New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-02-14
aar. Gjnnep's GarebeII sermor.

a very large and respectable congregation at Nib
los Garden during the winter, delivered his final
sermon at tha. place Sunday evening. He re-
turns Immediately to Oberlin, Ohio, to resume bis
duties in connection with the University that
place. The following is the substance of the ser
mon preached ON Sunday evening
Mr.. FISNeY took for his text the closing words
of the ODD verse of the 9Th chapter of First Tim
othy: keep Mysey pure" and said that he
should endeavor,
/. Toshow what was intended by this Injunction
9. To show how it may be obeycd; and
g. Tomcntion some of the motives which should
Influence US to obey it.
The command was originally addressed to Tim
othy; but it contains principle of universal APP
plicaton, and is with that principle that have
to do. BY purity we are here to understand
Moral Purity, or holiness; and this Of course i'm
plies freedom from sin (; so thst when God by the
Apostle epjoins purity upon US, he commands
to remain free from SIN. This freedom implies
universal and perfect benevolencc- though, indeed
it is absurd to speak of any other than perfect
beneyoence for the very nature of bcnevolenc,
implies that it be exercised towards all being.
capable of happiness
that shall be disinterestedIy and universally be-
nevolent-that we Shall love God with the who'll
soul, and strength and might, and our neighbors
ourselves; and in this state of miad we are Il
abide. will say also that the command requir-
ing us to keep pure implies that at present we ar
pure; it ie not tina, Timothy should make himself
pure, SO that we are bound to suppose that he wa:
already living in obedience to God.
Upon this part Of the subject, however, I will
not dwell, but will next show hcsc Tie command a.
to be obeyed.
And 1. |, is not by any sel6Yh effort, not by any
effort springing from selfish considerations. In.
deed, this would be absurd and contradictory. i,
would be like becoming holy by sinful efforts, 70,
selfshness is nothing but sin. If we seek purity
for the sake of personal happiness as the grea
end, it we do 1t to enjoy our minds or to be saved
or for the sake of good among men,--in.-
deed if sel6shness in any of its forms is tho prompt
ing motive of effort, that effort will be vain
for selhshness is always sinful and in itself impure
2. Let me say again that we never keep our
selves pure by any unaided effort Of our own =
Unless we are aided by the Spirit of God we cal
neither become pure nor keep ourselves so. Mann
persons speak of sanctiacalion though it i'm
piled that if they once sancufed they would
never more need Gods grace, but would alway,
remain holy wirhou, any aid from Christ. Tbi:
arises from total misunderstanding of what j.
intended by the doctrine of Sancti6caton. Adam
was holy-but still he fell. Angels are holy-bu,
they fell. No person in this life can reach stat.
80 holy that he cannot fall, and will not fall if tn.
Spirit of Christ be Withdrawn from him. Nor car
any person keep himself pure by RESOLVING not to
sH. Indeed The fact.of expecting that resolutions
will enable enc to keep pure shows that he doe.
not understand what moral purity is. 1t is aston.
ishing to SEQ to what extent persons are inclined
the slightest apprehension that they are thus rely
ing upon them. Make up your mind to do ever,
thing that you know to be your duty, and yet il
you feel no dependence upon God, you will fine
that resolution good for nothing; it will fail whe
most you need strength and aid.
5. Again; 1t is indispensable in order to obedi
once to this command that men believe that, as u
matter of fact such obedience is possible If the,
do not of course they cannot keep pure; indeec
they cannot even intend to do So Men sometime.
speak of sntendiag to do what is impossible; bu,
this is nonsense; 1t is contrary the laws of mind
There can be no such thing. They may ,oish t,
do 1t, and may think that If it were possible the,
would intend it. But farther than this they can
not go; strictly speaking they cannot even try t,
do what they believe to be impossible
Tits also Indispensable that the soul be com
united TO Christ for unless he keeps it, it will no
be kept; and he will keep il ualess it be com.
mitsed to him. Christ, matter of fact car
influence rs farther than we consent TO be infu
enced by him. Love to God is produced not b,
physical power, for this has nothing TO do with it
The mind is influenced only by moral considera.
sions, and then only by our own consent. If we
would keep pure we must then commit ourselves
TO Christ, to be kept pure by him. And when we
do this we must expect nothing less than that we
shall De thus kept. We are not to commit our
selves 70 Christ merely because God commands i,
nor because our sins will thus be pardcned, Nor
II only to be kept from gross and scandaous and
openly dangerous sins; bat we must commit our.
selves TO Christ expecting that he will keep us free
from all sin, small sins as well as great OF course
we shall receive no more than we expect accord.
ing to our fasth WILT be TO as. If We do not ex.
eees splrtet obedience, of conservation to God.
= WSaia De easy to show that this very fact is q
s9oo reason tor not receiving its good rea son
why We saoed continue to fall into sin. This
eePeauenee on Christ, it must be borne in mind.
: always to be In the use of appropriate means !.
Tue ns VIII never influence our minds but bv our
own consent IN our dependence upon him, there.
io.e, VIC aus' "os throw ourselves into a state Of
1N'..so''. s.. aau use no means ourselves We
must be as diligcnt in the use of mea,s - Is 60.
thing depended upon cur exer,ions and - .'.ly
same time we must feel ,ha, all our dsnsndaa 'Ie
upon Christ. Let me upon this point nn,;.s %
particulars. 9 10"
l, We must resolve in the strength Of Chris, -
control our own thoughts. The mind ana hear. ars
greatly influenced by tho thoughts; and if we sus.
fer these TO wander the universe We may res,
assured osrhearts have already fallen from state
of purity.
2. The Imagination must also be guarded and
controlled. Many persons have imagiRations SO
polluted that uless they are continually on their