Pacific Christian messenger., June 13, 1879, Page 2, Image 2

PACIFIC CHRISTIAN MESSENGER, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1879.
“ Our Troubles."
The chureh is an association, a
company in fellowship or partnership
with one another and with Christ.
Then to be in full .fellowship in the
church is more than to have a good
moral standing ; it is to have a part­
nership, interest in all the money and
property of the church.
•
,
“ If a soul sin, and commit a tres­
pass against the Lord, and lie unto
his neighbor in that which was de­
livered him to keep, or in fellowship.”
Lev. vi. 2. I have quoted this lan­
guage just to show you the meaning
of the word fellowship.
See the first church ever organized
by the apostles, and they continued
steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine,
and fellowship, and in breaking of
bread, and in prayer.
And fear came upon every soul, and
many wonders and signs were done
by the apostles; and all that believed
were together and
all things
common. And sold their possessions
and goods, and parted them to all as
ev^y man had need. Here we have
doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread
and prayer, sold their possessions and
goods, and gave to every man that
had need. Mark this, to every man
that had need ; not to those that had
no need. I ■ think some have taken
extreme views of this passage in order
to avoid its simple plainness.
I now call your attention to 2 Cor.
viii. 1—14. And you will pardon me
for making such a lengthy quotation,
for I do want to get this subject fully
before your minds.
" Moreover, brethren, w'e do you to
wit (or would have you to know) of
the grace of God bestowed on the
churches of Macedonia; how that in a
great trial of affliction, the abundance
oflheir joy and their deep poverty
BT ». *. MceOBKLB.
------
i- (Continued.),
“Notwithstanding, ye have well
<lone, that ye did communicate with
my affliction. Now ye Philippian»
know also, that in the beginning of
the Gospel, when I departed from
Macedonia, no church communicated
with me as concerning giving and re­
ceiving, but ye only. For even in
Thessalonica ye sent once and again
unto my necessity. Not because I
desire a gift ; but 1 desire fruit that
may abound to your account. But I
have all, and abound ; 1 am full,
having received of Epaphroditus the
things which were sent from you, an
odour of a sweet smell, as sacrifice
acceptable, well pleasing to God.”
Phil. iv. 14-18.
Paul did-not desire a gift ; “ I have
all and abound ; I am full, wanting
nothing. What was it that he de­
sired ? I desire fruit, that may abound
to your credit ; not to me.
“ Charge them that are rich in this
world, that they be not highminded,
nor trust in uncertain riches, but in
thé living God, who giveth us richly
all things to enjoy ; that they do
good, that they be rich in good works,
ready to distribute, willing to com­
municate; laying up in store for
themselves a good foundation against
the time-to come, that they may lay
hold on eternal life.” T Tim. vi/17-19.
Paul say, charge them that, are
rich in this world, to take care of
their money and riches, put your
money out at interest, or build fine
houses and buy more land. No, not
that, but that they do good, that they
be rich in good works, ready to dis­
tribute, willing to communicate, to
abounded unto the riches of their
give, laying up in store, what in -this
liberality. For to their power, I bear
world ? no, but in time to come, that
record, yea, and beyond their power
they may lay hold on eternal life. Is
they were willing of themselves;
eternal life connected with this com­
praying us with much entreaty that
munication or giving ? It appears to
we would receive the gift, and take
be so. Then the brethren that have
upon us th# fellowship of the minis­
lands and money at interest, and give
tering to the saints. And this they
but little, or nothing, to the support
did, not as we hoped,’ but first gave
of the cause of Christ, how will it go
their own selves to the Lord, and
with them when they are called to
unto us by the will of God. Insomuch
render up their accounts to God, that
that we desired Titus that as he had
has given them richly all these good
begun, so he would also finish in you
things to enjoy ; no excuse will be
the same grace also. Therefore, as ye
taken in that great day. The Lord
abound in every thing, in faith, and
will require a reason and you will
utterance, and knowledge, and in all
have none.
