The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-02-10

His head" He chose His twelve
apostles from the humblest walks OF
life; men without wealth or learning
or influence or any Of the qualihca-
lions regarded as essential for the
success of any enterprise. He COM
manded them to preach the Gospel
especially to the poor. He wrought
His greatest miracles in their behalf.
His choicest promises are made TO
them: blessed are the poor IN
spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom Of
Heaven" "The Spirit of the Lord 10
upon Me. Wherefore He hath anoint-
ed Me to preach the Gospel to the
poor; He hath sent Me to heal the
contrite heart"
1 have set before you these fea-
lures of the life Of Christ not merely
for your admiration, but still more
for your ed~iflcation and example. He
is the ideal we are to follow. The
closer we resemble the divine model,
the nearer we shall approach Chris
tian perfection.
We are social beings, we were Gre
ated to live in society. No man is
sufficient unto himself. We are all
mutually and reciprocally dependent
one on another, just as the organs OF
our body are sustained by one an
other. AS an injury to n organ
involves a shock to the entire human
system, so should the community at
large feel a practical sympathy for
their fellow beings in any grievance
by which they may be oppressed.
I care not how rich and powerful
you are. You might possess the
wealth of a multi-millionaire, but
what would it profit you If you had
no servant to minister to you, no
companion to cherish you, NJ friend
to grasp your hand? You would be
poor and miserable and blind and
naked.
What would it benefit a man to
own all the coal coal mines of West
Virginia and Pennsylvania, If there
were no hardy sons of toll to work
those mines, to extract the coal from
the bowels Of the earth and transport
it to the various centres of popula-
ton?
I care not how limited may be your
resources, or how circumscribed your
influence, you have personal mission
from God in the Christian common
wealth, and you car exert some good
in your day and generation.
Society Is like the planetary sys-
TEN, which is composed Of greater
and lesser bodies, held together BY
reciprocal forces. The moon Is the
smallest body Of our system; and yet
what control she sways in the flow
and ebb of the ocean tides; how
much we would miss her monthly
visits, when she sheds over the earth
her pale and silvery light; she gen.
erously shares with US the efulgence
she borrows from the great orb OF
the day.
And so, no matter how insignih-
IAN you may be, you can exert some
b%enefcent power over the tide, and
flow Of human passions, and difuse
a calm and blessed light on those
that fall within your environment.
The benevolence Of Christ was not
exercised in promiscuous almsgivihg.
His be%nefactions usually consisted in
removing diseases from the bodies of
men, or in bringing them such timely
relief as would enable them to stand
on their feet and resume some honest
a~vocations Of life. Thus we find Him
healing the paralyzed man that he
might use his arms to support life,
cleansing the leper that he might
take his place again in society, and
feeding the multitude to enable them
to return to their respective homes.
But perhaps you will say: Why
should I concern myself about other
peoples affairs? I have my own
business to attend to. "Am I my
brothers keeper" These were the
words of Cain, the first murderer.
What would have become Of you and
me if Christ the Lord had said, Am
I my brothers keeper" We would
be cropping to-day in the darkness Of
idolatry or infidelity. What would
have become of society If the apostles
had said, Are we our brothers
Keeper" and if they had returned to
their homes and closed their ministry
after the death of their Master? We
would be deprived to-day Of the price,
less blessings Of Christian civiliza-
ton.
I say you are, you ought to be,
your brothers keeper. You cannot,
indeed. like the Saviour of the world,
give sight to the blind, or hearing
to the deaf, or speech to the dumb, or
strength to the paralyzed limb. But
you can work miracles of grace and
mercy by relieving the distress OF
your suffering brethren. And never
do you approach nearer to God than
when you alleviate the sorrows OF
14Lou RTo,n- do rrNun unrr-
selves to be the children of your
heavenly Father more effectually
than when you bring sunshine to
hearts that were darkened by the
clouds of adversely. Never do you
perform a deed more like to the cre-
alive act of the Almighty than whe2
you cause the flowers Of joy AND
gladness to bloom n souls that were
desolate and barren before.