Twenty-Four Short Sermons On The Doctrine Of Universal Salvation

Name: Twenty-Four Short Sermons On The Doctrine Of Universal Salvation
Author: Dods, John Bovee

Dods, John Bovee

Sermons, American; Universalist churches -- Sermons

Food and raiment are all that we can enjoy of the external comforts of
life. All other enjoyments must be of a mental character. Secure first
your mental joys, a pure unsullied conscience in the punctual
discharge of all your social and relative duties to mankind, and be
you rich or poor, you will be happy. The righteous discharge of this
first great duty will not embarrass you in obtaining the comforts of
life, but on the contrary aid you. A peaceable and honest course of
conduct towards others--a condescension to men of low estate--a due
respect for the opinions and rights of others, will endear you to all,
and not only foster in your bosom the seeds of peace and contentment,
but will conduct you in the surest path to wealth and honor. The
mental powers of the soul are all that exalt our capacity for
happiness above a brutal creation. And if our chief happiness lies in
gold, which can only minister to our animal wants, then the brutes can
vie with us in all the solid enjoyments of life. In fact, they can go
beyond us. They graze the turf, and drink the unmingled stream free
from anxiety and care. While man, the lord of this lower creation, has
to toil and gain the same enjoyments by the sweat of his brow.

But what a groveling thought to bring our exalted natures and
capacities for happiness down to a level with theirs! On this
principle, he who is the most wealthy is the most happy. Virtue is but
a name, and all the exalted principles of noble and godlike action are
but the reveries of fancy, and to practice them is but a visionary
dream. No, my friends, wealth supplies our animal wants, and if virtue
be wanting, it leaves our minds in wretched starvation and our
brightest joys in night! Happiness is equally attainable by the rich
and the poor. It consists in a union of heart among mankind, in a
union of action in the pursuit of virtue, and in the kindlier feelings
of our nature. In fine, it consists in a willing obedience to the
exhortations of our text: "Be of the same mind one towards another.
Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate."

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Twenty-Four Short Sermons On The Doctrine Of Universal SalvationDods, John Bovee

Religion

Twenty-Four Short Sermons On The Doctrine Of Universal Salvation

Dods, John Bovee

Sermons, American; Universalist churches -- Sermons

Food and raiment are all that we can enjoy of the external comforts of
life. All other enjoyments must be of a mental character. Secure first
your mental joys, a pure unsullied conscience in the punctual
discharge of all your social and relative duties to mankind, and be
you rich or poor, you will be happy. The righteous discharge of this
first great duty will not embarrass you in obtaining the comforts of
life, but on the contrary aid you. A peaceable and honest course of
conduct towards others--a condescension to men of low estate--a due
respect for the opinions and rights of others, will endear you to all,
and not only foster in your bosom the seeds of peace and contentment,
but will conduct you in the surest path to wealth and honor. The
mental powers of the soul are all that exalt our capacity for
happiness above a brutal creation. And if our chief happiness lies in
gold, which can only minister to our animal wants, then the brutes can
vie with us in all the solid enjoyments of life. In fact, they can go
beyond us. They graze the turf, and drink the unmingled stream free
from anxiety and care. While man, the lord of this lower creation, has
to toil and gain the same enjoyments by the sweat of his brow.

But what a groveling thought to bring our exalted natures and
capacities for happiness down to a level with theirs! On this
principle, he who is the most wealthy is the most happy. Virtue is but
a name, and all the exalted principles of noble and godlike action are
but the reveries of fancy, and to practice them is but a visionary
dream. No, my friends, wealth supplies our animal wants, and if virtue
be wanting, it leaves our minds in wretched starvation and our
brightest joys in night! Happiness is equally attainable by the rich
and the poor. It consists in a union of heart among mankind, in a
union of action in the pursuit of virtue, and in the kindlier feelings
of our nature. In fine, it consists in a willing obedience to the
exhortations of our text: "Be of the same mind one towards another.
Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate."

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Twenty-Four Short Sermons On The Doctrine Of Universal Salvation

Twenty-Four Short Sermons On The Doctrine Of Universal Salvation

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