The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-11-07
sTHE DIGNITY OF LABOR
BY the Rev. Chas. Hill, pastor of Eiktcn
NJ. +. Church. to Elkton Council, No.
22.Jr. .. u. a. NJ, Sunday, Oct. 20.

American Mechanics while | do not
regard You AZ y labor organization, and
understand the word mechanic as you
use it, to apply 10 ''dHy0aC who, in any
honest manner contributes to his own
support or the welfare of humanity, .
yet, nave concluded To address you on
the Dignity of Understanding as 1t
does related to physical and spiritual
interests, to time and eternity, and
announce as che text: Matthew xiii, 90
rs not this the carpenters sou?"
We are informed that some Old maui
script renders the text thus:-"ls not
this the son of Joseph, the carpentel?"
1t is probable that our Lord, during the
wears of his abode in Naz ireth, wrought
at the same trade with Joseph, perhaps
| this is what Luke meant when he said,
"he, that is Jesus went down with them
| Closeup and Nary to Nazareth and was
subject unto them. Our Saviour at
this time, was twelve years old; accord
| ing to the Jewish law, every male child
was obliged to begin learning trade at
that age.
Our Lord was now in his own country,
where he had been reared, and it is prob
able that persons who now heard him
with establishment, and questioned ia
! surprise, is not this the carpenters
son" had seen him, in youth, laboring at
the occupation of his reputed father,
! thus our Saviour houOred and sanctifed
the laborious calling, teaching that the
secular duties of life, rightly performed
| are honored and acceptable to God. Il
| Christianity shows our Saviour car
peuter and his apostles fishermen, then
| those who scorn the useful occupations
of the laborer, ought to blush with very
shame because of their false pride. l.
would be well for society, if there was a
greater degree of industry and economy,
and less OF extravaganza and eifamiuate
pride.
The dignity of labor may be seen, III
that it is of divine appointment, dating
back to the period of mans innocency.
1t is true, that the appointment, sin the
sweat of thy face shalt thou cat bread"
was part of the original curse which
sin clused to be pronounced. 1t is equally
true, that labor was ordained by the
most High, while man was in a condi-
ton of uprig htncSs. The book OF Genesis
tells us.-"wheu the Lord had planted the
garden i'll Eden, aud had fashioned man
aztec his own image, He took the man
aud put him i'll the garden to dress and
keep it," There was no curse then upon
the ground, and yet it is manifest tnat
man was a laborer from the beginning.
While we admit the fatigue aud
exhaustion attendant upon severe III srual
labor, to be due to disObedeace as It's
parent, yet we maintain chat labor is
isiHcilf Gods institution for mark. ID,
without reference to the iinDcaucy or
seventh day as Il day OF rest, before
Adam disobeyed; thus making out SIX
days as days of labor, before sin had
sown the seed of the thorn and thistle.
We may suppose that prior to the fail,
labor was one department OF piety, and
that in keeping the garden and dressing
it, man was as relgiously employed as
when communing with God il distinct
acts of devotion.
The great aud fatal change which sin
has introduced is the wide separation be-
tween temporal business and spiritual
labor. While engaged in providing for the
body We seem unmiudful of tho sous
interests We hold it of the utmost
Importance to impress upon men, that this
separation is their making and not God's
appointment. lie, who created and
ordained labor, has also ordained that
mans great business on earth should be
to secure his eternal welfare; therefore,
unless we admit that one interest pro.
notes the other, that the interest of
the soul may be advanced by worldly
toll, we set one ordinance of God above
another aud represent ourselves as
impeded in the work of salvation, by
the appointment of our Maker. How
full of error is the opinion entertained
by some, that retirement from secular
employment is essential to "A high state
of piety. Impressed with this idea, some
have renounced the labors of life, retired
to the clOister, and shut themselves in
under the pretense of exalted piety.
This is wrong. Labor is enjoiued upon
Us by God; therefore, he may be honored
and glortied by the husbaudman, as he
plOughs the ground and sowS the seed;
by the merchant as he engages III com
he draws his plans and executes his
Designs Man may gloriy God as truly
in these avocations as the acts of solemn
worship on the Sabbath l. is IA libel on
our blessed religion, to represent the
houest trades of m tukind, as ought else
but various methods in which God may be
honored and obsytd. The truth is,
instead of being hindrluces, they may be
helps, instead of leAden weights to
retard a disciple in his celestial journey
they may be as well plumel wings,
acceleratiug gloriously his upward pro
gress
L .bor is not only ordained by God,
but our Heavenly Father sets us the
example. Jesus said, My father
worketh hitherto, and | work" God
created the world in six days, and rested
on the seventh, therefore He has set the
Sabbath, an everlasting memorial, and
although he rested from creative acts,
he still works. He upholds and governs
that which he has formed. Jesus the
captain of our salvation was continually
employed. "He went about doing good"
Now, having assembled up on high, he
is working for the express purpose of
bringing many sons to glory.
Again labor is not only digniied, but
useful What would our world be without
the labor of man? AS IMAM was placed in
E len to dress and keep it" SO is he
placed in this world to dress and keep it
to beautify aud adorn it. Under the
persevering hand of toll, the desert is
/ made to blossom as the rose, under it's
magic touch the earth brings forth her
fruit, giving bread to the eater and seed
to the sower." Uuder its influence
forests are eveled and cities arise as by
| enchantmeBt. AT It's command the
stately palace and lordly mansion
assume beautiful architectural proper
tions. BY eaergy, the Atlantic and
Pacific are bound together with bands of