Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Literary
September 29, 1841
Morning Star
Limerick, York County, Maine
What is this article about?
This religious essay contrasts the profound difference between a soul truly and cheerfully devoted to God versus one that hypocritically professes faith while serving self, world, and selfish ends. It highlights their moral opposition in life, happiness, societal impact, and ultimate judgment, urging rigorous self-examination for genuine redemption.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
The Difference.
The difference between the soul heartily and unreservedly devoted to the service of God, on the one hand, and the soul, professing to serve God, but not so much serving Him as partially refusing to serve the Devil, on the other, is supremely vast. Neither tongue nor pen can paint the contrast! These diverse souls, though they stand in the same church, have the same name, and are clothed in the same religious profession, are diverse still. Indeed these very circumstances only heighten the diversity. They are moral opposites. The former serves God. The latter, professedly refusing to serve the Devil outright, serves the times, the world, and especially himself. The former serves God with cheerfulness. The latter, whenever he makes a show of serving God, comes to his duty reluctantly, like an ox to the ringbolt of slaughter. The former, serves God at the denial of himself. The latter serves himself at the denial of his God. The former serves God always. The latter never, when so doing will interfere with his selfish ends. The former, seeking duty, cries, Lord, "what wilt thou have me to do!" The latter, blinding himself to duty, calls constantly upon the genius of this world for employment. The former holds his all of life and fortune at the Divine disposal. The latter holds his all, locked and keyed against the Divine hand. The former is ever happy. The latter never truly so. The former blesses society, by diffusing happiness through it. The latter, extracts from society much of the blessing the former diffuses. Finally, in death and at the judgment, these souls will differ. And never will their difference be more manifest than when the Judge shall say to the former, "Come, ye blessed!" and to the latter, "Depart, ye cursed!"
Christian reader, knowest thou thy real condition? Or dost thou stand in doubt?—Then ply thyself to a rigid self-examination. Be tireless in thy exertions to "know thyself," and improve thyself, until thou canst say,
"I know that my Redeemer lives."
"Amen! Alleluia!"
M. J. S.
The difference between the soul heartily and unreservedly devoted to the service of God, on the one hand, and the soul, professing to serve God, but not so much serving Him as partially refusing to serve the Devil, on the other, is supremely vast. Neither tongue nor pen can paint the contrast! These diverse souls, though they stand in the same church, have the same name, and are clothed in the same religious profession, are diverse still. Indeed these very circumstances only heighten the diversity. They are moral opposites. The former serves God. The latter, professedly refusing to serve the Devil outright, serves the times, the world, and especially himself. The former serves God with cheerfulness. The latter, whenever he makes a show of serving God, comes to his duty reluctantly, like an ox to the ringbolt of slaughter. The former, serves God at the denial of himself. The latter serves himself at the denial of his God. The former serves God always. The latter never, when so doing will interfere with his selfish ends. The former, seeking duty, cries, Lord, "what wilt thou have me to do!" The latter, blinding himself to duty, calls constantly upon the genius of this world for employment. The former holds his all of life and fortune at the Divine disposal. The latter holds his all, locked and keyed against the Divine hand. The former is ever happy. The latter never truly so. The former blesses society, by diffusing happiness through it. The latter, extracts from society much of the blessing the former diffuses. Finally, in death and at the judgment, these souls will differ. And never will their difference be more manifest than when the Judge shall say to the former, "Come, ye blessed!" and to the latter, "Depart, ye cursed!"
Christian reader, knowest thou thy real condition? Or dost thou stand in doubt?—Then ply thyself to a rigid self-examination. Be tireless in thy exertions to "know thyself," and improve thyself, until thou canst say,
"I know that my Redeemer lives."
"Amen! Alleluia!"
M. J. S.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Religious
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Religious Essay
True Devotion
Hypocrisy
Self Examination
Divine Judgment
Moral Contrast
What entities or persons were involved?
M. J. S.
Literary Details
Title
The Difference.
Author
M. J. S.
Subject
The Difference Between True And Hypocritical Devotion To God
Key Lines
The Difference Between The Soul Heartily And Unreservedly Devoted To The Service Of God, On The One Hand, And The Soul, Professing To Serve God, But Not So Much Serving Him As Partially Refusing To Serve The Devil, On The Other, Is Supremely Vast.
The Former Serves God With Cheerfulness. The Latter, Whenever He Makes A Show Of Serving God, Comes To His Duty Reluctantly, Like An Ox To The Ringbolt Of Slaughter.
The Former, Seeking Duty, Cries, Lord, "What Wilt Thou Have Me To Do!" The Latter, Blinding Himself To Duty, Calls Constantly Upon The Genius Of This World For Employment.
Finally, In Death And At The Judgment, These Souls Will Differ. And Never Will Their Difference Be More Manifest Than When The Judge Shall Say To The Former, "Come, Ye Blessed!" And To The Latter, "Depart, Ye Cursed!"
"I Know That My Redeemer Lives."