New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-02-09

ENpAAS uhfAduS0 10 nv AuuSSA hOeAA~-
There are too many in this world who
prefer not to have good done if they
can't do it, and who don't want the
devils to go out if they don't cast them
out. II is no uncommon thing for
some to groan over the unpopularity
of their church or of their own efforts,
and yet never grcan for the lost around
them.
| III. Habits of vice are regarded as IN
diyidual acts, awakened by oeca-
sional temptation, while occasional
instances of virtue are dignifed with
the term of habits.
Yet the reverse is true. The better
nature of man only now and then gains
the mastery, while his evil nature is
usually in the ascendant. Few men
havo habits of virtue all men have
habits Of vice. The passions in their
grosser manifestations may only Occa-
sionally appear, but in milder forms
they are daily displayed: Men mis-
take as to the degree of the passions
yielded to, and this leads to second
error, in mistaking vice for virtue.
Inv. Men oonfound the non appearance
of vicious passions with their actual
extinction; when in reality the
change is owing to tho lapse Of
time-as old age, or altered eircum-
stances.
Time may have put out the fire.
The volcano is perhaps burnt out.
Or perohanee the tempter has ceased
to assail these points. But in all this
there is no virture; no honor to God;
no credit to man. The past is record
ed against him; aud the present would
DO as the past were it not for altered
circumstances. The glory of man is
self-control.
V. Men excuse the sins of their Pc
culiar situation, and congratulate
themselves on the absence of sins
which they are under no temptation
to commit.
1t were folly to tempt some men to
steal, or murder, or lie, or prove un-
faithful to the wife of their bosoms;
yet these men have their weak points
which are daily assailed by Satan, and
they have their sins which are sufii-
cient to ruin their souls. Men look in
diligently upon their own sins, but with
horror when similar sins are commit
ted by others. Happy is he that con
demneth not in others that thing which
he allowsth in himself.
WI. Assent of the understanding and
the transient emotions of the sensi-
bilities are looked upon as the de-
termination Of the will, and the i'm
pulses of the affections.
Reason may approve the claims of
religion, and yet the will may rot re-
solve to meet those obligations. Truth
accepted is one thing; truth practiced
is another. Some men glow with de-
light in announcing great truth, and
they fancy that they. practice it; but
herein are they self-deceived. So
there may be in the heart a momentary
joy over some good, or sorrow over
soma vice. Yet the great deep of the
affections remains untouohed:-it is a
mere ripple Of the surface.
VII. Good actions which are the
effect of natural tempers are too
often aseribed to settled principles.
Man is mot as bad as he may be.
There is some trace Of the original
nature in every one. Dives in hell
had a generous impulse, when he could
save his i've brethren from like con-
dition. Some are born with amiable
disposition, such as benevoIence,
love Of truth, Of friends, and Of justice,
and these inhere in mans nature, not
BY any effort Of his, and often despite
bis effort. They how from the natural
Tendencies Of his moral and physical
natures. Other good actions. just as
needful and imperative are left un-
done, because the disposition is not so
inclined in other words, the good Of
thatman's life comes not from the ac-
copied principles of Christ.
VIII Anger is mistaken for indigna-
ton, fury for zeal, and neglect Of
others for non-association.
Every good man. at times, must
feel indignation at the conduct Of
others, whether he himself is tho in
jured party or his God; yet this
greatly differs from violent.temper
Or sullcn revenge which biaes its
time to destroy. The Catholics IN
peFsecuting the Pfotestants had anger
and fury which they mistOok for in
dighation and zeal, And cot IN.
frequently individuals are neglected
nudeF the Piles Of non-intesoourae.
| when pside d fear Or revenge i ths
| parent passion of the nsglset
/ TX. Removes for sin is thought 70 IA
genuine and acceptable. without
leading b fepsniauce and reforma-
Hon
ksnasRa 5 not repansazos and pe
enisrea i not genuine Rgehou.
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