The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-03-31
TAGgnY 0lBUIhNo
Business and Religion,

Business and Religion,
Young man, just entering upon the business Of
life, il this article strikes your eye, larry a
moment and read it, Business and Religion
Do YOU understand the intimate connexion Of
these two words II not let US consider
them,
Suppose we should put the question to an au.
dence composed Of such men as many of the bust.
ness men OF this or any other nation are, "What
isthe chief enl OF business ," what would be the
answer we might naturally expect from almost any
OF that audience Would il not be, rThe chief
ent Of business Way the accumulation of money
to ba sure to acquire property Acquisition;
this is it." And would not the answer accord
with the fact| We fear it would The father too
often advises his son, the merchant his clerk, the
tradeSman his commiss oner, the dealer in wares
his peder, "Make what you can. Lose no op-
portunlty Of adding cent to cent aud dollar to dol
lar. This your business Be about it see to
it always"
What but this do you read in the continued
strife Of most Of the business world In its
watchlngs and wearyienls and achievements in
trade, its success in making the present gain for
the future; what but this 10 the ma in desire too
generally expressed, that all will be we'll when
the individual becomes wealthy and what but
thus in the homage generally paid in the heart to
mere property, when this property may have least
to do with tn riches that are Of more value than
all silver and gold
Now here is error of the most perncou, kind.
Such Is not the just aim Of our exertions, such is
not the great end of the bus mess of life. 1t is a
libel on our nature seriously to pretend so The
chief end of business is its moral, its religious end
We can come to no other conclusion, if we con .
suit he New Testament We never fnd an in.
timation here that business aud rel gion are dis.
connected Such was not the idea OF the apostle
when he wrote, Whatsoever ye do in word or
in deed do all in the name Of the Lord Jesus
Whatsoever We DO, do it heartily as to the Lord,
and not unto men, knowing that Of the Lord
ye shall receive the reward OF the inheritance, for
ye serve the Lord Christ" Nor this his concep.
ton when he gave his brethren direction to be
mot sothful in business, ervent in spirit, serving
the Lord" The business of life is bende ed with
the religion Of it, 1t is 10 pursued not with idea
of accumulating riches as its end; but with the
conviction that money is means only, and truth
honor integrity the great ends. And there is a
noble field for cultivation OF these virtues in the
lie Of every business man. 1t is falsehood and
shame to preie nd that men must be only honest
as trade and the times may admit, when they
pursue the business of life. Aswell might we con.
sder everycalling in life game Of deception with
ouselves and our race, No such thing. Let the
tradesman, letevery manof business remember that
business itself is one Of heavens ordin atons Ia
instruct us in truth, goodness, beneyOlence, and
that eternal justice which says % all, "As ye
would that men should do unto you, do We even
the same unto them; for this is the law and the
prophets"
Young man, consider this connection Of the
business with the religion Of life. Never lose
sight of it. So shall you gain that treasure oil
heaven which "gold and multitude of rubies'
could not secure, and which no vicsstude Of ca.
prlclous or outrageous fortune can annul or de-.
s,roy Il Gospel Teacher