others' wants, shall dictate. It is by wealth that such desires are to be gratified, and where it is obtained by honest labour and directed also to useful and charitable purposes, it is the most blessed of man's possessions. We utterly repudiate the sinfulness of luxury as a principle; it serves and sustains the interests of the world at large; but we may and do consider that it has advanced far enough, that day by day whole masses of people appreciate it better and gratify their appreciation in increasing ratios. A certain kind of luxury, however, that of sensual indulgence, we do most zealously denounce-that kind which helped to ruin old Rome "Balnea, Vinum, Venus, corrumpunt corpora nostra let such lines never apply to the men of England. The time has now arrived for the great body of the wealthy to restrain its progress, and to assist the large masses of their fellow-creatures who still lead miserable and suffering lives, lagging miserably in the rear of comfort. Before proceeding further, before creating and gratifying new wants or pleasures, they must turn round, each one foregoing his own gratification however lawful, and each one in his sphere and according to his means spread his accumulated means of doing good around, in order to alleviate, assist, and raise the miserable, the poverty-stricken, the ignorant, and even the vicious and fallen who pass painfully through a wretched, comfortless, or degraded existence. It is the rich man's duty to attend first to the wants of his parish, then to those of his district, and then to his diocese, regularly and systematically: and if his means are not yet expended, national wants and works may well and nobly employ his superfluity. On colossal fortunes, colossal demands are justly made. We hear of men who have five hundred thousand pounds a year and even more; but let us speak of such as · have one hundred thousand or fifty thousand a year. Of such the world says, How generous, how liberal is such and such a nobleman or merchant! he has actually fitted up several life boat stations, built cottages for his labourers (at a fair rental may be), erected churches, or established almshouses, etc. We ask what proportion does all this bear to their riches? The answer is, But a poor one indeed, one for which they hardly deserve esteem, much less claim praise. What are the absolute requirements of such people's yearly expenses? what the amount of their yearly beneficence? They are niggardly at the best, and when all is said and done, they are still unprofitable_servants and faithless stewards of the great Giver, their Lord and Master, the All-bountiful. Such vast riches, unless expended wisely and with both hands, are indeed a grievous stumbling block in the road to spiritual perfection. All power is vested with man in trust for others; all power not exercised for good, if selfishly retained or selfishly used, is a curse to the possessor. Now money is a power amongst powers. There is work to be done with it, and that instantly. This God has so made the world that man has his appointed labour in it, to work together with the divine Creator in its final completion and adornment. world is given to us with rivers to span, rocks to tunnel, continents to connect; forces here to be repelled, there to be introduced, dykes against the water, canals to bring it in, and interlace the land with navigable roads. Great and necessary works such as these are not to be left to mere speculators or needy adventurers, but should be taken in hand by the very wealthy as tasks befitting their station, and without desire of profit to themselves. Still, it is the Creator who does it all, who proceeds through them His agents, His free agents and voluntary assistants, not slaves begrudging each call upon them, or acting from fear or compulsion. These must be works of love towards God and man. Nor glorify yourself for such great deeds; remember, without Him we are not. He it is still acts on us, through us, from us; we are but instruments in His service; of ourselves we can do nothing and are nothing. By Him we live, and move, and have our being: and as from His beneficence and wisely ordered scheme of life comes all we have, so to Him and to His service-and His service means benefit to the world and to mankind-should all our powers be dedicated. Whosoever works, does God's work; and the higher the nature of the work, the more nobly does he serve the great cause of the Deity-human progress. All work is useful and beautiful; and from the poor man at the crossing, to the emperor on his throne, does each and every worker serve the Divine purpose and aid in the advancement of the Divine scheme. The tendencies of our age are mainly to the development of the useful; our great works, all leading to a more intimate knowledge and increased intercourse between different nations and races of men, are such, as commenced only during the present century, already surpass in extent and value the combined productions of all past ages. Palaces and shrines, temples and pyramids, are but toys and playthings for men compared with the roads, tunnels, bridges, and vessels of this our time