52 Sermon Illustrations on Love in Action

As in the natural body, so in the mystical body of Christ, the Church, a large measure of liberty is granted to each member. But this liberty may not pass the bounds by which another member would be injured or suffer loss. My liberty to stretch out my arms depends on how close I am to the other fellow. As Paul says in Galatians 5:13, "For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."

A young man left his employer, a lumber merchant, and began business in competition with him. For a while he prospered greatly and got many orders that would have gone to the firm he had left. But just when his business seemed to be most flourishing, and he had more orders than he could supply, a huge fire in his yard destroyed all his lumber. The day after the fire he saw his old employer coming toward his office. He said later, "I could have hated him, for I thought he was coming to gloat over my misfortune. But he came to me as a friend in need and said, 'I know you have agreed to supply lumber to your customers by certain dates, and this unfortunate fire makes it impossible for you to do it. My lumber yard is at your disposal. You can have what you need and pay me at your own convenience. Your business may go on as usual.' " The young man was overwhelmed by this embodiment of the Golden Rule; the rivalry and hatred that he had felt gave place to love.

There is a story told about Sam Rayburn who was Speaker for the House of Representatives longer than any other man. One of his friends lost a teenage daughter and early the next morning Rayburn knocked on his door. "I just came by to see what I could do to help." The father replied that there was nothing to do. "Well," Rayburn said, "have you had your coffee this morning?" The man replied that they had not taken time for breakfast. While Rayburn was working in the kitchen, the man came in and said, "Mr. Speaker, I thought you were supposed to be having breakfast at the White House this morning." "Well, I was, but I called the President and told him I had a friend who was in trouble and I could not come." What a different world this would be if we would learn to become more and more unselfish.

A preacher, one Sunday morning, noticed a man in the congregation in his Sunday best. In the evening that same man was there in working clothes. The preacher afterward spoke to him. "Are you going to work?" "No," was the reply, "but this morning something was said that stirred me to go and seek my brother. I knew he had no Sunday clothes, and I knew he would not come if I put on my Sunday clothes. So I put on my working clothes for him, and here he is."

In our city a few years ago there was a little boy who went to one of the mission Sunday-schools. His father moved to another part of the city about five miles away, and every Sunday that boy came past thirty or forty Sunday-schools to the one he attended. And one Sunday a lady who was out collecting scholars for a Sunday-school met him and asked why he went so far, past so many schools. "There are plenty of others," said she, "just as good." He said, "They may be as good but they are not so good for me." "Why not?" she asked "Because they love a fellow over there," he answered. Ah! love won him. "Because they love a fellow over there!" How easy it is to reach people through love! Sunday-school teachers should win the affections of their scholars if they wish to lead them to Christ.

I lately read a very remarkable circumstance respecting the storks; namely, that, so strong is their affection for their young, they are not afraid even to die for them. There have been instances of conflagrations, in which they flew to and fro, with water in their beaks, to save their nests upon the burning houses. Nay, it once happened at Delft in Holland, that, finding it impossible to preserve their brood, they placed themselves upon the nest, spread over them their wings, and so perished with them in the flames. That is what is called dying for love! Gotthold.

A brother and sister loved one another very much. He was the older, and was taken ill, and died. They laid him out on his own little bed; and the mother took his little sister to look at him. As she stood looking at his sweet face, as white and cold as marble, she wept very much. At last she said, "Mother, may I take hold of his hand?" Mother did not like to let her, it was so cold: but, after a little time, she placed it in hers; when the dear child, lifting it up, and stroking it gently, said, "This little hand never struck me!"

The story of Amphion sets forth how, whatever we may have to build, be it a house, a city, or a church, the most powerful of all powers that we can employ in building it is harmony and love. Only the love must be of a genuine, lasting kind; not a spirit of weak compromise, sacrificing principle to expedients, and abandoning truths for the sake of tying a love-knot of errors, but strong from being in unison with what alone is true and lasting, — the will and word of God. Else the bricks will fall out as quickly as they have fallen in. Hare.

