Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-07-22

Mfs NOIby MAsslOuarf III UuS VI knc 4
islands of the Pacific ocean, preached
sermon one day on the words, "Let him !
that stole, steal no more" In the ser
mon be said thatit was duty to return |
things that had formerly been stolen.
The next morning, when he opened his |
door, he saw q number of natives sitting |
on the ground around the house. He |
was surprised to see them there 80 |
early, and asked why they had come. |
" We have not been able to sleep, all |
night" they said. "We were at the
Church yesterday, and heard you say,
from the Word of God, that Jehovah
commanded Us not to steal; whereas, We
used to worship a god who we thought
would protect thieves. We have stolen,
and all these things we have brought
with us are stolen goods" Then one of
the men held up a saw, saying, / stole
this from the carpenter of sneh and such
q ship" Others held up knives and
various tools. G8
"Why have you brought them to mel"
asked Mr.. Mott; "Take them home and
wait till the ships from which you stole
them comes again, and then return them
with a present besides.
Still the people begged Mr.. Mott to
keep the things until they could find the
owner One man who had stolen from
a missionary, then being on another Is.
land, took voyage Of seventy miles to
restore the goods.
That is the only way to improve By
preaching-doing what it says. How
many people form good resolutions when
they hear q sermon which touches the
conscience; but how fex such resolu-
tions are set to action "Bs ye doers of
the Word, and not hearers only, deceiv.
ing your own selves Good Netcs.
ALL TO THE GLORY OF GoD.-Such Is
the rule Of Christian life. Every de-
liberate act of : rational being has some
moral quality; and thisquality is deter.
mined, mainly, by the impelling motive.
As man thinketh in his heart, 80 is he.
A good motive does not ssnctify q
wrong act, although it does materially
modify it's character; bat bad motive
vitiates everything. Even the best deed,
prompted by an unworthy intention, is
always hateful to COG; for God knows
the heart, and while iuiquity 10 found
there all is wrong. How important then
that we have some plain, simple rule to
guide us in all the business of life.
Such q rule we have in the precept above
referred to. ma saa
"Whether, therefore, ye eat or drink,
or whatever ys do, do all to the glory Of
God" How simple 2 How comprehen
sive2 How easy of application It
embraces everything. Il simply re-
quires that each separate act, no matter
how great or how small, be referred to
the will of God. That we jast aim in
all things to do what will be most pleas
ing and most honoring to Him. 1t is
true, in some cases, perplexities may
arise we may be in doubt what course
will most honor God But in most
things the rule is 80 plain we need only
to remember it to be guided in the right
way. Those, especially, who are in the
least familiar with the word of God, can
always recall some precept or example,
to solve any difficulty that may arise.
What we especially need.is such @ tender
regard foF. the honor and glory of God,
as to desire sincerely thus to honor Him.
| When the desire is real and earnest
there is seldom much difficulty in decid-
ing what duty demands. 1t is ia what
we call small things that the value Of
this rule 10 most apparent. These
make up of the warp and woof Of human
life, and if these are properly regulated
the greater matters will usually take
care Of themselves. The small things
consist mainly of little every day affairs
hence if these can be kept right there
will be but little difficulty in deciding
hew great things should be done"
ChristiGn Herald.