The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-05-09
HELPING OUR BRETHRl1t
An Address Delivered by MIR. John r. John.
son, at the Second Quarterly Conference
of the Cecil County &. T.. u, at
Leeds ADFiI Pr. 1891.

An Address Delivered by Mr.. John r. John.
son, at the Second Quarterly Conference
of the Cecil County &. T.. u, at
Leeds ApriI 20, S9I.
OAe of the worlds favorite maxims
bids us to always take care OF and help
number one aud there is quite enough
of the principle of scIfishncss IN the IN
regruerate heart It. make t;Iis d a!rI. e 81.
oIt OF earthly aching lery acg p aOIr,
but the VISION OF the world aud the
disposition Of the heart are at f.ulJ here
as earthly wisdom and the natural iucli-
nation of the heart always here.
Experience aud observation az well as
the word of God teach, that ex-
IRENE seifishness always defeats itself
and that se!iIshnes even III it's milder
forms brings no permanent good to irs
pu,,es-uU Tie pest things OF lite AT
oeA Hud the grasp, and even be5unG
TIE sight OF the sell seeking
Wuen We LABOR oniy Tor ourselves. think
only OF ourselves and love only ourselves,
We are too far separated from God and
man to receive Gods choicest blessings
either directly from himself or through
human mediums.
Though The God of love still cares for
US and good men are still kindly dispos-
ed, love like the electric current must
How back again to complete the circuit,
and the life which is barren of any other
love than self-loVe is isolated indeed.
Some, it Is true, actuaGed by q selfish
prIHcIple but still enlightened enough TO
know that God makes certain blessings
the reward of service, and wise enough to
know that he who would have frie uds must
show himself friendly, are willing to
tolIo" Christ for the loayes and fishes
and to favor others that they may be
favored i'll return. This is not enough,
self seeking must cease altogether; this
50 called far sighted selfishness sees just
far enough and just clear enough to see
nothing beyond it's own little sphere,
and nothing even there as it really is.
Every member oil the Christian Eldea-
vor Society; every one who accepts the
teaching o. Jesus of Nazareth knows
that the higher wisdom rejects selfish
ness entirely. God must be loved for what
he is and to our fellowmen we must give
not hoping to re ceive again.
But what has our duty to God and our
christian character to do with our sub
ject, ''Helpirg our Brethern" Every
thing. Our relation to God and man
makes it impossible to love the one with
out loving the other; love must be the
motive OF all our attempts to help; only
those who have entered upon the Few
life OF love know what is really beneti-
cial for others. Ouly those vino receive
strength from on high are capable of
strengthening their brethren.
1t is important that we start right, that
we build upon solid foundation. Love
to God must come first, love to man next,
having these we are aetuated by a pure
principle and the old question what ad-
vantage are others 20 me, gives place to
the new question, of what benefit am to
others? Instead of WI 1t eau I .5J from
them it will De hos Can halp them or
what can | give them that will be a
benefit to their immortal souls?
Until We are willing to spend time
1al9ut and means IN the great work, we
are conducting the business gu too
cheap plan and with too small a capital
to accomplish much if any good, but
when We 60 whole hearted iuto the work,
with the blessing of God upon us, only
God knows the value of the service that
can be rendered
Having the desire to help we need the
ability to discriminate between what
would be hurtful and what would be
beneficial. II the blind lead the blind
both will fall into the ditch, but ii our
eyes have been touched by the giver of
sight 10 the blind and the things of God
are revealed to cur understanding, we
can at least point to the path of safety
and everlasting b!essedness, aud testify
of that to which others are strangers.
Let US then add to our love and know
ledge that power which is the gii5 OF
God and w are completely equipped for
our work. II We have not been to the
Saviour for this preparation and received
it, it is high tim9 that we had it, If
there still remains in our hearts some Of
the old roots of bitterness, we should set
ourselves diligently to the task of dig
ging them out, If self still presses its
claims uuduly, now is the OpporGu li.Y
and tie demand for self crucitixion. The
church languiShes for want OF sCroug
willing and intelligent workers. Many
of us seem never to conceive the idea
that God intended We should be workers
i'll the midst of our brethren. We know
the necessity of this work certainly but
seem to think for some cause or other
that is to do it and ought to do it. How
we say let those who have
talent for such things do them they are
so much more competent than | am.
Perhaps this is true. Some OF us are
not as well qualified as others, perhaps
we cannot staud up in public and tell OF
tue love OF Jesus without stammering
and trembling, aud yet by our few feeble
win more souls for Christ thln
a world full of orators such as Robert
Pehaps we have never at one
time owned more than hundred dollars
and yet done more to build churches and
spread the glorious gospel of Christ
than many of our millionaires. II we
really love Christ and his Church, how