Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-12-07
SERMON BY EBEN N, BALDWIN.

Christianity Described as Being Like
Christ in Our Love, sympathy, Kind |
ness, Sacrifice, Giving, Humility and |
Faith - Local Phiianthropists Com
mended.
Eben N. Baldwin, postmaster and p,
W. s. b. railroad agent ut Claymont, |
preached an interesting sermon Sunday |
evening in Second NJ. =. Church, Fifth |
avenue and Brown street. His text |
was Matthew XIV, 40: "Inasmuch as We |
have done it unto one Of the least of |
these, my brethren, ye have done it
unto Me-"
He said in part There is a great deal |
of common sense and practicability |
about Christianity. The why's and
wherefores as to the causes of so much
poverty and suffering in the world are
matters over which we need not split
straws. That they exist to an alarming
extent is self evident The Bible tells
US, and 1t is corroborated by reason and
common sense, that sin is the primary
cause of all sorrow; that man was origi-
nally pure and holy and without sin.
But by disobedience he fell, and entailed
sin upon the race. Ono thing we do
know, that where men and women live
up to their full knowledge, doing the
best they can by industry and diligence,
by economy and frugality, sin and suf-
fering are mitlgated and lessened. But
the poor and needy are still with us, as
they have been through the ages, and,
as Christians, we find an opportunity of
doing great work among them. 1t has
been well said that the only religion for
hungry man is bread; the only re-
ligion for the naked is clothing. God,
the All-wlse Father, has made those
who are blessed with plenty the
stewards of the suffering poor. Just
think of it friends By helping the
poor we honor Christ! "Inasmuch as
we did it unto one of the least of these,
my brethren, ye did it unto me-"
If Christ were on the earth now, in
human flesh, how we would delight to
know Him! And yet we may honor
Him by helping the poor and needy, by
giving, as He hath prospered us, to those
around us who are perishing for bread
and clothing. And He accepts such
acts of charity as though done unto
Himself. May we not help to feed the
hungry, clothe the naked, secure work
| for those out of work, and do good in
an intensely practical way to all men as
we have opportunity? God does not
ask nor require what we cannot do. He
does ask and require each of us to do all
that we can. We are destitute indeed,
| If we cannot do somethingl Can we not
| give cup of water, a kind word, and
speak words Of encouragement to those
about us who are Respondent and down
| cast? Can we not bid them look up,
and not DOWN. Can we not lead them
| by acts of charity and love to the living
Christ, the One who is touched by our
infrmities, the Great Sympathizer, the
Great Physician who can heal all our
diseases, both of soul and body! WHO
so tender as He? Who can heal the
broken heart but Christi His exceeding
great and precious promises are for all,
and not, as some seem to think for u
favored few. The reason everybody
don't love Christ is because they don't
know Him.
II all the world my Saviour knew,
Then all tho world would love Him too.
Our theology becomes so distorted, at
times, that we forget the fundamental
principle Of it all, which is "God is
Love-" Has lie proven His love to us?
Yes, in q thousand ways. "God SO
loved us that He sent His only Son to
die for u.s." "Greater love hath no man
than this, that man lay down His life
for his friends" although He was rich,
yet for our sakes He became poor thai
we, through His poverty, might be
made rich"
What is Christianity It is to be like
Christ. Like Him in our love, in oui
sympathy, in our kindness, in oul
sacrifice, in our giving, in our humility,
in our faith. He blessed all mer
wherever He went He came to give
life, not to destroy it. Hence lie healed
the sick, opened the eyes of the blind
and spread true joy among men every
where He went, God help us to initiate
! our Master, and open our hearts to lii
blessed truth. To be Christian mean!
something. The decisions of the day
are many, and there is danger that W.
deceive ourselves. To sit in a finely
upholstered pew in a comfortably
heated, well furnished church once OF
Sunday and listen to an eloquen
discourse, that flatters and tickles the
, intellect, that is not religion That il
not Christianity. We must have tn,
} mind and spirit of Christ or we are non,
: of His. Let us keep this thought il
view and ask ourselves in every diff
Guilty, "What would Christ have m
do?" ! am glad that we have so many
good people in the world. God increas,
the number 1t Is pleasure to note tn
work of our organizations Of charity
They are doing grand work in vii
mington, and in many Of the cities 0
our land.
Christ has already come and is reign
/ ing and ruling in many hearts. Tn
/ churches are alive to practical charit
and philanthropy, are going out, il
many instances, to care for the hungry
! the naked, the poor and suffering, an
! by the means literally of bread all,
? clothing, are healing the sick an
spreading comfort and happiness, Go
bless every good means put forth 70
the salvation of the bodies and souls 0
i men God help Christianity, pure an
Y simple; to be true to itself and its grea
head. God help His people to "ShoN
forth the praises of Him who hath calle
= them out of darkness into light" Their
I is comfort and responsibility in til
q thought. "Inasmuch as ye have don
d it unto one of the least of these, M
= brethren, We have done it unto Me-"
$ Second NJ. p. Church was organize
a recently. Mr.. Baldwin has preache
= there several Sunday evenings, and o
q each of these occasions the building wa
!. thronged and the congregation man
II tested the liveliest interest. Mr.. Bald
:, win is SO years old and has been wit
!; the Pennsylvania Railroad Compan
y 90 years. He has been member OF tn
u | Matl,,Iiof Drgta.toy, (AhnenIN al nm