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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film6s en commengant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The iasr recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol — ^ (r-'.^-^rng "CON- TINUED "), or the symbol V (mc^.M, _, 10 WHAT lUPM- IS THEhfe iN tx 1 thronj^ of to-day than a (^roup of " waifs " from the byways of some great city ; yet such a group sujxsested to the mind of Robert Raikes an idea which developed into the organization of a Sabbath -school. Estimate its benefits, ye who can, and then dare tq despise the day of " small things." Even as this, a thought indulged, a word uttered, an action performed, by you, dear reader, may contain the germ of a life that will be a benediction to those who come beneath its influence. In one of Britain's navfil . engage- ments, the deck of a man-pf-war.Y^q« swfept b|? a tremendous broadside from J,hje enemy. The captain ordered another company to be " piped up " from below to take the place of the dead- This company on reaching the deck were panic stricken at the sight ot the mangled remains of their comrades. The captain, on seeing this swore a horrid oath, wishing them all in hell. A pious old marine stepped up to him, and very respectfully touching his hat, said : " Cap- ::(>-. SIGXIFICAN'CK OF LITTLE isHI, si'jsl " Tl 1 ' * ^ tain, I believe God benrs piayer, andlf tie liad' heard your prayer just now, wliat would have become of us ? " Having spoken thus, he made a respectful bow and retired to his plsce. These words fastened themselves in the captain's mind he considered the claims of religion, became con- verted, and afterwards became a preacher and lived in Edinburgh as pastor of one of its churches. Throujjh him his brother, Robert Haldane, embraced Christianity and subsequently settled in Geneva, where he was divinely directed and made instrumental for good by securing in- * terviews with the students of the theological school, which led to the conversion of a number of them, among whom was J. H. Merle iD'Aubigne,.wh<& blessed Germany by his presi- idency over the theological seminary at Geneva, |and who lives thoughout Protestantism to-day in his imnjortal " History of the Reformation." Juch are the fruits of the timely and well-spoken rords of the pious old marine — the work of a loraent. j . ' . " Kind words can never die." 12 WHAT HARM IS THERE IN IT? No more can evil words. The words may bo forgotten, but their influence will live, poisoning the minds of thousands. We think it was Ly- man Beecher who said, " Speak me a word, and that word will go ringing down through the ages." Such is the influence, not only of life, but of the smallest acts of life. We cannot measure a word or an act by first influences. We may even be unable tc determine the character of either — the influence being small and apparently harmless— just as many would hesitate in deter- mining the difference between some kinds of seed. There is a resemblance between wild mustard seed and that of the turnip, but the one is no less mustard because it looks like turnip. The difference between a sour apple seed and that of a sweet is not perceptible, but put them in the ground, and while the one is producing sweet apples, the other will as surely bring forth sour fruit as that "like begets like." So the character of many an act has to be determined, SIGNIFICANCE OF LITTLE THINGS. 13 hot by first appearences, but by its fruit. Is it therefore unimportant? No more than it is unimportant whether you sow wild mustard or turnip seed in your field. He is a wise man who sows only that kind of seed about whose purity there can be no doubt. Let your question be, not, What harm is there in it ? Rather let it be. What good is there in it ? Plenty of the bad fruit in the gardens of social, political, and religious life to-day is the product of small seeds. Perhaps, as in the natural garden, we are un- able to teli who dropped the seed, but the fruit is evidence of a planter, and the kind of fruit now determines what men may have disputed about at first, viz., the kind of seed. Thus the character of every act may be deter- mined, but oh ! the influence, who can measure it ? " The stone, flung from my careless hand into the lake, splashed dcwn into the depths; and that was all. No, it was not all. Look at those concentric rings, rolling their tiny ripples among the sedgy reeds, dipping the overhanging 14 WHA'i* KARM IS THEUE IN IT ? bongb.s of yonder wiHow,an(]. producing an in- fluence, slight but conscious, to the very shore itstlt". That hast}' word, tliat word of pride or scorn, fl nng froui my lips in casual com- pany, produces a momentary depression ; and that is all. No, it is not all. It deepened that man's disgust at godliness, and sharpened that man's sarcasm ; and ii shamed that half-con- verted one out of his penitent misgivings ; and it produced an influence, slight but eternal, on the destiny of an immortal .life. Oh! it is a terrible power: th^-t I have— this power of influ- ence; ;and it clings to me. I cannot shake it off. It is born with me, it has grown with my growth, and stengthened with my strength. It speaks, it walks, it moves ; it is powerful in every look of my eye, in every word of my lips, in every act of my life. I cannot live to myself. I must either be a light to illumine, or a tempest to de- stroy. I must either be an Abel, who by his im- mortal righteousness, being dead, yet speaketh ; or an Achan, the saddest continuance oi, whose SIGNIFICANCE 6f LITTLF, THIN(JS. 15 an m- . very ^ord ot* Hl CO 111 - n; and ed that ed that alt'-con- gs ; and rnal, on it is a )f intiu- ke it off. growth, speaks, ry look every I must to de- his im- leaketh ; whose II otherwise forgotten name is the fac^ that man perishes not alone in his iniquity. brethren ! this necessary element of power belongs to you all. Your sphere may be contracted, your influ- ' ence may be small ; but a sphere and influence you have."— W. M. Punshon. " We are all authors," said J. B. Gough in one 'of his lectures. "Every morning a clean white page is placed before us. Night finds it written full, and death will not erase it." That influence yjill live in some Way to bless or curse succeeding g^erfttipn^.. , n 'It is said of the human voice that, although its sound dies away, the pulsations of atmosphere j«yhich it caused go qq forever, rolling out th:cc»ugh the infinitude of space, bearing the im- 4)ress of good or evil that issued from the heart of roan. " The air is one vast library on whose jpages are forever written all that man has ever ^id, or woman whispered." What an inspira- ip choose right thoughts and words ! in like manner does our -character live among 16 WHAT HARM IS THERE IX IT? men. That which a man is, " photographs " it- self on other spirits, and is thus perpetuated to all time. The beliefs, purposes, afflictions, tastes and habits of the parent are reproduced ia the child, and again in children's children, who, as well as he, leave an impress for good or evil in the crowded street, in the place of business, and in the various circles of life in which they may have moved. Thus, in a very few years, that influence which we thought did not amount to much, has in "effect" trodden the threshold of countless minds, assumed different phases through associative influences, and entered into the composition of other character, bearing with it an impress for good or evil, according as its mission was in the outset. Well might Tom Paine, in the agonies of remorse, say, " I would give worlds, if I had them, that * The Age of Reason' had never been published." But Tom Paine lives to-day. Extracts of his writings are affixed to the walls of Calcutta, blighting the minds of the heathen. His influence has gone SIGNIFICANCE OF LITTLE THINGS. 