The Redwood gazette., 1895-11-28
CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY AND LOVE.

CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY AND LOVE.
It is the heart of sympathy and
love that brings blessings to the body
and souls of men, and just in proper
ton as this love dwells within the
heart so willitgo out to others. Bound
less, tender, loving pity should be the
key dote of the life of every Christ
ian as it was in Christ's mission on
earth, and is still ringing down
through the ages by His spirit
through His word to His children.
The more the heart possesses of
this love, the more will it know some
thing of the greatness, of the great
love of the greatest of all hearts.
Then also, will be realized more fully
the value of soul in the sight of
God.
Christianity must seek the spiritual
good of mon through ministering to
their temporal needs. This is one &C.
cret of success in the doing of Christ's
work, as it enables the Christian to
prove to men that he is the possessor
of that which he claims to profess.
Christ helped mems bodies as we'll as
their souls; His sympathies we're not
restricted to any one condition or class
of men, and never failed of going out
to the most needy, the unnoticed and
degraded. It ministered to every
need of body, mind or soul. God
asks of no one things he is unable to
do, but all can do the little acts and
deeds of kindness, and this is what He
desires of His children.
1t is not the, great acts and. deeds,
but the little kindnesses, the encour-
aging word, the kindly smile and
friendly clasp of the hand, the thous-
and and one little acts that all can
know how to do if they will. It may
only be flower, as some would say,
but nevertheless. this is one of His
most beautiful of messengers, or the
cup Of water given; of which was
said, "he shall in no wise lose his re-
ward" 1t is these that make up the
sum total of life and make it sue
cess.
The church. that has the most of
His love and sympathy in it, that
gives its most loving attention and it's
most earnest fabors to the same class,
will be the most blest, as it will bring
its members into closest harmony
with Christ and His mission.
1t will be spiritually minded
church, working church, a social
church, and last, but not least, it will
be sympathizing church that shall
reach out the hand Of true brotherly
kindness and helpfulness to every one
within it's borders.
The stranger within it's gates will
be made welcome. The unfortunate
will be helped, the discouraged will
tbe encouraged, and the unnoticed
will be noticed, for it will seek, first
of all; not the great, but the needy.
The daily life aof it's members will
correspond to. that of the Sabbath,
and homes will be visited, where
hearts will be cheered and comforted,
and by the friendly interest shown
them they, will be lifted up out of self
on to a higher plane, and life will have
new meaning to them,
The old and infirm and the sick
couch will be remembered, and as the
hand of sympathy is laid upon the
aching and feverish brow, it will leave
behind, it the silent but soothing
benediction of Him who said to the
troubled and tossed waves, Peace, be
still.
| t-- . =s :.
This church will be one large fafdi-
fly, with no. sets or cliques in it, but
each esteeming the other, for where
His love is, there His spirit will be,
and at last when al! nations shall be
gathered before Him, it will hear the
promised welcome, 'sCome, ye blessed
of my Father" for ''inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one of the least of
these my brethren, ye have done it
unto me-"
Oct, '95. One OF THE LEAST.