莱尔主教upper_room-第22章
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that we are all of〃 one blood；〃 and to lay themselves out to do good。
We want the rich to care more for the poor； and the employer for the
employed； and wealthy congregations for the working…class congregations
in the great cities； and the West End of London to care more for the
East and the South。 And； let us remember； it is not merely temporal
relief that is wanted。 The Roman emperors tried to keep the
proletarians and the lower classes quiet by the games of the circus and
largesses of corn。 And some ignorant modern Britons seem to think that
money； cheap food； good dwellings； and recreation are healing medicines
for the evils of our day in the lowest stratum of society。 It is a
plete mistake。 What the masses want is more sympathy； more kindness；
more brotherly love； more treatment as if they were really of 〃one
blood〃 with ourselves。 Give them that。； and you will fill up half the
gulf of discontent。
It is a mon saying in this day； that the working classes have no
religion； that they are alienated from the Church of England； that they
cannot be brought to church； and that it is hopeless and useless to try
to do them good。 I believe nothing of the kind。 I believe the working
classes are not one jot more opposed to religion than the 〃upper ten
thousand；〃 and that they are just as open to good influences； and even
more likely to be saved if they are approached in the right way。 But
what they do like is to be treated as 〃one blood；〃 and what is wanted
is a great increase of sympathy and personal friendly dealing with
them。
I confess that I have immense faith in the power of sympathy and
kindness。 I believe the late Judge Talfourd hit the right nail on the
head when he said； in almost his last charge to a Grand Jury at
Stafford Assizes； 〃Gentlemen； the great want of the age is more
sympathy between classes。〃 I entirely agree with him； I think an
increase of sympathy and fellow…feeling between high and low； rich and
poor； employer and employed； parson and people； is one healing medicine
which the age demands。 Sympathy； exhibited in its perfection； was one
secondary cause of the acceptance which Christ's gospel met with on its
first appearance in the heathen world。 Well says Lord Macaulay； 〃It was
before Deity taking a human form； walking among men； partaking of their
infirmities； leaning on their bosoms； weeping over their graves；
slumbering in the manger； bleeding on the cross； that the prejudices of
the synagogue； and the doubts of the academy； and the fasces of the
lictor； and the swords of thirty legions； were humbled in the dust。〃
And sympathy； I firmly believe； can do as much in the nineteenth
century as it did in the first。 If anything will melt down the cold
isolation of classes in these latter days； and make our social body
consist of solid cubes pacted together； instead of spheres only
touching each other at one point； it will be a large growth of
Christlike sympathy。
Now I assert confidently that the English working man is peculiarly
open to sympathy。 The working man may live in a poor dwelling； and
after toiling all day in a coal pit； or cotton mill； or iron foundry；
or dock； or chemical works； he may often look very rough and dirty。 But
after all； he is flesh and blood like ourselves。 Beneath his outward
roughness he has a heart and a conscience； a keen sense of justice； and
a jealous recollection of his rights as a man and a Briton。 He does not
want to be patronized and flattered； any more than to be trampled on；
scolded； or neglected； but he does like to be dealt with as a brother；
in a friendly； kind； and sympathizing way。 He wilt not be driven； he
will do nothing for a cold； hard man； however clever he may be。 But
give him a Christian visitor to his home who really understands that it
is the heart and not the coat which makes the man； and that the
guinea's worth is in the gold； and not in the stamp upon it。 Give him a
visitor who will not only talk about Christ； but sit down in his house；
and take him by the hand in a Christlike； familiar way。 Give him a
visitor； and specially a clergyman； who realizes that in Christ's holy
religion there is no respect of persons； that rich and poor are 〃made
of one blood；〃 and need one and the same atoning blood； and that there
is only one Saviour； and one Fountain for sin； and one heaven； both for
employers and employed。 Give him a clergyman who can weep with them
that weep； and rejoice with them that rejoice； and feel a tender
interest in the cares； and troubles； and births； and marriages； and
deaths of the humblest dweller in his parish。 Give the working man； I
say； a clergyman of that kind； and； as a general rule； the working man
will e to his church； and not be a munist or an infidel。 Such a
clergyman will not preach to empty benches。
How little； after all； do most people seem to realize the supreme
importance of brotherly love and the absolute necessity of imitating
that blessed Saviour who 〃went about doing good〃 to all； if we would
prove ourselves His disciples l If ever there was a time when conduct
like that of the good Samaritan in the parable was rare； it is the time
in which we live。 Selfish indifference to the wants of others is a
painful characteristic of the age。 Search the land in which we live；
from the Isle of Wight to Berwick…on…Tweed； and from the Land's End to
the North Foreland； and name； if you can； a single county or town in
which the givers to good works are not a small minority； and in which
philanthropic and religious agencies are not kept going； only and
entirely； by painful begging and constant importunity。 Go where you
will； the report is always the same。 Hospitals； missions at home and
abroad； evangelistic and educational agencies； churches； chapels； and
mission halls；… all are incessantly checked and hindered by want of
support。 Where are the Samaritans； we may well ask； in this land of
Bibles and Testaments？ Where are the Christians who live as if we are
〃all of one blood 〃？ Where are the men who love their neighbours； and
will help to provide for dying bodies and souls？ Where are the people
always ready and willing to give unasked； and without asking how much
others have given？ Millions are annually spent on deer forests； and
moors； and hunting； and yachting； and racing； and gambling； and balls；
and theatres； and dressing； and pictures； and furniture； and
recreation。 Little； paratively； ridiculously little； is given or
done for the cause of Christ。 A miserable guinea subscription too often
is the whole sum bestowed by some Croesus on the bodies and souls of
his fellow…men。 The very first principles of giving seem lost and
forgotten in many quarters。 People must be bribed and tempted to
contribute by bazaars； as children in badly…managed families are bribed
and tempted to be good by sugar…plums！ They must not be expected to
give unless they get something in return！ And all this goes on in a
country where people call themselves Christians； and go to church； and
glory in ornate ceremonials； and histrionic rituals； and what are
called 〃hearty services；〃 and profess to believe the parable of the
Good Samaritan。 I fear there will be a sad waking up at the last day。
Where； after all； to e to the root of the matter； where is that
brotherly love which used to be the distinguishing mark of the
primitive Christians？ Where； amidst the din of controversy and furious
strife of parties； where is the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the
primary mark of spiritual regeneration？ Where is that charity； without
which we are no better than 〃sounding brass and tinkling cymbals〃？
Where is the charity which is the bond of perfectness？ Where is that
love by which our Lord declared all men should know His disciples； and
which St。 John said was the distinction between the children of God and
the children of the devil
