Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-08-16
tCOmmnnieated.l
REPLY TO "CEPHAS."

Let not q Willow be taken into the number
lndef three score years. having been the wife
II one man."-ist Tim. B, 9v.
/ notice in the last LEDGER a COM
mnnication over the the signature of
'Cephas," that wish 10 notice
briefly. In the first place, permit me
70 say that "Cephas'' has my sympa-
Thy. He is to all interests and purposes
lighting man of straw-a creature
that exists only in his own imagine
lion. I have not met with any one
willing to affirm that the Jerusalem
church was to be a model church in
all respects; and yet, if we would
live up jnst little closer to Jerusa-
lem, we would be better and happier
people, and no doubt would accom-
plish more for God and humanity
than we do. But now for the objec-
tive practice found in the Jerusalem
church. ''They sold their posses.
sions and brought the money and laid
1t at the feet of the apostles. Well,
what of that? Was there any divine
authority for it? OF course not. 1t
failed 10 work well, and that put an
end to it. But what troubles the
mind of "Cephas?" He has an idea
in his bewildered brain that there are
some people in Mexico, perhaps, who
desire to model after the Jerusalem
church in that particular, to-wit: Sell
their farms, goods, &C., and put the
money in the church treasury-in a
word, give up all their earthly goods
to the church. Now, I am satisfied
there is not man in Mexico that be-
lieves God commands any such thing,
or that He commanded the Jewish
church to do it. Now, they acted
hastily and unthoughtedly, to say the
least, but does it prove that is wrong
for US to give unto the Lords treas
ury? Cor, has he got one?) "Ce-
phas" can tell US. All other institu-
tons have something of the kind, and
right well "Cephas'' knows it. Why
not the Church of Jesus Christ
Suppose We would contribute as the
Lord commands-give as the Lord
has prospered us; give unto the
Lords treasury-what would be the
result? It would do away with the
begging service that has become SC
common in our land. It would dc
away with the many devices resorted
to to get money. Don't impoveust
yourself! God commands nothing o.
the kind. No man in Mexico be
lieves it. Don't give all you have
but give cheerfully ''as the Lord ha'
prospered YOU" every man &C
cording to his ability" 1t seems t.
me that, in the days of apostolic
christianity, the church provided 70
her, poor and old. Paul, in his lette
to Timothy, says something abou
f"poor widows being taken in tn
number He, certainly does no
mean the church, for he says the,
are not to be taken in under thre
score years. OF course he DON
teach that poor widows are not to b
taken into. the church under tire
score years. What did he allude to
1t is clear to my mind that the churc
had common fund, and when pei
sons were not able to take care @
themselves and had no relatives t
care for them, the church took ther
into the number alluded to, and the
twere fed and clothed, not at the ea
pense of the world, not by the CHART
OF the people outside Of the church
but by the church they would dra
from this common fund and suppl
the necessities of such as were worthy
/ And we contend if right then,
would be to-day, and "Cephas" wi
not deny it-or ought not. We col
! tend that it is right for every man
, work and provide for his own hous
hold, and, if he does not, she h'
> denied the Faith, and is worse tbs
; I an infdel." God said, e'In the swe
1 of thy face shall thou eat bread .
> the days Of thy life.' And Pa
' says, "Work, and if any man will n
: work, neither should he eat."-The
8, 10. No man in his right nil
: thinks that he ought to live at t
: expense of his brother, as long as
e is able to work; but, sir, preacher
y the most of them are poor, and t
q church is determined to keep the
poor, and it may be for the be-
s The apostle says, IAN things wo
al together for good to those who 10
le God;" butt would humbly beg
le church to make some provision
: the preacher when he gets old. ''
y = And now, brother "Cephas," II
W Lord has prospered you in this wor
as give as you have opportunity, RENE
Or bering that sit is more blessed
3. give than receive" Jesus So
" >, "Giye and it shall be given to "
a good measure, heaped up, runni
e. over, pressed down, will men 6
mt unto your 3, bosom" Lake 6,
ge On the condition that you give-g
~ to the poor, to the Lords cause
n the werld, and the Lord will bl
you. Talk no more about comm
ism. While the Jerusalem christi
o. went to one extreme, you, I
int afraid, are getting TO the other. J
'se =. it is right 70 labor, working with y
hands that Won NAV supply the wa