The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-05-23

,saesa,
immortal glory, is admirably calculated to!
assuage animosity, ,.and ex.inguish revenge.
Once kindled, how fercely do maleSyo-
lent passions burn, where religion is un-
known! How do injuries and retaliations
multiply and ran from generation to gene
ration, among the savage tribes of Ameri-
ca, and the, wandering hordes of Asia!
The Christiati religion inculcatcs mild
forbearance and mutual tenderness, a
placable. forgiving temper, spirit of
kindness and genlleness. He who feels
the relations. in which he stands 10 the
great God and Father of all, and TO the
gracious lover and Redeemer of his soul,
will receive these lessons of heavenly
wisdom, will imbibe and exempiify this
spirit of love and mercy. The most dar-
/ ing infdels have never ventureG to deny
that our holy religion has tendency to
produce pure and difusive benevolence.
Indeed, on this head, an appeal may be
confidently made TO facts. The affection
of rhe first followers OF Jesus to each
other was proverbial; and even the hea-
then used to exclaim, See how these
Christians iove one another" Epiphanius
spent his whole fortune in relieving the
distressed. especially those who had been
shipwrecked on the coast. Cyprian sold
his estate to supply mems wants; and
while he lamenss the degeneracy Of Chris.
!ians, acknowledges that they surpassed
heathens in the practice Of this virtue
In the city of Alexandria; so many per-
sons were appointed to take care Of the
sick, that ,Theodosius was under the ne
cessity. of limiting the number to six hun.
dred, as appears from law extant in his
codes. Instances Of the charity of pri-
mitive Christians, jim redeening captives,
and founding hospitals for the poor, are
too numerous to be counted; nor, can
tit be denied, that to the genius of the
gospel, Christendom is indebted for many
pious and charitable establishments, little
known TO the gentle world: In cases
where tenderness and loving kindness
were necessary, Christians did not con-
fine their bounty 10 those Of their own
sect, lbus were kind to all men, even to
their enemies: "For all,' as Tertulian
observes, Glove their friends, but tits pc.
cufar to Christians to return kindness for
haued and 10 pray that their enemies
may obtain mercy from God"
1t wosid be no arduous matter, to prove
by many instances, that the religion of
Christ, In modern as we'll as ancient times
has produced The richest fruits of bene-
Violence We could point to characters
who have butrecently finished their course,
Tor if delicacy did not forbid to many alvey
whose. priacely munifcence would have
done honor TO the primitive age Of the
church. If however, the subject here
treated, has been presented to the reader
in ajust point Of light, it will be, granted,
that the free and permanent flow of cha.
rity in all its diversified channels, must
spring from a heart filed with divine love
and gratitude. Let US habitually reflect
on the beniguity and mercy Of God to-
ward us, on The variety and worth Of the
fayors We daily receive from his hands.
While temporal blessings NEE, the wants
Of the body, and spiritual blessings the
necessities Of the soul, and all are given
to us freely, shall we be cruelty opposed,
or eoldly indifferent to the welfare of our
fellow mens Impossible. -.