The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-13
THE BIBLE AND BUSINESS.

is perfect rule of faith and practice.
No matter in what earnest calling &
man may be engaged, the Scriptures
furnish sufficient instruction in the way
of honestly An impression seems
however, to exist that when we DC
things upon a large scale it is folly tC
attempt to keep our proceedings within
scriptural limits. | have a hundrei
times heard it directly or indirectly
said hat in politics, in war, and in com
merce, it is impossible to proceed in con
formity with the scriptures.
That is virtual denial of the sui.
fciency of Gods Word. and lie Of the
same kind that Satan told our first pa
rents God doth know that we shall
be as gods" "God doth know that you
cannot apply these old-fashioned rules
to the modern and extended plans of
war, commerce, and the like Now
the same natural law that brings an
apple from the tree to the ground keeps
the planets in their places. And so the
same moral Law that binds the con-
science and should regulate proceedings
of the enormous money transactions Of
the Rothschllds.
In making plain the bearing of the
Bible upon business, the following
truths may be stated
/. The Bible does not forbid the ac-
quiring of wealth by honest means.
To the Ephesians, whom Christianity
reformed. it was said Let him
labor, working with his hands the
thing that is good, that he may have
to give to him that needeth. " Not
slothful IN business is one Of the
marks of Christian. The Bible
therefore, does not forbid honest
trade. Nay, as honest and healthy
trade is for the good Of both parties.
it rather encourages it, for it requires
US TO do good o all as we have oppor-
tunity. And it is well worth noti-
cling that trade fl ourishes best in an
atmosphere filled with Bible truth.
\ man on the other side of the globe
will give an order involving half his
fortune, trusting TO the integrity q
a British merchant. This confidence
is one of the first essentials to traiii,.
and all the more fearful, therefore, is
the loss of it, and all the more criminal
those who impair it. But the Scrip
lures lay down clear and explicit rules
for the guidance of trade. Thou shalt
not steal is the embargo laid by the
Bible on every fraudulent transaction.
And when the buyer declares it is
naught, il is naught, and having Sc
duced the less skillful into a bargain,
straightway boasteth of his acuteness,
the Bible comes in and declares, Lie
not one TO another" And when seller
or buyer would take an unfair adyan-
tage Of the ignorance or the want Of
his customer. the Bible comes and lay
between them the golden rule, "What-
soever We would that mon DO to you, do
yeeven SO to them
3. The Bible does forbid unduly valu-
ing money. The wealth, to save which
for an heir the owner boarded, putting
away from him many generous emo
ton and many a pressing claim, instead
Of blessing often curses HIM who in
herits it. The JOY it is expected to give
the living is often never reaped. As he
came so he gOes-empty and naked. |
The heather prince may have his wives
and contribute to his joys in the spirit
world, but religion bauishes such delu-
sion. Sleep is often enjoyed in a smoky !
cabin and on hard bed, when it is /
wooed in vain to the chambers of the |
rich. The wealthy man is offered upon /
plate dainties which he dare not eat, |
while the poor "cotterN eats his dinner
IF herbs with gladness. Money cannot /
and does not give tithe of the happi-
ness it is supposed to give. Yet the
great evil of our day is the undue value
put upon money.
For money professions are chosen,
are educated, marriages are
made. Money covers more sins than
charity. A man may be licentious, a
,wearer, a Sabbath breaker, nay, even
drunkard, or dishonest, but let him
)e wealthy. and he will be generally
.eceived and battered. Now, this err
oneous estimate of money the Scrip
ures forbid.
3. The Bible fOrbds the unduly
lager pursuit of wealth. That man
whose tolls go so near the dawning of
he Sabbath that he is unfit for the
ri, ilegcs of the day is unduly seeking
wealth. Let him reduce his business,
IT get another hand His soul is being
tarved to fill his purse. The poor
lop-worker in the garnet is SO i'll paid
hat food and fuel are out of the ques-
ion, because 1.-THE trade" must get
he largest price for the smallest
utlsy. True, 1.-THE trade is
oing it, " and 1.-THE trade" is not ex
ectod to have a conscience; but in the
aste to be rich that poor, haggard wo-
nan and her thin-faced children are
offering. The railway company can
make quarter per cent. off Sunday
rains. True, porters, engine drivers,
nd car drivers lose their Sabbath, but
quarter per cent. per annum is
aimed. Now all this the Scriptures
orbid. There is "sea Of perdltion'
0 which they who Twill be rich" are
ID by a few steps like these to be
rowned. Rec. John Hall, DAD.
CONTRASTS.