Part 10 (1/2)

Every moment's delay is _sin_. And so of every other duty. Our first object, then, is to _know_ present duty; our second, to _do_ it. We cannot put off anything which we ought to do _now_, without bringing guilt upon our Souls.

Your affectionate Brother.

LETTER XIII.

_Christian Activity._

”She hath done what she could.”--MARK 14:8.

MY DEAR SISTER,

You doubtless feel a deep interest in the great benevolent enterprises of the present day. No one who possesses the spirit of our Master can be indifferent towards them. It is important, then, that you should know what you _can do_ towards moving forward these enterprises. For, remember that your obligation is as extensive as your ability. Christ commended the woman, referred to in the pa.s.sage above quoted for doing ”_what she could_.” If you do more than any within the circle of your acquaintance, and yet leave undone anything that you can do, you do not discharge your obligations. You have entered into the service of the Lord, and he requires you to _do what you can_. It then becomes a matter of serious inquiry, ”_What can I do?_” It is an interesting fact, that the great moral enterprises of the present day, both for the conversion of the world, and for ameliorating the temporal condition of the poor, are in a great measure sustained by the energy of _female influence_.

This influence is felt in every department of society; and must be, wherever the principles of the gospel prevail, so as to elevate your s.e.x to the station which properly belongs to them. I will endeavor to point out some of the princ.i.p.al channels through which it can be exerted.

I. _You may make your influence felt in the Bible Society._ You know the grand object of this society is to put a copy of the Holy Scriptures within the reach of every individual of the human race. The spirit of Christ is that of the most expansive benevolence. If you possess this spirit, and value the sacred treasure contained in G.o.d's word as you ought, you will feel a thrilling interest in this cause. Your heart will overflow with compa.s.sion for those poor souls who have not the word of life. What, then, must be your emotions, when you consider that more than six hundred millions of your fellow-beings, as good by nature as yourself, are dest.i.tute of the Bible? The population of the whole world is estimated at _seven hundred and thirty-seven millions_. Of these, _five hundred and nine millions_ are heathen, and _one hundred and fifty-six millions_ are Roman and Greek Catholics; nearly all of whom are dest.i.tute of the word of G.o.d. This leaves but _seventy-two millions_ who are called Protestants; but a vast number of these, even in our highly favored land, are living without the Bible. Can you say with the Psalmist, ”Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day”? How, then, must your heart bleed in view of these facts! ”But,” perhaps you reply, ”what can I do for these peris.h.i.+ng millions?” I answer, _Do what you can_. This is all that G.o.d requires of you. Although what you can do will be but as a drop of water in the ocean, compared with what is to be done, yet it may be the means of saving many peris.h.i.+ng souls. You can become a member of the Bible Society. You can act as a visitor and collector, both to ascertain and supply those families which are dest.i.tute of the word of life, and to obtain the means of supplying others. And if no female Bible Society exists in the place where your lot is cast, you can exert your influence among the ladies of your acquaintance to form one. And in his measure I would advise you to persevere, even though you find at first only two or three to unite with you. All obstacles in the way of benevolent enterprises vanish before a spirit of prayerful perseverance, and untiring exertion.

II. _You can make your influence felt in the Tract Society._ The circulation of religious tracts has been abundantly owned and blessed of G.o.d's spirit. It seems to be almost the only means of reaching some particular cla.s.ses of people, who never wait upon G.o.d in his house. It is a cheap method of preaching the gospel both to the rich and the poor.

For a single cent, or even less, a sermon may be obtained, containing a portion of divine truth sufficient, with G.o.d's blessing, to lead a soul to Christ. Engage actively in the various forms of this department of benevolent labor. The distribution of a tract to every family in a town, once a month, when properly conducted, may be the means of doing great good. It furnishes an easy introduction into families where G.o.d is not acknowledged; and the matter contained in the tract will a.s.sist you to introduce religious conversation. It will enable you to ascertain and relieve the wants of the poor, without seeming to be obtrusive. It will soften your own heart, and excite your compa.s.sion, in view of the objects of distress with which you meet. It also furnishes a convenient opportunity for collecting children into Sabbath-schools. In distributing tracts, endeavor, as far as courtesy and propriety will admit, to engage those with whom you meet in direct personal conversation with regard to the concerns of their souls; and when you meet only with the female members of the family, and circ.u.mstances favor it, pray with them. By so doing, you may be the instrument of saving many precious souls. Your labor will also reflect back upon yourself, and warm your own heart. You will get a deeper sense of the dreadful condition of peris.h.i.+ng sinners; and this will be the means of exciting a spirit of prayer in their behalf. Those engaged in this work should meet every month, after finis.h.i.+ng the distribution, report all cases of interest, and spend a season in prayer for the divine blessing upon their labors. I would advise you to begin your distribution early in the month, and always finish it before the middle; and be sure you make a written report to the superintendent, as soon as you have finished it.