A slave, who had by the force of his sterling worth risen high in the confidence of his master, saw one day, trembling in the slave-market, a negro, whose gray head and bent form showed him to be in the last weakness of old age. He implored his master to purchase him. He expressed his surprise, but gave his consent. The old man was bought, and conveyed to the estate. When there, he who had pleaded for him took him to his own cabin, placed him on his own bed, fed him at his own board, gave him water from his own cup; when he shivered, carried him into the sunshine; when he drooped in the hut, bore him softly to the shade. "What is the meaning of all this?" asked a witness. "Is he your father?"—"No."—"Is he your brother?"—"No."—"Is he, then, your friend?"—"No: he is my enemy. Years ago, he stole me from my native village, and sold me for a slave: and the good Lord has said, 'If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.'" C. Stanford.

Mr. Dodd, a Puritan divine, being assaulted, said, "See here: you have knocked out two of my teeth without any just provocation; but, if I could do your soul good, I would give you leave to dash out all the rest."

The three sons of an eastern lady were invited to furnish her with an expression of their love, before she went a long journey. One brought a marble tablet, with the inscription of her name; another presented her with a rich garland of fragrant flowers; the third entered her presence and thus accosted her: "Mother, I have neither marble tablet nor fragrant nosegay, but I have a heart: here your name is engraved, here your memory is precious, and this heart full of affection will follow you wherever you travel, and remain with you wherever you repose."

When the Rev. J. W. Fletcher, of Madeley, was once preaching on Noah as a type of Christ, and while in the midst of a most animated description of the terrible day of the Lord, he suddenly paused. Every feature of his expressive countenance was marked with painful feeling; and, striking his forehead with the palm of his hand, he exclaimed, "Wretched man that I am! Beloved brethren, it often cuts me to the soul, as it does at this moment, to reflect, tha, while I have been endeavoring, by the force of truth, by the beauty of holiness, and even by the terrors of the Lord, to bring you to walk in the peaceable paths of righteousness, I am, with respect to many of you who reject the gospel, only tying mill-stones round your neck, to sink you deeper in perdition!" The whole church was electrified, and it was some time before he could resume his discourse.

# LOVE TO.

It has ever been a fixed law in Greenland, that murder, and particularly the murder of a father, must be avenged. About twenty years before the arrival of Saabye, a father had been murdered in the presence of his son, a lad of thirteen, in a most atrocious manner. The boy was not able then to avenge the

JOURNAL. crime, but the murderer was not forgotten. He left that part of the country, and kept the flame burning in his bosom, no suitable opportunity offering for revenge, as the man was high in influence, and many near to defend him. At length his plan was laid, and with some of his relations to assist him, he returned to the province of the murderer, who lived near the house of Saabye; there being no house unoccupied where they might remain, but one owned by Saabye, they requested it, and it was granted, without any remark, although he knew the object of their coming.

The son soon became interested in the kind missionary, and often visited his cabin, giving as his reason, "You are so amiable I cannot keep away from you." Two or three weeks after, he requested to know more of "the great Lord of Heaven," of whom Saabye had spoken. His request was cheerfully granted. Soon it appeared that himself and all his relatives, were desirous of instruction, and ere long, the son requested baptism. To this request the missionary answered: "Kunnuk"—for that was his name—"you know God: you know that he is good, that he loves you, and desires to make you happy: but he desires also that you should obey him."

Kunnuk answered; "I love him, I will obey him."

"His command is, 'Thou shalt not murder.'" The poor Greenlander was much affected, and silent. "I know," said the missionary, "why you have come here with your relations, but this you must not do, if you wish to become a believer."

Agitated, he answered, "But he murdered my father!"

For a long time the missionary pressed this point, the poor awakened heathen promising to "kill only one." But this was not enough. "Thou shalt do no murder," Saabye insisted was the command of the Great Lord of heaven. He exhorted him to leave the murderer in the hand of God to be punished in another world: but this was waiting too long for revenge. The missionary refused him baptism, without obedience to the command. He retired to consult his friends. They urged him to revenge.

