Sermons: A Discourse on Christian Perfection

Front matter

Poe eos le bs CHRISTIAN PERFECTION, le >.

DELIVERED IN THE On gpEL OF THE * “ Pe . 4 es: SEMINARY, BANGOR, ON THE EVENING Or 4 . MARCH 4th, 1841.

_ Br ENOCH POND, D. D. -

Appendix

Note A.

This is not said as undervaluing correctness of religious sentiment, or doctrine. That is the foundation of christian character. But something more is necessary to render it perfect. Gospel practice is as essential as gospel doctrine.

Note B.

A certain man in this place, who has shown himself very unfriendly to this Church and Society, said to me soon after I was settled, ‘‘ You don’t know where you have come.” I now freely own myself beat in this respect. JI did not know where I had come.

Note C.

No less than séz distinct attempts have been made zn this place, since the parish meeting to which allusion has been made, to fasten on me some vile reproach. And they all originated with, or came through those who have shown themselves unfriendly to this - Church. They have come along as regularly as the seasons, and the nature of these slanders shows the character of those who originated them and aid in their circulation. It would seem that the thoughts of some persons in this place, run perpetually on one or all of the following topics, to wit: Money, wene, and women, and in a low and groveling sense too. And their readiness to impute to others infamous designs and conduct, argues strongly, either that they are in their element when reproaching other people, or that they are very much inclined to do the things which they impute to others, and judge others by themselves.

Note D.

The circumstances and engagements of some of my friends,

did not admit of their attendance ; and some others did not attend, because they considered the attack upon me utterly groundless and contemptibly mean and malicious, and that their attendance might seem to countenance the conduct of my opposers and strengthen them in their course. But they have since seen their mistake in not attending, and freely acknowledged it. And if

_ Gghe scene were to be passed through again, they would show

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XXVIII.

themselves as zealous in my protection, as others have been for my destruction.

Note E.

It was reported last spring that a certain man in this place, who is understood to be a Universalist, and who has been very active in this marvelous affair, said to a member of this society something of this sort: ‘ We don’t want Mr. Lewis in this place. It is best to send him away.” In answer it was said: ‘‘ How can you help it? You don’t belong to this Society.” He replied: “QO, we must get some of the Church against him.”

When efforts were making last fall to get certain scandalous reports against me into circulation, they were so absurd in themselves that our enemies, it is said, were puzzled to know how to make them go, so as to effect my removal, and break up the Church and Society. At length they concluded that they must get a certain member of the church to take hold, and then it would work. Accordingly as soon as he heard the reports, the work went on without much assistance from them, only perhaps a little prompting.

They probably did not make known to him their plan. That was not necessary.

Note F.

I do not see how I can, consistently, accommodate those who wish to drive me out of the place, by leaving just at this time. It would seem a little too much like running away from duty, to the gratification of those who hate the cause of Christ. I think of Jonah fleeing from Nineveh, and find him in great trouble for so doing. I hope my opposers will try and pacify themselves as well as they can, till such time as God bids me cease my labors here. .I consider him my counsellor and director, and hope I shall not be molested in my efforts to promote his cause in this place, so long as his providence evidently makes it my duty to stay here. Besides, it would be extremely difficult to find an Ecclesiastical Council who would be willing to dismiss me, under pres- ‘ent circumstances. My Church and Society make no such request; and no judicious Council would take the responsibility of dismissing me, merely to gratify those who wish to bring evil upon this Church and Society.

And now, in view of all the circumstances of the case, past, present, and future, 1 take the liberty to suggest to all persons in this place, who are disposed to hold towards this Church the attitude of opposers, whether it would not be much more honorable and commendable in them to devote themselves to matters mote appropriately their own, and leave this Church and Society to manage thedr concerns to suit themselves. s a

KNOWLEDGE, LIBERTY, RELIGION.

A

DELIVERED ON THE DAY OF

Pa THE ANNUAL THANKSGIVING, es NOVEMBER 30, 1837.

BY Ss. L. POMROY,

.PASTOR OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,

BANGOR, MAINE.

