heart of human society. Selfishness and unjust exploiting of the poorer classes by the rich and highly placed on the one side, and discontent, hatred, and envy on the other side, namely that of the poor, have brought about this division of society into two hostile camps.
But nothing is so opposed to the spirit of Christianity as this division. The Redeemer desired to break down that wall of separation, and to unite all nations and all classes, as children of the same Father, in one great family of God. He did not remove the differences of nations, stations, and classes. But the difference was to resemble that which exists between the harmonious members of one and the same body, not a separation of hostile elements.
4. Then again, you ought to look without envy at the greater prosperity of others. If you Are animated by true Christian faith, this will not appear so difficult to you. Behold Christ Himself! He as Our Lord might have chosen riches, honor, and pleasures to any extent whatever, and mark it well, he could have done this without casting a shadow of sin upon His earthly career - vet He preferred to choose for Himself poverty, contempt, and suffering.
If Our Lord viewed things in this light, every Christian, and you also, as a Christian, must do the same. If Christ said: "Woe to you that are rich," that is to say, woe to those whose hearts cling to riches, then ought the man who does not belong to the upper ten thousand, but earns his bread by means of his toil, look rather with thankfulness to God, than with envy and dislike at the classes which are more liberally endowed with the goods of this world. This signifies nothing else except to practise, even in