Saabye visited him, and without referring to the subject, read those portions of Scripture and hymns teaching a quiet and forgiving temper. Some days after Kunnuk came again to the cabin of Saabye. "I will," said he, "and will not; I hear, and I do not hear. I never felt so before; I will forgive him, and I will not forgive him." The missionary told him, "When he would forgive, then his better spirit spoke; when he would not forgive, then his unconverted heart spoke." He then repeated to him the latter part of the life of Jesus, and his prayer for his murderers. A tear stood in his eye. "But he was better than I," said Kunnuk. "But God will give us strength," Saabye answered. He then read the martyrdom of Stephen, and his dying prayer for his enemies. Kunnuk dried his eyes and said, "The wicked men!—He is happy; he is certainly with God in heaven. My heart is so moved; but give me a little time; when I have brought the other heart to silence, I will come again." He soon returned with a smiling countenance, saying, "Now I am happy; I hate no more; I have forgiven; my wicked heart shall be silent." He and his wife, having made a clear profession of faith in Christ, were baptized and received into the church. Soon after, he sent the following note to the murderer of his father: "I am now a believer, and you have nothing to fear," and invited him to his house. The man came, and invited Kunnuk in his turn to visit him. Contrary to the advice of friends, Kunnuk went, and, as he was returning home, he found a hole had been cut in his kajak (or boat) in order that he might be drowned. Kunnuk stepped out of the water, saying, "He is still afraid, though I will not harm him!"

What a noble example of self-conquest! What an illustrious exhibition of the power of the gospel!

Peter Links, a Namacqua, was the brother of Jacob Links, who was murdered when on a journey into the country with Mr. Threlfall, the Wesleyan missionary. After we heard of his brother Jacob's murder, Peter, when speaking on the subject, said, "Oh that I could find the murderer who took away my brother's life! I would not care what distance I might have to travel; I would not mind any exposure, fatigue, or danger; I would not care what expense I might incur, if I could only lay hold of that man." Being aware that men in their savage state cherish an indomitable spirit of revenge, but believing Peter to be a decidedly pious character, I was a little astonished at his language, and rather hastily inquired, "Well, supposing you could find the man, what would you do to him?" "Do to him?" said Peter; "Mynheer, I would bring him to this station, that he might hear the gospel, and that his soul might be converted to God."

# EXHIBITIONS OF LOVE TO ENEMIES.

# 155. Blessing Enemies.

This excellent pastor of the church

* The rich man here spoken of was Humphrey Munmoth, sheriff and alderman of London. of Blamont, was so little affected by the unjust proceedings and outrageous conduct to which he was exposed, that the remembrance of it was soon effaced from his mind. If he ever felt any thing like a desire to be avenged, nothing of the kind appeared in the case about to be related. Some time after he had been restored to the ministry, and re-established at Blamont, the intendant of Besançon repaired to the town, and immediately requested to see Mr. Nardin. The latter having complied with his invitation, the other said to him, among several complimentary speeches, "Well, Mr. Nardin, you see yourself well avenged. You ought to be satisfied that your two adversaries, who labored to make you end your days in the dungeons of the mighty Grison, have been shut up there themselves, whilst you have been pronounced innocent." The two persons, indeed, who were most cruelly bent on his destruction, were for some time under confinement in the prisons of Besançon; one as a dealer in contraband commodities, and the other for disturbing certain rights claimed by the Roman Catholics. Mr. Nardin, feeling himself but little flattered by this compliment, replied, in a soft but unhesitating tone, "My religion, my lord, does not permit me to rejoice in the misfortunes of my enemies. I pity them; and wish that a wiser conduct may shelter them from such punishments."

The horse of a pious man living in Massachusetts, happening to stray into the road, a neighbor of the man who owned the horse put him into the pound. Meeting the owner soon after, he told him what he had done; "and if I catch him in the road again," said he, "I'll do it again." "Neighbor," replied the other, "not long since, I looked out of my window in the night, and saw your cattle in my meadow, and I drove them out and shut them in your yard; and I'll do it again." Struck with the reply, the man liberated the horse from the pound, and paid the charges himself. "A soft answer turneth away wrath."

A slave in one of the West India Islands, originally from Africa, having been brought under the influence of religious instruction, became so valuable to his owner on account of his integrity and general good conduct, that his master employed him to assist in the management of his plantation. On one occasion, his owner wishing to purchase twenty additional slaves, employed him to make the selection from those who were offered for sale. Soon after commencing his examination of those who were in the market, he fixed his eye intently on an old decrepit slave, and told his master he must take him for one. The master was greatly surprised, and objected, but the slave entreated so earnestly, for this indulgence, that the offer of the seller to add the old man to the twenty, without increasing the price, was accepted. The newly purchased slaves were conducted to the plantation and placed under the charge of the slave, who had made the selection. On the poor old decrepit African he bestowed uncommon care. He took him to his own habitation, and laid him down on his own bed; he fed him at his own table, and gave him drink out of his own cup; when he was cold he carried him into the sunshine; and when he was hot he placed him under the shade of the cocoanut trees. The master, astonished at the careful attention bestowed by him upon his fellow slave, interrogated him on the subject. "Is that old man," said he, "your father, that you take so much interest in him?" "No, massa," answered the poor fellow, "he no my fader." "Perhaps then, he is your elder brother?" "No, massa, he no my broder." "Then he must be your uncle or some other relation." "No, massa, he be no of my kindred at all; he be no my friend."

