The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1835-08-22


cherish, and practically contradict the declaration
of our Saviour. that his "yokc is easy, and his
burden is light"
Few are probably aware of the great amount of
evil, which results from erroneous and ind's''ac'
views on this Subjective speak Oft as pri'l-
lege to have our hearts filed with love 10 Cod
1t is indeed privilege "a high and glorious pr'-
viege. Bu, il there no guih in having them 9TH
erwise Doesnoi God look upon the cold aud
languid Christian chargeable with positive guilt :
Wherever we 20. and whatever we do, the COM
mand, g Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with
all thy heart, and with all Thy soul, and with all
thy strength. and with all thy mind" is resting on
us with an imperative force, which no change OF
circumstance or feeling in can ever lessen. II
is not then merely privilege to love God su.
premely and constantly, II is a matter of solemn
obligation. And he who does not feel it to be
such is in no small danger Of living on in GOODNESS
and stupidity, without any deep and hunblng
sense Of the aggravated guilt that is gathering
around his soul. There may be an error the OPP
rosilc Of this. We may look upon love to God
merely as duty, and have lnle or no realizing
.ense Of i, as privilege lie, who does thus will
lssldom feel any ardent emotions Of holy love
kindled in his soul. His fear of God will be- a
slavish fear. The duties, which God calls him TO
perform, he will not perform with delight. or at
east will not throw his whole soul into them, and
often he will give the world but too much occa-
sion TO think that he regards God as hard mas
ter.
We say we feel it to be privilege..te make ef
forts for the spread Of the gospel in our own and
otbor lands. l, is well. We should feel So. 1t
is privilege indeed to be co-workers with God
in restoring this revolled world to its allegiance to
Him. Would that the privilege were far more
generally realized than il is. But 10 il privilege
only Is not the command !" Go ye into all the
world, and preach the gospel to every creature"
still binding And how shall they preach,
excep, they be sent 20 We should feel to be our
privilege to do all our duty in this respec, as well
as in every other but it we inquire only how
much do we feel it privilege to do and not.
How much is i, our duty to do , thus measuring
our duty by our views Of privilege, rather than
our views of privilege by duty, it is at least quest
ionable whether our selfish hearts will usually
feel it to be a privilege to do as much rs the word
Of God declares j, TO be our duty to do.
There are persons. who regard it as duty to
make efforts for the spread Of the gospel but who
do no, seem to think it privilege. Such persons
give when conscience will not allow them 10 with
bold, andthey give barely enough 10 satisfy con-
science. But they are not " cheerful gvers."
and they often " withhold more than is meet
The principle, which should guide US in deter
mining the relation between duty and privilege. is
a very plain one. Let sound and enlightened
judgement, after fairly examining the question.
and appealing to " the law and to the testimony
decide what is duty and then, with heart full
Of love TO God and love to man, regard it Us a
privilege to slorify God in every way which he
points out to We shall then do our duty cheer
fully, promptly, and thankfully. \" Ye are not
your own. ye are bought with price therefore
glorify God in your body and your spirit which are
Ends