Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-06-03

nent in power, in beauty, in value, belong to
Christians, just as much as to any other men,
Nay all the more, because they are Christians
When we read of the young man whom Christ
told that he lacked one thing, We feel as if every
one ought to sell all that he has and give to the
poor. But if every one sold who would buy?
The first impression which is produced by this
passage is that there is positive virtue in power
ty, and that there is a sin in wealth Men think
that man may have that which is necessary and
nothing more, and agree with them. The only
difference between them and me is, that VIC difIer
about what arc necessaries. My eye wants to be
fed as much as my stomach, and I want pic.
lures; and my ear wants to be fed as we'll as my
palate, and so l attend concerts
Ny own 'ettled conviction is, that Christ is to
occupy tho world, not geographically. merely, but
BY putting into tho hand Of His disciples all gov
ernmU1ts, all occupations, all creative industry,
all creative power in art-in short, that all the
elements of power and beauty belong to Christ and
so Of course to Christians. Just as the christian
life is not mado up inside. merely Of repentance
ouu boIIoW, uho tu"H pidycie anu pe1lln5p out CA
tends through all the faculties ard powers Of our
being, outside, there is no hing grand all round
the belted earth-nothins beautiful. nothing excel
lent that does not. Of right belong to the Chris
tian.
I think the Jews misunderstood the promises of
the Messiahs reign, in this only. that they left out
the moral element and expected kingdom Of out.
ward excellence alone.
At tho coming Of Christ all these excellenees and
powers were possessed, as it were by the Devil
that is, by selhshness and pride and idolaty, and
without, as it were, becoming tenant, with the
Devil for his landlord.
Riches are indispensable to growth in society.
Poverty and civilization never 60 together.
I think there has been . tendency since tho Re
formation to think that there 10 q connection bo.
tween grace and plainness and also a connection
between sin and eflorescent beauty. don't be.
lieve . word Of it, don't believe that God gave
US all those tastes which are gratiaed by beauty,
effects in Us, is sinful.
Tho most intense mordant, the worst eating
rust, is that which the sslhshnsss Of refinement
gives.
Ths popular apprehension that when man be.
comes Christian, II will be very easy for him to
be good, because all the allurements and solcita.
tions Of evil will be taken away from him, is a
misapprehension. 1t may be easier after one is
Christian, because the man has a stronger inward
principle Of right but rs far as outward liabili-
ties are concerned, it will be just the same.
Some persons have a feeling that there 10 an Of
fciency in baptism; but baptism does no more
good than so much water on a blackamoor, unless
it is followed by . change of life. Baptism is
q mere hint, suggestion it is an exponent of
spiritual effect and II the effect is not there it is
. false exponent, that is all and the bread which
you eat at communion, is just bread and nothing
more. II you have not faith, which is love and
imagination wrought together in the soul, it will
do you no good and il you como to consider it,
- eoa'o W. - uA'ius Some 0o'' VI euA" ~
itself. it will work you downright harm.
Temptations become more subtle and moro re-
hned, just 10 proportion ss We are raised sbovs
the ooarssr and grosser forms Of them. Thstemp'
tations change their form as we change, but the
susceptibility TO temptation remains 20 that it
ought to b laid down a. settled fact that chris
tisns, Of all men, are subject to temptation, and