"When our American fathers fought for liberty, the love of country inspired their bold and worthy devotion. Their voluntary suffering and sacrifices were the loud clarions to proclaim immortality upon their names and virtues. It is so with ministers and people; where a suitable degree of love to the Redeemer's cause is felt, the sacrifices will be voluntary and hearty, and the blessing is sure to follow as that they put forth a suitable effort from the right motive. But we too often ask and receive not, because we ask amiss, by asking or laboring with a wrong or impure desire. Whether the minister is suitably remunerated or not, he should do all he can for the cause of God, and leave his hearers to answer in the judgment for their treatment to him. Let us, as ministers and people, do our duty, come what will. It will be a poor apology for a minister in the judgment day, when asked why he was no more active in God's vineyard, to say that he was poorly paid; and it will be a poor apology for the miserly professor, when asked why he has sustained the Gospel ministry no better, to say he did not like the minister, that he never signed subscriptions, or any of the thousand excuses the covetous urge in this life. When we behold all the beauty of nature, all the splendid works of art, and all the wealth of this vast world melted down in the general conflagration, how will Christians mourn over the pernicious worldly spirit which has choked the good seed, rendered them nearly useless in the church, and presented them mere dwarfs in the presence of God. Oh, foolish Christians, to be so worldly now; of what blessings do you deprive yourselves in this life, and what a reward you lose in heaven! Oh, precious Zion, how she bleeds and suffers, and how indifferent her professed friends! Who will put forth a helping hand to rebuild her waste places?"