Year: 1867

It is one Of the strange things con-
nected with human nature, that famil-
iarity with these who are tenderiy be
loved, should beget indifference to their
hsppiaess, or at least a want of careful
ness In regard to the thousand nameless
little things which make up the sum of
human happiness. But so it often is. 1t
is not at all uncommon to see those who
are all affability and gentleness and
kindness to ordinary friends or cOR-
narrative strangers, reserved or
moody, or even hsrsh and severe
toward those to whom they are
most nearly related, or with
whom they are most intimately assO-
ciated in the every day affairs OF life.
There is many a father, there is many
brother, and-alss that / should write
it-there is many husband, morose and
severe in intercourse with those who are
"his own,u when none but words Of love
and gentleness should fall from his lips.
Ii is sad to think how many heart has
been made to ache by a cold and to bleed
by an unkind word, when it might Just
as easily have been made happy by an
expression Of love. 1t is not the want Of
love of which l speak, but the want Of
its expression in words and acts.


It is needless to say tha. while this is
one Of the manifestations OF human na-
ture, it is an evidence Of its fallen state
and of its having fallen very low. There
is something inhuman, absolutely iend-
ish in such 8 temper, when we come to
apaIvze it. Even the brutes express
their fondness first of all to their own kin,


But what is strangest OF all is, that in
so many instances even the E=ntle, lovely
and loving religion Of Jesus fails to
sweeten the temper and soften the man
ners of those who have professedly en-
braced It's principles, and who are ex-
pected to exemplify in their lives
what they have prOfessed. 1t is a
shame, not 10 christianity, but to some
who call themselves christians, that
there should be such a thing as q mo-
rose christian; one who IS unkind or
severe to those who are bound to him by
sacred ties. 1t is sin against the holy
spirit Of love and meekness to treat with
untender severity, or even with GOODNESS,
those whose hearts are placed in our own
hands as it were. But let my readers an
swer whether there are not fathers and
husbands and brothers who do this every
day, and who yet call themselves chris
tisns.


One of the first fruits of genuine re-
ligion is to awaken in the heart the
desire, and impart the principle Of pro-
noting the happiness Of others and
this il not merely of those in another
hemisphere, but Of the dear and loving
friends by whom we are Immediately
surrounded in life. The man out OF
whom Jesus cast the legion Of devils,
besought him that he might be permitted
to 90 with him, go home to thy
friends and tell them how great
things the Lord hath done for thee, and
| hath had compassion on thee To the
| old prOverb, that charity begins at


home,n is an old answer that when II


does, or when the plea is made, charity


is very apt to end there; but home--tl {


bosom Of ones kindred and frien6s, IS
beyond all question the place UheZe
charity, true love, ought 20 eIsr .ay
itself first, and where its brightest
light should shine. 1t would be q poor
commepdstion of the religion ot
| Christ, if it had no power to soften q


disposition that was naturally harsh, or
! If It did not make an amiable one still


more lovely and loving, especially to-
ward those who are Immediately under


its influence.


Religion never wss designed 20 reach
! through its subjects those most remote by
passing by those who are near at hand
| 1t should show itself not only in efforts &c
promote the spiritual welfare OfOur friends
| but by kind words and kind acts. There


is 8 magic power ever in q gentle tone oi


voice which may lift mighty load from
some heart that is suffering; there is 8


mighty power in words Of severity and


even of coldness, to pierce the same hesrt
with anguish.


Bright and blessed is the example Of


Jesus in this respect. He went about


doing good.