt, whither tends the path in which we are +travelling, and whither at length it must conduct us? If any should +hesitate, let them take a lesson from experience. In a neighbouring +country, several of the same causes have been in action; and they have +at length produced their full effect. Manners corrupted, morals +depraved, dissipation predominant, above all, Religion discredited, and +infidelity grown into repute and fashion[117], terminated in the public +disavowal of every religious principle, which had been used to attract +the veneration of mankind. The representatives of a whole nation +publicly witnessing, not only without horror, but, to say the least, +without disapprobation, an open unqualified denial of the very existence +of God; and at length, as a body, withdrawing their allegiance from the +Majesty of Heaven. + +There are not a few, perhaps, who may have witnessed with apprehension, +and may be ready to confess with pain, the gradual declension of +Religion; but who at the same time may conceive that the writer of this +tract is disposed to carry things too far. They may even allege, that +the degree of Religion for which he contends is inconsistent with the +ordinary business of life, and with the well-being of society; that if +it were generally to prevail, people would be wholly engrossed by +Religion, and all their time occupied by prayer and preaching. Men not +being sufficiently interested in the pursuit of temporal objects, +agriculture and commerce would decline, the arts would languish, the +very duties of common life would be neglected; and, in short, the whole +machine of civil society would be obstructed, and speedily stopped. An +opening for this charge is given by an ingenious writer[118] alluded to +in an early period of our work; and is even somewhat countenanced by an +author since referred to, from whom such a sentiment justly excites more +surprise[119]. + +In reply to this objection it might be urged, that though we should +allow it for a moment to be in a considerable degree well founded, yet +this admission would not warrant the conclusion intended to be drawn +from it. The question would still remain, whether our representation of +what Christianity requires be agreeable to the word of God? For if it +be, surely it must be confessed to be a matter of small account to +sacrifice a little worldly comfort and prosperity, during the short span +of our existence in this life, in order to secure a crown of eternal +glory, and the enjoyment of those pleasures which are at God's right +hand for evermore! It might be added also, that our blessed Saviour had +fairly declared, that it would often be required of Christians to make +such a sacrifice; and had forewarned us, that, in order to be able to do +it with cheerfulness whenever the occasion should arrive, we must +habitually sit loose to all worldly possessions and enjoyments. And it +might farther be remarked, that though it were even admitted, that the +_general prevalence of vital Christianity_ should somewhat interfere +with the views of national wealth and aggrandisement; yet that there is +too much reason to believe that, do all we can, this general prevalence +needs not to be apprehended, or, to speak more justly, could not be +hoped for. But indeed the objection on which we have now been +commenting, is not only groundless, but the very contrary to it is the +truth. If Christianity, such as we have represented it, were generally +to prevail; the world, from being such as it is, would become a scene of +general peace and prosperity; and abating the chances and calamities +"which flesh is inseparably heir to," would wear one unwearied face of +complacency and joy. + +On the first promulgation of Christianity, it is true, some of her early +converts seem to have been in danger of so far mistaking the genius of +the new Religion, as to imagine that in future they were to be +discharged from an active attendance on their secular affairs. But the +Apostle most pointedly guarded them against so gross an error, and +expressly and repeatedly enjoined them to perform the particular duties +of their several stations with increased alacrity and fidelity, that +they might thereby do credit to their Christian profession. This he did, +at the same time that he prescribed to them that predominant love of God +and of Christ, that heavenly-mindedness, that comparative indifference +to the things of this world, that earnest endeavour after growth in +grace and perfection in holiness, which have already been stated as the +essential characteristics of real Christianity. It cannot therefore be +supposed by any who allow to the Apostle even the claim of a consistent +instructor, much less by any who admit his Divine authority, that these +latter precepts are incompatible with the former. Let it be remembered, +that the grand characteristic mark of the true Christian, which has been +insisted on, is _his desiring to please God in all his thoughts, and +words, and actions; to take the revealed word to be the rule of his +belief and practice; to "let his light shine before men;" and in all +things to adorn the doctrine which he professes_. No calling is +proscribed, no pursuit is forbidden, no science or art, no pleasure is +disallowed, which is reconcilable with this principle. It must indeed be +confessed that Christianity would not favour that vehement and +inordinate ardour in the pursuit of temporal objects, which tends to the +acquisition of immense wealth, or of widely spread renown: nor is it +calculated to gratify the extravagant views of those mistaken +politicians, the chief object of whose admiration, and the main scope of +whose endeavours for their country, are, extended dominion, and +commanding power, and unrivalled affluence, rather than those more solid +advantages of peace, and comfort, and security. These men would barter +comfort for greatness. In their vain reveries they forget that a nation +consists of individuals, and that true national prosperity is no other +than the multiplication of particular happiness. + +But in fact, so far is it from being true that the prevalence of _real_ +Religion would produce a stagnation in life; that a man, whatever might +be his employment or pursuit, would be furnished with a new motive to +prosecute it with alacrity, a motive far more constant and vigorous than +any human prospects can supply: at the same time, his solicitude being +not so much to succeed in whatever he might be engaged in, as to act +from a pure principle and leave the event to God; he would not be liable +to the same disappointments, as men who are active and laborious from a +desire of worldly gain or of human estimation. Thus he would possess the +true secret of a life at the same time useful and happy. Following peace +also with all men, and looking upon them as members of the same family, +entitled not only to the debts of justice, but to the less definite and +more liberal claims of fraternal kindness; he would naturally be +respected and beloved by others, and be in himself free from the +annoyance of those bad passions, by which they who are actuated by +worldly principles are so commonly corroded. If any country were indeed +filled with men, each thus diligently discharging the duties of his own +station without breaking in upon the rights of others, but on the +contrary endeavouring, so far as he might be able, to forward their +views and promote their happiness; all would be active and harmonious in +the goodly frame of human society. There would be no jarrings, no +discord. The whole machine of civil life would work without obstruction +or disorder, and the course of its movements would be like the harmony +of the spheres. + +Such would be the happy state of a truly Christian nation within itself. +Nor would its condition with regard to foreign countries form a contrast +to this its internal comfort. Such a community, on the contrary, +peaceful at home, would be respected and beloved abroad. General +integrity in all its dealings would inspire universal confidence: +differences between nations commonly arise from mutual injuries, and +still more from mutual jealousy and distrust. Of the former there would +be no longer any ground for complaint; the latter would find nothing to +attach upon. But if, in spite of all its justice and forbearance, the +violence of some neighbouring state should force it to resist an +unprovoked attack, (for hostilities strictly defensive are those only in +which it would be engaged) its domestic union would double its national +force; while the consciousness of a good cause, and of the general +favour of Heaven, would invigorate its arm, and inspirit its efforts. + +It is indeed the position of an author, to whom we have had frequent +occasion to refer, and whose love of paradox has not seldom led him into +error, that true Christianity is an enemy to patriotism. If by +patriotism be meant that mischievous and domineering quality, which +renders men ardent to promote, not the happiness, but the aggrandisement +of their own country, by the oppression and conquest of every other; to +such patriotism, so generally applauded in the Heathen world, that +Religion must be indeed an enemy, whose foundation is justice, and whose +compendious character is "peace,--and good will towards men." But if by +patriotism be understood that quality which, without shutting up our +philanthropy within the narrow bounds of a single kingdom, yet attaches +us in particular to the country to which we belong; of this true +patriotism, Christianity is the most copious source, and the surest +preservative. The contrary opinion can indeed only have arisen from not +considering the fulness and universality of our Saviour's precepts. Not +like the puny productions of human workmanship, which at the best can +commonly serve but the particular purpose that they are specially +designed to answer; the moral, as well as the physical, principles of +the great Author of all things are capable of being applied at once to +ten thousand different uses; thus, amidst infinite complication, +preserving a grand simplicity, and therein bearing the unambiguous stamp +of their Divine Original. Thus, to specify one out of the numberless +instances which might be adduced; the principle of gravitation, while it +is subservient to all the mechanical purposes of common life, keeps at +the same time the stars in their courses, and sustains the harmony of +worlds. + +Thus also in the case before us: society consists of a number of +different circles of various magnitudes and uses; and that circumstance, +wherein the principle of patriotism chiefly consists, whereby the duty +of patriotism is best practised, and the happiest effects to the general +weal produced, is, that it should be the desire and aim of every +individual to fill well his own proper circle, as a part and member of +the whole, with a view to the production of general happiness. This our +Saviour enjoined when he prescribed the duty of universal love, which is +but another term for the most exalted patriotism. Benevolence, indeed, +when not originating from Religion, dispenses but from a scanty and +precarious fund; and therefore, if it be liberal in the case of some +objects, it is generally found to be contracted towards others. Men who, +acting from worldly principles, make the greatest stir about general +philanthropy or zealous patriotism, are often very deficient in their +conduct in domestic life; and very neglectful of the opportunities, +fully within their reach, of promoting the comfort of those with whom +they are immediately connected. But true Christian benevolence is always +occupied in producing happiness to the utmost of its power, and +according to the extent of its sphere, be it larger or more limited; it +contracts itself to the measure of the smallest; it can expand itself to +the amplitude of the largest. It resembles majestic rivers, which are +poured from an unfailing and abundant source. Silent and peaceful in +their outset, they begin with dispensing beauty and comfort to every +cottage by which they pass. In their further progress they fertilize +provinces and enrich kingdoms. At length they pour themselves into the +ocean; where, changing their names but not their nature, they visit +distant nations and other hemispheres, and spread throughout the world +the expansive tide of their beneficence. + +It must be confessed, that many of the good effects, of which Religion +is productive to political societies, would be produced even by a false +Religion, which should prescribe good morals, and should be able to +enforce its precepts by sufficient sanctions. Of this nature are those +effects, which depend on our calling in the aid of a Being who sees the +heart, in order to assist the weakness, and in various ways to supply +the inherent defects of all human jurisprudence. But the superior +excellence of Christianity in this respect must be acknowledged, both in +the superiority of her moral code, and in the powerful motives and +efficacious means which she furnishes for enabling us to practise it; +and in the tendency of her doctrines to provide for the observance of +her precepts, by producing tempers of mind which correspond with them. + +But, more than all this; it has not perhaps been enough remarked, that +true Christianity, from her essential nature, appears peculiarly and +powerfully adapted to promote the preservation and healthfulness of +political communities. What is in truth their grand malady? The answer +is short; Selfishness. This is that young disease received at the moment +of their birth, "which grows with their growth, and strengthens with +their strength;" and through which they at length expire, if not cut off +prematurely by some external shock or intestine convulsion. + +The disease of selfishness, indeed, assumes different forms in the +different classes of society. In the great and the wealthy, it displays +itself in luxury, in pomp and parade; and in all the frivolities of a +sickly and depraved imagination, which seeks in vain its own +gratification, and is dead to the generous and energetic pursuits of an +enlarged heart. In the lower orders, when not motionless under the +weight of a superincumbent despotism, it manifests itself in pride, and +its natural offspring, insubordination in all its modes. But though the +external effects may vary, the internal principle is the same; a +disposition in each individual to make self the grand center and end of +his desires and enjoyments; to over-rate his own merits and importance, +and of course to magnify his claims on others, and in return to +under-rate their's on him; a disposition to undervalue the advantages, +and over-state the disadvantages, of his condition in life. Thence +spring rapacity and venality, and sensuality. Thence imperious nobles, +and factious leaders; and an unruly commonalty, bearing with difficulty +the inconveniences of a lower station, and imputing to the nature or +administration of their government the evils which necessarily flow from +the very constitution of our species, or which perhaps are chiefly the +result of their own vices and follies. The opposite to selfishness is +public spirit; which may be termed, not unjustly, the grand principle of +political vitality, the very _life's breath_ of states, which tends to +keep them active and vigorous, and to carry them to greatness and glory. + +The tendency of public spirit, and the opposite tendency of selfishness, +have not escaped the observation of the founders of states, or of the +writers on government; and various expedients have been resorted to and +extolled, for cherishing the one, and for repressing the other. +Sometimes a principle of internal agitation and dissension, resulting +from the very frame of the government, has been productive of the +effect. Sparta flourished for more than seven hundred years under the +civil institutions of Lycurgus; which guarded against the selfish +principle, by prohibiting commerce, and imposing universal poverty and +hardship. The Roman commonwealth, in which public spirit was cherished, +and selfishness checked, by the principle of the love of glory, was also +of long continuance. This passion naturally operates to produce an +unbounded spirit of conquest, which, like the ambition of the greatest +of its own heroes, was never satiated while any other kingdom was left +it to subdue. The principle of political vitality, when kept alive only +by means like these, merits the description once given of eloquence: +"Sicut flamma, materia alitur, & motibus excitatur, & urendo clarescit." +But like eloquence, when no longer called into action by external +causes, or fomented by civil broils, it gradually languishes. Wealth and +luxury produce stagnation, and stagnation terminates in death. + +To provide, however, for the continuance of a state, by the admission of +internal dissensions, or even by the chilling influence of poverty, +seems to be in some sort sacrificing the end to the means. Happiness is +the end for which men unite in civil society; but in societies thus +constituted, little happiness, comparatively speaking, is to be found. +The expedient, again, of preserving a state by the spirit of conquest, +though even this has not wanted its admirers[120], is not to be +tolerated for a moment, when considered on principles of universal +justice. Such a state lives, and grows, and thrives, by the misery of +others, and becomes professedly the general enemy of its neighbours, and +the scourge of the human race. All these devices are in truth but too +much like the fabrications of man, when compared with the works of the +Supreme Being; clumsy, yet weak in the execution of their purpose, and +full of contradictory principles and jarring movements. + +I might here enlarge with pleasure on the unrivalled excellence, in this +very view, of the constitution under which we live in this happy +country; and point out how, more perhaps than any which ever existed +upon earth, it is so framed, as to provide at the same time for keeping +up a due degree of public spirit, and yet for preserving unimpaired the +quietness, and comfort, and charities of private life; how it even +extracts from selfishness itself many of the advantages which, under +less happily constructed forms of government, public spirit only can +supply. But such a political discussion, however grateful to a British +mind, would here be out of place. It is rather our business to remark, +how much Christianity in every way sets herself in direct hostility to +selfishness, the mortal distemper of political communities; and +consequently, how their welfare must be inseparable from her prevalence. +It might indeed, be almost stated as the main object and chief concern +of Christianity, to root out our natural selfishness, and to rectify the +false standard which it imposes on us; with views, however, far higher +than any which concern merely our temporal and social well-being; to +bring us to a just estimate of ourselves, and of all around us, and to a +due impression of the various claims and obligations resulting from the +different relations in which we stand. Benevolence, enlarged, vigorous, +operative benevolence, is her master principle. Moderation in temporal +pursuits and enjoyments, comparative indifference to the issue of +worldly projects, diligence in the discharge of personal and civil +duties, resignation to the will of God, and patience under all the +dispensations of his Providence, are among her daily lessons. Humility +is one of the essential qualities, which her precepts most directly and +strongly enjoin, and which all her various doctrines tend to call forth +and cultivate; and humility, as has been before suggested, lays the +deepest and surest grounds for benevolence. In whatever class or order +of society Christianity prevails, she sets herself to rectify the +particular faults, or, if we would speak more distinctly, to counteract +the particular mode of selfishness, to which that class is liable. +Affluence she teaches to be liberal and beneficent; authority, to bear +its faculties with meekness, and to consider the various cares and +obligations belonging to its elevated station, as being conditions on +which that station is conferred. Thus, softening the glare of wealth, +and moderating the insolence of power, she renders the inequalities of +the social state less galling to the lower orders, whom also she +instructs, in their turn, to be diligent, humble, patient: reminding +them that their more lowly path has been allotted to them by the hand of +God; that it is their part faithfully to discharge its duties, and +contentedly to bear its inconveniences; that the present state of things +is very short; that the objects, about which worldly men conflict so +eagerly, are not worth the contest; that the peace of mind, which +Religion offers to all ranks indiscriminately, affords more true +satisfaction than all the expensive pleasures which are beyond the poor +man's reach; that in this view, however, the poor have the advantage, +and that if their superiors enjoy more abundant comforts, they are also +exposed to many temptations from which the inferior classes are happily +exempted; that "having, food and raiment, they