"Why then do you bestow on him so much care and attention?" "Oh, massa," replied the slave, "he be my old enemy; he sold me to the slave-dealer, and my Bible tell me to love my enemy; when he hunger, feed him, when he thirst, give him drink, and so me only do what my Bible tell me."

After the dispersion of the Spanish Armada in 1584, Joan Lomas de Medina, who had been general of twenty hulks, was, with about two hundred and sixty men, driven in a vessel to Anstruther in Scotland, after suffering great hunger and cold for six or seven days. Notwithstanding the object for which this fleet had been sent, and the oppressive conduct of the Spaniards to the Scottish merchants who traded with them, these men were humanely treated. Mr. James Melvil, the minister, told the Spanish officer first sent on shore, that they would find nothing among them but Christianity and works of mercy. The laird of Anstruther, and a great number of the neighboring gentlemen, entertained the officers; and the inhabitants gave the soldiers and mariners kail, pottage, and fish;—the minister having addressed his flock, as Elisha did the King of Israel in Samaria, “Give them bread and water.”

A very little girl, who often read her Bible, gave proof that she understood her obligation to obey its precepts. One day, she came to her mother, much pleased, to show her some fruit which had been given to her. The mother said the friend was very kind, and had given her a great many. “Yes,” said the child, “very indeed; and she gave me more than these, but I have given some away." The mother inquired to whom she had given them; when she answered, "I gave them to a girl who pushes me off the path, and makes faces at me." On being asked why she gave them to her, she replied, "Because I thought it would make her know that I wish to be kind to her, and she will not, perhaps, be rude and unkind to me again." How admirably did she thus obey the command to "overcome evil with good!"

Mr. Herring, one of the puritan ministers, was eminently distinguished for Christian meekness, and for love to his greatest enemies. Dr. Lamb, a violent persecutor of the Puritans, and especially of this good man, being on a journey, unhappily broke his leg, and was carried to the inn where Mr. Herring happened to be staying for the night. Mr. H. was called on to pray that evening in the family, when he prayed with so much fervor and affection for the doctor as to surprise all who heard him. Being afterwards asked why he manifested such respect to a man who was so utterly unworthy of it, he replied, "The greater enemy he is, the more need he hath of our prayers. We must prove ourselves to be the disciples of Christ by loving our enemies, and praying for our persecutors."

Mr. Abbot, a missionary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, had under his care three schools in the villages around Ahmednugger, a city on the peninsula between the Arabian Sea and the bay of Bengal. These schools contained about a hundred Hindoo boys. In one of these, the following scene occurred. The reading lesson on this occasion contained the instructions of our Savior in regard to the manner we should treat those who injure us.

Mr. Abbot says, I asked the boys what their practice was. They said, "We strike those who strike us, and abuse those who abuse us." I asked them what they thought would be the consequence, if, instead of this, they should bless those who curse them. They replied, "Among our people, we should only be abused the more." I told them I thought differently; but as Hindoos were somewhat different from my people, I should like to see the experiment tried. I then explained to them, that however much they were insulted, they must not retaliate; and if they thought they could not endure this, they might sit down. Two or three sat down. After talking a while longer, all got up and said, they would try it one month, and would let any one beat them "till their life began to go," before they would resist. At the next examination, every one declared that they had kept their promise. It was afterwards found that three had failed. I then asked those who had been faithful, if they had suffered in consequence of it. "No," said they "why should they abuse us now?"

But, said I, what do you do when they abuse you?

One boy said, "When they curse me, I say to them, 'A blessing attend you.'"

Well, what then?

"Then I laugh, and they laugh too."

Another boy said, he "shut his lips tight, and said nothing."

Well, what did the other party do to you?

"O, they turned up their noses, and walked off?"

