Newspaper Page Text
GEORGIA CHRISTIAN REPERTORY.
VOLUME 11.
• / • ‘ ‘■ i ’ ■ ‘ i
j Tins
CffSkESSX&H REPEMOMT.
jjiiiViiri ANn'rfniiiftrtiu itv
G. CAPERS.
TERMS.— I Tlio Gkohv.iaCuhistian Ukpf.hiouy is
published evcrv Mulburry-su.iet, >“•
J, a , t ilu'ir to Budding, at Three. ■ Dollars
ner annum in advance.
Agents who may procure five subscribers, and lorn an!
tho amount of tlwir subscriptions, slirnl receive a copy.
The Itinerant and Local Ministers of Iho Methodist |
KpUcopa! Gita I .Hi, are authorised logi-o receipts lor a
sums paid tty subseiibcrs, and to lorwai Uho same at the
uvpensoimil iosj><insibiliiy “• d iu Editor.
A paw in the Repertory will lie appropriated to adver
tiseuutirts at the customary rales. No charge, however
will he made far notices of Religious and Benevolent fco
eietios. ..
Correspondent* *1 m;iy favour ut with Religious
Moral, Literary .or Scientific Essays, Biographical ftketcli
.,n,l CiUnmimicaiioiis in r iialam to tho progress ot
Gi'irislianitv generally, will ho pfois. and to correspond
with the Editor at liis expanse; lull all others (except
liiase who forward tlieamoant of a years subscription,)
trill hr required to jwy the pasta* l * V S ll,c ' r ldt, rs -
‘POETRY. !
.. - ■- r’ =* |
X'roin tbc (Loudon) \>utbs Mu^F./iiio.
WISDOM4PE !
I afh'd the sa"c, when wandering afar
la scair.il of wisdom’s bright anil shining star.
\‘/Hat’s wisdom? lie exclaimed with tearial eye., j
•• O'he fear of God’s the Wisdom ot toe wise.
I ask’d the rain hole's changing tints of fight,
‘l'lie glorious harbinger fi mercy hrig.U;
~ ’Twas wisdom sobod mo thus, the earth to sgan,
And bade urn lull Sue fearful heart oi man.
1 ask’d tbc arr.in— and its ceaseless fide,
In hollow murmurs, to my voice irpm-.l
< Rehold HIV swelling waves, their ebb ■urn m>",
•file hand of wioiom marks how tar they go.
Winn I pursued the pure, the golden smi •’ j
a~p pound li’riVi. when Ins course was nearly don ,
?: o‘stay me not.” he cried, •• check not my pace
, o; ; wisdom’s work to ran tbc Icav n.y race.
I nsii’d She stars to track mo wisdom’s way
tho high heaven of glory when- limy lay— j
. ‘Tis wisdom’s natb.” they said, “ ‘bat we have trod,
■”h,j liiltll to VYHuioiSi is-' —tlio Will ()! t.ou,
X ask’d the i/Mrn), the morn fisat shone afar,
| u her pale light within her orescent, ear—
*. Wisdom is knowledge of the hand divme.
That bade m< on, and placed me lieie to shine.
Tho silver spheres caught up the heavenly song,
i’.cboed through endless splice it io.> and a.oug : ;
Aiveis ivioieed, and fil'd with Judy fires.
Tuned unto wisdom ah their geloeti lyres.
*> True wisii.mi is the iallneneo brightly glowing,
Front the Almighty’s glory ever flowing!
‘file unspotted mirror of bis power and might.
The radiance of the everlasting light!”
Then eartli-borr. man attune thy sacred lyre,
And join the ehon.s of the lleajcnb choir,
jo praise t tho £r.„t triime God auove.
Whose will is wisdom, and whose rod is love-
IK) RE. :
Yes, it was trite, tttv Saviour died
To fescue iiian from sin rind woo;
My heart at onco the truth applied,
And yottld not, tvottiJ not lot it go.
1 felt it was my last loin hope ;
$ stay to tiie lone slupwreekijl given i
And grasped it with a drowning grape,
‘As sent to me direct from Heaven.
fti confirmation, word oh word
! Rose sweetly too from memory's store;
(Truths which in oilier days 1 heard,
But never know their worth before,
Lodged by o pious mother's cure
In the young folds ot thought, and sense,
Like lire in flint, they slumbered there,
Till anguish struck them bright front thence.