BANGOR: PRINTED BY SAMUEL S. SMITH.

Banaor, Dec. 7th, 1837.

Rey. S. L. Pomroy,—

Dear Sir: — At a meeting of your parishioners, we were appointed a Committee to wait on you, and request, for publication, a copy of your Sermon delivered on the 30th ultimo.

The wish of your people to have it published, has been too frequently and strongly expressed, tobe mistaken. It is believed that the cause of Knowledge, Liberty and Religion will be thereby promoted. We are sure, unless you have reasons to the contrary very strongly dissuasive, that you will comply with their wish without any urgency from us.

We hardly need to add our assurance*to you, Sir, that we accord with the wish we represent: and that it affords us pleasure to be the bearers of such a wish to our beloved Pastor.

Yours with sincere esteem,

ASA WALKER, Jr., G. A. THATCHER, > Committee.

J. W. MASON,

Baneor, Jan. 24th, 1838.

GerytTLEmEeN: — The manuscript which you have requested has undergone some necessary corrections, and received a few additional thoughts, which seemed important in order to prevent misapprehension. But for the want of leisure, amidst other engagements, to prepare it for the press, it would have been submitted to your disposal at an earlier date. Whether it will, in any degree, subserve the great interests on which it dwells, another day, perhaps, will disclose. It may be disposed of as you think best.

Very sincerely yours, S. L. POMROY.

To Messrs. A. Warxerr, Jr., G. A. Tuatcouer,

J. W. Mason.

SERMON.

Isatan xxi: 11. He. cattern to me ovt or Srir, WatTcHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT? WaTCHWAN, WHAT oF THE NIGHT ?

In this and the verse following, the prophet records a short prophecy respecting the land of Dumah, or Idumea, situated on the south-east of Judea, and inhabited chiefly by the descendants of Esau, the brother of the patriarch Jacob. In a manner exceedingly beautiful and poetic, he supposes himself to be a sentinel on his watch-tower, keeping guard over the city of Jerusalem and the surrounding region by night. While standing on this elevation, with wakeful eye and ear, he hears a voice addressing him from that far-off land, saying, ‘‘ Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?” The inquirer wishes for information respecting the destiny or the prospects of his country; and the repetition of the inquiry denotes the earnestness with which it is made. Accommodating the questions of the text to my present purpose, I will suppose them to have reference to three fundamental and mutually dependent interests of human society: to wit, the interests of Know.eper, Liserry and Reuicion. If in relation to these, the inquiry is made, ‘‘ What of the night?” What are the prospects of the world in these three important respects? I answer, : 1. THAT THERE IS A GREAT AND RAPID INCREASE OF USE- FUL KNOWLEDGE IN ALL PARTS OF THE CIVILIZED WORLD. + It is now about three hundred years since the light of the

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Reformation dawned upon Europe, dispelling the clouds and darkness which had been brooding over the nations for a thousand years. It was then, that the chain cables, by which the human mind had been made fast to the rocks of superstitious ignorance and mental barrenness, began to be parted, and reason began to resume its rightful authority.. From that time to the present, thought has been allowed to come into collision with thought, and argument with argument; invention has been upon the rack, and the mighty energies of the human intellect have been bestirring themselves, and preparing, like a strong man, to run a race.

The sciences, strictly so called, have been striking their roots downward, and spreading their luxuriant foliage, and bearing fruit upward. Motives to the acquisition of knowledge have been strengthened and multiplied at least an hundred fold. And hence, many powerful men have been willing to go down and delve in the deep places of science, to exhaust their energies, and wear out their lives, in dislodging the golden ore of philosophic truth from its dark bed, and bringing it up to the light of day. Old sciences have been greatly enlarged, illustrated, enriched; new ones have been discovered ; and all thinking men have become thoroughly convinced that a great ocean of truth yet lies before them, which no bold navigator has ever traversed, and which has never been fathomed by the longest line of human research. Under these circumstances, if the human intellect be allowed its natural liberty, there can be no danger that the streams of science will ever again congregate in the dead and stagnant pool of the dark ages. 1 take it to be an undoubted fact, that, at this moment, genuine science stands on an eminence, which ‘she never before reached, and, as the result of her efforts, ‘ean exhibit spoils which excite the admiration of the world, beyond all former example. Moreover, she does not account herself to have attained; but leaving, not forgetting, the things which are behind, she is still pressing onward, in hot and eager pursuit of the prize of her high calling. ‘The prospect before her is bright and cheering, and she bids fair to return from her arduous conflicts, laden with riches and honors and renown, such as she has not hitherto been able to boast.

