[January 13th, 1855.]
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The Scriptures speak much of the beauty of holiness. They represent the Lord Jesus as the chief among ten thousand, and the one altogether lovely; as fairer than the children of men. He is divinely beautiful. His beauty consists in his perfect excellence, in the absolute wisdom and symmetry of his whole character.
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Believers are the epistles of Christ. They are his witnesses. They represent him among men. It is their solemn duty to make a fair representation of what he is, and of what his religion is, before the world. This idea is often presented in the Old Testament, and the people were often upbraided because the name of God was blasphemed among the gentiles for their sake.
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There are two ways in which believers dishonor Christ, and make a false representation of him and of his religion: First, when by breaking the law, they give men to understand that Christ either allows or approves of such transgressions, and secondly, when they cause even their good to be evil spoken of; that is, when they either so act on right principles as to give those principles a bad character, or so conduct themselves as to mislead others as to the true nature of the gospel. This is done (1.) When men so use their Christian liberty as to injure their brethren. The distinction between months and days, between clean and unclean meats, had been abolished. It was right that this fact should be asserted and taught. It was right that Christians should act upon this liberty; but if they so used it as to destroy their brethren, without any regard to their interest, they sinned against Christ; they caused what was good to be evil spoken of. So now in regard to temperance, men may make such a use of truth, and so act on true principles, as to do great harm. (2.) This is done when undue stress is laid on trifles. Paul says that religion does not consist in meat and drink; and to act as though it did, is to slander the gospel. All who make that essential which is not essential are guilty in this matter. They cause the gospel to be misunderstood. This is true of the Papists; it is true of High Churchmen; it is true of the seceders; of fanatics of all classes, and of all bigots. They belie religion, as the tattooed New Zealander, or the painted Indian, or the Hindoo with his smeared countenance, all misrepresent the human face divine. (3.) This is done also by the sanctimonious, who make a false representation of religion, and cause it to be evil spoken of when they hold it up thus caricatured before men. (4.) It is done also by the censorious, not only in making non-essentials of too much importance, but also in misrepresenting the spirit of their Master. His religion does not justify their harsh judgments. (5.) It is done by those who carry any right principle to excess. (a.) By the Puritans in regard to the Sabbath, to things indifferent in worship, to days of religious observance. (b.) By the Quakers in regard to dress and conformity to the world. (c.) By those who deny the Church any liberty in her organization.
In every case of this kind, the human degrades the divine. What is indifferent is made essential, and what is essential is made indifferent. Let not then your good be evil spoken of.
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By making a wrong use of Christian liberty.
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By teaching trifles as matters of vital importance.
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By sanctimoniousness.
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By censoriousness.
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By pressing right principles to an extreme, as the Puritans did, and the Seceders and Quakers do. Make a fair exhibition of the gospel, and to this end, 1. Study Christ and his work. 2. Be filled with his Spirit.
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