The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-05-09
Christianity and Charity.

Christianity is essentislly charitable.
1t makes the heart of its true subject
benevolent, and prompts his hand to
deeds of Kindness to the poor and needy.
Christianity is the soul of charity. 1t Is
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 vitaljpiety, of CONTROL
ing love to Gods an impulsive, and
capricious, and uncertain quality. 1t
will sometimes blaze out with splendor,
and at another time emit not CLEAN of
light and warmth. It is the offspring of
circumstance. and not the outgrOwth of
an invariable principle. 1t can be fat
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
thorOUghfare where there are multi
tudes of eyes to behold and applaud it,
but will not drop single grain upon
the by-path where there are none to see
but the beseeching eyes that silently
plead in vain to its unclasped hands.
1t is subject TO temper or mood of mind,
expanding beneath its sunshine and
contracting in its gloom. 1t is an I'M
regulated impulse. 1t lacks the balance
wheel of divine law, and its operations
are marked by the extremes of lavishness
on the one hand, and OF niggardliness on
the other.
There is, indeed, much that is beauti-
full and 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 sweetens
the cup of sorrow pressed to the lips of
muititudes.
But when we have estimated the
charity of the natural heart at it's 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 urOn 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 30 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 Christine prac
tical benevolence of our age and ct our
land is chiefly owing. 1t Is, after all,
the religion of the crucifed One that
builds our alms-h0uses and endows our
schools; that erects hOpitals and charters
institutions for the relief OF the suffering
pooi. The hand of aff1uence is stretched
out to 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 It's IN
conscious tributes to the spirit and power
OF the religion of Christ, which, however,
is not human, but divine.
If the indirect power Of Christianity
is thus ef3ectual in fashioning the spirit
of the aye into beautiful forms OF be-
nevolence and benefceDce; if it en-
larges and warns the great bosom o.
humanity with its influences aud I'M
pulses II it makes the pulse OF the ma
!, ton throb with kindliDess to the poor
with pity for the suffering, with sympa
thy for the children of misfortune; If tbs
indirect power OF Christianity can anC
does certainly accomplish thus, VIVA
must be the fruits OF this direct anC
nnJnterrupted power upon the hearts o
its Dossessors? Must they not be emf
, nentlv benevolent and charitable Ough
not their regard, and pity, and consider
alton for the poor to be distinguish,
! in measure and in manifestation alike