Similar remarks may be made respecting what is appropriately termed Lirrrarure, as distinguished from Science.’ In English, the word literature is, in its signification, rather vague; but as commonly used, it embraces all that class of books or works, which are adapted to general reading and circulation ; of course, not including those of the more profound and strictly scientific character. The time was when books of all descriptions were scarce and costly, and comparatively few persons were able to possess themselves of even one. But how isit now? The truth is, that when Solomon, that ancient maker and lover of books, declared that ‘of making many books there is no end,” he uttered a sentiment which we understand a great deal better than he did; especially since the art of print- _ing has been carried to such astonishing perfection.— Books, books, pamphlets, periodicals —in what marvellous profusion and variety are they poured forth from that inexhaustible fountain, the press. Like the sower who went forth to sow, it scatters them broad-cast every where, by the way side, upon barren rocks, and among choking thorns, as well as on good ground. Like flakes of snow in a wintry day, though by no means so pure, they fall upon every hill and valley, in the highway and upon the -house-top, filling the city and overspreading the country. They are of all sorts and sizes, adapted to every age and condition, suited to every variety of taste. There are books for the infant, and books for the aged; for the learned and the ignorant, the rich and the poor, the wise and the foolish, the good and the bad, the sick and the well, the blind and the dumb, the living and the dying. Methuselah, had he possessed the voracious appetite of Dr. Johnson, could not, during the term of bis earthly pilgrimage, have devoured the one half of them. Christendom is absolutely flooded with books. And yet the rage for making and publishing them is not in the least abated, but rather on the increase, and whereunto this matter will grow, who can tell? Who can predict the final result ?

I am not disposed, however, to find fault with this bookmaking spirit ; I say, rather, let it have free course. Whoso hath a thought, let him print it and publish it if he will. It may start another and still better thought in some other mind. ‘True it is, that many of the works which, have been, and are daily being issued from the press, are of a very questionable character. Some are positively pernicious, poisoning the fountains and sapping the foundations of social and individual well being. But

‘The Eternal art, educing good from ill,” does sometimes render even these subservient to better ends and purposes, by calling forth antidotes which not only expel the poison, but impart a higher and better life to the soul. Others, still, are of a very indifferent nature, incapable of doing either good or evil, unless it be by occupying time which would have been either better or worse employed. But, best of all, no previous generation ever possessed such a rich treasure of good, substantial, useful and salutary books, as are now abroad in the earth, and are daily coming from the press. The powers of light are at work, as well as the powers of darkness. And when we consider, on the one hand, the native strength and boldness of truth and righteousness, and, on the other, the inherent weakness and timidity of falsehood and wickedness ; it can hardly be doubted that the world has, on the whole, been immensely the gainer by an unshackled press.

z

The cause of general or popular Education has made great advances, especially of late years. The attention of the civilized world has been strongly directed to this subject. Great efforts have been made to increase the number, and improve the character, of public schools, and to impart solid and beneficial instruction to that portion of community whose means of knowledge have ever been the most scanty. Nota few of the most gifted minds of the age, both in this country and in Europe, have been laboring most assiduously, for a course of years, to excite a thirst for intellectual and moral improvement, among the mass of the people; and these efforts have not been in vain. Scarcely a civilized nation can be found which has not felt their influence, more or less. Some even of the despotic governments of Europe have been roused to action in this cause ; and, it is said, have already outstripped even boasted New England, in the race of popular education. We are told, in particular, that the kingdom of Prussia, in the heart of Europe, has now in operation a system of free schools, which for energy and success has probably no parallel. Every child and youth in the realm, not only may, but must, experience their beneficial influence. ‘The king has power to compel attendance —a power which, in this country, is lodged only in the hands of parents. The general education of the people is an object of earnest pursuit among the intelligent and philanthropic in many other nations. It is emphatically so among a majority of the States of this Union. Asa necessary consequence, we see, almost everywhere, the popular mind rising in activity and power; thinking, discussing, arguing, all manner of subjects, literary, political, medical, philosophical, moral and religious. ONcE it was not so.*

