SERMON XIV. SOURCES OF MORAL WEAKNESS AND MORAL STRENGTH. EPHESIANS VI. 10. FINALLY, BRETHREN, BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT. THE apostle intimates what are the real sources of human strength. It may not improperly be said, under some points of view, that this was the beneficent office of Christianity, to disclose to man the real sources of moral strength, and enable him to avail himself of them. Seeds of weakness lie in his original constitution, are fostered by the wayward circumstances of his education, and lead him to habits of self-indulgence and ease, which threaten ruin to his permanent well-being. All this we saw, as we looked upon him in our morning's survey. And now what remedy? What fountains of strength are open for the healing of this impotent race? Where are the remedies for this fatal imbecility, which destroys many, and threatens all? The apostle answers in the text; the New Testament answers in all its pages. The errand on which Christ came into the world was to relieve the feebleness of human nature, and provide strength for the accomplishment of its great warfare on earth. It might be sufficient, then, to illustrate the position that man gets the power he wants, from religious faith. But it may be best, first, to recur to the course of thought through which we have already passed. For if we have truly indicated the causes of infirmity, the step to be taken next, obviously is, the removal of these causes, so far as they are susceptible of removal. That which lies in original constitution may be spoken of by and by; but if any one is suffering from an injudicious training in the outset of life, it is clearly his duty to counteract its influence by daily vigilance; or, if he have fallen under habits of sloth, thoughtlessness, delay, indecision; has become incapable of effort by long inactivity; then much is to be done by specially combatting these particular ill customs; by watchfulness and self-denial in regard to specific instances of these specific faults. If you have put your conscience to silence by refusing to hear when it spoke, you must now open your ear with an earnest attitude of perpetual listening, and you will, by and by, catch its still small voice again. If you have made your will torpid by repressing or delaying to carry its purposes into action, you must now begin with springing up promptly at its slightest suggestions; and you will, by and by, restore to it all its rightful authority. From these measures of simple counteraction, let us pass to those of a more direct character those which open the fountains of moral strength. And we may find somewhat in our native constitution. Human nature is not all weakness. It has its strong points also. It has its upward tendencies, as well as its downward. There is a law in its "mind," as well as in its "members." Reason takes the side of right. Conscience is a powerful advocate for right and advancement. The heart has nobler affections, which have no relish for what is give heed to them, and Unhappily, they come impure, but aspire after what is generous and high. In these, man is strong, if he will but put himself under their guidance. into action later than the bodily and selfish lusts and affections, therefore begin their work at a disadvantage; when the man is already somewhat fettered, enervated by the meaner propensities; but give them an open field and fair play, they will yet get the mastery. The man has but to yield himself to them, and they will give him strength adequate to all his need. Who ever knew a man to yield himself to conscience, reason, and the nobler affections of the heart, without being strong enough for any trial, competent to any emergency There are sources of strength, therefore, in human nature. So, also, there are in the discipline of early education. That training of the primary years has not its sole result in weakness. It has called for some self-conflict, self-discipline, self-denial; some struggle at self-government, at surrendering somewhat to the claims of others; some effort to bear, and to do, what was burdensome and unwelcome. And all this has tended, so far, to impart a moral power to the man over himself and over circumstances. It may sometimes be little, but always something something, which, like a faint spark of life in a feeble system, may be nourished into more vigorous vitality. Having, then, these resources in the original nature, and' some hints, at least, from the experience of early days, we go on to look for other sources of strength to the moral being. I will name four. 1. Universal moderation. This stands opposed to violence, and to self-indulgence; both of which are characteristics of feebleness. Conscious strength is calm. Violence is a sign of imbecility, which thinks to impose by the show of power. Self-indulgence withers away a man's power, sooner, perhaps, than any other cause. Universal moderation is therefore the law. He that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Physically, the body thrives, and is vigorous, under the observance of this law. It dwindles, under the pampering of luxury and delicate abundance. It becomes hateful, under the coarse intemperance which brutalizes and deforms. Intellectually, the mind is clear, bright, quick, when a prudent moderation has left the courses of life unclogged; but is heavy, stupid, incapacitated, when the salutary measure has been overstepped. And so universally. All excess debilitates. Even excessive thought enfeebles the mind; and the anxious or ambitious scholar has sometimes studied himself into incapacity; and the overwrought religionist has been known to sink away from the rapturous insanity of fanaticism, to the dull monotony of idiocy. There is no true strength but in him who has self-control, and that is moderation; a perpetual and watchful restraint upon the feelings, emotions, appetite, speech, demeanor-so that nothing shall be done thoughtlessly, and the man shall always know whether or not he transgresses the rules of duty, decorum, and kindness. 2. A second source of strength to the character is promptness of action; the habit of doing immediately whatever the conscience suggests. This is a trait which marks all men of distinguished energy, and the want of which is equally characteristic of men eminent for their weakness. I have already referred to it, in another connection; and I advert to it distinctly here, because there is, perhaps, no one cause of evil more frequently forgotten and fatal than this: multitudes fall beneath this error, who are otherwise distinguished for high purposes and great virtues. It is an Act insinuating, deceptive error. It comes upon one unawares. It comes under the guise of modesty, humility, discretion, and other amiable shapes; it saps the life of the character silently; gives no warning; utters no alarm; and its deluded victim finds himself enslaved, and almost lost, before a hint of danger has awakened his attention. The remedy to this great evil lies in resistance to the very beginning. Obsta principiis. In the beginning of life, in the formation of your young habits, start with this as a maxim. upon it without exception, in small things as well as in great, so that it shall acquire with you the commanding power of an irresistible instinct, that what is to be done, is to be done, and not put off. Then you will escape the disastrous fortune of so many, who delay the care of their souls from day to day, till death overtakes them, impenitent and unready, and they drop into ruin, who never dreamed of any thing but salvation. 3. Let us then go higher. We ascend from details to principles. Another source of moral strength is faith. And need I say any thing to show that faith is strength that principle is power? Who is weak, but the man who misgives, distrusts, wants confidence, doubts? Who is strong- take him where you may, in whatever calling or walk of life- but the man who is confident in his measures, his intention, his success, who does not doubt, who feels perfect reliance? Are not these the men of enterprise? Is not this the spirit that incites to all the prosperous activity of mankind? So in the moral character. So in the spiritual life. Faith in God, Christ, heaven; the certainty of the promises, the safety of virtue, the assurance of the doctrines. Fill a man with it, and he is able to overcome the world. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth in Jesus Christ? What is it that has made men |