The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-11-30

| the life cOnsecrated to dong goou'
Why should not the Christian be the
most brotherly and helpful MANI
Should he think of standing apart
ever and saying to any, II am holier
than thou?" That was the sentence
of the Pharisee which Jesus approved
not. The Christian is man who
should be in fellowship with men, in
good will toward them.
He should think of service. He
should live brotherly. Theories as to
the character and office of Christ
should not be allowed to weight down
the living principles which are to rise
in universal fellowship.
And Christians should not refuse
cooperative help while they give. AS
any are exclusive, as any assume that
all Christian work must be done in
accordance with their notions, in
keeping with their theological opin-
ions, and if not so done, it is not
genuine work, not worthy of their
fellowship and of the approval of the
Master, they are subject to the re-
buke which Jesus gave the disciples
when they would have stopped GER
tain works simply because they were
being done by another company. He
was in sympathy with any work that
bettered the condition of men. 1t was
his work done by others. He owned
it. "For they that are not against
us are for us"
Oh, when will Christians perceive
that the name they take, if they are
true to him who calls us, must be as
large, as broad as world of good?
for he who calls us was brother unto
all!
The Christian character has GER
tain stability and steadfastness about
it by virtue of its purpose to minister
and to do good. AS men give, they
are superior. AS they receive, they
are subordinate. Men both give to
and receive from each other, because
their relations are mutual. But God
gives only because he is pre-eminent-
ly superior; the creature receives from
him in dependence. He that is su
preme is not tickle as the wind; he
changes not. He shall not bless to-
day and curse tomorrow. He that
loved the world in it's sin and sent a
Saviour to it, he that is helping men
up to himself, shall never turn from
any because they are unworthy, or
abandon them hopelessly.
His saving love depended not at
first upon mems love to him. Nor
shall it depend in the end upon mems
| love to him. The divine love shall
awaken human love. 1t has done SO,
and so it shall work ever, or God If
not God. So the Christ who seeks
to save, who comes to minister. has
ga patience of immortal love out
wearying mortal SIM" He was stead
fast. He endured unto the end. The
spirit on the cross where mans re-
proach was ugliest, was the same as
that on the mountain top OF commun
ion where the Fathers smile was
tenderest. If he was strengthened
on the one, he conquered on the
other. So far as any character is
God like, or Christ like, he is reliable.
He counts one for truth. He is one
among the forces for good. He is
steadfast, superior, jealousy affect
ed always in good thing"
Some men change as the wind.
Their banks are on the sea of popular
sentiment. The favoring breeze
takes them the way it chances to
blow. Others are like the seeds
which fall by the wayside, having no
depth of earth. They grow quickly
for time; "afterward, when at
Fiction or persecution ariseth for
the words sake, Immediately they
are offended" Others still are leech
like. They hold on for what they
can get. If the Christian Union
meeting isn't interesting, they don't
go. Oh no! They don't think OF
helping to make it interesting. When
there is good music, good sermon,
good day and likelihood of a
good congregation, they come to
church. Otherwise, or even then,
they do not think of giving their pres
ence for it's helpfulness.
A genuine character is more like a
rock or a mountain. Jesus said to
Simon after he had shown signs OF
steadfastness, Thou art rock, and
on such a rock | shall build my
church." On the steadfast and loyal
character his church would depend.
By such his work would be done.
The granite foundation bears the
| buildino ND because it is there for