Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-02-25
BRANDON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1886

dutnoTliy. MS is manifest from the
TACT that they do nothing except where
Gods requirements are hacked up by pub
lie sentiment. Unless you aim to do
ALL your duty, and yield obedience in
eceTy thing, the piety for which you
claim Credits mere hypocrisy, and is in
fact sin against God
2. There is a great deal more apparent
piety in the church, than there is real pie
ty.
8. There are many things which sim
ners suppose are good, but which are
abominabIe in the sight ofGod.
4. But for the love of reputation and
the fear of disgrace, how many there are
in the church, who would break out into
open apostacy.
How many are there here, who you
know would break out into open vice, were
it not tor the restraints ofpublic sentiment,
the fear of disgrace, and the desire to gain
the credit of virtue? Where a person is
virtuous from regard to the authority Of
God, whether public sentiment favor it or
frown upon it, that is true piety. If 9TH
erwise, they have their reward. They
do it for the sake of gaining credit in the
eyes ofmen, and they gain it. But fthey
expect any favor at the hand Of God, they
will assuredly be disappointed The on
! ly reward which He will bestow upon
such selfish hypocrites is, that they may
be damned.
And now l wish to know how many Of
you will determine to do your duty, and
all your duty, according to the will of
God, let public sentiment be as it may p
Who of you will agree TO take the Bible
for your rule, Jesus Christ for your pat
i tern, and do what is RIGHT, in all cases,
whatever man may say or think Every
one that is not willing 10 take this ground
must regard himself as a stranger to the
grace of God. F1e is by no means in a
state classification. If he is not resolved
upon doing what he knows to be right,
let public sentiment be as it may, it is
proof positive that he loves the praise Of
men more than the praise of God.
And let ne say to the impenitent sin
ners present-You see what it is to be a
christian. 1t is to be governed by the au-
thOrity Of God IN all things, and not by
public sentiment to live not by hopes and
fears, but by supreme conservation of your
self unto God. You see that if you mean
to be religious, you must count the COST
| will not fatter you. | will never try to
coax you to become religious, BY keeping
back the truth. If you mean to be chris
tans you must give yourselves wholly ur
to Christ You cannot float along tc
heaven on the waves of public sentiment
Twill not deceive you on this point.
Do you ask. sinner, what is to become
Of all these professors of religion, who are
, conformed to the world, and who love the
praise otmen morethan the praise Of God
ahsWtl-Ihey will go to hell, W. YOU
and with all o:her hypccrites. Just a.
3 certain as that the Friendship OF the world
! is in enmity with God.
p Wherefore, come out from among them
| my people, and be ye separate, and | vii
receive you saith the Lord, | will be
e Father 70 you, and We shall be my son
O and daughters. And now, who will do it
! In the church and among sinners, VIII,
! will do it? Who? WHO'S the Lord
: side? Who is willing to say, " We will
s no longer 60 with the multitude to do evi
/ but are determined to do the will of Coo
in all things whatsoever and let the worl
e think or say OF US os it may" AS man
o Of you as are w willing to do this, wi
o signify it by rising in your places befor
c the congregation, and will then knee
d down, while prayer is offered, that &c
IS would accept AMI seal your solemn GOV
nant to obey God henceforth in ever
o. thing, through evil report and throug
ID good report.