Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-04-27
The Moral Men,


superior and sometimes of supreme
excellence. All the preaching in the
world seems only to make them pity
other folks. There are men who sit
quiescent, and pleased and smiling to
hear the denunciations OF the law, and
who think, as they listen," These sin
ners are being faithfully dealt with.
Men there are who, when the truth is
brought home to them, and, for the mo-
ment, pierces the covering Of their in
tense self-esteem, feel, (" 1t is probably
in the way professional duty that the
minister does it; he thinks that he
ought to do it; and as am reputable
man in the congregation, | ought not
to take oflense. He says these things
to me, because he has to say them to
me in order to say them to other peo
pie. | simply take my share for the
benefit of other folks" Are there not
men that sit in this congregation who
have had this insane vanity, this inord
mate conceit, which seems to have been
wrought into the very fiber OF their be-
ing? They look upon all arguments
and appeals with kind of speculative
interest; but it never reaches to the
core of matters and never brings them
down on their knees before God and
causes them TO say, "God be merciful
to me sinnerr' They have been
lifted up by joy, they have been melted
by pity, they have been pleased and
instructed by arguments, they have
had various emotions in their soul ;
but none of these things have led them
to leei, 4 am, from the crown of my
head to the sole Of my foot, sinful
am bruised and sick; am needy my
case is desperate; and nothing can
help me out OF my trouble but the III
finite love and sovereign power of God.
That impression they never had in
their life. And yet, these are men
whose feet are never soiled and whose
hands are never nncleanly. They are
men who never wipe their lips; who
BOAST of their civility who stand high
who are excellent men-excellent fol
the uses of this life. But oh for the
other life For we are to this life wha
the seed-corn is TO next summer. Corr
that may be very good for horses fooC
to-day, may not be good to sprout ant
. come up and make new corn for The
summer that is following. And thu
character that may be good for societ!
purposes here, may not have in it tina
element which shall carry man int
the grave, and through the grave, anC
into the presence of God, and max,
him fit companion for Gods angel
In the heavenly land. And though
would not charge you who have al
Overweening, mordinate estimation OF
your own excellence and your owl
safety therein; though would no
charge you with drunkenness, nor wit
s lechery, nor with fraud, nor with lying
: though | would say that you are bette
q in many respects than persons who ar
Iguilty Of these great vices and crimes
yet, so far as the uncovering of tn
e soul before God and Gods Spirit i
e concerned, the publicans and harlot
e shall 60 into the kingdom OF heave
! before you. They believe that the
are sinners; they know it; and, by an
. by, there may come all hour in whic
K they will cry out in anguish and dc
0 spair, "God, save me!' But you d
:, not believe that you are sinner. Yo
9 have never known the time when yo
had a consciousness OF the want of d
vine help; you have never known til
moment when you lifted up hand
strained with desire, and said, "(
God change this heart OF mine! p An
your pride will be your destruction
Plymouth Pulpit