The Kingwood chronicle. [volume] (Kingwood, Va. [W. Va.]) 1861-1861, 1861-03-16
SUNDAY READING.
True and False Charity.

truth, and are anxious to conciliate every per-
son. whether he Be in truth or error
A manly character can comprehend severe
language, can receive it from others without
astonishment, and return it without animosi-
ty. Efeminate charity delights in honeyed
words, smooth speeches, fowery compliments,
hollow courtesies pretended friendships and
loud professions Of union yet have We often
observed that when the TT is on it. it PLAYS
the bigot for liberality, and would extirpatc
and utterly destroy all who are not as pro-
foundly tolerant as itself All men are, now
a-days, freely admitted into the magic circle
Of the brotherly love, except those who have
a mind Of their own we are allowed to differa
if we will conceal the difference, but our name
will be eraced from the list if we dare to in
trude our peculiarities. And this is called j
charity! Why, when words expressed mems !
thoughts, it would have been styled a tyrani.ss
cal attempt to gag the mouths of honest men | u
So nearly allied is this plausible virtue to
barefaced persecution, that one hardly knows
which of the two deserves the sternest repro
Ct the worst to the pretentions Of the better.
Our churches need not fear more terrible
curse than this blessed charity it is to be ex-
ecrated with all the vehemence with which
we would denounce the bigotry it pretends to
despise Its tendency is to lower the value Of
fixed and definite doctrines, and thus to cast
down the hedges Of the Lord $ vineyard, and
give up her vines to the wild boar Of the wood.
Men thoroughly under its influence are ready
to throw our crccds into the waste basket, to
laugh at our solemn protests, and ridcnle the
earncstness of our testimonies According to
the phraseology Of these men, doctrines are
dogmas, decision is arrogance clear views are
shallow platitudes, and zeal for truth is sec
tartan bigotry We need not travel far for
illustrations, 1or our own denomination could
supply unhappy instances Let this plague
run through the camp, and our tents will soon
be desolate; no destroyer can be more mighty;
the darkest form Of infdelity would not be
half 50 deadly, Better i it for us to figure
with decided falschood than with the phan-
tom, the ever changing proteus Of lattudina-
used but surely it is not long enough, and
fails to describe that indefinite any thing and
every thing arianism which we fear is incrcas
ing among US
Let us labor after clear and Scriptural
view Of the truths Of Gods Word, let us
learn humby, depending upon the Holy
Spirit let u Judge deliberately, doing moth
inc rashly, but lei Us see to it that when once
We know the mind Of the Spirit, We hold fast
that which Is good. and are rooted. grounded,
and settled in our faith We need not be OBJ
stinate but we must be firm. Like the ship
III the storm, We must have good anchorage
We shall soon be shipwrecked if We arc carried
about with every wind Of doctrine We must
have our loins girt about with truth wearing
it not as mantle which hangs loosely upon
the shoulders, but al girdlc bound firmly
around the loins
1t will be well for us to prepare for war
fare, for it will surely come and however We
may wish for quiet, we shall not find it easy
to maintain a peaceful conscience If We Join
in affinity with error Love, says Gurnal,
goes ever armed with zeal, and draws this
dagger against all opposers Of truth Qn
non zelot, non an,1k He that is not jealous
does not love- Let US then contend earn
estly for the faith Hard must be our blows
hard, We say, not because We hate, but
from the very intensity and truth Of our &.
fection That love which lets men perish IN
their follies is but the semblancc and mockery
Of love true charity will alarm ncighbor II 1
his house Be on FIRE, will speak very plainly If
it sees him On the brink Of precipice and
will show but little delicacy in unmaskinga !
pretender who is attempting to cntrap q
friend. No truce, no parlcy, no surrender
War to the knife with falsehood and heresy.
Charity is the modern Diana of the Ephe-
slams; but, great as the goodness seems to BE-
she is false deity, and we cannot bow before
her Souls Of Knox and Luther, We need
warriors Of your mettle The remembrance
Of your names shall inspire us while this day
we write upon our banner your old watch
words, and sing your old war songs.
One sentence of soft words, uttered ia
kindness, will do more good in the conquer
ing OF an enemy Or adversary, than thou
sand deeds Of revenge
Look not upon sin, lest it tempt thee;
touch it not, lest il wound thee taste il not
lest it kill thee.
GET wisdom, get understanding forget il
not, neither decline from the words Of thy
mouth.
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