The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-06-09
Moral and Religious.
From DIR. Dana's tIall-Century Sermon.
STANDING FAST IN THE LORD.

Christianity, in common with every other science,
has certain great and leading principles which vi
tai to the system. Ifthese principles understood,
the system is understood. If they embraced, the
system is embraced If they overlooked, de-
MED, rejected, the same is truo of the system it.
SELF
Farther; what is holiness, what is genuine virtue,
but conformity TO ruth7-The Saviour prnys for his
disciples, that they may be Sanctifed By the truth
The Apostle Peter dec ares of Christians, that they
have purified their souls in O6eying The TRUTH No
human heart was ever yet purified by Nor
truth itself purify tho heart, any farther than it is
received, loved and obeyed.
II Chrstinns then, would stand fast in the Lord,
they must have deep felt experience of the power of
divine truth. This is the all in all of living, practi-
cal picty. 1t is this which puts tho wide difference,
not only between the believer andthe unbeever, but
between the real Christian and the mere Journalist
Who has not observed that the Scriptures OF God
evermore lay the greatest possible stress on faith,
the grand source of moral excellence, and the un-
failing detcrmner of human character This 10 many
appears wonderful And were faith that cold, heart
loss thing which it is often conceived TO be, it would
be more than wonderful. 1t would be inexpcable.
But the truth is wholly the Faith, genuine
faith, is the grand artery Of the spiritual system. 1t
is living, powerful active principle, laying hold Of
the truths ofGod's Word, and writing them on the
Utmost heart. 1t gives them a real existence in the
mind. 1t transGuses them, so TO speak, through all
tho faculties and sensbilities of the soul
In connection with this, lie; il be remembered that
these SPIRITUAL are not mere cold distractions
nor barren generaltes. In themselves they are of
immense magnitude and moment. To immortal be-
int l., IL
gree In proportion their influence is felt, they
transform and modify the whole character.-This is
point SO Interesting as to merit moments iustra-
ton. ,
The Scriptures portray the condition of the human
family as n condition of awful depravty and guilt
Every human being is aIicnuted from God, offensive
TO his purity, aud obnoxious TO his wrath with all its
indispensable consequences. And who sees not that
these truths, believed and felt, must have a mighty
influence the mind; banishng its soth, its secur
ty, lis wor!dlness; giving the doathbow to its pride
and prostraitng its delusive hopes in the dust?
But our sinful, self-ruined race is not abandoned
by its God. His own Son has left his heaven; has
earth shed atonng blood, that he might raise
up from the very gates of hell that Of heaven from
which he descended. And what mysteries Of love
and grace here; fitted to penetrate every human
uedIt " us Cenue, W INC iNellest seHs-
bities of gratitude OF love, and of everlasting devo
ton.
But these sensbili,ies are unknown; dying Say.
tours love leaves the heart still cold and hard, till
mother miracle of mercy is wrought The Almighty
Spirit desconds "opens the blinded sinners bursts
asundcr the strong bars Of unbeef and SIM md binds
him, by everlasting cords of grateful love, to his God
and Redcemer. He is now a saved sinner; and he is
L. :
sign For he resisted all its tender advances and
would have resisted to the last, but for the
ing mercy of Heaven.
Here, then, the grea, and stupendous truths
which occupy the Scriptures, and which occupy the
believers heart The utterly depraved and helpless
condition of man-the interpretations of Divine, a.
toning Saviour, and OF Almighty, renewing Spirit
salvation from deserved run-saIvaton by pure
and sovereign grace. These the truths that break
the slumber Of tho human intellect, and which,
wherever admitted, go down TO the Utmost depths
Of the soul. And we repeat it, they mould the char
acter They become powerful principles of action;
and permanent well as powerful. Securing
Judgment in the heart, they DO lost. We
do not wonder that those with whom these truths
inere specuations and tho felt their humbng,
purifying, exatng influence, easily resign them.
They must have been unwelcome guests, and, OF
course, readily parted with But to the experienced
Christian, they are dear; too dear to be resigned
Others may doubt, but his faith is 10 firm to be shak-
en-. Others may vaccia,e, but he stands fast an the
Lord.
For a religion. however, Of mere experience, do
not contend The religion which does not sanciify
and govern the life, must, with all its pretensons be
hallow and false. What is change Of heart if it
does not meiorate tho habitua temper, and whole
demeanor' What is rep enhance il it does not embit-
every form of SIM and bind to universal holiness?
What is faith, what is gospel hopeif they do not shed
purifying, sublmating influence all the life.
Why Christians styled the sons Of God, unless
they 6ame!ess and harmless, shining as lights in
the ,oofld, holding out the word of life, declaring by
the resistess eoquence of example what is that
ligion which comes from heaven, and what are its
sublime aad' unparalleled excel'encies.
= The Ladies