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Literary
September 3, 1837
Southern Christian Advocate
Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
Archbishop Whately distinguishes between practicing moral duties like temperance and true Christianity, which requires motives rooted in Christian faith and hope, substituting love of God for worldly or self-love. He compares it to savages using levers without knowing mechanics.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
MOTIVE,
There is a difference, and a wide one, between practising moral duties, and being a Christian. Christianity is a religion of motives. It substitutes an external motive for an earthly one; it substitutes the love of God for the love of the world, or the love of self. There may be, and are, many persons, who practice Temperance and other virtues with Christian inculcates. But who never think of doing so because they are so inculcated. It would be as absurd to ascribe a knowledge of mechanics to savages, because they employ the lever; or of the principles of astronomy to brutes, because, in walking, they preserve the centre of gravity, as it is to call such persons Christians. A Christian is one, whose motives are Christian faith and Christian hope, and who is, moreover, able to give a reason of the hope that is in him.--Archbishop Whately.
There is a difference, and a wide one, between practising moral duties, and being a Christian. Christianity is a religion of motives. It substitutes an external motive for an earthly one; it substitutes the love of God for the love of the world, or the love of self. There may be, and are, many persons, who practice Temperance and other virtues with Christian inculcates. But who never think of doing so because they are so inculcated. It would be as absurd to ascribe a knowledge of mechanics to savages, because they employ the lever; or of the principles of astronomy to brutes, because, in walking, they preserve the centre of gravity, as it is to call such persons Christians. A Christian is one, whose motives are Christian faith and Christian hope, and who is, moreover, able to give a reason of the hope that is in him.--Archbishop Whately.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Religious
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Christianity
Motives
Faith
Hope
Moral Duties
Temperance
What entities or persons were involved?
Archbishop Whately
Literary Details
Title
Motive,
Author
Archbishop Whately
Key Lines
Christianity Is A Religion Of Motives.
It Substitutes An External Motive For An Earthly One; It Substitutes The Love Of God For The Love Of The World, Or The Love Of Self.
A Christian Is One, Whose Motives Are Christian Faith And Christian Hope, And Who Is, Moreover, Able To Give A Reason Of The Hope That Is In Him.