The beacon lights of Holy ‘■* fit,
They one by one upon me stole ;
Through winds and waves my pathway lit,
end chased the darkness from the soul.
Campbell.
STATE, OF THE WOULD
Before the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the',
, ‘ Gentiles.
NotUi!'.2 cavt he more awful and gloomy limn j
the picture of the munders and habits of the
day witch fear and distuay brooded over the
whole human race, when no prophet was hoard
to lift a warning voice, when no Shekalim
beamed its holy instructions, when the peculiar
people were unmindful of their privileges, and
forgetful of their Redeemer —when, in the strong
language of the prophet, “darkness covered the
earth, and gross darkness the people. If anv
thin” should he deemed requisite to establish
the truth of history in relation to the horrid
practices, the gross superstition and ignorance
of the world before the promulgation of the
Gospel, we mi “htfind it abundantly m the first
chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, there
elands the list of shocking deeds and polluting
principles, the perusal of which must disgust
every virtuous mind, and delicate conscience.
The state of things must have been truly aw*
fal, to have induced the wisest ot the Pagans to
say, that ruin and woe would soon overtake the
world, unless there should be some divine per
son sent from Heaven to instruct mankind in
Wisdom,and in the paths ot virtue, A few held
the keys of knowledge, and though their own
stock was small, they kept the great mass ol the
world m the most deplorable ignorance, rhos*
principles which now adorn society, and shU
comfort and lustre upon the name of Jfiuloso
nhv were either unknown or derided.
nature anti obliquity of ‘ices now well definet
t i. os( . n .f,i| and momentous truths, non
prged as governing principles—tho certainty ol
Ia filtero judgment —the solemnity of the ac- j
1 count required of even’ one—-*bo necessity ot!
atonement for jliat sin which every human he- ■
me- feels m his heart and affections, and the ■
necessity of repentance were wholly unknown,
or, if entertained by here and there a favored
one, were neither truly believed nor practised.
Such was tho state of the world before the dawn
of the Gospel. Reason had been the rich gift
of God to man ; but, without revelation, it
was like the sense of sight in a perfect dungeon
;—it made tho darkness mere awtul, a darkness
j which might he felt in the most period sense,
j —What more painful comliton than that ot the)
I man who feels liis disease, but knows not the ,
j way to a remedy ; who wanders in the night i
, who knows himself out of the way, but cannot;
I discern the path, however near it may be, that!
i would conduct him to the end of liis journey,
j .Such was the condition of the Ragan world be
i lore the maifestation of Christ.—“ Roo - wiui
j derers nil upon a stormy’ day,’’ and the night ol |
I the grave closing in upon them with all its hor- j
irors. Well, then, may the whole world shout
j and sing, that the light jins risen upon them. •
; Whether they inhnlut the wilderness, the
; of Rcdar, the rocjjs or tho •mountains, well may j
; they shout and be glad, ip their king! —Gospel j
j Messenger.
CLIMATE OF PALESTINE.
Under this head WM include file usual pro- j
perttes of the ntniosphctc which minister to |
health ami vegetation, for it lias been justly re- |
marked that Syria (Ralesline) has three cli- 1
! mates. The summits of Lilianas, for instance, j
1 covered with snow, diffuse a salubrious coolness
in the interim; the flat situations, on the eouit- !
[try, especially those which stretch along the J
line of tho const, are constantly subjected to j
I heat, accompanied with great humidity; while j
j! lie - adjoining plains of.l ho desert are scorched
jby the ravs of a burning lAiu, The seasons [
I and productions, of course, undergo a corres-i
I ponding variation, i n the imutnfaiusthe months j
lofspntig and siimnier very nearly coincide:
j with those in the southern parts ot Europe ; and
[the winter, winch lasts stout November till;
| March, is sharp and rigorous. No year passes
! without snow, which often covers the sttri.aee of
[theground to the depth of several feet, during |
many weeks. The spring and autumn are j
agreeable, and the summer by no means on- j
i pressive. But in the plums, on the other band, ]
jas soon ns the suit Ims passed the equator, a
j sudden transition'takes place to an overpowet
! ing heat, which continues till October. To
[compensate for this, however, the v inter is so
i temperate that orange-trees, dates, bananas,
land other delicate fruits, grow in the. open field.
| Hence, we need hardly observe that a journey
of u few hours carries the traveller through a
succession of seasons, and allows him a
of climate varying from the mild temperature ol \
1 Vaiicc. to tlie blood-heat ot lydia.or tbc pinch
ing cofil of Russia.
