Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-09-13
TIE CHRISTIAN SPIRIT.

, Ii was the noble determination Of St.
Paul TO spend anil be spent for Christ. This
was not the passionate resolve Of one
wrought up to high degree Of excitement,
but his ordinary temper and disposition
the natural and spontaneous production OF
grace in his heart. Such is the disposition
of every one, who feels that his heart had
been dilated by the Spirit of God, and a holy
impulse given TO his actions. The spirit
of Christianity is utterly opposed to that mar
rowness of soul, which immureS Itself with
in ITSELF and measures the claims of others
by the personal Inconvenience or benefit
which will accrue to the individual whose
aid is invoked. This is not the spirit of
Christi has a selishness and sordidness
about it, which can find no congenial ele-
mcnt in the victim Of the cross, nor in that
benevolence which impregnates the very
air We breathe, and prepares our daily
comforts and enioyments.
He who has felt the love of God shed
abroad in his heart, feels thatthcre are cords
many fold, and strong binding him to his
Redecmer, and motives irresistible, urging
him to live for Christ. His cause is the
Christians cause. His soul feels the thrill
of delight at its ,riumphs, and mourns when
the adversary prevails. For this he plans,
and labors, and pleads, bestows his treasure
and offers up his prayers. The field Of his
vision is the kingdom of Christ-his in
Quiries and efforts are circumscribed by no
other limits than the wants of man, and the
promise of usefulness. Has he by asSum-
ing the VOWS ofthc Sacraments entered fully
within the pale Of the church! 1t was not
to enjoy inglorious sloth, but that he might
| be laborer in the Lords vineyard. Has
ne econsecrated all that he has TO his Saviour?
1t was not that they should be wasted in
selfindulgcnce, Or boarded up to rust in
uselcssness, but that they might be employ
ed in promoting the glory of God and good
ofmen. lie and they are TO spend and be
spent for Christ This determination will
lead him to advance every scheme by which
God may be honorcd-to watch with so.
licitude the openings of Providence, and ca.
gerly to embrace every opportunity of doing
something in the great cause.
There arc secular employments and tenn.
poral duties not 10 be neglected, which re-
sion enjoins us to discharge with fidelity
and punctualty. But the great business of
the Christian in this world is to live for eter.
nity-the main objects Of this life have re-
ference to the kingdom of God. If our
first concern be to amass wealth, or take
care of it, to secure all the comforts which
we desire for ourselves and our families, or
to crafty some other passion whose lnflu-
ence may control us, and we give to religion
and the soul only fragments Of time, and
fractions of money, which can be spared
without imposing any degree Of constraint
upon ourselves, are we living for ourselves
or God. Are we not eyhausting life in the
pursuit Of that which is unworthy such de-
votion! Do we not sacrifice our greater in.
tcrests for the less! How little satisfaction
will be felt by us when at the close of life
we shall be compelled to review our course,
and discover that although bound by SOL
emn engagements TO spend and be spent
for Christ we have devoted our affections,
our powers, and all our efforts to secular
concerns. We may have amassed those
perishing riches which God may make
curse instead OF a blessing to our offspring;
and feel that for this sordid portion we have
been traitors to our Benetactor, and sold
our souls to observation-disclosures Churchman.