The base cares and the petty enjoyments
of the present world

Sin is raging all around us!

Satan is busy in the work of destruction!

Men are dying!

Souls are every moment departing into eternity!

Hell is enlarging her mouth, and multitudes are
continually descending to torments which knows
no mitigation and no end!

Heaven expanding above us!

Hell yawning beneath us!

Eternity opening before us!

How astounding is it sometimes to ourselves, that,
favored with a certain, though distant, view of the
celestial city, living almost within the sight of its
glories and the sound of its music, the base cares
and the petty enjoyments of the present world
should have so much power over us, as to retard us
in our heavenward course, and make us negligent
and indolent, heedless and forgetful.

Time is short, life uncertain, death at hand, and
immortality is about to swallow up our existence
in eternal life—or eternal death!

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CHRISTIAN

True religion

True religion is . . .
a principle of the heart;
an element of the character;
the habit of thinking, feeling, and acting
aright in all our social relations;
the basis of every virtue;
the main prop of every excellence;
the fear of the Lord, by which men depart from evil;
faith working by love;
such a belief in the gospel of Christ, as leads
to a conformity to His example.

True religion, though founded on a belief of doctrines,
and nourished by the exercises of devotion—diffuses
its influence over the entire character of man.

True religion is the belief, the love, the worship,
the imitation of Jesus.

True religion is sound morality, animated and
sanctified by the spirit of true devotion to Christ.

True religion prescribes, not only homage to God,
but follows him into the domestic circle.

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CHRISTIAN

God has no speechless children!

Nothing seems too hard or too difficult for prayer
to do. Prayer has a kind of omnipotence; for it
moves the hand which moves all things!

Faith and prayer are the two arms by which
the soul hangs upon the neck of infinite Love,
and grasps the hand of omnipotent Power!

Prayer is the homage of a dependent creature
paid to the author of its being, and the source
of its happiness.

Prayer has a moral reflex influence on the soul
of him who presents it, making him the holier
by his own devotions.

Prayer is a relief and comfort to the troubled soul.

Prayer is the communion of the regenerated
soul with its Divine Parent.

Prayer is God's own instituted means of obtaining
blessings from Him, the Fountain of life.

Prayer must be sincere—we must really be
desirous to obtain the blessings we ask.

Prayer must be holy—for if we "regard iniquity
in our heart, the Lord will not hear us."

Prayer must be pious—seeking to obtain blessings,
not for our own gratification merely—but for God's glory.

Prayer must be importunate—for it is the effectual,
fervent prayer of a righteous man, that prevails.

Prayer must be submissive—asking only for what
it is God's will to bestow.

Prayer must be in love—for if our brother has anything
against us, we must first go and be reconciled to our brother.

Prayer must be reverent—for our God is a consuming fire.

Prayer must be humble—for we are base, and sinful,
and unworthy to lift up our eyes to heaven.

Prayer must be persevering—for men ought
always to pray, and not to faint.

Prayer must be particular—for generalities
mean little or nothing.

Prayer must be universal—entering into everything,
all the concerns of life, all the means of grace.

Prayer must be of all kinds—social, domestic,
private, spontaneous.

Prayer must be grateful—abounding in thanksgiving.

Prayer must be expectant—waiting and
watching for answers.

Prayer must be believing—we must ask in faith.

Prayer must be consistent with the Word of God
—we may ask for everything God has promised.

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CHRISTIAN

Our life is a bubble!

"What is your life? You are a mist that appears
for a little while and then vanishes!" James 4:14

Our world is a valley of tears. Our life is a bubble,
raised from those tears, inflated by sighs; which, after
floating a little while, decked with a few gaudy colors
—is touched by the hand of death, and dissolves!

Poverty,
disease,
misfortune,
unkindness,
instability,
death,
all assail the travelers as they journey onward
to eternity through this gloomy valley.

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on
what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinth. 4:18

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CHRISTIAN

Consider Jesus!

"Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a
heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle
and high priest of our confession." Heb 3:1.

Jesus was so dead to this world, that He renounced
wealth, rank, ease and fame.

Jesus was so holy that He could appeal to the most
malignant of his foes for the sinless purity of His conduct.

Jesus was so submissive to the divine will, that
He drank the deepest, fullest, bitterest cup of human
woe, without a murmur.

Jesus was so meek and lowly, as to bear the greatest
injuries and insults with unruffled serenity and placability.

Jesus was so full of benevolence, as to pray for His
foes, to die for them, and save them.

Yes, we say to the world, "Look at Jesus of Nazareth in
His holy and beneficent career, or in his ignominious and
agonizing death—see him whose whole character was a
compound of purity and love—there is our model."

We confess that the salvation of immortal souls is
the most momentous interest in the universe; and
that our time, influence, talents and property—are
at Christ's command.

We profess that we have received Christ as the end
of our very existence.

We profess that we have ceased to live for wealth,
ease, or reputation, as the supreme object of pursuit.

We profess that we receive Christ as our pattern and
example, and that we are determined, as God shall
assist us—to conform ourselves to Him in our spirit,
temper, and conduct.

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CHRISTIAN

Like a ball and chain around his ankle!

"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the
sin which so easily besets you." Hebrews 12:1

Besetting sins are powerful hindrances to Christian
progress. In the case of most people, there is some
one sin to which, either from their situation, taste,
constitution, or other circumstances—they are more
powerfully tempted than to others.

Satan knows very well what in every case this is, and
skillfully adapts his temptations to it. He is an expert
angler, and never chooses his bait, or throws his line,
at random! Independently, however, of him, the very
tendency of the heart is in that direction.

