290

PERSONAL DUTIES.

[Part IV.

dice, by antipathy, by the seductions of pleasure, by the reck-lessness of false honor, by the aspirations of a criminal ambition,or by whatever other feeling, humor, impulse, or principle, mayhappen for the moment to have the ascendency.

The being governed by a sense of duty embraces a suitableregard to every consideration, principle, sentiment, opinion,relation, fact, and circumstance from which any duty, of whateverkind, can spring. The requirements of Scripture, the law ofthe land, regard for consequences, propriety, (which, as LordKames well says, is not left to our own choice ; but, like jus-tice, is required at our hands ; and, like justice, is enforced bynatural rewards and punishments,) * decency, delicacy, — everything which can give rise to a duty, however small, is acknowl-edged to have a claim to attention and regard.

CHAPTER V.

THE DUTY OF CULTIVATING PERSONAL RELIGION AND THEPERSONAL VIRTUES.

A sacred writer, one whose experience in human affairs wasperhaps unexampled, says, “ Trust in the Lord with all thineheart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thyways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be notwise in thine own eyes ; fear the Lord and depart from evil.Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom ; and, withall thy getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall pro-mote thee ; she shall bring thee to honor, when thou dost em-brace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace ;a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.” f This language isas beautiful, as the sentiments are persuasive, valuable, andauthoritative. Besides the sacred Scriptures, the duty of culti-vating personal religion might be argued and illustrated fromseveral sources. But, neglecting every other, I shall confine

* Elements of Criticism, Vol. I. p. 272.

t Proverbs iii. 5 - 7; iv. 7 - 9.