17 out through all the earth ; and in a thousand different forms, but with the same tarnish, will be handed down to succeeding generations. Could we but die when these bodies are laid away in the tomb, the same importance could not be attached to our influence ; yet would it be so expansive as to demand the deepest con- sideration. But the fact of our living in the character of others forever ! How it should stimulate us to build the most perfect character ! How critically should we examine every timber used in the construction! Some one has said, " Actions, looks, words, steps, form the alphabet by which you may spell character." Thousands are continually saying, " What harm is there in this? What harm is there in that?" They fail to know that their character is formed as the icicle — drop by drop. That which you do and say each moment enters into the composi- tion of your character; and its impress is in- delible. The drunkard in the cell loathes the day when he smoked his first cigar, or sipped 2 I i 18 WHAT HARM IS THERE IN IT? the wine glass. " That stain polluted my char- acter," he moans. Yon man on the gallows wishes that he had said " No," when asked to take that pleasure drive on Sabbath afternoon. The picking up of a pin not only strengthens habits of economy, but indicates character to others, and secures a situation for the " waif " in some store. Take heed to the pennies and the dollars will look out for themselves. A per- fect character is only attained by a scrupulous regard unto the " little " things that go to make up character, and a perfect character we must build before we can wield a spotless influence. A teacher sent a little boy to the head of his class for spelling a word correctly, and then wrote the word on the board that the rest might see. " O," said the little fellow, " I didn't say it so, Miss W.; I said 'e ' instead of ' i.' " Had he neglected to correct the mistake, principles of dishonesty might have grown in him, r,nd some firm, joint stock company, or government, been disgraced by him. By building up a good char- I ! SIGNIFICANCE OF LITTLE THINGS. 19 acter he preserved a good influence. We cannot exert the best influence unless we are " faithful in that which is least." John the Baptist was beheaded through the bewitching appearance of that young lady who thought it was no harm to spend an hour in frivolity. On the other hand, an institution known as the Madero Institute, in Saltillo, Mexico, was given to the Church by Governor Madero, because of a young lady whose Christian principles led her respectfully to de- cline an invitation to dance with the Governor. It makes all the difference in the world whether we say " Yes " or " No," when the sunny hand of of the world is held out to us. The one meanj a poisonous influence, now and forever; the other means an influence everlasting, but bene- dictory. " Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth." -^r^J^SJ/mrs^ CHAPTER II. THE SUBTILTY OF SATAN. ** But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ ; ... for Satan him* self is transformed into an angel of light. " 2 Cor. xi. 3, 14. 'he noblest of all enterprises is the establish- ment of righteousness unto the ends of the earth. This is the work of God. The meanest of all things is that principle which would lay even a " straw" in the way of such an enter- prise. Such is the principle that characterizes Satan, whether in his native habiliments, or as an angel of light. The fact of his appearing sometimes with innocency written on his fore- head, does not lessen the meanness of the * \ THE SUBTILTY OF SATAN. 21 underlying principle, but rather augments it, for he not only entices a soul, but does it by deceptive influences. Thus he allured the pair in " The Garden," and thus he has be- guiled more souls, and done more to hinder the Gospel, than in any other way. By that which is at first apparently harmless, he paves the way for wilful disobedience, and lays a foun- dation for infidelity and general disaster. The more pure and holy the Church, the more does he find it expedient to adopt such means. Before the " fall " he would have deemed it useless to put into the heart of Eve the thought of murdering her husband. His pur- poses would most surely have been defeated. But by a disguised process, he paved the way until the seed of the disobedient pair evinced all the horror of the satanic principle in murder itself. The same subtilty is practised to-day, Satan knows full well that in Abraham perfect obedience was made the condition of God's 22 WHAT HARM IS THERE IN IT? favor, and that the condition remains unchanged to-day, and that if by any means he can allure the followers of Christ to the slightest disobe- dience, his cup is full, knowing that the dis- pleasure of the Lord is incurred, and weakness wrought in the Church. The general tendency of sin being downward, he is not discouraged if there is not a favorable opportunity to cut short the work of the Lord, and launch souls into perdition. If he cannot make atheists of us, if he cannot lead us into drunkenness, thieving, or lying, he has plenty other employment, in which if we will engage, he will not object to our maintaining the name of a Christian. Indeed, is it not by such instrumentality — these refined agencies — that the arch-fiend most effectually accomplishes his designs ? A disguised foe is the most treacherous of all foes. The city of Troy was invincible while her foe maintained the attitude of a foe, but when the enemy assumed the appearance of a friend, then was the king of Troy deceived and his city over- \ ,! , THE SUBTILTY OF SATAN. 