The New York herald., 1870-08-01
cHrRCB OF He STRANGERS.
Giving Better than Receiving Use rmon by ,he

Giving Better than Reee.viHg--Se rmon by ,Ie
Rev. Dr. Deems.
The weather having moderated somewhat yester-
Day the Church OF the strangers, III University
place was well filed with highly fashionable and
intelligent audience. Dr. Deans prcachei in MS
usual eloquent style from the text "And 10 Temem-
Der the words Of our Lord Jesus. how he said, 1t
better TO give Than 20 reccive."Acts, XXX, 35.
II called attention to the tender relation existing
between Paul ana this Ephcsian church, and the
affecting circumstances under which this valedic-
tory address was pronounced Tie text constitutes
the last saying they heard from the lips OF their be-
loved Apostle, and has It's authority grcatly in
creased by beng declared by hun 10 be of the
uttefances OF our Saviour. Somehow Paul knew it
20 be So although it is reported by the Bvange-
list, ana Jesus must have uttered
IASY PRECIOUS WORD
which they have not recorded. This IS in accord
with the whole temper ana spirit OF Chrsts gospel.
Men often regard statements IN The Bible as revealed
truths or arbitrary precepts which are SIMPLY clear
statements of existing facts which observation may
IN the history aau character ~ man Many Illus
tralons might be given, as whera Je us says, 'lf
any man Will be cLl-f anon YOU he Shall he ryant
OF all.n The man VINO comes 10 be necessary to the
largest number people ls the chief man. So, here
Jesus simpy indicates hat IS true in human nature
and wnicn every observation seems 70 confirm. IL
Is so OF material tuugs, and 50 OF Intellectual train
ing, and SO Of love. The Glyer Is the galner He
gains more. he statement embraces two things:
first that II Is nappy thing TO receive; and, second
that IL ~ happier thng 10 gave. MOST men believe
the former, ana are always glad TO receive But
there are proud spirits VINO re not Wiling 10 take
anything Iom any man, uhies' u be some Hct o
courtesy which Is homage 10 han seil-ioVe. NO man
ought. from selfish reasons 10 De under pecunary
obligations 70 another; out 10 carr ones sense Of
independence 10 me extreme Oi refusing H gIts Is
simply absurd It is happy th1ng 10 receive
That t must be so appears III the FIRST place from
the fact that the GOOD Father has made II 80
MuLTITUDfSJUs FAMILY:
that all must receive; tha5 can by any posi-.
bLlty AVOID being recipient From the very be-
ginning OF life 10 tie last breath must be re-
ceiviDg from our iellow men. No physical strength
no intellectual power, no superaboundng riches
ceVDg from others thdt which, without them, we
could not obtiin by any money Skill or strength Of
our own That which Is most common Is most valu-
abe as iron ~ really ol more use 10 the word than
gold: better ali the gold 9e taxi on at once than all
the IRON. When we find something so universal as
the necessity of receiving we must suppose so uni
versal law 10 be Deneiicent.
Then, whatever a man receives is relief 10 his
necessities increase O1 bis resources. II the
man really needs FOR himself whatever is bestowed
him Is blessed to have mat relief II he do not
actually need II he VIII lind 1t an increase OF bis
power 10 do good TO some one else, ana
we snail that thus the smaller becomes the
sion OF producing he greater happiness.
Another reason l. that II develops gratitude and
gratitude was expatiated upon as one OF the most
delicious sentiments possible to man. weak sense
Of dependence 9ld Obligation humlliales, but graft
tude Is the acknowledgment watch more lifts the
VINO makes It than the one VINO receives
There's
A NOBLE HUMILITY II GRATITUDE.
II lifts the soul Nhiie bows the head 1t is what
an unnumbled cniiG nay ieel towards an unartiul
enid VINO mad bestowed q benelactinn, what en-
peror may imperiaiY feel towards emperor and
gel angencaly towards angel.
And then the reception OF Iavors binds MS all IN
stronger human bonds and makes feel the beauti-
ful nterdependensc into which JAe heavenly Father
Is weaving the beautiful fabric Of humanity. But
the last reason assigned Tor the blcssedness OF re-
celyIng was tnat II leads INTO giving, aud our LORD
saws that that Is the greater happiness.
That IL is more blessed to give than to receive was
shown first, from ts being an indication OF greater
abundance OF means or OF munidccnce, greater
power greater honor Men give nom what
lie providence o. God has entrusted TO
them, and the folly oil dIslikIng The nch
appears this tRat we direct our Ill feeling
against those wnom God has made his stewards.
" may cruCize their mode VI managing what is
entrusted Dut 1t Is an honor 50 be I1Cll as well rs
great responsibility. giving SHOWS thc power 10
give, and taat Is greater power than the power TO
receive
Again II is an Improvement TO our character, IN
being a constant discipline 30 our sc nshness. SELF
love Is one Of the wise provisions Ol original
stitution and should not be destroyed. Sensnness Is
the
CREAM or SELF-iOVE
soured and spoiled. The tendency OF seiflove is to
run into sclGshness. CnrstIa iaith Is the centri-
fugal momentum which balances sel-lOve and Keeps
tn soul TO It's orbit around the Central God and
latin works by love and gives mans character ls
tested oy what he receives; II II improved Dy what
he gives.
Then, IL Is noDler pleasure and more lasting.
There Is pleasure IN receiving: bur We use the giTt,
and by and by Is overs but 20 nave given IS 10 have
made a conquest OF seinslneSs. ana becomes an I'M
mortal fact III the history OF the glyer. 1t Is Tor him
"thlng OF beauty which Is Il fOIeyer'