Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-09-24
ASHTABULA, o. SATURDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER "a, 1859

for all those Christians who do nothing.
The opinion that the world entertains of
q mans Christianity is usually just one
1t is rarely far from right. 1t is perfectly
legitimate to say Of man who processes
to be Christian and gives no evidence in
his life and influence, Of the possession of
Christianity as motive power, that his re-
ligion is vain.
1t is not only essential to an undefled re-
ligion, that q man keep himself unspotted
from the world, but he must visit the wi
d0ws and the fatherless-demonstr the
life in him by ministry When the church
becomes active, and leaves behind its lazi-
ness and lanquor, and seeks for food that
it may have more power to work, and ex-
pends the strength itgets, the world will
be converted, and it is pretty safe to say
that it will not before.
The third aspect in which Christian act
ion may be viewed contemplates its relations
to God himself Many man conscientious
ly goes up to the weekly pulpit feeding,
through storm and sickness, as matter of
duty, who never thinks of doing q work of
Christian mercy, or engaging in any kind of
ministry during the week Sometimes
considerable sacrifice Of time and conven-
ience is made in order to attend the weekly
prayer meeting by those who manage to
keep themselves comfortable in their con-
sciences only by this means. Now the Chris
tian world knows its duty well enough. 1t
has no need of half the teaching it gets. 1t
is always feeding beyond its necessities, and,
as | honestly believe, to its own damage.
Let it ask itself which would please its Mas
ter best-teaching some ignorant child the
way of life, or going to hear great sermon
visiting and consolng some poor mourn
err or going to prayer meeting, g,-stirring
up some weak soul to duty, or seeking for
an hour of emotional acknowledging to
meeting always, or laboring occasionally for
the reclamation of some sad wanderer from
the path ofvirtue?
Considering the amount eff good which
the church has received how great return
has it rendered What is it doing, and
what has it done, outside of its own imme-
diete necessities 1t hires ministers, and
pays for tracts, and contents itself with the
acquisition of cartilaginous and an oleag-
nous spirit and life Oh for bone and mus
Gle, and blood and nerve, and courage, and
power ! Is religion one of the fine arts, that
it should consist in going to meeting in good
clothes every Sunday, saying grace at table,
and praying night. and morning Is there
everything to receive, and nothing to give
Are we soliterally flock that we have moth
ing to do butto be fed all the year, yielding
only the annual fleece which forms our pas
tors salary? Practically, this is the popular
Christian notion, but how miSerably unwor-
thy tits.
Action, then is alike the condition of the
development Of Christian life as it relates
to the Christian himself, of aggressiveness
as it relates to the world, and of apropri-
ate return for benefits received. Religion
is not a thing of emotion exclusively, nor
even mainly. 1t is a motive power of life
in all benefcent directions toward man, and
in all devotional ways toward God. 1t is
life of reception in one aspect, and life
of action in another. OF him to whom
much is given much is require. Every
inhibition of truth and every influx of spir-
itual life is to thrill along the nerves, aud
invade the veins, of the souls factluties, and
find manifestation in actions. Emotion.
feelng-these are well enough if they feed
the springs ofpower. Prayer, praise, preach
ing-theSe are all good, and never to be dis
penSed with but if the life to which they
minister have no manifestation out of them,
it is failure.