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 individual judgment,
by laying down general principles from which he is to ascertain his
every-day duties. All the noble powers of the soul, directed by the
Spirit's influences, are to be brought into full operation and work in
concert; the heart, without impediment, concurring with the reason; the
purposes, with the affections. This is "the liberty wherewith Christ
hath made us free."