Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-10-23

by REV. HENRY WARD BERcHER,
What Lessons do these times teach /,

What Lessons do these times teach
|. We are to learn that commercial
prosperity stands indissolu bly, ed
with public morals' In their hearts, men
cast aside mJral scruples as one would
throw OFT his garments in a race. Where
every body sins together, me n fondly think
that their concord is q law Of nature. Lit.
tie by little, success domneers over con.
science. The permission of custom, the
sole condition OF accomplishing, the fact of
accrulng wealth, with its praise, and influ-
ence and power, these overrule moral con-
siderations, and men do not hesitate to VIC.
late recttude by ranks and multitudes
They systematic selishncss and organize
injustice
But all seeds demand time etween SOW
ing and reaping. When first sown, this
ties are az good as corn But when the
reaping time comes, they that SOW grain
shall carry their bosom full oil sheaves, and
they that SOW thistles shall have their
skins pricked full of spines and poisonous
prickles. In commercial intoxication it is
as in drunkenness by strong drink-frst
the pleasing exhibition, but afterwards the
bursting headache.
No class OF men are more interested in
high tone of public morals than business
men. Their life stands in credit, as much
as their bodily life stands in air fit to
breathe.
The merchant that DESTROYS good morals
plucks off the plank from the bottom of the
ship carries him and all his goods. lie will
founder, he will be carried down, sooner
or Later, by inevitable leakage.
= fubiic indifference to immoralities, in
common, as in other things, will be avenged
as 1t 1t were participation The bills which
wicked men draw against the public treasu-
ry to pay Tor their crimes and vices, are al
ways endorsed by the virtuous men of the
community; and in the end. the sober al
ways pay for the Incorporate; the pure pay
the expenses of the debauched; the honest
man pays for the knave's debts; the working
and frugal man pays for the indolent and
spendthrft; and in such times as these it is
seen that the headlong and swindling specu-
Iators run the commercial world into desper-
ate straits, and then the criminals step
ASIDE, and the sound men take the burden
and carry 1t. In prosperous times men
attend to their own business, and will not
be troubled with public interests. This is
selhshness which God never will forget
In their hour of distress they find out that
indifference to public morals is itself
crime, and that Providence, in due season,
Furnishes honest and good men for the
misconduct of wicked men. which they
could have prevented but would not.
s. These are the times for men to detect
and punish unnamed vices and crimes, and
give them their place and proper designa-
tion on the list OF evils.
In all vigorous communities, ui,oro enter
prise attempts new things, by new meas
ures, we may be sure that se6shness will
pioneer conscience. Many things will be
done, as now we clearly see they have been
done, which are wrong to the last degree.
But because men had not yet analyzed
them, they were permitted to 20 on as if
right and permissible.
Gods providence judges human conduct
before men s consciences do. And we find
out what is wrong by tho punishment with
which We are surprised, rnther than by the
use of our moral judgment. 1t is shame
that Gods whip should have to be better
Judge and interpreter of rectitude than
Christian mans conscience.
d. These times ought to point out the
attention of men to the sure punishment of
greediness. Haste to be rich comes more
speedily through the stage in which they
give equivalents, of skill or benefit for
wealth received, into the always wicked
and demoralizing stage in which men de-
sire to enter without giving fair equivalents
Tor their gains. This appetite has no
bounds when once planted 1t is raging
fever Of avarice. It's the peculiar disease of
spectators, OF stock gamblers, and all 9TH
er gamblers. A man who deliberately pro-
poses to gain wealth without earning it by
some substantial equivalent rendered to the
community is thief, Nor is Gods Justice
silent or motionless. he that hasfeth 10
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