-
Articles/Ads
Article BENEVOLENCE: ITS EEWAED AND SGUECE. ← Page 6 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Benevolence: Its Eewaed And Sguece.
needlessly and prematurely suffer and die . That philosophy which teaches men to care for their souls , and to contemn their bodies , has no foundation in truth ; for no man who is guided by reason and religion , ever yet hated his own flesh . Bodily healtli and long life are blessings , then , that we can legitimately seek , and the preservation and promotion of both greatly depend upon the interest We take in the welfare of pur brethren . I have seen death enter the cottage of the poor ; I have seen him ascend the marble steps and knock at the gates of the gilded mansion I have heard the remark made--- " They died by the visitation of God , " It was His will and we all must submit / ' True to a certain extent .
But then it entered into my reflections that in many cases , both Lazarus and Dives would now be walking God ' s earth , had genuine benevolence entered into the calculations of those whom God has placed in positions of influence and wealth . There are a great many evils in society , which often cut off men in the prime of life , which tlie efforts of an enlightened benevolence might remove ; as if the Great Architect of nature would ever remind us that it is our duty to seek the good of others ,
and by so doing we shall more likely find otir own . Forget this , as it has beeii forgotten , and see the consequences of your own short-sighted policy f in the shape of famine , pestilence , and the sword walking through this beautiful world , and again cursing it for mens' sake . Oh ! do not look upon that countless throng of human beings impelled to that fearful doom by any wrath of the Almighty , Open your eyes wider , I entreat you , and witness in that dreadful spectacle the consequenfees , too often , of man ' s
neglect , heartlessness , and apathy for others , the head spying to the members , " ! have no need of thee . " When God ' s judgments are thus abroad in the land , fasting and prayer , though very laudable practices , are too easy methods of getting rid of our responsibilities ; and they sometimes have their origin in the principle that God is the author of human suffering . If men will live to themselves as they please , feel no concern , make no
strenuous effort , submit to no privation for the health , comfort , and longevity of the community as a whole , they must make up their minds to pay the penalty of such sinful neglect in the form of disease , contagion , and death ; involving young and old , rich and poor , in one common disaster . If men would only consider the dealings of the Almighty , they would as clearly see that by an active concern in the welfare of others , their own lives are given to them by Divine Providence , for a prey , as surely , only in a diiferent manner , as w as the life of Ebedmelech for the
timely assistance he rendered to the prophet . III . —THE SOURCE OE BENEVOLENCE . Brethren , there is another point in this interesting narrative which must not be overlooked , for it is a very important one . How was it that
Ebedmelech , while living in the midst of a corrupt and seliish court , w as thus able to pursue a benevolent course ? Where selfishness every where prevailed , how was it that he became a praiseworthy exception % To what cause may be attributed those bowels of compassion which yearned over the prophet ' s fate ? God tells you—the language is significantly beautiful
— "Go and tell Ebedmelech his life shall be given him for a prey . " Why ? " Because thou hast put thy trust in me , saith the Lord . " That was where his great strength lay ; that was the spring of his humanity ; that was the secret of his successful life . He trusted in God , and therefore he could boldly say , " The Lord is the strength of my life , of whom then shall I be afraid . " Brethren , the more I reflect upon true religion , the more it » eems to me that one of its cardinal points consists in a sincere
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Benevolence: Its Eewaed And Sguece.
needlessly and prematurely suffer and die . That philosophy which teaches men to care for their souls , and to contemn their bodies , has no foundation in truth ; for no man who is guided by reason and religion , ever yet hated his own flesh . Bodily healtli and long life are blessings , then , that we can legitimately seek , and the preservation and promotion of both greatly depend upon the interest We take in the welfare of pur brethren . I have seen death enter the cottage of the poor ; I have seen him ascend the marble steps and knock at the gates of the gilded mansion I have heard the remark made--- " They died by the visitation of God , " It was His will and we all must submit / ' True to a certain extent .
But then it entered into my reflections that in many cases , both Lazarus and Dives would now be walking God ' s earth , had genuine benevolence entered into the calculations of those whom God has placed in positions of influence and wealth . There are a great many evils in society , which often cut off men in the prime of life , which tlie efforts of an enlightened benevolence might remove ; as if the Great Architect of nature would ever remind us that it is our duty to seek the good of others ,
and by so doing we shall more likely find otir own . Forget this , as it has beeii forgotten , and see the consequences of your own short-sighted policy f in the shape of famine , pestilence , and the sword walking through this beautiful world , and again cursing it for mens' sake . Oh ! do not look upon that countless throng of human beings impelled to that fearful doom by any wrath of the Almighty , Open your eyes wider , I entreat you , and witness in that dreadful spectacle the consequenfees , too often , of man ' s
neglect , heartlessness , and apathy for others , the head spying to the members , " ! have no need of thee . " When God ' s judgments are thus abroad in the land , fasting and prayer , though very laudable practices , are too easy methods of getting rid of our responsibilities ; and they sometimes have their origin in the principle that God is the author of human suffering . If men will live to themselves as they please , feel no concern , make no
strenuous effort , submit to no privation for the health , comfort , and longevity of the community as a whole , they must make up their minds to pay the penalty of such sinful neglect in the form of disease , contagion , and death ; involving young and old , rich and poor , in one common disaster . If men would only consider the dealings of the Almighty , they would as clearly see that by an active concern in the welfare of others , their own lives are given to them by Divine Providence , for a prey , as surely , only in a diiferent manner , as w as the life of Ebedmelech for the
timely assistance he rendered to the prophet . III . —THE SOURCE OE BENEVOLENCE . Brethren , there is another point in this interesting narrative which must not be overlooked , for it is a very important one . How was it that
Ebedmelech , while living in the midst of a corrupt and seliish court , w as thus able to pursue a benevolent course ? Where selfishness every where prevailed , how was it that he became a praiseworthy exception % To what cause may be attributed those bowels of compassion which yearned over the prophet ' s fate ? God tells you—the language is significantly beautiful
— "Go and tell Ebedmelech his life shall be given him for a prey . " Why ? " Because thou hast put thy trust in me , saith the Lord . " That was where his great strength lay ; that was the spring of his humanity ; that was the secret of his successful life . He trusted in God , and therefore he could boldly say , " The Lord is the strength of my life , of whom then shall I be afraid . " Brethren , the more I reflect upon true religion , the more it » eems to me that one of its cardinal points consists in a sincere