New-York tribune., 1882-02-20
GIFTS WITHOUT CHARITY.
The Bev Dr. Jacob s. Satpman At Crs Church Iocstan,
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The Rer Dr. Jacob Shpan. At CrisfS Church protestant
Eptsc0pall
At Christ's Church, in Fifth-aye and Thirty
hthst the pastor. the Rev Dr. Jacob g. shpman spoke
yesterday morning upon the Lenten season. Dr. Ship
man ia wellproportioned man, thichset, Of medium
height and porly figure. In ad ress he pleasing with
clear and clean enuncation and deep resonant voice.
Dr. shipman took for the subject of his talk Corin-
thans XIII l3: "And now abideth faith, hope char
ty these three but the greatest of these is Charity"
He spoke substantially as follows:
The Church means 70 think to-day
about charity. l hope that all my hear
eTs know what the word charity as used in Scrip
ture, means; but perhaps had best take il for
granted The word certainly does not mean aims
giving for ST. Paul says expressly, Though give all
my goods to feed the poor, and have not charity, II
rrofteth me nothing" Almsgiving. at the best,s but
one Of the many outward forms OF charity and it may
be pracsed without any charity at all Charity in the
scriptural meaning ia love But this definition IS not
precise enough There may he love without charity. II
requires charity love- example, ones parents.
or children, friends Between earthly love and
charity there is this broad difference: Earthly love- as
regards its objects, is particulars charity is universal
Earthly love waits be called by Objects charity
Cows out to find ohects Earthly love is but taper,
shining only within a narrow circle; charity Is q
sun, pouring forth it's radiance everywhere, Earthly
Low as regsrds It's pature Is affection Unborn char
fly il grace infused Charity, IN fact is Gods love in
imparts Himself for God Is love"
Charity in The Gospel, is everything. 1t is the
Ting required for its sake. All other things
qured are simply FOR the sake OF this To love with
divine a1ectiOnthis is TO fulfill the whole law Upon
this all the law and the prophets hang. II man love
another sincerely he viii aim TO DO that Others will with
any commanding. upon this principle that the
Gospel grounds lis legislation II chacis no code OF
morality, but simply lays down the one great law If
that" but love God supremey, and your neighbor as
yourself and then do what You Please With
right Have charity. and You have all that God wants
OF yon Have not charity and you have nothing The
members OF the Corlnhian Church had forgotten this
truth They we're DISPOSED TO look upon mere gifts
the important thing S. Pau heard of II, aid went TO
them aD0ut T. He dd not however, 20 the other cX-
reme He did not diSparage gifts. He said that each
junction OF the body great or little has It's use in the
body "Covet earnestly the best gifts; and yet show
should value them for their proper uses DO not
overvClue them for tell you that there is thing
earth The gft Of tongues Is confessedy great gift
IL is one which you all earnestly coCet But lei tell
and angels though had the uterance of ecraphs as
they sing beside the throne and had not charity would
y would amount 10 nothing.
We can why il is that the church has selected
St Paus description Of charity the Epstle for to-day
This IL the last Sunday before Lent and Epstle for
supposed to be called upon practise an unusual
degree OF seldeniaL But what fort Are we 10 eat only
Little IA Lent to punish ourselves for eating much
il Lent the price of pardon going to balls and pa
Ties between Easter and As-Wcdnesday} Is seisdcnII
to atone for the sins OF sefindug nee think not /
am very sure not If we have been guilty OF any in
duigoccs ina are really wrong III the year which has
passed. II viii take more than staying at home for ak
weeks on spare diet to sponge out guilty stains
Ihe hurch takes up the word Of God to-day and teaches
us this lesson with an emphasis IT teaches utter
inpossihly of making ourselves acceptable God bv
anything tha we can 90 or suffer Just she is about
to smut us into our Lenen season discipline warns us
most sOlemny not to depend CpOn ii if il were a thing
IN any way merioItous; or even. in itself, eiicacous.
she tells us tnat that which makes man acceptable
grace and that whatever Observancos do not minister 10
the growth Of this than worthless The
We ought to be oId6g it up before ourselves all hrongi
Lent-each one putting TO himself the question, "An
Charity is lOng-sufertng and kind Am thar Some
@ bpG eG are ot nP persons are
get as actually {? return an Injury bat they
ment toward the doer of it, This you may say is quite
natural All sin quite natural 1t just for this
says. hate your eneulies and men naturally do
them. God say, Love your enemies" and
Docs anyone doubt thisl Let him a' make make
tne trial Have you an enemy Pray for him. Bear
with the sincere desire To love him, and then act con
possible be, not only long suffering hut kind do not
believe that amy ever yet fet bitterly toward
that other by The great trouble is thai
we let our bad feelings get the better OF do not
Again "charity seeleth not her own Charity stands
to sclashness In the sharpest possible antagousm.
Charity is utterly and cerEaly Incompatible with self
seeking in any of It's myriad iorms As ask, Then, Of
and cspeo ally You. Christian OF business-arc you
see Ing your own Is your selfish good df any
thing selfish be good TO which your lives are
tolls and give aim and character 10 your pursuits If it
be So your prOies but empty sounds and
your hopes like houses built drifting sands Tie T.
preaching Lent may be time Of true revival in
midst. God grant it may be. would not If could,
have any sensuous excitement attending it. That do
not need But do Iced earnestness the services of
he Church, in home deyotions in our special forms
Of discipline. Let II be our dis met aim and effort
through all these coming weeks u Lent get more ~
charity Of Gods love within And 10 this end
et begin by casting cut all bitterness toward man.
members of the church have been feeling uu-
,indy another, let them resolve be recon
,ed at all hazards IL is the part of wisdom, even for
his world II Is abtOutely necessary i'll view OF the
world to come.
And now, in closing, word tC WHY charity is a |
hing vital TO character. Man made in Code
mage, clothed with Gods spirit Through sin he lost
hat image That the fall. And the whole |
work OF God with man is TO restore him that image
o make HIM cody. Goodness is what We need, and
rot religion merely We're religion all, ManOme
,r Buddhism would do well as Christianity But we
need to DC God-like. Heaven viii be Heaven Just be-
ause in some traLscendaut manner God Will be there
nd to see God we must be like Him. Now God is |
owe, God L. Charity. And that Is the reason why I
We need charity. II is tat we may be Ike God You
emembcr The words of the Saviour Love your enenics
less them that yOu do good 10 them that hare
Ou and pray for them who despetuly you and per-
ecutc YOU" And why What II the motive That ye
nay be the children Of Cod that Is, that ye may be like
Your Father which is in Heaven"
Follow then, after charity. Its ful attainment IL a
hing of tune A Christian is not made perfect At a
Ish but If The heart be honestly surrendered love viii
Ne Increased wi HIN il and more ill life, within lis
ght will be tTansged, and death, al last De but the
utrdncedOOr 20 glory. :
WHAT BELIEF IN CHRIST MEANS.
The Her Lr at ne Collegiate church tReforraed)
At the Collegiate Church, Fifth-ave. and
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