The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-05-08

pieship. Itcomprehends this--all this
nothing less than this.
Now, if view be taken Of the for
midable obstacles which, in the days OF
Christ's humanity, surrounded every in
dividual disposed TO obtain this character,
it will be at once perceived, how nee
essary it was that he should be address
ed In language, which demanded from
him voluntary sacrifice of his most en-
dearcd connexions, and even of his life.
The gospel had then not only 10 con-
tend with the deprayity of the human
heart, and with the common principles,
maxims, a@I spirit of the world, which
is at all times its determined adversary !
with honours, which Paul might have
attained, and which Agrippa dared not
renounce with pleasures which none
can love without alternating their affec--
tons from God; and with covetousness,
which Felix could not forego, and the
young man, who bad large possessions,
could not relinqush---but with all this
mighty phalanx, supported by Judaism
on the one hand. with all its strict, proud
and unyielhng exclusiveness-and BY
Paganism on the other, under all its
forms of fascination and of power; and
these again embodied and arrayed in the
persons of beloved relatives, held to-
gether by The ties of cOnsanguinity, and
armed with all the fearful energy of re-
ciprocal endearments-it was, in these
circumstances, that Jesus Christ de-
clared, Whosoever he be. that for
saketh not all that he hath, and hateth
not father and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters, yea,
and his Own life also, he cannot be my
disciple"
But who ever imagined that these
strong assertions are to be interpreted
literally? We are not to suppose, be-
cause we are Christians, that we are
under any circumstances TO forget what
is due to those social connexions which
only death can dissolve. Christ, indeed,
claims our hearts. Within them he
must reign without a rival but that
very love which he requires, is a
mighty stimulus to the performance of
those natural duties, which before
were plain and easy but which, our
relation to him may have rendered
complicated and difficult. One of the
finest passages in MilIman's beautiful
poem, the Fall Of Jerusalem, adjusts the
apparently interfering claims of nature
and Christianity. The lovely proseIyte,
Miriam, entreated by her Christian low
err, to renounce forever the paternal
roof, and her cruel father, the detesta-
bic Simon, brcathes the very spirit of
her new religion in the following ex-
quisite exposition -
Oh cease | pray thee, cease.
Javan! know that all men hate my father
Javan fear that all should hate my father;
And therefore, Javan, must his daughters
love
Make up to his forlorn and desolate heart
The forfeited affection of his kind.
Is t not so written in our law. And He,
We worship, came not 10 destroy the law.
Then let men rain their curses-let the storms
or human hate beat on his rugged trunk;
| will cling to him-starvc, die, bear the
SCOTS
vi men upon my scatter'd bones with him.
Still, the words of our Saviour have
very important meaning; though not
to be understood literalIy-they are vet
to be considered as demanding renun-
citation of every thing incompatible
with entire devotedness to Him. And
so far as the honours, possessions and
relations of the present life are obsta-
eles to ourbecoming true Christians, they
are to be relinqulshed and hated. We
must {" forsake all''-that is, all com
parativcly, in respect of affection; and
absolutely, whenever it stands in COM
petition with the paramount duty we
owe to religion. But we are not to go
out of the world, nor voluntarily to a.
bandOn our connexions in society Our
light is to shine before men. The piety
that is too delicate to bear the gaze of
the world, or too sensitive to endure its
touch, it is to be feared is spurious in
its nature. 1t wants the two grand dis
tinguishing principles of Christian devo-
tion-utility and diDusioa-the princi-
pies which impel US TO do good to others,
and to propagate our faith.
No man ever acquires strength and
decision of character, without contend
ing with difficulties. If all is smooth and
Al