Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-01-25

we not aim at the same thing that God
aims at Should we not be seeking the
same end that God seeks2"
Ans. This objection is specious, but
futile and rotten. God is benevolent TO
others. He aims at the happiness Of
others, and at our happiness. And TO be
like him, we must aim at his. Col seeks
his own glory or happiness, not because it
is his own, but according to its real value.
We may do that
Obi. 5. "Why does the Bible appeal
continuallyto the hopes and fears Of men,
if a regard to our own happiness is not
proper motive to action E
Ans. The Bible appeals to the constI-
tutl0nal susceptlbilitIeS Of men, not TO
their selfshness. Man breads harm, and
it is not wrong 10 avoid it, We may
have due regard to our own happiness,
according to its value.
Ans. z. And again ; mankind are so
beSored with sin, that God cannot get
their attention to consider his true charac-
ter, and the reasons for loving him, un-
less he appeals to their hopes and fears.
But when they are awakened, then he pre-
sents the gospel to them. When minis
ter has preached the terrors of the Lord
till he has got his hearers alarmed and
aroused, so that they will give attention,
ne has gone far enough in this line; and
then he ought to spread out all the char
acter Of God before them, to engage their
hearts to love him for his own excel
lence.
OBJ 6. DO not the inspired writer's
say, Repent, and believe the gospel, and
you shall be saved 2"
Ans. Yes; but they require true re-
pentance; that is, to torsake sin because
1t is hateful in itself. 1t is not true re-
pentance, to forsake sin on condition of
pardon, orto say, Il will be sorry for my
SINS If you will forgive me-" So they
require true faith, and true submission;
not conditional faith or partial So omission.
This is what the Bible insists on. Ii says
he shall be saved, but it must be disinteI-
ested repentance, and disintercsted sub
mission
Obj. 7. 50 Does not the gospel hold cut
pardon as a motive to submission %
Ans. This depends on the sense in
which you use the term motlcc. If you
mean that God spreads out before men his
whole character, and the whole truth of
the case, as reasons to engage the sinner 5
love and repentance, l say, \ es his com
passion, and willingness to pardon, are
reasons for loving God because thew are
part Of his G orious excellence, which
we are bound to love. But if YOU mean
by motire a condition, and that the sinner
IS to repent on condition he shall be par
dcned, then | say, that the Bible no where
holds out any such view Of the matter
1t never authorized sinner to say, L" |
will repent # you will forgive" and no
where offers pardon as a motive TO repent
ance, IN such sense as this
With two short remarks | will cicse:
l. We see, from the subject, why it is
! that professors of religion have such diff
teTent views of the nature ofthe gospel.
Some view it as a mere matter CT &C.
commodation to mankind, by which God
is rendered less strict than he was under
the law; so that they may be fashionable
or worldly, and the gospel will come in
and make up their deficiencies and save
them. The other class view the gospel
as a provision Of divine benevolcnce. hay
lag for its main desi On to destroy sin and
promote holiness; and that therefore so far
from makingit proper for them to be less
no! y than they Dug 1t to BE- under the law,
its whole value consists in lis power to
make them hol y.
H. We see why some people are 50
much more ANXIOUS to convert sinners.
than to see the church sanc;i6ed and God
gIorihed by the good works of his people,
Many feel natural sympathy for Stu
ners, and wish to have them saved from
hell and if this is gained, they have no
farther concern. But true saints are.most
affected by sin as dishonor!ng God. And
they are more distressed to see Christians
sin, because it dishoners God more,
Some people seem to care but little how
the church live, if they can only see the
work of conversion 60 forward They
are not anxious to have God hcnorcd
1t shows that they are not actuated bv the
love of holiness, but by mere compassion
for sinners.
HE SACRED NAME.-Too many have
the name of God-that great and awful
name In their mouth or ear, and have
no correspondent thought in their mind it
passes with them as transient sound as
soon over as any common word Of no
greater length, and leaves no impression.
Perhaps there is less in their minds to an
swer it than most other words which men
use in common discourse for they have
usually distinct thoughts OF the thinos
they speak of, otherwise they would pei-
Their understand one another, nor them
selves, but might speak of a horse, and
mean a sheep, or be thought to mean 50.
And it would no more move a man or