Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-06-09
VERMONT TELEGRAPH.
BRANDON, SATURDAY, JUNE 5. I84I.
Forthe Telegraph.

For the Tie lie ia n.
The Importance OF right motives in the
discharge OF christian duties.
"The love Of Christ coustraineth us."-St. Paul.
There is striking contrast between true
and false religion. The one looks at the
motives by which we are actuated-the
other does not. The demands Of The one
are satisfied with an observance Of its exter-
NAL forms; but the demands of the other are
bot obeyed unless the heart is engaged
even in The observance Of its external rites.
q the one, il matters not whatever may be
The motives by which its devotees are inau-
enced in the other, it is of infinite impor-
lance Hence if we are the professed dis
ciples of Christ, and observe the duties that
devove upon US as such, we should fire.
quently examine the motives BY which we
are influenced. Is it the fear Of hell? Is
i The happiness Of heaven Is il the praise
pf men2 Is it for the increase of worldly
inlerest2 In word, is it any selfish mo-
live whatever that moves US to observe the
duties Of religion2
Such an examination as this is important,
not only because the religion Of Christ re-
qures right motives, but because there is a
possibility and grea, danger Of being infu.
enced by wrong motives-by motives tina,
can not bear the inspection Of Him to whom
In hearts are known and all events fore.
known, and who can not look on sin with
allowance or appreciation. Such is the de-
pravity Of the heart, there is danger Of think
Ing we are constrained to honor and glorify
God by such motives as heaven approves,
whea our motireS are such as please the
devil, and willif not earnestly repented Of
consign us to hell, there to wall with the
los, forever and ever! For instance:-A
man may think he breaches the gospel from
the constrailing love of Cbrist-his preach
ing may be the means Of doing much goot
ia Spreading scriptural knowledge and holi
ness throughout the earth, when at the sam'
time his motives are The same as thos,
which actuate the learned counsellor ii
pleading the cause Of his client. Now sue
motive as this in preacher of the Cos
pei, (if he has no other is manifestly sin
ful- greatly displeasing to God, and DER
mental TO his salvation.
The following anecdote shows that ther
Is possibility of thinking we are RICH
when we are in the gall Of biterness an
In the bonds Of iniquity. Il shows, too, ,h
Importance Of self-examination that we ma
become experimentally acquainted with ID
veil known and infinitely important MAXI
Of the ancients, Know THxsELF. The ane,
oo'e is this:-" There was, some years ag
IN one Of the old countries very gifte
preacher, who for several years preache
with great earnesiness and success the do
ulne Of the cross; and who on that We
account was violently opposed. One
us opponents, "a well informed person
Who had for a long time absented hims'
.'on the church, thought, one Sunday moi
ms that he would 60 and hear the gloor
nan once more, TO see whether his preae
ing might be more tolerable to him than
mad been before. He went; and that mo-
ns The preacher was speaking Of the m
row way which he did not make cid
narrower or broader than the word of G
'escnbes it. A new creature in Christ
,'efnal condemnation was the theme
A's discourse; and he spoke with pow
mo not as mere learned reasoner. Dur
Ie sermon the question forced itself u