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Show THE ONE GREAT AIM. Salvation of Souls the Best and Great j est Work. i ' (By 6. A. Brownson.) The object of the church in all her dealings with those without as well as within, is the salvation of souls. This must be ours also as her faithful children. chil-dren. ..This object we shall be able to further only as we live in accordance with the spirit of our religion. It requires re-quires no deep or extensive knowledge of mankind to know that the road to their convictions lies through their affections. af-fections. If we would be instrumental, under God in converting them, we must begin by loving them and by our love winning their love. j ' Nothing is gained by convincing a man against his will; often the very logic that convinces, where the affec-tious affec-tious are not won, serves only to repel from, obedience to the truth. We succeed suc-ceed in influencing others for their good only in proportion as we set before them an example fit for them to follow are meek, gentle, humble, charitable, kind and affectionate in our intercourse with them. And why shall we not love these neighbors and countrymen of ours who have not the inconceivable happiness of being in the church of God? Who are we that we should set up ourselves above them that we should boast over them? What mst-lt is it in us that we are not even as they? or how know we that ours will not be the greater condemnation? con-demnation? Are they not our kinsmen according to the flesh? Has not our God loved them with an infinite tenderness? tender-ness? Repelled by the bigotry, fanaticism and hardheartedness of some, attracted by the sweetness, affection and kind offices of others, are we not prone to look upon these countrymen of ours who are out of the church, either as persons whose conversion is hopeless or as persons who need no conversion excusing ourselves from zealous labors to bring them to God by persuading ourselves that their conversion is not possible or is not necessary forgetful that in either case we sin against faith and charity, and in both show ourselves wanting in true love of our neighbor and therefore of God? Is not there, in this double error, the reason why so few, comparatively, of our countrymen, are brought into the one fold, under the one shepherd? |