Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-06-24 00:00:00

fife. Ituvingatatumulated a stern of riches, they 'do trot
like to part with them, either ap'plehenaiing the fear 'of
starvation, ,or pretending to provide for or settle every
'I
i farthing on their children. Bat in the last hour, or at least
a short time before, their heart begins to beat for others,
and they stretch out 'their hands towards the poor, and fix
sums Ter charitable institutions. But, brethren, 'such
benefeetors of mankind resemble those blind men who give
away their spectacles or eye-glasses after the physician 'has
told them that the light of theireyes is utterly extinguished :
such benefacto s of mankind resemble those lame men who
give away their crutches after their arms andlegs have been
amputated. Therefore, "in the morning sowthy seed, and
in the evening withhold not ;thine hand:" Practice 'Charity
as long as you are living, and enjoy all the good works
which you have done as long as the breath of the Almighty
is in your bodies. You yourselves aught to beheld, with
your own eves, the terrestrial paradise of your charitable
sense, and to taste personally the blossoms and lfruits of
your benevolent plantations.
Certainly there are cases in life 'in which even the best
men are prevented from satisying their kind hearts whilst
they are living. But in 'leaving this -world, our-eyes, before
they close entirely, should open themselves once again and
dwell with pleasure, charity and kindness upon those whom
we leave behind. Then the words of the ProPket ought to
be resorted to, " At the evening time it shall be light ;" or
we should remember The 'words ,of Ecelestiastes : " A good
name is better than rrecious.ointment, and the day of death
than the day of one's birth." Then, if we are'in possession of
worldly goods, we should leave ihehind us dents and works
hearing the stamp of immortality. Such a parting from
earth, like the evening, seems an emblem of the tranquil
close of busy life—serene, placid, and mildauith the impress
of its great Creator stamped upon it. " It-epreads its quiet
wings over the grave, and seems to promise that all shall be
peace beyond it.'" , ,
In the third place—ln which manner shall we be
charitablei Charity does-not consist in ”alatsgiving alone,
but in that sublime virtue-to inquire into-the circumstances
and concerns dour neighbour. The manner in which we
ought to proceed-with our support and assistance, is marked
out to us by the wants of the variousindividuals who are
seeking our aid and help. But we think that it is a noble
act of charity to procuren-educed familiealley our recommen-
dations, commercial connections, or to give poor industrious
people an opportunity 'to keep themselves up by labour,
work and other sources, Which will induce them to attend-to
their own sustenance and subsistence. Such a course is
preferable to mere almsgiving, by which-the receiver is never
permanently benefitted. He will always demand our
compassion again, make of his went and poverty a
business, forfeit the proper feelings of honour, and, giving
way to idleness and laziness, trespass on the kindness and
charity of our brethren. Therefore, it is our ardent wish,
which we apply to all 'the friends ofalharity, to take an
interest in the children of poor and 'indigent parents, that
they are brought np Ito some useful employment. Useful
employments decrease the large number of the poor, they are
the preserver of their respectability, anti develope in themleel-
ings of honour and truth. But the way and manner, in Which
we have to distribute our charitable gifts are dictated'to us
by the genuine feelings of our heart. We must be charit-
able from pure and noble motives and intentions. !If we
only give to surpass others by our donations, or to throw
them into the shadow, then we have, of course, given
much, but we have done no noble and divine work. We
ought to imitate, in giving, our God and Maker. -God
neither gives sparingly, nor does he eount or number
his benefits He gives graciously and kindly—not in
anger, not with reluctance nor with rudeness ; therefore
imitate him, that thy benevolence may not burn out in
malevolence. Such a way of giving would be indeed "a
taking." Thou takest from the unhappy, 'by such a conduct,
his honour, his belief in 'human kindness, 'his belief in :God,
whose representative on earth'he seeks in thee, his bene-
factor. Therefore, be warm and noble-hearted, my
brethren. The poor must not even observe that your kind
heart does relieve him. Yon must look at him with a friendly
face, like the golden sun of the firmament shines bright upon
the humble thorn-bush of the field. "In the morning sow thy
seed, and in the evening -withhold not thine hand." Scatter
the seeds of charity with delicate and tender expressions of
heart. To take favours, even from the hands of
friends, is, in the majority of cases, very unsatisfactory.
