Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-11-10

Among the virtues, we give the first
place to the Love of God. We believe,
that this principle is the true end and hap
piness of our being, that we were made
tor union with our Creator, that his inf
rite perfection is the only sufficient OBJ
ject and true resting place for the nsatl-
able desires & unlimited capacities of the
human mind, and TINT without him, our
noblest sentiments, admiration, venera-
ton, hope, and love, would withcr and
decay. We believe too, that the love of
God is not only essential to happiness,
but to the strength and perfection Of all
the virtues; that conscience, without the
sanction of Gods authority and retribu-
tive justice, would be weak director,
that benevolence unless nourished by
communion with his goodness, and en-
courlged by his smile, could not thrive
amidst the sefishness and thanklessness
of the world; and that self government,
without sense Of the divine inspection,
would hardly extend beyond an outward
and partial purity. God, as he is essen
italy goodness, holiness, justice and vir-
tue, so he is the life, motive and sustain
or of virtue in the human soul.
But whilst we earnestly inculcate the
love Of God, we believe that great care
is necessary to distinguish it from coun-
terteits. We think that much, which is
called piety, is worthless. Many have
fallen into the error, that there can be
no excess in feelings, which have God
for their object; and distrusting as cold
ness that eli-possession, without which
virtue and devotion lose all their dignity,
they have abandoned themselves to eX-
travagances, which have brought con-
tempt on piety. Most certainly, if the
love Of God be that, which often bears
It's name, the less we have of it, the bet
ter. II religion be the shpwreck of un-
derstanding we cannot keep too far from
1t. On this subject, we always speak
plainly. We cannot sacrifice our reason
to the reputation Of zeal We owe it to
truth and religion, to maintain, that ianat
iciSm, partial insanity, sudden impress
sions, and ungovernable transports, are
any thing, rather than piety.
We conceive that the true love of
God is a moral sentiment, founded on
clear perception, ard consisting in a high
esteem and venelation, of his moral per-.
tecticns. Thus, it perfectly comedies,
and is in fact the same thing, with the love
of virtue, rectitude, and goodness. You
will easily, Judge then, what we esteem
the surcst and only decisive signs of pie
.ty. We esteem him, and him only a pi-
Gus man, who practically conforms to
Gods moral projections and government;
who shows his delight i'll Gods benevo-
Icnce, by loving and serving his neigh
hour; his delight in Gods justice, by be-
ing resolutely upright; his sense Of Gods
purity, by regulating his thoughts, mag-
nation, aud desires; and whose CONVEX
saton, business, and domestic life arc
swayed by a regard to Gods presence
and authority. In all things else men
may deceive themselves. Disordered
nerves may give them strange sights, and
sounds and impressions. Texts of scrip
ture may come to them as from Heaven.
Their whole souls may be moved, and
their confidence in Gods favor be un-
doubling But in all this there is no re-
ligion. The question is, do they love
Gods commands, in which his character
is fully expressed, and give up to these
their habits and passions; Without this,
ecstasy is a mockery. One surrender
Of desire to Gods will, is worth thou
sand transports. We dc not Judge ofthe
bent of mems minds by their raptures,
any more than we Judge of the natural
direction of a tree, during storm. We
rather suspect loud profession, for we
have observed, that deep feeling is gen
orally noiseless, and least seeks display.