23 thrown. That beautiful horse ! Who would have suspected that any harm could come of him ? But alas, alas ! the city is fallen ; not by mighty engines of war from without the gates, but by the smiles and kisses of false friendship. Such are Satan's tactics in his endeavors to overthrow the work of God. True, he has brought forward his strong agencies of atheism, infidelity, etc., and brought them to bear on the Church, and a great struggle is at hand ; but it is not by these, unaided, that he hopes to effect his purposes. How like a shrewd general, he uses these as a decoy and slyly proceeds to adopt some other method whereby he may accomplish hif^ designs. Even as the enemies of Troy, he assumes the aspect of a friend, and with all the subtilty so peculiar to him, proceeds with his work of death. He tells the Church to beware of scepticism, drunkenness, gambling, etc., but by his artifices he has given a shade of inno- cency to certain literature that is more enter- taining than profitable, to social wine-sipping, 24 WHAT HARM IS THERE IN IT? the parlor dance, circus, and theatre-going, family cards. Sabbath visiting, fashions, etc., that seems so plausible to multitudes of Chris- tians that they eagerly accept these things. Be not deceived. This is the Trojan horse. Beautiful indeed, but death is in his bowels. " Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity against God." God wills that we should have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. When He sent King Saul against the Amalekites, He commanded that everything should be put to the sword. Saul executed the command as far as the mer and women were concerned, all that was vile and refuse he did utterly destroy. But those fat oxen, sheep, and lambs ! What harm could come of these ? Surely, now the warriors were dead, Israel would suffer no hurt ; and these fatlings, what purpose might they not serve? So Saul preserved Agag alive, and Israel took unto themselves the finest of the herds and flocks. This was the work of the THE SUBTILTY OF SATAN. 26 devil, and by it he rent the kingdom of Israel from Saul that day. How cunning are his devices. To disclose his true mission, would be to defeat his purposes. He denounces gross evils, makes fair promises, and succeeds in impos- ing upon the people forbidden fruit, with a pre- tence that good will come in wisdom and happiness. We do not like to predict the future of the thousands who are thus deluded, but " the wages of sin is death." Multitudes in the Church to-day who would spurn the bar-room, brothel, gambling den^ etc., as they would a deadly serpent, have not so learned to flee the leapt approach of evil. They fail to be impressed with the magnitude of what are sometimes styled " little " sins, and to ob- serve how effectually they serve the satanic purpose, which is to bring us into disfavor with God, and make feeble our endeavor to establish righteousness in the earth. No sin is small in the eyes of God. " Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, is guilty 26 WHAT HARM IS THERE IN IT? of all." One offence is sufficient to incur the Divine displeasure. One offence engenders a spirit of weakness, which becomes a burden and hindrance, in Church enterprise, greater, we have said, than that from without. God could deliver the formidable Jerichoites into the hand of Israel when her garments were spotless, but when Achan took of the spoils of Jericho, appro- priating to self-gratification that which should have been devoted to the Lord, then Israel's victories were overshadowed by a defeat, the men of Ai pursuing them with fatal effect, not because Ai was able to fight against the Lord, but because Achan's sin had brought weakness into the camp of Israel. Are there not Achans in the camp of Israel to-day? How many have taken of the fat of the land and hidden it away for selfish purposes ? Who can estimate the weakness these are bringing, not only upon them- selves, but upon our beloved Zion ? Is there not truth in the words of Mr. Moody : " The Bi 3 O ^ / /A Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WtBSTER,N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 V ^q\' % V 4? N> A- ^. o \ '^o' ^'^'.^^^ ^^i. "9." fi? 92 WHAT HARM IS THERE IN IT ? U I I iitli'i tft. -i the awe inspiring fact, that this planet moves forward in space, in its journey around the sun, at the rate ot* 95,000,000 miles a day, or about 4,000,000 each hour; but you reject a less astound- ing fact as testified by a science which, in the opinion of some, has revealed even greater won- ders than has that of astronomy. While men continue to ignore these important laws, it need be no wonder that such diseases as consumption, catarrh, gout, rheumatism, dyspep- sia, scrofula, etc., are heaped upon us, and that we are left exposed to cholera and other diseases which take the form of a plague. Some people lq,ugh about the " mistakes of Moses," but " the selections and disapprovals of the law of Moses, as written out two thousand five hundred years ago, in reference to articles of food, are just now confirmed as being the wisest and best, by the most advanced school of scientific dietists." Striking facts support this decision. During the prevalence of cholera, so recently, in Mar- seilles, France, the Jews were so free from the epidemic as to seem to lead a charmed life. PLEASING THE PALATE. 93 They had studied and obsei'ved the dietary rules of Moses. It is said that insurance companies all prefer risks on Jewish lives, as they know that the average life of the Jew is from thirty- six to forty-two years, while with other nations it is only twenty-five to thirty-two. Would not the hygiene of the Bible, with whatever help science may afford, be to u. . valnnble study ? It would, perhaps, be unwiSv. ,o classify defi- nitely the various articles of food, and say that this is good and that is bad — such would not hold in all cases, some of the articles herein mentioned being found good under proper re- strictions — but we would emphasize the impor- tance of studying general principles. By so doing, not only might we lengthen our lives, but save ourselves the misery of a diseased body. Few of us are so invalid -like naturally but what there is some little spark of soundness left, which, if preserved by medical skill, accom- panied with a due regard to diet, apparel, cheer- fulness, and exercise, would spread its healthful influences and invigorate the whole system. 94 WHAT HARM IS THERE IN IT? But, alas, how many feed the disease as much as they do the spark of life that is in them ! The old story of the mince pie will represent thou- sands of cases to-day. " A farmer who was in the habit of eating one-fourth of a mince pie before retiring for the night, became annoyed with unpleasant drtams, and among the varied images of his fancy he saw that of his deceased father. Becoming alarmed, he consulted a physician, who, after a patient hearing of the case, gravely advised him to eat half of a mince pie, assuring him that he would then see his grandfather." By improper and irregular diet, and by hard work immediately after meals, whether in tie harvest-field, at the washtub, or with the mind in the study, the digestive organs are overtaxed, and the poor, jaded stomach failing to do its work, a general derangement ensues, which, of course, is a mysterious visitation of Providence (?) and the doctor must be sent for at once. What folly ! But little better than the supposition of bygone days — that disease was caused by evil PLEASING THE PALATE. 