The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-04-29

distinguished for his reluctance to sin
and his inability to resist temptation,
for his scruples, and his crimes. He was
a debauchee against his conscience, graft
fed his passions despite of his convic-
tions, and was a coward while cruel.
A bad, but pretty woman, asked the
voluptuous king, during an entertain
ment, for the head of John the Baptist
The narrative says, CHE was exceed
ing sorry; get, for his oaths sake, and
for their sakes which sat with him, he
would not reject her." The justifca-
ton Herod pleaded for his crime was
that he was not his own master; he
was under a double obligation imposed
by regard for others and his oath so
that both conscience and honor de-
manded he should murder the prophet;
his crime was his misfortune-he was
more victim than villain, and so de-
served sympathy rather than condem-
nation. Gle was exceeding sorry !;
yet" etc. Every virtuous mind strikes
right through this justification and de-
nounces the brutal act of the king as
objectionable and atrocious wicked
ness. But this case of Herod is only
an extreme illustration of what is oc-
curing every day. People are riding
roughshod right over their better
judgment and conscience, and doing
what they know to be wrong, and
seeking refuge from responsibility in a
"yet."
One man has formed some unhallow-
ed connection with the world, engaged
in some business which conflicts with
his duty, crosses the path God is call
ing him to walk in, hampers him, dis
ables him, cuts the very sinews Of his
power as a Christian. He knows and
feels it. His conscience is flashing him.
He wishes his circumstances were diff
ferent and better, and he didn't have
such load to carry, and he could at
ford to change his business. But he
has large family to be clothed, and
fed, and educated, and started out in
life on a good social plane. All this
requires money. 1t is a matter of
bread and meat, and he cannot close
up at once, without disaster. He is
powerless to do right The business
pays, and "for their sakes who sit at
meat with me-" he must hold on and
make "every edge cut" And so he
goes on, exceeding sorry" and be-
heading John the Baptist with "yet.'
Everybody knows that competition
in business now is rife, that unscrupu-
lous people are eagerly pursuing every
branch Of business, that plain, old-fash-
toned honesty is at discount, and that
every man in trade has to keep his
eyes open and watch the corners; and
everybody knows too, that all this
sharpness and shrewdness, and tricks
in trade and short cuts to fortune are
contrary to sound principle and right
in the teeth of the Bible But plenty
Of protesting Christians are doing these
very things all the same. They wish
things were different, that business in
tcgrity prevailed, and these dubious
things and little dishonesties could be
avoided. 1t is very hard on the con
science to get down to this low level,
and meet tricks with tricks, and eight
the devil with fire" But they have
embarked all, and there is no profit, no
success, no growth in business, without
falling in with the existing modes and
winliing at many things not just right
and square with the gospel there is
nothing left for a man in business now
a-days but to do these things or go to
the wall, and who is ready to go to the
DaH? That is the whole Of tick
cecding sorry; yet'-very sorry, but
John the Baptist's head must 90.
The social machine is all wrong
everything is at "loose ends" The
young will dance the German, play
cards, 90 to the theatre, and must have