Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1857-12-10
FIR The Monmouth Wsekly Herald.
HONESTY.

Honesty is one of the eternal and un.
changeabe Laws of Deity. 1t is law
which bears alike upon the rich and poor.
It is impartial in all its hearings, and all
its requirements. 1t is a law which
it should be the study Of man, never to
violate, for in the violation Of it, we en-
danger everything which is dear to US in
time, and which will be Of infinite value
to US through eternity. " An honest man
is the noblest work of God."a What a
happy world, were all men honest! What
a different state of society and things
would take place, if all men were honest.
Honesty is principle we'll adapted to
such beings as we are, and yet we are
often found violating this sacred law
which is the strong arm of our defence
and security. Without honesty there
could no dependence be placed in man;
we should lose all confidence in each 9th.
er, and a wretchod state of things would
exist. There does very bad state exist
at present, but chase honesty entirely
out of the world, and then look upon it,
and what sad picture would present it
self to our gaze. Would that the ster.
ling principle of honesty, which is indie
structable in its character, were more pre-
valent in the world, more universally
practiced by men, and not so much trick
cry and cheating rife everywhere. Thous
ands will stand at the Bar of God con-
demned, who have sold their everlasting
welfare for small sum in Time. Are
there not men, now in every community,
who, rather tnan be honest, lay aside their
dishonest principles, and act nobly and
honorably, would spend their eternity in
the regions of the lost, and suffer unmiti-
gated sorrow, and remorse in the deep,
dark domains of eternal night? Where
the principle of honesty does not exist,
where it is not practiced, where it is not
the rule of action, where it is not the ac-
tuating principle, all is vanity. A man
may possibly accumulate some Of the rich
es,-some of the treasures of Earth, he
may become rich, and in the estimation Of
the world, great, but in the sight of just
and holy God, what is he if he is not hon.
est. A beggar, slave, fool. What
will the wealth of the world do for us
when we are about to take our exit from
time into eternity, when we are about to
pass into the presence of God, the Judge
of all? Honesty is principle that will
stand now, and then too. We wan. some.
thing that will avail us in time, and when
we, pass beyond this contracted and tenn
porary scene, will enableu toggrasp .des-
TIMES of unbounded splendor, Eternity
our lifetime, and Infnity our. home."-
Sell not honesty to purchase wealth,
should be the motto of every one. And
do we gain anything by selling honesty?
We gain loss-the loss Of character, the
loss of quiet conscience, the loss Of
Elpeace, and the loss of the soul. The loss
Of character is serious loss, the loss OIL
a good conscience is great loss, but the
loss of peace here-and hereafter, the Joss
of the Soul, which laughs at humiliation
and which will travel in the wake of eter
nifty; is a loss of such infinite greatness
that it de6es all powers of human compu
tation. Honesty is principle so admir-
able, that to adopt it " in world Of
thieves, where cheating were a virtue
would be wise," infinitely wise. Honesty
will stand the test of an expiring world
When she shall rock in the throes of dis
solution, the great principle of Honesty
will still shine. survive the dissolving ele
ments, and claim affinity to things eter
nal. TRUTH.