95 spirits ! Modern science teaches men that disease is not a thing, but a state. " When our food is properly assimilated, the waste matter promptly excreted, and all the organs work in harmony, we are well ; when any derangement of these functions occurs, we are sick." The best physi- cians are becoming to have diminished confi- dence in medicine itself, and to place greater dependence upon sanitary and hygienic meas- ures. If they give medicine it is simply to hold the disease in check that nature may have a fair chance, when, if her laws be observed, she will repair injuries, and restore harmony. The physician's prescription for good health would be, diet properly, bathe regularly, exer- cise freely, laugh heartily, and don't be ashamed of an overcoat. Even the cholera he v ould have baffled, not by medicine, but by clean streets, good drainage, etc., with attention to the meas- ures already noted. Will we disregard these advices ? Then not only will we subtract from the length of our years, and suffer weary days and nights of aches ii f I > i i ! 96 WHAT HARM IS THERE IN IT? and pains, but will be burdened with an enor- mous expense. That government that does not adopt and enforce strict sanitary measures will experience, in addition to the suffering and death through some plague, a heavy financial pressure. So it is in family government, but this expense is actually paid for in clear cash ; in other words, men pay cash for disease and the privilege of a doctor's bill. Some may not see it in this light, and yet they feel it. How many feel keenly the great expense of living to-day, as compared with days gone by ! "What benefit have we in return for this extra outlay ? Plainly none, but weakened constitutions, patent medicines, and doctor's charges. If for no other reason, we should abandon this pampering because it is op- posed to self interest, it brings poverty, disease, and death. A higher and more important reason why we give heed to these things, is that such intemper- ance defaces the temple of the Holy Ghost, vitiates our moral powers, and hinders the Gos- pel. The suffering and disease we have spoken I PLEASING THE PALATE. 97 of is not the suffering and disease of a being like a horse or an ox. " Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not yonr own ? " 1 Cor. vi. 19. " As truly as the living God dwelt in the Mosaic tabernacle, so truly does the Holy Ghost dwell in the souls of genuine Christians ; and as the temple and all it» untensils were holy, separated from all com- mon and profane uses, and dedicated alone to the service of God, so the bodies of genuine Chris- tians are holy, and all their members should be employed in the service of God alone." Next in importance to the soul should be the care of the temple in which it sits enthroned with God. Did God mark and keep a record of every piece that was put into the temple at Jerusalem ? So in His book, every member of this temple is written. Psl. cxxxix. 16. Did He punish those who desecrated the Jerusalem temple ? So will He scourge those who pervert the laws of the temple of the Holy Ghost. We suffer dreadful consequences here ; what it will be in the judg- 7 iili! fill S .()■ i iii 111! ■ i I 98 WHAT HARM IS THEllK IN IT? ' ment we cannot tell. Doubtless many will wake up to the fact that the atonement does not cover all the sins for which they profess ignorance. Conscious are we that the kingdom of God is., not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. But the term "righteousness" implies in itself not only holi- ness of, heart, but rectitude of life ; therefore v\^e ?y.' smg- '* Take my Hfe, and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee ;" Take my hands, my feet, my voice, my lips, my silver and gold, my moments, my intellect, my will, my heart, my love, and if there is any- thing more it is contained in the last two lines— " Take myself, and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee." And this is scriptural. " Ye are not your own." 1 Cor. vi. 19. "Therefore, whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God " Dr. Talniage says : " Whether we shall keep early or late hours, whether we shall eat food digestible qr indigestible, whether there PLE' SO THE PALATE. 99 shall bo thorough or incomplete mastication, are questions very often deferred to the realm of whimsicality ; but the Christian man lifts this whole problem of health into the accountc>ble and the divine." He adds : " God has given me this body, and He has called it the temple of the Holy Ghost, and to deface its altars, or mar its walls, or crumble its pillars, is a God-defying sacrifice." God required the Levites to offer in sacrifice to Him nothing that was imperfect or diseased, and from this all nations should iearn that God expects of us the very best sacrifice we are able to give. When He asks that our bodies be pre- sented a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable. He would have us refrain from every hurtful thing, and walk as becometh children of the light. To hear some people talk, you would get the impres- sion that neither bone, nor muscle, or any bodily organ, had to do with spiritual interests; but God says, " present your bodies a living sacri- fice." He would have them meet temples of the Holy Ghost, by whose agency they are to be renewed, and preserved for the accomplishment of divine purposes. lil 'if I I ! 100 WHAT HARM IS THERE IN IT? It is the belief of not a few, that as Chris- tianity develops, physical life will be improved ; and this belief is based on Scripture, and demon- strated by fact. We may not attain unto ante- diluvian longevity. Adam lived 930 years, Methuselah lived 969 years ; but of the Christian God says, '• With long life will I satisfy him." Psa. xci. 16. In a sermon from this text Dr. Talmage very truly says : "The fact is, that men and women die too soon." He speaks of there being, at one date, during the time of Vespasian, and in his empire, some forty-five persons 135 years of age ; and of one Peter Zartan, in the sixteenth century, who lived to be 185 years old, showing that down to but a few centuries ago some traces of long life were to be found, and that but for the withering effects of sin, whose bonds Christianity has only begun to snap asunder, we would not be so degenerated in body as we are to-day. Referring to Isa. Ixv. 20, " The child shall die a hundred years old," he asks, " May not the men and women reach to three hundred, and four hundred, and five PLEASING THE PALATE. 