The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-01-13
FoR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Is DUTY ADMITTED, DUTY DONE
Luke 16: 1-12.

is DUTY AUA11 LEU, IVA
Luke 16: 1-12.
There are two things which the Chris
tian world is generally ready to admit,
First, That all of Gods servants owe to
Him their chief duty. Secondly, That
this duty comprehends all needed sup
port of His cause in all Of its demands
A ready consent is almost universally
given to these two things. Yet, In prac-
tice, who can deny that there is pre-
vailing shortcoming? There is reason
for this. 1t is no doubt because the faith
of Christians is too theoretical, ideal
This must be so; for they often act, and
seem to consider it their right to act as
if the full measure of duty is done in
giving their assent to Gods claims.
They believe all that He says to be
right and true. They agree to 1t all.
And this is the extent of the trial OF
their faith.
For instance; when they read or hear
the searching lessons which Christ gives,
they will say: "These things are true,
and we ought so to live. We will be
remiss in duty if we do not so live. We
are certainly guilty if we do not conform
to these commands" But what is the
result? They read the doctrine; they
accept it as true; they acknowledge it to
be binding on them. And then, in nine
cases out of ten, they leave the matter
lust there, and live as it may best suit
them. They pray to be cOnformed to the
image of Christ; for a knowledge and
conviction of duty. Well, they have the
knowledge; they will not deny that they
are also convinced of what Christ has
commanded-and His command makes 1t
duty. But there is something else in the
way. They have knowledge. They
have conviction. But they have not a
willing mind-the spirit to do. There
fore, though they talk about the various
parts of Gods service, and though, per
haps, no one can object to their manner
of speech, still this thing which should
be done, whatever it is, is not done. FoI
no matter how full the admission of duty
too often they seem 10 think, or at least
they act, as if duty admitted Is duty
done. And so the hard beaten path o.
living as it best suits them, is still fol
lowed; yea, and it is crowded with trav
elers. The spirit to do otherwise i;
wanting,
Now, for some guiding counsels on this
subject, let US consult what Christ say
in
THE PARABLE OF THE UNJUST STEWARD
He teaches US that it is duty, anC
not mere notion; a necessity, and not
mere choice of making such use of tina
which is committed to us, that it may b.
for our future good.
1st. The duty. There is no intention
of leading us to initiate the unrighteOu
dealings Oftheupjuststeward. (Humanna
ture needs no teaching or leading to this.
The honesty or dishonesty of his pro
ceedings is not under consideration at all
But here we have the case of man t
whom another's goods were intrusted
He does not conduct the business proper
ly, and is called to account. As soon a
he was convinced that his stewardshi
was to cease, he began to make DISPOSE
of his lords goods which might secur
him against want in the future-whe
his means of living should be taken frOl
him. His lord commended, not his falls
dealing, but his providence for the fl
ture. This was his wisdom, though e.
erciSed IN dishonest action. lie had
end in view, which was to be supporte
after this stewardship; his present mear
of living was gone, and though cheatin
and dealing falsely at every step, his wi
dom or foresight enabled him to adal
his means to his end Having decide
as to his interests, he took prompt stel
for securing them. And this loOkiu
out for what he Judged to be his welfar
his interest, his life, is the only thin
which his employer commended.
The subject is next brought to ge
eral application in the words; "F'