The Newtown bee., 1900-09-28
upon this false foundation. They make
It a mans interest to do bis duty, and 80

loon this false foundation. They make
i mans interest to do bis duty, and so
hey think the duty will be we'll done.
The fear of loss, or punishment alene is
trusted to restrain men from criminal
neglect or injury. The love Of gain,
alone, is trusted to, to incite them to
diligence and integrity. What thing
will bring because it happens to be
scarce, or rare, or not we'll known; or
what man will give because he happens
to require it, or not to know its value,
and not what thing is worth may regu-
late it's price. Monopoly, or scarcity, or
LACK of shrewdness in the buyer will JUS
tifv exorbitance. What man will work
for, when he is in want, and not what
his skill and strength are worth, must
regulate bis wages. A man may get all
he can, and spend all that he pleases on
himself, but need give away nothing.
These are the principles Of the world
They are selfish, unthankful, destructive
of our present and eternal good. 1t Is
because of their prevalence and FREEDOM
inant Influence and power, that when
God has blessed us a. . nation with
everything We need, with health with
peace, with plenty, there are still 30
many that are needy.
But let me now pre- coed to II quire how
We should receive, enjoy and dispense
the blessings We call to mind this day.
If they come, az 1 presume we all admit,
from God, it is obvious that we should
receive His gifts with gratitude; that we
should enjoy them, soberly, according
to His laws, and yet with glsdness, In
the spirit of true believers, and that we
should dispense them, as He enjoins, gen
erously, as we are able, to those that are
in need.
And first, on this as on all occasions
when we are reminded of Gods bounty,
WE OUGHT TO EXPRESS OUR THANKFUL
NESS TO THE AUTHOR OF IT ALL.
Gratitude for benefits received IL a duty
90 very natural and evident, that one
could imagine it could hardly be neces-
sary to point it out, much less to enlarge
upon and enforce it.
Such return for favors, no matter
from whom they come, is dictate OF
nature, and we ourselves expect it from
all whom We in any way oblige. Shall
we then neglect to make that return to
God, which we look for from those OF
our fellowmen on whom we have been
able to confer our little favors? II we
know what to expect in response to the
trifing kinduesses we do to others. how
much more Justly may He demand the
most grateful acknowledgment from US
who are indebted to Him, not only for
the power Of benefting others, but for
life and breath and all things?
And surely this, as it is natural, so Is
it very easy and cheap return for the
bounty he has bestowed. We are not,
as Gods people were Of old, laid under
heavy contributions Of costly sacrifice.
Though all the beasts of the forest, and
the cattle upon thousand hills are His
to-day as truly a. when He asked His
people to serve Him with their offered
ID lives, He demands not one. Shall we
not. Their, freely offer Him the cheap
eathing OF our thanks and gratefully
confess that all we have is due to His
Astounding mercyP
OF the blessings included in an abun-
dant harvest 1 might discourse almost
indie Fl nitely. zone generation cometb,
and another generation goeth, but the
earth abideth forever" and while the
race of man epdures upon the earth, his
phveical well-being, and even his ex-
i.tence, will continue to depend upon
Gods bountiful provision for him in the
order of physical nature. The fruits OF
the earth" are more than the green
things that spring from It's soil. They
include the precious things that lie hid
den in it's mines, and the living creatures
that inhabit it's woods and plains, it's
lakes and rivers, and the deeps Of the
sea, All that men call wealth comes In
its origin from the bosom of the kindly
earth, where God has stored 1t for our
sustenance and erjoyment. Nor are our
physical comfort and happiness tho
greatest of the blessings that depend
upon these gifts of God. Some He seems
to lavish in profusion. but most OF them
are hidden; nearly all must be obtained
nv labor: and the labor, with Its search