St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-11-01
UHO kiHdIed the Fire :

UHO kiHdfed the Fire"
One article in the Mosaic law-givcn
from heavem-iS this. IF fire break
out and catch in thorn>. 50 that the
stacks of corn or the standing corn he
consumed herewith, he that kindleth
the fire shall surely make restitution. =
This statute had a peculiar necessity in
such a hot, dry country a Palestine,
where there WAS a peculiar danger from
accidental coutiagrationS. Ii a man
burned over his >luhhie-ficll. it was Nee
eSSarv, before the dry grass was lighted,
TO see that the wind was in the right
quarter, and every pTecaution taken that
the flames should not kimdlc upon the
property OF 4 ncighbor. II any farmer
neglected 10 take these precautions, and
the switt-fnotrd flames went careerin-
through vineyards. and orchards, and
stacks OF barley, then he who kinilei
the fire was required 10 pay for the dam
age produced 10y hi> own craclessne>-
The sound principle that unJerlies this
law Is that men must suffer for the evil
they DO through ihou-hiles> rcckles>neSs,
;I> we'll As for what they 10 with mali
ciou- intent Men are to he held ac-
countablr, not only for the injuries
which they willfully perpetrate. but for
the injuries which :lry OCCASION 10 9th
er> through wanton carclcS>nc>s or even
thnughtleSs Indifference. HI" person who
>rt his mcighbor'> barley ei;Ich> on fire
WAS required to make restitution. al
though he did not intend 10 burn him
out. The responsibility comes back Oh
him who kin,llcl the flames. Let u>
apply the principal of this divine enact
ment TO our OWN times, and point out
: the moral dangers of playing with fire,
Perhaps we NAV discover that some very
respectable people are often very de-truc-
tive inccndiaric>.
|. III invite 4 group of young mel
III my house To surround 4 carI-tablc.
may simply design To furnish them al
hours amusement. But perhaps a lust
for gambling NAV lie latent in some
young mans breast. and may quicker
ii into life by my offer OF Il temptation
There Is fire in that pack Of cards AND
| deliberately place that fire amid the
inhammablc passions of that youthful
breast On lie rests the consequence.
OF the act, as well as upon him whom
lead into temptation. The motive doe.
not alter the result hv one iota.
For evil wrought Ly want Of thought
As well a. ly want .fhcarr."
/ , Among social virtues none /:
more popular than that of hospitality
When bouniifully practiccd toward tn,
needy. it rises 10 the dignity of Chris
tian grace. And ordinary hoSpitalitie:
mav be set 10 the credit OF Il generous
spirit. But here Is the master or mis-
tre>s of a house who spread their tabl,
with Il lavish provision for the entertain
mcnt of their cvcnin. "uc>tS Anon:
the abundant viands OF that table the Ia
dy of the house places the choicest brand
of Madeira wine. ana on sidcboari sh
sets out I huge bowl of inviting punch
And among the invited quests the eve
ning comes man who has promised III,
wife OF his early love that hc will meve
again Yield To his awful appetite an
turn that sweet home into hell. III
sees the temptcr in that accur-ed punch
bowl, and * pressed very curtcously t
take glass" The fire catches IN tn
dry thornes" in an instant He drinks
He goes -eelimg into his OWN door tia
night. and his whole household * in
flame of excitement, and terror and a.
onv. and shame. Now who kindlc
that fire Let her who put that boitI
to her neighbor'S lips make answer, Ac
cOrding TO the Jewish law. the mcendia
ry was required TO pay the damages {
: the cOnila"rltion. But what .'restitu
ton" can bc made for ruined charaC
ter, deSolated home. or broken heart
If my house and ifs contents are III,
trovcd 10y fire, the insurance compan
may restore my pecuniary loss. Br
they cannot restore the precious keel
: sakcs and the relics of the loved and 10:
t which nv dwelling contained To-d;l
l there are thousands OF human houses
: New York AMI Brooklyn-,lwellinCs
= immortal >oul>-that are on fire |
I these burning bodies of our i.Il0w-me
are precious things beyond the wealth
Ophir-hopcs, talents, faculties. aifer
; lions. and an Immortality OF bein
Who kindlcd those fires We answ,
{ that every one who tempt> another
: the social giass Is Il partner in proiucir
!. the conilagratiom. Who feeds the fires
+ [ Unquestionably the vcndcrs OF stroI
=. drink, WHO. for fucrc's sake. deaf out ii
liquid flames OF pcrdition. The propri
tors of the 10000 drinking-saloons
, our twin cities do not aim to Kill the
5 tellow-men. But they do kill theI
whatever may be their secret motives
i pursuing their abominablc traffic. :
4 the bar of God they will be held respoI
q bic. And let me inquire just here whetI
a er those Christian citizens who do II
r even lift a finger to sustain the la
y which backs the "rogseller's fires durir
0 Gods own Sabbath are not themselv
e partially guilty for some of the cons
/ quences of the wide spread confagr
e tion We commend this question to Il
e conciences Of our neighbors on the d;
4 of election.