SOCIAL CHRISTIAN CULTURE.
By S. M. Spicer
But to be more specific, let us note separately some of the Christian graces to be cultivated, remembering that exercise is the only condition of improvement; and that unlimited opportunities are presented all along the walks of life, and the beautiful, spotless example of the Saviour has been left for our sure guide. Whoever, by close and constant communion with Jesus, drinks deep of his spirit, will find it easy to breathe out that spirit in all the acts of life; hence Christian benevolence and charity will be ever prompting him to do good to all, to unselfishly seek their happiness and welfare, and kindly and patiently bear with their faults. Kindness usually begets kindness in return, but there is a far higher consideration; for it is a law of our being that love and liberality have a reacting power upon the agent, increasing both his capacity and pleasure in their exercise. For example, when we have done a good deed to others we naturally feel a new interest in and regard for them, and every repetition of such acts increases these feelings. Likewise, on the other hand, if we do an intended injury to any one, even if that injury is never returned, nor even resented, we feel a growing hatred to that person and a desire to injure more. It is this law of perverted human nature that gives foundation to prejudice, which sometimes works great injury even to the innocent. For instance, one may be assailed by an enemy, whether justly or unjustly, and soon the multitude incline to add thrust to the wounded and kick to the falling, till he is ruined, unless there are those with firm Christian principles and moral courage to stem and turn the perverted tide. To prove this seeming paradox, let the same person, instead of being assailed by an enemy, be publicly lauded by a distinguished friend, the same multitude will be as ready to re-echo the notes of praise, and exalt to the skies; while each effort increases their esteem, just as in the opposite case each act to injure increased the feelings of hatred and prejudice. Such is the law which naturally governs the perverted world, and gives to prejudice its ruinous control over public opinion. In view of this fact, it is especially important that Christians cultivate carefully strict integrity and discernment, and moral courage to sustain the truth and the right without respect of persons. Much oftener then would Christians be found in the place of the good Samaritan, and the social Christian world would esteem that blessed office so conspicuously honored by the divine Friend of the poor and suffering. The reacting influence of exercising liberality makes it much more easy and pleasing to be generous still. There is perhaps no other virtue that grows by exercise so thriftily as this, and none so dwarfed by disuse and neglect. Hence one cannot afford to be penurious on his own account, to say nothing of robbing God and the world of their just due. When we withhold our sympathies from doing a kindness to a neighbor, or from trying to sustain the public interest and welfare, we are narrowing down our own souls, and may soon verge to that absolute selfishness which would take advantage of a neighbor at the sacrifice of common honesty. Would that the Christian world might be spared these unpleasant extremes of perverted human tendencies. And yet there is need that all should seize upon every day's opportunities to exercise kindness and charity to all. There is a mutual inspiration in generosity which may encourage one alone to try to sow the good seed which may at some future day spring up and cover the whole field. Study out some noble plan to benefit some individual or society, and you will soon find others to join in the effort. Thus some generous purpose might keep the public mind in healthful exercise, while the wide-scattered seeds of mischief might be left to die for lack of nurturing care. Liberality of thought and sentiment also needs cultivation among Christians, especially as a means of saving the bitter conflicts that disturb the peace of neighborhoods and churches. The day of bigotry has, in a great measure, gone by, as the general diffusion of knowledge has fostered the spirit of toleration, yet some of the dark relics of barbarism still shadow the Christian world. With due knowledge of human nature, and of the fact that the all-wise God constituted men with different minds and temperaments, we should never allow these differences to grate harshly upon each other, producing discord and alienation of feeling. Individual peculiarities and opinions should not be made too conspicuous, but we should be content to disagree, if need be, in all the non-essentials, and cultivate a common faith and sympathy in all the great truths and doctrines which concern our highest interests. Churches and church members should have less to do with individual peculiarities, and much more to do in cultivating general purity and uprightness of Christian life and character. We should at least be more sparing of judgments upon others, until we are so pure in heart ourselves that, were Jesus standing in the midst, his all-seeing eye could not convict us of the greater sin. One of the most important attainments for the Christian is the habit of careful, honest self-examination. This habit would naturally promote humility, that most beautiful ornament of the Christian character. Yet nearly allied to this lovely grace, we may rank the highest Christian grace, the spirit of forgiveness. But we spare words, and only invite to study that last, great lesson of Jesus, while upon the cross, suffering the agony of the crushing burden of the sins of the world. He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Would that we might consider that picture of patient suffering, infinite love, and divine forgiveness, till we could breathe in, and live out, that same precious spirit of the Master, without which, he says, ye cannot be my disciples.