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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 14, 1862

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 20, No. 20.

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Lending.

By J. Clarke

“He that is merciful will lend unto his neighbor.”
It is very necessary at times to borrow, and of course one must be as free to lend as he would be to borrow when himself is in need. But there is an abuse of borrowing, as the wise man says, “Many when a thing was lent to them, reckoned it to be found, and put them to trouble that helped them.” Verse 4.
“Till he hath received, he will kiss a man's hand; and for his neighbor's money he will speak submissively; but when he should repay, he will prolong the time and return words of grief, and complain of the time.” Verse 5.
“Many therefore have refused to lend, for other men's ill dealing, fearing to be defrauded.” Verse 7.
It is surprising to see how careless many people are about returning borrowed articles. Months may pass away, and you, having forgotten to whom you lent the article, finally discover it by chance, as it were, in the possession of some good-natured neighbor who had almost forgotten that it was yours.
Especially is this the case with books and umbrellas. I do not think that one person in ten ever thinks of returning a borrowed book.
Your choicest books—books which you almost daily need—will very probably be covered with dust upon your friend's shelf, one here, another there, according as you have friends scattered up and down in the world.
One book few borrow, that is the Bible; and in fact you can keep three books; viz., your Bible, hymn book, and concordance; for these you cannot lend any length of time, so as to forget them; but most of other books, save some common text-books, you miss; and just when you want them, they are gone; and it is well you can duplicate cheaply, or you would soon expend a fortune in buying books, or starve mentally for want of them.
One would not care so much about it, but for the fact that borrowed books are little read. They are kept for ornament, rather than use. But if I should extend this catalogue, as I might, it would be endless. I will close by saying, Return borrowed articles.
J. CLARKE.