Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-12-11
VOL. XII. no. I2

- elFti ALL. rs itsa4.F a.
were pos s>ors of lands or homst.s. : id
them' AM Brought the prices Of The ihinrs
III (" wtf1 sod, anI hi them down q: The
"P'S'ies irrt, ant distribution was ,uad,.
1h'', every man according as be had
need. Such were Christians IN I'M. .,ge
oil the chnrch's infancy and innoc.nc. .
they reaiiz'd the great principles of their
ldnh-'hey loved one anoIher-lhev were
OF one heart, AMI of one mindt-,bsv
We're ready 10 distribute willing -
co.nmunicate'-they renowned ali riob,
oi property Ia tins worlds good, and dis
entangled themselves forever from is con-
Germs; they went forth to preach the ey-
eriasIng gospel without purse ar
scrip, orany provision for The WV
IL Is worthy OF notice that This entire CON-
secratlon OF property is nowhere spokrn
OF with disapprobation. L. was a certain
number OF men acting upon liberal in
depreciation of the Savior's instructions m
the rIch young man, who came inouirino
what ne should DO to inherit the kingdom
OF heaven and as such it was acceu,ed
and approved. Sell all thou hast. and
give TO the poor. was the trying repIv-
and these men did it, They considered
themselves stewards, and this was their
Idea OF trust or stewardship. Il would seem
'hen, that contingencies may arise. in
winch It may become the duty of fol-
lower OF Christ TO give up ALTO resion
his rank IN societv-to dispose a, once of
all his property, both principal and in
come, and TO cast himself upon The wide
world, missionary of The cross, depeDd-
ing for subsistence upon the daily labor of
his hands. The idea of stewardship can
not be fully recognized without ALLOWING
the possibility of lis including all this: a
conclusion borne out by the fact that such
contingency has already occurred in the
history OF the church, and that no sooner
vas such claim made by competent au-
thority, than 1t was cheerfully met. and
the sacrifice signalIy honored by marks Of
tie divine appreciation. TIE great char
acter1sttc. indeed, Of tie first and best are
OF Christianity, a0as The extended graefi-
cal TeeognltloH Of The idea of trust and
for CHRIST. Time, talents.
rank, properly, were one and all conse.
Grated by multtudes 10 the Redeener II
was not question with them of mnch or
iule-love would bear no fetters-thev
were bought with price, not with cor
ruptlble things, such as silver and gold.
but with the precious blood of Cbrist'
and they counted their worldly treasures
as nought' SO that they might win Chris.
and be found in Him.
AS the Gosp gradually extended its
range, the same generous disnrerrstrd-
ness appears to have distinguished nost of
The early converts. After maxine every
for the pecuiiarities of their sit
ua;lon. 1t is impossible TO rscane the CON.
cluson, that the heaviest sacrifices must
have been made. in order 10 sus,ain ths
preaching of the gospel in all lands. and
under every outward discourapement.-
There must have been an extent Of con.
secratlon on the part of individuals. or
Particular churches, compared with which.
any amount of modern donation would
appear utterly contemplate.
1t was in view of all the dangers con-
necied with the acquisition of wealth, that
Christ cast upon his " Iiule flock" The
cost of conveying the glad lidings OF his
gospel to every creature under belven. -
what they must give--to wish for dsf.
nile lmp1st which should relieve them
from responsibility, is to 20 back TO beg
carly elements" The obligation i a
lest OF love, AMI obedience AN evidence of
conversion. la the ahsrnct. of a disDosi-
ton to accept this responsibility. All Other
evidence may well be distrus,ed i il
that alone of which the world can Judge
ana II Is one they never fail to notice. II
IS IN this way (.mong othersl that our
light must so ''shine brlo-. menu
that they seeing our good works, may
glorlfy our Father which is in hraven.n
A few striking instances Of Christian
iIoeralhy, on the ancient scale, would
awaken inquiries throughout Cbristen-
dom, never to be repressed and afford a
testimony TO the reality of our faith. bs,-
ter adapted TO ienforce It's claims on uni-
versal acceptance than volumes of arou-
ment; and we need to make such s,cri.
hoes, as much for our own benefit az for
the good of others. A few wears will
probably decide whether the great work,
now fairly committed to our conduct is to
advance, or to yecede; whether the en-
terprIze Of converting the world TO Christ,
including. as il does, the eradication of
every vice, and the cultivation of every
form of virtue, is TO "go onward to per-
fection," or 10 linger through ages under
the sickly efforts of pusilanimous faith.
In the course of ten more years, three
hundred millions of our race will have
| passed into eterniIv, who are now icno-
! rant ~ 81 the only name cfran unJar 4
en- whereby men can be saved" The
Gospel cannot according to any known
J principles Of the divine procedure) be