Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-04-28
Elements Of a Manly Character.
Sermon Preached at WIlllamsyllle, Vermont, by
Rev. A. b. TruAX OF Brattloboro.
Published by Requestl


and show thyself a man."
David, the celebrated king of Israel, the
administrator of justice and Judgment to all
his people prince of courage and great
military prudence and conduct the skilled
musician, a singularly valiant man, power
full and brave warrior, and mighty conqueror,
who brought peace to the Hebrew nation,
which had been distracted with civil disson.
sions a wise ruler, prudent in matters
comely in person, an eminent prophet, the
leader Of the devotions Of good men, in all
ages, by his inspired psalms one favored oftho
Lord, the man after Gods own heart, at least
as ii regards his general character, and es-
pecislly as it respects his undertaking ad-
herenoe to the true religion, from which no
never deviated to practice idoatry this
mighty man Of God, and illustriOus king, is
about to fall-to vacate the throne Of Israel
by death, and Solomon his son is to succeed
him in the throne. Before going hence, he
gives Solomon his charge, part Of which is
contained in the text. Be thou strong, there
fore, and show thyself a man.
Show thyself q man, lst, Towards God
I'd, Towards thyself Sd, Towards Others
LIST, Towards God His will is supreme,
his law is holy, just and good, and is
in justice binding from the fact that he
is the maker of our frame, preserver Of
our DOulNht ulNlub bthblhGAOI duh Ab-
deemer. His law contains and reveals his
will, lays man under obligation to God
prescrbes rule Of action, enables him to
distinguish the quality Of moral good and
evil teaches him how to avoid the latter
and how to attain the former in which su-
preme good consists teaches him his duty to
himself his family, his neighbor and his
God-how to live and how to die, and de.
clares the divine purpose to reward every
man according to his deeds-as the divine
rule is obeyed or disobeyed. 1t is reason
able, therefore, that man should submit to
God, his rightful ruler, the author and giver
of life and salvation. 1t is fitting that man
be restrained and ruled by Him whose will is
supreme, whose laws arc established in
equity, eternal righteousness and truth, and
whose obeyed discipline restores peace and
true happiness. Come unto me, says Jesus
all We that labor and are heavy laden and
will give you rest Take my yoke upon you,
and learn of me, for am meek aud lowly in
heart and ye shall find rest to your souls
God has his established laws in nature, and
the harmony and safety of the material uni
verse depend upon its fixed laws. II, there
fore, the physical laws should deviate from
their regular order or cease their operations
the whole system of created things would be
hurled into confusion and ruin. God has a
peace and safety. Without law, man is like a
ship at sea without helm, chart or compass
God is the maker and governor and preserver
Of all things. His laws are fixed and uniform
In order, therefore, to the permanent har-
mony and happiness of the universe, its parts
must continue in the places fixed by his wis
dom, operating as his supreme will appoints
II the rivers should leave their channels, the
sea flood its appointed bounds, the stars and
planets fly from their orbits, disaster and
ruin must ensue. What is sin but disorder,
and misery, and ruin 1t is a wilful viola
ton Of the law Of God, which is holy, Just
aud good 1t is dishonor to God, is an in
suit to peerless majesty, goodness and mercy.
1t dsturbs the harmony Of the moral universe.
1t is confusion and ruin. 1t depraves the in
dividual, creates discord and hatred between
man and man, families, societies. and nations.
1t sets man against himself But Christs
obeyed discipline brings rest. Gods obsery-
ed commandments restore harmony and Or
der from chaos
Take the ten commandments, the 1st of
which ia directed against every species of
mental idolatry, and all inordinate love to
earthly and sensible things. The I'd, against
making and worshiping images 3D. against
false swearing, blasphemy, and irreverent
use of the name Of God. 4th, against desc
Grafton of the Sabbath and idleness on the
other days of the week. 9TH, against disre-
spect and dsobedience TO parents. 9th,
against murder and cruelty. 9TH, against
adultery and uncleanness. Sth, against steal
ing and dishonesty. 9th, against false testi-
mony-perjury. 10th, against covetousness.
Now, these laws are given by the infinitely
wise and supreme ruler, for the happiness of
man, to regulate his conduct, for his safety,
and the peace Of society. Therefore, he who
wilfully violates them is an enemy to himself,
opposes his own good, ia ungrateful, disre-
CARDS the claims of God, incurs their just
punishment and is guilty of an act unworthy
a rational intelligent being or man. While
he who regards them, shows himself man.
Is it manly to bear false witness, and to COM
nit perjury? Is it manly to swear falsely,
and to blaspheme? Is it manly to profane
the holy Sabbath? Is it manly to commit
adultery and uncleanness? Is it manly to
steal, and be dishonest and covetous?
Again. Behold the distinguishing powers
with which man has been endowed by his
creator How richly furnished and adorned
See his superior intellectual endowments
How amazing the powers of the human mind
Created in the image of God, crowned with
glory and honor, indued with the higher life,
with distinguishing intellectual faculties, ra-
tional, immortal powers man is elevated high
above the brute creation and maintains do
minon over kingdoms. Thou hast made
him says the inspired Psalmist, a little
lower than the angels, than ''Elohem," that
is little lower (less) than God, or as God in
miniature" and hast crowned him with glory
and honor. Thou madest him TO have do
minion over the works of thy hands; thou
hast put all things under his feet. The pow
ers which more particularly distinguish man
from the brute, are abstraction, classification,
I'll, lon,
Mark the sublime and astonishing attainments
man has made in science and the wonders of
his own creative art. The powers and grasp
ings of the human mind are wonderful.
Behold, STILL man's moral powers. Made
in the image of God, in righteousness and
holiness, spiritual and immortal, his soul is
endowed with unbounded capacities and in
finite desires which extend far beyond all
created human good, and il is therefore capa-
BILE of happiness which no sublunary thing
can communicate, affect or remove, (which
can be found only in union with Him in
whose image man was created in partaking
of the Divine nature, the holiness and happi-
ness of God. Man may be allied to the Deity,
bathe in the ocean of light, purity and benev-
olence, to all eternity.
Further God is author of all good. In him
we live, and move, and have our being.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from
above, and cOmeth down from the Father OF
lights. Above all, when we were sinners,
guilty and condemned, he gave his only be-
gotten Son to suffer death on the cross for
our redemption. Since, therefore, God has
created you, richly endowed you, preserves
and upholds you, redeemed you, is there moi
cause for the deepest gratitude, and ground
of obligation2 Is it not reasonable therefore,
and highly fitting, that man should in return,
devote his powers to the will and service ol
his divine benofactor and redeemer love
Him supremely, reverence and honor Him
I'd. Show thyself man towards thyself
1t takes four things to make man. LIST, Goo
must make him man. I'd, He must make
himself a man. Sd, He must be Christian
4th, He must be providentially favored. The
elements of power with man are sound body
intellectual strength, and life conseoratet
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