Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-07-18
DISCOURSE.

huu let us MOI Ue WEARY lu Ncl uoIuS'
rim due season, we shall reap, five faint
not. As we have, therefore, opportunity,
let US do good unto all men. especially 10
them " no are of the household Of faith"
GALATIANS 6 ch.; 9,10 VS.;
The second fundamental principle Of
the moral law is, "TIrou shall love Thy
eighbor as myself" In perfect accor-
dance with this principle. was the conduct
of the Saviour, when on the Earth.-"Be-
ing made Of Il woman, made under the
law, and suhJer, to tir law" he gave the
brightest illustration of conformity TO this
principle, by "goins about doing good"
In the spiri, Of the principle, which COIL
sIiturrs the basis of The second table The
law. and IN agreement with the example of
Christ are he cxhUrlalinns of the text. In
preparing thrn Tor practical improvement,
shall treat Of the last exhortafion frSt,viz.
"As we have. therefore, opportunity, let us
do good unto all men,"
In the use that shall make of this cx-
hOrtation, as adapted to the present occa-
sion, lpropose to shew, that The existence
and operation of Bible Societies afford a
larger opportunity of doing good unIo all
mer,t than any oIherplan ofman's devising.
II must he conceded, that the preaching
of the Gospel is Of more importance than
the mere distribution of the Bible. Because
"Faith cometh by hearing, hearing by The
word Of God, and how shall they hear
without preacher" "W hen The world by
wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by
the fnolishness of preaching to save them
that believe" But The preaching of The
Gospel is special Institution of God. The
formation of Bible Societies is plan of
mans devsing, though in accordance with
principles laid down by Jehovah himself,
and with dictates inspired by The Holy
Ghost.
Now, that it may satisfactorily appear,
that the existence and operation of Bible
Societies present :hc largest opportunity
of doing good unto all men, invite your
attention TO the following remarks.
l. Man can originate nothing Of himself.
AS creature he is necessarily limited in
his powers; and circulnscribed in his oper-
alions, for he possesses IA divine nature,
mp une that is self constituted Ile looks
around him, aud learns, from observation
and experiment, the nature and uses of
all objects. that present themseIvs to his
senses. lie turns bis eyes within, and
considers himself. In these operations,
he forms his conceptions. and these re-
viewed By The power of memory consri-
tute The store Of his Idens. 1t is his prov
ince in these opeIat to ascertain the
principles upon which matter and mind
are constituted, aud the laws by which
they are governed. According to these
laws, he tan employ these principles, in
various operations, so as to produce Ger
tain results. But he can neither form
mind nor matter, nor institute the laws,
BY which either is governed. A familiar
example will illustrate this point.
The physician acquires knowledge of
the different parts of The human hody. and
observes the influence, which diseases have
upou il. He studies the nature and pro.
perties ofdiifrrent agents. such az minerals.
plauts, seeds, animals. and ascertains that
either separately, or combined, they pro-
ducr certain results. By means of those
agents skiliuIly applied. hr effects (under
the divine blessing) cure of diseases.
Now you will perceive lh.'t the physician
neither makes the man. nor The agents,
nur the disease. lie only ascertains facts.
deveIopes principles. and applies them 10
the production of certain ends. Nor can
he secure these ends The blessing ofGod,
tn Cir. al First cause is iniispensably ne
cessary to success.
A mechanic constructs a machine. In
the workmanship. he employs the ueces-
sary materials according ~ given princ-
piles and laws, which are exp aimed in The
science, caIedNatural Philosophy. In This
casr, he neither creates The materials, nor
gives existence to the laws, by which he
is governed. From God, they all proceed,
and man is only The dscnverer and he in-
srument. MOI the creator. We might per-
sue The illustration still farther, but ]
deem it unnecessary. As, trust, that,
what has been said, is sufficient to make
it plain, that man can originate nuthing of
himself.
If this be true in things, merely natural,
and that relate to earth, how much more
true in things thai are spiritual. aud that
relate TO the Kingdom of Heaven. Man
has. in his aposracy, violated the indexi-
Bile law of God, and as far as in his power,
has sundered all The moral ties that bound
him To his Maker, and to all holy in'eli
gencies. by such conduct he has brought
himself into guilty and miserable stale.
How can he restore himself to his former
state, or avert the descending wrath of
Him "who is consuming fire." He does
not know the bearing Of his sin upon the
boundess system ofJehovah's government.
lie does not know that bis sin can be par
Sdted consistently with TITO rights Of thu.