Owe no Man Anything by Stephen Pierce

Publishing Committee · ROCHESTER, N. Y. · Apr 25, 1854

“Owe no Man Anything.”

By Stephen Pierce

DEAR BRETHREN SCATTERED ABROAD:—Having noticed the pecuniary condition of the Review for some weeks, and even months past, I have felt called upon to address a few lines to you relative to such delinquency; not as a pleasure, but as a duty, which is very difficult to understand, and much more so to accomplish. By keeping a run of the receipts and having been apprised of its weekly expense, it has been easy to see whether there was a sum behind, and how much. Now it is either Bro. White’s duty to publish the Review, or it is not. If it is not, we ought not to patronize it any longer. If it is his duty, then of course it is the duty of those who profess to believe the doctrine it inculcates, to pay for it; not after a lapse of weeks or months, but in sufficient season to relieve the Editor from all unnecessary embarrassment. With respect to the propriety or even necessity of having such a medium for the dissemination of truth, no one can doubt for a moment. The propriety is self-evident from this fact, that it gives the saints, although separated by distance, continued opportunities for an interchange of thought, a varied source of mutual instruction; which has a tendency not only to increase our knowledge in the truth, but to correct a multitude of errors. The necessity will appear from its tendency to bring us all into the unity of the faith, which is an indispensable qualification for the last generation of saints, in order to meet the Lord in peace. The above being admitted, proves what the next admission will be, that it is our imperative duty, promptly to pay our respective proportions for publishing this means of instruction.

The business men of the world well understand the difficulties and even perplexities arising from a little tardiness on the part of creditors making seasonable payment. Many instances might be here adduced to show with clearness and force the truth of the above statement, but I forbear, lest the patience of the reader be wearied, and pass to notice some things recorded in the Bible, for our example and instruction.

It may be said that the heading of this piece is understood differently by different individuals. From the form of the original, some say it is an injunction, or command, others that it is a declaration, merely asserting that they do owe no man anything. But it matters not to us which. If it is an injunction, surely we ought to obey it. If it is a declaration, it gives us the commendable example of that primitive church which we ought to imitate.

We find in Gen. xxiii, that notwithstanding the children of Heth offered to Abraham (as it appears) gratuitously, his choice of their sepulchres in which to bury his deceased companion, Abraham in a manly and generous manner would pay them the worth of it in money.

2 Sam. xxiv. Araunah, freely and without price, (the same as the Review comes to us) offered David his threshing-floor and oxen for an offering that the plague might be stayed. “And the king said unto Araunah, Nay: but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.”

Such examples from the father of the faithful, and the righteous monarch of Israel, the Holy Spirit of God has seen fit to leave on record, for our learning and instruction in righteousness.

My Dear Brethren, will we follow those examples? I would gladly hear a response from every voice, We will!

If not mistaken, I receive the idea from a few intimations given by the Editor, that there are many readers of the Review, and even professed believers in its doctrines, who pay nothing for it. To such, except the “worthy poor,” and those also who have not embraced the present truth, it might be reasonable to expect that the scripture which heads this piece is applicable. Yea, even that the demand will be made, (by Him who has a right to demand,) “Pay me that thou owest.” But some may say that this was the demand of a hard, unforgiving creditor on his fellow.

Very well; but was there not as rigorous a demand made by the king himself to whom the kingdom of heaven was likened? “And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.” But you say he was forgiven. So are those who take the Review that have nothing to pay. Do we have an account of any debtor who had wherewith to pay that was forgiven his debt? “It is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not,” if there be first a willing mind.

This article was not designed to discuss the subject of charitable donations, but paying that which justly belongs to us.

If it is difficult for us to pay a few dollars for this purpose, what must it be for the Editor to bear a hundred such burdens, who is no more able than one of us? If we, as yet, have not become able to bear our own burdens, when shall we be likely to become able to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

The above remarks are not designed for the Pioneers in the cause of present truth, nor others who have contributed liberally of their means. Before such, the writer of this article would hide his face in silence, putting his own shoulder to the burden which they have so long and manfully borne.

STEPHEN PIERCE.

Roxbury, Vt., April 16th, 1854.