, 1842-05-07
A False Criterion.

There is scarcely a nor common
fault among the followers of Christ.
than 4 proneness to "measure them.
selves by themselves, and compare
themselves among themselves;7 and
yet, general as this propensity is, very
few seem to be aware of its preva-
lence. This evil commences with
the spiritual existence Of the convert.
As soon as the first paroxysm OF JOY,
consequent on the transition of a soul
from death unto life, has measurabIy
subsidized, the spirit and the word point
out to the newborn soul the path Of
holiness as the only sure road to i'm
mortal glory. Here the adversary OF
souls presents the first temptation,
and which usually proves too sue
cessful. He diverts the attention OF
the convert from the only sure index
to eternal felicity. and holds up be-
fore his vision the example of the pro-
fessed followers of Christ with whom
be is associated, and tells him "you
can crafty your vanity a little, you
may indulge in some neglects Of duty,
you may listen TO the moderate claims
of self in a few instances, and yet be
as good as Others"
Some alteration usually followsbe-
tween the faithful conscience and the
TEMPER, which, however, is most fire.
quently terminated by the adoption
of the false standard and the rejec-
ton of the true. Thus influenced,
The convert soon loses his spirituality,
and in turn, instead of being a light to
the world, himself becomes a false
beacon to lure others to the cold re-
gions of iomality, if not TO the gates
ofdeath. When, in alter life, he casts
about him for the purpose of obtain
ing a knowledge of his present condi-
ton, and answering the all-important
question, "4m Ia child Of GOd?" how
readily the TEMPER refers him to the
example of some pious acquaintance,
TO the members Of the church 10 which
he belongs, to some church ofanother
denomination, TO the christian world
at large, or, ~perharPs, to the deacon
or the minister of his own congrega-
ton, as q criterion by which the
doubtful contest may be settled, in.
stead of allowing him to measure him.
self by the plain rule of the precepts
ofGod. Having thus weighed him
self in this false balance, he Gains
his clamorous conscience with the
soothing sentence, am as good as
Others"
When the Christian has advanced
a step farther, and feels the absolute
necessity of entire conservation to
God, as required in the precepts of the
gospel of Christ, some ~"eminently pi-
GUS" person is at once presented to
the mind, who was ahead OF almost
the whole church in the day in which
be lived, and yet did not think it pos
slble for a christian to devote himself
entirely to the service Of God. The
biography Of another Individual is ia
ken up, who was an ornament to So.
ciety, and an instrument in the hands
o fGod, of great good to the cause of
the Redeemer, and who believed in +.
holiness of heart; and yet by close !
examination some little foible is found t
in his character, or the developement {
of some inherent propensity which !
appears to have been in c~ontrarietv q
to the holy requirements Of God, and d
Satan at once whispers in the ear, 4
You are as good as Others" J
Next, the Scriptures are ~ransacked I
to find some reproof which was ad- :
ninistered to the ancient church, not {
for the purpose Of applying that re-
proof 10 himself, and regulating his
ife accordingly, but that the infer .
,nce may be drawn that the ancient =
church was not pure, and thus COM
himself with those whom the [
or the Savior reproves, ad- Il
nonishes, and in some instances con- c
for the purpose Of being able \
o says am as good as Others" C
Hundreds of voices are raised, and G
undreds Of pens welded, to pro-
lain the heart-rending truth that the