Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-09-05
TO THE EDGEFIELD BAPTIST
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE.

TO TIE EDGEFlELD BAPTIST
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE.
BELOVED BRETHREN
In accordance with your request, Ipre-
sent TO YOU this essay, on the following
query -
Can MemJer ofa Church Of Christ,
consistently pith his Profession, Ora a
Ticktt il LcItery?'
a lottery is scheme formed by body
Of rational beings, in which the many
must lose, and the .feto mast gain, consl-
dcrable sums Of money. The gain and
the loss depend upon the turning of The
wheels, according 10 the principles ol
chanct In the process Of tho operation,
there is no room for The honest exercise OF
the intellectual or moral powers. The
gain of the few is at the loss of the many,
without the return of the smallest equivai-
cnt. This constitutes gambling; and as
all gambling is wrong, so is a lottery
wrong.
In the discussion of this subject, shall
first trea; of gambling in general, and then
apply the principles laid down, to the
lottery scheme.
The indications Of the Divine Will, and
our duty, are given to US in the constitution
oflhincs, and in the, written word of God.
The appetite Of hunger points out the duty
of taking food; that Of thirst, the duty of
taking drink. So the possession of intel
leclual faculties, whose proper food is
knowledge, indicates the duty OF using
them in acquiring nfor nation. The
principles and objects of nature are the
subjects in the investigation, in the right
application Of which, these powers are to
be employed. The result ofsuch invrslisa-
ton and application tends to the develop
mcnt Of human energy i'll the most ad
vanlaeeous manner, and by necessary
consequence 10 the bcuelil of mankind.
We possess moral powers that render
us capable of being allied to God; the
existence of which indicates tic duty of
their improvement in those pursuits,
which will raise their pn>sessor 10 union
with God, aud prepare him for pure and
holy service here and hereafter. - Ec fear
God and keep his commandments: This
is the whole duty of man."
In accordance with this train ofremark,
is the truth which is taught throughout til"
Bible on this subject. The parallels ofthc
pounds and the talents, i'll conncNlon With
the above passage from Solomon, shall
Suffice, as illustrative Of this point, for NJ
present purpose.
In the parable of the poands, man
represented as about to travel into a far
country. Before he departs, he commits
TO each or his servants one pound, saying.
Occupy, Till come" In the parable
of the talents, the owner isreprcsen'"d is a.
going to receive a akingdom, and to return.
Before he sells out, he gives to each of his
servants, different amount Of talents. On
the return # each master, The servants are
respectively called To give in their account.
Tie industrious are rewarded. The
s!o,hful are punished. By these parallels
we are evidently taught, that God has
given to all men ability and means to
serve Him rhaI it is their duty to improve
what He has ,,?us given them; that lhey,
who do so improve His gifts, sEaI! be re-
warded-and that they, who do not, shall
be punished.
Now, according 10 the variety of talents
given TO men, they engage in different pur-
suits. Some employ their ta!cn's in the
professions of law, medicine, and science.
Others engage in thebuSiucss OF merGhan-
dize agriculture, and the mechanic arts.
In the regular adjustment OF these various
pursuits, the principles Of science are car
ricd cut most proGtaby aud happily. Com
modi,ies of different regions are ex-
changed. Men of remote countries, and
of d,(Ieren, clmes become neishbors. The
improvement of the norc ravor"d is COM
,nunica,ed 10 the less polished; and 'hus,
by gradual acccssions tothe great Interests
of our race, its parts arc being brought out
of their degradation aud ignorance, and
mankind is advanced 10 his'rr rank in
The scale of creation. BY ;hc improve.
meu,s effected in the right employment of
our various talents, the way is opened for
the progress of the Gospel; and hence, as