, 1861-02-01

But more. NOW that his plans ana pro
jects are laid, they must be followed up aut
his purposed ends gained at all hazard
Having resolved, without any "if, but, OF
condition, "to go into such a city, continue
there a year, to buy, sell, and get gain" il
must be done. No pains mnst be spared
no means left unused, no hazard unencoun
tered, 20 hardship unendUred, no obstacle
unremoved, no compunctions Of conscience
unallayed, no religious scrupleS unSmother,
ed, so that his ends be gained. Why should
they? God was not in all his thoughts
when he formed his plans; why should he
be whilst he is pursuing them. His con.
science and religion were not summoned TO
supervise the laying Of his projects, the
forming of his purposes, why should they
be in carrying them out2 No! there is
nothing to restrain such man from prac-
ticing fraud, treachery and dishonesty in all
their forms, except self interest and self re-
Spect. But then, self interest aud self re.
spect are equally Solicitous in urging him to
carry out his plans and effect his purposes
He would no; be caught failing in his pro-
jects. He has said he will "buy and sell
and get gain in year." and he means to
do it. He will not be fOiled. He will SCI
cure position in society and establish bis in
dependence. Self interest and self respect
advocate as strongly in favor Of wealth and
position as OF honor and reputation, all
things else being equal. But such a man
thinks the chances IN favor Of retaining u
good name whilst securing Independence
He reasons thus: "The chances are against
being detected. am shrewd in my calcu-
lations, deep in my projects, far seeing in
my schemes. "And he says: How does
God know, aud is there knowledge in the
Most Hight" If God cannot see, how eau
mani There are plenty Of dupes in the
community whom can deceive and cheat,
(no / must not use these words, they are
offensive and will betray me.) But there
are plenty whom l can gull" whom | can
'Iake in," with whom | can "dTire a bar
GAIN and "work the ropes" Upon whom
1 can pass the short measure and balance
of deceits, with impunity and without de-
lection. Provided this is done, honor, rep
utation, popularity will remain untarnished
whilst the wealth, the position, the indepen-
dence is secured" ALL mol Self respect
is but feeble antidote against the evils
arising from getting gain, regardless Of
mans good or Gods glory. The flood
gates Of temptation are thrown open,-eV-
cry thing conduces to foster an intriguing
and dishonest character. The philanthropic
aud benevolent affections are blighted and
frozen. Whilst moral and religious princi-
pies are destroyed, 1t is hard for such men
to euter the kingdom Of Heaven.
The Psalmist forcibly seals these facts in
Ps. So: 1T. "Lo," says be, "tAis is the
man that made not God his strength, but
trusted in the abundance of his riches, aud
strengthened himself in his wickedness" !"
Certainly, it is so. ITO strengthen ones
self in wickedness is closely Joined, to trust
ing in riches, regardless of Gods will and
glory" Well, what's the character of such
a man, DavidH This is it: "Thy tongue
desireth deceit. Thou lowest evil more
than good, and lying more than to speak
Righteousness. Thou lowest all devouring
words; obi thou deVouring tongue" Is it
not hard for such character to experience
the spiritual joys Of communion with God,
aud with his son Jesus Christi Is il not
even as hard, humanity speaking, as for q
camel to go through the eye Of "a needle.
If God has mercy on him, he may enter
the kingdom of heayen;" may have his
principles and character radically, thor
oughIy changed; may be converted and
made an humble follower Of the meek and
lowly Jesus, and thus become an heir Of the
kingdom Of God" on earth, and Of eternal
glory, when he exchanges time for eternity.
But the odds are fearfully against him. 1t
is hard matter for such an one to attain
holiness aud eternal life.
But more: If be has grieved and re-
sisted Gods holy spirit until he has taken
his everlasting fight, his doom is fixed; his
destiny sealed; he is condemned already,
aud only waits the summons to have the
sentence executed. God shall also de.
stroy thee forever, he shall take thee away,
and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place,
and root thee out of the land of the liv-
ing" He that getteth gain and not by
right, shall leave them in the midst OF bis
days, and in his end shall be fool"
To such, as to the rich man with full
barns and self indulgent project, God shall
say: "thoH fool, this night shall thy soul be
required at thy hand; then whose shal
those things be which thou hast providedT
So shall it be with every one that lays "
treasure for himself and is not rich towarC
God. y
.
Such is feeble portrayal OF the evils re
sulting to an individual from pursuing his
calling and transacting his business upor
the principles and platform deprecated ii
| the text
Those evils flowing to the communit,
eau Better be imagined than described
Picture to yourselves not only one man il
one particular branch Of business, but al
men in every calling, doing business upo,
such rinciples-each deceiving, cheating
and robbing his neighbor with success an,
impunity, and Strengthening himself il
wickedness." 1t is not difficult, under sue
circumstances, to conceive Of the speed
dissolution Of society-the universal preya