Temporary professors are like hedge-hogs, which have two holes -, one to the north, and another to the south : when the south wind fans them, they turn to the north j and when the north wind chills them, they turn to the south. Thus they lose their activity, to preserve their security. — That was a beggarly saying, which fell from a prince's lips, — ' I will sail no farther in the cause of Christ, than while I can preserve my retreat with safety to land.' Man is a short-sighted creature ; he is afraid to follow too far upon the heels of truth, lest it should lead him into danger. Weak grace may do for God, but it must be strong grace that will die for God. A true Christian will lay down his lusts at the command of Christ j and his life, for the cause of Christ. The more a tree of righteousness is sha- ken by the wind, the more it is rooted in the groun(l. What, art thou a member of Christ, and afraid to be a martyr for Christ? If those be blessed who die in Christ, what must they be who die for Christ !
Hosea 4:6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge
In a short time there will (we have reason to fear) remain but two kinds of persons among us, either those who think not at all, or those whose imaginations are active indeed, but continually evil. Of these latter it may be said, "Their foolish heart was darkened." Of the principles, I do not say of the detail, of political science, a sound theology is the only sure and steady basis. Now we trace the operations by which a destruction so extended in its consequences has been effected. The master-spring of every principle which can permanently secure the stability of a people is the fear and knowledge of Almighty God. The first operation of a principle of atheism, and perhaps one of the most formidable in its consequences, is that which leads political men to conceive of Christianity as a mere auxiliary to the State. Religion was not instituted (in the Divine council I mean) for the purpose of society and government, but society and government for the purposes of religion. As a...
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