Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-04-14

important matters, be has other motives
than regard to the honor of God.
2. 1t is certain that, if an individual is
dishonest In small matters, he is not actu-
ated bv love TO God. 1.-The was actuated
BY love to God, he would feel that dishon-
esty in small matters is just as inconsist-
ent as in great. 1t is as real a violation
of the law OF God, and one who truly
loves God would no more act dishonesty
in one than in the other.
3. 1t is certain that he is not actuated
by real love to has neighbor, such as the
law of God requires Ii he loved his
neightor as himself, he would not de-
fraud him in small things any more than
in great. Nay, he might do it in great
things, where the tenn tatIon to swerve
from his integrity was powerful. But
where the temptation is small, it cannot
be that one who truly lovesahis neightor
would act dishonesty. See the case of
Job. Job trul y loved God, and you see
how far he wcut and what distress he en-
dured, before he would say a word that
even seemed disparaging or complaining
Of God. And when the tempt4tion was
overwhelming, and he could see no rea-
son why he should be so afflicted, and his
distress became mtolerable, and his soul
was all In darkness, and his wife set In
aud told him 10 curse God and die, he
would not do it then, but said, L" / hou
speakest as one OF the foolish women
speaketh. What shall we receive good
at the hand OF Col, and shall we not re-
ceIve evil = Do you suppose Job would
have swerved from his integrity in little
things, or for small temPtatloRs2 Never.
He loved God Aud # you find a man
who truly loves his neighbor, you willnot
see him deceivlng or deGrauding his neigh.
Dor for lifting mItatlons.
~. | am 10 examine some Of the mo.
tives by which person may b. actuated,
who is dishonest in little things, while he
may appear to be honest in greater mat
teIS.
Ou. business here is to ascertain how
this apparent discrepancy can consist
with the declaration in the text The
Lord Jesus Christ has laid down the prin-
clple, that if a man is dishonest in small
matters, he is not strictly honest at all
Now there are facts, which to many ap-
pear to contradict this We see many
men that in small matters exhibit a great
want of principle, and appear to be quite
void of principle, while IN larger things
| they appear to be honorable and even pl.
Gus. This must be consistent, or else Je-
sus Christ has affirmed laIsehood Tha
it is consistent with truth will be admitted
if we can show that their conduct in re
gard to larger matters can be accounted
for on other principles than honesty o
heart. II we can account for it on prin
ciples OF mere seIfshness, it will be ad
united, that where a man is dishonest il
small things, he is not really hontst al all
however honestly he may act in regard Il
larger matters.
/. They may act honestly in larger
matters Tor fear Of disgrace.
They may know that certain small
things are not likely to he mentioned il
pubic, or to have a noise made abou
them, and so they may do such things
while the fear Of disgrace deters then
doing the same things in regard to large
matters, because it will make a noise
What is this but one form of seltishnts
overbaIancing another form! 1t is SCI
fshness still, not honesty.
: q He may suppose it will injure hi
business, if he is guilty otdishonesty wit
men OF business and so he deals honeStl
= in important matters, lille in little thing
r he is ready 10 take any advantage he cal
e that will not injure his business. Thu
man will take advantageot. a seamStres
|, and pay her a few cents less than he know
5 it is really worth for making Carmen
Y while the same individual, in buying
bale of goods, would not think of shown
= disposition 10 cheat because it would II
e jure his business, la dealing with q
E. abused and humhled individual, he ca
ii gripe and screw out few cents wltho
It fear of public disgrace, while he won
e not for any consideration do an act whic
e. would be publicly spoken of as disreput
5, bic and base.
l. 3. Fear of human law may influence
man to act honestly in such things
are likely TO be taken up, while in sue
Il. small matters as the law is not likely
ly notices he will deGaud or take adFantag
al 4. The love ofprajse influences mar
of to act honestly and .honorably, and ev'
$. piousIy, in matters that are likely to
It. noticed. Many man, will ,defaud
Of poor person out of few cents in the pri
Of oflahor, and them in some great matt
on public OCCASION, appear to act wi
e great hberality. What. IS the srease
is that individuals who habitually sore
a down their servants, and seamstresses, a
to other poor people that they employ, to I
in lowest penny and take all the advanta
is theyean OF such people, will then, if
n we're winter comes, send our, cart loads
BE- fuel to the poor, or give hundreds old
act lars tn tho eonrn;ttees2 You see that