*See Note A.

Look too at the applications of science to the various arts of life. Was ever an age so prolific of inventions as this! Go to the farmer, the mechanic, the manufacturer ; to the man who ploughs the earth, or the ocean; each and all of them will point you to the great and rapid improvements of this generation, in the useful arts. "The words of Pope,

“ See through this air, this ocean, and this earth,

All matter quick and bursting into birth,” have a meaning, in this connexion, which never occurred to their author. Along with this general progress in literature, science and the arts, and the wide diffusion of useful knowledge among the people, there has been waked up a restless, powerful, indomitable spirit of enterprise. In the hot blood of their past success, men are beginning to think that there is nothing too great, too arduous, or too perilous, for them to attempt. Obstacles which would have terrified a former age, and made the world stand still, are’ now laughed to scorn, and blown away like the chaff of the summer theshing-floor. From motives of benevolence or of selfishness, of gain or of glory, all lands are traversed, all oceans and seas navigated, from the arectic to the antarctic. And this spirit of enterprize, to which knowledge has given birth, is, by a reflex influence, ever enlarging and strengthening the root from whence it sprung—is gathering spoils, in every region between the rising and the setting sun, to increase the general stock of useful knowledge.

The age is emphatically utilitarian. ‘* What is the use?” is the great question of the day. The custom, the fashion, the art, the book, the invention, however venerable it may be by its hoary locks, or by the homage which ages and generations have paid to it, is, at this day, thrown into imminent peril, unless it can clearly establish its own utility. ‘The knowledge most eagerly sought for by the temper of the times, and which is being so extensively diffused, is, in general, of the directly useful and practical kind. In view, then, of the past success, and present cheering prospects, of the great cause of knowledge, we are warranted to say, I think, that the tide is rising.

2. I skE THE CAUSE OF CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY MOVING FORWARD TO UNIVERSAL TRIUMPH.

All doubtless will agree, that the great systems of civil and religious tyranny which have prevailed more or less on earth, from the days of Nimrod to the present hour, are to be ranked among the heaviest curses to which humanity has been subjected. They have always been the implacable and unrelenting foes of human happiness; under whose blighting influence knowledge and virtue have withered and died, or have survived with a feeble and sickly life, only to be the more keenly conscious of their own degradation and wretchedness. And hence the history of the world is little else but the history of human nature, trying to disburden itself of the intolerable load which tyrants and tyrannical governmnts have laid upon it.

Man was made for freedom. It is his birthright, his native air, —deprived of which, he loses the noble bearing, the dignity, of aman. It is this which he desires and loves, oftentimes, more than life itself. It was well said by the inimitable Cowper,

_ Tis liberty alone, that gives the flower Of fleeting life its lustre and perfume ; And we are weeds without it. All constraint, Except what wisdom lays on evil men, Is evil: hurts the faculties, impedes Their progress in the road of science; blinds The eyesight of Discovery ; and begets In those who suffer it a sordid mind Bestial, a meagre intellect, unfit To be the tenant of man’s noble form.”

Nor can he be content with the loss of it, until he has been despoiled of some of the noblest attributes of his nature.

It is not possible for him, while deprived of a just and ra~ tional freedom, to accomplish the grand purposes of his being. ‘Tyranny, in whatever form, and under whatever circumstances, is a blasphemous usurpation of the prerogatives of the Eternal God—an attempt to arrest the progress, and annihilate the influence, of his righteous moral government. The cause of civil and religious liberty, therefore, has ever been ranked by all, except tyrants themselves, among the dearest interests of humanity. So that we are called upon to rejoice and give thanks to God, whenever we see this good caus¢ moving triumphantly forward.

