these
peculiarities, without a state of moral feeling adapted to the truths
which are professed, are apt to consider the whole as either pretence or
delusion.

In their mutual error there is to both matter of important warning. It
becomes the latter to beware, lest, misled by the failings of weak or
inconsistent men, they withdraw their attention from truths of solemn
import to themselves as moral beings. There may be much pretension where
there is no real feeling; but are they from this entitled to infer,
there is not a reality in that which these pretenders counterfeit. By a
slight gilding, articles of trifling value are made to assume the
appearance of gold; but would it be reasonable to contend, that there
are no articles of intrinsic worth which these are made to imitate. The
fair induction is, in both instances, the opposite. Were there no such
articles of pure gold, this ingenuity would not be employed in
fabricating base imitations; and the hypocrite would not assume
qualities he does not possess, where there not real virtues, from a
resemblance to which he hopes to procure for his character that
ostensible value which may enable it to deceive. But let those who have
detected this deception beware of founding upon it conclusions which it
does not warrant. They have not found the reality here, but there is not
the less a pure and high standard which claims their utmost regard. If
they search for it either among inconsistent or among designing men,
they seek the living among the dead. Let them contemplate it especially
as it is displayed in the character of the Messiah: in him it was
exhibited in a manner which demands the imitation of every rational man,
while it challenges the cordial assent of the most acute understanding,
that this is the perfection of a moral being.

On the other hand, let those, who profess to be influenced by the
highest of all motives, study to exhibit their habitual influence in a
consistent uniformity of the whole character. It is easy to acquire a
peculiar phraseology, to show much zeal for peculiar opinions, and rigid
attention to peculiar observances; and, among a party, it is not
difficult to procure a name, by condemning certain other compliances
which by them are technically styled the manners of the world. But all
this, it is evident, may be assumed; it may be, and probably often is,
no better than a name; it often amounts to nothing more than
substituting one kind of excitement