and good man has no desire to dazzle, but to be useful in the world.  He sees the miseries under which thousands groan, and desires to relieve them, but with no wish to be considered great for discharging those duties of kindness and humanity.  But it is a lamentable consideration, that too many, in performing those acts of mercy, seek to stand on an eminence above the crowd they wish to benefit, and proclaim their intentions to men through the loud sounding trumpet of fame, but, at the same time, will not even stoop to converse with the very beings they profess such a warm desire to aid.  Every thing must be done on a high scale, and in the manner they dictate, otherwise they have no wish it should be done at all.  It is a matter of regret, that this spirit, so desirous of minding high things, has been carried into the sanctuary—­in fact, has been carried to the solemn gates of death—­yes, even into eternity.

We have witnessed what are commonly called “revivals of religion,” in which two or more denominations united, apparently, heart and hand.  They publicly declared, that as they saw their fellow creatures exposed to the burning wrath of God in the future world, they had no motive in view, but their conversion and escape from that awful doom—­ that it was, to them, a matter of indifference with what church they united themselves, provided, they would only repent and turn to God.  All this passed on well till the reformation ceased.  The next thing, to be determined, was, what doctrine do you believe, and what church will you join?  This was a trying point, and its settlement filled them with animosity towards each other.  And why?  Because each desired the honor of converting them to their faith, and of bringing them into their church, or else, that they should not be converted at all.  Though this has been done by some, yet it is no evidence, that all will do this, or even approve it.  There are those, who, we believe, are actuated by nobler motives than in the cause of truth, and who are not aspiring to stand high, nor striving “who shall be greatest.”  One denomination has labored to assume the entire honor of reforming the public morals—­has labored to become incorporated by an act of Legislature into an American Temperance Society, and were unwilling to admit Universalists and Unitarians to co-operate with them in this work of reform.  This is but aspiring after high things, instead of manifesting the meek and lowly spirit of Christ.

But we would more particularly remark that, it is this very course of conduct of any man, or class of men exalting themselves above others in account of their wealth, or external circumstances, that discourages the poor, who are not only called, but treated as the lower order of society, and drives thousands of them to the intoxicating cup, as a relief from the mortifications of poverty, and drives other thousands into crime, as the only means to obtain that wealth by the omnipotence of which, they alone can