Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-11-24
TRUE NATIONAL pnospERITY.
A Very Able Discourse by Rev. A. r.
1Iiner-Chrfstianity VIII Solve the

TRUE NATIONAL PROPERTY
A Very Able Discourse by Rev. A. r.
MISUNDERSTANDING VIII Solve the
Race Problem.
Rev. A. p. Miller, at Dixwell avenue
Congregational church yesterday after
noon, delivered very able discourse full
Of sound, vigorous and patriotic thought
and suggestion, the larger part of which is
herewith given:
Timothy, vi, 6: But Goodness with content
ment is great gain.
One Of the grave responsibilities of the
American pulpit, owing to the heterogene-
GUS nature of the inhabitants of our re-
public, their diversified tastes, growing
out Of race peculiarities, education and
is, as far as possible, to Keep this
ever-growing, surging mass Of humanity
within proper God-appointed channels,
preserving and broadening principles of
the gospel Of Jesus Christ, under whose
banner-a blood-stained cross-an men,
rightly instructed in the church of God,
may dwell together in unity, equality and
fraternity.
It is the indispensable duty of the pull
pit Of any community or nation to wisely
study the spirit Of the ages and correct
any tendencies on the part Of the people
which seem to be grossly out of humanity
with the plain declarations of the teach
ings Of Christian ethics.
A failure to do it's duty in this respect,
standing on the walls of Zion, seeing
danger in the distance, and sounding the
note Of alarm, is the great temptation to
which the American pulpit now, as in the
- xfyhof io nof
plainly needed is an honest desire and a
bold effort on the part of the pulpit to
meet the complicated issues of our times
with the pure, unadulterated gospel of
Jesus Christ, not trying to bring the
spirit of the church into harmony with
the spirit of the age but the spirit of the
age into harmony with the spirit of the
church of Christ, whose object is to
unity the nations and peoples of the
world, by intoxicating in them the Christly
spirit, spirit Of brotherly love, universal
goodwill. When Paul penned the words
of the text, as we infer from
the context-G odiness with content
mont is great gain-many in the
idea Of greatness, basing it upon worldly
prosperity amassing Of huge fortunes.
Many, without any conscientious scruples,
came into the church, SO as to the more
easily accomplish this vile end, leaving
out the idea and principle of Goodness so
essential to peace of mind, prosperity of
soul in the building up of a manly Chris
tan character. Now, any individual or
nation, that bases true prosperity, on
anything other thanG holiness in character,
is making the hugest of all mistakes.
We all rejoice in the material prosperity
of our country, since the downfall of hui
IL IL, l.. l. IL zc.
bellion disappeared from our fair land,
ness and irreligion which has become 80
common in our country, among all classes;
the wealthy grasping after more wealth,
spirit Of envy and covetousness draw aside
and regard with contempt not only the
wealthy, but the churches of which these
are honored members, an evil which, how
ever foolish it may seem, as fact is no
less dangerous to the lasting permanence
of our American institutions
= Nothing is so suicidal to individual or
national life in its true bearing as an over
hasty spirit to be rich, as such spirit not
only unsettles ones peace of mind, filing
it with discomfort, leading ofttimes into
ways dishonest and unfair, but it also
shuts out that spirit Of serious reflection
NOT TO set; our hearts on things which are
to nerish with the usinp of Them. but on
thinos which keen onr hearts and mindsi
The love of God and our fellow-men.
The Bible. let MS remember. has nothing
whatever to say against riches as such. moi
against creature comforts, but it does tel
man emphatically not to love that that is
to perish at the expense of his immortal
sonl It tells man to be satisfied with
enouob tn make himself and bis comforta
hIa
The word in the tent translated content.
rnant Ant.rkeia means comnetencv
and nan in GENERAL are warned agains,
being actnated by an oyer-eraspin9 spiri,
of seifishness which eliminates the Chris
tian spirit from business transactions
"For a competency with Goodness is greai
gain"
This is the divine way of measuring in
diyiduals or national prosperity, and dyinf
men and women should ever remembel
that we brouoht nothing into this world
and that we shall carry nothing out, ant
thereby hnild their hone on sometime
mora enduring than tangible object
which even here soon lose their charm
for mortals.
America is regarded by foreigners as tn
place where the almighty dollar" i
everything, and individual worth count
for but little.
While we are prepared to accept thi
opinion as entirely true, we fear that Their
is dangerous moving in this direction
as is evidenced by the frequent strike
against wealthy corporations, whose sol
object seems to be to declare semi-annual
| ly or annually as large dividends as posi-
BILE in the interest Of stockholders, who's
wealth is already a lamentable burden t
them, but the Unsuitable desire for more
30 great that God and peace are drivel
from their souls, and their constant cry
more, more" When a man makes mon
ey-getting the supreme object in his if
and slams the door of his hearts affectiol
against God and Goodness, which hi
holv shirt alone can produce. and thong