The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-14

in which all may heartily contribute. Spir-
itual harmony was restored in the camp of
Israel when general and generous contribu-
tions we're made for the building of the Tab
ernacle. We may conclude, however, that
all did not give, as nothing but free will Of
ferings we're solicited, and that then, as now,
some gave much above their relative ability.
But all who gave were blessed by their free
giving. The religious significance and value
of the gifts were expressed in the willingness
of the givers. What is done for religion and
for COP to spiritually benefit the doer must
be done cheerfully and freely. Those who
are not disposed to give, or who give grudg-
ingy for re ligous objects, are spiritually des-
olate and unfruitful. When the tabernacle
was completed and dedicated, and employed
for Divine worship, how rich and tender
must have been the emotions of those who
had contributed to its erections and appoint
ments, and how much more impressive as
symbol of the Divine presence must it have
been. and how much more of religion
must it have meant to them than to others
Their contributions we're liberal spiritual
education. Giving for the uses of the LORDS
house is a means of grace that cannot well
be neglected.
PROMOTES THE KINGDOM OF GOD
The kingdom of COP is promoted among
men by free-will offerings. GoD gave his
Son that mankind might have the experience
of its Eternal Life of faith and righteous
ness. And JESUS gave himself that it might
be established in the world. Self-denying
love is the law of the kingdom. Ourselves
and all we possess are demanded as the con-
dition of our citizenship in it, the expression
of our sonship of GoD, the administration
of whose family government it is, in fact. In
the vision of the Revelator already referred
to, the tabernacle is employed as symbol
of Christianity, which represents the king
dom of COP in the world. 1t is the mission
of Christianity and the church to build the
tabernacle of GoD, and make every soul
dwelling place of the Divine Spirit. The
great head of the church calls for free-will
offerings and self denying service to carry
forward this grand work of righteousness
and truth. The constituted authorities of
the church call for the peoples free and
generous gifts to enlarge its courts, multi
ply its shrines, and extend its dominions,
and for means to carry the Gospel of the
kingdom with its promise of eternal life and
salvation to the ends of the earth.
A SIGN OF CHRISTIAN CONSIDERATION.
Our religious offerings may be, indeed
are, the sign of our Christian conservation,
and the measure of our estimate of utility
and blessings of Christianity. The church
is worth even more than all we are able and
willing to do for it. The most we can do
willingly is worth more to US than to all
others. Our gifts may not greatly multiply
its blessings for others, or purchase them for
ourselves, but will show that we are worthy
of them, and do, indeed, already possess
them. 1t is the glory of CHRIST that he gave
himself in establishing the church. What are
we doing, and what are we willing to do, as
professed disciples of him, to maintain and
extend it2 We ought to sufficiently support
our church by our conservation, our labor
and our means.