Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-05-07

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Still, Joe was a church member, and
that was patent of responsibility. And
as he gained years, and building lots, and
horses, and commenced discounting notes,
his responsibility grew and waxed great
in the minds of the practical people of
Bungfeld. Even good women, real moth
ers in Israel, could not help thinking as
they sorrowed over the sand in the bot
toms of their cofiee-cups, and grew wrath
full at "runney" -four bought for "a
Superfine" of Tackey 81 Cater, that Joe
would make valuable husband. So
thought some of the young ladies of
Bungfield, and, as young ladies who
can endure the idea of such man for
perpetual partner can also signify their
opinions, Joe began to comprehend that
he was in active demand. He regarded
the matter as he would a sudden demand
for any commodity of trade, and by skill
fully manipulating the market he was
soon enabled to choose from full sup
ply.
Thenceforward Joe was as happy as
man Of his nature could be. Ali his in
vestments were paying well; the store
was prosperous, he was successful in all
his trading enterprises, he had purchased
notes, he realized on loans interest which
would cause usury law to shrivel and
crack, his insurance policies brought him
fair dividends, and his wife kept house
with economy and thrift. But the church
the church seemed an unmitigated drag.
Joe attended all the church meetings
determined TO get the worth of his money
he was compelled TO contribute to the
current expenses-he had himself APP
pointed treasurer so he could get the use
of the church money; but the interest,
even at the rates Joe generally obtained,
did not balance the amount of his con-
tribution.
Joe worried over the matter until he be-
came very peevish, yet he came no nearer
business-like adjustment of receipts and
expenditures. One day, when his veneer
dividend from the Patagonian Mutual,
Joe remarked:
Never got any dividends on that 9TH
er insurance you put me up to taking,
partner-that 'gainst fire-risks in the next
world, you know. Twill be tough if
there's any mistake-church does take a
sight of money"
Joseph" said the Squire, in a sorrow
full tone, I've always been afeared they
didn't look enough into your evidences
when they took you into that church.
How can man expect to escape on the
day of wrath if he's all the time grum-
bling 1T The cost of his salvation? Mis-
take? If you don't know in your heart
the truth OF what you profess there's
mighty little hope for you, church or no
church"
IN ri ~
"That's pretty kind of security. Is
that what I've been paying church dues
for? Better have known il in my heart
in the first place, and saved the money.
What's the use of believing all these
knotty points if they don't make a sure
thing for mang"
III your belief don't make you any
better or happier, Joseph" rejoined the
Squire, you'd better look again and see
if you've got good hold of it; those
that's got a clear title don't find their in
vestment as slow in making returns, while
those that find fault are generally the ones
that's made a mistake"
Poor joel He thought he had settled
this whole matter; but now, if his part
ner was right, he was worse off than if he
hadn't begun. He believed in justifica-
ton by faith; now, wasn't his faith
strong-frst.c class, he might say? To be
sure of being safe, hadn't he believed
everything that all the ministers had in
sisted upon as essentialY And what aoas
faith, if it wasn't believing? He would
ask his partner; the old man had got him
into this scrape-now he must see him
through.
esquire" said he, "isn't faith the same
thing as believings"
"Well," said the Squire, adjusting his
glasses, and taking from the desk the lit
tie Testament upon which he admins
tered oaths, "that depends on how you
believe. Here's verse on the subject:
Thou believest in God thou doest we'll !;
the devils also believe, and tremble.'"
Ugh! Joe shivered. He wasn't an aris-
tocrat, but would any one fancy such
companionship as the Squire referred to ?
Here" said the Squire, turning the
leaves, 4" is another passage bearin' on the
subject. oh, generation of vipers, who
hath warned you TO flee from the wrath
to conner Bring forth, therefore, frufts
meet for repentance.
Vipersl Joe uDcomfortably wondered
who else the Squire was going TO intro
duce into the brotherhood of faith.
Now see what IL says in another
place." continued the Squire, go Not
every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven,
but he that doeth the will of My Father
which is in heaven"
"Yes," said Joe, grateful for hearing of
no more horrible believers, "but what is
His will but believing on Him? Don't
the Bible say that they that believe shall
be savedp
Joseph" said the Squire, when you
believed in my store, you put in your
time and money there. When you be-
lieved in boss tradin' you devoted your
self TO practicing it. When you believed
life insurance was good thing you took
out policies and paid for them, though
you hare complained of the Patagonian
dividends. Now, if you do believe in
God, what have you done TO prove II"
"I've paid over hundred dollars
year church Dues" said Joe, wrathfully,
"not counting subscriptions TO new bell
and new organ"
"That wasn't for God, Joseph" said
the Squire; "'twas all for you. God
never'il thank you for running an asylum
for paupers fit to work. You'll find in
the twentv fifth chaDter of Matthew de-