Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-04-06

lnterpoSitlon TO ena6leuS 10 aCCompllsh "
:" In my last, showed you from the ve-
ry words of our Saviour, that he COM
manded his disciples to aim at perfec-
ton and that this perfection consisted
IN seif-sublugation and brotherly love, in
the ST of the passions, and in the
practice of benevolence to our fellow
creatures, including among them our
most inveterate enemies" "You will
there iipd proved the duty Of totally sub.
DUNG the passions. It's sometimes OBJ
Jecied that this theory is not adapted to
the inGrmitles OF human ma ure ; that it
is not made for being SO constituted
as man; that an carthern vessel is not
formed to dash against rock that in
yielding 10 the impulse OF The passions,
man only follows the dictates OF his ma
ture: and that to snbdue them entirely,
is an effort beyond his power. The
weakness and fraiity Of man, il is not pos
sible to deny; it Is too strongly attested
by all human experience, as well as by
the whole tenor of the Scriptures but
the degree of weakness is to be limited
ny The efforts to overcome il, and not by
indn leence to it. Once admit weakness
as an argument t. iorbeor exerion, aud
il results IN absolute Impotence. 1t is
also very inconclusive Reasoning, 10 in
Ter, thai because perfection is not abso-
iuieiy to be obtained, it is therefore mol
10 b. sought. Human excellence con-
sisis in the approximation 10 perfection j;
and the Only means Of approaching to
any term, is by endeavoring to obtain the
term itself. Uuh these convictions up
on the mind, and with sincere, honest
efoi, to practise upon them, and vita
the aid oi Divine blessing, which is
promise6 TO II, the approaches to per-
lection may al least be so great, as near
ly to answer all the ends that absolute
perfection itself could attain"
" In order to preserve The dominion Of
nur own passions, ii behoges US to be
constantly and strictly upon our guard,
against The influence and infection of the
passions of others. This cauliqn is all
necessary in youth, and deem II the
because as kindness and bcnevoIence,
comprise the whole system OF christian
hulies there may be, and often is great
danger Of falling tito danger and vice,
merely by The want Of energy 10 resist
The cx9mpIe, or The enticement Of cihers
On this point, the rue character Of chris
tian morality, appears to have been mis-
bY some OF lis a5est and
wermasi defenders. IL Paley's /" View
of the Evidences Of Christianity" there
is chapter upon The morality 1.-THE Cos
pei; in which there is The following pas.
sage. The truth is there are two OBJ
posite descriptions Of Characters under
which, mankind may generally be class
ed. Its one possesses vigor, firmness,
resolution; is daring aud ac,se, quci,
in lis sensibiliies, jealous Of lis fame, ca
ger in lis attachments, i1lexible in it's
purposes, violent in its rcsentmen.s.
The other, meek, yielding, complying,
iorglving, not Eromp, to act, but willing
10 suffer slen. ard gentle under rhde-
ness and insuit, suing for reconciliation
where others would demand salts fiction !;
giving way 70 lie pushes Of iopudenee,
conceAing and induigcnt to the prelodi-
ccs, the intractibiliiy Of those il has to
deal with the former OF these charac-
lcrs Is, and ever hath been, the iavorte
Of The world. II is The character Of great
mcn. There is dignity in it, which uni /.
versa''y commands respect. The latter
is poor spirited, tame and ab,ec,. Ye,
SO it happened With The founder Of chris
'ianity, the latter is the subject Of his
rommenda'ion, his precepts, his exam
pie; and that the FORMER is no part Of
lis composition" Dr.. Paiey is in this
place adopting the opinion oil Soame Jen-
nlngs, whose essay upon the internal evi
dence of christianity, he very strongly
conmcnds; but ] cannot consider it as
an accurate and discerning deiinea,ion
Of characta r, or as exhibiting correct
Of christian principles
I he founder of christianity did indeed
pronounce, distinct and positive blessings
upon the poor in spirit (Which is by no
means SYNONYMOUS with The poor spirit
ed) and the meek. But in what part OF
The gospe! did Or. Paley find him coun-
lcnancing by commentator. precept or
example, the tame and abiecs. The
character which Christ assumed upon
earth, was that of Lord and Master. 1t
was in this character that his disciples
received and acknowledged him. The
tina, he required was unbound
ed: infinitely beyond that which was
claimed by the most absolute earthly
sovereign over his subjects. Never for
one moment did he recede from the au-
Ihoriia'ive system. He preserved it in