Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-10-29
Discreet Kindness.
E2aemo:ynary Acts Of Charity consist in
giciny to the Poor, and IN Relieving the
Ladiyent, but ,oih Prudence.

O4OVAV0S AASAASAAOOos
% Eaemo.ynary Acts Of Charity eossist i
l. yiviny to the Poor, and IN Relieving hs
Ladiysnt, but Uith Prudence.
e 1t is necessary to distinguish betwee'
u the Offices of charity and its eleemosynar.
II acts. By the Offices of charity are near
those exercises which proceed immediatel,
. from charity itself, and which are connec
, ted principally with the function or EN-
a ployment in which each man was engaged
: but BY eleemosynary acts of charity ar
meant those aids and assistances which ,
man lends to his neigh5or, independent o
7 the ordinary duties of his station. They
are called eleemosynary acts, because il
: doing them man is lef, to his own liberty
and pleasure, and when they are done
: they are regarded by the person who re
ceives them in no other light than as elee
; mosynary, and are dispensed according to
the reasons and intentions which influence
the mind of the benefactor. 1t is a pre-
vailing notion that charity consists solely
, in giving to the poor, relieving the indi.
gent, providing for widows and orphans,
contributing towards the building of hos
pitals and other edifces for the reception
of the sick, the stranger, and the father
less, but particularly in the building, or
namenting, and endowing of churches :
many things, however, of this sort have
no proper connection with charity, but are
extraneous to it. They who make charity
itself to consist in such actions, must of
necessity consider them TO be meritorious :;
and howsoever they may in word disclaim
all regard to merit, yet in their hearts they
can not but entertain a belief that they
are entitled to it
But genuine charity proceeds from those
who are thoroughly imbued with it from
thej justice and the judgment of their works,
which they do without regarding recon-
pense as an end and motive for the doing
of them, according to what the Lord says,
Luke XIV, u, Is, IA. These also call
the things above mentioned eleemosynary
acts, and likewise duties, although with
them they are works of charity.
1t is well known that some, who have
done such elecmosynary acts as appear in
the eyes Of men like images of charity,
imagine and believe that they have been
practising works of charity, and regard
them as things for the sake of which they
are purified from their sins, and are to be
presented with the kingdom of hcaven,li like
the truly regcnerate, when nevertheless
they make light Of adultery, hatred, re-
venge. frss..a, and in general all the lusts
Of the flesh, which they indulge in at plea
sure But in such a case what are their
good works, but like painted images of
angels in company with devils? or like
boxes made of lapss lazmli, that within are
full Of hydras? The case however is
changed where those eleemosynary acts are
done by persons who sbun the above men-
toned evils as abcminablc and detestablc
in tie sight of charity. Nevertheless such
acts, particularly the giving of aims to
poor persons and beggars, have in many
respects their uses and advantages for it
is by these acts that young people of both
sexes, men-scrvants and maid-servants, and,
in general, all persons of simple character
and condition, are initiated into charity,
such works being its externals, introducto.
ry to the Offices Of charity l.; for they are
its rudiments, which, at the time of doing
them, are like unripe fruits, yet with those
who are afterwards perfected by the right
knowledge Of charity and faith, become
like ripe fruits and in this case they re-
gard those their former works, which were
done in simplicity Of heart, only as so
many duties that they have discharged.
The reason why these acts are believed
at the present day to be the proper deeds
of charity, which are meant in the Word
by good works, is, because charity is very
described in the Word by CIV
ing to the poor, relieving the needy, and ,
for widows and orphans but
heretofore it has not been known that the ,
Word, in the letter, makes mention ofsuch ;
things only as are the external, nay, the ,
extreme parts of worship, and that spiritu- 4
al things, which are internal, are under I
stood by them so that it appears that by t
those who are called the poor, needy, {
widows, and orphans, are meant such as 1
are so in spiritual sense, and not such !
Cnly cs are so in literal one. ,
They who are naturally Of tender, ,
disposition, and do not ,
make this their natural disposition spiritu- !
al, by regulating its workings according
to genuine charity, imagine that charity
consists in giving to every poor person,
and in relieving every one that is INDECENT, o
without inquiring whetoer their character t
ho ,,ood or had for thew affirm that such '