The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-04-12

take new start from the mountains of
Caucasus. There he beholds the light
of revelation soon fading into the twi-
light of tradition, and the lesser lights of
science begin to blaze.
Now in all this there is the greatest
danger that he will give to the subject
but Il scientific value, and in his nvesti-
cations be as far removed from that spir
itual mindedness mhtch is an essential ell
ement of Christian character, as is the
veriest slave Of Mammon that tolls in the
marts of commerce or ploughs the sense
less earth.
Whenever and wherever science is
cultivated as an end and not as means
of disclosing the infinite PROJECTIONS of
God and of prompting the heart to the
love and the worship of the Great Su-
preme, then and there is mind wasted,
divine mercy dispised, guilt incurred,
and condemnation laid up for the day of
wrath.
Whatever doesin fact link the thoughts
and the affections to earth-whatever
prevents them from rising to heaven
whatever intercepts the communion of
the soul with Christ, its eternal portion,
must be a hindrance to the development
and growth oftrue religion. And what
science may not be so cultivated as to
have this effect! Even when the at
tention is directed to the infinite depths
ofspace, and the sublime movements of
the heavenly spheres are contemplated
and their laws sought out, their praise Of
the divine wisdom and power may be
unheard and their testimony to the di-
vine goodness be UNDECIDED. The study
ofthe works OF nature must, it is true, in
one sense lead the student to think the
thoughts of God, and thus in that sense
make him godlike; but there is of ne
cessity little piety in the demonstration
of the mathematical theories on which
the universe was constructed, otherwise
La Place would have been an eminent
saint.
fla mans studies do not bring his &C.
tons into the right line of the divine
movements and purposes, his will into
harmony with the divine volitions, his
affections into sympathy with the divine
feelings, they are of no avail to his per-
sonal plety. If they affect not the heart,
the spiritual nature of the man, they are
all in vain in the sight of God, for "God
is a spirit, and they that worship Him,
must worshi p Him in spiritand in TRUTH
The kingdom of Christ is not Of this
world. 1t is righteousness, and peace,
and joy in the Holy Ghost, for he that
in these things serveth Christ is accepta-
BILE to God" That religion which con-
sists in devotion to the church as an out
ward organization merely or as divine
kingdom Of this world-that religion
which consists in any thing else than
the spiritual worship and service of the
Holy One, will be found at last like the
hope of the hypocrite when God taketh
away the soul.
No acqu sition ofreligious knowledge
is to be reckoned of much worth any
farther than it prepares the soul for
state ofspiritual existence-for spirtu-
al life in eternity. AS preparation
for this spiritual and eternal life the
study tof theology is of the highest i'm
portance, and he has not taken the first
step in it as it ought to be pursued who
has not found it OF priceless value. The
science of God and of moral things
when regarded not as science merely,
but mainly as medium of access to
God through Jesus Christ, is of unspeak-
able worth-more precious than gold
more excellent than rubies. But woe
be to us when we pursue it as means
of enjoyment and not as means of
grace-as a means Of self-aggrandize-
ment and not of spiritual good to our
selves and others.
The Christian must never think to re.
fresh his spirit from those fountains
whose waters can never Stake his thirst.
Science as an end or as the Mother of
Art is the life of the world. But with
science in this respect the Christian has
nothing to do, for he is dead to the
world and his life is hid with Christ in
God. As it is his highest honor to bear
the name Of His Divine Lord and Mas
ter, so is it his highest duty to exemplify
His Spirit. Herein is our Father glori-
fed, that we bear much fruit. So shall
we be Chris!'s disciples.