New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-16
CHARITY A CHRISTIAN DUTY.

tuth-Gfc.
The pulpit of the Fifth-ave. Baptist Church
was occupied yesterday by the pastor Of the church the
Rev. Thomas Armtagc ID. ID. 1t being the day APP
ppnted for the annual collection behalf of city Mis-
sons the pa delivered appeal for aid TO carry on
"a work which, he said, more than ever before de-
mands generous support OF all Christians After brei
resume of the work accomplished during the last three
months and statement of the urgent need OF support
Ing missions and missionary labor in this city overrun
as it is with corruption and thronRed it is with the
lowest and most ignorant classes, he announced as his
text the following $50 that servant came and Showed
his lord things. Then the master OF the house
being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into
the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hther the
poor and the manned and the halt, and the blind
Luke xiv, 81
II you read the entire chapter, said the preacher You
Will nd that Christ teaches his children not merely to
prepare banqucts for their friends for the wealthy and
refined but for the poor, the broken, and the weak.
What He mean Is 1t to forbid social life with
ones equalsl Is it prohibit OF refinement from
minglng with friends of similar refinement Does 1t
mean that of gentle and generous hospitality is
not to invite other men Of generous hospitality t.
sit down around his board Not at ALL He means just
what He meant when He said, " II we do good
to them that do good to you, what thanks have
YET" You must devote yourselves to those antagonstc
TO you your antpOdes If you would please the Mas
ter You make flee, and not look for an
equivalent God makes the rain 10 descend on
him well as them that bless him. DO not connne
yourselves to receiving and entertaining the refined the
wealthy. the noble but 80 beyond; let the impulse Of
generosity and hospitality have a bound which shall
spIng over narrow limits II you consent TO eat and
drink only with the refined, where Is there enlarge
ment OF heart, any nObeness OF beneyOlence, in
crease OF humanity You simply price, and IL Is
paid back to You. But 20 To the poor, the manned,
the halt, and the blind. These four classes may
be said TO comprise all society. These men
appeal to you in their helpessness physical II not men
raj or moral The who dcscends into the lowest
strata and brings back the proves the divinity or
Christianity. Christ healed the blind, restored the
lepers TO hepnessness gave strength other religions
begin at the top; ChTsts at the bottom God showers
light upon the who loves darkness. IL the eter-
nal love in Gods bosom. His eternal pity yearns for
All souls as father for his children To be Christine
man must relieve the necessities OF his fellows must help
them boar burdens Christ does not tell man to DO
good deeds that he may be recompensed
now He Will receive his reward at the resur,
gulf; there few OF the middle class 1t is largely
peoped ey rich and poor men. IL is the duty OF
those who TO bridge over that gulf by sympathy,
love- and generosity. The servant compelled the poor
10 come Ia 10 the feast lie did not bring them by force
He made use love- OF wisdom OF earnestness OF en-
ergy IN compelling them. The c0mpulson OF love Is
most wonderful The lash and the stocks have often COM
peed flesh and blood but the heart Ia not In the stocks
Lead love, and though the cord be hue as gos-
saner NJ will bind the soul TO God. Bring III to the
feast the poor and the hungry who are waiting around
Vauf