Inconsistencies of Professors of Religion
The design of our holy religion, is not to make man happy merely, but to fit and prepare him for the enjoyment of heaven. Thence its provisions for the regeneration and sanctification of the subject of grace, previous to his exaltation to the heavenly State?[!] The office of the holy spirit is "to work in man both to will and to do the good pleasure of God," - To help his infirmaries "by affording timely assistance, while the duty is obligatory upon man to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling." To add to his faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly-kindness and charity. "A life consistent with one['s] profession" (says an eminent author) "is the beautiful result of all the qualities and graces of a truly religious mind united and brought into action, each individually right, all relatively associated. It present: Christianity in her fairest attitude, in all her lovely proportion of figure and correc symetry of feature."Could we behold a consistent Christian, how sublime would be the spectacle? The world would, gaze upon him with the most profound admiration and exclaim with Pilate, "Behold the man." But alas! he is not to be found on Earth. All sin and come short of the glory of God. The most devoted have many imperfections - while the mass of the followers of Christ have little more than their profession to distinguish them fron the world. It is not a matter of wonder that there is infidelity in the world, especially that species of modern infidelity, that neglects to examine the truth of Christianity, but feeds its morbid appetite upon the imperfection of Christians - Infinitely more reproach has been attached to the cause of the Redeemer by his professed friends than by his avowed enemies - David upon the revolt of Ahithopel, expresses the feelings of the Church, when reproached by wayward professors. "It was not an enemy that reproached me then I could have borne it. But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide and my acquaintance, we took sweet council together, and walked unto the house of God in company."
How mortifying it is to the Church to see one of her members professing to be governed by the Law of God, a law of strict unwavering justice, rendering his due; only by compulsion of Law - withholding the hire of the laborer, oppressing the poor, bearing the approbrious epithet of usurer, taking undue advantage of misfortune, embarassment or ignorance of his fellow man to enrich himself, such an one instead of adorning the doctrine he professes, causes the name of Christ to be blasphemed - and the profession of religion to be reproached. It is said of ancient worthies "they desired and sought a better country" that is "a heavenly" and "confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the Earth." Can it be said with equal propriety of the followers of Jesus of the present day?
The love of money seems to be the ruling passion of every heart - to lay up treasures on the Earth; Brethren, it is to be feared we are laboring harder to make provision for the body than for the soul, for our temporal than for our eternal welfare. The idea seems to prevail that God will take care of the soul, we are to be devoted to the body, hence the worldly-mindedness of the Church. Again, in our catechism we professed to be "dead to the world and arisen to newness of life."
A cloud of witnesses heard our vows and listened to the request
"Witness ye saints that hear me now
If I forsake the Lord."Are we not justly surprised after having gazed upon such a solemn scene, after beholding the man—born lustre on the cheek of the convert to righteousness, and the congratulations as he is welcomed to the society of the faithful - to find him after a season, vacating his seat in the houje of God, neglecting his bible, becoming a stranger to prayer and other holy duties - mingling with the sons of pleasure at the dance, theatre, race field, circus, dram shop, "walking in the council of the ungodly, standing in the way of sinners, and setting [sic] in the seat of the scornful?" Oh how often is Zion clothed in sack-cloth on account of the degeneracy of her sons and daughters. How can the servant of God press the claims of the gospel, or illustrate its moral power in the salvation of man, when its principles are so poorly exemplified by the members of his Church. Many a time does he retire with a heavy heart from the sanctuary, and adopts the lamantation of Isaiah "Lord who hath believed our report and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed"? And will our God suffer such waywardnes with impunity; nay verily! "He will come near to judgment, and will be a swift witness against all that do wickedly; "yea, he shall sit as a refiner's fire and purifier of silver" and who may abide the day of his "coming or who may stand when he aj apeareth" - we will allude to another glaring incongruity in the Church. We profess to cherish that disposition of love, forgiveness and forbearance which Christ manifested while in the flesh and which he so positively commands his followers to cultivate. And yet what minor things interrupt the flow of brotherly love; difficulties are constantly arising and marring many portions of our loved Zion for the want of this pious affection. We don't seem to recognize the obligation "To bear one another's burden" - "In meekness to instruct those that oppose themselves" - "To forgive" - To endure all things" - "To exercise ourselves to long suffering and gentleness" - To seek a reconciliation with our brother before we offer our gift." These appear like obsolete terms and phrases in the Church. Like the Jewish dispensation supplanted by the law of the carnal mind - some even seem to justify and pride themselves in bearing everlasting hatred toward their brothers who have offended them, they act worse than irreligious men frequently. It has become a notorious fact that it is easier to settle a difficulty between those governed merely by the code of honor than between those who profess to be governed by the Laws of Christ. - This is indeed a great reproach and the cause of much scandal to the Church. The word of God tells us we are to expect forgiveness only as we forgive those who trespass against us and may we not justly fear when brought to this standard; few comparatively will be saved. We have often been forcibly striruk with the great difference between the prayers and actions of Christians. - There is little difference in the sentiments expressed in the prayers of those who differ widely in their creed and conduct; we have heard ministers of the gospel pray in aceordance with strict Calvinistic doctrine and anon preach the rankest Armenianism; the most miserly are often most urgent in their supplications at a throne of grace that the Lord would feed the hungry, clothe the naked, be the widow's husband and a father to the fatherless. Perhaps God has brought a poor man to his door at the hour of evening worship, coming from the presence of his God with the petition still warm on his lips, his charity is invoked, he has no bowels of compassion, - rudely and with insulting words he drives him empty away. Perhaps he has been praying for the extension of Christ's Kingdom on Earth, for the universal spread of light and truth, he is requested to contribute for the support of the ministry in his own Church, or to give the Bible to the Heathen, he either refuses entirely; giving the lie to his prayers by declaring himself Anti-Misionary in sentiment, or pleads excuses which cover his reproval with hypocricy, (viz:) the hardness of the times, or his embarrassment, while at the same time he is prodigal in the enjoyment of wordly pleasures, in pampering the appetite and outward adorning. It becomes such to cease praying for the success of the missionary enterprize, or commence acting in accordance with the spirit of their prayers; otherwise they may insult the Holy Ghost.
How often do we implore the aid of the spirit to enable us to watch, be sober, vigilant, and useful while we make no effort at self denial, but give free scope to all the feelings and propensities of the natural man. We are compelled to say, the lives of a large portion of the professing world are made up of inconsistencies, and in conclusion what hopes can we entertain respecting the rising glories of the Cburch of God. All seem to seek their own things, not the things which are of Jesus Christ? "Zion mourns because so few come to her solemn feasts."
Dissentions and strife abound. The fashions of the world are eagerly sought by the members of the Church and by them carried to the very extreme. They apparently place as high an estimate on the riches, and honors and pleasures of the world as the wicked. There is but little of that sociability that Christians anciently cultivated, who met often one with another, and shared each others joys and sorrows. But few enquiries instituted respecting the travels of true Godliness and but comparative little interest taken in the prosperity of the Church. The wicked are triumphantly saying, where is thy God; where the vital power of your religion? O house of Israel "come and let us walk in the Light of the Lord." – Let us turn to him with all our hearts perhaps he will return and revive us. Then will the law go forth from Zion. Then she will appear lovely and attractive and men will say: "Come let us go to the house of the Lord."
[From Elkhorn Baptist Association (KY) Minutes, 1847, pp. 6-8. Copied from the original document at the Elkhorn Baptist Associational office, Lexington, KY. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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