The winds in Palestine, ns in all countries j
approaching the tropics,..are perotlical, itmj gov-!
crued in no small degree by the sun. Alton;:
tlie luilumnul equinox, tho northwest begins to •
blow with (Vetjtiuncy and strength. It render.’- j
the air dry,clear, and sharp; and it is remark- j
able that on tho sen-const it causes the head-J
a die, like the northeast wind in Egypt. We!
[ may further observe, that, it usually blows three j
j days successively, like the south and southeast)
at the other equinox. It continues to prevail j
‘ill November, that is, about fifty days, v. hen it;
is followed by the west and southwest, called j
by tlie Arabs “ the fathers of. rain.” In March ]
‘arise the pernicious winds from the southern I
1 quarter, with the same circumstances as in E-j
jgvpt; hut they become feebler as we advance)
| towards the north, and are much more support-)
j able in the mountains than in the low country, j
I Their duration at each return, varies from tweii- i
! ty-ibur hours to three days. The easterly winds, j
j which come next in order, continue till June, j
i w lien they arc commonly succeeded by an incon- j
I stant breeze from the north. At 1 his season the j
j wind shifts through all the points every day.!
I passing with tho sun from cast to south, and j
I from south to west, to return by the north, and
j recommence the same circuit. At this time,
too, a local wind, called the land breeze, pro- ,
vails along the coast during the night*; itspiings j
up after sunset, lasts till the appearance of the ;
solar orb in the morning, und extends only a
few leagues to sea. . )
Travellers have observed that thunder, in tlie .
lowlands of Palestine as well as m Egypt, is I
more common during the winter than in sum-j
tner; while in the mountains, on the contrary,)
it is more frequent in the latter season, and very i
seldom heard in the former. In both ot these
countries it happens ofteuest in the rainy sea
son, or about the lime ot the equinoxes, espe
cially the autumnal; and it is further remarka
ble that it never comes from the land side, but
always from the sea. The storms, too, genei
ally speaking, take place either in the even ing
or morning, and early in the middle of the (.ay.
.They are accompanied with violent showers of
rain, ofnncoromoiily large drops ol
bail, which, soon covering the face ot the coun
try with stagnant water, gives rise to a copious
evaporation.
The phenomenon alluded to by the prophet
Elijah, is still found to diversify the aspect ol
the eastern sky. V olney remarks, that clouds
are sometimes seen to dissolve and disperse like
smoke ; while on other occasions they form in’
an instant, and from a small speck increase to a
•irodigious size. This is particularly observe
iile at the summit of Lebanon ; and mariners
have usually found that|thc appearance of a
cloud on this peak is an infallible presage of a
westerly wind, one of the “ fathers of ra in ni
•he climate of Judea.
Waterspouts were not unfrequent idorig tin
shores of Syria K awl more #speciffy > **ie
MACON, (GEORGIA,) WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12,*1832.
! neighbourhood of Mount CarincV Those oh-1
served by Dr. Shaw appeared to be so tnany j
cylinders of water falling down iromthe elnuds;
though by the reflection it might be those
of descending columns, or from the actipil drop- j
ping of the fluid contained in them, they would n
sometimes, says he, appear at a distance to be [
sucked up from the sea. The theory of water
spouts in the present day does, m fact, admit
the supposition here referred to; that the air,
being ratified by particular causes, has its equi
librium restored by the elevation rtf tile water,on •
the sante principles that mercury rises in the |
barometer, or the contents of a well ju a com- :
j mon pump. The opinions of the learned trav- I
Killer on this subject are extremely ‘oosc and j
j unscientific, and are only valuable in Mir times)
! as marking a certain stage in the progress oi’ j
meteorological inquiry.
