We can't explain it, but there is something
in us which tells us we ought to do right." Very good, my friends, I
shall have a word to say to you presently; but in the meantime there
are some others who have been saying to themselves: "Well, I know we
do right because we are afraid of being punished if we do not do it,
but what of that? at all events we get the right thing done, and
leave the wrong thing undone, and what more do you want? Why torment
us with disagreeable questions as to WHY we do it?"
Now, my friends, to make the matter simpler, I will take you at your
words, for the sake of argument. Suppose you do avoid sin from the
fear of hell, does that make what you do RIGHT? Does that make YOU
right? Does that make your heart right? It is a great blessing to a
man's neighbours, certainly, if he is kept from doing wrong any how--
by the fear of hell, or fear of jail, or fear of shame, or fear of
ghosts if you like, or any other cowardly and foolish motive--a great
blessing to a man's neighbours: but no blessing, that I can see, to
the man himself. He is just the same; his heart is not changed; his
heart is no more right in the sight of God, or in the sight of any
man of common sense either, than it would be if he did the wrong
thing, which he loves and dare not do.
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