That one sin, whatever it is, while indulged, will hold
you back! You cannot make progress in holiness, until
it is mortified. Even its partial indulgence, though it
may be considerably weakened, will hinder you!

Study then your situation, circumstances, and constitution.
You cannot be ignorant which temptation and sin, you are
most liable to succumb to. You must know in what way
you have most frequently wounded your conscience, and
occasioned to yourself shame and sorrow.

Is it an unsanctified temper?

Is it an impure imagination?

Is it a proud heart?

Is it a vain mind?

Is it a taste for worldly company?

Is it a proneness to envy and jealousy?

Is it a love of money?

Is it a tendency to exaggeration in speech?

Is it a fondness for pleasure?

Is it a disposition to censoriousness and backbiting?

Study yourselves! Examine your own heart! You must
find out this matter, and it requires no great pains in
order to know it. It floats upon the surface of the heart,
and does not lie hidden in its depths. There, there, is
your danger! As long as that one sin, be it what it may,
is indulged, you cannot advance in the Christian life!

Other sins are like unnecessary clothing to the racer.

Besetting sins are like a ball and chain around his ankle!

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CHRISTIAN

Is this your religion?

"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all
mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith
that can move mountains, but have not love,
I am nothing!" 1 Corinthians 13:2

LOVE is a grace which many professing Christians
think far too little about; but it is of infinite value
in the eyes of God. Love is the most characteristic
feature of Christ's image in a renewed man. Love is
the most precious fruit of grace; and yet the fruit
which too many of His professed followers seem to
think themselves hardly under any obligation to
cultivate.

Christian love is that benevolent disposition
or kindness, which consists in good-will to all
creatures, and which leads us, as we have
opportunity, to promote their happiness.

The apostle has given us a description of the
exercises of this noble and god-like principle.

"Love is patient" and forbearing under injuries
and annoyances—and does not revile, revenge,
or retaliate.

"Love is kind," not harsh or crude—but ever ready,
willing, and pleased by looks, words, and actions,
to promote the comfort of others.

"Love does not envy." It does not pine and grieve
at the sight of another's superior possessions, fame,
happiness, or piety—and dislike him on that account.

"Love does not boast. Love is not proud." It neither
boasts its own gifts, achievements, and possessions,
nor despises others, nor makes insulting comparisons
—but is humble and gentle.

"Love does not behave unseemly." It modestly keeps
its place, and does nothing to offend by what is
unfitting its rank, station, or circumstances.

"Love seeks not her own." It does not selfishly want
to have its own way, or promote its own interest—to
the neglect of others.

"Love is not easily provoked." It governs its temper,
controls its passions, and is not soon or unreasonably
irritable or petulant.

"Love thinks no evil." It is not censorious, nor forward
to impute a bad motive to a doubtful action—but is
disposed to put the best construction on the actions
and words of others.

"Love rejoices not in iniquity—but rejoices in the truth."
It does not delight in the sins—but in the excellences
of an opponent.

"Love bears (or covers) all things." It does not divulge,
proclaim, aggravate faults—but hides them as far as it
can, and it is right to do so.

"Love believes all things," that are to the advantage
of another.

"Love hopes all things," where there is not sufficient
evidence to authorize belief.

"Love endures all things," bears hardships, sustains
labor, makes sacrifices—in order to accomplish its
purposes of good-will.

Such is love in exercise and act. This is benevolence
—this is a regard to the happiness of others. Whoever
acts thus, must promote happiness. He must bless all
around him. All things smile in his presence.

Beautiful description! Heavenly temper! Godlike mind!

Now, dear friends, look at love! Gaze upon . . .
its lovely form,
its beautiful countenance,
its graceful actings.

Observe its seraphic glow, its divine temper, until you
are all enamored with its charms. But look at it not only
as something to be admired—but to be possessed and
practiced. Unless this is your temperament, you are not
Christians. I do not say you cannot be Christians unless
you have love in perfection. But you must have the
principle of love, and must be living in its exercise. You
are Christians no further than you live under its influence.

No matter what knowledge you may have of the doctrines
of the gospel; what seeming faith you may possess; what
zeal you may manifest; what liberality you may exercise;
what regularity, and punctuality in attendance upon the
means of grace, you may maintain—if love is lacking, all
this is of no avail.

Nothing can be a substitute for love.

Christianity is love . . .
not a slavish attendance on ceremonies;
not receiving the sacraments;
not zeal for orthodoxy;
not a form of church government;
not belonging to any particular church.

God's eternal thoughts and purposes in election,
Christ's redeeming work upon the cross,
the Spirit's omnipotent agency in regeneration,
are not merely to bring us under a particular
ecclesiastical regimen—but to deliver us from
the dominion of selfishness, and place us under
the reign of love—and thus make us like God!

If an individual is destitute of love, he has no
saving religion. He may be zealous for the forms
of Christianity, but he is destitute of its living spirit.

And now, my dear friends, let me entreat you to
examine yourselves concerning this great essential
of the Christian character. Are you experimentally
acquainted with this disposition? Is this your
religion? Is your temperament thus molded? Is
that one word 'love' characteristic of your spirit?
Has God's love to you, changed you into its own
likeness? Do you know what it is to have pride,
passion, envy, malice, selfishness—subdued,
repressed, resisted—by a meek, gentle, lowly,
forgiving, forbearing, generous, self-denying
temper? Are the harshness, hardness, asperity
of the fallen nature, displaced by the softness,
sweetness, and kindness of true love?

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CHRISTIAN