should be therewith +content," for that their situation in life, with all its evils, is +better than they have deserved at the hand of God; finally, that all +human distinctions will soon be done away, and the true followers of +Christ will all, as children of the same Father, be alike admitted to +the possession of the same heavenly inheritance. Such are the blessed +effects of Christianity on the temporal well-being of political +communities. + +But the Christianity which can produce effects like these, must be real, +not nominal, deep, not superficial. Such then is the Religion we should +cultivate, if we would realize these pleasing speculations, and arrest +the progress of political decay. But in the present circumstances of +this country, it is a farther reason for endeavouring to cultivate this +vital Christianity, still considering its effects merely in a political +view, that, according to all human appearance, we must either have this +or none: unless the prevalence of this be in some degree restored, we +are likely, not only to lose all the advantages which we might have +derived from true Christianity, but to incur all the manifold evils +which would result from the absence of all religion. + +In the first place, let it be remarked, that a weakly principle of +Religion, and even such an one, in a political view, is productive of +many advantages; though its existence may be prolonged if all external +circumstances favour its continuance, can hardly be kept alive, when the +state of things is so unfavourable to vital Religion, as it must be +confessed to be in our condition of society. Nor is it merely the +ordinary effects of a state of wealth and prosperity to which we here +allude. Much also may justly be apprehended, from that change which has +taken place in our general habits of thinking and feeling, concerning +the systems and opinions of former times. At a less advanced period of +society, indeed, the Religion of the state will be generally accepted, +though it be not felt in its vital power. It was the Religion of our +forefathers: with the bulk it is on that account entitled to reverence, +and its authority is admitted without question. The establishment in +which it subsists pleads the same prescription, and obtains the same +respect. But in our days, things are very differently circumstanced. Not +merely the blind prejudice in favour of former times, but even the +proper respect for them, and the reasonable presumption in their favour, +has abated. Still less will the idea be endured, of any system being +kept up, when the imposture is seen through by the higher orders, for +the sake of retaining the common people in subjection. A system, if not +supported by a real persuasion of its truth, will fall to the ground. +Thus it not unfrequently happens, that in a more advanced state of +society, a religious establishment must be indebted for its support to +that very Religion, which in earlier times it fostered and protected; as +the weakness of some aged mother is sustained, and her existence +lengthened, by the tender assiduities of the child whom she had reared +in the helplessness of infancy. So in the present instance, unless there +be reinfused into the mass of our society, something of that principle, +which animated our ecclesiastical system in its earlier days, it is vain +for us to hope that the establishment will very long continue: for the +anomaly will not much longer be borne, of an establishment, the _actual_ +principles of the bulk of whose members, and even teachers, are so +extremely different from those which it professes. But in proportion as +vital Christianity can be revived, in that same proportion the church +establishment is strengthened; for the revival of vital Christianity is +the very reinfusion of which we have been speaking. This is the very +Christianity on which our establishment is founded; and that which her +Articles, and Homilies, and Liturgy, teach throughout. + +But if, when the reign of prejudice, and even of honest prepossession, +and of grateful veneration, is no more (for by these almost any system +may generally be supported, before a state, having passed the period of +its maturity, is verging to its decline); if there are any who think +that a dry, unanimated Religion, like that which is now professed by +nominal Christians, can hold its place; much more that it can be revived +among the general mass of mankind, it may be affirmed, that, arguing +merely on human principles, they know little of human nature. The kind +of Religion which we have recommended, whatever opinion may be +entertained concerning its truth, and to say nothing of the agency of +Divine Grace, must at least be conceded to be the only one which is at +all suited to make impression upon the lower orders, by strongly +interesting the passions of the human mind. If it be thought that a +system of ethics may regulate the conduct of the higher classes; such an +one is altogether unsuitable to the lower, who must be worked upon by +their affections, or they will not be worked upon at all. The antients +were wiser than ourselves, and never thought of governing the community +in general by their lessons of philosophy. These lessons were confined +to the schools of the learned; while for the million, a system of +Religion, such as it was, was kept up, as alone adapted to their grosser +natures. If this reasoning fail to convince, we may safely appeal to +experience. Let the Socinian and the moral teacher of Christianity come +forth, and tell us what effects _they_ have produced on the lower +orders. They themselves will hardly deny the inefficacy of their +instructions. But, blessed be God, the Religion which we recommend, has +proved its correspondence with the character originally given of +Christianity, that it was calculated for the poor; by changing the whole +condition of the mass of society in many of the most populous districts +in this and other countries; and by bringing them from being scenes of +almost unexampled wickedness and barbarism, to be eminent for sobriety, +decency, industry, and, in short, for whatever can render men useful +members of civil society. + +If indeed, through the blessing of Providence, a principle of true +Religion should in any considerable degree gain ground, there is no +estimating the effects on public morals, and the consequent influence on +our political welfare. These effects are not merely negative: though it +would be much, merely to check the farther progress of a gangrene, which +is eating out the very vital principles of our social and political +existence. The general standard of morality formerly described, would be +raised, it would at least be sustained and kept for a while from farther +depression. The esteem which religious characters would personally +attract, would extend to the system which they should hold, and to the +establishment of which they should be members. These are all merely +natural consequences. But to those who believe in a superintending +Providence, it may be added, that the blessing of God might be drawn +down upon our country, and the stroke of his anger be for a while +suspended. + +Let us be spared the painful task of tracing, on the contrary, the fatal +consequences of the extinction of Religion among us. They are indeed +such as no man, who is ever so little interested for the welfare of his +country, can contemplate without the deepest concern. The very loss of +our church establishment, though, as in all human institutions, some +defects may be found in it, would in itself be attended with the most +fatal consequences. No prudent man dares hastily pronounce how far its +destruction might not greatly endanger our civil institutions. It would +not be difficult to prove, that the want of it would also be in the +highest degree injurious to the cause of Christianity; and still more, +that it would take away what appears from experience to be one of the +most probable means of its revival. To what a degree might even the +avowed principles of men, not altogether without Religion, decline, when +our inestimable Liturgy should no longer remain in use! a Liturgy justly +inestimable, which continually sets before us a faithful model of the +Christian's belief, and practice, and language; restraining us, as far +as restraint is possible, from excessive deviations; furnishing us with +abundant instruction when we would return into the right path; affording +an advantageous ground of no little value, to such instructors as still +adhere to the good old principles of the Church of England; in short, +daily shaming us, by preserving a living representation of the opinions +and habits of better times, as some historical record, which reproaches +a degenerate posterity, by exhibiting the worthier deeds of their +progenitors. In such a state of things, to what a depth public morals +might sink, may be anticipated by those who consider what would then be +the condition of society; who reflect how bad principles and vicious +conduct mutually aid each other's operation, and how, in particular, the +former make sure the ground which the latter may have gained; who +remember, that in the lower orders, the system of honour, and the +responsibility of character, are wanting, which in the superior classes, +in some poor degree, supply the place of higher principles. It is well +for the happiness of mankind, that such a community could not long +subsist. The cement of society being no more, the slate would soon be +dissolved into individuality. + +Let it not be vainly imagined, that our state of civilization must +prevent the moral degeneracy here threatened. A neighbouring nation has +lately furnished a lamentable proof, that superior polish and refinement +may well consist with a very large measure of depravity. But to appeal +to a still more decisive instance: it may be seen in the history of the +latter years of the most celebrated of the Pagan nations, that the +highest degrees of civilization and refinement are by no means +inseparable from the most shocking depravity of morals. The fact is +certain, and the obvious inference with regard to ourselves cannot be +denied. The cause of this strange phænomenon, (such it really appears to +our view) for which the natural corruption of man might hardly seem to +account sufficiently, has been explained by an inspired writer. Speaking +of the most polished nations of antiquity, he observes; "Because when +they knew God, they glorified him not as God, and were not +_solicitous_[121] to retain him in their knowledge, he gave them over to +a reprobate mind." Let us then beware, and take warning from their +example: let us not suffer our self-love to beguile us: let us not +vainly persuade ourselves, that although prosperity and wealth may have +caused us to relax a little too much, in those more serious duties which +regard our Maker, yet that we shall stop where we are; or, at least, +that we can never sink into the same state of moral depravation. +Doubtless we should sink as low, if God were to give us up also to our +own imaginations. And what ground have we to think he will not? If we +would reason justly, we should not compare ourselves with the state of +the Heathen world when at its worst; but with its state at that period, +when, for its forgetfulness of God, and its ingratitude towards him, it +was suffered to fall, till at length it reached that worst, its ultimate +point of depression. The Heathens had only reason and natural conscience +to direct them: we enjoy, superadded to these, the clear light of Gospel +revelation, and a distinct declaration of God's dealings with them, to +be a lesson for our instruction. How then can we but believe that if we, +enjoying advantages so much superior to their's, are alike forgetful of +our kind Benefactor, we also shall be left to ourselves? and if so left, +what reason can be assigned why we should not fall into the same +enormities? + +What then is to be done? The inquiry is of the first importance, and the +general answer to it is not difficult.--The causes and nature of the +decay of Religion and morals among us sufficiently indicate the course, +which, on principles of sound policy, it is in the highest degree +expedient for us to pursue. The distemper of which, as a community, we +are sick, should be considered rather as a moral than a political +malady. How much has this been forgotten by the disputants of modern +times! and accordingly, how transient may be expected to be the good +effects of the best of their publications! We should endeavour to tread +back our steps. Every effort should be used to raise the depressed tone +of public morals. This is a duty particularly incumbent on all who are +in the higher walks of life; and it is impossible not to acknowledge the +obligations, which in this respect we owe as a nation, to those exalted +characters, whom God in his undeserved mercy to us, still suffers to +continue on the throne, and who set to their subjects a pattern of +decency and moderation rarely seen in their elevated station. + +But every person of rank, and fortune, and abilities, should endeavour +in like manner to exhibit a similar example, and recommend it to the +imitation of the circle in which he moves. It has been the opinion of +some well-meaning people, that by giving, as far as they possibly could +with innocence, into the customs and practices of irreligious men, they +might soften the prejudices too frequently taken up against Religion, of +its being an austere gloomy service; and thus secure a previous +favourable impression against any time, when they might have an +opportunity of explaining or enforcing their sentiments. This is always +a questionable, and, it is to be feared, a dangerous policy. Many +mischievous consequences necessarily resulting from it might easily be +enumerated. But it is a policy particularly unsuitable to our +inconsiderate and dissipated times, and to the lengths at which we are +arrived. In these circumstances, the most likely means of producing the +_revulsion_ which is required, must be boldly to proclaim the +distinction between the adherents of "God and Baal." The expediency of +this conduct in our present situation is confirmed by another +consideration, to which we have before had occasion to refer. It is +this--that when men are aware that something of difficulty is to be +effected, their spirits rise to the level of the encounter; they make up +their minds to bear hardships and brave dangers, and to persevere in +spite of fatigue and opposition: whereas in a matter which is regarded +as of easy and ordinary operation, they are apt to slumber over their +work, and to fail in what a small effort might have been sufficient to +accomplish, for want of having called up the requisite degree of energy +and spirit. Conformably to the principle which is hereby suggested, in +the circumstances in which we are placed, the line of demarcation +between the friends and the enemies of Religion should now be made +clear; the separation should be broad and obvious. Let him then, who +wishes well to his country, no longer hesitate what course of conduct to +pursue. The question now is not, in what liberties he might warrantably +indulge himself in another situation? but what are the restraints on +himself which the exigencies of the present times render it adviseable +for him to impose? Circumstanced as we now are, it is more than ever +obvious, that _the best man is the truest patriot_. + +Nor is it only by their personal conduct, (though this mode will always +be the most efficacious) that men of authority and influence may promote +the cause of good morals. Let them in their several stations encourage +virtue and discountenance vice in others. Let them enforce the laws by +which the wisdom of our forefathers has guarded against the grosser +infractions of morals; and congratulate themselves, that in a leading +situation on the bench of justice there is placed a man who, to his +honour be it spoken, is well disposed to assist their efforts[122]. Let +them favour and take part in any plans which may be formed for the +advancement of morality. Above all things, let them endeavour to +instruct and improve the rising generation; that, if it be possible, an +antidote may be provided for the malignity of that venom, which is +storing up in a neighbouring country. This has long been to my mind the +most formidable feature of the present state of things in France; where, +it is to be feared, a brood of moral vipers, as it were, is now +hatching, which, when they shall have attained to their mischievous +maturity, will go forth to poison the world. But fruitless will be all +attempts to sustain, much more to revive, the fainting cause of morals, +unless you can in some degree restore the prevalence of Evangelical +Christianity. It is in morals as in physics; unless the source of +practical principles be elevated, it will be in vain to attempt to make +them flow on a high level in their future course. You may force them for +a while into some constrained position, but they will soon drop to +their natural point of depression. By all, therefore, who are studious +of their country's welfare, more particularly by all who desire to +support our ecclesiastical establishment, every effort should be used to +revive the Christianity of our better days. The attempt should +especially be made in the case of the pastors of the Church, whose +situation must render the principles which they hold a matter of +supereminent importance. Wherever these teachers have steadily and +zealously inculcated the true doctrines of the Church of England, the +happiest effects have commonly rewarded their labours. And it is worth +observing, in the view which we are now taking, that these men, as might +naturally be expected, are, perhaps without exception, friendly to our +ecclesiastical and civil establishments[123]; and consequently, that +their instructions and influence tend _directly_, as well as +_indirectly_, to the maintenance of the cause of order and good +government. Nor should it be forgotten by any who, judging with the +abstract coldness of mere politicians, might doubt whether, by adopting +the measures here recommended, a religious warmth would not be called +into action, which might break out into mischievous irregularities; that +experience proves that an establishment affords, from its very nature, +the happy means of exciting a considerable degree of fervour and +animation, and at the same time of restraining them within due bounds. +The duty of encouraging vital Religion in the Church particularly +devolves on all who have the disposal of ecclesiastical preferment, and +more especially on the dignitaries of the sacred order. Some of these +have already sounded the alarm; justly censuring the practice of +suffering Christianity to degenerate into a mere system of ethics, and +recommending more attention to the peculiar doctrines of our Religion. +In our schools, in our universities, let the study be encouraged of the +writings of those venerable divines, who flourished in the purer times +of Christianity. Let even a considerable proficiency in their writings +be required of candidates for ordination. Let our churches no longer +witness that unseemly discordance, which has too much prevailed, between +the prayers which precede, and the sermon which follows. + +But it may be enough to have briefly hinted at the course of conduct, +which, in the present circumstances of this country, motives merely +political should prompt us to pursue. To all who have at heart the +national welfare, the above suggestions are solemnly submitted. They +have not been urged altogether without misgivings, lest it should +appear, as though the concern of Eternity were melted down into a mere +matter of temporal advantage, or political expediency. But since it has +graciously pleased the Supreme Being so to arrange the constitution of +things, as to render the prevalence of true Religion and of pure +morality conducive to the well-being of states, and the preservation of +civil order; and since these subordinate inducements are not +unfrequently held forth, even by the sacred writers; it seemed not +improper, and scarcely liable to misconstruction, to suggest inferior +motives to readers, who might be less disposed to listen to +considerations of a higher order. + +Would to God that the course of conduct here suggested might be fairly +pursued! Would to God that the happy consequences, which would result +from the principles we have recommended, could be realized; and above +all, that the influence of true Religion could be extensively diffused! +It is the best wish which can be formed for his country, by one who is +deeply anxious for its welfare:-- + + Lucem redde tuam, dux bone, patriæ! + Instar veris enim vultus ubi tuus + Affulsit populo, gratior it dies, + Et soles melius nitent. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_Practical Hints to various Descriptions of Persons._ + + +Thus have we endeavoured to trace the chief defects of the religious +system of the bulk of professed Christians in this country. We have +pointed out their low idea of the importance of Christianity in general; +their inadequate conceptions of all its leading doctrines, and the +effect hereby naturally produced in relaxing the strictness of its +practical system; more than all, we have remarked their grand +fundamental misconception of its genius and essential nature. Let not +therefore the difference between them and true believers be considered +as a minute difference; as a question of forms or opinions. The question +is of the very substance of Religion; the difference is of the most +serious and momentous amount. We must speak out. _Their Christianity is +not Christianity._ It wants the radical principle. It is mainly +defective in all the grand constituents. Let them no longer then be +deceived by names in a matter of infinite importance: but with humble +prayer to the Source of all wisdom, that he would enlighten their +understandings, and clear their hearts from prejudice; let them +seriously examine by the Scripture standard their real belief and +allowed practice, and they will become sensible of the shallowness of +their scanty system. + +If through the blessing of Providence on any thing which may have been +here written, there should be any whom it has disposed to this important +duty of self-inquiry; let me previously warn them to be well aware of +our natural proneness to think too favourably of ourselves. Selfishness +is one of the principal fruits of the corruption of human nature; and it +is obvious that selfishness disposes us to over-rate our good qualities, +and to overlook or extenuate our defects. The corruption of human nature +therefore being admitted, it follows undeniably, that in all our +reckonings, if we would form a just estimate of our character, we must +make an allowance for the effects of selfishness. It is also another +effect of the corruption of human nature, to cloud our moral sight, and +blunt our moral sensibility. Something must therefore be allowed for +this effect likewise. Doubtless, the perfect purity of the Supreme Being +makes him see in us stains, far more in number and deeper in dye; than +we ourselves can discover. Nor should another awful consideration be +forgotten. When we look into ourselves, those sins only, into which we +have lately fallen, are commonly apt to excite any lively impression. +Many individual acts of vice, or a continued course of vicious or +dissipated conduct, which, when recent, may have smitten us with deep +remorse, after a few months or years leave but very faint traces in our +recollection; at least, those acts alone continue to strike us strongly, +which were of very extraordinary magnitude. But the strong impressions +which they at first excited, not the faded images which they +subsequently present to us, furnish the true measure of their guilt: and +to the pure eyes of God, this guilt must always have appeared far +greater than to us. Now to the Supreme Being we must believe that there +is no past or future; as whatever _will be_, so whatever _has been_, is +retained by him in present and unvarying contemplation, continuing +always to appear just the same as at the first moment of its happening. +Well may it then humble us in the sight of that Being "who is of purer +eyes than to behold iniquity;" to call to mind that, unless our offences +have been blotted out by our obtaining an interest in the satisfaction +of Christ, through true repentance and lively faith, we appear before +him clothed with the sins of our whole lives, in all their original +depth of colouring, and with all the aggravations which we no longer +particularly remember, but which, in general, we, perhaps, may recollect +to have once filled us with shame and confusion of face. The writer is +the rather desirous of enforcing this reflection; because he can truly +declare, that he has found no consideration so efficacious in producing +in his own mind the deepest self-abasement. + +In treating of the sources of the erroneous estimates which we form of +our religious and moral character, it may not, perhaps, be without its +uses to take this occasion of pointing out some other common springs of +self-deception. Many persons, as was formerly hinted, are misled by the +favourable opinions entertained of them by others; many, it is to be +feared, mistake a hot zeal for orthodoxy, for a cordial acceptance of +the great truths of the Gospel; and almost all of us, at one time or +other, are more or less misled by confounding the suggestions of the +understanding with the impulses of the will, the assent which our +judgment gives to religious and moral truths, with a hearty belief and +approbation of them. + +There is another frequent source of self-deception, which is productive +of so much mischief in life, that, though it may appear to lead to some +degree of repetition, it would be highly improper to omit the mention of +it in this place. That we may be the better understood, it may be proper +to premise, that certain particular vices, and likewise that certain +particular good and amiable qualities, seem naturally to belong to +certain particular periods and conditions of life. Now, if we would +reason fairly in estimating our moral character, we ought to examine +ourselves with reference to that particular "sin which does most easily +beset us," not to some other sin to which we are not nearly so much +liable. And in like manner, on the other hand, we ought not to account +it matter of much self-complacency, if we find in ourselves that good +and amiable quality which naturally belongs to our period or condition; +but rather look for some less ambiguous sign of a real internal +principle of virtue. But we are very apt to reverse these rules of +judging: we are very apt, on the one hand, both in ourselves and in +others, to excuse "the besetting sin," taking and giving credit for +being exempt from others, to which we or they are less liable; and on +the other hand, to value ourselves extremely on our possession of the +good or amiable quality which naturally belongs to us, and to require no +more satisfactory evidence of the _sufficiency_ at least of our moral +character. The bad effects of this partiality are aggravated by the +practice, to which we are sadly prone, of being contented, when we take +a hasty view of ourselves, with negative evidences of our state; +thinking it very well if we are not shocked by some great actual +transgression, instead of looking for the positive signs of a true +Christian, as laid down in the holy Scripture. + +But the source of self-deception, which it is more particularly our +present object to point out, is a disposition to consider as a conquest +of any particular vice, our merely forsaking it on our quitting the +period or condition of life to which that vice belongs; when perhaps +also we substitute for it the vice of the new period or condition on +which we are entering. We thus mistake our merely outgrowing our vices, +or our relinquishing them from some change in our worldly circumstances, +for a thorough, or at least for a sufficient, reformation. + +But this topic deserves to be viewed a little more closely. Young people +may, without much offence, be inconsiderate and dissipated; the youth of +one sex may indulge occasionally in licentious excesses; those of the +other may be supremely given up to vanity and pleasure: yet, provided +that they are sweet tempered, and open, and not disobedient to their +parents or other superiors, the former are deemed _good hearted_ young +men, the latter, _innocent_ young women. Those who love them best have +no solicitude about their spiritual interests: and it would be deemed +strangely strict in themselves, or in others, to doubt of their becoming +more religious as they advance in life; to speak of them as being +actually under the divine displeasure; or, if their lives should be in +danger, to entertain any apprehensions concerning their future destiny. + +They grow older, and marry. The same licentiousness, which was formerly +considered in young men as a venial frailty, is now no longer regarded +in the husband and the father as compatible with the character of a +decently religious man. The language is of this sort; "they have sown +their wild oats, they must now reform, and be regular." Nor perhaps is +the same manifest predominance of vanity and dissipation deemed innocent +in the matron: but if they are kind respectively in their conjugal and +parental relations, and are tolerably regular and decent, they pass for +_mighty good sort of people_; and it would be altogether unnecessary +scrupulosity in them to doubt of their coming up to the requisitions of +the divine law, as far as in the present state of the world can be +expected from human frailty. Their hearts, however, are perhaps no more +than before supremely set on the great work of their salvation, but are +chiefly bent on increasing their fortunes, or raising their families. +Meanwhile they congratulate themselves on their having amended from +vices, which they are no longer strongly tempted to commit, or their +abstaining from which ought not to be too confidently assumed as a test +of the strength of the religious principle, since the commission of them +would prejudice their characters, and perhaps injure their fortune in +life. + +Old age has at length made its advances. Now, if ever, we might expect +that it would be deemed high time to make eternal things the _main_ +object of attention. No such thing! There is still an appropriate good +quality, the presence of which calms the disquietude, and satisfies the +requisitions both of themselves and of those around them. It is now +required of them that they should be good natured and cheerful, +indulgent to the frailties and follies of the young; remembering, that +when young themselves they gave into the same practices. How opposite +this to that dread of sin, which is the sure characteristic of the true +Christian; which causes him to look back upon the vices of his own +youthful days with shame and sorrow; and which, instead of conceding to +young people to be wild and thoughtless, as a privilege belonging to +their age and circumstances, prompts him to warn them against what had +proved to himself matter of such bitter retrospection! Thus, throughout +the whole of life, some means or other are devised for stifling the +voice of conscience. "We cry peace while there is no peace;" and both to +ourselves and others that complacency is furnished, which ought only to +proceed from a consciousness of being reconciled to God, and a humble +hope of our possessing his favour. + +I know that these sentiments will be termed uncharitable; but I must not +be deterred by such an imputation. It is time to have done with that +senseless cant of charity, which insults the understandings, and trifles +with the feelings, of those who are really concerned for the happiness +of their fellow-creatures. What matter of keen remorse and of bitter +self-reproaches are they storing up for their future torment, who are +themselves its miserable dupes; or who, being charged with the office of +watching over the eternal interests of their children or relations, +suffer themselves to be lulled asleep, or beguiled by such shallow +reasonings into sparing themselves the momentary pain of executing their +important duty! Charity, indeed, is partial to the object of her regard; +and where actions are of a doubtful quality, this partiality disposes +her to refer them to a good, rather than to a bad, motive. She is apt +also somewhat to exaggerate merits, and to see amiable qualities in a +light more favourable than that which strictly belongs to them. But true +charity is wakeful, fervent, full of solicitude, full of good offices, +not so easily satisfied, not so ready to believe that every thing is +going on well as a matter of course; but jealous of mischief, apt to +suspect danger, and prompt to extend relief. These are the symptoms by +which genuine regard will manifest itself in a wife or a mother, in the +case of the _bodily_ health of the object of her affections. And where +there is any real concern for the _spiritual_ interests of others, it is +characterized by the same infallible marks. That wretched quality, by +which the sacred name of charity is now so generally and so falsely +usurped, is no other than indifference; which, against the plainest +evidence, or at least where there is strong ground of apprehension, is +easily contented to believe that all goes well, because it has no +anxieties to allay, no fears to repress. It undergoes no alternation of +passions; it is not at one time flushed with hope, nor at another +chilled by disappointment. + +To a considerate and feeling mind, there is something deeply afflicting, +in seeing the engaging cheerfulness and cloudless gaiety incident to +youth, welcomed as a sufficient indication of internal purity by the +delighted parents; who, knowing the deceitfulness of these flattering +appearances, should eagerly avail themselves of this period, when once +wasted never to be regained, of good humoured acquiescence and dutiful +docility: a period when the soft and ductile temper of the mind renders +it more easily susceptible of the impressions we desire; and when, +therefore, habits should be formed, which may assist our natural +weakness to resist the temptations to which we shall be exposed in the +commerce of maturer life. This is more especially affecting in the +female sex, because that sex seems, by the very constitution of its +nature, to be more favourably disposed than ours to the feelings and +offices of Religion; being thus fitted by the bounty of Providence, the +better to execute the important task which devolves on it, of the +education of our earliest youth. Doubtless, this more favourable +disposition to Religion in the female sex, was graciously designed also +to make women doubly valuable in the wedded state: and it seems to +afford to the married man the means of rendering an active share in the +business of life more compatible, than it would otherwise be, with the +liveliest devotional feelings; that when the husband should return to +his family, worn and harassed by worldly cares or professional labours, +the wife, habitually preserving a warmer and more unimpaired spirit of +devotion, than is perhaps consistent with being immersed in the bustle +of life, might revive his languid piety; and that the religious +impressions of both might derive new force and tenderness from the +animating sympathies of conjugal affection. Can a more pleasing image be +presented to a considerate mind, than that of a couple, happy in each +other and in the pledges of their mutual love, uniting in an act of +grateful adoration to the author of all their mercies; recommending each +other, and the objects of their common care, to the divine protection; +and repressing the solicitude of conjugal and parental tenderness by a +confiding hope, that, through all the changes of this uncertain life, +the Disposer of all things will assuredly cause all to work together for +the good of them that love and put their trust in him; and that, after +this uncertain state shall have passed away, they shall be admitted to a +joint participation of never ending happiness. It is surely no mean or +ignoble office which we would allot to the female sex, when we would +thus commit to them the charge of maintaining in lively exercise +whatever emotions most dignify and adorn human nature; when we would +make them as it were the medium of our intercourse with the heavenly +world, the faithful repositories of the religious principle, for the +benefit both of the present and of the rising generation. Must it not +then excite our grief and indignation, when we behold mothers, forgetful +at once of their own peculiar duties, and of the high office which +Providence designed their daughters to fulfil; exciting, instead of +endeavoring to moderate in them, the natural sanguineness and +inconsiderateness of youth; hurrying them night after night to the +resorts of dissipation; thus teaching them to despise the _common_ +comforts of the family circle; and, instead of striving to raise their +views, and to direct their affections to their true object, acting as if +with the express design studiously to extinguish every spark of a +devotional spirit, and to kindle in its stead an excessive love of +pleasure, and, perhaps, a principle of extravagant vanity, and ardent +emulation! + +_Innocent young women! Good hearted young men!_ Wherein does this +_goodness of heart_ and this _innocence_ appear? Remember that we are +fallen creatures, born in sin, and naturally depraved. Christianity +recognises no _innocence_ or _goodness of heart_, but in the remission +of sin, and in the effects of the operation of divine grace. Do we find +in these young persons the characters, which the holy Scriptures lay +down as the only satisfactory evidences of a safe state? Do we not on +the other hand discover the specified marks of a state of alienation +from God? Can the blindest partiality persuade itself that _they_ are +loving, or striving "to love God with all their hearts, and minds, and +souls, and strength?" Are _they_ "seeking first the kingdom of God, and +his righteousness?" Are _they_ "working out their salvation with fear +and trembling?" Are _they_ "clothed with humility?" Are _they_ not, on +the contrary, supremely given up to self-indulgence? Are _they_ not at +least "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God?" Are the offices of +Religion _their_ solace or _their_ task? Do _they_ not come to these +sacred services with reluctance, continue in them by constraint, and +quit them with gladness? And of how many of _these_ persons may it not +be affirmed in the spirit of the prophet's language: "The harp, and the +viol, the tabret and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they +regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his +hands?" Are not the youth of one sex often actually committing, and +still more often wishing for the opportunity to commit, those sins of +which the Scripture says expressly, "that they which do such things +_shall not_ inherit the kingdom of God?" Are not the youth of the other +mainly intent on the gratification of vanity; and looking for their +chief happiness to the resorts of gaiety and fashion, to all the +multiplied pleasures which public places, or the still higher +gratifications of more refined circles, can supply? + +And then, when the first ebullitions of youthful warmth are over, what +is their boasted reformation? They may be decent, sober, useful, +respectable, as members of the community, or amiable in the relations of +domestic life. But is _this_ the change of which the Scripture speaks? +Hear the expressions which it uses, and judge for yourselves--"Except a +man be _born again_, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."--"The +_old man_--is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;" an expression +but too descriptive of the vain delirium of youthful dissipation, and of +the false dreams of pleasure which it inspires; but "the _new man_" is +awakened from this fallacious estimate of happiness; "_he_ is renewed in +knowledge after the image of him that created him"--"He is created +_after God_ in righteousness and true holiness." The persons of whom we +are speaking are no longer, indeed, so thoughtless, and wild, and +dissipated, as formerly; so negligent in their attention to objects of +real value; so eager in the pursuit of pleasure; so prone to yield to +the impulse of appetite. But this is no more than the change of which a +writer of no very strict cast speaks, as naturally belonging to their +riper age: + + Conversis studiis, ætas animusque virilis + Quærit opus, & amicitias: inservit honori: + Commisisse cavet, quod mox mutare laboret. + HOR. + +This is a point of infinite importance: let it not be thought tedious to +spend even yet a few more moments in the discussion of it. Put the +question to another issue, and try it, by appealing to the principle of +life being a state of probation; (a proposition, indeed, true in a +certain sense, though not exactly in that which is sometimes assigned to +it,) and you will still be led to no very different conclusion. +Probation implies resisting, in obedience to the dictates of Religion, +appetites which we are naturally prompted to gratify. Young people are +not tempted to be churlish, interested, covetous; but to be +inconsiderate and dissipated, "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of +God." People again in middle age are not so strongly tempted to be +thoughtless, and idle, and licentious. From excesses of this sort they +are sufficiently withheld, particularly when happily settled in domestic +life, by a regard to their characters, by the restraints of family +connections, and by a sense of what is due to the decencies of the +married state. _Their_ probation is of another sort; _they_ are tempted +to be supremely engrossed by worldly cares, by family interests, by +professional objects, by the pursuit of wealth or of ambition. Thus +occupied, they are tempted to "mind earthly rather than heavenly +things," forgetting "the one thing needful;" to "set their affections" +on temporal rather than eternal concerns, and to take up with "a form of +godliness," instead of seeking to experience the power thereof: the +foundations of this nominal Religion being laid, as was formerly +explained more at large, in the forgetfulness, if not in the ignorance, +of the peculiar doctrines of Christianity. These are the _ready-made_ +Christians formerly spoken of, who consider Christianity as a +geographical term, properly applicable to all those who have been born +and educated in a country wherein Christianity is professed; not as +indicating a renewed nature, as expressive of a peculiar character, with +its appropriate desires and aversions, and hopes, and fears, and joys, +and sorrows. To people of this description, the solemn admonition of +Christ is addressed; "I know thy works; that thou hast a name that thou +livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which +remain that are ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect +before God." + +If there be any who is inclined to listen to this solemn warning, who is +awakened from his dream of false security, and is disposed to be not +only _almost_ but _altogether_ a Christian--O! let him not stifle or +dissipate these beginnings of seriousness, but sedulously cherish them +as the "workings of the Divine Spirit," which would draw him from the +"broad" and crowded "road of destruction into the narrow" and thinly +peopled path "that leadeth to life." Let him retire from the +multitude--Let him enter into his closet, and on his bended knees +implore, for Christ's sake and in reliance on his mediation, that God +would "take away from him the heart of stone, and give him a heart of +flesh;" that the Father of light would open his eyes to his true +condition, and clear his heart from the clouds of prejudice, and +dissipate the deceitful medium of self-love. Then let him carefully +examine his past life, and his present course of conduct, comparing +himself with God's word: and considering how any one might reasonably +have been expected to conduct himself, to whom the Holy Scriptures had +been always open, and who had been used to acknowledge them to be the +revelation of the will of his Creator, and Governor, and Supreme +Benefactor; let him there peruse the awful denunciations against +impenitent sinners; let him labour to become more and more deeply +impressed with a sense of his own radical blindness and corruption; +above all, let him steadily contemplate, in all its bearings and +connections, that stupendous truth, _the incarnation and crucifixion of +the only begotten Son of God, and the message of mercy proclaimed from +the cross to repenting sinners_.