A lady in one of the towns of Mass. had repeatedly treated a well disposed young man with marked contempt and unkindness. Neither of them moved in the upper circles of society; but the lady, without cause, took numerous occasions to cast reproachful reflections on the young man as beneath her notice, and unfit to be treated with common respect. This lady had the misfortune to meet with a considerable loss in the destruction of a valuable chaise, occasioned by the running away of an untied horse. She had borrowed the horse and vehicle, and was required to make good the damage. This was a serious draft on her pecuniary resources, and she felt much distressed by her ill fortune. The young man, being of a kind and generous disposition, and determined to return good for evil, instantly set himself about collecting money for her relief. Subscribing liberally himself, and actively soliciting others, he soon made up a generous sum, and before she became aware of his movement, appeared before her and placed his collection modestly at her disposal. She was thunderstruck. He left her without waiting for thanks or commendation. She was entirely overcome, wept like a child, and declared she would never be guilty again of showing contempt, speaking reproachfully of, or treating with unkindness, him or any other fellow-creature. Was there any thing in all this contrary to nature?

**ALEXANDER'S VICTORIES.**—Alexander the Great being asked how he had been able, at so early an age and in so short a period, to conquer such vast regions and establish so great a name, replied: "I used my enemies so well that I compelled them to be my friends; and I treated my friends with such constant regard that they became unalterably attached to me."

**THE CHINESE MONARCH AND THE REBELS.**—A Chinese emperor being told that his enemies had raised an insurrection in one of the distant provinces—"Come, then, my friends," said he, "follow me, and I promise you that we shall quickly destroy them." He marched forward, and the rebels submitted upon his approach. All now thought that he would take the most signal revenge; but were surprised to see the captives treated with mildness and humanity. "How," cried the first minister, "is this the manner in which you fulfil your promise? Your royal word was given that you enemies should be destroyed; and behold you have pardoned them all, and even caressed some of them!" "I promised," replied the emperor, with a generous air, "to destroy my enemies. I have fulfilled my word; for, see, they are enemies no longer; I have made friends of them." Let every Christian imitate so noble an example, and learn "to overcome evil with good."

"I once had a neighbor," says Mr. White, "who, though a clever man, came to me one hay-day, and said: 'Esquire White, I want you to come and get your geese away.' 'Why,' said I, 'what are my geese doing?' 'They pick my pigs' ears when they are eating, and drive them away, and I will not have it.' 'What can I do?' said I. 'You must yoke them.' 'That I have not time to-do now,' said I; 'I do not see but they must run.' 'If you do not take care of them I shall,' said the clever shoemaker, in anger. 'What do you say, Esquire White?' 'I cannot take care of them now; but I will pay you for all damages.' 'Well,' said he, 'you will find that a hard thing, I guess.'

"So off he went, and I heard a terrible squalling among the geese. The next news from the geese was, that three of them were missing. My children went and found them terribly mangled and dead, and thrown into the bushes.

"Now,' said I, 'all keep still, and let me punish him.' In a few days the shoemaker's hogs broke into my corn. I saw them, but let them remain a long time. At last I drove them all out, and picked up the corn which they had torn down and fed them with it in the road. By this time the shoemaker came in great haste after them.

"Have you seen any thing of my hogs?' said he. 'Yes, sir; you will find them yonder, eating some corn which they tore down in my field.' 'In your field?' 'Yes, sir,' said I; 'hogs love corn, you know—they were made to eat.' 'How much mischief have they done?' 'O, not much,' said I.

"Well, off he went to look, and estimated the damage to be equal to a bushel and a-half of corn.

"Oh, no,' said I, 'it can't be.' 'Yes,' said the shoemaker; 'and I will pay you every cent of damage.' 'No,' said I, 'you shall pay me nothing. My geese have been a great trouble to you.'

"The shoemaker blushed, and went home. The next winter, when we came to settle, the shoemaker determined to pay me for my corn. 'No,' said I; 'I shall take nothing.'

"After some talk we parted; but in a day or two I met him in the road, and fell into conversation in the most friendly manner. But when I started on he seemed loth to move, and I paused. For a moment both of us were silent. At last he said: 'I have something laboring on my mind.' 'Well, what is it?' 'Those geese. I killed three of your geese, and shall never rest until you know how I feel. I am sorry.' And the tears came in his eyes. 'Oh, well,' said I, 'never mind; I suppose my geese were provoking.'

"I never took any thing of him for it; but whenever my cattle broke into his field after this, he seemed glad; because he could show how patient he could be.

"Now," said the narrator, "conquer yourself, and you can conquer with kindness where you can conquer in no other way."

