Year: 1867

ccding period Of your history. And we
might also conclude that just in proportion
rs you practice charity in the future, in that
ratio will you increase and flourish.


I But as part Of the derision under which
we are speaking we are prompted'to notice
that--as you lose christian charity, you will
as any association decay. Look at the
church in its numerous branches; When
any branch loses the Apostolic charity and
simplicity, that moment picty begins to de-
cay, aid then the whole organization. OF
this we see examples every year. Thus it
is that whole congregations are disbandcd
and die out entirely. Thus it is that some
associations have passed away. But to the
historian, the most forcible illustration of an
association practically ignoring the principle
of christian charity, is found in the case OF
the Mohammcdan religion. Islamism start
cd out with as fair prospects Of success as
any organization, religious or otherwise, that
has ever figured on the page of history.
Islam means full submission to God. What
tairer profession could have been made in
that day? The system was eclectic. "Mo-
hammcd designated himself as the restorer
Of the pure religion revealed by God to
Abraham. As tile messenger of God he
required his pagan countrymen to leave their
idols and adopt the worship Of the one true
God; Of the Jewa TO exchange tho 'aw Of
Moses, intended fnr only d Emitted period,
for the new and fnal revelation given to
him, of the christians, to cease wnrshipping
Christ as God, as inconsistent with Mono
theisln and with the true doctrine Of Christ
himself. To say the least OF it this was u
fair presentation to the world as it then
stood On their first PRONUNCIATION, the
doctrines of Mohammcd spread with amaz-
ing rapidly But, though every Moslcm
was compelled to give the Iorticth part Of
his income to support the poor yet charity
was not one of the main planks in their re-
lgious platform. And no sooner had they
gained, by moral suasion and the merit Of
their doctrines, sufficient power to levy an
army, than they gave the lie to all profession
Of charity by the fopciblc propagation Of
their religion in numerous battles 1t is in
deed true that by the power Of the sword
their religion was forced upon many nations
Of the world. But as soon as that power
ceased to be cxerted, their influence began
TO waive even among those nations where
that religion had prevailed. And gliding
little at first, it soon began to prccipitate
headlong, until now the Mos,cm influence
which once claimed the supremacy OF the
world, embraces but 4 few Insignificant
provinces. \ few tribes in South Africa
have indeed, been converted to Mohammed-
anism during late years But their success
even here arises from two causes which
coincide with the very idea We desire to con-
vey. First, The natives embrace this relig-
ion because they are ignorant Of any other;
Second, Because the Mosems themselves
have been touched by the charity Of the
christian religion and make that characters
tic more prominent than ever before.


Efforts have been made of late years to
rouse the spirit of the Sa a;en among the
Mohammcdans renew the bloody onset
against christianity, but the more intelligent
and wealthy have become so much inbued
with the charity of the christian church.
that they have seen tha. tic sword is not tie
most successful instrument in the propaga-
ton of any religion. Thus it may be seen
that here is an institution, that once claimed
the empire Of the world, and yet it's dec!in'
ing toward decay. As it prac:iced charity
toward men, it succeeded. All it gained by
the power Of the sword it lost as fast as it
gined it and the progress it is making now,
il any, is gained by the re-embrace Of that
once discarded charity.


Learn then, that as youp practice true char.
ity among yourselves and towards Others,
you will increase and be propagated. As
you neglect il, God will forsakc you, you
will be divided among yourselves, and your
prestige among men will be lost. The moral
sense of the age is so highly cultivated, thai
all may judge for themselves. You must
stand upon the merit Of your actions. Aud
when public opinion judges your institution
to be morally deficient men will withdraw
their influence from it. 8, God will be with
you just in proportion as you carry into prac-
tice the principles of true cristian charity. -
It is evident that God has laid and is now
engaged in carrying out the great plan OF
regencratng men ard elevating :he human
race His erea, design il to restore man 70
he position which he occupied lescre TIE
fall. TO this end He vii make use ofevery
institution that in its purpose falls in with
His design. But the ax is laid at the root
Of the tree and every tree-individual, asso-
citation or church--that bears no fruit-unto
this end-will be hewn down and cast into
the FIRE. As you practice and cultivate the
principle of true christian Charity you will
fall in with the design of God in clevating
the human family. Charity is the great
Characteristic of the church ITSELF and as
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