diligence, and in your love to us, see
I know that some will say, “Well,
that ye abound in this grace also. I
that preacher is alter money, I won’t
speak not by commandment, but by
give him anything.” Well, if all the
occasion of the forwardness of others»
preachers were like I am, they don't
and to prove the sincerity of your
want you to give them anything ; but
love. For ye know the grace of our
we do want to be paid for the ser­
Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was
vices we have rendered you ; that is
rich, yet_for your sakes he became
all.
poor, that ye through his poverty
The church is a body, a company,
might be rich. And herein I give my
of which you all, or we all are mem­
advice : for this is expedient for yon,
bers, give it to the Lord, body, and
who have begun before, not only to
not to the preacher, for with such sac­
do, but also to be forward a year ago.
rifices God is well pleased ; the sacri­
Now therefore perform the doing of
fice is to the Lord and net to the
it; that as there was a readiness to
preacher. Now suppose we do not
will, so there may be a performance
give or bestow, is God well pleased
also out of that which ye have. For
with us ? I do not care how often
if there be first a willing mind, it is
you may pray, or how well you may
accepted according to that a man
sing, or how solemn you may look,
hath, and not accordfag to that he
or bow good you may feel if you have
-hath. ait.. .Eat. 1.mean .not that .other
left undone a known duty, have're­
men be eased and ye burdened : but
fused to sacrifice a part of what you
by an equality, thac now at this time
have to the cause of Christ, how will
your abundance may be a supply for
you stand in that great day. You
their want, that their abundance also
can tell Binners what Christ said they
may be a supply for your want; that
must do to be saved. Do you mean
there may be equality.”
what you say ? O, yes. Will you
The apostle praises these brethren
complain at me when I tell you, as a
for
their liberality, I bear record; yea,
Christian, what you must do, or you
and
beyond their power they were
cannot be saved ; one is just as plain
willing
to do, praying the apostles to
and important as the other. Can we
receive
their gift. ‘Do the churches
be in full fellowship in the church
do
this
now
? No, they never have
and refuse to communicate or give ?
anything
on
hand to give; they gen­
It is a command. But what is fellow­
erally
have
to
send a begging com­
ship we will see, and then we will be
mittee
around
to
raise money to sup­
able to understand what we are about
port the church, and in thia way the
to say.
Fellowship—1st Partnership, an church of Christ becomes a beggar,
and that too from the world.
association, a company, a band. 2d.
The apostle says, “ See that your
The rule for dividing property and
abotind
in this grace ” (or charity).
losses among partners. 3d. A con­
What
for
? “ To prove the sincerity of
tract between two or more partie».—
your
love.
” Is our giving a test or
Webster.
_
-----
proof of our love to Christ or the first day, that has nothing to do with monitor. The plan caused consider­
Church T The appostle would seem this question whatever. You can lay able fun, but, what is better, com­
to say so. Suppose we make it a test by in »tore at home just as well as pletely cured that habit. I doubt if
in all the churches, now, I fear it you were at church. But you say in that circle the horrid words “,a’nt,”
would prove that we love but little, some of the brethren wont do any­ or “ won’t ” or “ have got ” or ever
because we give but little. You thing, therefore I will not Do you heard, or “ done ” for “ did.” And
know the lov,e of our Lord Jesus not know that that is a veryepoor ex­ J their conversation is seldom embel­
Christ; How do we know his love ? cuse. My brother will not go ‘to lished ^ ith “ you know,” “ now a,’”
When he was rich, for our sake he church, therefore I will not; he wi/1 “I tell you what,” “of course,” and
became poor, that we, through his not pray in his family or at church, the like, or with high-sounding super­
poverty might be rich. In the act therefore I will not. Now do you latives where only the moderate posi­
of giving himsell for us, he has , given think the Lord will take such a poor tives have any meaning.
us the evidence of his love for us.
excuse as this? No, you don’t; .the
As much as I dislike slang, even
Now, brethren, how can we com­ true spirit of' a Christian is, “ Lord what is termed the better sort of it,,
pare what little we have done, and speak, thy servant heareth .thee, we which, by the way, should be used
are doing fOr him, with what he has will be obedient.”
