PART 11.] CORNELIUS WINTER. 387 you know such a person; you can rely upon him; you can determine previously the course he will take in such an occurrence of circumstances. It is otherwise with a man who has no principles. He is the creature of whims and of events. You have no hold of him; nor can himself. he rely upon J. 1. No person could exhibit more consistency than was to be found in the character of Mr. Winter. There was the most exact conformity between his actions and his sentiments; and from the seed sown, you knew the grain that was to spring up. The doctrines he professed, he most firmly believed. He originally embraced religion in the form of them; he habitually viewed it through no other medium. These doctrines with him were not distant and occasional speculations; they were brought into daily use; they mingled with all his devotional exercises. He was concerned to advance in the life of godliness-he knew what it was that most favorably impressed him—he was incapable of avowing influences which he never felt, and advantages which he never enjoyed-but such, living and dying were his ac knowledgments in honor of the sentiments he had embraced and examined. He was alive to bar the welfare of others; his design was not to I make them proselytes to a party, but real and practical and useful christians; and had he not been persuaded that the adoption of these religious views would have the most salutary influence, he would not in public, and in private, and in his correspondence, have recommended them. It will be observed for what purpose here mentioned these things; it is only to prove that these doctrines were in him not opinions, but principles. For if principles are operative causes, if they are grounds of action, if they are leading motives, his religious sentiments were principles of his character; they were at once the springs of his consolation, and of his conduct to. But if this be allowed, surely it follows that they are not deserving of the treatment they have so often encountered. They have indeed frequently been reprobated, as of the most pernicious tendency with regard to ourselves, our fellow creatures, and above all, God himself. But I here see a man under their governance with regard to God, full of love, and of confidence, always concerned to please him, and always rejoicing in him, thankful for his favors, and resigned to his corrections :—with regard to others, universally benevolent as to their welfare, full of pardon as to their faults, and of pity as to their miseries; pleading their cause, and relieving their wants:—with regard to himself, neither inclined to licentiousness, nor selfconceit; nor trusting in his own righteousness, nor despising others; as watchful, as prayerful; abhorring merit, but delighting in obedience; delivered from the tyranny of unhallowed appetites and passions; exercising self-denial; possessing peace of conscience; relishing with moderation the enjoyments of life, but willing to leave them; viewing death with solemnity, yet raised above the fear of it. If persons will not trace by reasoning the connexion there is between these principles and this practice, they may appeal to fact, and learn that these truths have had the best influence over the heart and life. The conclusion is obvious. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? It is natural to suppose that divine truth will have a powerful influence over those who truly embrace it: we know that the gospel is a doctrine according to godliness: we are sure that when it was originally delivered, it awakened in men a supreme concern for the salvation of the soul, induced them to forsake the present evil world, and filled them with zeal to be useful to others; it turned them from dumb idols, to serve the living God, and to wait for his son from hea- J It Lastly. What a stimulus have we here to pious excellency. There is a great difference between the reality of religion and the degree of it. A man may be alive and not well, he may be able to subsist and not be rich-but we are required to be rich in faith, and in good works; and not only to have life, but to have it more abundantly. There are consolations and privileges which depend on growth in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior: and a christian should be ambitious of obtain ing them. He should not be satisfied with a conviction of his safety. His soul should prosper. He should be concerned for the welfare of his generation, and the glory of his God. He should "Follow the Lord wholly" with Caleb, and with Paul "Forget the things that are behind and reach forth unto those things that are before, and press towards the mark for the prize of his high calling of God in Christ Jesus." This is the way to seize the prerogatives of the christian, Such as these God not only saves, but dignifies. He crowns them in eternity, and he owns them here. Whatever freedom there may be in the operations of his grace, in dispensing honor he always observes a rule, and he has told us what it is-" Them that honor me, I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.". "Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eye sight. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; with the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure and with the froward, thou wilt shew thyself froward; for thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks." |