101 ^] hundred ?" and declares that " We are mere dwarfs and skeletons compared with some of the generations that are to come." It is but a little over a century since the dun- geons of Satan were fairly broken into and the work of regeneration and purification com- menced, but men are beginning to see that the religion of the soul is good for the body, and the Bible and medical science are joining hands for the healing of our race. One Mr. Frederick H. Nash has given the information that in the State of Connecticut there are over 6,000 persons who are over 80 years old. Of these 600 are more than 90, and of those over 100 there are 120. Now, by His salutary influence upon our lives, this being the work of the Holy Ghost which is in us, can we not see and feel how wrong it is, even in the smallest sense, to injure these bodies ? God promises that " the prayer of faith shall save the sick " (James v. 15) ; but let none pre- sume to pray for healing with closed windows, thin shoes, pinched waists, ungoverned appetites, ri f IM;. f f ;; : s II ■ 102 WHAT HARM IS THERE IN IT ? etc. As consistently might one pray for for- giveness and continue in blasphemy. Take your hand out of the fire if you want to be healed. By our disobedience we rob God of a strength He had designed to use, and thus defeat the most noble purposes concerning us. This we do, not only by subtracting from physical strength, but by a weakening of the moral powers. Many are ready to say that the matter of diet is one of small importance as far as their spiritual life is concerned, but they understand not what they say. The three elements, body, mind, and soul, into which philosophers represent man as being di- vided, contribute each to the health cr unhealth of the other. The cultivation of man's moral nature will best contribute to his physical and mental well-being. A man of loose morals is very apt to abuse his body. "Godliness is profitable unto all things," etc. And unleas we charge God with creating a faculty the develop- ment of which tends to weakness and death, we must believe mind culture to be helpful to the PLEASING THE PALATE. 103 physical, and the lives o£ philospphers clearly prove that it is so. Also a, strong mind is con- ducive to moral stability. It helps one in map- ffi; ping out a right course. ! In like manner the physical contributes in turn to these higher faculties. " A sound mind in a sound body " is a maxim whose truth none can doubt. W. H. Prescott, Cardinal Richelieu, Dr. Samuel Clarke, Paley, and others, sprupled not to engage in innocent sports that their bodies V might be made equal to the mental strain which they endured. (Amusement, sanctified to such a noble purpose, with an eye to moral usejfulness, is praiseworthy rather than otherwise), Mental ! vigor requires physical force, and we hsuve seen that moral stability is affected by the strength or weakness of the mind, therefore are our moral faculties influenced by the state of the body. . Our whole system is bound together by a net- work of nerves, called the sympathetic system, so that " if one member suflers, all the members suflfer with it." The drunkard first experiences a nervous excitement, then muscular, and next i 104 WHAT HARM JS THERE IN IT? mental weakness, along with which comes a failure of the moral sense ; conscience is lulled, reason enfeebled, and sensibilities blunted, con- tinually lessening the ability to appreciate nice shades of right and wrong, until moral principles lose their power to influence, and the better nature has lost its supremacy. Now, although not so manifest, yet just as surely is our moral nature affected by what we eat. Take a very common instance. A man overloads his stomach at dinner on Sunday. Two o'clock cqmes, and he says : "Well, wife, I ought to go to Sabbath -school, but I feel so drowsy." The moral faculties prompt, him, but his mind is sluggish through the abuse of the body, the judgment fools with dut^ , and the man stays at home. That is the experience of thou- sands. It seems a small matter at first glance, but stop, stop and think. That influence weak- ened stability of purpose in your scholars, as well as in yourself ; and oh ! what if eternity should reveal that on that day a Robert Morrison or Abel Stevens was in your class ! A small PLEASING THE PALATE. 105 matter ? Let the world say so if it will, but let not the Christian call that small which the inspired pen thought wise to discuss. God meant something when he enjoined fasting and abstinence. The Apostle meant something when he commanded, " Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Do all to the glory of God ! " Yes," said Dr. Steele, " it is a grand thought that we can thus transform that which is common and gross into that which is refined and spiritual ; that out of waving wheat, wasting flesh, running water, and dead minerals, we can realize the glorious possi- bilities of human life." Ignorance or indifference as to this fact has worked untold mischief. The great moral evil with which our world is cursed is represented as coming upon us through the sin of tasting — whatever that means. No sooner had Eve partaken of the forbidden fruit and given to her husband, than their moral faculties were tarnished, they blushed for shame, sought covering for themselves, and showed less delight in the Divine presence. Ex. xxxii. 6 and 1 Cor. 106 WHAT itARM IS THERE IN IT? X. 7 show how surely the moral nature is affected hy the abuse of our eating privilege. The people of God sat down to eat and drink ; they rose up to play, dance, and sing ; they committed fornication, and brought upon them- selves the vengeance of God. Multitudes are doing this to-day. By feasting, made respect- able, men and women derange their bodily functions, the mind suffers through sympathy of the brain ^ 'ith the stomach, irritable feelings and peculiar temptations spring up, and the moral powers find it difficult to preserve their equan- imity ; many are actually led captive by their animal passions. By the use of condiments, the stomach is often irritated, the nerves excited, and a desire for such stimulants as tobacco and strong drink induced. As a Church, would we not adorn our consistency if, while condemning the beer stand for its immoral tendencies, we would look well to the evil that proceedeth from more refined centres? Is a snake any the less a snake because he is not a boa-constrictor ? Let ho man l^LteAStNG THE PALATE. 107 be deceived. God will rise up in judgment against us for this intemperance which would fain hide its deformed head under the cloak of the Church. O, the subtilty of Satan to hinder the Gospel ! Has he not robbed us not only of physical, mental, and moral strength, but also of the means which God has placed in our hands for the spread of His truth ? Who of us can lift up innocent hands ? What have we spent even for tea, coffee, and tobacco ? Stop, brother ! stop, sister ! and think a moment. Statistics inform us that of tea alone the people of England use annually 170,000,000 pounds. Now, reckoning that we use only at three-fourths of that rate, and that tea is only fifty cents per pound, our population being about one-ninth of theirs, our expenditure for tea would ba over $7,000,000 — nearly as much as the whole Protestant world contributes to missions. What a showing! Add to this various other cMning-room luxuries, and then consider, is this for the glory of God ? A minister once said to me, " Why, you don't !