--"Be ye reconciled unto God."--"Believe +in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." + +When he fairly estimates the guilt of sin by the costly satisfaction +which was required to atone for it, and the worth of his soul by the +price which was paid for its redemption, and contrasts both of these +with his own sottish inconsiderateness; when he reflects on the amazing +love and pity of Christ, and on the cold and formal acknowledgments with +which he has hitherto returned this infinite obligation, making light of +the precious blood of the Son of God, and trifling with the gracious +invitations of his Redeemer: surely, if he be not lost to sensibility, +mixed emotions of guilt, and fear, and shame, and remorse, and sorrow, +will nearly overwhelm his soul; he will smite upon his breast, and cry +out in the language of the publican, "God be merciful to me a sinner." +But, blessed be God, such an one needs not despair--it is to persons in +this very situation, and with these very feelings, that the offers of +the Gospel are held forth, and its promises assured; "to the weary and +heavy laden" under the burden of their sins; to them who thirst for the +water of life; to them who feel themselves "tied and bound by the chain +of their sins;" who abhor their captivity, and long earnestly for +deliverance. Happy, happy souls! which the grace of God has visited, +"has brought out of darkness into his marvellous light," and "from the +power of Satan unto God." Cast yourselves then on his undeserved mercy; +he is full of love, and will not spurn you: surrender yourselves into +his hands, and solemnly resolve, through his Grace, to dedicate +henceforth all your faculties and powers to his service. + +It is your's now "to work out your own salvation with fear and +trembling," relying on the fidelity of him who has promised to "work in +you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Ever look to him for +help: your only safety consists in a deep and abiding sense of your own +weakness, and in a firm reliance on his strength. If you "give all +diligence," his power is armed for your protection, his truth is pledged +for your security. You are enlisted under the banner of Christ--Fear +not, though the world, and the flesh, and the devil are set in array +against you.--"Faithful is he that hath promised;"--"be ye also faithful +unto death, and he will give you a crown of life."--"He that endureth +to the end, the same shall be saved." In such a world as this, in such a +state of society as ours, especially if in the higher walks of life, you +must be prepared to meet with many difficulties:--arm yourselves, +therefore, in the first place, with a determined resolution not to rate +human estimation beyond its true value; not to dread the charge of +particularity, when it shall be necessary to incur it; but as was before +recommended, let it be your constant endeavour to retain before your +mental eye, that bright assemblage of invisible spectators, who are the +witnesses of your daily conduct, and "to seek that honour which cometh +from God." You cannot advance a single step, till you are in some good +measure possessed of this comparative indifference to the favour of men. +We have before explained ourselves too clearly to render it necessary to +declare, that no one should needlessly affect singularity: but to aim at +incompatible advantages, to seek to please God and the world, where +their commands are really at variance, is the way to be neither +respectable, nor good, nor happy. Continue to be ever aware of your own +radical corruption and habitual weakness. Indeed, if your eyes be really +opened, and your heart truly softened, "hungering and thirsting after +righteousness," rising in your ideas of true holiness, and proving the +genuineness of your hope by desiring "to purify yourself even as God is +pure;" you will become daily more and more sensible of your own defeats, +and wants, and weaknesses; and more and more impressed by a sense of the +mercy and long suffering of that gracious Saviour, "who forgiveth all +your sin, and healeth all your infirmities." + +This is the solution of what to a man of the world might seem a strange +paradox, that in proportion as the Christian grows in grace, he grows +also in humility. Humility is indeed the vital principle of +Christianity; that principle by which from first to last she lives and +thrives, and in proportion to the growth or decline of which she must +decay or flourish. _This_ first disposes the sinner in deep +self-abasement to accept the others of the Gospel; _this_, during his +whole progress, is the very ground and basis of his feelings and +conduct, both in relation to God, his fellow creatures, and himself; and +when at length he shall be translated into the realms of glory, _this_ +principle shall still subsist in undiminished force: He shall "fall +down; and cast his crown before the Lamb; and ascribe blessing, and +honour, and glory, and power, to him that sitteth upon the throne, and +to the Lamb for ever and ever." The _practical_ benefits of this +habitual lowliness of spirit are too numerous, and at the same time too +obvious; to require enumeration. It will lead you to dread the +beginnings, and fly from the occasions of sin; as that man would shun +some infectious distemper, who should know that he was pre-disposed to +take the contagion. It will prevent a thousand difficulties, and decide +a thousand questions, concerning worldly compliances; by which those +persons are apt to be embarrassed, who are not duly sensible of their +own exceeding frailty, whose views of the Christian character are not +sufficiently elevated, and who are not enough possessed with a continual +fear of "grieving the Holy Spirit of God," and of thus provoking him to +withdraw his gracious influence. But if you are really such as we have +been describing, you need not be urged to set the standard of practice +high, and to strive after universal holiness. It is the desire of your +hearts to act in all things with a single eye to the favour of God, and +thus the most ordinary actions of life are raised into offices of +Religion. This is the purifying, the transmuting principle, which +realizes the fabled touch, which changes all to gold. But it belongs to +this desire of pleasing God, that we should be continually solicitous to +discover the path of duty; that we should not indolently wait, satisfied +with not refusing occasions of glorifying God, when they are forced upon +us; but that we should pray to God for wisdom and spiritual +understanding, that we may be, acute in discerning opportunities of +serving him in the world, and judicious in selecting and wise in +improving them. Guard indeed against the distraction of worldly cares; +and cultivate heavenly mindedness, and a spirit of continual prayer, and +neglect not to watch incessantly over the workings of your deceitful +heart: but be active also, and useful. Let not your precious time be +wasted "in shapeless idleness;" an admonition which, in our days, is +rendered but too necessary by the relaxed habits of persons even of real +piety: but wisely husband and improve this fleeting treasure. Never be +satisfied with your present attainments; but "forgetting the things +which are behind," labour still to "press forward" with undiminished +energy, and to run the race that is set before you without flagging in +your course. + +Above all, measure your progress by your improvement in love to God and +man. "God is Love." This is the sacred principle, which warms and +enlightens the heavenly world, that blessed feat of God's visible +presence. There it shines with unclouded radiance. Some scattered beams +of it are graciously lent to us on earth, or we had been benighted and +left in darkness and misery; but a larger portion of it is infused into +the hearts of the servants of God, who thus "are renewed in the divine +likeness," and even here exhibit some faint traces of the image of their +heavenly Father. It is the principle of love which disposes them to +yield themselves up without reserve to the service of him, "who has +bought them with the price of his own blood." + +Servile, and base, and mercenary, is the notion of Christian practice +among the bulk of nominal Christians. They give no more than they _dare_ +not with-hold; they abstain from nothing but what they _must_ not +practise. When you state to them the doubtful quality of any action, and +the consequent obligation to desist from it, they reply to you in the +very spirit of Shylock, "they cannot find it in the bond." In short, +they know Christianity only as a system of restraints. She is despoiled +of every liberal and generous principle: she is rendered almost unfit +for the social intercourses of life, and is only suited to the gloomy +walls of that cloister, in which they would confine her. But _true +Christians_ consider themselves not as satisfying some rigorous +creditor, but as discharging a debt of gratitude. Their's is accordingly +not the stinted return of a constrained obedience, but the large and +liberal measure of a voluntary service. This principle, therefore, as +was formerly remarked, and has been recently observed of true Christian +humility, prevents a thousand _practical_ embarrassments, by which they +are continually harassed, who act from a less generous motive; and who +require it to be clearly ascertained to them, that any gratification or +worldly compliance, which may be in question, is beyond the allowed +boundary line of Christian practice[124]. _This_ principle regulates the +true Christian's choice of companions and friends, where he is at +liberty to make an option; _this_ fills him with the desire of promoting +the temporal well-being of all around him, and still more with pity and +love, and anxious solicitude for their spiritual welfare. Indifference +indeed in this respect is one of the surest signs of a low or declining +state in Religion. _This_ animating principle it is, which in the true +Christian's happier hour inspirits his devotions, and causes him to +delight in the worship of God; which fills him with consolation, and +peace, and gladness, and sometimes even enables him "to rejoice with joy +unspeakable and full of glory." + +But this world is not his resting place: here, to the very last, he must +be a pilgrim and a stranger; a soldier, whose warfare ends only with +life, ever struggling and combating with the powers of darkness, and +with the temptations of the world around him, and the still more +dangerous hostilities of internal depravity. The perpetual vicissitudes +of this uncertain state, the peculiar trials and difficulties with which +the life of a Christian is chequered, and still more, the painful and +humiliating remembrance of his own infirmities, teach him to look +forward, almost with outstretched neck, to that promised day, when he +shall be completely delivered from the bondage of corruption, and sorrow +and sighing shall flee away. In the anticipation of that blessed period, +and comparing this churlish and turbulent world, where competition, and +envy, and anger, and revenge, so vex and agitate the sons of men, with +that blissful region where Love shall reign without disturbance, and +where all being knit together in bonds of indissoluble friendship, shall +unite in one harmonious song of praise to the Author of their common +happiness, the true Christian triumphs over the fear of death: he longs +to realize these cheering images, and to obtain admission into that +blessed company.--With far more justice than it was originally used, he +may adopt the beautiful exclamation--"O præclarum illum diem, cum ad +illud divinum animorum concilium coetumque proficiscar, atque ex hac +turba et colluvione discedam!" + +What has been now as well as formerly remarked, concerning the habitual +feelings of the real believer, may suggest a reply to an objection +common in the mouths of nominal Christians, that we would deny men the +innocent amusements and gratifications of life; thus causing our +Religion to wear a gloomy forbidding aspect, instead of her true and +natural face of cheerfulness and joy. This is a charge of so serious a +nature, that although it lead into a digression, it may not be improper +to take some notice of it. + +In the first place, Religion prohibits no amusement or gratification +which is _really_ innocent. The question, however, of its innocence, +must not be tried by the loose maxims of worldly morality, but by the +spirit of the injunctions of the word of God; and by the indulgence +being conformable or not conformable to the genius of Christianity, and +to the tempers and dispositions of mind enjoined on its professors. +There can be no dispute concerning the true end of recreations. They are +intended to refresh our exhausted bodily or mental powers, and to +restore us, with renewed vigour, to the more serious occupations of +life. Whatever, therefore, fatigues either body or mind, instead of +refreshing them, is not fitted to answer the designed purpose. Whatever +consumes more time, or money, or thought, than it is expedient (I might +say _necessary_) to allot to mere amusement, can hardly be approved by +any one who considers these talents as precious deposits for the +expenditure of which he will have to give account. Whatever directly or +indirectly must be likely to injure the welfare of a fellow creature, +can scarcely be a suitable _recreation_ for a Christian, who is "to love +his neighbour as himself;" or a very consistent _diversion_ for any one, +the business of whose life is to diffuse happiness. + +But does a Christian never relax? Let us not so wrong and vilify the +bounty of Providence, as to allow for a moment that the sources of +innocent amusement are so rare, that men must be driven, almost by +constraint, to such as are of a doubtful quality. On the contrary, such +has been the Creator's goodness, that almost every one, both of our +physical and intellectual, and moral faculties (and the same may be said +of the whole creation which we see around us) is not only calculated to +answer the proper end of its being, by its subserviency to some purpose +of solid usefulness, but to be the instrument of administering pleasure. + + Not content + With every food of life to nourish man, + Thou mak'st all nature beauty to his eye + And music to his ear. + +Our Maker also, in his kindness, has so constructed us, that even mere +vicissitude is grateful and refreshing--a consideration which should +prompt us often to seek, from a prudent _variation_ of _useful +pursuits_, that recreation, for which we are apt to resort to what is +altogether, _unproductive_ and _unfruitful_. + +Yet rich and multiplied are the springs of innocent relaxation. The +Christian relaxes in the temperate use of all the gifts of Providence. +Imagination, and taste, and genius, and the beauties of creation, and +the works of art, lie open to him. He relaxes in the feast of reason, in +the intercourses of society, in the sweets of friendship, in the +endearments of love, in the exercise of hope, of confidence, of joy, of +gratitude, of universal good will, of all the benevolent and generous +affections; which, by the gracious ordination of our Creator, while +they disinterestedly intend only happiness to others, are most surely +productive to ourselves of complacency and peace. O! little do they know +of the true measure of enjoyment, who can compare these delightful +complacencies with the frivolous pleasures of dissipation, or the coarse +gratifications of sensuality. It is no wonder, however, that the nominal +Christian should reluctantly give up, one by one, the pleasures of the +world; and look back upon them, when relinquished, with eyes of +wistfulness and regret: because he knows not the sweetness of the +delights with which true Christianity repays those trifling sacrifices, +and is greatly unacquainted with the _nature_ of that pleasantness which +is to be found in the ways of Religion. + +It is indeed true, that when any one, who has long been going on in the +gross and unrestrained practice of vice, is checked in his career, and +enters at first on a religious course, he has much to undergo. Fear, +guilt, remorse, shame, and various other passions, struggle and conflict +within him. His appetites are clamorous for their accustomed +gratification, and inveterate habits are scarcely to be denied. He is +weighed down by a load of guilt, and almost overwhelmed by the sense of +his unworthiness. But all this ought in fairness to be charged to the +account of his past sins, and not to that of his present repentance. It +rarely happens, however, that this state of suffering continues very +long. When the mental gloom is the blackest, a ray of heavenly light +occasionally breaks in, and suggests the hope of better days. Even in +this life it commonly holds true, "They that sow in tears shall reap in +joy." + +Neither, when we maintain, that the ways of Religion are ways of +pleasantness, do we mean to deny that the Christian's internal state is, +through the whole of his life, a state of discipline and warfare. +Several of the causes which contribute to render it such have been +already pointed out, together with the workings of his mind in relation +to them: but if he has solicitudes and griefs peculiar to himself, he +has "joys also with which a stranger intermeddles not." + +"Drink deep," however, "or taste not," is a direction full as applicable +to Religion, if we would find it a source of pleasure, as it is to +knowledge. A little Religion is, it must be confessed, apt to make men +gloomy, as a little knowledge to render them vain: hence the unjust +imputation often brought upon Religion by those, whose degree of +Religion is just sufficient, by condemning their course of conduct, to +render them uneasy: enough merely to impair the sweetness of the +pleasures of sin, and not enough to compensate for the relinquishment of +them by its own peculiar comforts. Thus these men bring up, as it were, +an ill report of that land of promise, which, in truth, abounds with +whatever, in our journey through life, can best refresh and strengthen +us. + +We have enumerated some sources of pleasure which men of the world may +understand, and must acknowledge to belong to the true Christian; but +there are others, and those of a still higher class, to which they must +confess themselves strangers. To say nothing of a qualified, I dare not +say an entire, exemption from those distracting passions and corroding +cares, by which he must naturally be harassed, whose treasure is within +the reach of mortal accidents; there is the humble quiet-giving hope of +being reconciled to God, and of enjoying his favour; with that solid +peace of mind, which the world can neither