Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-07-05
EXTRACT

recent Bible ConrentioR Of the Confederate States,
an augusta G%
The history of the world confirms the testimony
of the Bible as to the moral dangers of accumulated
treasure Wealth is favorable to every species OF
wickedness Luxury, RIGHTEOUSNESS of manners,
seIishness indifference to the diStrcSScs of others,
preSumptuOus confidence in our own resources
these are the Accomplishments of aiiuencc, whenever
the safe guards Of the Divine word, both as to the
mode of increase and the proper USE are disregard
ed As to the higher forms of character and civili
zqtion, unless regulated and sancLtcd by Scripture
truth and principle OpWleHcG has always been one
of the most active causes of individual degeneracy
and of national corruption. Under the influence OF
it's subtle poison moral principle decays Patriotism
puts off its nobility and works 70" hire Bribery
c0rruptS the Judgment seat and Justice is blinded
by gifts; Benevotcnce SupprcSSaS its generous i'm
pulses and counts its contributions by fractions
Religion, forgetting the example of its Author and
the charity of its mission, pleads perjury and chaieS
at every opportunity for work or distribution; Gov
etouSneSS devourS widows houses and grows sleek
the bread Of orphans USury Specu!dteS on provi-
dence and claims its premium, alike from suffering
poverty and selfish extravaganza; EXtortion riots
upon the surplus of the rich and the scrapingS of
the poor enlarges its demand necessity increases
and amid impoveriShment want and public dis
treSs whetS its appetite for kccner rapne, and with
unsated desire laps the last drop from its victim
and remorSeleSS signs for more. The world counts
gam dS SOuIuSSS, prosperity a. 'HNuS, manu- a.
talent; and money, MONEY, MONEY, is the god of.
the land, with every house for temple every field
for altar and every man for worshipper. The
Church, infected by popular example, adopts the
maXimS of men, grades the wages OF her servants
by the minimum standard, pays slowly and gives
grudgingy, and stands guard over her treasures,
if Providence were a rubber, and they who press
the claims Of Heaven came to cheat and to steal.
Whenever the conservative laws of accumulation
and distribution, as prescribed in the Bible
ignored then not only does the love of money slim
ulate native depravIty, bat the boarded gain
furnishes facilities for uncommon wickelneSs The
attendant evils are uniform. They have never failed
in the history of the past When commerce. manu-
features and agriculture pour in their treasures,
then, without the COunteractlng power Of Scripture
truth and Gospel grace, they inlalllbly breed the
sins which have been, under God, the eNccutIOncrS
of nations. Such is the suicidal tendency of unSanc
titled wealth, that the greater lha prosperity of
people the shorter the duration Tie vIrrlence Of
the maadics supernducrd destroy suddenly and
that without remedy. Now a&rk how opposite,
how prophetic how descriptive the word of the
Lord: They ttut rW be rich TdH into temPta-
tiOR and SBaFe dlti tnt0 mHHy TJ0iiSh mt hHrt-
Tul Iusts" He that H,aEeta krx,c to be rich shall
not he innocent" lie that hI;'cta to be rich hath
evil eye" How these passages rcbuke the spirit
of speculation, the greedy desires, the eJuvOcil
eXpet,ienS, the high pressure schemes u the people!
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth"
Charge them that rich in this world, that they
he not nigh minded nor trust IN uncertain riches.
q, We who make, and save aui hide, and heard, hear
We the word of the Lord: Your riches are
rupted, and your garments are moth eaten; your
gold and silver is Cankcrci, and the rust OF them
shall be witness against you, and shall eat your
flesh as it were fire" 0, We who strut and shine
in plumage pluclicd from the poor and needy, "ye
have received your conSoiaion;' weep and howl
for the miSericS that shall cone upon you
IN of the moral secrets of tins yry,frifI war
caN it. (perapS it may turn cat 10 o. HisrrVaiD
in my Judgment, To arrest the corruption of pros
perity-to unScitic, a4Itate, break loose the people
IRON their plans AMI hopcS-dcthronc their cotton
iIol. and, by u?hcayiag the iucruStatonS imposed
by long years Of peace and security, to let INFO
darncnrd minds the light of truth aui vcutilac the
dormant conscience. Infatuated by the love Of the
world ScnSuaizei fast rooted in pride and for
getFulnesS Of God thc Spit Of grace has been shut
out, the hearts of men were ImPcrViOuS through
the power Of dominant ovcr.maSicriag habit, and
the preaching of the Gospel rs iruicsS as would
have been the tnNling Of Il cytnhdl. The Church
has been sliding into the world the broad ScrIptural
lines of demarkaton We're we'll D!;h passed. Pcty
had grown thin, meacrc unreal Christian man.
hood was crgci in 4 nawN,>I spirit Of compliance
"A supple, SICILY !IhcTalily, ready to break down
the last b1rrisr To The achmcntS OF fashion and
the demands at an un-outy &.,. We needed reform.
The ShOcHS and vibrations If wars terrible bat
tcTicS were necessary shake Ihe dGowSy Stagnant
atmosphere, to change the currents of Thought, to
break down the dominion of old ideas, ami set
free from the selfish policy OF the past. To this
end, God has stirred up nest, pushed us out
from resting places, uni:'uged the whole mach!
merry Of life and cailc! to privatpn sacrifice and
peril. Oh, that this bitter discipline this fiery
deal, may prepare for liberty better regulated,
and religion more ScriPiurdl active and useful