The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1889-03-20

lSIerS are IN our QaY, Dy tDelr cnurcneS
One answer is, Christianity was just start
ing in the world then the churches were
few and the members generally poor.
Paul was not settled over any one con-
gregstion. But there was another reason.
Paul wanted to be independent. Though
he said minister was entitled to sup
port by the people he preached to, he had
particular, personal reason for earning
his own living. The seathen OF that day
were hostile to Christianity; especially so
were the Greeks; sharp suspicious people,
ready to accuse Paul Of trying to make
gain of godliness, and 81 Paul determined
they should have no sndle like that
against him, and that tey should never
accuse him of preaching for money. Here
is what he said about it, II preached the
gospel to you, but iabored day and
night that I might not be chargeable to
any of you. did not eat any mans
bread for nought, but wrought with labor
and travail, night and day" Three
years afterwards we hear him say ::
Even until this present hour, we hunger
and thirst and are naked and are buffet
ed and have no certain dwelling place.
and labor, working with our own hands. )"
And after that we hear him say "These
hands ministered to my necessities and
to them that were with me. Thus we
learn several deeply interesting particu-
lars about him. One was that he was
sometimes out of work and in want. An
other was that rather th1n live on char
ity or even receive the support which
the Churches owed him, he preferred to
earn his own livelihood by the labor of
his own hands; and that he was ready to
divide his scanty wages in ministering to
the necessities of others.
What wonderful picture this gives
US OF the foremost man of all his time;
one of natures noblemen, as we say;
rabbi; scholar; an apostle, preferring to
earn his own living by his trade. See
him late in the night bending over the
coarse hair cloth, with heavy shears cut
ting 1t into tent patterns, and then with
needle and stout thread sewing it into
shape. A mechanic making tents; an
apostle building at the same time the
splendid tabernacle of the Christian
church
DIGNITY OF La &.
In view of that example who will ven
ture to say that labor Is degrading? Who
will put himself above the man who
works with his own hands and makes his
living with the sweat of his face? For
my part would rather make tents with
Paul than be guest in Neros palace. 1t
Is not the occupation that decides the
standing of man and makes him re.
spectacle or otherwise. 1t is the man
/ yub cyru oh - 4 h.
occupation. II man is coarse, vulgar,
rude, dlsrespectful, profane, he might be
Judge or senator, and the office would
not make gentleman of him If a man
in any decent calling Is not respected it
is his own fault. If he would be honored
and recognized by the best people he
must have Pauls gentleness, pohteness
and kindness Of manner, as we'll as kind
ness OF heart. He must not be ashamed
OF his business, though he works with
his hands. The only thing to be ashamed
OF is ldleness, dissipation and vrigarity
of any kind All honest labor is re-
spectacle, and honest labor helps to make
a man respectable. 1t promotes health
and cheertulness. 1t keeps a man out oi
temptation. The idle man courts temp
tation. Laziness is a key that unlockt
the door of every vice. Laziness leads
to bad company, to bad habits, to bac
places. Rather than woI he prefers tt
play policy" faro, or buy lottery tickets
II crime is committed and the police
try to fnd out who the criminal is, tn,
idle are always the first to be suspected
Sometimes you hear such men say
"the world owes me a living" Pau
did not think so. He eaid if maj
would not work, neither should he eat.
OF course he meant this only for thos
who could work. He knew there wer,
some too old to work, too sckly, too in
firm, and he had nothing but the tender
eat compassion for such. He would no
hesitate to divide his wages with such
and all through his epistles he ezpresse
the most loving sympathy for the suffer
ing. But he had no patience with strong
J able bodied men, who stood on stree
corners with their hands fn their pocket
feeling very much wronged because othe
: people were better off than themselves
and declaring the world owed them
living" The world owes no man a liy
ing who does not try to earn it. All the
the world owes such men is grave i
! the paupers section.
= Part Second next weekO