The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1889-03-20
under the toll which he has shirked.
HOW CIVILIZATION IS BUILT UP.

no gain, but rather loss to US. Every
year when the winter is over the spring
returns; then the grass carpets the earth
and blossoms adorn the trees, without
any help from man. And SO without
mans aid when autumn comes God could
have filed the fields with grain, ripening
of itself, and plentiful as the leaves OF
summer. But that is not Gods plan
He gives man the field but then man
must cultivate it if he would have crop
He gives man the seed, and he must SOW
and reap it if he would have the harvest
He puts the earth in mans keeping in
such state that he has, by industry and
toll, to get out of it what he needs tor
his support and comfort So he has to
quarry the stone and cut down the trees
with which he builds his houses. He
has to dig in the mines for the coal-the
fuel that warns him-and for the iron
with which he builds his railroads and
ships. He has to shear the sheep and
raise the cotton and the fax with which
he makes his clothing. And there must
not only be labor, but division of labor
The same man cannot till the ground and
work in the mines, and sail the ships,
and build the houses, and weave, and make
the clothes he needs. So the work of the
world is divided, one is farmer, another
miner, another is carpenter, another
an engineer, another is manufacturer,
another a sailor, another a merchant, an
other lawyer, physician or preacher,
and one man exchanges what he makes
or does, for what another man makes and
does, and thus the wonderful frame work
OF civilization is built up-each one max
ing his contribution to the completion of
the whole fabric. So the safety, the COM
fort, and happiness of society is secured
Now, in this mighty, common toll every
man must take his part. The idle man,
the lazy man, is nuisance, apest. Don't
say he is nobody's enemy. He defrauds
the family to which he belongs. If he Is
father he robs his children if he is a
son he defrauds his father; il he is a
neighbor or citizen ne Is defaulter to
the whole community. He is like de-
serter in the army. He is like traitor
in the government. He is like a drone
in the beehive. Do you know what the
busy bees do to the drone? They all turn
in and sting him and thrust him out OF
the hive, and that is just what the lazy
drones of society deserve
A FRUITFUL MOTHER.
Not only is idleness a curse and q
crime, but industry is the mother of a
thousand virtues. The decree which de-
mands that men should win their bread
by the sweat OF the brow, and which
makes civilization itself depend on toll,
develops foresight, self-reliance, self-de-
NAL, self-control, ingenuity, invention,
perseverance, punctuality, prudence, fru-
gality, temperance-in word, the truest
and noblest manhood. Hence we find
all through the Scriptures, both in the
Old Testament and the New, exhortation
to diligence, and condemnation of sloth
and Incidence.
The Laws of Moses especially are most
instructive in this respect. 1t was en-
joined that every young man, whatever
his wealth and rank, should be taught
some handicraft. 1t was proverb among
the ancient Israelites: HE that teaches
not his son trade does as though he
taught him to be thief. Another
was: "He that hath trade is like g
vineyard that is fenced that is pro.
tected against the incoming of poverty
and want. Many of the old, most learned
and honored rabbis knew some mechanic
art by which, wander where they might
come what reverse providence might
permit, they could still maintain them
, selves.
, The Epistles OF Paul, who was himsel
rabbi, citizen of no mean city, the sor
of man who had the means of sending
; him to the University of Tarsus, one 0
the three great schools of the world il
, his day, and then to distant Jerusalem
to receive instruction at the feet of tn
learned Gamaliel, are filled out not ONLY
with exhortstions to diligence in business
. but also with his own experience as
: workingman.
His trade was that OF a tsnt-maker. Ii
: his native country Of Cilicia there was
= coarse, strong cloth made OF the long hal
!, of the Cilician goat, very suitable 70
tents. The people in those Eastern land
! sent their goods to market by caravani
: Many OF the wandering tribes amon
: them never lived in houses at all, and g
= the merchants, travellers, and drummer
y Of that day, as we'll as soldiers on tn
. marches, were obliged to use tents 70
= shelter When Paul on his travels cam
g to Corinth he found Jew there name
: Aquilla, with his wife Priscilla, both
. whom had been banished from Italy.
10 AN APOSTOLIC TENT.MAKER.
If Paul was out Of money and out Of worl
III and eo he came IN Aouilla saakipe, or,