Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-07-21
.eadiua fur the $abbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
GOriglnal ]
ssTHOU SHALT NOT STEAL"

ders all things that eacn lndlVluual MEMBER
of the human family is put into possession Of
something to which he has, under God, the
sole right. Comparatively, it may be little in
quantity and worthless in quality still, it
is the gift of God to him as an individual,
and his right to it excludes the right of all
Others AS no two bodies can occupy the
same space at the same time so no two mem.
bers of the human family can have a right to
the same thing at the same time. To deprive
an individual of the use of those gifts which
kind providence has bestowed upon bim,is
to steal and whoever does it violates the law
of God and inhicts upon society grievous
injury. "To take and carry away felonious-
ly, as the personal goods of another to take
without right or leave" is the definition which
the Justly celebrated Blackstone gives of the
word "steal." Viewed from human stand
point this definition is not exceptionable; ;
but examined by the light of revelation it is
certainly very defective. There are many
cases of stealing, and these of the most aggra-
vated kinds, into which the idea of taking and
carrying away do not and cannot enter. A
man may be violently driven away from the
personal goods which benevolent providence
has bestowed upon him, or his good name may
be 6lched away from him by the tongue of
the mealy mouthed slanderer He may be de-
prived of his position in society and his robes
of innocence may be snatched away from
him, and instead thereof he may be covered
with the tattered rags of infamy. In all this
it is the man that is ruined, and not his goods.
1t is the man himself that is taken and car.
ried away feloniously. ....
The eighth commandment, like all the OH
er precepts of Gods law, is exceedingly broad.
1t comprehends so much, that with truthful
| ness it may be said that no mere man is, in
this life, able, perfectly to keep it. Its re.
quirements are so many and so minute. and
its prohibitions so extensive, that we are al
most prepared to adopt the language of the
poet and say, "An honest man is the noblest
work of God.". Such human. being has
never lived since the introduction of sin into
the world, and such human being never will
exist this side the line which divides time and
eternity. There are, no doubt, countless thou
sands who would die rather than perpetrate
some of the gross forms of stealing; but who
have, in other directions, been living dishon-
est lives ever since they saw the light.
From an old and nearl y forgotten book, we
venture to quote what we're once regarded as
the duties required by the eighth command
ment. They are: Truth, faithfulness. and
Justice in contracts and commerce between
man and man rendering to every one his
due restitution of goods unlawfully detained
from. the right owner thereof giving and
lending freely, according to our abilities, and
the necessities of others moderation in our
/ judgments, wills and affections, concerning
worldly goods; a provident care and study
to get, keep, use and dispose of these things
which are necessary and convenient for the
sustentation of our nature, and suitable to our
condition lawful calling and diligence in
it frugality avoiding unnecessary lawsuits,
and suretyship, or like engagements; and an
endeavor, by all just and lawful means, to
procure, preserve and further the wealth and
outward estate of others as we'll as our own"
The specifications of the requirements of
the eighth commandment, stated in this quo.
tation, are certainly very many, and no doubt
they could, without exhausting the Scripture
catalogue, be considerably increased. Among
these requirements will be noticed, "a lawful
calling, and diligence in it." Common sense
universal observation and individual expert
ence, combine in declaring that the man who
has no lawful calling, vocation or trade, can
not be honest. So long as the sentence, "In
the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread,
till thou return unto the ground" remains un-
repealed on the statute book Of heaven, no
man can live honestly without engaging in
some kind of daily labor, which is approved
and sanctioned by God. Not only must eve
ry man, in order to be honest, pursue law
full calling; but he must pursue it diligently.
The last specification Of duties required in
the eighth commandment mentioned by the
authority quoted above, is an endeavor, by all
Just and lawful means, to procure, preserve
and further the wealth and outward estate of
others as well as our own" This is ia perfect
harmony with those grand principles of po-
litical economy contained in the twenty
chapter of the book Of Deuteronomy. He is
rigidly dishonest who would grow rich by
making others poor. All such persons violate
the eighth commandment
By the same authority already quoted, the
sins forbidden in the eighth commandment
are theft, robbery, man-stealing, and receiv-
ing anything that is stolen; fraudulent deal
ing, I'M Justice and unfaithfulness in contracts
between man and man, or in matters of trust !;
oppression, extortion, usury, bribing, vexa-
tious lawsuits, unjust Enclosures, and depopu.
lations; ingrossing commodities to enhance
the price, unlawful callings, and all other un-
just and sinful ways of taking or Withholding
from our neighbor what belongs to him, or of
enriching ourselves covetousness, inordinate
prisng and affecting worldly goods distrust-
full and distracting cares and studies in get
ting, keeping and using them envying at the
prosperity of others; as likewise idleness,
prodigality, wasteful gaming and all other
ways whereby we do unduly prejudice our
own outward estate, and defrauding ourselves
of the due use and comfort of that estate
which God hath given u.s..
One of the above specifications, proba oily,
needs explanation. The language is some
what antiquated, but when properly under
stood, it is very expressive. The words need.
ing explanation are unjust Enclosures and de-
populations" Whoever will read carefully
the eighth verse of the fifth chapter of the
prophecies of Isaiah, or the second verse of
the second chapter Of Micah, will see at once
what is meant by unjust Enclosures and de.
populations" "Woe," says Isaiah, "unto
them that join house to house, that lay field
to field, till there be no place that they may
be placed alone in the midst of the earth"
Micah says, "They covet fields, and take them