One of thirty or forty New Englanders, who went out to settle in the Western wilderness, related to Mrs. Child the following particulars. They were mostly neighbors, and had been drawn to unite together in emigration from a general unity of opinion on various subjects. For some years previous, they had been in the habit of meeting occasionally at each others' houses, to talk over their duties to God and man, in all simplicity of heart. Their library was the Gospel, their priesthood the inward light. There were then no anti-slavery societies; but thus taught, and reverently willing to learn, they had no need of such agency, to discover their duties to the enslaved. The efforts of peace societies had reached this secluded band only in broken echoes; and non-resistance societies had no existence. But with the volume of the Prince of Peace, and hearts open to his influence, what need had they of preambles and resolutions?

"Rich in God-culture, this little band started for the far West. Their inward homes were blooming gardens; they made their outward in a wilderness. They were industrious and frugal, and all things prospered under their hands. But soon wolves came near the fold, in the shape of reckless unprincipled adventurers; believers in force and cunning, who acted according to their creed. The colony of practical Christians spoke of their depredations in terms of gentlest remonstrance, and repaid them with unvarying kindness. They went farther—they openly announced, "You may do us what evil you choose; we will return nothing but good." Lawyers came into the neighborhood, and offered their services to settle disputes. They answered, "We have no need of you. As neighbors we receive you in the most friendly spirit; but for us your occupation has ceased to exist." "What will you do, if rascals burn your barns, and steal your harvests?" "We will return good for evil. We believe this is the highest truth, and therefore the best expediency."

"When the rascals heard this, they considered it a marvellous good joke, and said and did many provoking things, which to them seemed witty. Bars were taken down in the night, and cows let into the corn-fields. The Christians repaired the damage as well as they could, put the cows in the barn, and at twilight drove them gently home; saying, "Neighbor, your cows have been in my field. I have fed them well during the day, but I would not keep them all night, lest the children should suffer for their milk."

"If this was fun, those who planned the joke found no heart to laugh at it. By degrees a visible change came over these troublesome neighbors. They ceased to cut off horses' tails, and break the legs of poultry. Rude boys would say to a younger brother, 'Don't throw that stone, Bill! When I killed the chicken last week, didn't they send it to mother, because they thought chicken-broth would be good for poor Mary? I should think you'd be ashamed to throw stones at their chickens.' Thus was evil overcome with good; till not one was found to do their wilful injury.

"Years passed on, and saw them thriving in worldly substance, beyond their neighbors, yet beloved by all. From them the lawyer and the constable obtained no fees. The sheriff stammered and apologized, when he took their hard earned goods in payment for the wa tax. They mildly replied, 'Tis a bad trade, friend. Examine it in the light of conscience and see if it be not so.' But while they refused to pay such fees and taxes, they were liberal to a proverb in their contributions for all useful and benevolent purposes.

"At the end of ten years, the public lands, which they had chosen for their farms, were advertised for sale at auction. According to custom, those who had settled and cultivated the soil, were considered to have a right to bid it in at the government price; which at that time was $1 25 per acre. But the fever of land speculation then chanced to run unusually high. Adventurers from all parts of the country were flocking to the auction; and capitalists in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New-York, and Boston, were sending agents to buy up western lands. No one supposed that custom, or equity, would be regarded. The first day's sale showed that speculation ran to the verge of insanity. Land was eagerly bought in at seventeen, twenty-five, and forty dollars an acre. The Christian colony had small hope of retaining their farms. As first settlers, they had chosen the best land; and persevering industry had brought it into the highest cultivation. Its market value was much greater than the acres already sold at exorbitant prices. In view of these facts, they had prepared their minds for another remove into the wilderness, perhaps to be again ejected by a similar process. But the morning their lot was offered for sale, they observed with grateful surprise, that their neighbors were everywhere busy among the crowd, begging and expostulating: "Don't bid on these lands! These men have been working hard on them for ten years. During all that time, they never did harm to man or brute. They are always ready to do good for evil. They are a blessing to any neighborhood. It would be a sin and a shame to bid on their land. Let them go at the government price."

"The sale came on: the cultivators of the soil offered $1 25; intending to bid higher if necessary. But among all that crowd of selfish, reckless speculators, not one bid over them! With out one opposing voice, the fair acres returned to them! I do not know a more remarkable instance of evil overcome with good. The wisest political economy lies folded up in the maxims of Christ."

161. It often leads them to become Christians.