fe of righteousness,
if we are risen with Christ, if, in a word, we are truly Christian
people, we shall show it by our love for our brethren. If we are
selfish in our religion, trying to get all good things for ourselves,
and caring nothing for others; if we pray only for ourselves, if we
work only for ourselves, if we live only for ourselves, if we see
others in want, yet shut up our compassion, how dwelleth the love of
God in us? Away with such self-deception, my brothers, if any one of
us seems to be religious, and yet stretches out no helping hand to his
brother, that man's religion is vain. When we see a fellow man fallen
among thieves, and lying by the wayside of life, what do we do? Do we
pass by on the other side, without a thought or care, like the Priest?
Or do we look on our fallen brother with curiosity, and leave him to
his fate, like the Levite? Or do we give him a helping hand, pouring
in the wine and oil of kind words, and gentle ministry, binding up the
hurts which a cruel world has given him?

My brethren, how many Good Samaritans are there among us? Our brothers
lie wounded along life's highway in crowds. There are feeble folk who
were never strong enough for the hard life battle; there are brave men
who have fought, and failed; there are some crushed down by hard times,
others who have "fallen on evil days and evil tongues;" some who were
wounded by the stoning of harsh judgment and cruel sneers. Some have
lost their health, others their money; some their faith, and others
their friends. Sirs, we be brethren, shall we run from our neighbour
because he is in trouble, as rats run from a falling house? Shall we
turn away from a brother because the world speaks hardly of him? Shall
we be ashamed of a man because he is unfortunate? Oh! if you would
ever rest where S. John rested, on the bosom of Jesus, learn his
lessons of love. Look around you and see if there is no Lazarus laid
at your gate whom you may feed; no struggling toiler in the back street
whom you may help to work; no sick sufferer whose couch you may make
more easy; no broken heart which you may comfort. "Dwell in the land,
and be doing good."

"If time be heavy on your hands,
Are there no beggars at your gate,
Nor any poor about your lands?
Oh! teach the orphan boy to read
Or teach the orphan girl to sew."

And you who are busy and cumbered with much serving, may find a
thousand ways, in the midst of your active