The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-02-02
Moral and eligiOus q.
THE POOR MANS PRIVILEGE.

THE POOR MANS PR V1LEGE.
Let us select, if it be possible, the most miser-
able man in-the community; let us dissipate the
darkness that covers him; let raise him from
that kind of grave IN which his indulgence and
meanness conceal him. This man, unknown TO
the rest of mankind this man, who seems hardly
formed by the creator into an intelligent exis-
tence this man hath, however, the greatest and
most giorons privileges; this man, If reconcled to
God by repentance and faith in jesus Christ, may
aspire to the most noble and sublime objects he
may elevate his Soul to God in ardent prayer and
without the hazard of being taxed with vanity, ho
may assure himself that God, the Great God, en-.
eTcled in glory and surrounded with the praises of
the blessed, will behold him, hear bis pray er, and
grant his request. This may say TO himself,
The attention that the Lord of nature gives to the
government Of the universe, to the wants Of man
kind, to the innumerable company OF angels, and
his own felicity doth not prevent this adorable BE
ing from occupying himself about my person. my
children, my family, my house, my health my SUBJ
stance, my salvation, my most minute concern
even single hair Of my Head This man is graz
'eiously entitled to tho privilege of addressing God
by names the most tender and mild yea i'll may
venture 10 speak so, by those most familiar names
which equals give each other; he NAV call him
his God, his master, his father his friend. Be.
levers have addressed God by each Of these names
and God has not only permitted Thorn to do So
be has even expressed his appreciation of their taxi
ing these names IN their mouths. This man has
the privilege to commune with God at the Lod's
table, and TO live-ifT may be allowed to speak so
live Withhold man lives with his friend; this
man may apply to himself whatever is most great,
most comfortable, utost extltic in the mysteries of
redemption, and may say to himself, For me the
Son Of God was appointed, befoye the roun dation
of the world TO be propitia,ory sacrifice FOR me
in the uness Of time he took mortal flesh for me
he pledged himseifto the justice of his Father,
and suffered such unparalleled punishment as con-
POUNDS reason and surpasses Imagination for me
the holy Spirit shook the heartns and the earth.
and tho sea and the dry land, Hag. Q: g.;
and established ministry, which he confirmed by
healing the sick by raising the dead by casting out
devils, and by subvertng the whole order of nature
This man is permitted 70 aspire to the felicity of
the immortal God, the glory Of the immortal God,
to tho throne Off the immortal God. Arrived Mt
the fatal hour, lying on his dying bed, reduced to
the sight ofnseless friends, Intellectual remedies
he may through the grace of his assembled Redeem.
or, triumph over death, and defy his disturbing in
The smallest degrae the tranquil calm that his soul
enjoys.
These are incontestible privileges OF the man
who appears so contemplate. l ask-haye the
mobiles of the earih any privileges more than these?
Do the train Of attendants that follow them, the
the horses that draw them, the grandees who sur.
round them, the superb titles which ommand ex.
terror homage, give them any real superiority over
the man who enjoys those privileges which we
nave briefly enumerated All nothing proves
the bitterness of great moro than the impress.
ion which the exterior advantages which dis,in.
guish them from the rest of mankind m,to ON
their minds Are you aware of hat your ere do.
ing when you despise those whom Providence Ms,
ces for lew years in station inferior 70 vo,r
OWN You aie dospisng and degrading Yourselves
you are renouncng your real greatness and
by valneing your selves for kind of for.
eign glory, yon discover contempt for thu,
which constitutes the real dignity of your nature.
The glory of man does not con sist in his being
master, or rich man, noble man, or a king !,
consists IN his being man-n his his BEING form.
ed IN the image of his cieator-and capable Of all
Inc alton that we have been describing.
SAURS.