give nor take away, that +results from a firm confidence in the infinite wisdom and goodness of +God, and in the unceasing care and kindness of a generous Saviour: and +there is the persuasion of the truth of the divine assurance, that all +things shall work together for good. + +When the pulse indeed beats high, and we are flushed with youth, and +health, and vigour; when all goes on prosperously, and success seems +almost to anticipate our wishes; then we feel not the want of the +consolations of Religion: but when fortune frowns, or friends forsake +us; when sorrow, or sickness, or old age, comes upon us, then it is, +that the superiority of the pleasures of Religion is established over +those of dissipation and vanity, which are ever apt to fly from us when +we are most in want of their aid. There is scarcely a more melancholy +sight to a considerate mind, than that of an old man, who is a stranger +to those only true sources of satisfaction. How affecting, and at the +same time how disgusting, is it to see such an one awkwardly catching at +the pleasures of his younger years, which are now beyond his reach; or +feebly attempting to retain them, while they mock his endeavours and +elude his grasp! To such an one, _gloomily_ indeed does the evening of +life set in! All is sour and cheerless. He can neither look backward +with complacency nor forward with hope: while the aged Christian, +relying on the assured mercy of his Redeemer, can calmly reflect that +his dismission is at hand; that his redemption draweth nigh: while his +strength declines, and his faculties decay, he can quietly repose +himself on the fidelity of God: and at the very entrance of the valley +of the shadow of death, he can lift up an eye, dim, perhaps, and feeble, +yet occasionally sparkling with hope, and confidently looking forward to +the near possession of his heavenly inheritance, "to those joys which +eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart +of man to conceive." + +Never were there times which inculcated more forcibly than those in +which we live, the wisdom of seeking a happiness beyond the reach of +human vicissitudes. What striking lessons have _we_ had of the +precarious tenure of all sublunary possessions! Wealth, and power, and +prosperity, how peculiarly transitory and uncertain! But Religion +dispenses her choicest cordials in the seasons of exigence, in poverty, +in exile, in sickness, and in death. The essential superiority of that +support which is derived from Religion is less felt, at least it is less +apparent, when the Christian is in full possession of riches, and +splendour, and rank, and all the gifts of nature and fortune. But when +all these are swept away by the rude hand of time, or the rough blasts +of adversity, the true Christian stands, like the glory of the forest, +erect and vigorous; stripped indeed of his summer foliage, but more than +ever discovering to the observing eye the solid strength of his +substantial texture: + + Pondere fixa suo est, nudosque per aera ramos + Attollens, trunco non frondibus efficit umbram. + + +SECTION II. + +_Advice to some who profess their full Assent to the fundamental +Doctrines of the Gospel._ + +In a former chapter we largely insisted on what may be termed the +fundamental practical error of the bulk of professed Christians in our +days; their either overlooking or misconceiving the peculiar method, +which the Gospel has provided for the renovation of our corrupted +nature, and for the attainment of every Christian grace. + +But there are mistakes on the right hand and on the left; and our +general proneness, when we are flying from one extreme to run into an +opposite error, renders it necessary to superadd another admonition. The +generally prevailing error of the present day, indeed, is that +fundamental one which was formerly pointed out. But while we attend, in +the first place, to this; and, on the warrant both of Scripture and +experience, prescribe hearty repentance and lively faith, as the only +root and foundation of all true holiness; we must at the same time guard +against a practical mistake of another kind. They who, with penitent +hearts, have humbled themselves before the cross of Christ; and who, +pleading his merits as their only ground of pardon and acceptance with +God, have resolved henceforth, through the help of his Spirit, to bring +forth the fruits of righteousness, are sometimes apt to conduct +themselves as if they considered their work as now done; or at least as +if this were the whole they had to do, as often as, by falling afresh +into sin, another act of repentance and faith may seem to have become +necessary. There are not a few in our relaxed age, who thus satisfy +themselves with what may be termed _general_ Christianity; who feel +_general_ penitence and humiliation from a sense of their sinfulness _in +general_, and _general_ desires of universal holiness; but who neglect +that vigilant and jealous care, with which they should labour to +extirpate every _particular_ corruption, by studying its nature, its +root, its ramifications, and thus becoming acquainted with its secret +movements, with the means whereby it gains strength, and with the most +effectual methods of resisting it. In like manner, they are far from +striving with persevering alacrity for the acquisition and improvement +of every Christian grace. Nor is it unusual for ministers, who preach +the truths of the Gospel with fidelity, ability, and success, to be +themselves also liable to the charge of dwelling altogether in their +instructions on this _general_ Religion: instead of tracing and laying +open all the secret motions of inward corruption, and instructing their +hearers how best to conduct themselves in every distinct part of the +Christian warfare; how best to strive against each particular vice, and +to cultivate each grace of the Christian character. Hence it is, that in +too many persons, concerning the sincerity of whose general professions +of Religion we should be sorry to entertain a doubt, we yet see little +progress made in the regulation of their tempers, in the improvement of +their time, in the reform of their plan of life, or inability to resist +the temptation to which they are particularly exposed. They will confess +themselves, in general terms, to be "_miserable sinners_:" this is a +tenet of their creed, and they feel even proud in avowing it. They will +occasionally also lament particular failings: but this confession is +sometimes obviously made, in order to draw forth a compliment for the +very opposite virtue: and where this is not the case, it is often not +difficult to detect, under this false guise of contrition, a secret +self-complacency, arising from the manifestations which they have +afforded of their acuteness or candour in discovering the infirmity in +question, or of their frankness or humility in acknowledging it. This +will scarcely seem an illiberal suspicion to any one, who either watches +the workings of his own heart, or who observes, that the faults +confessed in these instances are very seldom those, with which the +person is most clearly and strongly chargeable. + +_We must plainly warn these men_, and the consideration is seriously +pressed on their instructors also, _that they are in danger of deceiving +themselves. Let them beware lest they be nominal Christians of another +sort._ These persons require to be reminded, that there is no _short +compendious method of holiness_: but that it must be the business of +their whole lives to grow in grace, and continually adding one virtue to +another, as far as may be, "to go on towards perfection." "He only that +doeth righteousness is righteous." Unless "they bring forth the fruits +of the Spirit," they can have no sufficient evidence that they have +received that "Spirit of Christ, without which they are none of his." +But where, on the whole, our unwillingness to pass an unfavourable +judgment may lead us to indulge a hope, that "the root of the matter is +found in them;" yet we must at least declare to them, that instead of +adorning the doctrine of Christ, they disparage and discredit it. The +world sees not their secret humiliation, not the exercises of their +closets, but it is acute in discerning practical weaknesses: and if it +observe that they have the same eagerness in the pursuit of wealth or +ambition, the same vain taste for ostentation and display, the same +ungoverned tempers, which are found in the generality of mankind; it +will treat with contempt their pretences to superior sanctity and +indifference to worldly things, and will be hardened in its prejudices +against the only mode, which God has provided for our escaping the wrath +to come, and obtaining eternal happiness. + +Let him then, who would be indeed a Christian, watch over his ways and +over his heart with unceasing circumspection. Let him endeavour to +learn, both from men and books, particularly from the lives of eminent +Christians[125], what methods have been actually found most effectual +for the conquest of every particular vice, and for improvement in every +branch of holiness. Thus studying his own character, and observing the +most secret workings of his own mind, and of our common nature; the +knowledge which he will acquire of the human heart in general, and +especially of his own, will be of the highest utility, in enabling him +to avoid or to guard against the occasions of evil: and it will also +tend, above all things, to the growth of humility, and to the +maintenance of that sobriety of spirit and tenderness of conscience, +which are eminently characteristic of the true Christian. It is by this +unceasing diligence, as the Apostle declares, that the servants of +Christ must make their calling sure. Their labour will not be thrown +away; for "an entrance shall" at length "be ministered unto them +abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus +Christ." + + +SECT. III. + +_Brief Observations addressed to Sceptics and Unitarians._ + +There is another class of men, an increasing class, it is to be feared, +in this country, that of absolute unbelievers, with which this little +work has properly no concern: but may the writer, sincerely pitying +their melancholy state, be permitted to ask them one plain question? If +Christianity be not in their estimation true, yet is there not at least +a presumption in its favour, sufficient to entitle it to a serious +examination; from its having been embraced, and that not blindly and +implicitly, but upon full inquiry and deep consideration, by Bacon, and +Milton, and Locke, and Newton, and much the greater part of those, who, +by the reach of their understandings, or the extent of their knowledge, +and by the freedom too of their minds, and their daring to combat +existing prejudices, have called forth the respect and admiration of +mankind? It might be deemed scarcely fair to insist on Churchmen, though +some of them are among the greatest names this country has ever known. +Can the sceptic in general say with truth, that he has either prosecuted +an examination into the evidences of Revelation at all, or at least with +a seriousness and diligence in any degree proportioned to the importance +of the subject? The fact is, and it is a fact which redounds to the +honour of Christianity, that infidelity is not the result of sober +inquiry and deliberate preference. It is rather the slow production of a +careless and irreligious life, operating together with prejudices and +erroneous conceptions, concerning the nature of the leading doctrines +and fundamental tenets of Christianity. + +Take the case of young men of condition, bred up by what we have termed +nominal Christians. When children, they are carried to church, and +thence they become acquainted with such parts of Scripture as are +contained in our public service. If their parents preserve still more of +the customs of better times, they are taught their Catechism, and +furnished with a little farther religious knowledge. After a while, they +go from under the eyes of their parents; they enter into the world, and +move forward in the path of life, whatever it may be, which has been +assigned to them. They yield to the temptations which assail them, and +become, more or less, dissipated and licentious. At least they neglect +to look into their Bible; they do not enlarge the sphere of their +religious acquisitions; they do not even endeavour, by reflection and +study, to turn into what may deserve the name of knowledge and rational +conviction, the opinions which, in their childhood, they had taken on +trust. + +They travel, perhaps, into foreign countries; a proceeding which +naturally tends to weaken their nursery, prejudice in favour of the +Religion in which they were bred, and by removing them from all means of +public worship, to relax their practical habits of Religion. They return +home, and commonly are either hurried round in the vortex of +dissipation, or engage with the ardour of youthful minds in some public +or professional pursuit. If they read or hear any thing about +Christianity, it is commonly only about those tenets which are subjects +of controversy: and what reaches their ears of the Bible, from their +occasional attendance at church; though it may sometimes impress them +with an idea of the purity of Christian morality, contains much which, +coming thus detached, perplexes and offends them, and suggests various +doubts and startling objections, which a farther acquaintance with the +Scripture would remove. Thus growing more and more to know Christianity +only by the difficulties it contains; sometimes tempted by the ambition +of shewing themselves superior to vulgar prejudice, and always prompted +by the natural pride of the human heart to cast off their subjection to +dogmas imposed on them; disgusted, perhaps, by the immoral lives of some +professed Christians, by the weaknesses and absurdities of others, and +by what they observe to be the implicit belief of numbers, whom they see +and know to be equally ignorant with themselves, many doubts and +suspicions of greater or less extent spring up within them. These doubts +enter into the mind at first almost imperceptibly: they exist only as +vague indistinct surmises, and by no means take the precise shape or +the substance of a formed opinion. At first, probably, they even offend +and startle by their intrusion: but by degrees the unpleasant sensations +which they once excited wear off: the mind grows more familiar with +them. A confused sense (for such it is, rather than a formed idea) of +its being desirable that their doubts should prove well founded, and of +the comfort and enlargement which would be afforded by that proof, lends +them much secret aid. The impression becomes deeper; not in consequence +of being reinforced by fresh arguments, but merely by dint of having +longer rested in the mind; and as they increase in force, they creep on +and extend themselves. At length they diffuse themselves over the whole +of Religion, and possess the mind in undisturbed occupancy. + +It is by no means meant that this is universally the process. But, +speaking generally, this might be termed, perhaps not unjustly, the +_natural history_ of scepticism. It approves itself to the experience of +those who have with any care watched the progress of infidelity in +persons around them; and it is confirmed by the written lives of some of +the most eminent unbelievers. It is curious to read their own accounts +of themselves, the rather as they accord so exactly with the result of +our own observation.--We find that they once perhaps gave a sort of +implicit hereditary assent to the truth of Christianity, and were what, +by a mischievous perversion of language, the world denominates +_believers_. How were they then awakened from their sleep of ignorance? +At what moment did the light of truth beam in upon them, and dissipate +the darkness in which they had been involved? The period of their +infidelity is marked by no such determinate boundary. Reason, and +thought, and inquiry had little or nothing to do with it. Having for +many years lived careless and irreligious lives, and associated with +companions equally careless and irreligious; not by force of study and +reflection, but rather by the lapse of time, they at length attained to +their infidel maturity. It is worthy of remark, that where any are +reclaimed from infidelity, it is generally by a process much more +rational than that which has been here described. Something awakens them +to reflection. They examine, they consider, and at length yield their +assent to Christianity on what they deem sufficient grounds. + +From the account here given, it appears plainly that infidelity is +generally the offspring of prejudice, and that its success is mainly to +be ascribed to the depravity of the moral character. This fact is +confirmed by the undeniable truth, that in _societies_, which consist of +individuals, infidelity is the natural fruit, not so much of a studious +and disputatious, as of a dissipated and vicious age. It diffuses itself +in proportion as the general morals decline; and it is embraced with +less apprehension, when every infidel is kept in spirits, by seeing many +around him who are sharing fortunes with himself. + +To any fair mind this consideration alone might be offered, as +suggesting a strong argument against infidelity, and in favour of +Revelation. And the friends of Christianity might justly retort the +charge, which their opponents often urge with no little affectation of +superior wisdom; that we implicitly surrender ourselves to the influence +of prejudice, instead of examining dispassionately the ground of our +faith, and yielding our assent only according to the degree of evidence. + +In our own days, when it is but too clear that infidelity increases, it +is not in consequence of the reasonings of the infidel writers having +been much studied, but from the progress of luxury, and the decay of +morals: and, so far as this increase may be traced at all to the works +of sceptical writers; it has been produced, not by argument and +discussion, but by sarcasms and points of wit, which have operated on +weak minds, or on nominal Christians, by bringing gradually into +contempt, opinions which, in their case, had only rested on the basis of +blind respect and the prejudices of education. It may therefore be laid +down as an axiom, that _infidelity is in general a disease of the heart +more than of the understanding_. If Revelation were assailed only by +reason and argument, it would have little to fear. The literary opposers +of Christianity, from Herbert to Hume, have been seldom read. They made +some stir in their day: during their span of existence they were noisy +and noxious; but like the locusts of the east, which for a while obscure +the air, and destroy the verdure, they were soon swept away and +forgotten. Their very names would be scarcely found, if Leland had not +preserved them from oblivion. + +The account which has been given, of the secret, but grand, source of +infidelity, may perhaps justly be extended, as being not seldom true in +the case of those who deny the fundamental doctrines of the Gospel. + +In the course which we lately traced from nominal orthodoxy to absolute +infidelity, Unitarianism[126] is indeed, a sort of half-way house, if +the expression may be pardoned; a stage on the journey, where sometimes +a person indeed finally stops, but where, not unfrequently, he only +pauses for a while, and then pursues his progress. + +The Unitarian teachers by no means profess to absolve their followers +from the unbending strictness of Christian morality. They prescribe the +predominant love of God, and an habitual spirit of devotion: but it is +an unquestionable fact; a fact which they themselves almost admit, that +this class of religionists is not in general distinguished for superior +purity of life; and still less for that frame of mind, which, by the +injunction "to be spiritually, not carnally, minded," the word of God +prescribes to us, as one of the surest tests of our experiencing the +vital power of Christianity. On the contrary, in point of fact, +_Unitarianism_ seems to be resorted to, not merely by those who are +disgusted with the peculiar doctrines of Christianity; but by those also +who are seeking a refuge from the strictness of her practical precepts; +and who, more particularly, would escape from the obligation which she +imposes on her adherents, rather to incur the dreaded charge of +singularity, than fall in with the declining manners of a dissipated +age. + +Unitarianism, where it may be supposed to proceed from the understanding +rather than from the heart, is not unfrequently produced by a confused +idea of the difficulties, or, as they are termed, the impossibilities +which orthodox Christianity is supposed to involve. It is not our +intention to enter into the controversy:[127] but it may not be improper +to make one remark as a guard to persons in whose way the arguments of +the Unitarians may be likely to fall; namely, that one great advantage +possessed by Deists, and perhaps in a still greater degree by +Unitarians, in their warfare with the Christian system, results from the +very circumstances of their being the