further remarks of Sir John, who spoke with due
abhorrence of any instance of actual vice, but who seemed to have no
just idea of its root and principle, Dr. Barlow observed: "While every
one agrees in reprobating wicked actions, few, comparatively, are aware
of the natural and habitual evil which lurks in the heart. To this the
Bible particularly directs our attention. In describing a bad character,
it does not say that his actions are flagitious, but that 'God is not in
all his _thoughts_.' This is the description of a thoroughly worldly
man. Those who are given up completely to the world, to its maxims, its
principles, its cares, or its pleasures, can not entertain thoughts of
God. And to be unmindful of his providence, to be regardless of his
presence, to be insensible to his mercies, must be nearly as offensive
to him as to deny his existence. Excessive dissipation, a supreme love
of money, or an entire devotedness to ambition, drinks up that spirit,
swallows up that affection, exhausts that vigor, starves that zeal, with
which a Christian should devote himself to serve his Maker.

"Pray observe," continued Dr. Barlow, "that I am not speaking of avowed
profligates, but of decent characters; men who, while they are pursuing
with keen intenseness the great objects of their attachment, do not
deride or even totally neglect religious observances, yet think they do
much and well, by affording some odd scraps of refuse time to a few
weary prayers, and sleepy thoughts, from a mind worn down with
engagements of pleasure, or projects of accumulation, or schemes of
ambition. In all these several pursuits, there may be nothing which, to
the gross perceptions of the world, would appear to be moral turpitude.
The pleasure may not be profligacy, the wealth so cherished may not have
been fraudulently obtained, the ambition, in human estimation, may not
be dishonorable; but an alienation from God, an indifference to eternal
things, a spirit incompatible with the spirit of the gospel, will be
found at the bottom of all these restless pursuits."

"I am entirely of your opinion, Doctor," said Mr. Stanley; "it is taking
up with something short of real Christianity; it is an apostacy from the
doctrines of the Bible; it is the substitution of a spurious and popular
religion for that which was revealed from heaven; it is a departure from
the faith once delivered to the saints, that has so fatally sunk our
morality; and given countenance