The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-03-25
]. WHY THE UNGODLY ENJOY TEN
PORAL PROSPERITY


We cannot deny that many worldly peo-
pie have an abundance OF hie's blessings,
and that they appear TO be quite free from
adversely. Ii is well known that many OF
our most wealthy people seem TO be indif-
terent to religion. They spend their time
and means either In business or seeking
pleasure. Our contention IS that human
success or failure is not an lntallible Crlter-
ION by which we are to justify OF condemn
the government OF God.
1t Is not uncommon for goddess people 10
inherit property. Nor Is II unusual for un-
believing parents TO leave an inheritance
to their children. That while there has
been utter indifference TO Christianity
there has been no want OF concern IN the
accumulation of wealth. And many pos
sess a disnterestcd temperament that pro-
tects them from needless care and anxiety.
Unbelevors are often more shrewd than
Christians. The children OF this world
are wiser in their generation than the chill
dren of light \ life of utter absorption
IN the accumulation and management Of
money develops an acumen, one who read
lily discovers whatever will contribute 10
his personal and temporal Advancement.
And since we are free moral agents At rs
possible for one to succeed IN the direction
OF hls ambition.
Uubelevers are often less scrupuious
They viii do many things for temporal
comfort that others Will not. A goddess
mortal VIII keep a saloon or a gambling
den, from which the profits are very large.
He will desecrate the Sabbath or violate
any OF the divine laws without hesitation
so long as ms personal interest Is encour-
aged. His motto Il eat, drink and be
merry, for tomorrow we die Would a
reborn soul and heir of the kingdom do
the same? A true disciple OF the Great
Teacher would not consciously transgress
any civil or religious requirement, even If
by such a violation he would increase his
means and comfort.
The attention OF unbelicvers is more
concentrated on the accumulation Of
wealth and on personal comfort. 1t -
about all many think of They think about
money when they retire. They dream
about it at night 1t Is upon their minds
when they awake in the morning, and they
labor for 1t during the day. IL IS the only
desire they have, and it is not strange tina:
they should obtain It.
Christians are unwilling to deprive them
selves OF the comfort and blessing of CIV
ing. Our churches are supported by the
proicssed followers OF Christ. All the phi
lantbropic and charitable organizations are
largely sustained by those who bear the
Christian name. The church has great rea-
son 90 thank God for those who give so
literally toward her support, while the
word is either boarding or wasting Its
means, they are applying their gifts to the
social, intellectual, moral and eternal I'M
provement Of others.
The long suffering of God is not TO be
ignored. God permits ungcdly people 20
obtain the desire Of their hearts. The
snoerlng jest OF Dionysius, the younger, a
tyrant OF Sicily. when, after having robbed
I the Temple OF Syracuse. he had a prosper
Gus voyage with the plunder Is well known.
See YOU not, said he, TO those who were
with him, how the gods favor the sacrilog-
Ioust The Interpretation OF the incident
was from the standpoint OF "a heathen.
God simply permitted him to escape.
Doubtless the ungodly are allowed 20
prosper. IN order TO test and prove the
righteous. /: IS a test for the faithful but
unfortunate 20 zee some goddess mortal
carried on toe sea of prosperity. But & -
a test that re are abundantly able TO sGs-
tain. Socrates, being asked what would be
vcxatIous 10 good men replied. the pros-
bad; the prosperity Of the good. 1t Is
not and cannot be made 10 appear in
compatible with the perfection OF Gods
government that the ungodE should nave
measure Of material prosperity.
II. WHY THE RIGHTEOUS HAVE AD-
NERSITY
IdNlUf aAIulLttu NhaL the uuEOAig oli'u
enjoy temporal prosperity, 10 remains 20
acknowledge that the righteous are fre-
quentiy subjected 10 the greatest suffer.
Ing Of body and mind and If possible TO
ascertain the cause. Not all are greatly
affected. though . j. very likely that every
beaft slstaIns some burden.
Even cur limited knowledge or the
Scuptures and imperfect religious exper.
fences enable az 20 understand why belev.
ers are often afflicted. il seems az ii some
were destined 90 b. unfortunate. Every
thing thcy undertake falls. and the hard
a. tley labor the more .ncy are disap-
pointed. We utterly repldiate the doc
trine ol fate. - find ourselves confronted
with the fact that some seem 10 be crea-
tuTes oi misfortune.
Many Of hie's advcrsities are brought
upon ourselves. We may accuse others
or even Gct, but in our inner conscious
ness fInd ourselves confronted with the
conviction that we have been the cause Of
our own suffering. A man who attempted
20 steal wheat from an elevator brought
down an avalanche Of the staff oi life
which smothered him 90 death. He had
trangreszed the law and brought upon
himself destruction.
Some Of LIES adversities are brought
upon us By others. The social fabric ls
80 closely woven that even one thread can
not be broken without weakening the
whole SO We ssfier for TIE deeds OF 9th
ers. A bank Ofhcial abscounds with the
funds Of the institution and many lose
all they possess. One partner deirauds an
other and throws him into bankruptcy
The President - assassinsted, he family
broken hearted and the nation and world
" mourning. An intoxicated isther de