The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-06-24

Y d may be. We ee4agEf f himself. Since
are to serve even the least, there can be no
human being, whom we may neglect.
Now if against the mere human influences we
have BEEN considering. there could prevail tnat OF
this law of Christ's, what a change would be pro-
duced in the world In nature against the tendency
of oxygen, to destroy everything by spontaneous
combustion, there comes the influence OF sunlight,
acting through the agency OF vegetation separating
,be material necessary for the vegetable fabric, and
so making the life and growth and bloom OF vegeta-
ton possible; so against those tendencies OF our
poor nature to prevent the loving ministries, we
owe in life, there is needed this influence OF Gnrists
infinite excellence, making a life of love possible.
In the present state of things, 1t is plaln,
that such a life is impossible because that
method, of guaging mans services to man
by human merit. places a 2 wei Telgo and On eym maI :
and love. AS at its best mere human merit is iar
from perfect, as it is also not always apparent, and
as IT is sometimes nearly wanting, no wonder that
our common affections, based on IL alone, are SO
whimsical, narrow, and unreliable, as they are, that
their cord is so easily broken, and their ight SO
readily darkened; and no wonder that, instead OF
exercising them at all, many are prone TO seek only
To attain to such a display OF worth Tor wealth,
ability. or station, as to rather bring others to only
minister to themselves, as though 1t were greater
10 return to the condition of infancy, of being waited
on. like the babe, rather than manfuuy 10 minister
to others.
So different indeed is the life, taught by the
words we are considering, from that chiehy pre-
vaninp in society, that it may seem TO some even
sentimental and impracticable to urge 1t; and thus
il would doubtless be a surprise TO many for II to De
actually now required Of them. Christ taught, thaI
at the final Judgment many would be surprised 10
see. how thus they were to be judged for having
sighted him in their treatment OF his chHdren; SC
do9btless there would be amazement and terror te
muItitudes, if he were TO now reveal the tul truth
of the relation Of our conduct to himself, II ne were
TO now descend and walk amongst US, presenting
himself to US, according TO the meaning OF th'
words of my text, in the forms OF those We neglect
in the sorroWful faces of the needy ones we may
think unworthy our regard, and IN the numolt
grief of those we have been accustomed to slight.
Now for US, in determining our treatment o
others. to rather turn from our poor consideration
of human merit to thoughts OF his infinite worth
would be for US TO be actuated by an lnnuehee
partaking somewhat Of his greatness ana periectioi
and eternity; a power moving Us, ike him. TO serV'
even the unworthy, like him, to persevere IN tina
service against ingratitude, and ike him 10 THEREBY
feel the 10Y, that is the light Of heaven.
Sometimes it dimly CLEANS on Us, that 1t is thu
greater to be aetuated by such a devotion, as ouI
text teaches, than to enjoy the highest good cart
affords. Thus even the Hindoos by their provero
magnify the virtue of benevolence above othe
excellencies. When once a Brahmin was making
offerings Of ten thousand manages, as ne nad pee
racn;red bv the priest of the god Of the Ganges t
do and cave but one to Il lamishing beggar, 1t va
announced that the god felt that he had ont
received that one. Thus with our higher Cnflstlal
cnIture we estimate true beneyolence ABOVE mer
forms of piety or outward greatness. "hen Engianu
Opepn once turned aside 10 comfort an ooscur
ornban a N asylum, and when she was ome
occasic= lily teach an humble clas~ !
ter, than VT %