The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-01-20


gives The exceptions are those who
do thus work. In labOring for the world,
Christians show as much shrewdness and
wisdom as the worldling. Their want of
wisdom is not here; but in that they do
least for that which they believe to be of
highest importance-though if they only
will, they are capable of doing, able to
do so much for the Church, for each 9th
er, for suffering or perishiDg souls around
them, and for the good of religion gen
orally. Are they not comparatively, do
ing almost nothing-some absolutely
nothing? So is the worldling's faith con-
sistent, for it adopts the doctrines of
''things seen and temporal" and acts
them out. And so is the Christian S faith
not consistent, for it adopts the doctrines
of ''things unseen and eternal" and does
not act them out-but often stands as the
cold marble slab to mark the resting
place of dead form. And yet they
mourn their dead. 1.-The Church, they
say, sis lifeless; love is cold; there is no
zeal; religion Is declining" Who can
marvel at it These all die'when moth
ing is done tosupport them, just as world
ly riches dwindle into poverty under the
sluggard's hand. How different this
might be- How different it would be, if
we were only as anxious. prudent, dill
gent-or in other words, if we would but
consecrate ourselves to spiritual things,
as the wording gives himself to things
carnal. This is actually the rule which
Christ gives his followers. The appica-
ton is, "And l say unto you, make to
yourselves friends of the mammon of
unrighteOusness, that when ye fail, they
may receive you into everlasting habita-
tions." Suffice it here to say that this
language is highly fgurative, and cannot
be explained by literal Interpretation.
"Mammon" means riches. The things
of this world are unrlghteO1s, as opposed
to the things of God, which are righte-
Ous. ''The mammon of unrighteous-
ness" then stands for worldly riches or
means. The reference is not to persons,
but to things-to the objects to which
worldly means should be appied-the
ends which should be sought in the use of
them. Christ gives us here what may be
called parallel of expressions-taking
the language, terms of the 4th verse to
express His teaching as to the proper
disposition of our means. The sense
then is-as the steward, appreciating his
uncertain condition-knowing that at
any moment he might be removed, so in
vested the means which he had as to pro
vide for and add to the comforts of his
future. So do you with those means
which your Lord has committed to your
charge, not for ministering to the flesh,
but for this very purpose-so that ''while
We fail" or be removed from this present
state, you may have in the future trea-
sure already laid up. This is in keeping
with the teachings of Matt. vi: 19, 20;
Tim. vi 17-19, &c. So live that the
deeds of love and faith done now, may
rise up to testify for you in the future.
For though these have in them no saving
merit, yet done by the faith of Christ,
He will accept them as worthy of reward.
One great blessing of the redeemed will
be to hear the King speak their welcome,
saying, Il was an hungered, and ye gave
me meat; | was thirsty, and ye gave me
drink; 1 was a stranger, and ye took me
in; naked, and ye clothed me; 1 was
sick, and We visited me; Twas in prison,
and ye came unto me. Verify
1 say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done
it unto one of the least of these, my
brethren, We have done it unto me-"
Thus is our Lord represented both in His
cause and in His followers. As we treat
them, and as We, being part of both,
treat each other, so do we treat Him.
That which we now do is to find its way
back to us in the future, either in the
blessing given or withheld. So then it
also becomes us to remember that our
Lord will have certain other words, not
of welcome, "Inasmuch as ye did it not
unto one of the least of these, ye did it
not unto me-" Therefore, as stewards
in Gods service, having our all, in charge
from Him, our evident duty is to use our
time and means as He has commanded,
bestowiDg them where they will do good,
not in fulfilling the lusts of the flesh,
but in preparing the way of the Lord,
and in making His paths straight. For
He walks not among those whose feet
are swift only to serve ''the world, the
flesh, and the devil" Let us keep this in
mind, and then ours will be portion
more than equal to friends, home and
ease. For God has promised "a hundred
fold here, and in the world to come, life
everlasting. SEWAH.
COP NEVER PARDONS ONE SIN, but He