Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), Free Church Scottish pastor known for his sermon 'The Expulsive Power of a New Affection':
There
are a thousand things which, in popular and understood language, man
can do. It is quite the general sentiment, that he can abstain from
stealing, and lying, and calumny—that he can give of his substance to
the poor, and attend church, and pray, and read his Bible, and keep up
the worship of God in his family.
But, as an instance of distinction
between what he can do, and what he cannot do, let us make the undoubted
assertion, that he can eat wormwood, and just put the question, if he
can also relish wormwood. That is a
different affair. I may command the performance; but have no such
command over my organs of sense, as to command a liking, or a taste for
the performance. . . . I may accomplish the doing of what God bids; but
have no pleasure in God himself. The forcible constraining of the hand, may make out many a visible act of obedience, but the relish
of the heart may refuse to go along with it. . . .
The poor man has no
more conquered his rebellious affections, than he has conquered his
distaste for wormwood. He may fear God; he may listen to God; and, in
outward deed, may obey God. But he does not, and he will not, love God;
and while he drags a heavy load of tasks, and duties, and observances
after him, he lives in the hourly violation of the first and greatest of
the commandments.
--'An Estimate of the Morality that is Without Godliness,' in Thomas Chalmers,
Sermons and Discourses, Vol. II (New York: Robert Carter, 1846), 34.
1 comment:
Or perhaps instead, obeying from relishing?
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