<■ Ij I 108 WHAT HARM IS THERE IN IT? expect every word and act to be done to the glory of God." To all such persons I will now reply in the words of Rev. J. L. Corning : " If there is just one thing which I have a right to do, but which I cannot do for the glory of God, then, in respect to that one thing, I have thrown off allegiance to God, and set up an independent government of my own. That thought is a javelin plucked from Satan's quiver, a firebrand out of hell, and if the Almighty would let it spread itself, it would leave His throne a heap of smouldering ashes." Men make a great ado if their tea is not provided, but when these things are spoken of in a religious sense, they are astonished that " Eternal Wisdom " should have cognizance of such a matter. Ah, brethren, He who marked the widow's mite, and promised even that a cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple should not lose its reward ; He who commanded that the crumbs be gathered after the feeding of the multitude, that nothing be lost, what will He say of the thousands wasted by littles, and the thousands wasted in PLEASING THE PALATE. 109 in the spreading of great feasts to gratify the desires of the flesh ? Is it any wonder that Wesley preached : " Do not waste any part of so precious a talent merely in gratifying the desires of the flesh ; in procur- ing the pleasures of sense of whatever kind; particularly in enlarging the pleasure of tasting. I uo not mean, avoid gluttony and drunkenness only ; an honest heathen would condemn these. But there is a regular, reputable kind of sensu- ality, an elegant epicurism, which does not im- mediately disorder the stomach, nor (sensibly at least) impair the understanding ; and yet (to mention no other effects of it now) it cannot be maintained without considerable expense. Cut off" all this expense ! Despise delicacy and va- riety, and be content with what plain nature requires." As Methodists we would do wisely to look to our Discipline, p. 104 : " Do you use only that kind and that degree of food which is best for both body and soul ? Do you see the necessity of this ? Do you cdt no more at each meal than ' il'ihl ll 111 ' 11 no WHAT HAllM IS THERE IN IT? is necessary? Are yoU not heavy and drowsy after dinner ? Do you use only that kind and that degree of drink which is best for both body and soul ? Do you choose and use water for your common drink ?" The import of this is couched in one short sentence, and placed in the "General Rules," which every Methodist has promised to observe, and which being scriptural, all others would do well to observe : Continue to do good " by all possible diligence and frugality, that the Gospel be not blamed." yes, this is sound doctrine, it is Methodistic, it is scriptural. Do you find no pleasure in it ? Then to God, and not to His humble servant, let your complaint be made. By our disregard of these things, what dul- ness, what reproach, what hindrances have we brought upon ourselves ? How many Christian men and women who might be valiant for the Lord are worn out by dyspepsia and chronic melancholy ? How much of the purest truth and highest elo(iuence, even that of the inspired Word, has fallen from the pulpit with little PLEASING THE PALATE. Ill effect, because of an indisposition of preacher and people through want of fasting? How many children who might have made class* leaders, Sabbath-school superintendents, or burn- ing lights among the heathen, have had their vitality undermined by the luxuries of the dining-room ? How many missionary subscrip- tions have received cents when they ought to have received dollars ? Eternity will answer. Brethren, let us awake. The Lord give us light. It will bo a grand period in the history of Zion when we make it our delight to eat, drink, sleep, speak, and think for God. That time is com- ing. "In that day there shall be upon the bells of the hoi-ses. Holiness unto the Lord ; and the pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jeru- salem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts." Zech. xiv. 20. Holiness every- where! In the dining-room, in the drawing- room, in the office and in the shop shall the glory of the Lord be displayed, CHAPTER VI. THE DEMAND OF THE HOUR, " Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." — Mark xvi, 16. *^tOTHING is there of so much importance C^ before the Christian world to-day as the execution of the above commission. The motto of every living Church is, "The world for Christ:" Unquestionably, there never was a time when greater advances were being made; but with enlarged borders has come increased responsibil- ity. It is one thing to step into new fields, but quite another thing to indoctrinate the people and establish the work. '' Missionaries ought to be multiplied ten-fold in Syria, Persia, Egypt ; a hundred-fold in Turkey, India, and Japan ; a thousand-fold in China^ Africa, and the Papal THE DEMAXD OP THE HOnn. 113 it to )t ; a a [apal States." Our workers ai'Q raising the Macedjjn* ian cry, " Come over and help us." Tiiese new tit'hls into which tlie Cliurch has gone are not uncontested. The agencies of darkness are com- liined to oppose the truth. It is a fight between the forces of evil and the forces of God. In India, but recently, there were over one hundred newspapers opposing the march of Christ, and earnestly advocating paganism and Mohaninietl- anism. Luck now and Cawnpore have a large number of publishing houses largely engaged in printing against Christianity ; and not a few of the wealthier class cheerfully give of their sub- stance to spread the books of their religion.. On© Mohammedan is said to have given $4,000, and one million Hindu tracts are said to have been published at the expense of one Hindil prince. In this country of 254,000,000 population, equal to that of all Europe without Russia, there is but little more than half a million Protestant Christians to stem the tide of darkness and idolatry. "No country is so distinguished by the number of its temples, shrines, and symbols PI H 114 WHAT HARM IS THERE IS {T ? of idolatry as InVr..' THE DEMAND OF TF1E ^QUH. 115 actual guilt, to sear their consciences as with a hot iron, to call the wicked righteous, and send men down to the grave with a lie in their right hand." Buddhism is branded by Sir John Bow- ring for " its selfishness, its disregard of others, its deficiency in all the promptings of sympathy and benevolence." The system induces such inhumanity that, while t gard is had lest by accident anyone should kill an insect, and while apes and sacred pigs are fed in the temples by the priests, " men and women are left to die of starvation on the streets, and their bodies to be devoured by dogs in the very neighborhood of their sacred buildinocs." No religion on the con- tinent of Asia, it is said, has left its votaries in a lower moral condition. Corruption^, in ita. worst form, exists throughout the millions of Buddha's followers. lymd r. Turning to China, with her 400,000,000 of souls, a nation of such antiquity and marked achievements as to call forth deep admiration in . him who reads, we are again met by a rooraH darkness revolting in the extreme. Here the - •:::2 M id i 116 WHAT HARM IS THERE IN IT? influence of heathenism has been thought to be less debasing than among many races, but, says Mr. Williams, " They are vile and polluted in a shocking degree, their conversation is full of filthy expressions, and their lives of impure acts." The religion of Confucius is most counten- anced by the Government, but the majority of the common people adhere to Buddhism. This remarkable people, it is found, once had the con- ception of one living and true God and Personal Ruler. But they glorified him not, and to-day they are sunk in the lowest polythesim. Mr; Williamson, while speaking of them in the highest terms as the imperial race in the far East, adds : " It is true at present they are in a most deplorable condition. Their old principles of government are disregarded ; the maxims of their classics utterly ignored by the generality of their rulers ; rapacity and corruption pervade every department of the State, even to a far greater degree than foreigners every imagined.