Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-04-10

I
| have made so loose and inconsistent a statement
| as he has in relation to the worth Of truth; II
| doctrine be true there reason enough why it
should be made known to man especially if it
be religious truth. We expect the best, the
| highest instruction of God as to our moral and
spiritual interests aud may ever be in readiness
for it. What his truth IS, then, it is ever impor-
| tant for us to know. So let us give countenance
| to no declarations, by whousoever made, such
we have here before in our brothers statement
of the worth of Universalism ''if it be true" If
1t be true, We may think of it as in the words of
the young man Of old which the typography oon-
tains, and which we must say seem altogether
more authoritative and noble than this statement
we have now under consideration GAS for the
truth, it endureth aud is always strong it liv
eth and conquereth forevermore She doeth the
things that just Neither in her judgment
is any unrghteousness and she is the strength,
Kingdom power. and majesty of all ages. Bless
ed be the God Of truth"
The concluding portion of this first statement
next deserves attention eli Universalism be
true, there is little reason why anybody in this
life need be converted to from any faith in par.
tcular' or should become deeply interested in per-
sOnal religion"
This is far from being an improvement on the
first part of the statement. 1t seems to be an
outgrowth from it. H. who could place so little
value on Universalism, even it true might
be supposed to have just about the breadth of
vision as to the practical tendencies of this faith,
eyuce.
l regret the more to find this language where
do, because it is dishonosable to one who occu.
pies SO high and responsible position does
brother, in the Christian community. This state
ment is not high minded one 1t does not man
ltest great share of far sightedness at least in
certain direction. 1t is saying usually made
by lnconsiderate persons who opposed to
faith. or by such have low views of all religious
ialth and duty. Our brother did not consider-I
know he did not-how he was presenting himself
how he would make himself appear in these un.
scrupulous words But now that he has uttered
them and as they will go out and make their ap.
peals to class of readers who may not be likely
to rise above the level taken by their editor, we
must deal with him as we would with any other
assallant of that "grace of God that bringeth sal
walton to all men, teaching us that denying un.
goodness and worldly lusts, we should live
bery; ,rrighteously, and godly in this present
world"
1t is poor comment on the ideas of Christian
DUTY and the motives to it which many Christians
and people who not Christians. entertain, that
II UnlVersaism is true. there seems to be no IN.
ducente't for men TO olive soberly, righteouSly,
and godly in this present world"
Let us look into this subject, clearly. What is
the great lnducement to obedience, Christians
ought to see and understand ii Is it the fear of
intending punishment hereafter
{. The fear o. hell, hangmsn's whip
10 baud the wretch in order %
Will any Christian allow that such is his chief
motlye-power to obedience! the consideration
which first of all leads him to praise, and prayer
and holy resolve, and holy liying} would such SER
vice as this be deemed honorable or an accept
able service with God or with man! What do men
think OF such service whenrendered one to anoth
er! | mean service constrained through fear of
punishment if any delinquency in duty should be
discovered by him who required the service. Does
not the apostle somewhere justly say of such doors
That they ''eye servants" and righteously ex-
mort his fellow Christians against any such
IN all the le-dutes they called upon to render
to themselves or their fellow men! Aud if men
would lightly esteem a service rendered to them
mainly from this low motive, of what account
must obedience be in the sight of the hottest of
ALL thus rendered to Him by his children Is it
such spiritual school God wants with His chill
dren, whose order and subsection exist only
when the eye of the Master is directly upon them!
Is that such moral community as He would most
delight in, where deoorum and safety could only
be secured under the most vIgilant observance of
the police or armed soldieryg
We all know better than to argue thus. We all
ought to know better than to attribute any such
-importance to this mere apprehension or fear of
punishment as a motive to Christianity, obedience
and fidelity to the Christian life. do not believe
our brother himself would for moment acknow-
edge that he was impelled to Christian duty by the
motive we now considering. And if religious
service rendered on such terms would not be just-
haole and praiseworthy on his part, [ see not how
they can be needful in the instance of any other
member of the great human household
Let us next consider another motive to Chris
tan obedienee-the hope of reward aside from
delight in the service itself. Will any Christian
| allow that this inducement is the principal one
urging him to the religious life? Is he ready to
acknowledge, that wer9 it not for the hope of the
| joys of Heaven hereafter, as remuneration for
of iYin br-n L.
traction in this present of life ITSELF suf-
GENTLY strong to induce him to seek and pursue it?
theology always talks in this way, when it speaks
of the pleasures of sin; of the unwelcomeness of
the paths of Christian duty; of the many depriv-
ations to be encountered in the virtuous life; of
| the rewards in the next world, for the irksome
task of the obedient one in this.
But how is it with this doctrine of compensa-
| ton? viii it bear close searching? Why do we
| love our families and friendsl Because we are
| looking for eternal rewards in life beyond the
present for such an exercise of our affections? Or
| why require love from them towards us! From
the same motive? What would such love be? Ave
what but moral delirium would call it love? In
agine the great day of accounts SO often depicted
| by the theology of the past, when the secrets of
the hearts OF all men are laid open, not only to
the eye of the Infinite One, but to the gaze of an
assembled world; and men are then Judged, not
according to their pretensiOns, but according to
Vuel ACTUAL otlVeS IN Ghelr religious lives, Sup
| pose testimony like this to be given in: "Iord
in time loved thee, and made profession of tbv
name, and offered thee worship, and eonformed NV
actions as nearly as [ could, to thy commands But
| it was not from purest love for Thee nor of tbv
| requirements; for these not pleasureable in
my sight. 1t was that might escape the doom
OF the sinful in the pit of despair and receive at
this day from thy hand, the rewards thou hast in
! store Tor meP Can we imagine such an account
acceptable to Him who lpoketh upon the heart.
and before whom hypocrisy and empty pretension
can never standl The answer is apparent to ali.
There is one other inducement to Christian obe
dienee and spiritual life; and That is the intrin
SIC worth OF this life We find this set forth In
the Old Testament and the New " The Dath of
| the just is as the shining light that shineth mora
and more unto the perfect day." In the wav of
righteousness is life, and in the pathway thereof is
no DEATH" Wisdom's toays are ways of pleas.
antness, and all her paths are peace. She is a
tree Of life to all that lay hold upon her, and ham
| Ply is every one that retaineth her. She is more
precious than rubies, and all that thou canst de-
| sire is not to be compared unto her." He that
believeth on the Son hath everlasting lifep-
Whose looketh into the perfect law Of liberty
and continueth therein, he being not a foreetful
nearer, but doer of the work. this man shall be
blessed IN his deed" And is not this the highest
and best inducement that can possibly be offered
for the service Of truth and love rendered to God
and man 2 And will not all Christians, after all
their disputations about theologies, settle down
| upon this common ground, that vice and wrong
are TO be Stunned because Of their own hideous.
ness and self-inhicting torment, and that virtue
and holiness are to be sought because of their own
unspeakable worth because of the inner and
constantly enduring and abiding wealth they will
| here bring TO the soul L have no hesifatton IN