The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1910-06-16
The HONEST
MAN
BY Rev. David James BurreII, ID. ID.
Montreal. Can.

man? We want a definition to begin
with; and let It be as simple as pos
sible. An honest man is one who
pays his debts. That covers the whole
case. 1t will be seen that this def
milton, SO simple apparently. is quite
comprehensive, and II cuts deeper
than we think. For when the matter
of life's assets and liabilities is fully
canvassed. 1t will appear that 1t is
no easy matter to live and die with
a clean balance sheet.
The question at the outset touches
our relations with God. Are we
debtors to God? Yes, by universal
consent. In the bill of particulars
there are three items, to-wit:
First: Creation. Is there any one
who does not rejoice in the fact that
he was made but little lower than
the angels" and in the likeness OF
God? Is IL nothing to stand erect,
sensible OF divine birthright and OF
a divine Inheritance? Is there no
occasion for gratitude In the fact that
l am able to dream dreams and see
visions, and. as Kepler said, think
Gods thoughts after him?" What
do We owe In return for these? The
least possible recognition of Gods
goodness. thus far. is in keeping our
selves on friendly terms with him.
The second item In the bill of partic-
ulars is Providence. In God we live
and move and have our being. We
slept in his arms last night, cared for
as tenderly as children In their moth.
er's arms. He feeds us. clothes US.
and continually cares for US.
What shall we render unto him for
these loving kindnesses? Do they lay
no obligation upon us? The least
that we can do Is to bend our knees
in thanksgiving. To the beggar who
stretches out his hand saying: Il am
hungry" you gave enough to buy him
self a breakfast and he says: Il
thank you" Could he do less and
bear the semblance of a man? What
then of the man who never prays.
who takes Gods gifts without word
of recognition? Is he an honest man ?
The third item In the bill of particu-
lars is divine grace. II matters not.
so far as the question at issue is con-
cerned. whether a man has accepted
the overtures Of Gods mercy or not;
IL still remains that provision has been
made for his deliverance from sin.
You may not have accepted Christ.
my friend; that does not affect the
fact that God gave his only begotten
Son TO die in your behalf that you
might be saved from sin. Here is an
Unreasonable obligation laid upon
every man. How shall we pay Il?
The answer is in The words Of the
familiar hymn: Here, Lord, l give
myself to thee, tits all that can do. s.
Would that we might sing ii. but once
with heart and understanding! For II
contains the sum total Of the philoso-
ply OF duty; that is. of what We owe
to God.
II is startling fact that men are SO
prone to overlook their obligations to
God. for here is the very root Of hon.
osty. win a man rob God?" Shall
we withhold from God that which Ia
his honest due? Nay. that is clearly
impossible II one would be an honest
man.
But the question touches, secondly.
our relations with our fellow men. For
no man liveth unto himself and no
man dieth unto himself. II would ap-
pear that the angels were created one
by one; but men are of one family
and blood is thicker than water
We are mutually interdependent, az
lenders and borrowers; and each ia
bound. in honesty. to balance his &C.
count with his fellowmen.
! am debtor to society; that is. to
my fellow men en- masse. The Iiber.
ties, immunities and sanctities OF my
daily life come to me through the SO
cial organism; and. SO far forth, l am
u debtor to the community In which
live. How shall l meet that obi
cation? To state II as briefly as pos
sible, am bound to put more into the
common exchequer that l draw on!
of It,
There are two kinds Of people. con
sumers and producers. The consumer
says: The world owes me living,
and proceeds to exact 1t. An idler
rich or poor, living In pursuance OF
that dictum, is a dishonest man. The
producer. on the other hand, is one
who adds to the common fund by ma
king something. He earns livelihood
and something more. And when he
makes his exit. he leaves the communi
ty richer from his having lived in It
What are you producing. my friend
Make something, | pray you. Make
a pillow or a poem, make house OF
history. dig a we'll or build a stable
produce something that will remain as
your memorial, leaving the balance on
the right side when you have gone
your way.
But my Indebtedness is not merely
to humanity en- masse. II am debtor
to every man." The original breal
In the family circle was made when
Cain asked: Am I my brothers keep
err" swe something to the mex,