The Litchfield County post., 1828-03-20

the measure Ol ms aDlhky, 10 the cause or ms sions, violates a plain command of Jesus Christ. Sir, would request such to com pare their conduct with the test which Christ himself has given in the words following He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that LOUeth me-" Who ever. therefore. refuses to give in aid of mis- sionary operations, can-be viewed in no other light, than as destitute ofa distinguished mark of Christian character.
 Again-The Lord Jesus led life of self denial. He became a voluntary sufferer in this world of sin ;-and for what! Why did he "who was rich become poor ;"-why be- come "a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief ;"-why come down to this world at all! Sir, it was to save souls. that the Son of God became flesh and dwelt among ns." This was the object on which his ''heart was fixed. when it beat in the Babe of Bethlem, and when it bled on the point of the spear"
 Now, to be a Christian,s to be like Christ; ito possess his spirit, and, in order to save men, to initiate, if need be, his example of sacrifice and self-denial. What then shall be said of those who, in this respect, are totally unlike their Lord ?-What shall be said of those. who, when desired to impart of their abundance, trifs. to send the gospel to the heather, meet you with objections and hold on to their possessions as if every farthing bestowed upon such an object were worse than lOst,--sO much deducted from the pur- chase money of respite from death! "Let him who thinketh he standeth," if he stand on such ground. " take heed lest he fal."
 Again, Sir The apostles and primitive Christians, faithfully copied the example of their Lord. They earnestly desired the sal vation of their fellow men, and they perseve- ringly endured contradictions and self-denials to accomplish it. Like their divine Master, they "went about doing good," and were al- ways happy in the oppol tunity of bene6tting thessOuls of men, cost what it might. Sir, 1 am glad 1t is left on record, when the day | of pentecost was fully come," and the spirit 1 of God was "pOured Out," and three thOus- and were added to the church in a single day." that among other fruits of that blessed revival" was this-"They that had posses siOns sold them," and put them into the con- mon fund. Now whatever might have been their specific d-sign,and although experience might have proved that particular measure incl xpedent, and we are not therefore requi
 red to !" do likewise," yet the fact illustrates the spirit of the times, and teaches us that good men, under the influences of the Holy Spirit, will cheerfulIy part with their earthly possessions. if need be, to promote the be- nevolent object. Paul was not only minls- ter of Christ.b missionary to the heathsn. The history ofhis suferings and tolls is known to Us all. And merely refer to his life assan exhibition of the spirit which warmed and an- imated the hearts of the apostles and primi- tive Christians. With them, no object was great when put in competition with the cause of Christ and souls. For this, they viewed riches and poverty, honor and infamy, life and death, with tranquil eye.
 Shall he told that refer to standard of Christian feelings and conduct, which we ought not to expect in these later days ?- True. Sir, we have ''faIIen on happier times" :" But are our obligations to support the primi- tive standard of Christian feelings and con duct therefore diminished Sir, the principles of the religion of Christ are pure and immac- nlate as the source from which they eman- ate. And one of it's prominent principles is that man shall render to God accordingly to what he hath. So far therefore from being justified in depressing the primitive standard of Christian conduct, and thus attempt to ex- cuse ourselves in doing less, we are bound by the circumstances under which kind Prov- dence has placed us, to do more for the cause of Christ and souls than the first Christians did. And for this plain reason i've enjoy advantages which they did not. Whatever. l therefore, be the defectiOn in Christian sym pathy and charity among modern professors ofreligiOn; it is the legitimate product of a selfish, worldly spirit. Such spirit. I am sorry to say, has taken possession, of some individuals in our several churches and de- nominations of Christians, from whom we had right to expect better things. There are those for whom it is not enough to withhold their own charities but who seem exceed ingly desirOus to cripple the honest efforts of others to spread the light of the gospel. by raising general glamour against the cause of missions. Yes, Sir, there are some, whose hearts, if theIr own declarations may be cred tied, glow with love to God and good will to men, and who pique themselves on enjoying the peculiar privileges of the Christian church, and who yet affect to look down with con- tempt on every effort to send the light of the gospel to the benighted pagans! o, Sir. how unlike is this spirit, to that of the apos- ties and primitive Christians how unlike to that of the multitudes who have gone after them to glory And to come down to later times ;-how unlike to the spirit ofa Swartz, Vanderkemp, a Buchanan, Martyr, a Mills, a Newel, a Hall, and many others even | from Our own country. whose devotion tO the