Tho same author lias recorded a fact vhich
we have not observed in the pages of any niter
(tourist. In travelling by night, in tho bejiti
! mug of April, through tins valleys of Mount
! Ephraim, lie was attended for more than an V
l horn- by an ignis faiurn, that displayed ita-if in
:j, vuriety of extraordinary ap[ieantnees. It was
i sometimes globular, Jiiitd sometimes pointed, j
j like the flame of u candle; then it spread itself,]
|so as to involve the whole company m its pale j
; inoffensive light; after which it contracted, and 1
! suddenly disappeared. But in less thiui u min- j
! ute it would begin again to exert itself as at. I
[other times, runniiig along from one place to j
janotlier with great swiftness, like a train of
I gunpowder set on fire; or else it would expend
itself over more than two or three acres of the
adjacent mountains, discovering every tjltrub
[and tree that grew upon them. The ntmos
| pliere, from the beginning evening, luuE
; hern remarkably thick mid M'T , il "d the dew, j
1,-ni felt upon the bridles, i\^ *musiia!ly clatnyj
, and unctuous. In sitcflKve'aftfer similar luinin- ;
mis bodicji arc observed skßipMig about the
• masts nml yards of .-.hips, mid are called by Ute
1 mariners corpusanse, a corruptibtf of the attrpo
| sail to, or sacred body, of tile Spaniards. The
aamt; were the Castor and Pollux of the :in
;eieuts. Some writers have attempted to ue
eoum for these plienomena, particuhrrly for the
’ ignis fatmis, by supposing it to he occasioned
by successive swarms of flying glow wonts,
jor other insects of the same nature. Rut, ns j
j f>r. .Shaw observes, not to perceive or fee! any ;
! of these insects, even when the light winch they
produce spreads itself around us, should induce
us to explain both tins appearance and the otli
i cr on the received principle that they are net
, j (tally meteors, or a species of natural phospho
i rus, —Journal of Health.
INSANITY.
Tho late -sorrowful event at Thompson,
.Conn, tin: death of the Rev. Thomas Barrett,
, probably by his own hands, lias led usto inqui
ries on the probable character of insanity. A
[letter from Webster, the place of his kite res i
- deuce, informs that for several weeks before his
; death, Mr. Barrett had been part rally tlcraeg
! etl. in two other instances he was known to
:hein a similar melancholy state of mind. It
; has long been our ottinien', that persons who
arc insane, ore not accountable for t • •, -
J tluel under this mental aiicnatiou ; and we hope
; the thought will he consoling to his numerous
ifrit-mls. The nature of insanity is one of the
i subjects* embraced in a work bv Dr. John A her- [
; crombie, Fellow of the Royal Col leg-• of I'hysi- j
! ciruis in Ediulinrgb, entitled, “Riqurics eon-[
jeerningthe Inteliccttud Rowers,” &c.just pul>-
jlislied in the Family Library, by Messrs. J/LJ. I
! Harper, New York. The brief definition of
! Insanity which we here present from this work,
j is out? of the best w'liich we have ever seen :—;
Christian Watchmen, t
“Tlie power of reason in man, when possess- !
jed by the mind in a healthy state, is that of ar
i resting or changing the train of its thought at
| pleasure, —of fixing tlm attention upon one, or!
j transferrin!’ it to another, —of changing the |
j train into something which is analogous to it, j
|or of dismissing it altogether. This power is;
| to a greater >r less degree lost in iisanitv ; and I
the result is one of two conditions. Either the)
i mind is enlimiy under the influence of a single)
! impression, Without the power of varying or
| dismissing itj,nnd comparing it with other ini- j
j pressions; or it is left at the mercy of a chain of
! impressions wlicit have been set in motion,and j
j which succeed one another according to sonic
! principle ol collection over thich the individ
| ual has no contol. In both cases, the mental
j impression is blieved to have a real and pres
ent existence nifhe external world; and this
[false belief is nq corrected by the actual stnte
of things ns they tresent themselves to the sen
ses, or by any taws or considerations which
can be coianuiitiJuKd by other sevtient beings.
*Of the cause of this remarkable deviation from
the healthy state of mental function we know
nothing.'’ \\ may tiace its connexion with
eoiieoniitantcircunstances in the bodily func
tions, and we tnay Investigate certain- effects
I which result from it; but the nature yf the
change and the manner in which it is produced
are among those points in the arrangement of
the Almighty Creator, which entirely elude out
re searches.
The most striking peculiarity of melancholia
is the prevailing propensity to suicide; and
there *re facts connected with this subject
which remarkably illustrate what may be call
ed the philosophy of insanity. When the mel
ancholic hallucination has fully taken posses
sion of the mind,it becomes the sole object of at
tendon, without the power of varying the im
.r. ssion, or of directing the thoughts to any
fiugs or considerations calculated to remove or
osilmte it. Tbo evil seems overwhelming and
irremediable, admitting neither palliation, con
solation, nor hope. For the process of mim!
calculated to diminish such m impression, or.
i even to produce the palhntibn of the evil, is
‘'precisely *hut exercise of mmd which, m this
singjdar condition, is lost or suspended; muncly
a power of changiug the subject of thought, of;
jtonsferring the attention to other facts mol con-
Uiderations, and of comparing the itientul itn
j pressions with these, and with the actual state
of external tilings. Under such a conviction
ol overwhelming and hopeless misery, the feel
in? naturally arises of life being a burden, and
this is succeeded by a determination to quit it.
; When such an association has once been i’orm
j ed, it also fixes itself upon the mind, and fails to;
Ibe corrected by those considerations which ;
I ought to remove V. That it is in the rammer;
1 the impression noses, and not from any process
j analogous to thedvtcrniMiatiou of a sound mind,!
| appears, among other circumstances, tn in the!
[singular manner in wicli it i- often dissipated
namely, by die r.ceideiiial pi uiiietam of some j
new impression, not calculated m any degree
to influence the snlfieet of thought, but simply i
to give a moiiu ntaiy direction of the mind toj
isidtue other feeling. Ti ns a man, mentioned 1
by Pm, I, lmd left his house in the night with j
the ijcterminOjd resolution of drowning himself,!
when ho was attacked liv robbers. lie did liisl
best to escape from them, and having done so, j
j returned home, the restitution of suicide being j
j cn'.iraly dissipated. A women, mentioned, I j
* believe, by Dr. Ilurraws, laid her r> solution j
! changed in the same lnaiim r, l y souiethiug'i
j liiljtng on her head afieryhe had gone out fora’
similar purpose.
Frdrii flii) Aiussoniror oi’tlie rviTunat t! (. !mv< h i
IHNIYRI^AIJiSTS.
This appellative is used i\i very different sig- ‘
; niflcatiotis v. Inch must by noWaushccouftmnd
\cd. Mui'simm in Ins Theoloiy opposes l. ui
jycrsaliitis to /'iirlieulnris's. By the latter lie!
ncaim those who hold the doctrine of pniliett-j
hit; redethptiou and limited tkimemeitt, ami bvj
thi\|jiniicV those whc> believe jiuit Chnst. die.-i!
for all mankind, unit tliut it : - in {mwer of all j
to be wived by* him. Both tht\e parties are!
agreed in this, that none are actually raved, lititi
those who believe its Ghrisf, and are saiw; itied j
!;y tiietr faith ; while oil tjie eontl’aiy all who;
die in unbelief perish forever. — In American i
usage t!m term Uitivvise.lirls designates all)
. j those who liulieve.tliat ti e whole race of man!
; will ultimately !•’ ■•■avt.!. But among these!
1 again two classestuii.-i be carefully distinguish-i
etl, vis. Ultra Uuivercidists,-vito deny all In-!
turc punishment, alleging that sin is expiated |
in tbc the afflict ions ot die present state of he-!
ing, tspeeialiy iu the pains ol tlvath ; ant! Res- j
, torationists, v. lit. admit a ptmishGent of sin in ;
Ia future state, hut consider it remedial, designed
| to reform the sinner, mid beheveyihut nil the
, damned will eventually be restored to the favor
of God and made partakers of the \ymrity and
■ the bliss of heaveti.
L ; The doctrine of the Ultra Universidiata sa|>n
. the foundations of Christianity and overturns
all the principles of virtue and piety. It is nr- j
tain that impenitent sinners do not believe tliati
) they sutler more of the ills of life than the pi-J
| ous endure, and, if they consider those ills tik i
: unity of sin, that they are willing to hear it’
I for the sake of the pleasures which sin aiiWtls;’
j and it is evident from their conduct that, upon
the whole, so fur as they tire aide or willing to
j com pare conditions, they prefer their own to j
| that of the' most devoted Christian, As to tbcl
i pains of death, they know that the pious die as
; well as they, and they care little about the djf |
ference between one death and another, /if all)
! arc to he equal when the agony is over, ft' you!
tell them that they shull suffer ar. angwish of’
mind from winch the pious are free, tlm) know j
that many, as ungodly as themselves, have gone)
t out of life, with great Unconcern ; they hope toj
!he ns much at ease; and, at the most; that nil:
! the distress of living will bo but luqmtiiuiry.!
If there bo no difference between the conditions)
! of the right coifs and the wicked in another state
■f beings, there is therefore nothing to forbid j
j the conclusion that God makes , none between' 1
I theircharacter; that virtue and vice are much! 1
I the same to him, and that there is no icaldif-j
j fcrqpcc i'i their nature. The character of God ;
j iiiipsell’lie-;oiries ambiguous ; his laws and in-j
[ stitutions appear as trifling with his creatures;,
| and tiic wlioh moral system of the universe is
j iinliihgod, 1
| It is nsplesVio reply that we must bn virtuous
from higher motives tlir.ii the hope of reward,
and the fear of punishment; that virtue must
lie loved becailsp it is lovely ami vice hated be
cause it is hateful; thi Cihe love of God muVof
our neighbour must he the principal motive \\
all our actions; and tluk mercenary acts tire)
not virtuous. All this tsVcry true, but it is no
reply to the argument. How can virtue lie
loved or vice hated for it)own sake, unless the
loveliness of the one ami the hatefulnsss of the
other he seen? But m whit light will the one
or the. other appear to tiiost who behove that
God himself puts no tnnteiinl difference be
tween them ? And ntrtothelotc of God, how j
can a virtuous mind have complacency in a he-1
ing whose character is so ntdiiguous? Or how
can tlie love of such a being move the heart in
which it prevails to a virtuous conduct? It is
such a jove as the idolater feds for the Sun
that rises upon tlie evil and Iheg vocl anil warms
and dieers them both alike, or equally oppres
ses bpth with excessive heat. He hails the lu
min.-uy in its rising and rejoioes in its imams,
and rises from his siuccrest devotions topursue
with equal approbation any course of fonduct
to which he may be solicited. It is such a love
nsjsubjects may* have for a ruler who grants un
bounded licence to their poeeions ; a love that
make) thejr tongues eloquent or noisy m bi.-
jiraise, but does not nuke their hearts butci
it rs only wlvep God is know . ns a holy ano ju; >
doing that the love of him can exert a Rjuici:-
Ling influence uyion huryau conduct; nod he
can only then appear holy and just when lie
rewards virtur ami punishes vice as to n.ahe
liis love of the former ami Ins abhorrence’of the
; latter manifest to Bis creatures. We dicover
the Intrude difference I • tv,, n virtue amt vice
by tbcyjjtcts they produce. We call that good
which^HNidticiv•. tu tl„ cot: mon happiness,
and which is injurious to it. Hence
we ideas of goodness ami of wicked
ness in iVB He is a good or a virtuous mats
who docs piiself and causes others Jo do what
ever conduces to order am; hupp: m ss, and both
I refrains himself and causes oil., rs to refrain
t from whatever'is of a contrary tendency. If a
| good mi’ be clothed with power to reward and’
jto punish, we expect him to exercisi it f.-y the
! purpose of rest raining the wicked, ptotect’iig
i the just, promotin;'; virtue, anil thereby H cieas’
i iijf public happiness. It instead ot so doing
; ho treats the just and ih< uttjitst w ilii equal i':..
jvo;ij-,'or with equal la gleet, the count xtK’p be
j tween hjs conduct inu oar i.ieaa of gtiodiie . :
[broken : we entj tract tin tormer to no tinea
! and the lattcg to no-efl'eeis ; and (.turkucr-a and
■ tonfusiou are brought into all our nitnaieof:-
j eeptiuns anti feelings. If this rmer lie
ihimself, the supreme arbiter of the tititvcrse,
i ivi: must either retain our moral scntimtiitsantl
! hate him ; or we tnest coi.chuie that gt.oeuess is
I hut a name, that moral st intmeuts are an i!hi
isiou,nnd that we lune deceived ourselves in ■.•••.
j y a riling’ the effects of human actions upon im
! man happiness as evidence of a real ditTrence
[of moral character betivecii what we tertp.
i and e\ il.
