Christian Obligation with Respect to the Conversion of the World [pp. 309-342]

THE
BIBLICAL REPERTORY
AND
THEOLOGICAL REVIEW.
JULY, 1832.
ART. I.-CHRISTIAN OBLIGATION WITH RESPECT TO
THE CONVERSION OF THE WORLD.
No creature of God was made for itself alone. The flower
of the field, the oak of the forest, the sun in the firmament,
and "cthe cattle upon a thousand hills," were all formed
that they might be instrumental in promoting the welfare
and comfort of each other. To suppose, then, that MAN,
who occupies so conspicuous a place in this great system;
man, who is endowed with a rational as well as an active
nature; who is made capable of acting upon a plan, and
living to an end, was made, or is at liberty to act for himself alone; to make, each one, his own enjoyment and glory
the ultimate purpose of his being;-would be to adopt a sentiment as unreasonable as it is degrading. The powers which
God has given us; the relations which we bear to him;
the benevolent activity of which we are obviously capable;
and the rich and unremitting goodness of which we are the
subjects, and of which we have ever been the subjects since
we had a being;-all demonstrate that intellectual and moral
action is our appropriate sphere; and that either indolence,
or a course of action which does not embrace the good of
VOL. IV. No. III. -2 Q