Page:A semi-centenary discourse.djvu/73

 men to unborn generations, and conceiving it to be conducive to God's glory, they saw it was their duty to enter upon the work with all their heart, and soul, and strength. The question may arise to some, as it did to me, From whence those ideas? The answer is a ready one, and can be traced through every act during their life it is "love to God." Upon this heaven-born principle were their motives based; hence their perseverance, industry, zeal, and success. Could they fail? Could they be discouraged? Upon this principle we determine the character of each man and woman associated with Mr. Gloucester. It is said by a writer that we are "imitative creatures;" in the matter under consideration, at least, I shall be willing to accept the assertion, and reiterate it, and say truly our fathers did imitate the blessed Jesus in this Christian effort. Jesus wrought his works from a principle that principle was deep love for humanity; he had no selfishness in all he did, no other end in view but another's good, and not his own. Love was the principle that impelled him. In this our fathers were "imitative creatures;" hence their piety, Christian fortitude, and glorious success, and, as I firmly believe, their felicity and joy in the Kingdom of Glory. Another thought upon this subject before I pass on. It is not perceived in all or any of the measures proposed during the time of raising means for the building of this church, that any one thing was done not in perfect keeping with Christian principle, or one that would in the least invalidate or compromise any of its divine teachings. Our fathers were too well instructed in the nature and requirements of their holy religion to be led away by any extraneous appendages that may be hitched on to Christian profession; if anything was to be accomplished, they obeyed the Christian rule, and gave of their