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or inclination. "He who loveth God, loveth his brother also: and if a man say he loveth God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"

There are abundant proofs in the conduct of men, to show that there is a defect in their religious principlesthat they but seldom occupy their minds with the things of the Lord. If we go into certain societies, notwithstanding their pretensions to intelligence, we hear them ridiculing the idea of a Saviour-as he is represented in the inspired volume-and laughing to scorn all who would presume to assert such a belief. If we enter the courts of justice, we may there behold an individual taking a solemn oath with the same indifference that he would address a friend upon some light and trivial subject-or another laying perjury to his soul, through some interested motive, and at the same time calling on God to witness the solemnity of his vow. Verily, we might almost suppose that the world had relapsed into barbarism. Even the heathens had a greater reverence for the idols which they were accustomed to worship, than many christians of the present day, have for the living and true God. "Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast."

The fear of God, is the source of every virtue. In mo ments of temptation, it is the safeguard of our innocence— it enables us to counteract many unholy desires.

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pleasure allures us from the path of rectitude warning voice-a power that withholds us from destruction.

God is perfect, and the unrighteous he drive presence. Let us, therefore, live holy, that we before him, as we would stand before an old and friend, whose feelings we would not injure, or who we would not forfeit.

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THE LOVE AND FEAR OF GOD.

Second Reflection.

Important and indispensible as are the duties which a man owes to his fellow beings in society, still none of them can ever become paramount to that love and obedience which is due his Creator. Friends and acquaintances may be hurried away by death; but God forever remains with us. The former may forget their friendships--their promises of love and fidelity; but he continues just and faithful to the end. The beauty and flush of youth may vanishpleasures may flee away-we may no longer receive the smiles and approbation of men; yet is God, notwithstanding, unchanged and immutable.

Ideas in relation to the supreme being are varied in different people, according to their peculiar temperament, disposition or circumstances. Here is a set of men, calling themselves christians, who are continually complaining that God will not grant their prayers-that he will not, with all their entreaties, comply with their wishes. There are others, who do not hesitate to ask his assistance even for the accomplishment of some infamous purpose--infamous, we repeat; for we cannot speak in less qualified termsand it is to be regretted, that we behold men in an enlightened age, who would feign make God

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effect a project dictated solely by their amb malice, or their lust. The prayer of an untain had it a knowlege of a higher being, could characteristic of its brutal and ferocious nature

He, who is of a gay and cheerful turn, looks as a being full of mercy and love, and who ce not punish his children with undue severity. trary, a gloomy, melancholy, and casily prove lends itself to believe that he is forever angry, j vindictive; visiting the sins of the father upon and fourth generation, and testing the faithfuln creatures by every variety of suffering, before h them into the kingdom of glory. Such are the of opinion among men in relation to the omnipot stands before him as an awed and trembling slave approaches him, as a dutiful child approaches parent. But every misconception of this grea portant subject will be rectified by a proper und of the divine law. This is the only true light our wandering footsteps. It teaches us to repose in our heavenly father. "For verily I say unto Christ to his disciples, "that whosoever shall say mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe things which he saith shall come to pass; he s whatsoever he saith." He also says: "Thou shal Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.

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namely, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self. There is none other commandment greater than these." This is of more value than burnt-offerings and sacrifices; and he who faithfully attends to these things, is "not far from the kingdom of God."

So taught Christ, and his disciples. The scriptures, also, frequently exhort us to fear the Lord. By this, however, we do not mean the terror that is experienced by the wicked; but simply the keeping of his commandments, and a strict observance of all his precepts. Therefore, is the fear of God, nothing more than the love of him, whereby our affections are chastened, and we partake, in some degree, of his purity and holiness.

How few can boast of having rendered themselves thus far perfect! We pray to God; but not with hearts overflowing with love and gratitude; and we often neglect, even the ceremony, until we find ourselves menaced with some calamity or danger, and know of no other hope or refuge than the Almighty.

To love God, we must fully understand him, and in order to do this, we have only to observe the wisdom he has displayed in his creation-the order and regularity with which he governs the world, and the kindness which he bestows upon all his creatures. Nor should we ever neglect an opportunity of making ourselves still better acquainted with his character. Then will he appear to us with increased sublimity; and his goodness and mercy, and compassion more infinite.

How often have I deceive 1

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