very sparingly, if at all, apt as it
done for us ? Can you say you have
Now is it right for me :o4ay by in sometimes seems, I dislike these
done all you could do, and wfere will­ store something, however little it may specimens of false syntax, these vul­
ing to do more, if you could ? If so, be, on every first day of the week ? garisms, more, and they should be
you have done well. You have made If it is, I- will do it, I will not wait to carefully watched lest they creep in
a sacrifice that is well pleasing to see whether my brother will do his and spoil fair speech.
God.
duty or not. Paul says, “let every
I would recommend to my young
It may be said by some that they one of you do this.” Now suppose friends who have frequent intercourse
are not able to do anything; now are that every Disciple in the State with each other the formation of such
you sure that is true, and if so, are would do this, do just what Paul say a club as I have been describing for
you willing you say yes. For if there to do, what a different state of things mutual benefit. My word for it it is
be first a willing mind, it is accepted. we would have in this country, and a marvellous corrector of false syntax,,
Let every one that can do, do some­ that very soon.
and the rules might extend to other
thing, make some sacrifice; don’t do
I do not say that you should put bad habits, and so be constituted a re­
too much; the apostle says, “ I mean your contributions on the table every form club.— Illustrated Christian.
not that other men be eased, and you Lord’s day, but I do say you ought to
The Weakness of Words.
burdened.” No, not that, but this is put away something, sanctify it to
what I mean, that all that can do, to the Lord and to his cause. ' ~T
Words are necessary evils! We
do something, that there may be
How much must I give or set
should
be much happier if we could
equality.
apart to the Lord ? I am not allowed
do
without
them. W ho has not been
This fellowship is called the contri­ to say, you are to deside that matter,
painfully
conscious
of emotions no­
bution in other places. - See Rom.- you must settle that iu your own
words
could
convey
? If we had
xii. 13. It is here called, “ Distribut­ mind. Paul gives the rule, and you
some power of impressing others with
ing to the necessities of saints; given are to deside the question by that
emotions and thoughts, just as they
to hospitality. See Rom. xv. 26, 27» law.
impress us, without words, but with
28: “.For it hath pleased them of
But this I say, “ He -which soweth
some native inborn magnetism, how
Macedonia and Achaia to make a cer­ sparingly shall reap sparingly; and
•much more eloquent and earnest we
tain contribution for the poor saints he which soweth bountifully »hall
would be! Gestures are only the
which are at Jerusalem. It hath reap bountifully. Every man accord­
effort of pent-up thoughts striving in
pleased them verily ; and their debt­ ing as he purposeth in his heart, so
vain for utterance.
ors they are. For if the Gentiles have let him give; not grudgingly,
of
If we have more to say than we
been made partakers of their spiritual necessity; for God loveth a cheerful.
have words to express, we motion
things, their duty is also to minister -giver.” 2 Cor. ix. 6, 7.
with the arms, fingers, head, body,
unto them in carnal things. When
God loves a cheerful giver. He
and feet, and so convey more thought
therefore I have performed this, and gave his Son a sacrifice for us, cannot
than we possibly could with words
sealed to them this fruit”
we give or make a sacrifice to him,
alone.
But some good brother, that is al­ one that is w-orth something, one that
We hear of the “ speaking eye"
ways ready f»r an argument, will say, we can feel; a sacrifice that is worthy
the “ beaming countenance,” proving
this is the way to raise money for the of the name we will feel it, and we
that there is a language higher than
poor saints, and not for the preachers. ought to feel it, and with Buch a sac­
ordinary speech, which must live iff
I will just say the apostlq is not talk­ rifice God is well pleased.
the atmosphere of unadulterated
ing about raising money, or the man­
(To Continue )
thought. Many have long sought for
ner of raising it, but about sending
a universal alphabet, and far down in
Correct ¡Speech.
the money or contribution already
the depths of the old languages they
raised, it was the fellowship money of
Nothing bespeaks a tru§ lady and have tried to find its remains; but as-
the church they could help the poor gentleman or well-bred child more
yet no certain results have been
saints with it, or they could send a than the use of correct language, pure,
reached.
preacher to preach the Gespel to poor clean speech. Cultivate, my young
Nature has a language whose words
sinners, and all have a partnership friends, good English in every-day
are continually spoken, and yet clear­
interest in the good work.
conversation. Unclean speech is in ly understood by all nations alike.
