The miracles of Jesus - Classical Christian Literature by Athleo.net

THE WITHERED HAND 241
casts, were welcomed and blessed. He was like the
Heavenly Father who sends His rain and sun upon
the unthankful and the unworthy. Those who attribute
philanthropy to a Christless civilisation are
shallow students of history, for nothing of this was
known before the Advent of Christ. We can hardly
imagine human society as it existed outside the
Jewish nation, for
though we have some accounts of
armies and courts, little is said about the poor, the
sick, and the slaves. At its worst times the Christian
Church has been infinitely better than Paganism at
its best. Even in the Dark Ages, when Christianity
was corrupt, the mediaeval Church stood up for the
weak and gave doles to the poor, and preserved
learning, and defended the helpless against the rapine
of the barons. With all its faults, even then it was a
blessing to the world. But now we can think of a
far greater ministry of mercy. We have hospitals
for the sick, institutions to meet every kind of distress,
orphanages in which little ones are tended and
trained ;
and the mere list of institutions which found
their germ in the example of Christ might prove an
eloquent sermon on His influence. Nor must we
forget
quiet work which makes heaven glad—loving
words to little children, brave rebukes of what is
sinful, kindness to those who are poor and ill, as if
already we were seeking to hasten the time when God
shall wipe away all
tears from our eyes.