Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1877 — Diversity of Gifts, but One Spirit. [ARTICLE]

Diversity of Gifts, but One Spirit.

There are hearts which, having learned to love God and man, would pass into the highways, and even journey over all countries, calling together thousands of men, women and children, to urge them to fly like doves to the great windows of Paradise. They are not fanatics, nor deceivers, but hearts whose religion has assumed an ambition like that of Alexander to conquer a world, but to conquer it not by sword, but by tears. In the simplicity and zeal of their nature, they will tell you that if you love Christ you also will walk up and down the streets inviting each man in bis place of business to come to their Savior—that you will also move out against a wicked world. But this comes from the error of supposing that human nature to always a simple impulse. Alongside the Alexanders of the earth who have desired to wave a flag over continents have lived many who have loved to wave their humble banner only over home. Where the family meets in friendship, there the world terminates. The sun rises for the vines and door-silt of that cottage; it goes down that the weary children may sleep. Christianity having come to such a heart, it will not make of him a wandering evangelist, but it will adapt itself to the home passion, and become a deeper piety in the besom of the father and mother, or will express itself in mutual kindness and in the family hymn and prayer. What would become of our homes, our arts, our sciences, our law, our infinite industry, if each Christian should become an active evqpgelist ? But the question of results is excluded by the question of fact. .Nature has forbidden unity of character and pursuit; has shut its great iron doors against the many, forbidding them to rush into the wide world, and commanding them to love God within the boundaries of home. When a few souls havfi passed out of a certain gateway, nature suddenly closes it and bids those who approach to go to some ether exit or remain content within . Along the noble paths of man, Nature will not permit a panic or a crowd. While, therefore, a Paul is girding himself for travel on sea and land, some other soul is passing from the outer world to the solitude of a chamber to write out the fourth gospel or the Apocalypse in some Patmos Dill of silence and God. While a Francis Xavier is embarking on the ocean to preach the Gospel to barbarous tribes, Thomas a Kempis is passing into a convent to com pose in the depths of solitude the imperishable “ Imitation ot Christ."— David Swing.