assailants. They urge what they +state to be powerful arguments against the truth of the fundamental +doctrines of Christianity, and then call upon men to abandon them as +posts no longer tenable. But they, who are disposed to yield to this +assault, should call to mind, that it has pleased God so to establish +the constitution of all things, that perplexing difficulties and +plausible objections may be adduced against the most established truths; +such, for instance, as the being of a God, and many others both physical +and moral. In all cases, therefore, it becomes us, not on a partial view +to reject any proposition, because it is attended with difficulties; but +to compare the difficulties which it involves, with those which attend +the alternative proposition which must be embraced on its rejection. We +should put to the proof the alternative proposition in its turn, and see +whether it be not still less tenable than that which we are summoned to +abandon. In short, we should examine circumspectly on all sides; and +abide by that opinion which, on carefully balancing all considerations, +appears fairly entitled to our preference. Experience, however, will +have convinced the attentive observer of those around him, that it has +been for want of adverting to this just and obvious principle, that the +Unitarians in particular have gained most of their proselytes from the +Church, so far as argument has contributed to their success. If the +Unitarians, or even the Deists, were considered in their turn as masters +of the field; and were in their turn attacked, both by arguments tending +to disprove their system directly, and to disprove it indirectly, by +shewing the high probability of the truth of Christianity, and of its +leading and peculiar doctrines, it is most likely that they would soon +appear wholly unable to keep their ground. In short, reasoning fairly, +there is no medium between absolute _Pyrrhonism_ and true Christianity: +and if we reject the latter on account of its difficulties, we shall be +still more loudly called upon to reject every other system which has +been offered to the acceptance of mankind. This consideration might, +perhaps, with advantage be more attended to than it has been, by those +who take upon them to vindicate the truth of our holy religion: as many, +who from inconsideration, or any other cause, are disposed to give up +the great fundamentals of Christianity, would be startled by the idea, +that on the same principle on which they did this, they must give up the +hope of finding any rest for the sole of their foot on any ground of +Religion, and not stop short of unqualified Atheism. + +Besides the class of those who professedly reject revelation, there is +another, and that also, it is to be feared, an increasing one, which may +be called the class of half-unbelievers, who are to be found in various +degrees of approximation to a state of absolute infidelity. The system, +if it deserve the name, of these men, is grossly irrational. Hearing +many who assert and many who deny the truth of Christianity, and not +reflecting seriously enough to consider that it must be either true or +false, they take up a strange sort of middle opinion of its qualified +truth. They conceive that there must be something in it, though by no +means to the extent to which it is pushed by orthodox Christians. They +grant the reality of future punishment, and even that they themselves +cannot altogether expect to escape it; yet, "they trust it will not go +so hard with them as the churchmen state:" and, as was formerly hinted, +though disbelieving almost every material doctrine which Christianity +contains; yet, even in their own minds, they by no means conceive +themselves to be inlisted under the banners of infidelity, or to have +much cause for any great apprehension lest Christianity should prove +true. + +But let these men be reminded, that there is no middle way. If they can +be prevailed on to look into their Bible, and do not make up their minds +absolutely to reject its authority; they must admit that there is no +ground whatever for this vain hope, which they suffer themselves to +indulge, of escaping but with a slight measure of punishment. Nor let +them think their guilt inconsiderable. Is it not grossly criminal to +trifle with the long-suffering of God, to despise alike his invitations +and his threatenings, and the offer of his Spirit of grace, and the +precious blood of the Redeemer? Far different is the Scripture estimate; +"How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" "It shall be +more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah, in the day of judgment," than for +them, who voluntarily shut their eyes against that full light, which the +bounty of Heaven has poured out upon them. These half-unbelievers are +even more reprehensible than downright sceptics, for remaining in this +state of careless uncertainty, without endeavouring to ascertain the +truth or falsehood of revelation. The probability which they admit, that +it may be true, imposes on them an additional and an undeniable +obligation to inquiry. But both to them and to decided sceptics it must +be plainly declared, that they are in these days less excusable than +ever, for not looking into the grounds and proofs on which is rested the +truth of Christianity; for never before were these proofs so _plainly, +and at so easy a rate_, offered to the consideration of mankind. Through +the bounty of Providence, the more widely spreading poison of infidelity +has in our days been met with more numerous and more powerful antidotes. +One of these has been already pointed out: and it should be matter of +farther gratitude to every real Christian, that in the very place on +which modern infidelity had displayed the standard of victory, a warrior +in the service of Religion, a man of the most acute discernment and +profound research, has been raised up by Providence to quell their +triumph[128]. He was soon taken from us; but happily for him and for +ourselves, not till he had announced, that, like the Magi of old, he had +seen the star of Christ in the East, and had fallen down and worshipped +him. Another should be mentioned with honour, who is pursuing the track +which that great man had pointed out[129]. Henceforth let all objectors +against Christianity, on the ground of its being disproved by the +oriental records, be put to silence. The strength of their cause +consisted in their ignorance, and in our own, of oriental learning. They +availed themselves for a while of our being in a state of darkness; but +the light of day has at length broken in and exposed to deserved +contempt their superficial speculations. + +The infatuation of these unbelievers upon trust would be less striking, +if they were able altogether to decline Christianity; and were at +liberty to relinquish their pretensions to its rewards, on condition of +being exempted from its punishments. But that is not the case; they must +stand the risk of the encounter, and their eternal happiness or misery +is suspended upon the issue[130]. What must be the emotions of these +men, on first opening their eyes in the world of spirits, and being +convinced, too late, of the awful reality of their impending ruin? May +the mercy and the power of God awaken them from their desperate slumber, +while life is yet spared, and there is yet space for repentance! + + +SECTION IV. + +_Advice suggested by the state of the times to true Christians._ + +To those, who really deserve the appellation of true Christians, much +has been said incidentally in the course of the present work. It has +been maintained, and the proposition will not be disputed by any sound +or experienced politician, that they are always most important members +of the community. But we may boldly assert, that there never was a +period wherein, more justly than in the present, this could be affirmed +of them; whether the situation, in all its circumstances, of our own +country be attentively considered, or the general state of society in +Europe. Let them on their part seriously weigh the important station +which they fill, and the various duties which it now peculiarly enforces +on them. If we consult the most intelligent accounts of foreign +countries, which have been recently published, and compare them with the +reports of former travellers; we must be convinced, that Religion and +the standard of morals are every where declining, abroad even more +rapidly than in our own country. But still, the progress of irreligion, +and the decay of morals at home, are such as to alarm every considerate +mind, and to forebode the worst consequences, unless some remedy can be +applied to the growing evil. We can depend only upon true _Christians_ +for effecting, in any degree, this important service. Their system, as +was formerly stated, is that of our national church: and in proportion, +therefore, as their system prevails, or as it increases in respect and +estimation, from the manifest good conduct of its followers; in that +very proportion the church is strengthened in the foundations, on which +alone it can be much longer supported, the esteem and attachment of its +members, and of the nation at large. Zeal is required in the cause of +Religion; they only can feel it. The charge of singularity must be +incurred; they only will dare to encounter it. Uniformity of conduct, +and perseverance in exertion, will be requisite; among no others can we +look for those qualities. + +Let true Christians then, with becoming earnestness, strive in all +things to recommend their profession, and to put to silence the vain +scoffs of ignorant objectors. Let them boldly assert the cause of Christ +in an age when so many, who bear the name of Christians, are ashamed of +Him: and let them consider as devolved on Them the important duty of +suspending for a while the fall of their country, and, perhaps, of +performing a still more extensive service to society at large; not by +busy interference in politics, in which it cannot but be confessed there +is much uncertainty; but rather by that sure and radical benefit of +restoring the influence of Religion, and of raising the standard of +morality. + +Let them be active, useful, generous towards others; manifestly moderate +and self-denying in themselves. Let them be ashamed of idleness, as +they would be of the most acknowledged sin. When Providence blesses them +with affluence, let them withdraw from the competition of vanity; and, +without sordidness or absurdity, shew by their modest demeanour, and by +their retiring from display, that, without affecting singularity, they +are not slaves to fashion; that they consider it as their duty to set an +example of moderation and sobriety, and to reserve for nobler and more +disinterested purposes, that money, which others selfishly waste in +parade, and dress, and equipage. Let them evince, in short, a manifest +moderation in all temporal things; as becomes those whose affections are +set on higher objects than any which this world affords, and who +possess, within their own bosoms, a fund of satisfaction and comfort, +which the world seeks in vanity and dissipation. Let them cultivate a +catholic spirit of universal good will, and of amicable fellowship +towards all those, of whatever sect or denomination, who, differing from +them in non-essentials, agree with them in the grand fundamentals of +Religion. Let them countenance men of real piety wherever they are +found; and encourage in others every attempt to repress the progress of +vice, and to revive and diffuse the influence of Religion and virtue. +Let their earnest prayers be constantly offered, that such endeavours +may be successful, and that the abused long-suffering of God may still +continue to us the invaluable privilege of vital Christianity. + +Let them pray continually for their country in this season of national +difficulty. We bear upon us but too plainly the marks of a declining +empire. Who can say but that the Governor of the universe, who declares +himself to be a God who hears the prayers of his servants, may, in +answer to their intercessions, for a while avert our ruin, and continue +to us the fulness of those temporal blessings, which in such abundant +measure we have hitherto enjoyed[131]. Men of the world, indeed, however +they may admit the natural operation of natural causes, and may +therefore confess the effects of Religion and morality in promoting the +well being of the community; may yet, according to their humour, with a +smile of complacent pity, or a sneer of supercilious contempt, read of +the service which real Christians may render to their country, by +conciliating the favour and calling down the blessing of Providence. It +may appear in their eyes an instance of the same superstitious weakness, +as that which prompts the terrified inhabitant of Sicily to bring for +the image of his tutelar saint, in order to stop the destructive ravages +of Ætna. We are, however, sure, if we believe the Scripture, that God +will be disposed to favour the nation to which his servants belong; and +that, in fact, such as They, have often been the unknown and unhonoured +instruments of drawing down on their country the blessings of safety and +prosperity. + +But it would be an instance in myself of that very false shame which I +have condemned in others, if I were not boldly to avow my firm +persuasion, that _to the decline of Religion and morality our national +difficulties must both directly and indirectly be chiefly ascribed; and +that my only solid hopes for the well-being of my country depend not so +much on her fleets and armies, not so much on the wisdom of her rulers, +or the spirit of her people, as on the persuasion that she still +contains many, who, in a degenerate age, love and obey the Gospel of +Christ; on the humble trust that the intercession of these may still be +prevalent, that for the sake of these, Heaven may still look upon us +with an eye of favour._ + +Let the prayers of the Christian reader be also offered up for the +success of this feeble endeavour in the service of true Religion. God +can give effect to the weakest effort; and the writer will feel himself +too much honoured, if by that which he has now been making, but a single +fellow creature should be awakened from a false security, or a single +Christian, who deserves the name, be animated to more extensive +usefulness. He may seem to have assumed to himself a task which he was +ill qualified to execute. He fears he may be reproached with arrogance +and presumption for taking upon him the office of a teacher. Yet, as he +formerly suggested, it cannot be denied, that it belongs to his public +situation to investigate the state of the national Religion and morals; +and that it is the part of a real patriot to endeavour to retard their +decline, and promote their revival. But if the office, in which he has +been engaged, were less intimately connected with the duties of his +particular station, the candid and the liberal mind would not be +indisposed to pardon him. Let him be allowed to offer in his excuse a +desire not only to discharge a duty to his country, but to acquit +himself of what he deems a solemn and indispensable obligation to his +acquaintance and his friends. Let him allege the unaffected solicitude +which he feels for the welfare of his fellow creatures. Let him urge the +fond wish he gladly would encourage; that, while, in so large a part of +Europe, a false philosophy having been preferred before the lessons of +revelation, Infidelity has lifted up her head without shame, and walked +abroad boldly and in the face of day; while the practical consequences +are such as might be expected, and licentiousness and vice prevail +without restraint: here at least there might be a sanctuary, a land of +Religion and piety, where the blessings of Christianity might be still +enjoyed, where the name of the Redeemer might still be honoured; where +mankind might be able to see what is, in truth, the Religion of Jesus, +and what are its blessed effects; and whence, if the mercy of God should +so ordain it, the means of religious instruction and consolation might +be again extended to surrounding countries and to the world at large. + + +FINIS. + + + + +INDEX. + + +A + +_Abuse_ of things, unfairness of arguing from it against their use, 53. + +_Acceptance_ with God, commonly prevailing notions respecting it, 85-88. + --Scripture, and Church of England, doctrine respecting it, 88-92. + --practical consequences, of common notions respecting it, 89. + --true doctrine vindicated from objection, 93-94. + +_Addison_, quoted, 162. + +_Affections_, of their admission into Religion, 57, 58. + --their admission into Religion reasonable, 59-62. + --true test and measure of them in Religion, 62-65. + --in Religion, not barely allowable, but highly necessary, 66-69. + --our Saviour the just object of them, 69, 70. + --objection, that they are impossible towards an invisible Being, + discussed, 71-77. + --little excited by public misfortunes, and why, 75, 76. + --towards our Saviour, special grounds for them, 77, 78. + --divine aid promised for exciting them, 79, 80. + --our statements respecting them in Religion verified by facts, + 80, 81. + --religious, St. Paul a striking instance of them, 61. + +_Ambition_, votaries of, 125, 126. + +_Amiable_ tempers, discussion respecting, 178-198. + --substituted for Religion, 179, 180. + --value of, estimated by the standard of mere reason, 180. + --false pretenders to them, 181. + --real nature, when not grounded on Religion, 181, 182. + --precarious nature, 182-184. + --value of, on Christian principles, 186. + --life, Christian's most so, 190, 191. + --Christians urged to this, 192-196. + --its just praise, 197, 198. + --apt to deceive us, 198. + +_Applause_, desire of, universal, 146, 147. + + +B. + +_Babington_, the reverend Matthew, 259. + +_Benevolence_, true Christian, its exalted nature, 287, 288. + +_Bacon_, Lord, quoted, 229. + + +C. + +_Calumny_, considerations which reconcile the Christian to it, + 169, 170. + +_Charity_, true, what, and its marks, 311, 312. + +_Christianity_, vital revival of, would invigorate church establishment, + 294. + --vital, alone suited to lower orders, 295, 296. + --the common system, falsely so called, 305. + --the truest patriotism, 287-292. + --of the world, its base nature, 324. + --not a gloomy service, 326-332. + --relaxations compatible with, 327, 328. + --its solid texture, 332. + --general, what so called, 334, 335. + --true, requires incessant watchfulness and care, 336. + --state in which it finds us, 30-33. + --its present critical circumstances, 265-272. + --reduced to a system of ethics, proofs of this, 273, 277, 278. + --causes, which have tended to produce neglect of her peculiar + doctrines, 269, 270, 274-276. + --peculiar doctrines of, taught by the oldest divines and highest + dignitaries of the English church, 273, 274. + --peculiar doctrines gradually fallen into neglect, 276-278. + --sad symptoms of its low state among us, 278-280. + --objection, that our system of it too strict, stated and answered, + 280-283. + --vital, its happy influence on temporal well-being of communities, + 283-285. + --not hostile to patriotism, 285-287. + --from its essential nature, peculiarly adapted to well-being of + communities, 290-292. + --vital, can alone produce these effects, 293. + --excellence of it, in some particulars not commonly noticed, 252-259. + --general state of, in England, 262. + --its tendency to promote the well-being of political communities, + 262-288, 292, 293. + --has raised the general standard of practice, 264, 265. + --sickens in prosperity and flourishes under persecution, 266, 267. + --peculiarities of, naturally slide into disuse, 269. + +_Christians_, true, duties especially incumbent on them in these times, + 350-353. + --should pray for their country, 351. + --their prayers intreated for the success of this work, 353. + --ready made, who esteemed such, 318. + --real, how different from nominal, 214, 215. + --life, illustrated by figure of a traveller, 217-219. + +_Commons_, House of, proves inordinate love of worldly glory, 159. + +_Consistency_ between Christianity's leading doctrines and practical + precepts, 231-252, 253. + --between Christianity's leading doctrines amongst each other, 253. + --between Christianity's practical precepts amongst each other, + 253-257. + +_Contact_, necessary to produce any interest in our affections, + 73-78, 81. + +_Corruption_ of human nature, common notions of it, 14-16. + --of human nature, Scripture account of it, 16, 26, 27. + --of human nature, arguments suggested in proof of it, 16-26. + --of Heathen world, and striking instance of it, 18, 19. + --of savage life, 19, 20. + --proof of it, furnished by the state of the Christian world, 20-24. + --by the experience of the true Christian, 24, 25. + --human, its general effects, when suffered to operate without + restraint, 25, 26. + --human, firm grounds on which it rests, 35. + --human, practical uses of the doctrine, 36. + +_Cowper's Task_, recommended, 234-352. + --quoted, 251. + + +D. + +_Defective_, conceptions generally prevailing concerning importance of + Christianity, 1-5. + --conceptions concerning human corruption, 15, 