The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-02-28

in his professions for the last year or two,
and now he says he does not think there
is anything in religion. 1.-The had said
there was nothing in him, it would have
showed that be aas, at least, capable OF
telling the truth. 1ouce heard Of poor
afflicted member Of the Church who vas
actually suffering fot tie usdessariea of
life. The Deacons and few members
Of that Church assembled to pray over
the poor fellow, and as they arose from
prayer the son of a Deacon who was not
present called at tie gate and said
"Come out and get PAS prayers; he
could not clo,miej bit t brought his prayers
in the wagon. There is d fam, and here
is sack of flour, and there is some sugar
and Coffee" "1f brother or sister be
naked and destitute of daily food, and
one Of you say unto them depart in peace.
be ye warmed and filed notwithstand-
ing ye give them not those things which
are needfdl to the body; what doth 1t
profit? Even so faith, if it hath not
works, is dead
Those Cain.Hke Christians show them.
selves by the GOODNESS Of their zeal in
trying times. When religion is popular
aud every one is in a sort of happy-go.
easy way, then those feeling Christians
can tell the world how much of Gods
love they have taken In, and how free
and cheap religion Is, but when ne come
into trying times their zeal coola rapidly.
Let vice and immortality begin to steal
in and threaten the destruction of our
young people, and those Cain.like Chris.
tians do not rush in and throw them.
selves squarely against the evil. On the
other hand you will hear them say they
do not see any harm in drinking dram
occasionally, or in playing cards or
dancing. By the looseness Of their lives
they become fellow helpers of the devil
by keeping open certain doors through
which sin may enter into the weak or the
thoughtless young people. Brethren,
feeling in religion is all right if that
feeling is the result of the work Of Gods
spiritin the heart, but If yonr religion is
all feeling, then tits empty, 1t is hollow.
You may be evef SO unutterab1y full of
good feeling, and yet, that of itself, will
never move You to work, either for God
or against the Devil, at a time when that
work will cost you something; and work
that costs is the only kind of work that
will ever amount to anything in this
world or the world to come.
II. They ran greedily after the error
af Balaam for reward.
A wicked king offered Balaam valua.
bic presents and great honor if he would
curse Israel, but the Lord forbadeshim,
saying: "Thou shalt not curse the people,
for they are blessed" There Was covet.
BUSINESS in Balaam's 8 heart, and the vslu.
able presents and great honor brought it
to the surface, and he begged for permis-
sion to curse Israel, and finally he
secretly planned the ruin of Israel, hoping
thereby to gain, at least, some of the
valuable presents. Coyetousness is still a
wide spread and deepsrooted source Of
evil, for the love Of money is the root of
all5eyil and many are running greedily
after the error Of Balaam for reward.
Oove.ousness shows itself when ne
give our attention to the things of this
word to the neglect of religion. From
early in the morning until late at night
men labor and toll and wear their very
lives out for worldly gain. They lie
awake at night and strain every power
of their minds in trying to plan some
way by which they may grasp move of
this worlds goods. They have no time
to read Gods word, no time to study its
profound and precious mysteries They
have no time to put themselves in the
way of Gods spirit by prayer and
meditation, no time to commune with
their own hearts and God.
Covetousness shows itself in our con.
yersstion, This might be called the
talking age. What shall ne eat, and
what shall we drink, and how shall ne
be clothed? How shall we manage to
make money? They continually speak of
! the world aud the world heareth them.
Covetousnesa shows Itself by our tact
in our worldly affairs and our stupidity in
the business of the Church. There are
members of the Church who are not
wanting in business tact and money
sense, who are very stupid and dull in
the business of the Church. They have
but little interest in such things.
Covetousness shows itself in the small
amount we contribute to the cause of
Christ. But few men are so low down
and stingy as to give absolutely nothing
to the cause Of Christ, but how many of
Us give literally out of a liberal heart
Who is it that gives of his means accord.
ing as the Lord has prospered him ?
What part Of your income have you
given back to the Lord
Covetousness shows itself when we,
like Balaam, resort to questionable means
to make money. The will of God, and
not mans conscience, should be the rule.
We should dare to do right, even if we
loose money in the operation; but the
common question is, What shall do to
save the money?
Brethren, covetousness is eating the
life cut of our Churches. It's weight
has dragged the glorious banner down
into the dust. 1t is the weapon with
which the Devil is Staying thousands Of
souls ia our midst. OF man, what mad
ness has taken hold of you? What shall