The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-07-08
Our Poverty.
since. ]


article in the New Orleans Christian Adrocate,
are commended to our readers as eminently APP
propriate to Southern Presbyterians also.
OUR PovERTY.-I was never greater,
we should say deeper, using the apostles
adjective, for he was very apt to get the
right word. One of the preachers, in
letter just received, says: 81 have never
known what it was to suffer before" This
was nothing new to Paul: "Not that |
speak in respect of want" He had gradu-
ated in that school: Everywhere and in
all things l am instructed both to be full
and to be hungry, both to abound and to
suffer need" He looked upon it, from
his exalted standpoint, as merely
change of lessons in the same course.
His apostleship would have been incom
plete without the eloquence of "deep
poverty" 1t was the human condition
of the Master, and was therefore not in
compatible with the character Of the
great mission of his Hebrew messenger.
In many instances, in most, the converts
to Christianity were as poor as Paul. The
wealthier Greeks and Romans did not
compose the staple of Macedonian and
Corinthian churches. The rabble, who
have inherited the dregs of the cup of
human woe wcra tho Srst 20 eapouse she
cause of David, and have ever been earli-
est in the acknowledgment of "King
David's Holy Son." The wasted prodigal
was indeed, and probably ever will be,
the fit emblem of that part of mankind
which turns to Christ; and the wealth Of
true Christianity must continue to be
found where st. James places it, associ-
ated not with ga gold ring" or "goodly
apparel" but with "vile raiment." The
philosophy of this union between a rich
faith and lean substance we do not at
tempt to discover, but only to affirm that
it is both genuine and venerable, even as
the gospel itself. 1t was in "great trial
of affliction" that an abundant joy and
deep poverty conspired to constitute the
riches of the church at Philippi; the union,
therefore, of these elements was not their
association by force, or by accident, but
was a hearty spiritual combination,
thorough, of new nature and effect.
These periods of power, poverty and
faith belong to the early history of all
branches of the Christian church. They
do not continue, because one of the
elements is soon wanting. The morals
and habits of the truly religious soon in
sure substance, but that faith and zeal
which by good works should ever superin-
duce a healthy poverty fail. The infu-
ences of material wealth have effected
paralysis in the later vitality of nearly all
these true churches. 1t is rare indeed
that the providence of God, by single
wave, separates people from all their
substance-that in a single instant an
entire church passes from the highestpoint
of human prosperity to the profoundest
deep of poverty; but that phenomenon
we have lived to see. One law is that
wealth succeeds to faith, then faith expires.
Shall We not also see that other law, that
faith succeeds to poverty, and gloriously
lives!
Our church has reaped the advantages
of great substance-the intelligence,
the self-respect, the industry, the social
re6nement-and still possesses them;
now she has the spiritual advantage
offered of a great poverty. Let us accept
it gladly, cheerfully. Let us, by the
grace of God, "know how to be abased."
We must not do as "the Gentiles;" but
we must face, meet and welcome posi-
tion new, unexpected, but also Of new
opportunity and power. The trustees
Of our own colleges, the preachers in our
small stations and upon our starving
circuits, our bishops and our elders must
draw their girdles tighter about their
leanness and say, 81 can do all things,
through Christ which strengtheneth me-.