Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-07-18
SERMON ON INDUSTRY.

S"So W Disnop Meau, on q recent &C.
casion, from the text, /" In the sweat
OF thy face shalt thou eat thy bread
until thou return unto the ground"
Among the evils incident 10 our con-
dltion is the strong temptation 10 idle
ness, even from our infancy-the nb-
sence OF many powerful incentives TO
enterprlse-and especially the want Of
due exercise for our animal frame.
which is essential TO the perfection of
the whole system of man. From
variety of causes, many kinds of useful
and profitable labor fed no favor Ell
Their with parents or children and
many employments are considered I'M
suitable here, which in all other coun.
tries, and throughout the world, in
every age, have been deemed honora-
BILE. Amongst large and respecta-
BILE portion of the community, two pro-
fesslons only seem to have been cove
ted by the young men, and they are
now so overwhelmed with numbers, as
TO lead but seldom either to profit or
honor; too often to vice and ruin
Within the last few years, indeed, the
spirit Of adventure and the love of
gain have led forth many to the is
tant West and South, to the jeopardy
of life, peace, virtue and the Hopes of
Heaven; but that, as a South Sea
dream, has passed away, leaving the
visionary expectants wide awake to
the full consciousness Of their greater
poverty. The situation Of our daugh-
ters is also in many respects, unfortu-
nate-the temptations to inactivity are
great-and few opportunities for obtai-
ming an independent support are open
ed to them. The subdivision of the
estates of course will not allow either
sons or daughters to marry and have
families and live as their fathers have
done; and yet the same difficulties lie
in the way Of resorting to different
mode ofliving. Their education, their
habits, their feelings, revolt against so
great change as sometimes appears
necessary. Something, however, must
be done, or ruin, or Punishment to the
West, with perhaps worse ruin there,
must ensue. This consideration pres
SEES with much weight on the best of
parents. They look with fearful eyes
and bleeding hearts on number Of
dear sons and daughters, and ask what
is to become OF them. With all their
economy and diligence, they can scarce
make out to clothe and feed them on
the present plan, adding perhaps a
very imperfect education. But for
what are they educating them ITO
be ladies and gentlemen, not of fortune,
but without fortune. And in what
manner they are to live as such in
time to come, or by what means they
are TO venture to have families oftheir
own, they know not. They look
around in vain to find some avocation
suitable TO them-some opening for an
honest livelihood. Should some sure
and honorable opportunity present it.
self to industry, their children have
not been prepared to embrace It,
They want the energy of mind and of
the body, and now it is too late to be-
gin.
| But can nothing in the way Of reme-
dy be done7 Must we lie down in
despair and let ruin trample us under
foot ? | cannot think it. | believe
that our text, rightly followed, will APP
| ply the most effectual remedy. If we
will only obey the law of our nature,
the appointment ola wise and gracious
God, and train up our children in the
way of diligence, in which they ought
to go, and be ourselves wholesome ex-
amples, a great change for the better
may take place. But in order to this,
we must in good earnest, as believers
in Gods word, be persuaded, that Ia
Dor, diligence, self-denial. are appoin-
ted unto man, and for his good always
that it is criminal to attempt to lead
any other kind of life--,hat it is an i'm.
pious attempt to avoid wise and gra-
cious dispensation of Providence to sim
full beings who are on trial for another
life. We must be verify persuaded
that no situation or circumstances can
exempt us from the duty ofactive ex-
ertion in some mode of life-that the
man or woman who attempts to lead
life of Incidence is an offence unto God
deserves neither food nor raiment-
forfets life itself-for it is written, "he
that will not work, neither let him eat"
We must from our inmost souls abhor
the thought Of idleness for ourselves
and children, and look upon that child
as an evil in the world who is prone to
incidence.
Perhaps some will say--the peculiar
situation we are in, and the many
around us ever ready to meet our
wants, render bodily exertion unneces-
sary. To this, reply, that such was
in great measure the case among the