Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-08-24


finding room for:
But whose hath this worlds goods. and
seeth his brother hath need, anu suutDs.n up
his bowels OF compassion from him. how
dwelleth the love .of God in him?-LJo,Iu III,
II.
The preacher alluded to the fact that
many complain that the tests of Diety
are too vague and underlined to Yield SAT
isfsctory results. It is 8 fact tgas can
not be disputed that religion is an affair
OF the inner life, OF the heart. And il
this respect it is exactly Ike paiTiotisn,
friendship. or honesty. They are All
matters of the heart. But people should
take hint from our LCrd's frequent say-
ings; "By thlir fruits ye shall know
them" Inward principles may be t., St
ed by conduct, and in this way they BE-
come palpable, and easily dsjGcteL l.
Take for example the vivid clearuess Of
the test laid down in the text. Practical,
self-denyiDg philanthropy, says lhe apos-
tie, is an essential element Of
TRUE RELIGION,
when that is wanting, piety is absent.
The test is perfectly simple, ard the
Weyfaring man, though he be 8 fool,
need not err therein. About this test
two remarks: D John is not pecu'isrin
the rule. The bible full OF it. David
says (Ps. XII, l, 81 the same thing, and
James Il, ~ declares that "pure aLG
undefiled before God, and (even) the
Father, is this: To visit the fatherless
and widows in their affiictiOn, and to
keep themselves unspOtted from tie
world" Our Lord went beyond alI
others IN making this matter Of sctive
beneVolence to His needy ones the greGt
test of character at the day OF Judgment
Matt. XIV, 81, 49,. What do We want
with a palmer truth? (2) The second
remark will guard against misapplica-
tions OF the apostles test. II is mega
tive, not positive. The absence from a
mans conduct OF active benevOlence
proves the absence of love to God from
his heart. But from this it does not fol-
low in ell cases, either logically or theO-
logically, that where beuevolence is pres
ent. love to God goes with it.
PHILANTHROPY
is natural virtue, as well as a supernat-
ural grace. In some noble natures il is
a Spontaneous fruit OF the soil; but the
converting graGa of God will make it
grow in what was once u barren Soil, Let |
US not mar the law of God by throwing
away the first table of stone, which en-
joins the fear, the worship and the love
of Almighty God in himself, as the chief !
duty OF man. Let US not ignore the |
atOning blood of Jesus Christ-'EOther |
foundation csn no man lay than that is |
laid, which is Jesus Christi But, 80 |
Lord Bacon shows the value Of negative |
tests IN science, SO we find in religion. |
They clear away the rubbish, and thus |
prepare the ground for the new building. |
Now, about the practical application OF |
THE APOSTLES RULE,
to the case in hand. The first thing to
be determined is: Who is meant by a |
brother who hath need? Who is The |
worthy recipient of this benevOlsnCe? |
The question is important for while |
some seem to stumble on the threshold, |
and decline altogether, because Of un- |
worthy applicants, others give inC!9-
and SO waste their aims.
Said a wealthy gentleman to nae the
other day: "Io hear you preach one
would think that prosperous people
are bound to maintain all the poor. Now
my opinion is that most Of the poverty !
arOuld us is the punishment sent upon |
crime. Either the people will not work,
Or else they sqUander their earnings ia
Well, l thanked the
gentleman for his suggestion. If i
made that impression, | never meant TO
DO iG, and | viii take this opportunity to
correct it effectuslly, I hope. Wac,
then, is the "brOther who hath need,"
the worthy recipient of our christian
Oenefcease? The word of God snail
make answer: "Thi5 we commando
:ays St. Paul in Thesssi0nians, iii, 10,
that if any would not work neither
should he eat.n
TO LABOR FOR OUR BREAD
when We have the strength to d. it, is
Gods law, which may not be set aside
with safety by man. Many decline
.akiDg the trouble to find out the real
merits OF a case, and so they waste their
gifts and help people to disobey God. It
requires some trouble to do right in this
world. Some will not incur the trouble
If obeyiHg God. It is pity, for chow
1Welleth the love o. God ia Chem?U Ana
his is oneOf the greatrecOmmendatiOns
IF such schemes as the Leath asTIum for
orphans. The matter is placed, as you
Know, in wise hands. Leading men Of
having capacity and character,
ire managing it as trust for the public.
Fatherless little ones are its inmates.
Dur money is put TO good use there
The next question to be determined is,
o what extent does the apostle eujyin
Is to help worthy objects? All! bgeth-
en-, that is
THE QUESTION.
And if We do not watch ourselves very
lOsely, worldly customs and s5Ifishu e5s
will deceive Us on this point. Let me
jut an imaginary case. 3 wealthy |
ather is about leaving home to receive |
great Inheritance in a fOreign Land
Ne will say he is a prince, going abroad
o receive q mighty empire to which he |
8 the lawful and only heir. He calls
lis family together and says: "NGw,
] leave the younger and lee
Ter of you in the care of the older sud
tronger, to whom ! shall furnish the
necessary means for that and other pur-
,oses. And tO.yOu, theI.older chiIdIen,
say that your faithfulness will be to
ne the evidence of your love to your
ather and sovereign. II you fail it will
,e because you don't love and honor me
It heart. And il so, you cannot share
With me the great kingdom which |
hall receive" Suppose, now, that one
# the Older children would come to you Ie
or advice, as to his friend. Zine fact
g." ne might say, 81 find this at times
AN ONERoUs DUTY.
have many uses of my own to which I
an put that money. What do you
hink should do? How far does faith
RS charge bind me to go?' 1 can inn
gine the sharp look which would come
nto your face, as you looked over ycur
and said, "Young man,
you do, be sure you do enough.
What yCu have now is only as drop in
he bucket to that great kingdom. So
ont allow selfishness to tempt you to
sopardize great interest like that for
mall trifles like these" And so l say
axe your own advice. "Be sure you do
nough," Ponder we'll the deep mean
ng Of that word from the judgment seat
f Christ, "Inasmuch as ye have dOneit
nto one Of the least OF these, my hreth-
en-, ye have done it unto me.n Our
ternity is colored by that word. And l
ejoice that other benevolent societies
re setting a good example to the
hurches in taking care Of our orphans.
marked with undisguised admiration !
be noble conduct Of
THE ODD-FELLOWS AND MASONS
uripg the fearful epidemic OF 1878, and
ow Irejoice to see the Oid-FeIlows ex.
ending their strong, kind hand to the
atherless inmates of our asylum. At
II. 4 = n