“Who went About doing Good.”
This was said of Jesus. How descriptive of his life. What a beautiful exhibition of character. Do-ing good: thus his efforts were directed, thus his energies spent. Wherever he went blessings were borne; the sad were comforted, and the weary found rest. Some men are content with wishing good—they have many brave thoughts respecting it, but their thoughts never ripen into deeds—they shrink from toil and sacrifice. Their words may be those of kindness, but their acts are wanting in love. The Lord Jesus did. His whole life was but an expansion of the principle of benevolence, large, warm-hearted benevolence. He went about doing good. He did not wait for the needy and suffering to be brought to him; he sought them out—put himself in their way. And who can measure the good he wrought, while on earth? How many homes did he gladden; How many crushed and wounded spirits did he lift and heal. How was he ever seeking and saving the wandering and the lost. And he did good to men in their higher interests. He labored for their spiritual welfare. This brought him from heaven—this was the great thought of his life. How unlike Alexander, who led his armies from province to province, regardless of human happiness, intent only on self-aggrandizement; how unlike all those great men whom worldlings love to honor, and around whom multitudes slavishly fawn and smile. Christ did good, not evil; he committed no blun-ders—was guilty of no wrong. Yet his life was an active one; he mingled largely with men in laborious and self-denying exertion. But he was so single in heart, and his aims were so pure and excellent, that light and gladness sprung up wherever he moved. The disciple should be like the blessed Master. Use-fulness should be his aim, doing good his delight. Not forced, but easy and natural. The whole heart should be in such a work—a heart overflowing with love and good will. Are you laboring thus, my brother? Are you giving yourself to noble enterprises? In this way happiness comes, in the forgetfulness of self. When the heart goes out for others, it meets with sweet joys at every step, and the whole progress is one of sunshine. The luxury of doing good should be tasted by every man, and once known, one will be loth to de-prive himself of its pleasures. Think not thou canst do nothing. This is the prompting of indolence—the suggestion of Satan. The fields are white for the harvest. Some burdened one thou canst aid, some sorrowing one thou canst comfort—that desponding heart thou canst strengthen by thy sympathy; that sinning brother thou canst lead to Jesus.