16. + --conceptions concerning the evil spirit, 28. + --conceptions concerning the doctrines, which respect our Saviour and + the Holy Spirit, 70, 71, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50. + --conceptions concerning the means of acceptance with God, 84-91. + --conceptions prevailing concerning practical Christianity, 102-104, + 117-205. + --conceptions of guilt and evil of sin, 206-210. + --fear of God, 210. + --sense of the difficulty of getting to heaven, 214, 215. + --love of God in nominal Christians, 219-221. + --love of God, proofs of it in nominal Christians, 221-224. + --conceptions general, concerning peculiar doctrines of Christianity, + 231. + --conceptions of peculiarities of Christianity, practical mischiefs + from them, 232. + +_Depths_, of the things of God; and our proneness to plunge into them, + 41-43. + +_Devotedness_ to God, duty of it, 107-110, 113, 116, 118. + +_Dissipated_ and indolent, class of, 121, 122. + +_Dissipation_, seems to have prevailed in the antediluvian world, 213. + +_Doddridge's_ Sermons on Regeneration, referred to, note, 83. + +_Duelling_, its guilt, &c. 159-161. + + +E. + +_Error_, innocence of, considered, 10-12. + +_Establishment_, religious, in England, how circumstanced, 267. + +_Estimation_, desire of, universal, 146, 147. + -- common language concerning it, the effects of the love of it, and + the nature of the passion, 148-150. + -- commendations of it questioned, 151. + -- essential defects of inordinate love of it, explained, 152, 153. + -- love of, Scripture lessons concerning, 152-156. + -- value of, analogous to riches, 156. + -- love of, common notions respecting it, 157, 158. + -- proofs of our statements respecting it from House of Commons, 159. + -- proofs of our statements respecting it from duelling, 159-161. + -- real nature of inordinate love of it, 162, 163. + -- true Christian's conduct respecting love of it, 164-173. + -- true modes of guarding against excessive love of it, 171, 172. + -- advice to the true Christian respecting love of it, 174-178. + -- love of, best moderated by humility and charity, 176. + -- true Christian's temper respecting it, 177. + +_Evil_ spirit, the existence and agency not contrary to reason, 28, 29. + +_External_ actions substituted for habits of mind, 134, 135. + + +F. + +_Faith_, Christian's life, a life of, 137, 138. + +_Families_, two, the righteous and the wicked, 212. + +_Ferguson_, the historian, 290. + +_Fuller's_ Calvinism and Socinianism compared, 344. + +_Fundamental_ practical distinction between systems of nominal and real + Christians, 237, 250, 251. + + +G. + +_General_ tone of morals, Christianity has raised it, 104. + --established by consent in every country, 263, 264. + +_Geneva_, the effect of theatres, 223. + +_Gloomy_ service, false charge that we make Christianity such, 327. + +_Glory_, true and false, what properly so called, 153. + --Mistakes concerning it, 153. + +_Good hearted_ young men, term misapplied, 310. + +_Good hearted_ young men, the title disproved, 315. + +_Gratitude_, true signs of, 49. + + +H. + +_Habits_, of mind forgotten in Religion, 134-146. + +_Heavenly mindedness_, best promoted by being much conversant with + peculiar doctrines of Christianity, 250. + +_Holy Spirit_, Scripture doctrine concerning, 44, 82, 83. + --popular notions concerning, 50-53. + +_Honour_, false notions respecting it, 162, 163. + +_Horne_, Dr. quoted, 61. + +_Humility_, best enforced by peculiar doctrines of Christianity, + 244, 245. + --the ground of Christian graces, 146. + --excellent practical effects of, 176. + + +I. + +_Ignorance_ of Christianity, common, 5, 6. + --criminal, 6, 7. + +_Importance_ of Christianity, inadequate conceptions generally + entertained of it, 1-13. + --of Christianity, proofs of the inadequate ideas generally + entertained of it, 2-5. + --of Christianity, ideas of it given by the Holy Scriptures, 8-10. + --of Christianity, best enforced by peculiar doctrines of + Christianity, 240. + +_Inconsistency_ of the world's practical system, 255, 256. + +_Indifference_ about Christianity generally prevalent, 9. + --general towards our Saviour, proofs of, 46-48. + +_Infidelity_, common progress of it, 338-342. + --a disease of the heart more than of the understanding, 342. + +_Innocent_ young women, term how misapplied, 310. + --young women, the title disproved, 315. + +_Intellectual_ attainments, rated below moral by Christianity, 257-260. + --low degree of excellence within our reach, 258. + + +J. + +_Jones_, Sir William, a champion for Christianity, 348. + + +K. + +_Kenyon_, Lord Chief Justice, commendations of, 302. + + +L. + +_Language_, common, concerning the importance of Christianity, 5. + --concerning human corruption, 15. + --concerning affections towards our Saviour, and Holy Spirit's + operations, 51, 52. + --concerning terms of acceptance with God, 85-87. + --concerning mode of relaxing the strictness of Christian precept, + 132, 133. + --concerning human judicatures, 133. + --concerning amiable tempers and useful lives, 179. + --common to people desirous of repenting, 235. + +_Learning_, votaries of, 127. + +_Life_, Christian, illustrated under figure of a traveller, 217-219. + --Christian's, a life of faith, 137-140. + +_Liturgy_, bad effects to be feared from its disuse, 297. + +_Lives_, several mentioned, 336. + +_Love_, true signs of it, 46, 47. + --of God, its essential characters, 110. + --of Christ, justly to be expected of us, 69, 70, 77, 78, 107, 108. + --means of exciting it, 99, 100. + --of God, defective in nominal Christians, 219, 220. + --of God, proofs of its being defective, 220-224. + --of fellow-creatures, nominal Christians defective in, 225. + --of fellow-creatures, true marks of, 226-229. + --of God, best enforced by Christianity's peculiarities, 242. + --Christians to cultivate this grace above all others, 324. + --its excellent effects in the true Christian, 325. + --of fellow-creatures best enforced by peculiar doctrines, 243, 244. + +_Low_ standard of practice generally prevailing, 102, 103, 117-135. + +_Lower_ classes, not unfit that true doctrine of acceptance should be + stated to them, 93, 94. + + +M. + +_McLaurin_, his essays and sermons referred to, 83, 97. + +_Maurice_, Mr. a defender of Christianity, 348. + +_Maxims_, which prove human corruption, 21. + +_Medium_, religious, almost lost, 130. + +_Milton_, quoted, 43. + +_Moral_, attainments rated above intellectual, by Christianity, 257. + --attainments, how much more we can excel in them than in + intellectual ones, 259. + +_Moravians_, commendation of, 56. + + +N. + +_Natural_ condition of man without Christianity, 31-33. + +_Nature_, essential, of true practical Christianity, 129. + +_Necessity_, excuse on the plea of, stated, and answered, 36-42. + --opponent on the ground of, how best opposed, 37, 38. + +_Nominal_ and real Christian, distinction between them most important, + 306. + +_Novels_, prove how peculiarities of Christianity have fallen into + neglect, 277, 278. + + +O. + +_Objections_ against the religious affections towards Christ, and + against the operations of the Holy Spirit, 50-53. + --against human accountableness, discussed, 36-42. + --against the religious affections towards Christ, and against the + operations of the Holy Spirit, discussed, 53-83. + +_Outgrowing_ vices mistaken for forsaking them, 308, 318. + +_Owen_, Dr. referred to, 275. + + +P. + +_Paley_, Mr. his defence of Christianity noticed, 260, 281. + +_Partiality_ in the religious views of nominal Christians, 119-121. + +_Particular_, Christians must not fear to be so when required by duty, + 167. + +_Pascal's_ thoughts referred to, 245. + --thoughts recommended, 348. + +_Peculiar_, doctrines, use, in promoting humility, 244, 245. + --in promoting moderation in earthly pursuits, 246. + --in promoting cheerfulness in suffering, 247. + --in promoting confidence in danger, and patience in suffering, + 248, 249. + --in promoting heavenly mindedness, 250. + --doctrines, demand our utmost attention, 94-97. + --doctrines, use of, 239. + --doctrines, use of, in enforcing importance of Christianity, 240. + --doctrines, use of, in enforcing entire surrender to God, 240. + --doctrines, use of, in enforcing guilt of sin, and dread of + punishment, 241. + --in promoting love of God, 241, 242. + --in promoting love of fellow-creatures, 243, 244. + +_Philosophy_, epicurism and stoicism, 59. + +_Pitt_, Mr. slander respecting him refuted--Note 272. + +_Pleasure_, the true Christian finds in Religion, 139, 140. + +_Pleasures_ of true Religion, 325-332. + +_Policy_, mistaken, of compromise with immorality, 301. + +_Polished_ state of society no security against progress of immorality, + 298, 299. + +_Political_, good effects from the prevalence of Christianity, as above + described, 283-295. + --good effects from revival of vital Christianity, 296. + --bad effects from its farther decline, 297, 298. + --happiness of a Christian nation, 283-287. + +_Pomp_ and parade, votaries of, 124. + +_Poor_ the, more favourably circumstanced as to Religion, 93, 292. + +_Pope_, the Poet, referred to, 246. + +_Popular_ notions concerning our Saviour and the Holy Spirit, 46-48. + +_Practical_ hints, on importance of Christianity, 13. + --on human corruption, 35. + --on mode of dealing with a certain description of infidels, 37, 38. + --on the means of exciting our affections towards our Saviour, + 99, 100. + --respecting love of estimation, 174-178. + --respecting amiable tempers and useful lives, 192. + --to naturally sweet tempered, 193. + --to naturally rough and austere, 194-199. + --to true Christian, when engaged in hurry of worldly affairs, + 199-204. + --to persons desirous of repenting, 235. + --respecting uses of peculiar doctrines of Christianity, 240-251. + --for revival of Religion, 300-304. + --to various descriptions, 305-318. + --to such as, having been hitherto careless, wish to become true + Christians, 318-332. + --to some who profess their full assent to fundamental doctrines + of Christianity, 333-336. + --to Sceptics and Unitarians, 337-345. + --to half-unbelievers, 346-348. + --to true Christians, from state of times, 349-354. + --Christianity, chapter on, 100-251. + --prevailing low views of it, 102-104. + --Christianity, its real strictness, 105, 106. + --its true nature, 107-110. + --charged on all without exception in its full strictness, 111-115. + --mischiefs of neglect of peculiarities of Christianity, 232. + --distinction, fundamental, between systems of nominal and real + Christians, 231-234. + --precepts of Christianity, most excellent, 260. + --use of peculiar doctrines of Christianity, 238. + +_Prevailing_, low views of practical Christianity, proofs of them, 104. + --inadequate sense of peculiar doctrines of Christians, 231, &c. + +_Probation_, notion of, disproves prevailing system of Religion, 317. + +_Proof_ of Christianity's divine origin, 260-262. + +_Puritans_, many of their writings commended, 275. + + +R. + +_Religion_, practical hints for its revival, 300-305. + -- the only true support in trouble and peril, 332. + +_Repentance_, advice for such as are disposed to, 318-324. + +_Reputation_, true Christian's conduct respecting it, 164-178. + -- true Christian preserves, without over-valuing it, 167-170. + +_Richardson_, mentioned, 278. + +_Robertson_, Dr. censured, 279. + +_Rousseau_, school of, 204, 205. + + +S. + +_Scepticism_, natural history of it, 338-340. + +_Sceptics_ and Unitarians, advantage they have in attacking + Christianity, 344, 345. + +_Scripture_ doctrine, importance of, to Christianity, 8-10. + -- doctrine, concerning human corruption, 14-27. + -- doctrine, concerning Christ and the Holy Spirit, 43, 44. + +_Self-deception_, frequent sources of, 306-318. + -- another common kind, 333-335. + +_Self-examination_, helps in, 306. + +_Selfishness_ of common practical Religion, 121-127. + -- the disease of political societies, 288. + -- peculiarly counteracted by Christianity, 291, 292. + +_Sensibility_, exquisite, how little truly valuable, and how different + from true practical benevolence, 204, 205. + +_Sensualists_ class of, 123. + +_Sin_, how spoken of in Scripture, 211. + -- defective conceptions of, 207. + +_Sincerity_, false notion of it, 10-12. + -- true what, 13. + +_Sins_, no little ones, 210, 211. + -- little, what accounted such, 208. + +_Smith_, Dr. _Adam_, 76. 188, 189. 279. + +_Soame Jenyns_, his View of the Internal Evidence of Christianity + referred to, 6. 281. + +_Sophistry_, with which Religion is explained away, 133. + +_Stage_ the, proof from its being frequented by nominal Christians of + their defective love of God, 221-224. 230, 231. + -- proof from, illustrated by political analogy, 223. + +_Statutes_, Religion made a set of, 131, 132. + +_Sterne_ strongly censured, 206. + +_Strictness_ of true practical Christianity, 105, 106. + -- of our system, objected to, as not suited to the state of the + world, 280, 281. + -- the charge refuted, 281, 282. + +_Sunday_, hints for its employment, 141, 142. + -- common modes of unhallowing it, 143-145. + +_Supreme_ regard to be set on God, 60. 112-129. + +_Swift's_ Tale of a Tub, quoted, 132, 133. + + +T. + +_Taste_, votaries of, 127. + +_Tempers_, Christian, not cultivated, 136-146. + -- respecting human estimation, 165-168. + -- respecting calumny and disgrace, 170. + -- when too much immersed in worldly business, 201-204. + +_Theatres_, Parisian, 223. + +_Theatrical_ entertainments prove defective love of God, 222. + +_Theatrical_ entertainments prove defective love of our neighbour, + 230, 231. + -- entertainments, illustrated by political analogy, 223. + + +U. + +_Unbelievers, half_; a class of them, 346. + +_Uncharitableness_, what falsely so called, 312. + +_Unitarianism_ often results from same causes as absolute scepticism, + 343. + +_Useful_ lives, discussion concerning, 178. + -- substituted for Religion, 179. + -- value of, estimated by standard of mere reason, 185. + -- real worth of, on Christian principles, 186-188. + -- life, the Christian's life the most so, 191. + -- Christians urged to, 192. + -- its just praise given to, 197. + -- apt to mislead us, 198. + + +V. + +_Vice_, some one always excused, 308-310. + +_Vices_, outgrowing or changing them, mistaken for forsaking all sin, + 308-310. + +_Vulgarity_ in Religion, as to language, to be expected from vulgar + men, 56. + + +W. + +_Wealth_, votaries of, 125, 126. + +_Women_, more disposed than men to Religion, and uses to be made of + this, 313. + -- exalted office assigned to them, 314. + +_Witherspoon_, 275. + + +Y. + +_Youth_, simplicity of, mistaken for Religion, 313. + + + + +FOOTNOTES + + +[Footnote 1: It is almost superfluous to name Mr. SOAME JENYNS.] + +[Footnote 2: Exempla duo, quæ pravitatis humanæ vim animo meo luculenter +exhibent, non proferre non possum. Alterum decens ille Virgilius, +alterum Cicero, probus idem verique studiosus, suppeditat. Virgilius, +innocuam certe pastorum vitam depicturus, ita incipit. + + "Formosum pastor Corydon ardebat Alexim." + +Cicero in libro de Officiis primo, ubi de actionibus prout inter se apte +& convenientes sint, loci, temporis, & agentis ratione habita, disserit, +argumentum sic illustrat: "Turpe est enim, valdeque vitiosum, in re +severa, convivio dignum, aut delicatum aliquem inferre sermonem. Bene +Pericles, quum haberet collegam in prætura Sophoclem poetam, hique de +communi officio convenissent, & casu formosus puer præteriret, +dixissetque Sophocles, O pueram pulchrum Pericle! At enim, inquit +Pericles, prætorem Sophoclem decet non solum manus, sed etiam oculus +abstinentes habere. Atqui hoc idem Sophocles, si in athletarum +probatione dixisset, _justa reprehensione caruisset, tanta vis est, & +loci & temporis_." + +Quomodo sese res habuisse necesse est, cum vir antiquorum +prestantissimis adscribendus, philosophiam, immo mores & officia +tractans, talia doceret! Qualem sibi ipse virtutis normam proposuerat, +satis liquet. Vide inter alia, _justa reprehensione_, &c. &c; & _tanta +vis est_, &c. &c.] + +[Footnote 3: Robertson, Vol. II. p. 130.] + +[Footnote 4: Robertson, Book IV. Sect. 2. Head, Condition of Women, +vol. ii. 8vo. 90, 91.] + +[Footnote 5: Job xv. 14.] + +[Footnote 6: Job xv. 16.] + +[Footnote 7: Psalm xiv. 2, 3.] + +[Footnote 8: Prov. xx. 9.] + +[Footnote 9: Psalm cxxxix. 3.] + +[Footnote 10: I Chron. xxviii. 9.] + +[Footnote 11: Prov. i. 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29.] + +[Footnote 12: Vide Butler's Analogy.] + +[Footnote 13: Heb. x. 27.] + +[Footnote 14: Philippians, ii. 12.] + +[Footnote 15: John, v. 29.] + +[Footnote 16: James, i. 13.] + +[Footnote 17: 2 Peter, iii. 9.] + +[Footnote 18: Ezek. xviii. 23.] + +[Footnote 19: Ezek. xviii. 32.] + +[Footnote 20: Psalm cxlvii. 5.] + +[Footnote 21: Rom. xi. 33.] + +[Footnote 22: Psalm xcvii. 2.] + +[Footnote 23: Deut. xxix. 29.] + +[Footnote 24: Matt. xi. 28] + +[Footnote 25: This was the motto on their banner.] + +[Footnote 26: Title of Attila king of the Huns, whose desolating ravages +are well known.] + +[Footnote 27: Vide the testimony of West India merchants to the +Moravians, in the Report of the Privy Council on the Slave Trade.] + +[Footnote 28: Rom. xii. 1.] + +[Footnote 29: Dr. HORNE.] + +[Footnote 30: 2 Cor. viii. 12.] + +[Footnote 31: Isaiah, liii. 2.] + +[Footnote 32: Philip. ii. 6, 7, 8.] + +[Footnote 33: Luke, ii. 10, 11.] + +[Footnote 34: Col. i. 12, 13.] + +[Footnote 35: Ephes. i. 18.] + +[Footnote 36: Col. i. 27.] + +[Footnote 37: Heb. xiii. 8.] + +[Footnote 38: 1 John, iv. 20.] + +[Footnote 39: Dr. ADAM SMITH. Vide Theory of Moral Sentiments.] + +[Footnote 40: 1 Pet. i. 8.] + +[Footnote 41: Heb. iv. 15.] + +[Footnote 42: Isaiah, xl. 11.] + +[Footnote 43: Isaiah, xlix. 10.] + +[Footnote 44: The word Comfortless is rendered in the margin Orphans.] + +[Footnote 45: John, xiv. 18.] + +[Footnote 46: 1 Cor. xiii. 12.] + +[Footnote 47: Eph. ii. 1. 5.] + +[Footnote 48: Col. i. 13.] + +[Footnote 49: Ephes. ii. 10.] + +[Footnote 50: 2 Cor. vi. 16.] + +[Footnote 51: Col. iii. 9, 10.] + +[Footnote 52: Ephes. ii. 22.] + +[Footnote 53: Vide DR. DODDRIDGE's eight Sermons on Regeneration, a most +valuable compilation; and McLAURIN's Essay on Divine Grace.] + +[Footnote 54: Rom. iv. 5.] + +[Footnote 55: Ibid. v. 6-8.] + +[Footnote 56: The Writer trusts he cannot be misunderstood to mean that +any, continuing sinners and ungodly, can, by believing, be accepted or +finally saved. The following chapter, particularly the latter part of +it, (Section vi.) would abundantly vindicate him from any such +misconstruction. Meanwhile, he will only remark, that true faith (in +which repentance is considered as involved) is in Scripture regarded as +_the radical principle of holiness_. If the root exist, the proper +fruits will be brought forth. An attention to this consideration would +have easily explained and reconciled those passages of St. Paul's and +St. James's Epistles, which have furnished so much matter of argument +and criticism. St. James, it may be observed, all along speaks of a man, +not who _has_ faith, but who _says_ that he has faith. +Vide James ii. 14. &c. &c.] + +[Footnote 57: Vide Note Ch. iv. Sect. vi.] + +[Footnote 58: Gal. vi. 14.] + +[Footnote 59: I Cor. i. 30.] + +[Footnote 60: Rev. i. 5.] + +[Footnote 61: John, vi. 29.] + +[Footnote 62: 1 John, iii. 23.] + +[Footnote 63: Nec Deus intersit, &c.] + +[Footnote 64: Vide Heb. ii. 1, &c.] + +[Footnote 65: Any one who wishes to investigate this subject will do +well to study attentively McLAURIN's Essay on Prejudices against the +Gospel.--It may not be amiss here to direct the reader's attention to a +few leading arguments, many of them those of the work just recommended. +Let him maturely estimate the force of those terms, whereby the Apostle +in the following passages designates and characterizes the whole of the +Christian system. "We preach Christ crucified"--"We determined to know +nothing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." The value of +this argument will be acknowledged by all who consider, that a system is +never designated by an immaterial or an inferior part of it, but by that +which constitutes its prime consideration and essential distinction. The +conclusion suggested by this remark is confirmed by the Lord's Supper +being the rite by which our Saviour himself commanded his Disciples to +keep him in remembrance; and indeed a similar lesson is taught by the +Sacrament of Baptism, which shadows out our souls being washed and +purified by the blood of Christ. Observe next the frequency with which +our Saviour's death and sufferings are introduced, and how often they +are urged as practical motives. + +"The minds of the Apostles seem full of this subject. Every thing put +them in mind of it; they did not allow themselves to have it long out of +their view, nor did any other branch of spiritual instruction make them +lose sight of it." Consider next that part of the Epistle to the Romans, +wherein St. Paul speaks of some who went about to establish their own +righteousness, and had not submitted themselves to the righteousness of +God. May not this charge be in some degree urged, and even more strongly +than in the case of the Jews, against those who satisfy themselves with +vague, general, occasional thoughts of our Saviour's mediation; and the +source of whose habitual complacency, as we explained above, is rather +their being tolerably well satisfied with their own characters and +conduct? Yet St. Paul declares concerning those of whom he speaks, as +concerning persons whose sad situation could not be too much lamented, +that he had great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart, adding +still more emphatical expressions of deep and bitter regret. + +Let the Epistle to the Galatians be also carefully examined and +considered; and let it be fairly asked, what was the particular in which +the Judaizing Christians were defective, and the want of which is spoken +of in such strong terms as these; that it frustrates the grace of God, +and must debar from all the benefits of the death of Jesus? The +Judaizing converts were not immoral. They seem to have admitted the +chief tenets concerning our Saviour. But they appear to have been +disposed to trust (_not wholly, be it observed also, but only in part_) +for their acceptance with God, to the Mosaic institutions, instead of +reposing wholly on the merits of Christ. Here let it be remembered, that +when a compliance with these institutions was not regarded as conveying +this inference, the Apostle shewed by his own conduct, that he did not +deem it criminal; whence, no less than from the words of the Epistle, it +is clear that the offence of the Judaizing Christians whom he condemned, +was what we have stated; not their obstinately continuing to adhere to a +dispensation the ceremonial of which Christianity had abrogated, or +their trusting to the sacrifices of the Levitical Law, which were in +their own nature inefficacious for the blotting out of sin.