The Stolen Coin by T. E. Bowen

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Nov 25, 1908

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 35, No. 17.

The Stolen Coin.

By T. E. Bowen

A CHINESE pastor, in seeking to impress the sacredness of the Sunday upon his people, used the following parable:

"It came to pass that a man went to market, having on his shoulder a string of seven large copper coins [holes being in the Chinese coins, they are strung on strings, and carried on the shoulder]. Seeing a beggar crying for alms, he gave the poor creature six of his seven coins. Then the beggar, instead of being grateful, crept up behind the kind man, and stole the seventh coin also. What an abominable wretch! Yes; but in saying this, you condemn yourselves. You receive from the hand of the gracious God six days, yet you are not content. The seventh you also steal!"

A beautiful parable, indeed! But what a pity that, while as related it is true, yet it is made to become untrue in its application. The seventh coin has been stolen, true enough, not only by the poor beggar, but by many pastors and people, as well. That counterfeit—the first day—can never be palmed off onto God (where the true light shineth), for that other genuine coin upon which He has placed His own image and superscription, that day which He claims as His own—the seventh. Neither will the Lord accuse any one of stealing a day He Himself gave to man for his own use in the beginning.

Would that the Chinese pastor, and all others, might see this, and humbly return the stolen coin, with that confession and contrition of heart necessary to receive God's forgiveness for the great sin of not only breaking the fourth commandment themselves, and teaching others to do so, but that other commandment as well, which says, "Thou shalt not steal."

T. E. BOWEN.