awakens notes of joy or wailings of
sorrow; and it thus becomes the source of irritation and remorse here,
and of disquieting premonitions of the most appalling woes in the world
to come. Hear what God hath spoken: "But fornication and all
uncleanness or _covetousness_, let it not be once named among you. For
no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor _covetous_ man, who is an
_idolater_, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no man deceive you; for because of these things cometh the wrath of
God upon the children of disobedience." This is terrible language, and
explicit as terrible. According to the plainest principles of
interpretation, covetousness is here put in the same category with some
of the worst vices that degrade man and provoke the wrath of heaven.
Indeed, if benevolence is required equally with justice, then
covetousness is as distinctly a violation of the divine law as
injustice; and he who hoards as the expense of the suffering poor, is as
guilty in the sight of God as he who rifles another's goods. And is it
strange that he who nurtures a principle thus pernicious in its
tendencies, should be excluded from heaven? No. Let us not flatter
ourselves; we cannot indulge in covetousness without imminent peril.
Who will dare thus offend his gracious Sovereign, and incur his wrath?
Let this bright, but awful truth, flash in our faces, deterring us from
the fearful sin, and inducing a sleepless vigilance over our selfish
propensities, lest they grow with our growth, and strengthen with our
increasing wealth.

12. The dignity and responsibilities growing out of the fundamental
truth before partially unfolded, that God, under the gospel, having
given us general principles and laws touching benevolence, has left the
amount and frequency or our contributions to our own decision. The
position we occupy under the new dispensation is full of interest and
solemnity. As it is one of peculiar dignity, it is one of peculiar
peril. God has now raised us to the true platform of intelligent and
moral beings; given our reason and consciences free scope to exercise
their own energetic and controlling powers. He has, indeed, always
given man this prerogative, but in a higher sense under the Gospel than
before; in other words, placed him in a position better fitted for the
development of his whole being. He has thrown him more entirely on
his personal responsibility and the decisions of individua