-- +Vide Heb. vii. viii. ix. x.] + +[Footnote 66: Rev. v. 12.] + +[Footnote 67: ib. 13.] + +[Footnote 68: 2 Cor. xiii. 14.] + +[Footnote 69: 1 John, iii. 17.--Rom. xvi. 18.--Compared with +Philippians, iii. 19.] + +[Footnote 70: 2 Tim. iii. 4.] + +[Footnote 71: Matt. x. 37.] + +[Footnote 72: Jerem. ix. 23.] + +[Footnote 73: It will be remembered by the reader, that it is not the +object of this work to animadvert on the vices, defects, and erroneous +opinions of the times, except so far as they are received into the +prevailing religious system, or are tolerated by it, and are not thought +sufficient to prevent a man from being esteemed on the whole a very +tolerable Christian.] + +[Footnote 74: Vide Tale of a Tub.] + +[Footnote 75: Vide Tale of a Tub.] + +[Footnote 76: Isaiah, ii. 11.] + +[Footnote 77: Vide Hey's Tract, Rousseau's Eloisa, and many periodical +Essays and Sermons.] + +[Footnote 78: Vide "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath +committed adultery with her, &c." Matt. v. 28.] + +[Footnote 79: The writer cannot omit this opportunity of declaring, that +he should long ago have brought this subject before the notice of +Parliament, but for a perfect conviction that he should probably thereby +only give encouragement to a system he wishes to see at an end. The +practice has been at different periods nearly stopped by positive laws, +in various nations on the Continent; and there can be little doubt of +the efficacy of what has been more than once suggested--a Court of +Honour; to take cognizance of such offences as would naturally fall +within its province. The effects of this establishment would doubtless +require to be enforced by legislative provisions, directly punishing the +practice; and by discouraging at court, and in the military and naval +situations, all who should directly or indirectly be guilty of it.] + +[Footnote 80: Vide, in particular a paper in the Guardian, by ADDISON, +on Honour, Vol. ii.] + +[Footnote 81: Vide SMITH'S Theory of Moral Sentiments.] + +[Footnote 82: The writer hopes that the work to which he is referring is +so well known, that he needs scarcely name Mrs. H. More.] + +[Footnote 83: See SMITH'S Theory of Moral Sentiments.] + +[Footnote 84: While all are worthy of blame, who, to qualities like +these, have assigned a more exalted place than to religious and moral +principle; there is one writer who, eminently culpable in this respect, +deserves, on another account, still severer reprehension. Really +possessed of powers to explore and touch the finest strings of the human +heart, and bound by his sacred profession to devote those powers to the +service of religion and virtue, he every where discovers a studious +solicitude to excite indecent ideas. We turn away our eyes with disgust +from open immodesty: but even this is less mischievous than that more +measured style, which excites impure images, without shocking us by the +grossnesses of the language. Never was delicate sensibility proved to be +more distinct from plain practical benevolence, than in the writings of +the author to whom I allude. Instead of employing his talents for the +benefit of his fellow-creatures, they were applied to the pernicious +purposes of corrupting the national taste, and of lowering the standard +of manners and morals. The tendency of his writings is to vitiate that +purity of mind, intended by Providence as the companion and preservative +of youthful virtue; and to produce, if the expression may be permitted, +_a morbid sensibility in the perception of indecency_. An imagination +exercised in this discipline is never _clean_, but seeks for and +discovers something indelicate in the most common phrases and actions of +ordinary life. If the general style of writing and conversation were to +be formed on that model, to which Sterne used his utmost endeavours to +conciliate the minds of men, there is no estimating the effects which +would soon be produced on the manners and morals of the age.] + +[Footnote 85: Vide SMITH on the Wealth of Nations, Vol. iii.] + +[Footnote 86: Vide the Grammarians and Dialecticians on the Diminutives +of the Italian and other languages.] + +[Footnote 87: Many more might be added, such as a good fellow, a good +companion, a libertine, a little free, a little loose in talk, wild, +gay, jovial, being no man's enemy but his own, &c. &c. &c. &c; above +all, _having a good heart_.] + +[Footnote 88: Gal. v. 19-21. Col. iii. 5-9.] + +[Footnote 89: Job, xxviii. 28. Psalm, cxi. 10. Prov. i. 7.--ix. 10.] + +[Footnote 90: 2 Peter, iii. 10, 11.] + +[Footnote 91: Col. i. 13.] + +[Footnote 92: It is almost unnecessary to remark, that the word is to be +understood in a large sense, as including the Opera, &c.] + +[Footnote 93: Geneva--It is worthy of remark, that the play houses have +multiplied extremely in Paris since the revolution; and that last winter +there were twenty open every night, and all crowded. It should not be +left unobserved, and it is seriously submitted to the consideration of +those who regard the stage as a school of morals, that the pieces which +were best composed, best acted, and most warmly and generally applauded, +were such as abounded in touches of delicate sensibility. The people of +Paris have never been imagined to be more susceptible, than the +generality of mankind, of these emotions, and this is not the particular +period when the Parisians have been commonly conceived most under their +influence. Vide Journal d'un Voyageur Neutre. The author of the work +expresses himself as astonished by the phænomenon, and as unable to +account for it.] + +[Footnote 94: The author is almost afraid of using the terms, lest they +should convey an impression of party feelings, of which he wishes this +book to exhibit no traces; but he here means by Democrats and Jacobins, +not persons on whom party violence fastens the epithet, but persons who +are really and avowedly such.] + +[Footnote 95: LORD BACON.] + +[Footnote 96: If any one would read a description of this process, +enlivened and enforced by the powers of the most exquisite poetry, let +him peruse the middle and latter part of the fifth Book of COWPER'S +Task. My warm attachment to the exquisitely natural compositions of this +truly Christian poet may perhaps bias my judgment; but the part of the +work to which I refer appears to me scarcely surpassed by any thing in +our language. The honourable epithet of _Christian_ may justly be +assigned to a poet, whose writings, while they fascinate the reader by +their manifestly coming from the heart, breathe throughout the spirit of +that character of Christianity, with which she was announced to the +world; "Glory to God, peace on earth, good will towards men."] + +[Footnote 97: Here again let it be remarked, that faith, where genuine, +always supposes repentance, abhorrence of sin, &c.] + +[Footnote 98: Heb. xii. 1, 2.] + +[Footnote 99: It has been well remarked that the word used, where it is +said, that God "was PLEASED to bruise" and put to grief his only Son for +us, is the same word as that wherein it was declared by a voice from +Heaven, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."] + +[Footnote 100: Vide Chap. iii. Where these were shewn to be the +elementary principles of the passion of love.] + +[Footnote 101: Rom. v. 9. 10.] + +[Footnote 102: John xiii. 13-17. If I then, your Lord and Master, have +washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet, &c.] + +[Footnote 103: Vide Pascal's Thoughts on Religion--A book abounding in +the deepest views of practical Christianity.] + +[Footnote 104: Pope.] + +[Footnote 105: The _Hell_, so called, be it observed, not by way of +reproach, but familiarity, by those who frequent it.] + +[Footnote 106: Eph. ii.] + +[Footnote 107: The Rev. Matthew Babington of Temple Rothley, in +Leicestershire, who died lately at Lisbon.] + +[Footnote 108: The author must acknowledge himself indebted to Dr. OWEN +for this illustration.] + +[Footnote 109: The author here alludes to what happened within his own +knowledge; and he has been assured by others, on whose testimony he can +rely, of several similar instances. But to prevent misconstruction as to +the incident which mainly gives rise to the remark, he thinks it +necessary to declare, that the account, which appeared in some of the +news-papers, of an entertainment having been given by Mr. Pitt on the +Fast Day, is untrue; and he is glad of the opportunity, which the +mention of this subject affords him, of contradicting a statement which +he can positively affirm to have been false. This is one of the many +instances which should enforce on the readers of news-papers, the _duty_ +of not _hastily_ giving credit to reports to the disadvantage of _any_ +man, of _any_ party. A person in a public station must often acquiesce +under the grossest calumnies; unless he will undertake the vain and +endless task of contradicting all the falsehoods which prejudice may +conceive, and malignity propagate against him.--The writer may perhaps +express himself with the more feeling on this subject; because he has +often been, and, indeed, at this very moment is, in the circumstances +which he has stated.] + +[Footnote 110: I must beg leave to class among the brightest ornaments +of the Church of England, this great man, who with his brethren was so +shamefully ejected from the church in 1666, in violation of the royal +word, as well as of the clear principles of justice. With his +controversial pieces I am little acquainted: but his practical writings, +in four massy folios, are a treasury of Christian wisdom; and it would +be a most valuable service to mankind to revise them, and perhaps to +abridge them, so as to render them more suited to the taste of modern +readers. This has been already done in the case of his Dying Thoughts, a +beautiful little piece, and of his Saints' Rest. His Life also, written +by himself, and in a separate volume, contains much useful matter, and +many valuable particulars of the history of the times of Charles I. +Cromwell, &c. &c.] + +[Footnote 111: Let me by no means be understood to censure all the +sectaries without discrimination. Many of them, and some who by the +unhappy circumstances of the times became objects of notice in a +political view, were men of great erudition, deep views of Religion, and +unquestionable piety: and though the writings of the puritans are +prolix; and according to the fashion of their age, rendered rather +perplexed than clear by multiplied divisions and subdivisions; yet they +are a mine of wealth, in which any one who will submit to some degree of +labour will find himself well rewarded for his pains. In particular the +writings of Dr. OWEN, Mr. HOWE, and Mr. FLAVELL, well deserve this +character: of the first mentioned author, there are two pieces which I +would especially recommend to the reader's perusal, one, on Heavenly +Mindedness, abridged by Dr. MAYO; the other, on the Mortification of Sin +in Believers. While I have been speaking in terms of such high, and, I +trust, such just eulogium of many of the teachers of the Church of +England; this may not be an improper place to express the high +obligations which we owe to the Dissenters, for many excellent +publications. Of this number are Dr. EVANS'S Sermons on the Christian +Temper; and that most useful book, the Rise and Progress of Religion in +the Soul, by Dr. DODDRIDGE; also, his Life, by ORTON, and Letters; and +two volumes of Sermons, one on Regeneration, the other on the Power and +Grace of Christ: May the writer be permitted to embrace this opportunity +of recommending two volumes, published separately, of Sermons, by the +late Dr. WITHERSPOON, President of the College of New Jersey.] + +[Footnote 112: Vide Section vi. of the ivth Chapter, where we have +expressly and fully treated of this most important truth.] + +[Footnote 113: No exceptions have fallen within my own reading, but the +writings of RICHARDSON.] + +[Footnote 114: It is with pain that the author finds himself compelled +to place so great a writer as Dr. ROBERTSON in this class. But, to say +nothing of his phlegmatic account of the reformation; a subject which we +should have thought likely to excite in any one, who united the +character of a Christian Divine with that of an Historian, some warmth +of pious gratitude for the good providence of God; to pass over also the +ambiguity, in which he leaves his readers as to his opinion of the +authenticity of the Mosaic chronology, in his disquisitions on the trade +of India; his letters to Mr. GIBBON, lately published, cannot but excite +emotions of regret and shame in every sincere Christian. The author +hopes, that he has so far explained his sentiments as to render it +almost unnecessary to remark, what, however, to prevent misconstruction, +he must here declare, that so far from approving, he must be understood +decidedly to condemn, a hot, a contentious, much more an abusive manner +of opposing or of speaking of the assailants of Christianity. The +Apostle's direction in this respect cannot be too much attended to. "The +servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to +teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if +God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the +truth." (2 Timothy, ii. 24, 25.)] + +[Footnote 115: Mr. HUME.] + +[Footnote 116: Vide Dr. A. Smith's Letter to W. Strahan, Esq.] + +[Footnote 117: What is here stated must be acknowledged by all, be their +political opinions concerning French events what they may; and it makes +no difference in the writer's view of the subject, whether the state of +morals was or was not, quite, or nearly, as bad, before the French +revolution.] + +[Footnote 118: SOAME JENYNS.] + +[Footnote 119: PALEY'S Evidence.] + +[Footnote 120: See especially that great historian, FERGUSON, who, in +his Essay on Civil Society, endeavours to vindicate the cause of heroism +from the censure conveyed by the poet: + + "From Macedonia's madman to the Swede." + +] + +[Footnote 121: Such seems to be the just rendering of the word which our +Testament translates, "did not like to retain God in their knowledge."] + +[Footnote 122: It is a gratification to the writer's personal, as well +as public feelings, to pay this tribute of respect to the character of +Lord Chief Justice KENYON.] + +[Footnote 123: This is not thrown out rashly, but asserted on the +writer's own knowledge.] + +[Footnote 124: "Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my +God," (says David) "of that which doth cost me nothing." +2 Sam. xxiv. 24. + +"They," (the Apostles) "departed from the presence of the council, +rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of +Jesus." Acts v. 41. See also 1 Thess. i. 6. Heb. x. 34. James i. 2. +1 Peter iv. 13, 14. + +Such are the marks exhibited in Scripture of a true love to God: and +though our regard for our common Lord is not put to the same severe +test, as that of the Apostles and first Christians was; yet, if the same +principle existed in us also, it would surely dispose us to act in the +_spirit_ of that conduct; and prompt us rather to be willing to exceed +in self denials and labours for Christ's sake, than to be so forward as +we are to complain, whenever we are called upon to perform or to abstain +from any thing, though in an instance ever so little contrary to our +inclinations.] + +[Footnote 125: It may not be amiss to mention a few useful publications +of this sort. Walton's Lives, particularly the last edition by Mr. +Zouch; Gilpin's Lives; the Lives of Bishop Bedell and Bishop Bull; of +Archbishop Usher; some extracts from Burnet of the Life of the +incomparable Leighton, prefixed to a volume of the latter's Sermons; +Passages of the Life of Lord Rochester, by Burnet; the Life of Sir +Matthew Hale; of the excellent Doddridge, by Orton; of Henry, father and +son; of Mather; of Halyburton; Hampson's and Whitehead's Life of Wesley; +Life of Baxter, by himself, &c. &c. &c.] + +[Footnote 126: The author is aware, that he may perhaps be censured for +conceding this term to the class of persons now in question, since +orthodox Christians equally contend for the unity of the Divine Nature: +and it perhaps may hardly be a sufficient excuse, that, it not being his +object particularly to refute the errors of Unitarianism, he uses the +term in its popular sense rather than give needless offence. He thus +guards, however, against any false construction being drawn from his use +of it.] + +[Footnote 127: The author of this treatise has, since its completion, +perused a work entitled, Calvinism and Socinianism compared, by A. +FULLER, &c; and, without reference to the peculiarities of Calvinism, he +is happy to embrace this opportunity of confessing the high obligation +which, in common with all the friends of true Religion, he owes to the +author of that highly valuable publication for his masterly defence of +the doctrines of Christianity, and his acute refutation of the opposite +errors.] + +[Footnote 128: It is almost superfluous to state, that Sir WILLIAM JONES +is here meant, who, from the testimony borne to his extraordinary +talents by Sir John Shore, in his first address to the Asiatic Society +of Calcutta, appears to have been a man of most extraordinary genius and +astonishing erudition.] + +[Footnote 129: Mr. MAURICE.] + +[Footnote 130: This argument is pressed with uncommon force in PASCAL'S +Thoughts on Religion, a work highly valuable, though not in every part +to be approved; abounding in particular with those deep views of +Religion, which the name of its author prepares us to expect.] + +[Footnote 131: Vide, some exquisitely beautiful lines in the last book +of Cowper's Task, wherein this sentiment is introduced.] + + * * * * * + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES + + +Page numbers refer to the original text. +Footnote numbers refer to this transcribed version. + +p54: Repeated "a" has been removed. + +p83: Comma has been changed to full stop after "Almighty power". + +p95: Nested double quotes have been changed to single quotes. + +p106: Omitted word "in" has been added to "as it is Heaven". + +p350: "the only can feel it" has been changed to "they only can feel +it". + +Fn 65: The footnote at the end of this footnote has been placed inline. + +Fn 131: "Some" has been changed to "some". + +Index-Affections, religious: - Repeated word "of" has been removed. + +Index section "V" preceded "U" in the original. This has been corrected. + +All footnotes have been moved to the end of the text and numbered +sequentially. + +Some words were spelt, hyphenated, or had apostrophes placed, +inconsistently within the text. These have been silently corrected to +match the form most frequently used in the text. + +Where scanned text was unclear, the 1834 edition has been consulted. + +Unless due to a clear typographic error, consistent differences from +modern usage have been retained, such as spellings (e.g. prophane), +hyphenation (e.g. to-day), and punctuation (e.g. omission of commas +following full stops in lists and the Index). + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Practical View of the Prevailing +Religious System of Professed Christians, in the Middle and Higher Classes in this Country, Contrasted with Real Christianity., by William Wilberforce + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PROFESSED CHRISTIANS *** + +***** This file should be named 25709-8.txt or 25709-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/7/0/25709/ + +Produced by Robert Shimmin, Nigel Blower, Greg Alethoup +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |