Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1810-12-17
EJR Ronitor.~ No. xLVuT.

4 HaTe am X, send me-
SO spoke tue evangelical Prophet when
in the Temple he saw the glory OF he aioss
High, and was purged from his sins bv the
atoneDent, signifed by the touching OF his
lips with FIRE. That al men are under co.
legations to serve Cod, none caa dany--bur
those especially who are made experimen-
tally acquainted with the truth cannot bat
feel disposed - devote themselves wholly
to Gods service. but here many good peo-
pie mistake, and when they first entertain a
well grounded hope Of salvation, think they
must preach, and fancy there Is 10 other
call bat 10 the ministry, nor any wsv to
persuade man. unless it be done IN The
capacity Of public escher
Siuc- The completion of the Sacred Can
on men have ne4er 5een authorised ta eE-
pcct any m.rarllous display WI tile Spirit,
save in the impisnlaton ot p-iacip.e of he-
liaess rs tba hearts Of siugeta sld IS tasse
net.lgIg-s emmunica.lons 5v vhien fhz
'lrlsG4 t4 8 GnaiRtAned and aaurlsi.Ga.
and a1 yn4 an htrelore pretend t1 aav
lmuIliat1 revelation Jr The subject oraoc-
irlHe 81 duty, without justly incurring tie
charge Of enthusiasm aud what IS still
worse, hszarding the awful denuacsation.
Ct such as add unto the words III lns1irati5n.
To discern a special call of prOvidenc-
something more is necessary than the merss
impulses of our own minds All our ac-.
lions, duties, words, and even thoughts are
tincture6 with sin which sullIes all moral
beauty and still continues to deface the
whole crestIon-where2 the acts Of God
are perfect, and wholly free from that mix
ture OF intirmity which is apparent in tAa
best OF his children. When therefore. Wa
attend to all the dispensations of providence.
and dsly weigh each minute circumstance
which may affect US, and consider the prob
able effect from every known cause, We
may gather our duty with some degree q
certainty; but when we follow the impulses
of our own minds, and wrest The scripture
to suit our corrupted imaginations, we can
have no other guide but those impulses, we
may therefore wander about like IN ignus
fataHs, changing our course with every
wind, until TO our shame and confusion wa
shall find that we have beea walking in tho
light of our own fire, and wholly encofn-
passed with sparks Of our own kindhng.
It was the opinioA Of that eminent servant
Of God Mr.. Edwards that The grand adyer-
sary had full access to the imagination even
after the heart was renewed by divine
grace SO that the willy deceiYer may sur.
gest many things through this mediums
with an intent to lead men aside from real
duty, even though he could not succeed iu
removing the principle Of holiness once ina
planted. We have therefore much occasion
to suspect the truth of any impulse which
tends to draw Us from that situation in
which initiate wisdom has seen fiji ID place
US, and formed Us to fiji ! at he same time.
inasmnch Is Gods way is often covered to
our view, and his path as in the waters,
we should lend listening ear to the real
call his providence, and never presume
to carve for ourselves, but let the Ian
guage Of our hearts be "speak Lord for
thy servant heareth." Let our enquiries
thus be after the truth with determnAtioa
to embrace it, and our endeavors be dIrec-
ted 10 find the path Of real duty with re-
solution to walk therein and We shall noe
often D. led sstray