Year: 1859

VI lu0 p6OplOs lucy aIe pIeac06u 10, sung
to, prayed to and, as the preaching and
singing praying are calculated to feed
their emotional natures, or otherwise, are
they satisfied or dissatisfied


Now the whole tendency of this thing is
to spiritual debility and imbecity. Some
of the most inefficient churches in this
country are those which have what is call
ed great preaching, and splendid music"
They enjoy their Sabbath they have most
refreshing seasons of communion they hold
delightful prayer meetings, and imagine that
all is right with them, while they see no
results of good to Others around them, and
wonder at it. How long must the world
live before the Church will learn that its
power in the world depends on what it does
and not on what it feels 2 How long must
the church live before it will learn that
strength is won by action, and success by
work, and that all this immeasurable feed
ing without action and work is a positive
damage to it--that it is the procurer of
spiritual obesity, gout and debility 2


The world of Christian life wants to be
turned squarely around, and be made to as
sumo new attitude. The world is never
to be converted by Christian feeling. What
difference will it make with my careless
neighbor that have enjoyed fine sermon,
if it do not move me to efforts for his good?
What will it avail my sweet friend who
languishes upon her death.bed that my
sympathies had been played upon by elo.
quent lips, if they do not lead me to her
bedside with Offices of kindness and words
of cheer Why and how is the world bet
ter for the powerful representation to me
of the claims of Christianity, if it do not
stir me up to the work of gathering up and
saving the neglected little ones who are
growing into vicious and ignorant man
hood and womanhood ? Am Selfshly to
congratulate myself that have obtained
new views Of the divine nature and the di-
vine love, without zealously endeavoring to
bring the dumb and dead souls around me
to the same recognition "He that does
no more than another is no better than an
other" Life has language, always. Ex-
preston is the natural offspring of posses
sion. If my life and my spiritual posses
sion exceed the measure of another man,
they will demonstrate their superiority in
action. If my humane but unchristian
neighbor do more good than do, then his
humanity, as a motive principle of life, is
better than my Christianity.


There are three distinct aspects in which
Christian action may be viewed, with pro-
priety and profit. The first relates to spir-
itual development. There can be no growth
of power, in any faculty of the soul, or any
combination of faculties without use. Ac-
tion is the law and condition of spiritual
development, as it is of muscular develop
ment. That which we try to do and per-
sist in doing, becomes easy to do, not be-
cause its nature is changed, but because
our power to do is developed. Christian
benefcience is grace that grows by cult
vation. A man who is accustomed togiye,
is the man who gives freely and gladly
An excellent thing for spiritual plethora is
the bleeding of the pocket-book. 1t is on
ly those who do---who act-that become
powers in the Christian world. A man
may hear hundred and fifty sermons in a
year, and five hundred prayers and as many
hymns, and be melted and stirred and ex-
alted by them, and still be a spiritual baby,
without nerve, or faculty, or power, or even
without having learned anything practical
ly. 1t is only those who do their duty that
learn the doctrine Alright. 1t is only those
who come into contact with human nature
and human condition in the work of Chris
tianity that learn and appreciate its relation
to that nature and condition. We know
the truth of principle by applying it in
practice. The principle of Davy's safety
lamp may be received as true, but it is not
known to be true till the lamp is made and
used. We accept the proposition that it
it is more blessed to give than to receive,
but we know nothing about it, until we
try it and demonstrate it. 1t is in the line
of duty that all the highest truth becomes
incorporated into the souls knowledge. A
Christian who does nothing is not only un-
developed as man Of power, but he abso.
lutely knows nothing. All truth is to be
digested, assimlated, developed into life,
before it really becomes a possession-no
less than before it becomes power.


The second aspect in which Christian ac-
tion may be viewed is that which relates to
the outside world. In the development Of
the subject this has already been touched
upon, but more remains to be said. 1t is
notorious and well recognized fact that,
considering the agencies engaged in the
Christian work, the results are small. L
place the responsibility for those insignif-
cant results upon the constantly receptive
and persistently inactive position of the
church itself There was never so much
good preaching, praying and singing in the
world as now. There was never a more
general disposition to ego TO meeting."-
The Christian ministry were never so put
up to the exhibition of every faculty within
them as in this age. 1t is all feeding, feed
ing, feeding. 1t is all ministry to the gree
dy flock. We pay better salaries than we
used to- and expect more for the money,
yet we grow dead aud dumb from year to
year. The church is not generally aggres-
sive. Now and then, here and there it
becomes active, and Immediately there
springs up great reformation, but the les
son is unheeded, and we go on gorging and
gormadizing, aud wonder why nothing comes
of it but increasing weakness and grow
ing disposition to inaction.


1t is not enough that the Christian give
bis money to feed the poor, and sustain eff
forts for the reclamation of the vicious,
and send the Gospel to the heather, and
support the church at home. The money