Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-08-08
CIRCULAR LETTER.

To the Churches composing the DaRviHe Baptist Aoetd''o"-
BELOVED Brethren in addressing you on this OCCASION
would most aeconate invite your attention to lew thoughts
on christian liberalty.
Among the many evils to be depored in our beloved zon
il more apparent than coveousness. This spirit prevails
alarming degree 1t arises either from want of knowledge
of the principles holy religion, which benevoence or
from perversion of the principle to CRAFTY worldly seshnes
which vet regns unsubdued by divine grace in our hearts
The solitary principle that hold property subordinate
agents God only felt embraced and allowed to nave
unobsructed operation our practice would OF itself De
70 break IN the present system of seshne and to give an
entirely aspect the of beevoence The sentiment
of the church, the subject of property is as yet very little
elevated above that of the world
Deen rooted worldly notions have vet be eradcated and
the right use of wealth its relation TO the cause of Christ to
be taught and enforced essential branch OF christian
practice.
when Zac,eus finds himself standing, a sinner saved by
in the presence of the Being who has saved him. he
excams behold Lord the half Of my goods give to the poor
and if have wonged by false accusation restore unto
him four fold"
Covetousness moment before enthroned in his breast
but now beneath his feet moment snee wealth was ms
idols but now its only value consists in furnishing him with an
offering of love to Christ And who with the word Of God in
his hand but feel that of enlarged christian Dera
is demanded? =
Pronbecv full of it. AS Often almost she opens her lips
the essa reign the conservation of the worlds
wealth. forms a part of her song.
Him shall be given of the gold of Sheba the merchandise
of Tyre shall holiness the Lord shall not be treasured
nor laid up Surely the Isles shall wait for and the ships OF
Tarshh first bring thy from affair." their silver and their
gold with the of the Lord thy God Kings shall
bring presents unto him. They shall bring god and incense
And His Kingdom TINY shall bring the glory and honor of
the nations
Is not clear that when the wealth of the Church of Christ
shall be brought His altar and employed as the fuel OF
sacrifice in which the heart shall ascend incense before him.
1t will felt that the highest to which wealth can be
applied employ it for God That this is the only way to
dignity that which ntrnsica To turn that which
perishng into unfading crowns and mperishabe wealth
The christian will then look on himself in the light of channel
between God and his fellow creatures; channel prepared
expressly for receiving and conveying the oVerowng OF the
fountain goodness those around him. and accordingly he will
be "ready to distribute willing to communicate"
His every prayer will contain petition for more abundant
outpourng of the spirit of christian beray and dedcaon and
the very feeling which mped him utter the petition will mpel
him when he rises from his knees to devise liberal things
He will receive every accredited applicant for the of
Christ as messenger from Christ himself And if his blessed
Lord standing before him. and saying hungry; will
you feed me? thirsty; will you give drink? am
stranger; will you not take in My is anguishng
for of supports will you not aid it? he will haste to bring
forth his all and say Lord my God all this store cometh Of
: thine hand, and is all thine own.
BELOVED Brethren Let not the delightful period to which
advered when the Gospel theory christian benevoence
shall be realized be deemed The duties of that period
the duties of every period and therefore of the The
obligations which will be binding then binding this moment
indictments TO benevoence will be furnished from heaven
The great gospel argument for christian beray is the divine
example of the Redeemers love- and hereby his
every other display of love ecpsed by the eugenc
of hs-as all possible illustrations of love summed
down his life for aud ought lay down lives for tn
brethrens But whose hath this worlds good and seeh his broe
have need and hueh up his bowels of compassion from him
st how dweet the love of God in him? How the love
Christ nhabt that bosom which stranger sympathy for hi
people III indeed does he pretend readiness die for Christ
who will give little money towards the support of his
a and people.
Christan you contemplate the wonderful exhibition
the love Of Christ without renewed emotions of love you
feeling aesh that you your An
say ought such grace Christ be requed with parsmony
60 his followers reproach the christian name Bring
your subsance-deny yourself for his cause-as you vau
Isl consstencyas you profess be follower of Him who
IT. self bear sins in his body the tree But tt
W the motives christian charity endless the of the
u requires it.
How vast its muludes! How urgent and awful their condition
l How brief the hour for benetng them! How mighty
DID pending that short hour The church call your increase
beray 1t has many agent of mercy send forth if
will but furnish the VIII you aid send forth
nd aborers into the harvest Will you like the christians
apostolic times?
Benevolence their characteristic selfish christian W
contradiction of which they happily ignorant. They HI
be- the grand of giving all for Christ vet accoun
an goodhe principal of finding their happiness living God
spending, and in being spent in his service.
md BELOVED BRETHREN-By the merces Of God by the rich
her of his goodness towards you in nature providence and grace
the sacedness of the commands which he upon you
u legitimate regard for your welbeng and by the credit of h
ned religion the honor of which should be life we
V you dedicate your property God By the love of Chr
she BY the compassion which brought Him from the bosom of
OPP Father by the painful self denial deep humiliation he endure
no by his obedianee death the death of the cross
ally that mystery of love which led Him become poor that he mic
and make you etenay h ask yourselves while standing near
90 how much thou thy and give accornp
3 Look property the Lords and give freely to
ud glory
she
nd, . -
mr.