The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-11-27

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"ALPHEUs." -
Thoughts for Christian Households In
View of the Unfavorable Prospects
of the Coming Winter.
We have called attention under another
caption to the gospel ground of encour-
agement to Christian activity, and shown
that it is such as not to be affected by
unfavorable signs of the times; and also
that it implies conservation to the SER
vice of God of labor and means, even to
the sacrifice of the luxuries of life, if ne
cessary, and especially bold and inde-
pendent refusal to conform to the ex-
trayagances of worldly fashion and SEN
sualsm. The subject has very special
application to the present general COM
plant of hard times, present and pros
pective. m
God forbid, that, on the back of all
the trouble and losses which SO many
have endured in time past, or in the front
of prospective losses Of unfayorable times
before us, we should be found reproach-
ing the earnest, sincere Christian men
and Christian households, who sincerely
desire to carry on the work of the Lord
as perhaps they were able to do in times
past No reproach is intended for any
save those who can see the Lords work
languish, and plead the hardness of the
times so complacently, while yet indulg-
ing themselves and their households not
only in every proper comfort, but every
species of self indulgence and selfish ex-
travagance. Is it sign of Christian
progress and advancement when, from
the embarrassments of the times, the
Protestant work of the Lord languishes
the Protestant ministry half supported
Protestant schools abandoned, Protes-
tant missions broken down, the Protes-
tant widows and orphan poor turned out
to fall prey to the arts of the "man of
sin" or to the depravity of the streets,
or to starye, among those with whom
Christ has left them in charge-sayiDg,
"The poor have ye always with you
while yet in our social gatherings and
public assemblies are paraded by Chris
Etian households every sort of extraya-
gance in dress, from the cradle to faded
and wrinkled old age-more than suffi-
cient to supply the poor with the gospel,
and the houseless orphans with homes,
and the hungry with bread for month,
out of the extravagances of a single
night2
Say not now this is fanatical war upon
the refnements and elegancies of life
On the contrary, it is really plea for
true taste and refinement, as against the
mere glittering vulgarity of taste that in
our social life has supplanted the noble,
quiet, unostentatious refinement of the
days of our fathers. What would have
been thought of our style of life by the
men who laid so broad and deep the foun-
dations of our Christian social structure,
and so Titantic in its proportions that
their Lilliputian descendants are hardly
able even to pull it down? True refine
ment never yet grew out of selfish indul-
gence Its germinal principle in the soul
is ambition to add to the general comfort
and elevation. True Christian refinement
still less can grow out of any root of sell
6shness. Its first principle is, aye know
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. who,
though he was rich, yet for our sakes be-
came poor" and the exhortation which
inspires its purposes is, Let the same
mind be in you which was also in Christ
Jesus, who. being in the form of God,
took upon him the form of servant
Wherefore God hath highly eralted him,
that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow. A high-spirited, noble,
unselfi,h benevolence must be prime
characteristic of all who follow Christ
Jesus.
These reflections have special appro-
priateness to the season and our present
circumstances. We are approaching
winter that bids fair to be one of trial to
those in humber circumstances, and Of
much suffering to the poor and destitute.
The times are indeed growing hard; but
that only calls upon all Christian peo-
pie to nerve themselves for self-denial
aud sacrifice. If the suffering must
come; if the laborers in the field must
face the trial of actual want to their
households; if the widows and orphans
must nerve themselves to endure the win
ter blasts with scanty shelter and food;
# the miserable destitute of the streets
must exhibit still more misery, then, at
least, let not Christians and Christian
households add to the suffering, and bring
reproach on Christ's name, by rolling in
their chariots, arrayed in purple and fine
linen, while Christ's poor, like Lazarus,
lie uncared for at their gates.
Il. c. Commonwealth.
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