Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-02-18

than any thing else. And ifa
man regards any thing else of superior
weightto Gods authority. that is his idol.
Whatever we supremacy regard, that is
our, God-Whether it be reputation, or
comfort or riches, or honor, or whatever
4 IS that we regard supremacy, that is the
God of our hearts Whatever a mans
reason is for habitually neglecting any
thing he knows to be the command of
God, or that he sees to be required to pro-
mote the kingdom of Christ, there is dem
onstration absolute that he regards that as
supreme. There is nothing acceptable to
God in any of his services. Rest assured,
all his religion is the religion of pub ic
sentime nt Ii he neglects any thing re-
quired by the law of God. because he can
pass along in neglect and public sentiment
doesnot en;oin it.or ifhe does other things
inconsistent with the law of God, merely
because public opinion does require it, it
is simple matter of fact, that it is public
senti ment to which he yields obedience,
in all his conduct and not regard to the
glory Of God.
How is it with you, beloved2 Do you
habitually neglect any requirement of
God. because it is no: sustaint d and enforc-
ed. by public sentiment! IF you are
proft rof religion, it is 10 be presumed
you do not neglect any requirement that IS
strongly urged by public sentiment. But
how is it with others2 Do you not habit
uail " neglect some duties Do you not
live in some practices reputable among
me n, that you know 70 be contrary to the
law of God? If YOU do, it is demonstra-
tion absolute that you regard the opinions
of men more than the judgment of God.-
Write down your name HYPOCRITE
a. This class of professors are apt to in
dulge in some sins when they are away
from home, that they would not commit at
home. -
Many man who is temperate at home,
when he gets to a distance will toss of
his brandy and water at the table, or step
up to the bar of a steamboat and call for
liquor without shame, or if they a'e in
Europe, they will go otha theatre. When
| was in the Mediterranean, at Messina, q
| gentle MN one day asked me if | would
60 to the theatre with him. What |
90 TO the theatre2 A minister 60 to the
theatre!" Why, said be- you are away
from home, and no one would know it
:. But would not God know it?" 1t was
plain that he thought, although / was a
minister, could GO to the theatre when |
was away fiom home. No matter if God
knew it, so long as men did not know it.
And how should he get that idea, but
by seeing ministers who would do just
such things?
S. Another developement of the char.
act4r of these individuals is, that they in.
du' ge themselves in secret sin.
am now speaking of something, BY
which you may know yourselves, |
you allow yourselves in any sins secretly
when you can get along without having
any human being know it, know that Coo
sees it, and that he has already writer
down your name. HYPOCRITE. You
are more afraid of disgrace in the eye O
mortals than ofdisgrace in the eye of God
If you loved God supremacy, it would be
} small thing to you that any and every
body else knew your sins, In comparison
with having them known to God
tempted to any such thing, you would ex
claim, What shall commit sin in the
) eye of God!
g. They indulge in secret omissions o
duty, which they would not dare to have
t known to others.
They may not practice any secret sins
5 or indulge in those secret pollutions tina
t are spoken of, but they neglect those du
2 ties, that if they were known to neglect,
' would be called disrePutabIe to thei
D christian character. Such as secret pray
i er,for instance They will go to the CON
0 munion-yes, to the communion am
appear to be very pious on the Sabbath
4 and yet, as to private piety, they. kno,
It nothing of it. Their closet for prayer
= unknown to God or man. 1t is easy t
It see that reputation is their idol. The
r dread to lose their reputation more tina
v to offend God.
How is it with you2 Is it fact, tha
Z you habhually omit those secret dutie.
l. and are more careful to perform your put
Q lie duties than private ones? Then whs
e is your character? Do you need to b
IF told2 They loved the praise ofmen MOI
than the praise of God
Y 7. The conscience of this class of pei
n sons seems to be formed on other prime
ID pies than those of the gospel.
y They seem to have a conscience
b. those things that are popular, and no COL
J. science at all on those things that are n
m required by public sentiment You M
Sc preach to them ever so plainly, their dut
N and prove it ever so clearly, and eve
" make them confess that it is their dut
= and yet so long as public sentiment do
re not require it, and it is not matter of re
n. utation, they will continue on in the san
b, way as before. Showthem Thus sal
at the Lord" and make them see that the