For the last three hundred years, the contest between liberty and despotism has been raging almost without intermission. Sometimes the battle has seemed to hang in doubt. Here, victory has inclined to the one side, and there, to the other. But, looking back through the whole period, we can see very clearly, that the great principles of civil and religious freedom have advanced many degrees. Where now are the old systems of feudal tyranny which prevailed throughout Europe in the middle ages, by which the many were made to toil for the pride and luxury and aggrandizement of the few? “and echo answered, where?” Comparatively few traces of them remain. The old baronial castle, once dedicated to lordly pomp and riotous living, is indeed, in many instances, still standing; but has long since been surrendered to the undisputed possession of the owls and bats. What monarch now makes a pilgrimage to Rome, and waits bareheaded three days and three nights at the gate of the Pope’s palace, before his Holiness will deign to admit him? What Emperor thinks it worth while to purchase the favor of St. Peter’s successor, by suffering his imperial neck to be pressed by the gracious foot of this pretended vicegerent of heaven? And where is now the colossal power of the papal throne, at whose nod Europe and the world were wont to tremble? What is it but the shadow of its former greatness? The thunders of the Vatican are now scarcely heard beyond the diminutive territory of the papal States. Why need I point you to the terrific struggles for civil freedom, which have agitated every corner of Europe, and the whole range of the American continent, for the last fifty or sixty years? or tell you what rivers of blood have been shed in this righteous cause?

Who does not know that the rights of men are better understood, and more extensively acknowledged, than at any former period? IfI might borrow an expressive phrase from the politicians, I would say —‘‘the people are coming.” ‘They are waking up, and girding themselves, like a giant rejoicing to runa race. When they speak, their voice is not altogether unheeded. Kings, emperors, presidents, governors, legislators, find it convenient to listen. They fear the people. I know there are men, all over the world, who are panicstruck at the mighty movements which are now going forward, and who are forever croaking about the agitations of the present, and the glorious tranquility of the past, when centuries rolled away with scarcely a perceptible change on the face of human affairs; and to whose unfortunate vision, the scroll of destiny seems to be darkened with mourning and lamentations and wo. But I confess to you, that I look on the present troubled aspect of mortal things with widely different feelings. It is my happiness to believe, that the world is being turned upside down, that it may come right side up. I plead not for the wild . misrule of agrarianism, or anarchy, or mob-law* — God forbid. Civil government is doubtless an ordinance of heaven, and will be needed while the world shall stand. It ought to be sustained and administered in truth and. righteousness. It is freely admitted, that there are dangers

*See Note B.

attending the present posture of affairs, especially in this country; yet I cannot discover any sufficient ground for the terrible forebodings and spasmodic alarms with which some people seem to be visited. It is sometimes necessary that a diseased system should be thrown into a state of excitement, in order to restore healthy action. ‘This may be the case of our own country at the present time. Anodynes and soporifics are not the -prescriptions which the national disease demands. We have already slept too long and too soundly; it may be much better for us to be ‘full of tossings to and fro,” antil the dawn of a better state of things.

The enlightened, protestant, and powerful empire of Britain, on which the sun never sets, and whose influence is felt in every quarter of the globe, seems to be more rapidly rising in true greatness and glory, at the present period, than any other kingdom. The principles of civil and religious freedom, after a long and arduous struggle, have fairly gained the ascendancy, and are doing their appropriate work with astonishing rapidity and power. What a sublime spectacle did she present to the nations of the earth, when she arose in,her majesty, and commanded the shackles of eight hundred thousand slaves to be sundered atablow. And after the lapse of three years, finding that her will has been evaded, or not fully obeyed, see her rising again in the true dignity of injured freedom, and preparing to sweep from her dominions the last vestige of that odious and abominable system of oppression. By such noble acts, she is eclipsing the glory of all other lands, and securing the favor of that righteous God “who ruleth over all.”

