The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-05-28
A SERMoN AaATNrs LAzINEss.-A

n OERMCN AGAiNTS ILAZINESS.-A
very large congregation attended the servi-
ces at st. Paul's Church yesterday morning
to hear q sermon by the Rev. Francis Lob.
dell, of tho Diocese of New York. Tho
text Of the discourse was the 11th verse of
the 18th chapter of Paul's epistle to the
Romans: "Not slothfal in business" and,
as is indicated by its tenor, was addressed
mainly TO business men. The preacher,
with much force, showed that the religion Of
Christ is not merely IN emotional sentiment
dependent entirely upon feeling and faith.
There must be in true religion faith, but
there must be action also in harmony with
the gospel of Jesus Christ. Faith is the
means by which spiritual life is sustained.
It is valued not for what it is, but for what
it does. If religion is wholly emotional, we
fail in the development of harmonious reli-
gious character. One Of the most striking
of the divine precepts is that which COM
mends diligence in business, faithfulness in
spirit, and in all things faithfulness to God.
These are things which God hath Joined
together ard which no man has a right to
put asunder. If there is any one thing, he
said, which God abhors it is laziness. Man
was made for action. Like the metals, mans
talents are consumed by rust or polished by
use. Happiness is found in the exercise
not the stagnation of the faculties which
God has given us. No condition of life is
exempt from labor. A father may make a
chiids fortune and he may instruct him
how to make tho noblcst uses of it, but the
rest depends upon the child himself. A man
may be born rich, but he cannot be born
wise, or virtuous or learned. These coudi-
ditions he must grow into. The mind is a
fertile soil, something is always growing
there, and whatever q man does he should
do earnestly, diligently and faithfully. The
line of his duty is right line. Wealth to
such man is not an end but the means to
attain an end. Business is as legitimate q
pursuit as any of the learned professions
They who despise riches are generally those
who despair of attaining them 1t is only
when riches are looked upon as the one
thing worth living for that they are dan.
gerous. Whatever may be said of tho dan
gers of riches the dangers of poverty are
tenfold greater. No man has a right to be
poor who can honorably be rich. No man
should accept such a lot unless it is forced
upon him. 1t is the love of money which
is the root of all evil When it is sought
for its own sake, and not for what it enables
its possessors to do, then it is simply laying
up wrath against the-day of wrath. Reli-
gion is the business of life, and men should
go to their daily avocations in the same
spirit as to the altar of tho church. 1fthey
do not their going to the altar of the church
is the baldest hypocrisy. Religion is not q
thing of place and Of seasons. It is for all
seasons and for all places. We must not
say on Sunday Hosannah in the Highest,
and on Monday away with it, away with it.
Gain riches, but consecrate them to the
service of God. Do not use them to block
the wheels of Christian progress. Gain
riches but keep them in their proper place
Hold your money in your hand and not in
your heart. Money is a good servant but
a despotic master. BE on your guard. If
you are not its master you will be its slave,
and while your thoughts as business men
are naturally turned to questions of profit
and loss, 1 ask you "What shall it profit o
man if he shall gain tho whole world and
lose his own soul ?"-Ne,os and Courier.