Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-10-17

Religion that does not make man
honcst IL good Tor nothing. liza man pro-
! (csses To be a Chrls,Ia and deirauds his
ueighbor, that .man's religion is vain.-
! And he is dishonest who wi,hholds from
another, tha, which is hs due, whom II is
IN his power Ia pay II.
We, in this country, have acquired II
bad name abroad for our State repuda-
,lons, but II 10 not this oi which wo wish
to speak JUS, now. 1T is of tl~ laxncss,
NJ, to call It by b harshcI name, OF many
professors of religion, who seldom or
never pay their debts, until after being
called upon again aud aga'n, aud perhaps
finally being threatened with suit at
\ law. There are some such men IN al
most every community.
II We have ono of these men new IN our
lego. lie is "a very aniablc, easy man,
who never wishes to quarrel with his
ncighbors, and is always wiling to do
ihem n favor when they arc IN want ol
llhelp. But he never pays his debts, II he
can avoid il. His bills nj the store, at
ihe shops OF mechanics, perhaps for the
Il food which he ents or the raIment he
wears, are unpaid, and ho feels not the
least conpunc,ions of conscience on the
subject. lie prays in his family and in
the social meeting, aud some people
think that he may be "A Christian; but
| men Of the world say that It he would ho
\ honest, they would have n better opln,on
| of his religion.
II We see another debtor. Ie has no
objections TO huying any thing that hc
can get upon trust hc will even sub
scribe for religious newspaper, or
new edition of tho Bible, aud makes
loud professions oi his Willingness to aid
,hl, object and that, but when culled on
To pny his subscription, he ls unfortunate
llly lust then out Of money, he will cct-
,ainly pay 1t in few days but no ~ NJ
moro ready a mouth afterwards than he
was before, aud he meyer Intends tn pay
II He pre,ends nevertheless Ia be plou'
man, bat be dccoives very few.
Il Just now, wo see another man ol thi'
alvays-owing and neper-pay'hg class. -
A Some time ngo, he coulrac'ed heavy
Il debt, md he has never yet seen the
lime when nc could pay the whole oi Il
nt once aud, therefore, he has paid none
of il. Ills income bas bccu such lha
i lac might, with little economy and puri
self i-drnial, have paid pan Of The debt
every year, and by this time havc OK
jltnguishcd II ; but his conscience does NO
seem To trouble him at all, although be
iires on that which does not belong e
: hun.
II Men may sopIisticatc n they please
they eau never make II ,Ight, and all th'
bankrupt laws IN the universe can ncvo
make II righ! for them to neglect to paj
1 thoir debts. There Ia SIN IN this neg
lcct ns clear and as deserving churci
} discipline, ny IN stenling or false swear
ing. IL ~h" v,"ln'o hi-pr0'"''o 10 pay
or wthholds the payment Oi u debt, WLci
Il IS ,ciiI,in has poIoe, To NEE, his engngc
mcnt, ought to be made to feel that, II
the sight OF God and of all honest men
he IL swindlcr. Religion may be
livery comfortable cloak under which 4
hide bu, If religion does no, make
man deal justly II is not worth having
II But what shall poor man do who q
= ia debt? Let him work hard and pay It
: Deny yourself oi tho luxurl"s and vcrl
, many of tho comforts ol lu. &c wlIlln!
To rak. humble Idacc ~ society, an'
noriify your PRIDE; III dress and sly 10 o
living be IA sImplo and economical a
I po, siblc Il necessary, i've on bread nn'
water, aud labor diligently, until yo'
satisfy The demands of your las, creditor
hut never lay up cent OF money no
spend a cent necdIcssly, while yon ow'
II to ano,hcr We wish that tins prInci
pic could be ingrdincd INTO the hearts ant
consriences, nl least oi proicsslng CHRIS
tinns. There Is n looscness on the sub
lect ~ the church that IL perfectly lrrcc
'ucilnblo with tho law of God and The
/, maintenance of good reputation VI ia,
>. eyes oi the world.
I'll I"i no mon be trusted who negfccis Z,
pay las debts II misfortune has sud
!, druly drpuscd han Of The ab,liiy To pay
hat - another thing; bat II by his con
lni hc -hows bat b" bas ~ disposition
l'lo mcti "osHgcmcni-, especially s'oal