p. 42 | Untitled article

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, December 31, 1867

I ALWAYS PAY MY DEBTS.

There had been a sad failure in our community. A prominent business man was obliged to suspend payment and give up his business. Investigation showed that he had not been prompt in his dealings. He never paid his little debts, and they at length so accumulated, that they brought on the sad crisis.

A prompt business man speaking of the affair, said: “It is unpardonable. The man ought to fail. He should have paid his debts when he could. I always pay my debts as I go along, and so always know where I stand. I have not now a single debt,” he continued.

A friend standing by, gently placed a hand on his arm, saying:

“You mistake, Mr. H——; I know a debt that you owe.”

“It is false,” was the quick reply; “I challenge you, or any one else, to lay a finger upon a cent that I owe.”

“But I can do it,” continued the friend. “I know of One who lent you the fine house you live in, the money you have in the bank, all the riches by which you are surrounded, and call them your own. More than this, He gave you health and friends. How much have you ever paid Him?”

“Ah! that is a different thing. I don’t think much about such things, but I always pay every cent I owe my fellow-men.”

“You are like a merchant who pays all his little debts and lets the great ones go, and then boasts: ‘I always pay my debts.’”

My friend, the great debt of gratitude is yet unpaid. Take care lest the Master cast thee into prison; thou “shalt not come from thence till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.”