CHAPTER XV. CHRISTIAN ACTIVITY. THE spirit of Christianity, at the present day, is distinguished for its enterprises of benevolence. Whoever drinks deeply into the spirit of his Master, will find his soul going out in fervent desire for the melioration of human wretchedness, and the salvation of perishing souls. Whatever tends to the accomplishment of these objects will, therefore, be regarded as of deep interest. Indifference towards the enterprises of love, which the benevolent spirit of this age has brought into existence, must, therefore, indicate a destitution of the spirit of Christ, without which we are none of his. It is important, then, that we should know what we can do towards advancing these enterprises; for obligation is coëxtensive with ability. Christ commended the woman who poured the ointment on his head for doing "what she could." If you do more than any within the circle of your acquaintance, and yet leave undone any thing that you can do, you do not discharge your obligations. You have entered into the service of the Lord, and he requires you to do what you can. It, then, becomes a matter of serious inquiry, "What can I do?" It is an interesting fact that the benevolent operations to which I have alluded have, to a great FEMALE INFLUENCE. 235 extent, been sustained by the energy of female influence. This influence is felt in every department of society wherever Christianity has elevated your sex to the station which properly belongs to them. Yet, where correct principles prevail, it will be exerted in an unostentatious, noiseless manner, without assuming to act in a sphere which "nature itself teaches" does not belong to woman. I will, therefore, endeavor to point out some of the principal channels through which female influence may, with propriety, be put forth for the promotion of benevolent objects. 1. You may make your influence felt in the Bible Society. The object of this society is, as you know, to furnish the Holy Scriptures to the destitute. The spirit of Christ is a spirit of the most expansive benevolence. If you possess it, and value the sacred treasure contained in God's word as you ought, you will feel a thrilling interest in this cause; your heart will overflow with compassion for those poor souls who have not the word of life. What, then, must be your emotions, when you consider that many hundreds of millions of your fellow-beings, as good by nature as yourself, are destitute of the Bible? The population of the whole world is estimated at seven hundred and thirty-seven millions. Of these, five hundred and nine millions are heathen, and one hundred and fiftysix millions are Roman and Greek Catholics; nearly * This is the estimate of Balbi, which was made in 1826. It is probably much too low. From later discoveries as to the population of the Chinese empire and other parts of the world, there is reason to believe that 1,000,000,000 is nearer the truth. 236 FEMALE INFLUENCE. all of whom are destitute of the word of God. This leaves but seventy-two millions who are called Protestants; but a vast number of these, even in our own highly-favored land, are living without the Bible. Can you say, with the Psalmist, "O, how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day"? How, then, must your heart bleed, in view of these facts! " But," perhaps you reply, "what can I do for these perishing millions?" I answer, Do what you can. This is all that God requires of you. You can become a member of the Bible Society; you can contribute, at least, your mite ; you can act as a visitor and collector, both to ascertain and supply those families which are destitute of the word of life, and to obtain the means of supplying others; and you can exert an influence upon others, to induce them to enlist in this heavenly enterprise. This may seem to you very insignificant; but it will not appear so, if you contemplate the aggregate of similar benefactions. In a mountainous region, in the south-western part of the state of New York, there are innumerable little rills, running in different directions, some, whose sources are within a mile of each other, taking opposite courses. Interspersed throughout the same region are a multitude of little lakes, opening their placid bosoms to the sun, as his rays fall obliquely upon them through the mountains, converting the little ripples which play upon their surface into the appearance of a thousand sparkling gems. The careless observer, as he gazes with rapture upon the broad surface of the lovely lake, takes no notice of the little rill that murmurs its quiet THE TRACT ENTERPRISE. 237 way through the forest. Yet, while the beautiful lake, in apparent self-complacency, opens its fair bosom to the admiring gaze of the passing stranger, the modest rill is patiently pursuing its unwearied course along the sides of the mountains, through deep ravines, and across the verdant vale, mingling with sister rills, increasing in size, swelling into streams, till stream meets stream, and river meets river, forming, in one direction, the noble Susquehannah, in another, the majestic St. Lawrence, and, in a third, the mighty Mississippi, - pouring incessantly a flood of waters into the ocean. So, while a few splendid acts of charity may, like the quiet lake, contribute to the self-complacency of their authors, and draw upon them the admiring gaze of the multitude, it is the aggregate of the little rills that must form the great streams of benevolence, which are to flow on and fertilize the earth, and fill it with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the face of the great deep. II. You can make your influence felt in the Tract enterprise. The circulation of religious tracts has been greatly owned and blessed of God. It seems to be almost the only means of reaching some particular classes of people, who never wait upon God in his house. It is a cheap method of preaching the gospel both to the rich and the poor. For a quarter of a cent, a sermon may be obtained, containing a portion of divine truth sufficient, with God's blessing, to lead a soul to Christ. Engage actively in the various forms of this department of benevolent labor. 238 MONTHLY TRACT DISTRIBUTION. The distribution of a tract to every family in a town once a month, when properly conducted, may be the means of doing great good. It furnishes an easy introduction into families where God is not acknowledged; and the matter contained in the tract will assist in the introduction of religious conversation. It will enable you to ascertain and relieve the wants of the poor, without seeming to be obtrusive. It will soften your own heart, and excite your compassion, in view of the objects of distress with which you meet. It also furnishes a convenient opportunity for collecting children into Sabbath schools. In distributing tracts, endeavor, as far as courtesy and propriety will admit, to engage those with whom you meet in direct personal conversation with regard to the concerns of their own souls; and when you meet only with the female members of the family, and circumstances favor it, pray with them. Thus you may be the instrument of saving many precious souls. Your labor will also reflect back upon yourself, and warm your own heart. You will get a deeper sense of the dreadful condition of impenitent sinners; and this will be the means of exciting a spirit of prayer in their behalf. Those engaged in this work should meet every month, after finishing the distribution, report all cases of interest, and spend a season in prayer for the divine blessing upon their labors. If you are a tract distributor, where the monthly distribution is sustained, begin your distribution early in the month, and always finish. it before the middle; and never neglect to make a written report to the superintendent, as soon as you |