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SIGNING NOTES AND OBLIGATIONS

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 2, 1867

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 30, No. 3.

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SIGNING NOTES AND OBLIGATIONS.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

MEN ought to be very careful about this, as it often leads to very bad results. Many a man has lost his property and brought his family to want by becoming surety for his friend. God has given some very straight testimony on this point.
“My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.”
“He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it; and he that hateth suretyship is sure.”
“A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.”
“Take his garment that is surety for a stranger.” Prov. vi, 1, 2, xi, 15; xvii, 18.
There are circumstances when it is right to become surety for our friends in need, when it would be wrong not to do so; but this is not often the case. As a general rule, “he that hateth suretyship is sure.”
D. M. CANRIGHT.