Principles of Right

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 6, 1909

Principles of Right.

IT IS character which makes men worthy of salvation, of life which never ends. It is inwrought principles of righteousness which make character. Through Christ Jesus this transmutation of character is possible for all. But the individual must choose the right. He must choose in the ultimate, not because of any recompense or reward, not because it will pay, not because some one else has so chosen; but because “right is right since God is God.”

In such a choice expediency has no place. When the principle involves a matter of right or wrong, it matters not the present or near outcome, the choice is of the right. To illustrate: There is a strong sentiment, voiced by many, especially religious people, against race-track, stock-exchange, and various other forms of gambling. At the same time many of the protesters are members of religious bodies who hold church fairs and picnics at which there are raffles, fish ponds, races, and contests for prizes, and various games of chance. In all these the essential basis of gambling is involved. “O, but these are such little things,” remarks a devotee. “What is a few cents one way or the other?”

Not much, unless it is the price of a principle of right. If it is, the little transaction is infinitely serious. The winning of a cake or ring or book is but a step toward risking bigger things in the hope of bigger results. Many a gambler took his first lesson

in what was considered at the time a harmless amusement, or a means to a good end, the helping of a church or some benevolent cause. But the evil principle was in the first step as truly as in the last, even tho the first was taken in church circles and the last in a “gambling hell.”

There is but one true way — shun all the evil deeds by abjuring the principle. See by the clear vision of a good conscience the fruit in the sowing, and shun the sowing. Bring all things to the everlasting standard of God’s truth. In this path Christ walks. To bring you to it He died. And here He will be with you always, even to the end.