What Sort? by Christian Neighbor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 8, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 38.

What Sort?

By Christian Neighbor

WHAT sort of morality is that which satisfies a man in the non-payment of a debt as long as his creditor refrains from "dunning"?

What sort of morality is that which satisfies itself in the non-payment of a debt because it is a small amount—a trifle?

What sort of morality is that which calls the attention of the creditor to an overcharge, but is silent about an undercharge?

What sort of morality is that which seeks to evade meeting his creditor lest he should be more plainly reminded of his indebtedness?

What sort of morality is that which satisfies itself in the non-payment of a debt because the creditor is presumed by the debtor not to need what the debt calls for?

What sort of morality is that which satisfies itself in the non-payment of a debt because of a failure in farming, or other enterprise or undertaking?

What sort of morality is that which gets offended when asked to pay a debt which the debtor promised to pay long before the time of dunning?

What sort of morality is that which provides for his own wife and children by defrauding the wife and children of another man, dead or alive, to whom he is justly indebted for things which have been used by the debtor's family for their own enjoyment or profit?

What sort of morality is that which ignores moral obligations as to a debt, and pays only when the civil law compels?

What sort of morality is that which lightens the obligation to pay a just debt in proportion to the length of time since it was contracted?

In short, what sort of morality is that which disregards the command, "Thou shalt not steal"?