[1] Men are to be estimated, as Johnson says, by the mass of
character. A block of tin may have a grain of silver, but
still it is tin; and a block of silver may have an alloy of
tin, but still it is silver. The mass of Elijah's character
was excellence; yet he was not without the alloy. The mass
of Jehu's character was base; yet he had a portion of zeal
which was directed by God to great ends.--_Cecil._
[2] As Christians are to think of living for awhile in the
world, it is not unreasonable for them to be affected with
its occurrences and changes. Some plead for a kind of
abstracted and sublimated devotion, which the circumstances
they are placed in by their Creator render equally
impractical and absurd. They are never to notice the
affairs of government, or the measures of administration;
war, or peace; liberty, or slavery; plenty, or
scarcity,--all is to be equally indifferent to them; they
are to leave these carnal and worldly things to others. But
have they not bodies? Have they not families? Is religion
founded on the ruins of humanity? When a man becomes a
Christian, does he cease to be a member of civil society?
Allowing that he be not the owner of the ship, but only a
passenger in it, has he nothing to awaken his concern in
the voyage? If he be only a traveller towards a better
country, is he to be told that because he is at an inn
which he is soon to leave, it should not excite any emotion
in him whether it be invaded by robbers or consumed by
flames before the morning? In the peace thereof ye shall
have peace; and are not Christians to provide things honest
in the sight of all men? Are they to detach themselves
while here from the interests of their fellow-creatures; or
to rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that
weep? Is our religion various affected by public
transactions? Can a Christian, for instance, be indifferent
to the cause of freedom, even on a pious principle? Does
not civil liberty necessarily include religion? and is it
not necessary to the exertions of ministers, and the
spreading of the gospel?--_Jay._
[3] "What are you going to take that for?" said an old labourer
to a young one who was about to drink a glass of ale. "To
make me work," was the reply. "Yes," answered the old man,
"you are right; that is just what it will do for a
certainty: I began to drink ale when I was about your age,
and it has made me work until now!"