The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-08
Human Glory.


day week ago.
'Astonshed themselves al the disagreement they per
ceve between their opinions and their feelings they seek
Tor the cause, and cannot find it, II they more
earnest in the search they would fad il in the unwise
preservation and the cupabe OF an idol that they
have not the courage to sacrifice. 1t is ordinarily
fortunate penchaat which strikes their Christianity with
paralysis and stenlity 1t is infsrdaet obsnately
guarded in their retreat and which makes repose there NAL
edlcton that is the secret of many DEM
OF so many unreal professions tina, explains the lot OF
those who according the remarkable expression
OF an apostle, learn alwdys aoihoA ever arriving al
The knowledge Of the truth. Often, when on the point
OF launching heavy ship. when all is ready and when
the last stroke has made fall the last key, have
with surprise the majestic remain notion
less upon its sanng base the eye curious, looks every
where for the mysterious OF that immoblity; and
il is only long time after that they discover under it's
side simple nail which keeps 10 lis place all the power
Of the colossal vessel You, then, from whom escapes
the secret Of your Indifference and iresoluton on the
way OF truth, look WELL and in ignored recess OF
the soul you will perceive favore penchant,
some nveteate habtude, some passion which ashamed
TO show itself, but which, from its obscure retreat,
checks the generous transport which would carry you to
the Lord.
LET apply this general observation to human glory,
and we shall seize truth which presents itself at the
threshold OF the subject The moral law is per.
feet law, all the world without difficulty admits but
in order that the thirst for glory should make run
counter to that law, it is indispensable that the being
from whom expect glory should be perfect in nclna-
ton principle, and in fact Ii he is not So not only
will he not demand Of perfection in return or as the
price of his appreciation he will not put at so high
price, believe it, his admiration and his praises But there
he will bear with difficulty the idea Of being sur
passed perfecton,he bare tendency to perecon-wiil
bring shade over his jealous eyes he will deny the
necessity of that tendency, he will surely deny the
sincerity OF il in your heart he will harass your inen
lions he will call good evil, and candor hypocrisy.
What say here apply to individual in particular
1t would be absurd TO pretend that might not
sent find his superior in another admiration,
lhusiasm, imply tacy the acknowledgment of an ne.
ori,y speak of the world in general-oi ils ,enden-
cies-of It's maxims put its morale in presence OF the
of perfection, and zee that it arated iron by
abyss; recognise, then, in all Ees that the tendency
perfection has cost those who have sincerely obeyed it,
epose, fortune, honor, life and conclude
from it that he who covets the glory of the world
descend TO the level OF the world, and espouse It's
maxims.
LAS there is no need OF being all equivocal on this
subject, let answer those who may defend the uni.
vesa enthusiasm excited by generous ac,ionshe spon-
reclamation which salutes the passage of great
characlerand who say tina, they opposed the
perfect law That has not los, the faculty of admrng
moral beautythat the poesy OF virtue should have for
him charmhat those brilliant lights should dazzle
him-that in the person OF adversary or enemy
certain traits OF veracity OF fidelity, of denial of mercy
should irresisbly transport his heart-who can. who
would wish to deny it, But have spoken OF the law
Of the law which embraces all these things but which
holds them under the terms of obedience; OF the law
which is to these scattered manifestations what the Ish
ls 10 the fame OF the law accomplished but not alb.
sorbed by love- OF the law, system in which man de-
ves prominence not from himself, chooses not his vir-
tues, consulls not his nature, takes not his own i'm
T.. L..,.
is subordinate 10 rule efaces himself before rule
preserves in the liberty of love all the submission OF
fear and in intelligent fidelity all the scrupe of Blind
obedience Perfection is there and nowhere else. il
would not find itself in The practice Of all the
tues, If all those virtues not reunited group
under the tie OF obedience. But this sw--is il Of this
world Does the world impose il Has the world ac
copied ti Can the world support II And If II not in
its neither to accept nor 10 supper, II, does
serve its surages, its appauses, for those who make it
their law
"And there is no, question of knowing IT, in the bot
tom Of the human conscience that virtue, perfect in lis
principle, receives not perhaps silent homage it, nte
orly, and il may say unknowngy, many people do
decree the first rank 10 that virtue which knows only
to obey, and wishes always 10 obey. believe it, but
where go the applauses of the world For whom does
il prepare some crownsi For whom does il raise some
tbronesi And. to present the question under an
other light, if any OF those servants OF the perfect
law obtain the homages oil the world, by w hat title does
he obtain them To what part OF his being and OF his
life are they Addressed IL it that which so
late ITSELF be detached from the fundamental principle OF
his conducts Is il not in him. the natural that they
profess 10 admrei The supernatural man. the man.
the man OF God and the awhas he any part in those
homages9 You know it as well as l-you recognise il
easy-that here the exception confirms the rule and you
will conclude that be of the glory which
from men, is necessary to adopt their maxims, de-
scend their proportions; that il is permitted to
pass-tbat is TO say, to bumiliaeihose from whom
expect glory and reciprocay that be perfec, abb
soutely necessary seek the regards and be ambitious
after the appreciation Of perfect being.
8" But even il, in yielding to the attraction OF human
glory we rsked the loss OF the path OF virtue that
desire would not be the less incompatible with the spirit
Of the Gospel In effect according the Gospel there
only one rule for conducthe will OF God only
glory to seek-,he glory which comes from God and,
should prefer TO that glory the glory which comes
from men, should ourselves with assooia
lion with them--we attack the eternal rights of God
strongly established in the Gospel in eevating inso
lently the tribunal Of men by the side above his ,
buDal wsE
The God of the Gospel is jealous God. and suffers
one to share either in His worship His obedience.
To seek elsewhere than in Him our law is TO deny our
law maker to seek elsewhere than in Him our glory IL
TO deny our Remuneration. Assuredly How should he
hold Himself honored by such rivals could give
Some OF the earth-some creatures OF day-poor
Sinners equalled in regard. mixed in homages
With the Eternal Lord, King Of immensely. Sovereign
Master OF Hearts. adorable Source OF HoIinessi The
~ fail to