III. _You can make your influence felt in the missionary cause._ This is a cause which must be near the heart of every Christian. The spirit of missions is in unison with every feeling of the new-born soul. It is the spirit of universal benevolence; the same spirit which brought our Lord from the realms of glory, to suffer and die for peris.h.i.+ng sinners. His last command to his disciples, before ascending up again into heaven, was, that they should follow his example, in the exercise of this spirit, until the whole world should be brought to a knowledge of his salvation. But more than eighteen hundred years have pa.s.sed away, and yet at least two thirds of the inhabitants of this fallen world have never heard the gospel; and probably not more than one seventieth part of them have really embraced it. This is a mournful picture, and calculated to call forth every feeling of Christian sympathy, and awaken a burning zeal for the honor and glory of G.o.d. O, think how Jesus is dishonored by his own people, who thus disregard his last parting request! But here again you may inquire, ”What can _I_ do?” You can do much more than most people think they can do. Although you may not be permitted to go to the heathen yourself, yet you can help those that do go. I know that your means are limited; yet there are many ways in which you can do much for this cause with little means. By regulating all your expenses by Christian principle, you may save much, even of a small income, for benevolent purposes. But you may also exert an influence upon others. In all your intercourse with other Christians, especially ladies, you may stir up a missionary spirit. To aid you in this, become acquainted with what has been done, and what is now doing, for the conversion of the heathen. Make yourself familiar with the arguments in favor of this holy cause. By this means, you may become a zealous and successful advocate of the claims of five hundred millions of peris.h.i.+ng heathen. As an opportunity occurs once a month for all to contribute to this cause, you know not what effect such efforts may have upon the purses of those whom G.o.d has blessed with an abundance of the good things of this life. Again; you may do much for the heathen, by forming a missionary a.s.sociation among the ladies where you reside. Let such an a.s.sociation employ their needless half a day in every week, and apply the avails of their labor to the missionary cause. This would enable every one to contribute something for sending the gospel to the heathen.

But this is not all the benefit that would flow from it. Some member of the a.s.sociation should be appointed to read missionary intelligence, while the rest labor with their hands. This will be the means of exciting a missionary spirit, which may result in a much greater benefit than the amount of money contributed by the society. Another advantage of this plan is, that it furnishes an opportunity of social intercourse, with a great saving of time. Here you may meet your friends once a week, without being exposed to the dissipating influence of parties of pleasure. There is a little Sabbath-school book, published in Boston, ent.i.tled ”_Louisa Palston_,” which ought to be in the hands of every young lady. It presents the subject of missions to the heathen in a most interesting light, and also contains an excellent example of an a.s.sociation of the kind here recommended.

IV. _You can make your influence felt in behalf of the poor._ By frequenting the abodes of poverty and distress, you may administer to the wants of the afflicted, and call into active exercise the feelings of Christian sympathy in your own bosom. By this means, also, you will be prepared to enlist others in the same cause. Female benevolent societies, for a.s.sisting the poor, should be formed in all large towns; and in most places, much good may be done by forming societies for clothing poor children, to enable them to attend Sabbath-schools. But perhaps there is no way in which you can do so much for the poor, as by a.s.sisting them with your own hands, in their afflictions, and aiding them by your advice. Be careful, however, that you do not make them feel that you are conferring an obligation.

There is, at the present day, a very erroneous impression abroad, in relation to the poor. Many wealthy people, and many in moderate but comfortable circ.u.mstances, seem to think G.o.d has given them their property solely for their own gratification. Go to their houses, and you will find their tables groaning with luxuries, their rooms garnished with costly furniture, and their persons decorated with finery. But, if you ask them for a small contribution for suffering poverty, you will perhaps be compelled to listen to a long complaint against the improvidence of the poor; their want of industry and economy; and possibly be put off with the plea, that supplying their necessities has a tendency to make them indolent, and prevent them from helping themselves. This may be true to some extent; for intemperance has brought ruin and distress upon many families, and we cannot expect either industry, economy, or any other virtue, in a drunkard. But this is far from being a full view of the case. I know there is much suffering even among the virtuous poor. Sickness and misfortune often bring distress upon deserving people.

The only way we can realize the sufferings of the poor is to suppose ourselves in their situation. Let a wealthy gentleman and lady, with five or six small children, be suddenly deprived of all their property, and compelled to obtain a support for their family by daily labor, and the lowest employments. Would they think they could live comfortably upon perhaps no more than seventy-five cents a day, as the proceeds of the husband's labor? Yet such is the situation of thousands of families, even in this land of plenty. I have myself recently met with families of small children, in the severity of winter, dest.i.tute of clothing sufficient to cover them, and without shoes. And, upon inquiry into their circ.u.mstances and means of support, I could not see how the parents could make any better provision. Again; ever supposing that the wretchedness of the poor is brought upon them by their own vices, is it agreeable to the spirit of Christ to refuse to relieve their distresses?

Has not sin brought upon us all our wretchedness? If the Lord Jesus had reasoned and acted upon this principle, would a single soul have been saved? But, he has commanded us to be merciful, _even as our Father which is in heaven is merciful_. And how is he merciful? ”He is kind unto the _unthankful_ and to the _evil_.” Again; ”If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” And are we to suppose that the poor in our day are any worse than they were when Christ was upon earth?