* As to the future, after due observation, con- firmed by the testimony of the ablest Euro-. i'lm DfeMAND or THE HOUR. 117 peans and Americans in Pekin, he says "There, is no hope for China in China itself. The nation must become more and more corrupt, unless some external element be introduced to save it." The ineffectiveness of their boasted civilization or religious system to induce any real humanity is manifest In the barbarous penalties for broken law. One of them is thus described by the editor of the China Mail : " It means being tied to a cross, and then subjected to tortures so fiend- ish that even the North American Indian has never invented anything more horrible ; for the death agony is prolonged through such operations as flaying the face, cutting off the breasts, ex- cising the muscles; nipping off the fingers and »;Oes, and finally disembowelling the wretched victim, who even then has been known to mani- fest signs of life." From this awful degradation we turn, hoping, but in Vain, for a much more improved state of moral principles and humane feelings when we look to other quarters of those dark lands. 118 WHAT HARM IS THERE IN IT? Ji-Cili'iii .1!;. Uhnuid «)f«r. Japan, with a population of 34,000,000, while the most vigorous efforts are being put forth for her evangelization, is yet bound by the delusive systems of Confucius, Buddha, and the original system of the country, Shintoisni. Of the peopl^^as a whole, the Kev. S. G! McLAten states, " Thjay are a depraved and licentious people." To give .an account of the fiendish inhuinanity of Africa and Polynesia, as given by Dr. Patter- son — ^^from whose essay on missions our quota- tions are taken — would be simply appalling. The Negro population of Africa, numbering some 120,000,000, is in all the darkness of heathenism, and abomination of slavei^y and cannibalism. Of the slavery, Dr. Eivingstoiie sayd i ** To ex- aggerate its enormities is a simple impossil-ility." An index to the ferocity of cannibalism may be found in the fact that in one of their sacred houses were found many hundreds or thousands of skulls, while in some parts the tribes display their savage craving by stringing the teeth of the victims about their hecks, and hanging the skulls on stakes about their dwellings. In the .v,THE DEMAND OF THE ..OtTR. 119 /while the th for her s delusive le oHginal Of the ^en states, eople." humanity >r. Patter- ar quota- iing. The in^ some afchenism, iiiibalism. « To ex- 3silility." I may be ir sacred bousands s display teeth of iging the In the i; , ! language of a tnissionary, as given by Dr. Pat- ersoh, " At this day the Negrid race stands before thtf world in a condition disgraceful to itself and humanity. Divided into innumerable tfilies and -languages — without literature, laWs-op'^orern- ment, arts or sciences,— with slavery for its normal social condition, and thef? basest and bloodiest superstition in the worid f<5r religion, —a religion without reference ? td God or their souls, to sin or holiness, to heaven or hell, and even without the out ward- insignia of temple, priest or altar, — it has sunk so^ low as to be re- gardless alike of conscience^and shamf», to reckon ' a man's life at his market value as a beast of " burden, and to practise -^cannibalism, not from want, but revenge and a horrid lust of human flesh." Polynesia is yet a darker hue of cannibalism. "All society in those dark regions is indeed a Dead Sea of pollution." Such is the condition of the races to which our 'Gospel is being sent. How strange must be the beliefs — our space will not permit notice of them ^ifiu-itsitU tlJlU' IS*'« 120 WHAT HARM IS THERK IS IT? r— that cause men to recognize as deities I lie most inferior objects of creation ; that call for acts of ,worship cruel and unclean; that lead to prae- liqes of abomination and bloodahed. r Verily it is a great work to overthrow these BUperstitions, that righteousness may be finnly planted. But be it believed or be it rejected ^we speak not unsupported), the greatest hinr drance to missions to-day is in the Church o£ light jit home. What! the Church of God un- jmoved at so many of their fellow-creatures in BUch pollution? "Actions speak louder than '^ords." ** Hundreds of congregations give not one dollar to missions." And taking the churches as a whole, we have shown in the preceding chapters that for either dress, unnecessary diet, or tobacco, we far exceed what we give to send salvation to the heathen. The following is a clipping from the Christian Guardian, as taken from the Methodist Protestant ; " The Christian world is only playing at missions. We are children with our wooden blocks and sawdust Iwtbies. The aggregate sum seems large, but THE DOIAND OF THK HOUR. l'2l lilt put it beside that spent for drlrik, or tobacco, or finery, and it dwindles into nothingness. A fevv tiiisaion stations are dotted over the heathen lands, and a tew missionaries are delving their lives away among them ; V»ut take our resources, and what a pitiable spectacle it is ! Nothing but Christian illiberality is in the way of the world's conversion, so far as it is a subject of promise " As a Church, we not only waste money that bught to be given to missions, but we are guilty bf encouraging that waste in others, and thus helping the devil to rob God. "The ladies of Slmerica actually spend more for arti^cial flow- ers each year than do all the f'^iurches for the spread of the Gospel." For ladies' foreign dress goods is expended annually the sum of S125,- 000,000, nnJ iNew York alone is said to expend J?30,000,000 for kid gloves. Aye, says Dr. Tal- inage, " Ten cents for the missionary cause, and $2.50 for trappings ! Diamonds enough to give the Gospel to India." Again he says, " The American Church gives not $3,000,000 a year iv .f:^/- ^'' 122 ^- r- WHAT HARM IS THERE IN IT? for the salvation of the heathen, and Amt'rican Christians smoke $5,000,000 worth of tobacco." As to table exijrayagance, we have no esti- mate of separate items, but who will doubt that tea, cotfee, and pastry does not far exceed the expense of tobacco ? And (though it may apply to many w^ith less force), let it be spoken aloud, with condemnation, on the authority of a Chris- tian lady in Albany, whose communication ""ap- peared in one of the leading church "papers, " It is an open secret that ladies in Albany — ladies who, at the altars of Christian churches, prom- ised to renounce the world, etc.