! Hat supposing that God could j>t suffciehtiV
[known, tho beauty of virtue twal tin* deformity*
of vice eiei’tjv seen, nn,l the hent t filled v. nii
: love tieyjvrd <;d as the jairfrct pattern of Gocd
! ues.t, though vvi could not di a.-ov- r that he puts
[any material tiifli-rei e.e, of any difl'ert nep at all
| between rigliteous.oe.rs And sin. we fire nuver
. ilielesa r.neoinftcretl by tin: fact iliat an iimucttso
! nmjority of tliC lintoilii raep are strangers
’ the love of Gotl. Where thi.-i principle has tn
j deed possession of the heart, it will untpies
i lion ably produce in the conduct of life acheer
[ing oheilieuce to the whole vviii of God, and
5 will, iu a great mtye-urt:, supercede the iipccss:-
jty of any law sanctioned Vy paixs am; prnalties
\ wliethei’ divine or iiuiKitn. —“ Low is the fid,
[tilling of the law,’ —“Pi rfi et lovt cartth cut
| suns.” “ The law is not made-for a rightei* a
lrnnn.” Under the tiiflucncc of this lienvrniv
• prineqiie the rt:d Christian pursues a course , f
j iiely.practice, generally, irrespective of punish*
; incut either present or future and often iuatten*
j five even to the promised reward: he does what
is tight ami good, in many instance?, without
reflection, for t:o other Reason than because he
loves it, and, by constant repefttion, has form
ed a Imhit tifdeiiijg it;nnd it would rlo vitilencc
to h’.H'feclingip/iid lie a cause of ro-Huli pain
to him, il he were prevented from {airsuiu*stub
a Course of conduct. Rut vv but shall bo dtoo
j w-ith these w ho arc not gov< rued by the lovi of
j God and whose feelings and habits arc jyl on
j the opposite side’ Such is certainly the case
jof .dl men before they arc regenerated ly tlie
j spirit ot Gi.d. “The cnrnal mind is enipiiy
’ against God it loves what be bates at! hates
! wlntt he loves: aid till ore carnal! and not
| spiritual, until they ate horn again-—until they
■ are l; saved by the washing of regeneration and
| the r nerving of the holy ghost.”
j V,eiciiinni perceive wlitit is .'o restrain thesq
; from the commission of sin ir its worst forms,
I and to prevent the world Iron becoming a mere
| sink of corruption and wretchedness, if there
! he no punishment of sin, or uCne that is evident
’ and uiiequi vocal. A state without laws, or bar,
j iug laws v. ithout sanctions, where every offen*
der would be sure of impunity, would sooa bo
I full of violence and disorder. We cannot sup.
j pose that the government of God is suclit with,
lout supposing that it is no government!at all,
but, instead of it, a mockery and trifling.!
i Even to the pious c system of rewurtb and
J vumsluncnts is not useless. Love iWlced is
‘the fuifiling of the law, and perfect lor casteth
nut fear; but very few Christians are s perfect
in their love, that they can derive nc benefit
from the consideration of rewards and innisli
irients, or from thr incitements of here and
fear. Moses “ had respect to the r<c©n.peiico
of reward,” and Jesus bin self eidured the
cross, despising tin shame “ for lhe,oy that was
set before him.”* The expCctntio) of reward
is therefore consistent with pcrt'eet'love; and it
is, indeed, characteristic of all true Christians
that thr-v are “ Looking for flint blessed hope
and the glorious appearing of oiv great God
i and Saviour Jesus Christ.”! If this expecta
tion and the encouragement wluch Christians
derive from it render their v irtuel mercenary, it
; is that, sort of mcrcinarincss which is lneepain
| ble from our nuiure ; which Cod himself ap
proves; and which deserves n letter name. Cn
the otlKr hand, the consideratpn ofpniiishnient
enables the purest Christian tffsee the criminal
ity and tin odiousuess of sin/n a light in which
| lie could not othcrvvisi view diem, and to regard
sin itself with an abhorrence which he could
opt othorn ise feel. “When he observes that
God, whose goodness Fie feels to he so un
bounded, visits sin upon the transgressor with a
tremendous effect, he learns that there is in sin
a malignity far exceeding what, at the first view,
his own eye discerns, and lie turns from it, wiih
a more trembling anxiety, to avoid the ofienpe
which it gives. And when his religions feelings
are languid and bis lemptntions strong, the re
collection cf this awful truth, that (>od will
give to every wav area ding to his works, recalls
him from danger aid wel.es i j in Ins mind
those efforts bv wl ‘I ft is preserved from
guilt and his bette r feelings are revived. It
these consult l” liens vt tri removed, he would
vi nothing ’c secure him hem falling, vh
* JHeb. xi. SO. xii/5. * Titw> 2, If!.-
NUMBER 32.