of promise. What is most useful to man is most pleasing to God. Rightly regarded, these last are sacred works leading to blessed results, harbingers of the world's future unity. Thus, although we recognise the importance and intrinsic superiority of the Intellect in its productions, which afford us all science; of the Imagination and emotions with their results, poetry, music etc.; of those Senses, by means of which the beautiful world of art is created: the grandeur, in fine, of all spiritual, mental, and moral aims and aspirations; yet we cannot be blind to the vital importance, however comparatively ignoble in itself, of money making. For without riches, we halt in our progress towards the attainment of the higher requirements of life; without money we can produce no great results in art or science, learning or utility; we should have no noble works of architecture, sculpture, or painting; no railroads, docks, bridges, lighthouses, canals, or ships: on all of which the future intercourse, grandeur, welfare, and happiness of the human race depend. God has so ordered it; nor, strange as it may seem in our eyes, is it for us to question the cause or repine at the fact but knowing it to be certainly true, we must cheerfully forward the scheme, and diligently, each in his own sphere, work for the world's benefit, every one according to his power. Some by cultivating their abilities, others by affording them scope for action; these by making money, those by wisely expending it: first with a view, each one, to his own independent position during life: then to the alleviation of misery, pain, distress, and ignorance among his fellow-creatures; and, lastly, to the ac-` complishment of useful works, serviceable to mankind at large and tending to the perfect completion of the habitable world. As much wealth as ever you may have, spend it thus, and you will live and die happy in yourself, beloved of your fellows, and a worthy servant of God. THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE, As taught by the Universal Church to all nations, churches, and sects; to all classes of men without exception, is this: Hear, O Earth! the Lord our God is one. One only true and living God. There is no other power but His, and no other being shares or disputes His power with Him. He is the great Creator, Sustainer, Preserver, and Disposer of this world, as of the universe and all that therein is. He is the only source of life, the maker of man, the bestower of immortality. To Him alone are due our love, gratitude, reverence, and obedience. To Him belong all praise, glory, and thanksgiving, now and for ever; and to Him alone and to no other, shall man bow the knee in supplication and in prayer; to no other shall he address words of praise or of adoration. Listen, men of all nations and of all languages. Be kindly affectioned one to another; each man must do unto others as he would they should do unto him. Be ever active in charity; ready to assist and comfort each one his brother of whatsoever creed or race, in his poverty, in his afflictions, in bodily as in spiritual pain and misery; by every means seeking to inform his ignorance, and enlighten his understanding. Above all things, be earnest and active in causing the love of God to man, and the knowledge of His divine wisdom to flourish throughout the earth, so that the goodness and truth of the Lord our God shall be spread amongst all nations and languages, as amongst members of one family, all sons of God, and all equally co-heirs of eternal life. : Hear, O man, whoever thou art, and give heed Thou art an immortal being, accountable to God for all thy actions. Seek Love the Lord thy God above all things, and keep the remembrance of His great goodness to thee, of His power over all creatures, continually before thine eyes. truth in all sincerity of spirit, in all humbleness of mind. Fear not to judge justly; reject the evil and hold fast, hold firmly fast, that which is good. Be truthful and just in all thy dealings with others, as well with strangers as with the members of thine own household, regarding their welfare as thou dost thine own. Be wise and prudent for thyself, diligent in thy work, temperate in thy pleasures, cleanly and orderly in thy person and in thy habits. If rich, use well thy riches to thine own well being, in the interest of thy fellow-creatures, and to the honour of thy Divine benefactor, from whom all life, all blessings flow. If poor, industry and content shall cheer a rugged path. And forget not, that equally with the sovereign on his throne, thou art the possessor of that jewel of inestimable price, an immortal soul. Be obedient in youth, active in manhood, provident for old age, and stand ever prepared for the great change, the hour of death on earth, for thou knowest not when that hour will come, in which the good shall rise to heaven, and the evil doers shall sink down to hell. This is the doctrine of life, taught by the Universal Church to all nations, and to each individual human being, by the practice of which alone can any of us hope to keep in the path that leads to eternal life, to heaven, and to God. |