Yet we find him frequently exhorting the rich to give to the poor. This is one of the most common precepts of the New Testament. Indeed, our Lord has greatly honored the poor, in appearing himself in a condition of extreme poverty. At his birth, his parents could provide him no better bed than a manger; and while wearing out his life in the service of a lost world, he had no place to lay his head! Yet, poor as he was, he has set us an example of giving. At the last supper, when he told Judas, ”That thou doest, do quickly,” his disciples supposed he had sent him to give something to the poor. From this we may safely infer that he was in the habit of frequently doing so. For what else could have brought this thought to their minds?

A Christian has nothing that is his own. He is but the steward of G.o.d's property. By withholding it, when the kingdom of Christ or the wants of the suffering poor require it, and spending it in extravagance, or h.o.a.rding it up for himself and family. He _robs G.o.d._

But, even on the principle upon which the world acts, shall we neglect the suffering of a deserving woman, because her husband is intemperate and vicious? Or, should we suffer the children to grow up without instruction, in ignorance and vice, because their parents are vicious?

Be, then, my dear sister, the devoted friend of the poor; and seek to relieve distress wherever you find it, or whatever may be its cause.

V. _You may make your influence felt in the cause of temperance._ A false delicacy prevails among many ladies, in relation to this subject.

They seem to think that, as intemperance is not a common vice of their own s.e.x, they have no concern with it. But this is a great mistake. No portion of society suffers so much from the consequences of intemperance as females. On them it spends its fury. My heart sickens when I contemplate the condition of the drunkard's wife. I turn from the picture with horror and disgust. But, is there no danger that females themselves may become partakers of this monstrous vice? My soul would rejoice if it were so. But every town, and village, and hamlet, furnishes evidence to the contrary. Even while I am writing, I can almost hear the groans of a woman in an adjoining house, who is just on the borders of the drunkard's grave. But, independent of this, it is scarcely possible to dry up the secret elements of this wasting pestilence, without the aid of _female influence_. I have no doubt, if the curtain were lifted from the domestic history of the past generation, it would appear that most of the intemperate appet.i.tes which have exerted such a terrific influence upon society were formed in the nursery. But, besides the formation of early habits, females exert a controlling influence over the public sentiment of the social circle.

Here is the sphere of your influence. If young ladies would, with one consent, set their faces against the use of all intoxicating liquors, their influence could not fail to be felt throughout society. Make yourself thoroughly acquainted with the subject, and lose no opportunity of advocating the cause in every circle in which you move; or, of doing whatever is right and proper for a lady to do, in advancing it.

VI. _You may make your influence felt in every circle in which you move, by directing conversation towards profitable subjects._ Here the honor of your Master is concerned. There is a lamentable tendency, even among professors of religion, when they meet for social intercourse, to spend, their time in light and trifling conversation. The consequence is, they bring leanness upon their own souls; and if any impenitent sinners witness their conduct, it helps to rivet upon them their carnal security. ”Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel.” And remember, Christ has declared that _every idle word_ shall be brought into judgment. ”Seeing, then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be, in all holy conversation and G.o.dliness.”

VII. _You may make your influence felt in bringing people within the sound of the gospel._ There are mult.i.tudes in this land of gospel light who live like the heathen. They do not appreciate the privileges which they might enjoy. They live in the habitual neglect of public wors.h.i.+p, and the means of grace. This is especially the case with the poor in large towns. Poverty depresses their spirits, and they seem to feel that ”no man cares for their souls.” It is impossible to conjecture how much good one devoted female may do, by gathering these people into places of wors.h.i.+p. A lady can much more readily gain access to such families than a gentleman; and, by a pleasing address, and an humble and affectionate demeanor, she may secure their confidence and persuade them to attend public wors.h.i.+p. In this way she may be the means of saving their souls.

VIII. Lastly. _You may make your influence directly felt by the impenitent._ That it is the duty of Christians to warn impenitent sinners of their danger, and to point them to the ”Lamb of G.o.d, which taketh away the sin of the world,” will appear from several considerations:--

1. The Apostle Peter says, ”Christ suffered for us, _leaving us an example that we should follow his steps_.” Let us, therefore, inquire what was his example, with reference to the subject under consideration? The spirit of Christ, in the great work of redemption, manifests itself in COMPa.s.sION FOR SINNERS, and ZEAL FOR THE GLORY OF G.o.d. ”While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” And in the near prospect of his agonies, his prayer was, ”Father, glorify thy name.” It was that mercy might be extended to the guilty, consistently with the honor of G.o.d, that he laid down his life. Behold him, deeply feeling the dishonor done to G.o.d by ungrateful and rebellious men, constantly reproving sin, weeping over the impenitence and hardness of heart of his country-men, and even exerting his power to drive out those who were profaning the temple. And he says, ”If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and _follow_ me.” To _follow_ Christ is to imitate his example. Hence, unless we follow Christ, in his general spirit, we have no right to be called after his name. And this we must do _to the extent of our ability_, and at the expense of any personal sacrifice, not excepting, if need be, even _our own lives_.