BREVITITIES by J. CLARKE

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 10, 1860

BREVITITIES.

By J. CLARKE

EXHAUSTLESS. Talk of draining the ocean, but not of exhausting the fountains of truth. The more you draw upon them, the more you find.

HOLDING BACK. What should we think of a team that could only be made to hold back? Yet some seem to feel it duty always to lag along in the rear, or find fault with the workers. Press together.

HONESTY. A man may think himself honest, while his neighbors and friends have a different opinion. A truly honest man is honorable in his dealings. Not only does he observe the “mine,” and “thine,” as to property, but he endeavors to be highly honorable in his dealings with all, and most carefully to preserve his good name. His good name is better in his eyes than choice silver; gold is worse than lost, at the expense of his good name. How he would dread to have people distrust him, and he is only a man of the world. He despises religion, because he has been cheated by some elder, or deacon, or layman; and now he prides himself upon his honesty. But if the man of the world finds honesty to be the best policy, how much more the Christian, who is only a pilgrim and a stranger here, and is looking for a city that hath foundations. What has the pilgrim here to do with money and other wealth, except to use it as a good steward in his Master’s work? A grasping spirit is dishonest in its tendency and influence, it is a greedy love of gain; and though the outward rules of honesty are unbroken, a keen-sighted world will yet see it, and smile contempt. The world know when the Christian acts up to his profession in this particular; and they are very watchful of us in this very thing: here, too, is the most vulnerable point in many professed followers of Christ. Many a one has held out against other temptations, but has finally fallen a victim to this. This grasping spirit breaks the Sabbath, disgusts both good and bad men by its meanness. It hardens the heart, and blunts the moral sense. It makes enemies needlessly. It shuts up the bowels of charity. It cheats the treasury of the Lord. It narrows down every noble and manly sentiment of the mind, and transforms a man into a sort of ill-favored machine, on which is inscribed in glaring capitals, Sold for money! For one I hate this greedy spirit. It is wholly disgusting. There is not a feature of it that is comely. God hates it. The Saviour, the angels, and the good, hate it. It is disgusting to all the pure and the holy. Away with it from the church. It does not belong there, any more than drunkenness does. Away with it, dear brother or sister, if you possess it in any degree. Be noble, honorable, liberal, but correct in all your dealings.