Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org
Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org
that struck the motley image, and dashed it to pieces, fall on us, and grind us to powder! A religion, the very essence of which is love, cannot suffer at its altars a heart that is revengeful and uncharitable, or which does not use its utmost endeavours to revive love in the heart of another. Union among the followers of Christ is strongly recommended. How can spiritual brethren fall out by the way! Have they not all one Father, all one Head? Do they not form one body, and are they not all members of each other? Would it not be monstrous to see the nails pulling out the eyes, the hands tearing off the flesh from the body, the teeth biting out the tongue? &c., &c. And is it less so to see the members of a Christian society bite and devour each other till they are consumed one of another? God has many imitators of his power, independence, justice, &c., but few of his love, condescension, and kindness. God is merciful; he will have man to resemble him: as far as he is merciful, feels a compassionate heart, and uses a benevolent hand, he resembles his Maker; and the mercy he shows to others God will show to him. But it is not a sudden impression at the sight of a person in distress, which obliges a man to give something for the relief of the sufferer, that constitutes the merciful character. It is he who considers the poor; who endeavours to find them out; who looks into their circumstances; who is in the habit of doing so; and actually, according to his power and means, goes about to do good; that is the merciful man of whom God speaks with such high approbation, and to whom he promises a rich reward. The apostle, 1 Cor. xvi, 2, prescribeth the most convenient and proper method of making contribution for the relief of the poor. 1. Every man was to feel it his duty to succour his brethren in distress. 2. He was to do this according to the ability which God gave him. 3. He was to do this at the conclusion of the week, when he had cast up his weekly earnings, and had seen how much God had prospered his labour. 4. He was then to
ing it on the first day of the week, as is most likely, to the church or assembly, that it might be put into the common treasury. 5. We learn from this that the weekly contribution could not be always the same, as each man was to lay by as God had prospered him. Now, some weeks he would gain more; others, less. 6. It appears from the whole that the first day of the week, which is the Christian Sabbath, was the day on which their principal religious meetings were held in Corinth and the churches of Galatia; and, consequently, in all other places where Christianity had prevailed. This is a strong argument for the keeping of the Christian Sabbath. 7. We may observe that the apostle follows here the rule of the synagogue; it was a regular custom among the Jews to make their collections for the poor on the Sabbath day, that they might not be without the necessaries of life, and might not be prevented from coming to the synagogue. 8. For the purpose of making this provision, they had a purse, which was called "the purse of the alms," or, what we would term, "the poor's box." This is what the apostle seems to mean when he says, "Let him lay by him in store"—Let him put it in the alms purse, or in the poor's box. 9. It was a maxim also with them that, if they found any money, they were not to put it in their private purse, but in that which belonged to the poor. 10. The pious Jews believed that as salt seasoned food, so did alms riches; and that he who did not give alms of what he had, his riches should be dispersed. The moth would corrupt the bags, and the canker corrode the money, unless the mass was sanctified by giving a part to the poor. Whatever love we may pretend to mankind, if we are not charitable and benevolent, we give the lie to our profession. If we have not bowels of compassion we have not the love of God in us; if we shut up our bowels against the poor, we shut Christ out of our hearts, and ourselves out of heaven. Let the person who is called to perform any act of compassion or mercy to the wretched, do it, not grudgingly nor of necessity, but from a spirit of pure benevolence and sympathy. The poor are often both wicked and worthless; and if those who are called to minister to them as
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ing it on the first day of the week, as is most likely, to the church or<br />
assembly, that it might be put into the common treasury. 5. We learn from<br />
this that the weekly contribution could not be always the same, as each<br />
man was to lay by as God had prospered him. Now, some weeks he<br />
would gain more; others, less. 6. It appears from the whole that the first<br />
day of the week, which is the <strong>Christian</strong> Sabbath, was the day on which<br />
their principal religious meetings were held in Corinth and the churches<br />
of Galatia; and, consequently, in all other places where <strong>Christian</strong>ity had<br />
prevailed. This is a strong argument for the keeping of the <strong>Christian</strong><br />
Sabbath. 7. We may observe that the apostle follows here the rule of the<br />
synagogue; it was a regular custom among the Jews to make their<br />
collections for the poor on the Sabbath day, that they might not be<br />
without the necessaries of life, and might not be prevented from coming<br />
to the synagogue. 8. For the purpose of making this provision, they had<br />
a purse, which was called "the purse of the alms," or, what we would<br />
term, "the poor's box." This is what the apostle seems to mean when he<br />
says, "Let him lay by him in store"—Let him put it in the alms purse, or<br />
in the poor's box. 9. It was a maxim also with them that, if they found any<br />
money, they were not to put it in their private purse, but in that which<br />
belonged to the poor. 10. The pious Jews believed that as salt seasoned<br />
food, so did alms riches; and that he who did not give alms of what he<br />
had, his riches should be dispersed. The moth would corrupt the bags, and<br />
the canker corrode the money, unless the mass was sanctified by giving<br />
a part to the poor.<br />
Whatever love we may pretend to mankind, if we are not charitable<br />
and benevolent, we give the lie to our profession. If we have not bowels<br />
of compassion we have not the love of God in us; if we shut up our<br />
bowels against the poor, we shut Christ out of our hearts, and ourselves<br />
out of heaven.<br />
Let the person who is called to perform any act of compassion or<br />
mercy to the wretched, do it, not grudgingly nor of necessity, but from a<br />
spirit of pure benevolence and sympathy. The poor are often both wicked<br />
and worthless; and if those who are called to minister to them as
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