- Holbrook D
r.Amos
The child Fanny had a bad night
and her mother is in deep anguish.
Dr
Holbrook was here this Morning and spoke to me in doubtful
and ambiguous terms of her condition. I can but bow with resignation to
the Will of Heaven, and pray that if possible this cup may pass from me—
It was a chilly—dull—gloomy day. Mr Lunt preached this morning,
from 2. Corinthians 7.1. perfecting holiness in the fear of God. The
argument of the discourse was that all virtue is founded upon religion;
that there can be no perfect holiness, or righteousness but by the fear
of God— This I believe to be true— For independent of the conviction of
responsibility hereafter to a just and merciful God, all moral principle
resolves itself into selfishness and expediency— For then comes the
utilitarian doctrine which is all selfishness, every man’s passions and
prejudices persuading him that his own good is always the greatest good
of the greatest number— Mr Lunt dwells so
much and so often upon this principle that all righteousness is founded
on religion, that it gives a monotonous character to his Sermons— It was
yet more evinced by his discourse this afternoon from Luke 17.21. “for
behold the kingdom of God is within you.[”] On the 9th. of September 1838. he preached both
parts of the day on this text, and my approbation of the first part of
the discourse was then recorded, with a pause for the sermon of the
afternoon. That was what he now repeated, and it did not gain in my
estimate by repetition— The spiritual kingdom of Christ is undoubtedly a
fundamental tenet of Christianity, but when it has been clearly and
explicitly laid down, though it may be often illustrated and commented
upon, it should be more frequently be seasoned with variety of discourse
upon practical morals—upon scriptural narratives and characters—upon the
poetical effusions of David— Upon the
Loves, the worldly wisdom and the melancholy disappointments of Solomon— Upon the mysterious revelations of
the prophets—the biographical Memoirs of the Evangelists, and upon the
Acts and Epistles of the Apostles— All these furnish abundant materials
for variety without losing sight of the essentially spiritual nature of
the Christian Religion. I read the 50th. of
Barrow’s Sermons, being the
first of the five upon Industry— My
father considered these as some of the best discourses
that were ever preached or published— They teem with thought as if they
were poured out from an inexhaustible fountain— The style is plain and
dry; so different from that of Lord
Chatham’s speeches that I can hardly credit what I have
heard that Chatham studied it as a model. He frequently quotes the Greek
and Latin Classicks, and the Fathers, above all St.
Chrysostom— The first and second of the fi