a the patriarchal was but an introduction to the Mosaic; and the Mosaic was a preparation for the Christian, school-master to bring us to Christ.' - And the christian dispensation itself, is one of improvement and progress. Its doctrines and principles, indeed, were fully revealed at the beginning and recorded in the scriptures; but there were certain adaptations and applications of those principles which could not then be made, which could be apprehended and carried into effect only by degrees, as human nature should be improved and human society advance; and which, being thus more and more disclos ed, as circumstances arise from time to time adapted to them, give to the religion itself a character of improvement. For example, enmity to war and slavery was always essentially a part of the religion; but it lay, as it were, folded up and undeveloped like a plant in its seed, waiting for the season to call it into light and action. Ages passed before it was rightly understood and practised on; and as its authority on these points has come to be felt, it has seemed like the creation, or certainly like the manifestation, of a new principle. It has been well remarked, that this capacity of Christianity to adapt itself to the growing exigencies and expanding relations of society, is one signal mark of its divine original. Improvement, then, is a law of the universe. All things alike, great and small, are made to be in progress. Individual man must not be an exception. He must not suffer every thing else to move on, and he himself be stationary. When the insensible earth and the irrational animals obey the commandment, let not us, who alone are capable of voluntary obedience, let not us alone be unfaithful. When even the all wise Creator in unfolding NO. 150. VOL. XIII. - 1* his ways and purposes to his children, observes this rule of constant progression, let not us, with wisdom only of yesterday, children in understanding, let not us fancy that we may rest where we are, and refuse to move forward. 2. Our capacity of progress, is itself a reason for striving after perpetual improvement. The plants and animals around us have limits set to their advancement, which they can never pass. They go forward by a prescribed course to their maturity, and there they necessarily stop. The voice which spake to the sea, Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther,' has spoken to all things terrestrial excepting man. From that mandate his spirit is exempted. The tree has its growth, and the bird its instinct, and they can add to themselves nothing beyond it. Man, reasoning, immortal, immaterial man, to whom the inspiration of the Almighty has given understanding, has received the power of expansion. His soul may grow not like his body, which is to perish in seventy years, and therefore becomes perfect in twenty; but, as it is never to perish, it never reaches a perfection beyond which it may not pass. If its duration were bounded by a thousand years, or a hundred thousand centuries, then we 'might anticipate the day when its growth should be completed. But since it shall exist through eternity, since it can never approach the termination of its being, neither can it approach the termination of its progress. It must enlarge, extend itself, and advance. Who can conjecture the time when an intelligent mind shall be unable to receive another idea, or a spiritual soul to add to the holiness it has acquired? Who can fancy a rational being living forever, and at any time ceasing to acquire new knowledge from an inexhaustible universe; or coming to a pause in understanding and virtue, while there yet remains an infinite distance to be passed, between itself, and the Infinite One? Other things may stop, and become stationary; for they are to come to an end. But not man, for he is to know no end. Others may be satis fied with a perfection which earth can understand and contain; for they are of the earth, and shall return to its bosom. But man, man, the son of the Most High, his spirit a ray from the fountain of unquenchable light, made capable of attainments which the gross fancies of earthly beings cannot image to themselves, let him not dream that any present attainment is his perfection; let him press forward to that mark, that something immense and infinite,' which Jesus has set before him as the prize of his high calling. For him to be stationary, would be rebellion against his nature, a wilful forfeiting of his birthright; and should subject him to the harsh reproaches of his own mind, and to the deserved scorn of all higher and lower beings. - This great progress of the human soul is but begun upon earth. But it is begun. The desire of purity, the love of excellence, the habits of holiness, the relish for spiritual pleasures, are begun below; and he who has made the greatest advances in these during his mortal life, is doubtless best fitted for entering on a future state. This thought suggests to us another reason for Improve ment. 3. The degree of happiness and glory to which the soul shall be admitted at death, must depend on the progress which it has made on earth. In our Father's house are many mansions;' differing, unquestionably, in order of excellence. And how are they to be assigned? What saith the scripture? According to their works.' 'He that hath been faithful in little, shall be placed over few cities; he that has been faithful in much, shall be placed over many cities.' Happiness and honor shall be rendered to every man according to his preparation for them, and his capacity to receive them. And his capacity to receive will be just in proportion to the state of advancement at which he has arrived on leaving the present scene. As one star differeth from another star in glory, so shall it be, says the Apostle, in the resurrection of the dead. As it is unavoidable, that one soul shall differ from another in fitness for happiness, so it must differ also in its reception. The soul that leaves the body in a state of the highest religious preparation, cannot enter at once into all the raptures of the seraph that adores and burns,' and has been glowing for ages in the abodes of purity and love. And the soul that issues from its mortal tabernacle a trembling anxious penitent, just assured that its sins are forgiven, but without any confirmed religious experience, or spiritual maturity of character, cannot enter at once into the fullness of bliss which awaits the faithful servant of God, who has toiled for duty during a long life, and become almost spiritualized before laying aside the body. No; and therefore let us study to be found at our death far advanced in holiness, that so we may join the company of those who stand nearest to the throne; that we may be ushered into the light of the highest heaven. And when we reflect that that day may come before another year has revolved, and that, if it do, it must find us still so gross, so sensual, so earthly can we fail to perceive that strenuous, daily, hourly, effort after Improvement is a first, an imperious duty? Can we content ourselves to go on thoughtlessly and sluggishly, and be summoned by the final messenger while so far from the mark, and so unworthy of the prize? 4. And consider, in the fourth place, that thus improve, he is certain to grow worse. if one do not If he go not forward, he will go backward. It may be difficult to make this solemn truth evident to those who have not learned it from observation. But to those who have, it is an affecting and appalling truth. He who is not gaining ground in a virtuous character and Christian preparation is losing ground. He may not perceive it. So subtle and sly are the beginnings of decay, and so difficult is it for a man to know himself, that he may be wholly unaware of his declension. The victim of consumption nourishes the enemy of his life long within his bosom, and is past rescue from its power, before he perceives his danger. And so it is in the decline of the soul's health. He neglects the means to keep it vigorous and improving; he ceases to nourish it with the word of life, and strengthen it by holy exercise, and, before he is aware, it has become feeble, inert, living in appearance, but decaying at the heart. He fancies himself stationary, and is content. Others see that he is declining. And perhaps he has gone down to the borders of spiritual death, before he is aware that a desperate disease has been preying on his vital powers. God in his mercy deliver us from so dreadful a delusion! Let him send to us trials that we can see, and foes that shall openly contend against us; in the armor of the gospel, in the open field, we may not fear their attack. Let him send upon us the arrow that flieth by night, or the pestilence that wasteth by noon day, and bring down our fortunes and our lives by the arm of the quick destroythis too, in the strength of our faith, we could bear. But oh, save us from the hidden pestilence of the soul ! from the darkness that shall hide us from ourselves! Any thing, any thing, but the horrible self-deceit of trust er; -- -- |