If the Masons of Eugene City were keeping with a smutty face, begrimed
But while she is full of voices, she has
to send a contribution to the Masons lands, and soiled clothes. Strange*
also a written language. The heavens
of Portland, would that be saying any­ how easy and almost unconsciously
above, the earth beneath, and the
thing about how the money was one slides into a careless, slipshod way
waters under the earth are full of
raised, or what it was raised for. of talking, even when the rules of
language of their own. It requires a
Surely not, but the conclusion would, grammar are quite familiar. It is not
student of nature to read it but it can
be, that the money was drawn from uncommon to find people learned in
be read.— -National Repository for
the treasurer. The partnership, of all the rules of syntax, who apply May.
fellowship money of that body, in them to the art of writing, yet they
which they all have a common in­ labitually talk incorrectly.
Great Thinkers.
.
terest.’ .So it should be in the church
Early culture and association with
“ It is a belief in the Bible which
of Christ. But how do we get the refined persons are quite essential to
money into the treasury, or any place give purity of speech ; but if one has has served me as the guide of my
where it becomes the money of the unfortunately been deprived of these, moral and literary life."— Goethe.
“ I account the Scriptures of God
church, and not individual. There is he should continually watch his words
to
be the most sublime philosophy.’”
but one way known to me, that is till he gets the habit of using decent
—
Sir
Isaac Newton.
ore Bible way. I know that that English, for nothing so unmistakably
“ To give a man full knowledge of
money has been raised in many ways marks one with vulgarity, no matter
for the church. I am not talking how elegant the outside covering^ as troc morfflrty, ! slmnld rrecd’to send
him to no other book than the New
about ways, but the way that the shabby, low-born speech. •
Bible teaches, so that we may not
Not long since the young folks be­ Testament”— John Locke.
“ I know the Bible is inspired, be­
get into a controversy.
longing to several families in a cer­
Now, concerning the collection for tain neighborhood, who had frequent cause it finds me at greater’depths of
the saints, as I have given order to intercourse with each other, entered my being than any other book.”—
the church at Galatia, even so do ye. into an agreement to pay a small for­ Coleridge.
Upon the first day of the week let feit every time either of them made
“ A neble book ! All men’s book.
every one of you lay by him in store, use of certain vulgarisms in speech It is our first statement of the never-
as God hath prospered him, that there that had become a habit with them. ending problem of man’s destiny and
be no gatherings when I come.
Old and young, large and small, soon God’s way with men on earth.’’—
, j
The same order was given to the became interested and entered into Carlyle.
' 1 must confess the majesty of the
Corinthian church, that was given to the compact. All had fallen into the
the churches in Galatia. What was habit, for false syntax is contagious, Scriptures strikes me with astonish­
that order ? Upon the first day of and spreads through whole communi­ ment”— Rousse&u.
" There is not a boy or a girl, all
the week let some of you lay by him ties when it once breaks out, and one
in store. No, that .is not it; but of its worst phasis is that people are Christendom through, but their lot is
made better by this great book.”—-
some of us do that way ; let everyone afiected by it without knowing it.
of you lay by him in store.
Fora time the treasury, the con­ Theodore Parker.
Now suppose that I do not do this, tents df which, by the way, was given
Vomiting can freqnently be prevented
am ^doing right ? I think not But to charitable purposes, was pretty •o it is Mid, by holding the hands in wa­
as hot aa c;n be borne, letting it ex­
suppose I do not go to church every full. Each one was a self-appointed ter
tend over the wrists.