Well may our own beloved land be filled with shame and confusion at the rebuke of this great example. For more than fifty years have we been rending the air with shouts of liberty, proclaiming our country the asylum of the oppressed, the freest of the free. But, Jo! the finger of scorn is pointed at us from every point of the compass; and every wind of heaven that breathes upon us, comes freighted with indignant rebukes. And is there not a cause? We have called heaven and earth to witness our sincerity in the sublime declaration, that aLL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL; that civil and religious liberty is the inalienable birthright of every child of Adam. We have elevated our standard, and bedecked it with the stars of heaven. We have let loose that noble bird, the ancient symbol of republicanism. But, alas! nearly half those stars are crimsoned with the blood of a most intolerable oppression, and the bold eagle that hath spread his sheltering wings over us, is seen bearing in one talon a bundle of arrows, and in the other, grasping A MAN, bound with fetters of iron. Can we expect to gain credit for the sincerity of our professions? Is it wonderful that the nations of the old world are branding us with hypocrisy and foul treachery to the cause of freedom and humanity? We had better cease from our boastings, till we can shew clean hands.

The cry of the oppressed hath entered into the ear of the Lord of hosts, and his voice may be distinctly heard, saying to the people of the land, “*Undo the heavy burdens—break every yoke —let the oppressed go free; then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.”” Obey we must, or we shall feel the avenging judgments of an angry God. We may turn away, and shut our eyes, and stop our ears, and pertinaciously deny that we are our brother’s keeper ; but all this will be of no avail. ‘The God of the oppressed neither slumbers nor sleeps. Our treatment of the poor Indian, as well as of the imbruted African, within our borders, is registered in the book of God, in long chapters of guilt. We may, if we will, seal up the pulpit, and establish a decree that it shall no more ‘“‘cry aloud and spare not;” we may bolt the doors of our legislative halls, and deny tothe victims of our oppression the right even of prayer for relief; we may demolish the press, and quench its unwelcome light with the noblest and best blood in the ‘nation; we may idly imagine that the thunders of self-evident and eternal truth can be muffled with legislative resolves or penal statutes; yet if there be a righteous God in the heavens, or aught of truth in the history of the world, the cry of our oppressed and bleeding brother will be heard—uais DELIVERANCE WiLL come. And though we may not hope to go wholly unpunished, yet, I trust in God, the day is not distant, when we shall, as a nation, awake to righteousness, ‘do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly ;’’ when we shall take our deeply injured and long abused brother by the hand, bind up his wounds, and pour into his bleeding heart the balm of heavenly consolations; and when,

“With tears watering the ground,”

we shall confess before God and men the wrongs we have done him, and implore a thousand blessings on his head. That will be the day of our country’s glory —such a day as she has never yet seen—in comparison with which, all the preceding days of her chequered history are days of darkness. It will be such a triumph of moral principle, of truth and equity, as the world has not yet witnessed. If we pant for renown, the way is plain before us. Never, since time began, had any nation such a golden opportunity to register its name on the scroll of imperishable fame, as we now have. By doing an act of simple justice, our country may encircle itself with a glory that shall never die. By refusing to do it, we shall but I forbear. I cannot for a moment admit the thought, that this great nation, whose corner stone was laid amidst so many prayers and tears of holy men; which has been defended and reared up at the expense of so much of the noblest blood the world ever saw; and whose history, from the beginning, is so replete with memorable interpositions of Heaven in its behalf; I cannot, I say, believe that a nation, thus founded, thus defended, thus reared, up, so manifestly by the hand of God, is to fulfil its destiny, and perish in the freshness of its youth. No, it cannot be. Rather let us believe that. God, our fathers’ God, designs to purify us—to wash away the crimson stain that is on our skirts, and make us a bright example to the world, of the excellence and beauty of Knowledge, and Liberty, and pure Religion. Ask then, ‘‘ What of the night?” as respects the great subject of civil and religious liberty; and I shall answer, ‘‘'The morning cometh.”