The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-07

Jagged, impetuous nature, and religion
can't do anything for me-" Do you know
that Martin Luther and Robert Newton
and Richard Baxter were impetuous, all.
consuming natures, yet the grace OF God
turned them into the mightiest usefulness?
A manufacturer cares but very little for a
stream that slowly runs through the
meadow, but strong torrent that leaps
from rock 10 rock and rushes with mad
energy through the valley and out toward
the sea. Along that river you will find Hut
taring shuttles and grinding mill and flash
ing wator,wheel. And nature, the
swiftest, tho most rugged and the most
tremendous, that is tho nature God turns
into greatest usefulness. Oh, how many
who have been pugnacious and hard to
please, and irascible and more bothered
about the mote in their neighbours eye
than about the bcam-like ship timber in
their own eye, who have been entirely
changed by the grace Of God, and have
found out that Goodness Is profitable for
the life that now is as well as for the life
which Is to come"
Again / remark, that religion is good for
mans worldly business. know the
general theory is, the more business the
less religion, the more religion the less
business Not 80 thought DIR. Hans in
his Biography OF Christian Merchant" "
when he says; ole grew in grace the
last six years OF his life more than at any
time in his life; during those six years he
had more business crowding him than at
any other time" In other words, the
more worldly business man has, the
more opportunity 10 serve God. Docs re-
ligiOn exhilarate or retard worldly bust.
ness? is. the practical question for you to
discuss. Docs IL hang like mortgage
over the farm? Is Il a bad debt on the
ledger? Is tia lien against the esiateY
Does II crowd the door through which
customers come for broadcloths and silks
Now, religion will hinder your business II
IL be a bad business, or II ii be u good
business wrongly conducted. II you tell
lies behind the counter, II you Use false
weights and measures, II you put sand in
sugar. and beet. juice in vinegar, and lard
in butter, and sell for ono thing that
which is another thing. then religion will
Interfere with that business; but lawful
business, lawfully conducted, will find
the religion OF the Lord Jesus Christ its
mightiost auxiliary.
Religion will give an cquipoisc Of spirit,
and you know great many fine busi-
ncssos have been blown 10 atoms by bad
temper 1T will keep YOU from wor rimont
about frequent loss, II will keep you in
dustrious and prompt, IL will keep you
back from squandcring and dissipation, IL
will give you kindness OF spirit which
will bo easily distinguished from that
mere store courtesy which shakes hands
violently with you, asking about the health
Of your family when there IL no anxiety 10
know Whether your child il we'll or sickl
but the anxiety Is TO know how many
dozen cambria pocket handkorchieis you
will take and pay cash down. IL will pre-
pare you for the practical duties OF every
day life. do not mean TO say that re-
ligion will make ~ financially rich, but
do say that Il will give ~, IL will secure US
Of n comfortable sustcnancc at the start, u
comfortable subsistence all tho way
through, and Il will help us 10 direct the
bank, 10 manage the traffic, 20 conduct all
our business matters, and 90 make the
most Insignificant affair Of our life "A mat
ter OF vast Importance, glorned by Chris.
iian principle.
In New York City tl,crc was a merchant
hard In his dealings with his fellows, who
hNl NillA'h hNNi Nln Ullklilk-nNNNt OF
his couniing-housc room: ono comptom-
isc." Then When some merchant got in
crisis aud went down-no fault OF his,
| but conjunction Of evil circumstances
aud all the other merchants were willing
/ 90 compromisc-thcy would take ~ cents
on the dollar. or 30 cents, or 20 cents -
coming 10 this man last g.,all, hc said. ono
compromise: IN take 100 cents on the
dollar, aud ! can afford TO wait" Well,
the wheel turned. aud after while this
man wis in cfisisof business, aud be- sent
ont his agents 10 compromise. and the
agents said to the merchants "Will YOU
take 80 cents on thc dollar" "No. "
"Will you take anything7' oven take
100 cents on the dollar NocompWmisc."
And the man who wrote that inscription
over his couniing-housc door died In drs.
tiiution. oh, We want more Of the kind.
noss Of the Gospel aud the spirit OF love in
our business enterprises How many young
men have found IN the religion Oi Jesus
Christ q practical help How many there
are Ia this house today Who could testify
out Of their own experience that Godli.
ness Is profitable lot the life that now IL.
There were times IA their business career
when they went here Tor help. and there
for help. and yonder inr help, aud got no
help until they knclt before the Lord cry.
ing Tor Ills dcliyonncc, aud tho Lorl rcs.
curd them.
In bank not far from our great me.
tropolis-a village bank an officer could