The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-04-12
For The Cecil Wing.
SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS
Essential to a Christian Character.

1t is only upon certain conditions that
a christian character is possible. Good
ness is not godliness. Great natural
loneliness is no satisfactory evidence of
genuine piety, for an amiable disposition.
an equable and placid temper, serene
spirit, the most ardent social affections,
and the most winning manners are not
incompatible with an utter want oftrue
religion. Regard for the Sabbath, ad-
miration of the Bible, and respect for its
Teachers may exist apart from any real
conservation of the soul to God. SYM
pathy for the suffering, pity for the poor,
and commisseration for the wretched,
may fill heart which has never throb-
bed with emotions of holy love. The
doctrines of revelation may be we'll I'M
derstood and the institutions of religion
highly valued by one who is rebel
againt Jehovah. Magnanimty, gener-
osity, charity, good morals, ati1uent cir
cumstances, elevated social position, re-
ligious connexions, pious parents, and
church membership -may all enhance
the attractions of one who is an utter
stranger to spiritual piety. On the 9th
err hand, person sspeech may be harsh,
his appearance uncouth, his manners
rude, his countenance detected, his de-
pertinent grave, and his whole aspect
gloomy, and yet his heart be still unmo-
we'd by the impulses of a divine life.
But whatever else an individual may be
or may not be, he must in order to be
Christian be spiritually minded. Unless
this is the predominant trait of his char
acter his life cannot be hid with Christ
in God. The lines of worldliness will
appear. He will be known to his asso-
ciates by some otherthan Christian quail
tiles. The prominent features of his
character will not radiate holy light.
Now, a mans spiritual mindedness is
not determined by the degree of his in
tellect nor ofhis theological culture. 1t
depends much upon the state of his af-
tections. The Christians affections
then must be on things above, not on
things on the earth. The hand of
master has made it ''evident that rel.
gion consists so much in the affections
as that without holy affections there is
no true religion. No light in the I'M
derstanding is good which does not pro-
duce holy affections in the heart; no
habit or principle in the heart is good
which has no such exercise; and no ex-
ternal fruit is good which does not pro-
coed from such exercises"
Every one perhaps is ready to admit
the Importance of pressing these truths
upon the consciences of men engaged
in the active business-the stern con-
flicts of life. But there may be doubt
whether such above all others need their
frequent and earnest incubation. Ava
rice is not the only foe to grace. The
bustling mart is not the only scene of
of spiritual conflict. Ambition or pride
may be the passion of the soul while
the lips utter the words of humble pray.
er. The world may reign over a NIGH
ty empire in the heart while the body is
incarcerated in monkish cell.
Literary and scientific pursuits have
their own peculiar dangers. The stu
dents daily avocations, not less than 9th.
er mems, are the groun d Of strong temp
tations. He as well as they must make
these temptations, by trampling them
beneath his feet, the steps of that ladder
up which he climbs to heaven.
Does History invite his attention to
the monuments of worlds exploits
He explores her musty tones. He reads
her ancient records and goes back in
imagination to the dawn of our race
Then In its misty twilight he descends
the stream of time, and beholds the dim
outlines of antedeluvian nations, and
constructs for himselfthe history of their
gigantic achievements, their daily pur-
suits, and their domestic life. He then
contemplates that catastrophe of our
race which carried the animals of the
tropics to the frosts of Liberia, and fur.
rowed the mountains and planted the
valleys Of England with boulders of