New-York tribune., 1881-12-26
THE TRUE SPRING OF CHARITY.

The Rev. DIR. John Hall preached at the
rffth Avenue Presbyterian Church yesterday. taking his
text from Matthew xxi, 40: " On these TWO conimho-
meus hang ali the law and the prophets His REMARKS
which in part had reference 20 the charity hospitals "a
the city, were in substance as follows
There are two things connected with this day dcserv-
ING attention. One Of these is that IL is associated with
the birth Of Lord, aud it is good thihs thal 40
many are led 10 think cdsy Of that birth But we nave
to guard against spectacular demonsraions lot IL Ia m
observation of history that often where Spritna me Is
lowest there is the greatest observance oi outward
forms Let us be truly thankful to God
for the gift of His son. In the second
place the people have associated themselves together 70
provide the suffering poor iii tue hospitals Ihese
hospitals are not supported by the city Out were eS;
abish.d by private charity for the beneht oi the IN
dus rios DOOR The moral effect OF these INSTITUTIONS i.
good and it il we'll couple holy teaching with physi'
cal administrations Dut II streams of benoioonce are
o ow forth from the heart hand there must be tho
spring Indicated in the text II we we're lacking In
supply OF water he would help us most who could te
us how the could be increased Here III the
Scripture the PhariseeS had sent one ot their
number to Christ, 20 ask what was the great
commandment in the Law. The re"W was that
the first and great commandment WAS to love
God; and that the second was that one should love
his neichbor as himself The Pharisees thought 10 en-
trap Him. but He not 10 he surprised or tempted
II there be only Lord a men must obey Christ so
the question ny taylnB tHiA 40
thp first and great commandment. But he dO's nor hP
here The second Commandment, lie says, s IKE
uuo it, FIRST love 10 God tCH love 10 thy ue'gOos'
ON these two COMMA ailments hang al the law ana thc
prophets Christ is here intensely realistic lie eoen
straight TO the heart OF things.
II should be xed in the mind that God has here set an
order for religious thinking. According 10 this decara-
tion God comes first, No MAKO aay progress in
religion without God. who Is The head OF al ahG nc
sustaiucr OF all. ShOuld man 60 into hou,c
and disregard the head Of the family he would
do violence to the sense OF ngEi; yft man
has no more right 70 live IN this world without r.
alrd!pg God. yuu an. truo religion IL husI ht-
gin with an observance Uf TINS DrSi commandment bul
We must not fUrgct ovc 10 IBcn Trey are Goa r
creatures they are fellow beings We nav" con-
ptautly presented TO the injunction Ia rove one
another Love God and Ovc Tor naa; but tacsc must
be k.pI In their proper iatons. srt; many pc pc
magnify tine secInd. FICy advocate Whtt thty can
humanity ana scJrn Wa. iEcy CiH tlfiti! bHt tH''c
cam De- no true humanity without Nret il1lc aE.'lL
The children OF those who believe lu COD Ahy maze
good Lnnanita ariaH, but tner children ln tuin "HHo1
humanity HulnariiaTians ray tnat they do NOT know
aTvtnuc about Cod but tucy l8yU alarouni them
aud ihev will therefore Go what they can 10 hop
tbcrn Bnt in doing tons yOh these fwn command
n.uis aart you separate what God joined together II
we wish 10 have OIr children lurIaD,, and society
humane we must keep God before tncir minds Il j. a
iact that a very snI, amount ol All 60 tie poor comes
from the 20 css a charity may hOur-h because 30 "a
fa.lOnable If II 10 be substantial You must nae
Iuca and women ENGAGED IN lt who lear Col ana VINO
love men because they ttt, love Him.
At the conclusion Oi t!c sermon collection was 'aEc
up fer the charity hospitals Of the city.