COVETOUSNESS by D. HILDRETH

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 18, 1860

COVETOUSNESS

By D. HILDRETH

The tenth precept of the decalogue is the only one which refers exclusively to the affections. The other nine take cognizance of actions as well as thoughts. The Bible student can but be struck with the force and beauty of the decalogue. It is in all respects worthy of its divine Author. After giving five precepts regulating our conduct towards our fellow creatures, the finishing touch is given to the divine code by giving a command which restrains every improper desire for the things which belong to others. “Thou shalt not

covet thy neighbor’s house, . . . nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.” What a comprehensive conclusion to a perfect law. What a perfect safeguard to the rights of all mankind. Every person in the world is commanded not to covet a thing which belongs to me. Who could ask more than this of a law-giver? If this law was kept by all, we should have a heaven upon earth.

As a general rule the tenth commandment is necessarily broken before the eighth; that is, a man will covet a thing before he steals it; but this rule has exceptions. There are thieves who become so addicted to stealing that they will take things which they actually do not want, and have no use for, merely from the force of habit, or for the sake of stealing. The force of habit is seen in many other things; for instance, a man will put his hand into his pocket many times for tobacco, even when he is trying to quit it; and again, the swearer utters oaths many times when he is unconscious of it.

The sin of covetousness is truly grievous in these last days. Selfishness and covetousness are stamped on almost every face and character. It is to be feared that many who even fancy that they are about ready for the Lord to come, have so much of this pernicious characteristic about them, that if immediately ushered into the holy city, they would perhaps covet the glories of the place for themselves.

But we now ask, Has this reasonable, just, and beautiful command always existed? “O no,” says neighbor No-law, “It was not known before Sinai.” If there were but few who are ready to give such an answer as this, it would be a great relief to those who have respect to all God’s commandments; but this lawless class of people are numerous in the nineteenth century. They try to make us believe that the ten commandments were not known until the children of Israel came to Sinai. They do this, not out of pity for the ancients, but for their own benefit. They would be perfectly willing to have the ancients bound by a hundred decalogues if they could only get out from under this one. Oh woeful case, to be under such a yoke of bondage, and that without remedy! They think if they can make out the law limited in the first part of the world’s history, there will be a better show for them to make it out limited in the last part, merely because a peculiar dispensation comes in the middle. What a preposterous idea, that a rule of right is changed by time or circumstances. Just as well try to make out that the multiplication table was different under the Jewish dispensation. Sin is the transgression of the law, therefore he that tries to make out the law abolished, tries to make out that he is at perfect liberty to commit sin. With what abhorrence must a just law-giver look upon such work as this! Nor are men entirely insensible of the bad tendency of such loose morals. The man who teaches that one commandment is good for nothing is looked upon with suspicion by honest people. If one commandment is openly declared to be dead and buried, they fear the rest are, or will be, and conclude that locks and other safeguards are necessary. If they tried half as hard to keep the commandments as they do to get away from them, they would be considered decent people to live with in the world. The person that loves to do right will love to keep the whole law; for the law is the rule of right. It follows then that the person that does not love to keep the law, does not love to do right.

But it is plain that the commandments were known before Sinai, the tenth not excepted. When Jethro heard of all the Lord had done for Moses and Israel, he came to see Moses in the wilderness, and when he saw that Moses judged the people alone he said, “The thing that thou doest is not good.” No doubt Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, was a righteous man; and here is part of his advice to Moses: “Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties and rulers of tens; and let them judge the people at all seasons.” Ex. xviii, 21, 22. His counsel was followed, and the people bore the burden with Moses. How can this testimony be evaded? Beware of covetousness, for it lurks unseen in many hearts. D. HILDRETH.