Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-07-01

fessor of serious religion, whenever /: mayf
be thought that the result of the comparl-
son will prove diSadvan.ageous to the lat
ter. Shall there, then, be materials for
eulogizing the character OF those VINO
make no pretensions 10 decided pI1ty, on
the ground of their amiabeneSs OF tenn
per, and gentIeness of spirit; and shall
there be ground for an impeachment OF
those who make a public profession OF re-
igon, as in these respects greatly lnierl-
or? Shall it be said with any color OF,
truth, that not few Of them betfay a as
position unyielding and unkind, uncnant-
able and severe irasci5ie and untofgivn5,
arbitrary and impetuous? My brethren,
these things ought not so TO be- They
are intellectually injurious to the souls OF
men. They arm the carnal and unre-
newed mind with all the force Of the most
determined prejudice, against those who
! lay claim TO the character OF separatists
/ from on ungodiy world, ana also against
that truth which they protest 10 embrace.
Oh! never let it escape your remem-
brance, my christian friends, That not on
" your own honor is at stake, but also
the honor of the glorious cause of truth
and holiness, to which you profess de-
: voted attachment. The honor of our Lord
Jesus Christ requires you to adorn in all
things the doctrine of his gospel; and how
can it be more beauteousl Y adorned, than
by the ornament of a meek and quiet
spirit, which is in the sight of God o.
great prcer Put on, therefore, as the
elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels O.
Imercies, kindness, humblene>s of mind
; rneekness, and long-suffering and owe
/ all these things, as the connecting 9irdl
of this spiritual attire, put on The graceful
? aud the attractive ornament OF love. An
i let it be the love which suffereth Ion
r and is kind which envieth not; whic
Wanted not itself; which is moi pulled up
a which dot h not behave itself unseemly
9, seeketh not her own; is not easily pre-
st voked thiLkeih no evil; rejoceth not
r. iniquitv, but rejoiceth in the truth; whic
?, beareth all things. beieveth all thing
r hopeth all things, and endureth all things
at We are now, | trust, prepared TO CO:
lie slider,
- SECONDLY, The best method of amin
at at the cultivation of the christian temper
le 1t seems TO be the opinion OF some, To
IT. a bad temper is an evil of such natur
ne as almost 10 preclude the hope of amen
IT. ment. This, however, IS an opinion whit
e. would vedisgraced phiIosophic paga
r. how much more disciple ofour Lord J
i'll sus Christ! If it be the boast of Philos
in phy, that it can effect much, and often h
,h effected much, in the improvement OF t
ia natural temper, it is beyond all doubt t
glory OF christianity, that 1t can etfe
on and often has effected, incomparably mo-
IL With this encouraging conviction, let I
or proceed to suggest some scriptural adVlC
tn, for the due regulation of the temper.
let First, Let 1t be the primary object
he solicitude, that the heart be renewed a
no controlled, by the power OF sancIifyi
US grace.
the Christian morals must have their fol
pei dation in christian principles; and the
you fectual control Of the temper must have
er- origin in the renovation OF the heart,
our the power OF the regenerating Spirit
Let Not more true is it, that unless man
ply born again, he cannot see the kingdom
be God, !han it il true, that except man
lble born again, he cannot display 1.-The m
the which was in Christ Jesus" He n
the indeed, On philosophic principles, acqr
and a certain degree of control over the eX
will nal indication of feelings but never
der the temper of his secret soul bear res'
hro' blance to that of our Divine Exemplar
ever be conformed to the requirements of
law OF love, unless it be formed end M
ded by the influence Of the gospel, and
power of renewing grace.
d be- Ii is under this influence alone
eness genuine and unleigned humility is c
man ished in any human heart; and Y
/ for this grace OF primary importance has
fn ner. place in The mind, there can be no sc
ity for the due control of the temper, {
owed for single hour. Sins of temper Us
resi- Iv spring from the sin OF pride-that
meut of bitterness" which produces so n
ritual bitter fruit. In every rank Of life, mi
ether apt greatly 20 overrate his Own lmport
st IA and his own claims. He is but the {
nd TO lture of Yesterday "a feeble, depent
ness. polluted, dying worm and yer he IS
{ the posed to erect and elevate himself In
Sc at kind of subordinate deity; and ha
h are thus idolized himself, to demand co
lg, in pendent homage from DINERS Ii
more display not the respectful Difference
Is the yielding spirit which he consider
r. 1t to hIs character, or his s'atioh' or MS
On en.s, he betrays angry and indignan
ented sentiment The apostle, therefore 81
When 10 The very root OF the evil In that
ard, rablc injunction which he address
xcite- the Philippian believers, and enforce
alton. the example of our blessed Rede
for its himself" Let nothing De done tnr