we never to mingle in the cheerful amusements of society? Are we not to indulge ourselves in the refined pleasures of literary pursuits, nor wander even for a moment into the delightful regions of science or imagination? Were this a true picture of our duties, and of the sacrifices which Christianity requires from us; were these the commands of our divine Lawgiver, well might we say with the astonished disciples, "who then can be saved?" But the God whom we serve is not so hard a master, nor does his religion contain any such severe restrictions as these. Christianity forbids no necessary occupations, no reasonable indulgences, no innocent relaxations. It allows us to use the world, provided we do not abuse it. It does not spread before us a delicious banquet, and then come with a "touch not, taste not, handle not*." All it requires is, that our liberty degenerate not into licentiousness, our amusements into dissi * Coloss. ii. 21. pation, pation, our industry into incessant toil, our carefulness into extreme anxiety and endless solicitude. So far from forbidding us to engage in business, it expressly commands us not to be slothful in it*, and to labour with our hands for the things that be needful; it enjoins every one to abide in the calling wherein he was called†, and perform all the duties of it. It even stigmatizes those that provide not for their own, with telling them, that they are worse than infidels. When it requires us "to be temperate § in all things," it plainly tells us that we may use all things temperately; when it directs us "to make our moderation known unto all men ||," this evidently implies, that within the bounds of moderation we may enjoy all the reasonable conveniences and comforts of the present life. But how then are we to reconcile this participation in the concerns of the *Rom. xii. 11.-1 Cor. iv. 12. VOL. I. P present † 1 Cor. vii. 20. || Philipp. iv. 5. present life, with those very strong declarations of Scripture, "that we are not to be conformed to this world; that the friendship of the world is enmity with God; that we are to take no thought for the morrow; that we are to lay up treasures no where but in heaven; that we are to pray without ceasing; that we are to do all things to the glory of God; that we are not only to leave father, mother, brethren, and sisters, for the sake of Christ and his Gospel, but that if we do not hate all these near and dear connexions, and even our own lives, we cannot be his disciples *." These, it must be acknowledged, are very strong expressions, and, taken in their strict literal sense, do certainly imply that we are to abandon every thing that is most dear and valuable and delightful to us in this life, and to devote ourselves so entirely to the contemplation *Rom. xii. 2. and -Jam. iv. 4.-Matt. vi. 20. 34. 1 Thess. v. 17.-Ephes. vi. 18.1 Cor. x. 31. Luke, xiv. 26. and love and worship of God, as not to bestow a single thought on any thing else, or to give ourselves the smallest concern about the affairs of this sublunary state. But can any one imagine this to be the real doctrine of Scripture? You may rest assured that nothing so unreasonable and extravagant is to be fairly deduced from these sacred writings. In order then to clear up this most important point, three things are to be considered: First, That were these injunctions to be understood in their literal signification, it would be utterly impossible for us to continue a week longer in the world. If for instance we were bound to pray without ceasing, and to take no thought whatever for the morrow, we must all of us quickly perish for want of the common necessaries of life. 2dly, It must be observed that all oriental writers, both sacred and profane, are accustomed to express themselves in bold Al it a cer MIS degree, Lave Du er must der Der them. VIDSES: we can hy and efectually, Su The concerns He may have their DALS = F ters, but bey must I si te prero I AGREgion HOTHEK JA PAT mount weer all. Every at i la xen rim sic. has his ruling The muing passice of the Chris Tal must be the love of his Maker and Redeemer. This it is which must prinDaily occupy his thoughts, his time, his attention, his heart. If there be any thing ise which has gained the ascendancy over our souls, on which our desires, our wishes, our hopes, our fears, are chiefly ixed. God is then dispossessed of his right dominica zre us; we serve another master, |
