The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-07-16
SERMON BY
REV. J. SHAPE.

1
The commandment before US is
short, sharp commandment Of but
four words and a single line, but this
line has gone out into oil the world
and found myriad illustrations.
Fourteen lines 1t required to print
the second commandment and fifteen
for the fourth, but only single line
each for the sixth, seventh and eighth
| They come with unmistak able me an
ing, with unambiguous phrasology
! and with pile driver force: "Thou
shalt not Kill, "Thou shalt not com.
nit adultery" Thou shalt not
Steal.'
The word Ito steal" means to take
and convey away feloniously as the
personal goods OF another; to take
without right or leave, to withdraw
or convey without notice, to gain OF
win by address or gradual and inper'
ceptible means. So Absalom stole
the hearts OF che men of Israel.
So prevalent did Jehovah know
that this crime would become among
the ancient Israelites that he gives
directions concerning it two chapters
further on, in the 22nd chapter Of
Exodus.
In case Of theft, restitution must
be made, sometimes tive-fold, some
times four.fold, sometimes but two.
fold, according to she degree OF the
crime. The killing of a burglar was
jus titiable il he were caught in the
act Of stealing.
The ancient Romans, the early
Germans and the ancient Greeks, all
legislated concerning this crime,
while in the early church, theft was
reckoned among the great crimes
which brought men under public pen
nance. The thief, II he discover him.
self should do one years penance, If
he be discovered by others, two.
need scarcely remind you that the
theme Of the evening is pertinent to
our times. In this day of office seek
ing in which men stoop to any means
to secure the office; in this day OF
office holding when men enter office
as Eoor clerks and leave them as mil
lionaircs; when men will keep up ap.
pearances even if they do not avoid
the appearance of evil; when honesty
is left so far in the distance that 1t
becomes dishonesty, and morality let
loose is changed to prodigality; when
faithful plodding in the common.
wealth is changed to plotting against
the common wealth: when righteous
ness that is exalting, is neglected for
the sin that is a reproach to any peo.
pie: in this day of betrayals Of public
trusts and of the petty piliering of
private properties: in this time of ma
tional, commercial, Official, ecclesias-
tical kleptomania, we need to write
in letters OF enduring clearness that
he who runs may read, Thou shalt
not steal"
Visit the homes of any of the Grim
i classes that swarm in any of our
rgc cities, and it will need but a
lance at the poverty, accompanied
by sqna'o', to see that Incidence is to
them an incentive to steal. Like the
uncouth savage of the jungles, taught
that stealing is sin only if the Of
fender is caught at it, that they
should work only when they can't
asp it, and to pifer whenever they
can; 70 lear not sin but the police
!icer and their father if they fail to
tang home plumber, the children OF
lnc Sums soon come to feel that
.rnAe is a virtue, that anarchy and
rn. loraity are praise worth, and that
vie ciSnth commandment is binding
only if one is not handy with Lis fin
gers.
Incidence goes hand in band with
iniquity, laziness with lewdness,
sHuaor with stealing, and all with
sin,
An Industrious man is seldom
rogue. It's the loafer who can't be
trusted. Who ever saw an honest
man tramp? Be not indolent "For
Satan always finds some work for idle
hands to do. "
There is also an incentive to steal
that comes from necessity. Here is
u man whose family is large and
whose income is CORRESPONDENCE small
lie hears the cry of the wolf at the
door in the piteous whine Of his chill
dren for bread to eat. He is hound
ed daily by thuSe to whom he is u
dcbtor. The pinchcd face OF his once
beautiful and delicately formed wife
strikes anguish to his soul, as he be-
holds the lines which hunger has
made and he goes out and steals
ham. Can you blame him? Well!
the law does. He'll get six months
IN Jail, while the rogue who steals
railroad gets a mansion in Canada.
Which ought man to do when ne
cessity starcs him in the face, steal or
die? In the name of God he would
better die. Better die an honest man
than to live a thief
Life is precious, very precious, but
there is something even more preci-
Gus than life, it is character. Your
life is Yapor, that appears for lit.
| tie time and then vanishes away; your
character sta Is for ali time and lasts
throughout s~;rnity. DO not be led
astray by even this incentive. Even
when in need, perhaps you need not
steal.
Love Of display also often affords
inducement to steal. Keeping APP
pearance, says one, even if you have
only the appearance Of honesty. A
young man mingles with his fellows
and he must spend as much money as
they, no matter how he gets it. He
must dress as they, smoke cigars be-
cause they do and drink champagne
because it's popular, and because he
must keep in with the young men
of his acquaintance. Young men, re-
member that to be honest Is better
than to be ilattercd. TO be we'll is