Week day religion

CHAPTER I. Vital Piety, 13

CHAPTER H.

Piety and Morality, 51

CHAPTER HI.

Labour, 87

CHAPTER IV.

Economy, 132

CHAPTER V.

Honesty, 178

CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VII.

The Right Use of Property, . 274

In seeking for the causes, which hinder the general prevalence of religion in the community, I have been led to consider the want of harmony and consistency of Christian character as among the most prominent. Christians are witnesses for God and for Christ, for the truth and the power of the christian religion. Christian ministers, as the advocates of this religion, may plead eloquently and earnestly. Still, it is with this, as with a case in court, the great majority in the community will look, not so much at the arguments of the advocates, as at the testimony, which may be borne, by the witnesses who may be brought upon the stand. If, in the conduct and character of christians, there is proof of the power and the good influences of this religion, in restraining from

Preface

all that is wrong, and urging to all that is right, in making its subjects holier and happier, then will it appear, that this living testimony , has more weight than the ablest argument ever advanced, or the most urgent appeal ever urged. And it is a truly solemn thought, that the humblest christian in the community may, within the limited circle in which he moves, simply by the manifestation of unreserved subjection, in all things, to christian principles, and by breathing, at all times, the christian spirit ; simply by the exhibition, in his every-day life, of harmony and consistency of christian character, do more to interest and subdue the hearts of those, who move in the same circle, than can be accomplished by the most learned and eloquent preacher of the Gospel. It is not the power of intellect, of argument, or of eloquence, it is the power of an upright, virtuous and holy life, which, in a community nominally christian, exerts the greatest influence in promoting the general prevalence of religion.

The want, then, of this harmony and consistency of christian character, may well be regarded as one, among the prominent causes, which prevent this general prevalence. And this want may be traced, I think, to several false notions, which prevail. There are some who make great pretensions to religion. They are forward and active in all religious exercises and efforts. Their voices are heard, in earnest religious exhortation and in social prayer. On the sabbath or in a season of great religious excitement, so great is their ardour that you would regard them as wholly absorbed in the subject, and wholly devoted to the interests of religion. But when you meet them, on the week-day and in their places of business, you find many things in their transactions, which cannot be reconciled with the principles of the Gospel. You see no proof, that^ in these, they are influenced by the thought^ that the eye of God is upon them, and that to him they are accountable. This inconsistency between their reUgious professions and their business character, subjects them to the charge of hypocrisy. I have myself been led to think that this inconsistency arises, more frequently, from their deceiving themselves, in regard to the true nature and proper influences of religion, than from a hypocritical attempt to deceive others, by assuming the cloak of religion. It arises, I have supposed, in many cases, from an unauthorized distinction between piety and morality, between religion and business. But whatever be the cause, the appearance prevents the progress of religion in the community. This class exhibit a sabbath-day religion. They are deficient in week-day religion. They abound in fhe rehgion of the vestry and the sanctuary, but are deficient in the religion of the farm, the shop, the oflice and the counting room.

PREFACE.

Then there is another class in the community, who are driven, perhaps, by their disgust at this inconsistency, to the opposite extreme. They are careful to maintain unimpeachable correctness of outward deportment. And they seem to think that this is all that is required. They have no living belief in the necessity of a religious state of the soul. Comparing their own general correctness of conduct, with the delinquencies of those, who make high professions, they settle down into a deceitful and dangerous self-complacency. They regard themselves as having already attained, without once asking whether their affections and purposes, their motives and principles, are in accordance with christian rejquirements or not. This class think much of their reputation in the eyes of the community, and but little of the true char-' acter of their souls, in the sight of God. They abound in week-day morality, but are deficient in week-day religion.

It is the object of these pages to meet and correct these errors, to promote harmony of christian character, and thereby aid in hastening on the time, when the power of rehgion shall be felt in every heart, and manifested in every life. It will be attempted to show, in the first chapter, that unless there be a religious frame of the soul, a religious state of the affections, motives, purposes and principles, the character is deficient, although the outward conduct may in the eyes of men appear unimpeachably correct. It will be the object of the second chapter to show, that, to the truly religious man, there is no distinction between the different parts of his conduct, by which one is to be regarded as an act of piety, and another an act of morality. It will be attempted, in several succeeding chapters, to point out the importance of applying religious principles to the various business transactions of life, and to show in what manner this is to be done.

It is my most earnest hope^ that this Httle book, may; to some few at least, be a useful aid in promoting consistency and harmony of christian character. And especially, is it my desire to assist, by the suggestions which I have offered, the young men in our community, in forming for themselves, now at the commencement of their course, correct principles for the government of their business lives. Should what I have here written prove acceptable to the public, and be thought calculated to effect, in any degree, the objects it is intended to accomplish, I shall feel truly gratified, and shall be encouraged to prepare another work to follow it, on Spirituality of Character, which I have planned and the materials for which I have in some measure collected.

J. W. _ Portland, May, 1840.

WEEK-DAY RELIGION.