The Columbian fountain., 1846-06-20
ACCOMMODATION.

How few persons are there who adhere
strictly TO settled virtuous principles! How
apt are most men TO partake OF the quality oi
certain thing by which the state OF the wind
is sometimes determined or OF certain KIND
of vehicle which carries ALL The fact is, II
requires no small amount OF discretion and
valor, 10 pursue such course IN life, as will
well accord with, or show one consistent to his
own professed principles throughout; and
when we meet with one who does it, we may
set him down as ga rare bird" for depend up
on it such fly not in every air.
As means of illustrating our statement,
lei us refer to the circle Of our own acquan-
tance, and take little notice Of the conduct OF
those around us. Examine their course in
connection with their professions, and behold
in how many instances we are compelled to
exclaim, go consistency, thou art a jewel ~
Or, to be very candid in this investigation, lei
each one ask himself, if he has not for the sake
Of securing favor with those around him, or
from other improper incentive, been led to do
what he well knew at the time would not well
consist with his acknowledged principles.
But Notwithstanding this thing is SO COM
mon, and the condemnation may fall very near
home with many, is it therefore to be over
looked2 No: the subject invests itself with
greater importance as we consider it the more
An example from Holy Writ is sometimes
brought forward to show that the spirit Of ac-
commodation ought to be carried to very
wide extent, even to becoming all things to all
men," and upon this, we suppose, many have
done wrong, not understanding the true mean
ing of those words, and not considering the
history of the individual who used them
When did ST. Paul depart from the noble prin-
ciples he espoused after his conversion in order
togratify his own desires, or those OF any other?
Never. He did everything he could, consistent
ty with his own established views, in order TO
their present and eternal welfare. And this is
the extent--the extreme bound. of all proper
accommodation, in word, or example
The true temperance man, then, will never,
under any circumstances, for the sake of ac-
commodation, yield his high, d-pleasng,
and men-blessing principles; nor will the
Christian, either because he fears, or favors any
give up, or act contrary TO the law of Christ ::
and we feel no hesitancy in saying, on this
point, that wherever we find men who will
speak blessing and cursing, or encourage first
good and then evil-do anything for popular
fapors, they are not on the Lords side: they
have carried the spirit of accommodation too
far, profess what they may. Precisely so with
publications, which, on the same page speak
well of the cause of God, and of the works of
lniquity; they are too accommodating for any
good use. AS far as pure charity leads we
may go; but where principle must be yielded,
we mean good. holy principle-to secure ia
vor, or avoid reproach, we dare not venture !;
for although such a course, if pursued, might
secure present popularity, it would in the end,
bring down upon us, the just contempt Of all
those who desire to hear the truth spoken in
the love of il, and in no instance departed
from. We would then urge the friends of
temperance, and all good men, to stand up for
their glorious principles, whether men will
bear or forbear. These principles will prevail
at last
What does it matter whether we can say Of
those who go with us, eye are many" or
not2 Our dependence is not in numbers, but
in right not in man, but in God. As to op
position, those who would do good and eschew
evil. have always had it, and may even res
pect ii and indeed in a world where there is
so much sin, secret and open as there evident
ly is in this, we would not give farthng for
the man whose course is approved by abby
the bad as well as the good He must have
worn two faces to secure such general appro-
baton, for the strict adherent to truth cannot
escape the censure of those who love it not.--
True. very strict man may so conduct him
self as to make ever. his enemies to be at peace
with him-thatis to show no opposition, butthey
have it at heart, and they are, and will ever be
his enemies, while they are enemies to his
principles. Let those who would be consis-
tent then, abide firmly in what they profess to
hold so sacred, and make no compromise with
the works of darkness, or with those who 90
with the multitude to do evil keeping it ever
ia mind that the better man you are, the small
L. H. n