DEAR BRO. SMITH: We feel to render gratitude and thanksgiving to God that his people east and west appear to be waking up so generally, and begin to feel and act in behalf of the Lord's worthy poor, and the wants of his glorious cause. For the wants of these two objects our heart has often been made to almost bleed, wants so urgent, so pressing. In many cases those professing much sympathy for the poor, and claiming to set much value upon the message, will say of the one, "Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled," and give them not those things which are needful to the body. James ii, 16. They forget that it was a great query to the apostle how the love of God could dwell in a man, who, having this world's goods and seeing his brother need, could yet shut up his bowels of mercy from him. 1 John iii, 17.
Of the other, though professedly estimating the cause of truth above all else, yet when its wants are presented, and measures taken to meet them, the excuses summoned from all the mishaps of the past, and the mistrustful foreboding of the future, but too plainly assert the fact that the estimation they really do put upon it, is but too little and shamefully pitiful indeed. Would to God that all who profess to have the bountiful eye of Prov. xxii, 9, did really possess it; then soon indeed would the covetous excuses which so often sicken our hearts, be swallowed up in the land of forgetfulness.
O, my dear brother, do you profess to be the Lord's servant, and do you loan your means to this or that business man to increase his abundance, rather than give, yes, freely give to that poor, suffering disciple of Christ, perhaps an aged, destitute widow, whose door is opposite your own? If so, then you favor man, and have more confidence in his promise for pay than you have in our heavenly Father's own written obligation; [Prov. xix, 17;] and what could be a more cutting satire upon your profession?
But says another, "I confess that such a brother or sister is really in want, is truly an object of charity, and I would freely give this dollar, for which I have no present use, but then, I may want it after a while for taxes, or some other contingency." But do you not know, my dear sir, that such excuses declare you to be infidel at least on two promises? Prov. xxviii, 27. He that giveth to the poor shall not lack. 2 Pet. iii, 9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise. Is there not danger rather that such skepticism in the inspired promises of God will bring down his displeasure upon you and yours, even to the thwarting of your purposes and blighting of your crops? And will not such principles carried out bring you to the awful doom of crying yourself when you will not be heard? Prov. xxi, 13.
Dear brethren, we profess to believe the Bible, but are there not many of its holy requirements but too little heeded by us? We claim to be giving the last message of mercy, and do not too many of us fail to be merciful? We profess to be looking for the great time of trouble, but is not our consideration of the poor one of the conditions upon which God has suspended the promise of our deliverance at that fearful time? Ps. xli, 1.
There is a fearful malediction spoken of in the epistle of James, [chap. v,] to be visited in the last days upon those who keep back by fraud the hire of the laborer. If God's professed people will reproach their Maker by oppressing the poor, [Prov. xiv, 31,] he has not left them in darkness concerning their duty or their doom. But O, the deceitfulness of riches! what a snare! what a temptation! 1 Tim. vi, 9. God help the brethren in Ohio and in the far West to wake up. Wake up, brethren! The present truth is good, the Lord has made duty plain. Let us buckle on the armor.54Let us read Good Samaritan, No 2, again, and break down in humble contrition before God, and weep on account of our selfishness and laxity in duty.
One brother in rocky, mountainous Vermont, cashes over one hundred dollars for missionary purposes in the West, while that State foots up two hundred and eighty-eight dollars and sixty-four cents for the same purpose. But on the other hand, what are we doing in the West, where the black, alluvial soil and warmer climate secure us much larger crops with less labor. Let Ohio answer! Indiana! Illinois! &c. Brethren in Vermont have a cold climate, but truly they give strong symptoms of warm hearts, and is it not on this very matter of bountifulness in giving that Paul says, "He that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully?" 2 Cor. ix, 6. Are not brethren West expecting to reap in the same harvest with brethren East? If so, how are we sowing, dear brethren? bountifully, or sparingly? May God help us.
But while the report in Good Samaritan cheers our heart from the interest manifested by brethren in the East, we are somewhat encouraged by some prominent symptoms for better in Ohio. Last season the brethren in this State advanced for the benefit of the cause about one hundred and thirty dollars; but this season several individual pledges reach to nearly that amount, while the churches in the State, acting conjointly, have voted the sum of twelve hundred dollars. The church at Gilboa, with a decline of one-half in property, pledges more this season than all the State did last season, while one of its members pledges more now than all did then, and other churches, as far as we have learned, are also doing liberally. Truly it looks encouraging. Bro. White's report of his recent tour is encouraging. The fact that most or all the churches are adopting the Bible system of each giving according to the ratio of their means (systematic benevolence) looks encouraging, because it looks like giving as the Lord has prospered. 1 Cor. xvi, 1. It looks like ministering as of the ability that God giveth. 1 Pet. iv, 11. It certainly is the only way that every man among us can follow the example of the Antioch Christians in furnishing relief according to his ability. Acts xi, 29. It furnishes fairer prospects of the full blessing of God resting on his people, to see them in all the churches doing according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not, and not having some eased while others are burdened. 2 Cor. viii, 12, 13. Our heart most joyously hails it as that principle of "equality" spoken of by the apostle Paul, where the abundance of one may be a supply for the want of another, [2 Cor. viii, 14,] and our desire and prayer to God is that he will put it in the mind and heart of all his people, to be ready to every good work. Titus iii, 1. And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses. Verse 14. May God prosper the right, stir up the hearts, the affections, and the energies of all his people everywhere, to speed the glorious gospel car till all his servants are sealed in their foreheads.