— ^ladies of means, culture, and pi^oihinent social positiori^^spfend froni otie tb two hundred dollars annually in support of a pet dog.^' This ungodly waste, we are told, is by no means uncommon at some of the fashionable watering-places, whero ladies (?) pay by the week for the board of a! puppy, giving it choice porterhouse steak, etc. Nh&i is your idol, dear sister? Brethren, what idol have we? ^ '^ We lio not refer to these things with a dis- ' '' • ■ ■ ' HI'S. 6I± •' •■■ '-^ ■■ '• •■ ^ i^ THE T)::maxd of the Horn 123 dainful, taunting spirit, but to reveal simple facts. Where is our spirit of sacrifice ? Hun- dreds of millions for finery, etc., and only $9,- 000,000 for missions. God bless those who give and labor ! To the rest may hearts to feel be given. Look ! look again to those dark lands. Over eight hundred millions of our race grop- ing for the light, worshipping they know not what. Millions upon millions never so much as heard of a missionary, or of the name which is above every name, and are dying with reason to say, " Nq man cared for our soiil." In China alone 33,000 die daily ; as many as live in our Dominion buried every four months. Think of it ! Is this a time to jest and display jewelry ? In an hour of such tremendous responsibility, who can say that it is a small thing to seek our own pleasure ? Come a little closer to these perishing ones. Let the street in front of your door be the dividing line between you and them. Look at them. "No Sunday, no churches, no schools, tio charities, no gospel " — women as slaves aj4d 124 WHAT HAttM IS THEttB IN; ITrt beasts of burden— millions* ^tasting on their feU lows — 'whole races), to do something to satisfy the immoital nature that is in them, bowing down to idols of wood and stone! Could you stand close to that border, with the Bible in your hand, and, Sunday after Sunday, tell how yott-^ love Jesus, without making any more effort to "rescue the perishing " than you do now ? Your conscience would smite you. Get down on your' knee$, and pray " Thy kingdom come," and then let the mission paper pass by without your name! What a contradiction 1 'O beloved, have you Christ? Then ou^ht) you to show the spirit of Christ. He left Hi*; throne Und came to a manger ; laid by a kingly crown for one of thorns; put off His robes of rbyalty for a covering of blood; from halls of plenty He came to suffer the pangs of hunger iiir' the wilderness. " The foxes have holes, and th^a^i birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man^ hath not where to lay His head." " Though HePJ was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor.lt' "Hereby. perceive we the love of God, because: THE DEMAND OF THE HOUR. 125 He laid down His life for us ; and we ou^ht to lay down our lives for the brethren. Tjohn iii. 16." Let that man count his Christianity very superficial, who is not willing to sacrifice self for the " lost " and dying. The fulfilling of the law is, in one word, even this, " Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." These souls are our neighbors— they are beaten and fallen by the wayside. Are we the good Samaritan, or the priest and Levite ? The fact of their being dis^ tant from us. does not make them any less our neighbors; nay, they are more than neighbors, they are brothers, « God hath made of one blood all nations of men." . tCould we be aroused from our stupor, and get acme conception of the brotherhood of man, who would not be on flame to rescue at least one soul. for the burning zeal of Dr. Coke, who gave bis life and $30,000 ; or that of Dr. Duff, who in his last hours, when he could stand with diflS- culty, desired to be supported on the platform that he might plead for the heathen. A young Wy of one of our towns, not long since, being 120 WHAT HAUM-IS THERE IX IT ? -i.fi tliorouglily iinbiierl wji^h tbe missionary spirit of ih»T Mas er, offered h^;^self ^u the Woman's For- ,eign Missionary Society, and was appointed to India. Wiien asked if she had any preference .pf a field, with beaming coiintenanoe she replied, *' Anyivhere with Jesus." I:^ her Ifrst prayer- ,nieeti»g, with fond associatiq^is ^bout her, sjie sweetly said.; " Jesus is more to nie than parents and home, and friends, and I gladly give up all for Hikii." Now we are not all called to be missionaries, or to j^reach from the pulpit, but we believe that .all are a^s surely called of God for Gospel exten- .sion as is the minister. Be you a farmer, mer- ,chani{, mechanic, seamstress, housekeeper, or what;^ else, your time and talent and substance are as much required of the Lorci as was the talent of that young ladj'^ for India. " Ye are not your own." Sisters, you can't all go to India, but what possible sacrifice can you ' not cheerfully nmke wheatyou think of your benefitt in the gospel I ThinJcJ think of the degradation of your sex // a ly'V ..■w THE r)EMAND OF THE HOUR. 12T -> ■. in these dnrk lands, and 4et j'Otir hearts be in- spii:jedwith a holy -enthusiaFjni to loose them from* such thraldom . by the power of a Hying gospfel. , Possess yourselves of the spirit pf Mrs. Wesley, Judaon, or Fletcher, even the spirit of your Master, and let men be likewise selF-deny- incr and obedient unto d,i vine wisdom, and how soon would a flame be kindled^ at home, flnd the glad tidings of salvation be heralded af ar ; the . frowning walls of scepticism at Calcutta, and Bombay, and elsewhere, would be as the walls of Jericho, and the host of the Lord would move forward. Let this theme of evangelization be- come .the b.urdejQ of tlie family altar, and th,e weekly prayer-meeting, and with consecrateji possessions who can tell but that before another . half-century " the last tyranny will fall, pagan- . ism burn its idols, Mohammedanism give up the false prophet, Judaism confess the true Messiah, the great walls of superstition come down at the long loud blast of the gospel trumpet ; and witji a splendor of 'demonstration that shall be the ■7 128 WHAT HARM IS THKUE IN IT? a'^tonislnnent of the universe, Gol will sit forth tlie brightness, and pomp, and glory, and per- petuity of His eternal government." The dark* ness is widespread and dense, covering nearly two-thirds of the earth — some nine millions on our American shores groping in the blackness of heathendom.— but there are bright sp'tts in all the horizon, even on the shores of cannibalism. Church of the living Go 1, let the responsi- bility of the hour fall upon you ! Look to the north ! Look to the south ! Look to the east \ Look to the west ! " Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest. Be- hold I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields ; for they are white already to the harvest." \> fllUI JBSft^ t}