The Christian’s Spiritual Arithmetic
A faithful christian practically works out the following sum in Addition. Add to faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. The answer is, fruitfulness in the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Pet. i, 5–8. It is a question that requires more labor than any other in Addition; yet every one can get the answer. They who do not are pronounced by the Great Teacher, "blind and cannot see afar off." Chap. v, 9.131 SUBTRACTION. Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us. Heb. xii, 1. MULTIPLICATION. Sow thy seed in the morning, and in the evening withhold not thy hand. Eccl. xi, 6. The efforts made in well doing will bring forth fruit, thirty, sixty or an hundred fold. DIVISION. Freely ye have received, freely give. Matt. x, 8. Give a portion to seven and also to eight. Eccl. xi, 2. Loss AND GAIN. The world—its riches, honors and pleasures lost, and Christ and heaven gained. "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Phil. i, 21. If the world is gained, the soul is lost. "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark viii, 36. PROPORTION. If faith in Christ give present peace, what will be the result of a life devoted to the service of Christ? Answer, "The end, everlasting life." Rom. vi, 22. INTEREST. One said, "Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds." Another said, "Thy pound hath gained five pounds." The Lord said unto them, Well, good servants, one shall have authority over ten cities, and the other over five. Another returned his pound without any gain. It was taken from him and he condemned. Luke xix, 16–27. PERPETUAL ANNUITIES. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life. Matt. xix, 29.—Sel.