Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1863-07-09

spreads, it steps over the boundaries Of
mere self, it strides far beyond the shadow
Oh mere me; it ventures out, and it is Grip
pied and contracted only for want Of means
1t has faith in the doctrine that teaches ''it
IS more blessed to give than to receive, >
This is the element that builds churches,
that sustains religious institutions, that will
exert itself to keep religious periodicals be-
lore the people-goes In for supporting mis-
slonary operations, and, in fact, is the ele-
ment that makes genuine missionaries
This clement is the life elementi in the church
OF Jesus Christ, and where much of it is de-
veloped, and, so long as it keeps in action
managed by prudence, that church can never
iall, and that branch of the Church impreg-
mated most with this element will prove the
greatest blessing to humanity in proportion
to its numbers
There are such words as benevolence, gen
erosity, philanthropy, charity What do
they mean Especially what do they mean
when used in a christian sense ?-Can these
words be construed to mean me-mysolf--
0ay oao0 indiuidualjsna, or do they mean
something else? Verify christianity can
not have done very much for any one in
whose inner being-the contracted myself
|
teaches "myseLf first ;''-where did it come
from? did Jesus Christ teach it?-did he
exhibit it in his character? did he pro-
nounce blessings on the heads Of those who
carried out the principle? was heeeven heard
to say "blessed are the close tested, the
shrewd calcuators for number one; the
contracted circle people whose operators
never extend beyond their own little shad-
ow, and not even that far unless something
for mYself is to result?n We know of no
paragraph in the history Of Jesus from
which such an inference can be deducted.
But Paul did say che that provideth not
for his own household has denied the faith,
ard is worse than an infdel' And then
what? does that mean that Paul encouraged
penuriousness, stingyness miserable
small, shriveed selfshness? If it does,
then Paul's practice and Pauls teaching
were strangely at variance, and even his
teachings must be marvelously contradic
tory, for he did say "Ihat it is more bles-
sed to give than to receive" he did say
that "the rich in this world should do good,
be ready to distribute, willing to communi-
cate" The true gauge Of benevolence is
the measure of ability--according as man
has, and in this matter an enlightened judg-
ment, q tender conscience, a generous heart
viii easily decide And moreover what is
the duty Of christian people in the matter
of beneyolence becomes the duty OF chris
tian teachers A preacher cannot, or at any
rate, should not expect the people to carry
out principle that he is unwilling to act
upon himself in respect to generousness; /;
according to Paurs teaching, teachers should
in all things be examples to the flock, and
if in all things, is not this thing included?
but the truth is in reference to some preach
ers that the selfish element preponderates
) SO among the people to whom they preach,
that it cripples the ministers so that they
cannot do as they would for want OF ablE-
6 ty-the means.
! The most beautiful Of all theories is the
broad, noble philanthropy Of the gospel
No theory that has ever found It's way
among men can equal it in magnanimlty, III
scope Of benevolence: and moreover it Is q
practical theory, it is not an utopian ideal
"a chimera-a vision; it is fact soul
fact, and humanity thoroughly impregna-
, ted with this fact stands up dlgnifled
heontv full of love, and mercy, and good
works, and the good works are visible tan
liabilities, things that can be seen ana ielt.
"Grow in grace" said an apostle o1 chlls-
tianity, and what is this growing IN grace
q but being more and more saturated with the
benevolence Of the gospel, adding ITO faith,
virtue, and to virtue, knowledge, ana TO
knowledge, temperance, and to temperance,
; natience. and to patience, godliness, and TO
goal;ness brothery kindness, and to broth
erly-kindness, charity; for if these things
he n Won and abound, they make you that
ve shall neither be barren nor unfrmtful.' =
What picture is here what majesty OF
character How selfishness, the demon
da(ormity Of the soul, is obliterated when
: The inner being in man is fully under the
, dominion Of these qualities, and man IS a
christian only so far as he has these quail
,t;as IN him and as these are being devel-
nned bv him in his conduct. Paul has said,
tbat .,without charity | am nothing; -
; This was this great mans view OF the fell-
r;op that Jesus Christ came to establish
eand that Paul was appointed to preach, a
! raloion ,.s of philanthropy of beneyolence-
nf ennerousness- religion strong IN its
.,7natbies and earnest in its efforts to bless
, and do good to men.
' me world-the element of the world is
, one thing; the chureh-the element OF the
: church is another the element OF the world
9 Is is'u under d the dominion Of 'the god of this
world v and the god of this world is a fear
! G,llv selfish God. Tumults and stri,es, ava
rioe ,I1,S and G despodsm, battle and plunder, de-
: frand;no and oppression, are the very breath
;ams of this worlds God, and the very life
h,.99atb &C his servants are of the same char
], oats ater as his own. The God Of the christian
: ;,s,el very different God, and christian be
~ Z i communion with his God, d,will respire
: the m life element which be inhales from this
! ! ~reat we -. source, and that is 6eaeeolenee.
! eA lady was repeating to her littl'
/ girl six years old, the story Of the flood
a and how God had said to Noah that h'
...a.,la not AGAIN destroy the earth by del