The Life and Labours of St. Augustine [pp. 436-453]

Tthe Life and Labours of St. Augustine.
The minister's own moral character is concerned in his fidelity
to the truth. The standard of morality, in ministers, not unfrequently declines with their decline from "the faith." That
condition of conscience in which a minister becomes prepared
to reject any of the truths of the gospel, is one in which he is
likely also to undervalue its precepts, and gradually to lose
even the resemblances he may have had to Christian character.
Suppose, however, the common virtues of this life to continue
to flourish in such a man, and that people who never discriminate carefully between these and the holiness founded on regeneration, look upon amiable and virtuous teachers of false
doctrines, and call them men of Christian sanctity, and challenge us with the question, "Can there be vital and fatal error
in connection with so much that is estimable in personal character?" But the great question is, "How come on in such an
one the virtues of'Christianity as a distinct religion?'" a religion, spiritual, elevated, heavenly; embracing love to the doctrines of Christ, and exhibiting likeness to Christ? We go
further, and raise the question, is there nothing immoral in
unbelief of divine truth? The apostle John, under divine inspiration has declared it; "He that believeth not God hath
made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God
gave of his Son." And by what principle in sound ethics is
he a virtuous man who gives the lie to the holy Sovereign of
the universe? Sober, temperate, chaste, just in his transactions with men, he may be amiable and estimable in domestic
and social life; but is this all of Christian morals? Is it an act
of virtue-of Christian virtue-when a man deliberately writes
in his study, pronounces in his pulpit, and, perhaps, sends forth
to the world on the printed page, in words deliberately chosen,
and in rhetoric finished, things touching revealed truth and
truth's holy God, which, on the minds of serious Christians and
lovers of sound Scripture doctrine, make the impressions of ungodly irony, or solemn, sacerdotal blasphemy? As, on the one
hand, there are no men on earth under more advantageous circumstances than ministers, to " grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," so on the other
hand, if they do not in their hearts love the truth; if they are
disposed to employ their talents and learning in perverting the
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