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Download PDF - Free Methodist Church

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15 THE EAENEST CHBISTIAN.EDITOBIAL.LOVE FOB CHBIST.Tie strongest appeal that can be madeto any true Christian is based upon thelove he bears for Christ. -This will alwaysmove him to do his duty. To address tohim lower motives, implies a want of confidencein his sincerity. Let him know,beyond a doubt, that tlie Master has •needofit.&nd any thing at his disposal—moneyor iufluence—houses, or lands, or lifeitself, all is freely ofi'ered. A man whoacts from pride or love of applause willgive, to have pride gratified, and his namesounded abroad, but this is not Christianity.How can ye believe who receive honorone of anotlier, and seek not tlie Iwuor thatcomes from God only ? If you love Christhis approbation is more to you than theapplause of the whole world. When ministerssay that their people will not give,unless in a way to gratify pride, what is itbut saying that they do not love Christ ?That they are Christians only in name?If a church cannot be built without sellingthe best seats to those whose pride will beflattered by tbe distinction, it had better>by far, not be built. The worst possiblestate that a human being can be in, is astate of self-deception. But churcheswhich cater to pride, which encourage theirmeinbers to do good acts from base motives,are, as they multiply converts, onlyswelling the numbers of the self-deceived.The motive is the main thing that Godlooks at But in churches sustained byappeals to pride, and to the love of pleasure,by selling pews, by fairs, festivals andsocial parties, the motives are corrupted,and the foundation ol all good works isdestroyed.Look to your motives. Stoutly refuse todo a good act from a wrong motive. Whatsoeveryou do for the cause of God let thelove of Christ constrain you.»-•-•LOTTEBIES,It needs no argument to prove thatgambling is thoroughly demoralizing.—That it leads to idleness, dissipation, ruin,and violent death is abundantly demonstratedby experience.Lotteries are a. species of gambling.Tlieir influence was found to be so bad,that in the most of the States laws werepassed against them. These laws weretolerably well enforced untilMliey werebroken down by the cliurclies. Pride isexpensive. To uiaintliin the splendor ofthe religion of the day required more moneythan the people were willing to contribute.So festivals, with their lotteries, ringcakes,grab-bags, and various forms ofgambling were introduced. These havebecome general throughout the country.Even the children are trained to gambling,under the sanction of the Sunday school.Lotteries are employed to replenish the libraries,and to support the various beuevclent enterprises of the church.The infection lias spread. When the<strong>Church</strong> leads off in sin the world is notslow to follow. Let the pulpit sanction awrong principle, let the church set a badexample, and sinners wUl push to the utmostthe advantage thus given them. Lotterieshave become quite general througlioutthe country. They are very fast assuminggigantic proportions. Ticlcets toconcerts are sold, and the fortunate holderof the prize ticket is promised a city mansion,or a valuable horse, or a sum ofmoney. Of course the great mass getnothing; but the love of gambling Ivasbeen excited, and to gain what tliey havelost they are tempted to try it again. Oncein the whirlpool and there is scarcely achance for escape. Those who receiveprizes are eiicouraged to spend in idlenessand dissipation what was gained withoutan effort. When a man makes up his mindthat there is for hiiu an easier way to getmoney tlian by fairly earning it, he is notfar from the brink of ruin.So wide spread has the evil become tliatpreachers have taken the alarm, resolutionshave been passed by preachers' meetings,denouncing these extensive lotteries. Theeffect has'been to excite the ridicule of thepublic and the press. These ministersshould first confess the wrong that theyliave done by their complicity with gamb-

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