The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-12-06
SUNDAY READING.
Good Works.


done from a motive OF living charity O
Kindness, and in conformity with the die
tates OF true faith and all the actions
ot a mans life, that have these lfe.in
spring principles within them, are pooc
works. No action can possibly be don,
by any man but from son.c motive and
both his will and his understanding must
concur in the doing of it {; conseouentlv
such us the motive Is, or such as is the
quality Of the will and understanding in
dong 1t, such Is the act. When, there
tore, good actions are Commanded in the
Holy Word, extraordinary performances.
lar out OF the ordinary line of our du-
ties as members OF civil and religious So
c'ety, are not meant but the require
nent implies that we are to discharge all
the iuuts of our station with sincerity
and uPrIg suffering no motive op-
poSte to charity to our neIghbor, and love
TO the Lord, to inslnuate Itself into any
thing we do. This is the reason that the
order OF the divine preccpls is, Cease to
do evil learn to do well : for until evil
Is de>istcd from, and held in adherence as
Internal, the most splendid outward acts
OF benciicence, though equally useful to
mankind rs 1t they proceeded from real
charity, are not good works nor will
they procure for him that performs them,
amy remission OF the penalty due to the
InwardIy cherished evils of the heart
Dut, on the other hand, when the heart
Is parIticd from these when an earnest
desire Is felt to he totally delivered from
Their Influence when, consequently, the
practice of sin is dcsisted from, and no
thought is suffered TO harbor for mo-
mcnt IN the mind, that il, i'll any degree,
Incompatible with a desire for the wei
t,5s yIu u2lhsrs, AUD. for our gym eUi66aF
ncighbor is iu>iuuA;cR. accompanied hy
II firm faith in the Lord and Ills Word
not simple assent Of the understanding
to its truth, but heartfelt acknowledge
mcul Of the eternal moment of all that
it teaches and the simplest action of the
lite that is done under the influence of
such II heart and mini AS this, comes un
der the description Of what the Scripture
calls good work.. Were it otherwise,
tne requirement. at good works could
only hc OF partial application, since great
portion of mankind are preciuded by cir
cunsIanccs tr I'm the ability of doing many
other good works, than such as are inclu-
d"d III the common duties OF their station
whereas, when it is known that these,
W wlrn done under the influence of charity
and faith within, are genuine good Sorks,
we see that the poorest laborrr may be
as rIch III them Us the highest peer.
1t is nevertheless certain, that when
once genuine charity aud faith, in conse-
qururc OF IN attention TO the precept,
Cease 10 do evil" have gained II seat in
The mind, ami when, uudcr their infu-
eucc, u man as begun to learn to do
wei" he viii be disposed to carry his obe-
diencc to the latter rrecept rs far IA cir
cums,ancco will permit. lie will con-
tnuaiy be discovering how he may per
form tie plain duties of his station in a
manner more benet iaI to those about
him aud his increasing flame OF charity
and love will surccSslvely dispose him to
eudcavor more and more strenously to
promote the welfare Of his neighbor, and
| the advancement Of the Lords Kingdom
How little do mankind consult their real
| happiness, when they are desirous 20 keep
whatever they possess TO themselves ; to
monopollsc for themselves, it it were pos
>ibe, all the knowledge, or talents, or
wealth in the world How little dis
posed are they to believe, (what the in
crssant changes that take place in hui
man aflnils might teach them every day. }
that nothing Of these is their own that
they are more stewards under Him, from
Whom all creation, with everything in il,
has birth aud TIM they never can Ell.
tor into the true enjoyment OF anything
cOnfded to their care, till they view, and
feel pleasure in viewing, both themselves
and their possessions in their true light
their possessions, whether mental or cor.
poreai, Us lDans from the Lord, and them.
selves as servants, to whom they are con
fdrd TO be Improved for His use AMI
till they hence become truly solicitous to
employ a!I tina; they have, so as best TO
promote the designs of its proper Owner
TO regard their possessions III this light
would appear lo many like the total loss
OF them whereas, such loss must be the
certain consequence Of the opposite con
duet, For to arrogate to ourselves, a,
our own, the blessings which we enjoy by
divine favor, must cause us infallbly &
be deprived Of them in the other life
where an exact agreement between men
inward state and outward condition takes
place while to ascribe them to Him, u
Whom alone they really beleng, and I.
employ them in HIS service, Is the wa.
to render our possession, either Of then
or of moro xcellent ores. eternal. ]
will also make them the means Of afford
ing us bliss iuconceiyable, Of which W
!, shall have forc,aste in this world, and
full enjoyment in the next. For we Thu
become c,njoin I'd TO Him =, ho is Oh
Source Of blessing our souls are ope
. to the reception Of thefbeatitudes whic