Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-09-07

! mere barren proposition in the under
standing; a speculation only OF the intel
ectuaf man, arranged in thes:mind With
other trpths of science. To sub a desti-
nation Ohristi1nitY cannot submit :..i.sr
heavhly:origh gives her the right to de-
nanda letter place, a profounder homage.
You must realize that the system Of our
religion Immediately concerns ourselves;
that its teachings, reproofs, warnings and
commands, are directed to each one OF
you and that, as truly as if the volume
containing them; were directly addressed
to him by name. Your belief must be
operative and influential tend to-
wards the heart, and incline yon to regu-
late your life by its precepts; otherwise,
its truths will no more affect favorably
your condition than. those OF Algebra or
Geology. -
:. fear, my young friend, there is some
thing nearly akin to shame associated with
the thought of thus acknowledging Chris
t;anity !; and though you are willing, from
whatever motive, to pay decent external
homage to religion professed by your
countrymen, yet it is with sort of pro-
testation, generally understood, sometimes
even expressed, against its being suppos-
ed that you take any serious interest in its
doctrines or its precepts. : l fear that, you
would look upon the imputation to you.of
serious piety, as repreach, and the destf:
nation to be Christian, as punishment;
while you still intend, when you leave the
world, in some way by no means accu-:
rately understood, because but slightly
considered, to be saved by the Christians
God ; to be acknowledged at yonr utmost
need by him, of whom, Throughout life,
you were in truth ashamed. My friends,
if there be indeed any such feeling at
your hearts, pluck the base thought away,
and remember that this faith holds ont
promises, not to modes of dying, but solely
to modes Of life; that you must, saosc, &C.
cept. or reject it, with all the consequences
which Heaven has authoritstively annex
ed to your determination. Accept, / be-
soech you, that religion; and now, even
now, begin to frame your lives by its pre-
cepts. 1t will exert a sanitary influence
over the whole moral character; what is
good will be confirmed: what weak,
strengthened what evil, corrected what
defective, supplied and you will find
yourselves thoroughly furnished to every
good word and work.
The duty of gaining here, and improv-
ing in after life, the rudiments of knowl-
edge, which l have, upon inferior motives,
set before you, will, under the teaching OF
religion, assume its true character of high
err Consequence. You will see, in. your
present opportunities, the gifts Of a great
benefactor, who, as a judge, will requi, e
an account Of his benefactions, and with
tho most evident equity, demand improve
ment in proportion to your talents; who,
while he graciously considers every bene-
tit conferred upon your fellows by your
agency, as conferred upon himself, will
likewise consider disregard of what you
owe to yourselves, to your country, to
your friends, as ingratitude for his kind
ness, and contempt of his authority -and
will punish it accordingly. ...
Christianity will step in and shed her in.
fluence over your duties as citizens; she
will teach you submission to the powers
that be, not from the fear of present pun
ishment, or hope Of temporal reward, but
because those powers are ordained of Hea
ven. Should you, at any period of politi
cal agitation, be pressed with ingenious
disquisitions which you may not be able
to disentangle and refute, you will inquire
to what course OF conduct these disgust
tons are intended to prompt you; and i
you find the Issue will probably be either
an idle gasconade, or armed resistance t,
the laws, you will ask yourselves, in wha
part Of your religion is found the command
or the permission, thus to threaten or re
sist the government Of your country E.
Should you be tainted with your obedi
ence as degrading Submission, you will
reflect, that obedience is not dictated il
particular to man, but is the necessar,
condition of every virtuous creature in tn
universe; that universal good can only b,
secured by a voluntary submission to eve
ry appointment of HIM who comprehend
all events by his foresight, provides for a
by his wisdom, and brings to pass what h
determines by power which cannot b
resisted that no such thing as right 0
capricious action can exist in the universe
that those, everywhere, who comnlan
others, if virtuous, do, in the command. il
seif, but themselves obey-that he ths
saith to one" go and he goeth, and to II
OTHER come and he cometh, and to thir
do this and he doeth it," is himself, in q
this, I" a man under authority that tn
commencement of sin is the first omissio
to obey; and that, wherever we are an
whatever We do, whether we dispose {
our goods or our time, or receive or Civ
or repose or labor, or live or die, we ar
purs, ed by our Creator with the irresi
tible claims Of a rightful authority
Thee Relations will not only put t
fig 1(y saggestion of disgrace: the
will do more they will teach you the hoI
or of obedience. Raising your. conteu
plations upwards, you will perceive m!
RAIDS of intelligent beings of Oversize
| vi honnu onH o.lor