Chapter 7: Religion of Public Opinion This is evident from the fact, that they will yield obedience only to those requirements of God which are sustained by public opinion. Although they will not exercise self-denial to gain the applause of God, yet they will exercise great self-denial to gain the applause of men. The men that gave up ardent spirits, because public sentiment rendered it necessary, will give up wine also, whenever a public sentiment sufficiently powerful shall demand it; and not till then.
11. They are more anxious to know what are the opinions of men about them, than to know what is God's opinion of them.
If one of this class is a minister, and preaches a sermon, he is more anxious to know what the people thought of it, than to know what God thought of it. And if he make anything like a failure, the disgrace of it with men cuts him ten times more than the thought that he has dishonored God, or hindered the salvation of souls. Just so with an elder, or a member of the church, of this class. If he pray in a meeting, or exhort, he is more concerned to know what is thought of it, than to know how God is pleased.
If such a one has some secret sin found out, he is vastly more distressed about it because he is disgraced than because God is dishonored. Or if he fall into open sin, when he comes to be met with it, he cares as much again about the disgrace as about the sin of it.
They are more anxious about their appearance in the eyes of the world, than in the eyes of God. Females of this character are vastly more anxious, when they go to church, how the body shall appear in the eyes of men, than how the heart shall appear in the eyes of God.
Such a one will be all the week engaged in getting everything in order, so as to make her person appear to advantage, and perhaps will not spend half an hour in her closet, to prepare her heart to appear before God in his courts. Every body can see, at a glance, what this religion is, the moment it is held up to view. Nobody is at a loss to say what that man's or that woman's name is it is hypocrite. They will go into the house of God with their hearts dark as midnight, while every thing in their external appearance is comely and decent. They must appear well in the eyes of men, no matter how that part is on which God fixes his eye. The heart may be dark, and disordered, and polluted, and they care not, so long as the eye of man detects no blemish.
12. They refuse to confess their sins in the manner which the law of God requires, lest they should lose their reputation among men.
If they are ever required to make confession of more than they think consistent with their reputation, they are more anxious as to how it will affect their character, than to know whether God is satisfied.
Search your hearts, you that have made confessions, and see which most affects your minds, the question what God thought of it, or what men thought of it. Have you refused to confess what you knew God required, because it would hurt your reputation among men?
Will not God judge your hearts? Only be honest now, and let it be answered.