And if you know this, manage and distribute your gifts-in
such a way that you save the face of every poor from
blushing and his lips from stammering gratitude. Conduct
your noble hand to that point of sublimity, that in stretch-
ing it out for beneficent purposes, it may indicate that, in
relieving the poor, your own generous heart is more gratified
and pleased with being able to satisfy the demands of your
charitable sense, by giving, than his heart is in being
obliged to receive your kind donations. And if you are
too timid, in consequence of fine and tender feelings, to
present reduced families with the blessings of your goods,
apply in a gentle and generous way to their abilities and
talents, as if you were really in want of them. And having
accomplished this end and purpose reward or recompense
their active and industrial sense in a twofold, threefold, or
sevenfold manner. Such a- kind, of charity honours the
benefactor ; makes him- angelic in the face of his neighbour ;
.and glorifies our God in heaven. •
At length, be charitable in a still and quiet manner,
without ostentation. Let nobody hear when, where, why, and
grow much thou dost contribute to benevolent purposes.
Our Scripture says : "A gift in secret pacifieth anger."
"This secrecy attending our gifts will light up the heart,
and the recipient will know in his inmost soul that the
light in which he receives the blessing is a beam of that
brighter world of which he now already enjoys, as it were,
the foretaste and blessedness." "That, my brethren, is the
true charity, that buries not its gold in ostentatious charity,
but builds its hospital and infirmary in the human heart."
Finally, my brethren, charity is not a scrutinising, abstract
principle, judging and measuring the indigent according to
what they deserve, but it is a living, humane doctrine, which
very •• often bestows upon unhappy undeserved bounties.
Charity is, in our humble opinion, not alone a voice of
justice, but also a voice of mercy; and though we think
that wicked, bad, idle, and vicious persons have no claim at
all on charity with reference to justice, yet the voice of
mercy will never _exclude them from being relieved and
supported.
At the same time, the sense of our own weakness ought
to teach ns to be more indulgent towards the failings of 1
others. We should not judge so bitterly of the errors,
misfortunes, and indiscretions of our fellow-men. We
should remember how our time wants the extension of
charity, and, therefore, we should look at the faults of our
neighbours and friends with a tolerating spirit of cOnsidera-
lion. A man who is wisely charitable manifests this sublime
virtue by universal kindness to his fellow-creatures.
My brethren, life is seriousness, and the concerns of life
are heavy and difficult; but God our father is merciful; and
in his mercy solemn and holy. Therefore, practice, and
take to heart the word of charity. He who has done a
little, do much ; and he who has done much, do more. The
genuine charity, was the ornament of our fathers, from the
time of Abraham. It is 'as old as his covenant with God;
it became the inheritance of the congregations of Israel, in
the same way as the law which was given to us by Moses.
For this reason be proud of this precious jewel ; let it not
be darkened or falsified by the evil breath of time. Do
bequeath it to your children if you go to the life of perfection.
In former times pious Israelites used to give alms on their
going to a place of worship, in order to verify the words of
the holy Psalmist, "I will behold thy face in righteousness."
Is not our whole life a path to a place of worship —to that
sanctuary, to that Zion of God, beyond the realms of grave ?
Let us, then, be charitable on this short path, so that when
we lie down here to an eternal repose, we may awake there
with the words of the Psalmist : " I will behold thy face in
righteousness ; I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy
likeness ; for I put on righteousness, and it clothed me, and
judgment was my robe and diadem." "I was eyes to the
blind, and feet was Ito the lame ; I was a father to the
poor, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy; I did
weep for him who was in trouble, and my soul grieved for
the unhappy." Amen.