The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-27
TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH

The Possession OF Wealth Not q Sim
Religion a Base of Success tn Business
Lifo-WOrk ~ Religious Duty-A Word
to the Wives-A Poor Man Better than
Liar-DtscOurse by the Rev. DIR.
Holme. Us "
The Rev. DR.. H0lme, OF the Trinity Baptist
church, preached the seventh sermon OF his series
to the young on the practical duties of life, as set
forth in the Book OF Proverbs last evening, the
subject being, 'rhe Road to Wealth, or the Finan-
cial Bearing of Practical Religion" He took as
text several passages from the Proverbs, among
them the ninth and tenth verses Of the third chap
ter, "H0nor the Lord with thy substance and with
the first fruits Of all thine increase. So shall thy
barn be filled with plenty and thy presses shall
burst out with new wine," and the eighteenth
verse Of the third chapter, ''The wicked worketh
deceitful work, but to him that soweth righteous
ners shall be . sure reward" He said:-I am
not OF that class OF religious teachers who regard
the possession Of wealth as intrinsicay sinful.
Nor would canonize pOvery as one OF the Christian
graces cannot tor moment believe that when
the Saviour SAID clay not up for yourself treasure
on EARTH" that he meant to discourage honest
toll, frugality or enterprise nor that he would In
any degree make His followers
OBJECTS or CHARITY.
But on the other hand, do believe that tho Bible
teaches us that goodness has the promise of that
life which is-that is, OF all that is really good
in this present time, welt as all that is good in
the world to come. / believe that true
religion furnishes a code of practical ethics
for the good conduct OF men In business
as well as social ife-a code that, II adhered to,
will, other things being equal, secure success in
life. Religion will not recruit the sick and woin-
out constitutions; 1t Will not make up deficiencies
in education; 1t will not take the place of good
judgment in business affairs but it will so inspire
and regulate man in his daily duties and business
str.frN ~ fOA
insure success.
Were he to announce the general thought Of his
discourse at the outset 1t would be that the pract
cal principles W h1ch generally insure
SUCCESS IN LIFE
are nothing but the graces OF religion applied to
the regulation of business life, and that the
Of many failures in business are breaches OF re-
ligiOus principles. 1t would be admitted that the
rst s5eP 10 n Is Nc rnen pro
this subject the Bible speaks In no uncertain terms.
1t is religious duty to work just as much as to
our acceptance with God. 1t is o canon of Christs
Church, II any man will not work neither shall he
and not simply of The first half OF life, nor OF ten
or twenty years, but while a man has health and
strength to work. This making fortune and re-
firing to enjoy it finds no countenance in religion.
1t Is attempting to carry lazy mans burden; to
do more than we can do safely in order that we
may be enabled to do something after awhile.
This is the cause OF so many failures. II, on the
other hand we set to work in early life as If we
expected to work right on through our lives we
would not take the
FOOLISH VENTURES,
which now 80 often prove disastrous. The next
step IN the way to wealth is frugality. Fortune
lies IN the constant industry which makes the most
OF time and the frugaty which makes the most OF
money earned. At this point the speaker desired
to say word In relation to partners. Not partners
ID the ordinary sense, but silent partners-wives.
II Is sad thing that mems wives often ruin them
IN business. In descanting upon this point ne
ferred to the statement at Cooper Institute, OF
Emily Faithful (Of whom he spoke in the highest
terms), that wives must economic and work rs well
as their husbands. II we would be rich we must
not be afraid OF poverty. Humility Is the 10unda-
ton OF fortune as well as OF religion. He urged
the necessity OF making haste slowly, as ''OO fast
Is as tardy AZ too slow" Another and important
step In the way to wealth Is
UNFLINCHING INTEGRITY.
Integrity Is worth more than Insurance. Ii Is
itself an insurance against all misfortune, while
the loss OF integrity Is infinitely more than the loss
oil money. Solomon, who Is my great authority on
this subject says that "a poor man Is better
than q liar" and i am free to say that in
the business circles Of this city poor man, that Is,
man without capital 10 better than liar-even
rich liar This word used In the open, plain lam
guage OF Scripture means nothing more than a
dishonest man, fraudulent man. and, If Judge
rightly, S0lOmon's estimate is correct among the
business men OF the city. If l am wrong, and il
business men have not yet learned the lesson, they
are just now, mt least, at school at very high
price. In conclusion the speaker exhOrted his
hearers to cultivation of the virtues OF industry,
frugality and integrity, as tending not only to
sGGcess In this life but to happiness In that which