The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-11-17

John declares and omman,ls--"Be!oved,
ct us love one another, for love is Of God;
and every one that loveth is born of Coz,
knoweth God" "And this command
mcnt have wn from him, that he who
loveth Col, loveth his brother also" And
this love is widely different from that
which exists between the men of the worl,l.
The latter is based, in great degree,
upon selfshncss, and reach no higher
than the things Of the world. II is con-
t,ntly subject to variation and change,
and is often banished from the feart on
supposed atfront or injury. Not so the
love which exists between Christian bretl.-
rem. 1t partakes in kind with the affect
ion which the heal Of the family cherishes
and feels towards all his children. 1t can
have no connexion with sefishness : for it
is independent OF any expected return. 1t
springs from purified and enlarged heart,
which seeks only the eternal welfare of
those upon whom it rests. 1t ',heareth all
thing, believeth all things, hopeth all
things, en,lurcth all things" It will sur
we when everything earthly shall decay,
when faith is lost in sight, hope in Ell
joyment. Then it will burn brighter and
clearer throughout eternity.
But the affection which exists between
Christian brethren is not simply desire
for their eternal good. 1t enters into and
is connected with all the duties Of life.
They are to he the sharers Of the same
sorrows. Ifone member suffer, they all
suffer with il; il one rejoice, they all rejoice
with it hence there is real interest felt
for everS thing, that concerns each other.
And this is not confined to country or
place-it reaches to the farthest extremity
Of the earth, and calls forth sympathy and
cxertion for all those who need our aid.
And this love is not expended on individ-
u.s,-it is felt in all its fullncss for the
whole body ofChrist. Its SUCCESS in car
rying the glad tidings of peace and sal
walton to every part Of the earth will ever
be uppermos, in the mind, and call fortl,
prayers and excrtions for all those who
need our aid. And this love is not expen-
,led on individuals, it is felt in all its
iu!lneSS for the whole body Of Christ. Its
success in carrying the glad tiGines OF
peace AMI salvation To every part Of the
earth will ever he uppermost in the mind,
and call for h prayers and excrtions to
accomplish it; for the design of its for,n,.
ton is to bring into one family all thu
children Of men AMI make the nations
AMI kingdoms Of the world tho nations
and. Kingdoms Of God AMI Of Ills Christ.
For this purpose the severcst sc'fIcn,i
will be endured without murmlr, AMI
no labor or exertion will be considered too
sever. In short, it will make us chcrfuly
devoted our whole life to the service Of our
g.eat Mister and Head the adorable, S
Of Col Ae
We meet. then, together this ,lay us
brett eren in Christ. We have come from
almost every part of the earth to ming!e
our joys will, ;ours in what YOU have
accomplished in extending the family oI
our common Lord. Having been bap-
tizcl and made Christian brethren, we
could never he indifferent either to your
failure or successes. God has done great
things for You for wliicl, we are glad and
rejoice. We believe we can say with
safety, there has never been such union
Of the different parts anI members Of
Chris,'s family since the Reformation rs
W" have here this day. 1t gives us some
slight idea Of the Communion Of Saints,
and affords glorious anticipation Of that
day when the church of tile living God
ahall I've found in all lands, and all the ma
tions Of the earth be united together in one
common christian brotherhood.
Ito ee Continued.
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