The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-02
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT.
The Sermon of Rev. DR.. Gilbert on Re-
y ligion and Worldly Prosperity.
versal Partnership of Man-Services
by Revs. Sargent and Hunter.
RELIGION AND WORLDLY PROSPERITY

Il. Church Last Evening.
Last evening DR.. Gilbert pastor of the
Meridian-street M. E. Church, discussed the
question docs Religious Life Tend to Worldly
Prosperity His text was Matthew vi, 3d.:
Seek ye first the kingdom Of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be added
unto your
First of all, we must agree concerning the
nature of religious life. 1t is not merely
membership with the church. or observance of
the forms and ceremonies of the church. These
will be included but if there were nothing
beside, the man might be veritable hypocrite
and rogue. Perhaps there is no more complete
description than the words of the text, Seek We
first the kingdom of God and His righteousness"
. Tie kingdom is not the government which God
has established in nature from which one can
escape, or the rule of Providence, by which He
carries forward His plans for the accomplishment
of His purposes among men. but it is the king
dom of grace His dominion over souls that SUB
init to Him. To seek that kingdom is to strive
earnestly for its establishment in our own
hearts, and in the hearts of all men. The right
eousness here urged is that rghtness of heart
and life which God approves in His
word, which He works by His spirit in
those who come to Him. religious life
must have these two ends in view, the establish
ment of the kingdom and the attainment of per-
soDal righteousness; and these must be the pre-
eminent, the first concerns
Such life will tend to worldly prosperity
1t is not affirmed that any man can acquire ma
terial good without effort; that talents rightly
used will not find just reward that a re-
ligious man may sit in idleness expecting God to
bestow what he is too indolent to work for
That would be perversion of the text But
whatever the talent. howsoever earnestly and
wi IFS
value and efficiency and make success more GER
tain. For the support of this proposition take
these considerations:
First-It is in accordance with Gods word. 81
have been young and now am old. yet have I
not seen the righteous forsaken or his seed beg
ging bread Trust in the Lord and do good so
shalt thou dwell in the land and verify thou
shalt be fed" And then the positive utterance
of the text. "Al these things shall be added unto
. you" There is no possible Interpretation of
these numerous passages. spread on so many
pages of holy writ unless we employ them in
confirming the position assumed.
Second-But, turning away from Gods word.
we shall find that our proposition is grounded in
the very nature of things. Part of every mans
success in this world is due to the confidence
y placed in him by his fellowmen. ard that is de-
termined by his character 1t needs only to be
asserted and all will accept the statement that
good man can find room for his abilities where
bad man cannot. Hence. he who day after
Gay is seeking the righteousness of God is at
the same time building up in the community in
which ne lives reputation that will be of more
value than capital. an auxiliary of iDcaculaole
worth to all his qualities az workman in any
department.. Every business man knows this
If it be said that morality is sufficient for this
purpose, the reply is that the Christian religion
is the only support and guaranty of such moral
ity There times when men MADE to
this and to discover that honesty and truthful
ness, valuable DIS they may be in themselves,
not of the highest order when divorced from re-
lgon.
Third-Besdes it should be ever borne in
mind that, whatever our striving after any good,
Gods blessing is needed to insure perfect sue
cess 1t would be possible to show
that no act can be performed without Him, for
He is the support of life. the author of all good
Dare any of us lift up our hands to attempt any
personal independent action. even to the deny
ing of His superintendent and refusing of His
helpf None are so fool-hardy 1t need not be
affirmed that God is partial, withholding HIS
blessing from those who DO not. and granting it
. to those VINO do lead a religious life, although
such an assertion would not be far from the
truth. But this may be affirmed: that, if with
equal love He watches over all and delights to
bless all, yet they who love HIM and serve Him,
who seek His kingdom and righteousness have
placed themselves in such condition that He can
bless Them more than others. even in worldly
way.
Fourth--But passing ont beyond both Script
ure and reason our proposition may be con-
frmed by observations of actual life. Where
est wealth. In every instance those where the
gospel has achieved its greatest triumphs. What
insures the prosperity of a community En-
terprise, thrift skill on the part of ITS business
men," answer scores of voices. Yes, when
those qualities directed by integrity.
But who will attempt to sustain the morals of
the business world without the influence of
ligion9 Hence. those communities will be most
prosperous where religion causes men to employ
their energies according to the intexible princi
Piles of righteousness. But look to the individ
.uals Who are the paupers2 Generally the I'M
cody. Who are they in middle life neither
wanting daily comforts nor surfeited with lux
uries, who raise up their children to honor and
usefulnessl Christians Who they that by
gradual increase acquire and retain competence?
Christians. Who are they that. greatly inflated
by ambition and pride. become suddenly rich
= and then suddenly poors For the most part the
ungodly.
Fifth-But some questions will arise here
Why do some wicked people prosper, and some
Christian people suffer loss and come to want9
Let it be remembered that religion is not the
only cause of worldly prosperity. Industry.
skill. energy, foresight are needed If these are
wanting the man must take the consequences
Religion is introduced here auxiliary factor
The effort is to show that it aids the other quail
ties. We must also correct our
ideas of worldly prosperity. This life
is not finality; it is preliminary state. We
are in training for another and better world
That is the most prosperous life whose conditions
are most favorable to such training. When a
. man seeks the kingdom of God and His righteous
ness he may therefore esspect only such worldly
lot as is best for him. Indeed he will seek it.
Many times we fail to understand this, but God
proyidentaly nterferes and thwarts our plans
1t is best for some men to be poor, best for some
to be rich best for some to be honored and some
to be very little known. That matters not if it
so be that life's great end is accomplished And.
on the other hand, it often occurs that the up-
cody man has been accounted prospe when
In reality. ne has had one continued season of adj
versty. His wealth has been like a milestone
cast about his neck, with which he has drowned
in the sea of carnal pleasures
Let this world remember the promise of the
text II concerns all! 1t is Gods challenge to
man to trust Him: to begin life of faith and
prayer Oh We who spend your days in a per-
petual strife for this worlds treasure pause
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