Christian Obligation with Respect to the Conversion of the World [pp. 309-342]

Christian obligation with respect to
poral and eternal, many Christians have already known; and
a much greater number will, in future know. Here is
a present reward more rich, and more truly glorious than a
conqueror's crown. "What is there in all the accumulation
of wealth, in all the pageantry of state, in all the gratifications of sense, in all the delirious joys of giddy dissipation, once to be compared with this? Oh, pleasures cheaply
purchased, placidly enjoyed, ever rising, ever new, never
languid(l, never remorseful, why are ye pursued so seldom,
and attained by so few? Alas! those who seek their highest enjoyment in any other way, as miserably cheat themselves, as they impiously "rob God," and meanly defraud
their fellow men!
5. The expenditure of property in promoting the subjection of the world to Christ, is not only the most noble, but
also in7finitely the most profitable object to which it can be
devoted. The most profitable to ourselves.
Every wise man will endeavour to turn that which is committed to his charge to the best account. He will endeavour
to vest his capital in that species of stock, and to order its
management on such principles, as will certainly produce the
best interest. Now, what is the grand object which every
one has in view in acquiring and laying up temporal possessions? Undoubtedly happiness; the happiness of himself,
or his children; or both united. The question, then, is, what
method of disposing of our property;-of a part or the whole
of it, as the case may be;-will be likely to produce the
greatest amount of enjoyment to the possessor, and to those
for whom he is most anxious to provide? As to the possessor himself, there can be no doubt that the most productive
method will be to do good with it;-to promote happiness,
and, of course, the highest and noblest kind of happiness.
This will be to gratify the best feelings of our nature, and
produce the greatest amount of that which we profess to seek.
The same principle will, most manifestly, apply with regard
to our children. In laying up property for them, what is it
we profess to desire? All will reply,-,"Their happiness
certainly." Be it so. Which course will be most likely to
promote the real enjoyment, the true elevation of your children, in this world, as well as in the world to come;-to lay
up for them, by great labour, and rigid saving, half a million
of property, that they may be enabled to live in splendour,
without effort on their part, and thus furnishing them with
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