The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-03-01

cOrding to its intrinsic and relative
value; but practically treats every in
terest according to the perceived prob
ability of securing on the whole the
highest amount of good.
This is truth of great practical i'm
portance. 1t is developed in the eX-
perience and observation Of every day
and hour 1t is manifest in the con-
duct of God and of Christ, of apostles
ane martyrs. 1t is everywhere as
sumed in the precepts of the Bible, and
everywhere manifested in the history
of benevolent effort. The impartiality
of benevolence causes it always to lay
supreme stress upon Gods interests,
because His well-being is Of infinite
value. and of course benevolence must
being impartial love, Of course accounts
Gods interests and well-being, as of
infinitely greater value than the aggre-
gate of all other interests. Benevo-
lence regards our neighbor's interests
as our own, simply because they are
in their intrinsic value as our own.
Benevolence, therefore, is always su-
preme to God, and equal to man.
Universally is another attribute of
Christian love, or benevolence. 1t
excludes none from its regard; but Oh
the contrary embraces all in ample
embrace. BY this it is not intended,
that it practically seeks to promote the
good of every indivdual-it would if
it could; but it seeks the highest prac-
tical amount of good. The interest
Of every being is estimated according
to its intrinsic value, whatever the
circumstances or character of each may
be. But character and relations may
and must modify the manifestations of
to promote this end. A wicked char
acter, and governmental relations and
considerations, may forbid benevolence
to seek the good of some. Nay, they
may demand that positive misery shall
be inflicted on some, as a warning to
others to beware Of their destructive
ways. By universality, as an attribute
of benevolence, is intended, that good
will is truly exercised toward all sem
tient beings, whatever their character
and relations may be; and that, when
the highest good Of the greatest num-
Der does not forbid it, and the happi-
ness of all and of each will pursued
| with degree Of stress equal to their
relative value, and the prospect of Sc
curing each Interest.
Enemies as we'll as friends, stran-
gers and foreigners as we'll as relatives
and immediate neighbors, will be en-
folded in its sweet embrace. 1t is the
state of mind required by Christ in the
truly divine precept, II say unto you,
love your enemies, pray for them that
hate you, and do good unto them that
despitefully use you and persecutc
you.'
This attribute of benevolence is glo-
riously conspicuous in the character OF
God. His love to sinners alone &C
counts for their being to-day out OF
perdition. His aiming to secure the
highest good Of the greatest number,
by the display Of his glorious justice in
the punishment of the wicked, His
universal care for all ranks and condi-
tions of sentient beings, manifested in
His works of providence, beautifully
and gloriously illustrates the truth,
that, ''His tender mercies are over all
His works.
Since benevOlencc necessarily, from
its very nature, active and efficient in
putting forth efforts to secure its end
and since its end is the highest good OF
being, it follows that all who are
truly religious will, and must, from
the very nature Of true religion, be
active in endeavoring to promote the
good of being. While effort is possible
to a Christian, it is as natural to him
as his breath. He has within him the
very handspring of activity, a hear
set on the promotion ofthe highest gooC
of universal being. While he has life
and activity at all it will and must, be
directed to this end. Let this never
be forgotten. An idle, an inactive
! inefficient Christian is a misnomer
Religion is an essentially active
principle, and when and while it exists
it must exercise and manifest itself
1t is not merely good desire, and goo(
feeling: but it is good-willing. Mer
may have desires, and hope and live
on, without making efforts to realize
their desires. They may desire without
action. If their will is active, theil
life must be. The sinner does ant
must manifest his selfish choice, anC
SO likewise must the saint manifest hi:
benevolence.
Seest thou a professed convert t.
Christ whose compositions are no
stirred. and whose zeal for the saliva
ton of souls is not awakened: b
assured that you behold hypocrite.