Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1878-05-11

Christianity is essentially charitable.
II makes the heart of its true subject
benevolent, and prompts his hand to
deeds Of kinuness to the poor and needy.
Christianity is the soul of charity. Its
that principle which gives it vitality and
consistency. 1t is the law of benevo.
lenCe IN action.
The charitableness of the heart of
man destitute of vital3piety, of controlI-
ing love to Gods an impulsiye, and
capricious, and uncertain quality. 1t
will sometimes blaze out with spleDdor,
and at another time emit not a CLEAN of
light and warmth, 1t is the offspring of
circumstance, and not the ~outgrowth of
an invarisble principle. 1t can be fiat
tered into brilliant displays, and
yet be mute as the grave in an
swer to some humble plant of distress,
1t will SOW freely upon the great
thOrOnghfare where there are multi
tudes Of eyes to behold and applaud it,
but will not drop a single grain upon
the by.path where there are none to see
but the beseeching eyes that silently
plead in vain to its uuclasped hands.
1t is subject to temper or mood of mind,
expanding beneath ita sunshine and
contracting in It's gloom. 1t is an I'M
regulated impulse. 1t lacks the balance
wheel of a divine law, and its operations
are marked by the extremes of l~avishness
on the one hand, and of niggaldIiness on
the other.
There is, indeed, much that is beauti.
ful aud noble in the sight of man in
mere human charitableness, as distin,
guished from the benevolence of Chris.
tianity. 1t builds fair monuments in
the hospitals, and asylums, and schools,
and other institutions for the relief and
benefit of humanity. 1t smoothes in,
Vulnerable rough pillows. 1t swentens
the cup of sorrow pressed to the lips of
muititudes.
But when we have estimated the
charity Of the natural heart at its real
value, as displayed in our public and
private systems OF benefaction, we must
not overlook the fact that this grand
humanitarian development is Produced
under the power and pressure of vital
Christianity Il on the age and upon the
nation. Where there is no Christianity,
there is no benevOlence in action; that
is to say, where the principles Of the
gospel are utterly unknown there is
no outgrowth of beneficent regard for
the needy.
This is so essentially and inseparably
a product OF Christianity, that multi
tudes mistake it for the divine essence
itself, and while yet destitute of that,
cultivate with eager assiduity all the
external fruits of it. To Christianity,
therefore-to the blessed gospel Of
Gods grace in Jesus Christ-the prac
teal b%enevolence of u age and OF our
land is chiefly owing. 1t is, after all,
the religion of the cruci6ed One that
builds our alms.heuses and endows our
schools; that erects hopitals and charters
institutions for the relief Of the suffering
poor. The hand of ~affluence is stretched
out 10 poverty under the irresistible,
though acknowledged, influence Of
Christianity. The noble and exemplary
deeds of what is called humanitarianism
at this day, are nothing else than its IN
conscious tributes to the spirit and power
OF the religion of Christ, which, however,
is not human, but divine,
II the indirect power Of Christianity
il thus ef1cctual in fashioning the spirit
OF the age into beautiful forms of be-
nevolenCe and bene6cence; il it en-,
larges and warns the great bosom of
humanity with its influences and i'm.
! pulses il it makes the pulse Of the ma.
| ton throb with kindliness to the poor,
| with pity for the suffering, with sympa-
thy for the children of misfortune If the
indirect power of Christianity can and
does certainly accomplish this, what
must be the fruits OF this direct and
uninterrupted power upon the hearts of
its possess0rs? Must they not be emf.
nently benevOlentand charitable ? Ought
not their regard, and pity, and consider.
alton for the poor to be distinguished
in measure and in manifestation alike