Mexico weekly ledger., 1910-06-23
The HONEST
MAN
By Rev. David James BurreIl, d. D.
Montreal. Can.

" INV . uobGbb anu AldDAAltiCo 40 AuAAJ
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 n
who does not rejoice in the fact that
he was made "but a little lower than
the angels" and In the likeness Of
God? Is 1t nothing to stand erect,
sensible of a divine birthright and Of
a divine Inheritance? Is there no
occasion for gratitude in the fact that
! am able to dream dreams and see
visions, and, as Kepler said, think
Gods thoughts after him?" What
do we W 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 a word
OF recognition? Is he IN honest MANI
The third item In the bill OF particu-
lars is divine grace. 1t matters not.
so far as the question at issue is con-
cerned. whether a man has accepted
the overtures of Gods mercy or not;
1t still remains that provision mas 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 it,
The answer is In the words of the
familiar hymn: Here, Lord, | give
myself to thee, it's all that l can do"
Would that we might sing 1t, but once
with heart and understanding! For it
contains the sum total Of the philoso-
ply Of duty; that is. of what we owe
to God.
1t is a startling fact that men are so
prone to overlook their obligations to
God, for here is the very root of hon.
esty. will a man rob God?" Shall
we withhold from God that which Ia
his honest due? Nay, that is clearly
impossible If n would be an honest
man.
But the question touches. secondly.
our relations with our fellow men. For
nc man liveth unto himself and no
man dieth unto himself. 1t 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, as
lenders and borrowers; and each is
bound. in honesty, to balance his &C.
count with his fellowmen.
| am debtor to society; that is, to
my fellow men en- masse. The liber.
ties, immunities and sanctities Of my
daily life come to me through the so
cial organism; and, SO far forth, l am
a debtor to the community in which
| live. How shall | meet that obi.
cation? To state 1t as briefly as pos.
sible. | am bound to put more into the
common exchequer that | draw out
Of It.
There are two kinds of people, con.
umer and producers. The consumer
says: "The world owes me a living"
and proceeds to exact It. 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 a livelihood.
and something more. And when he
makes his exit. he leaves the commune
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 a house or
a history, dig a well or build a stable;
produce something that viii remain as
your memorial, leaving the balance on
the right side when you have conc
your way.
But my indebtedness is not merely
to humanity en- masse. Il am debtor
to every man" The original break
In the family circle was made when
Cain asked: "Am / my brothers keep
er?' ! 1--WE something to the next
man. Get that in mind when you meet
a drunkard Keeling in the street, for
he is a brother Of yours. To such you
are a debtor. What do you owe theLI?
All the category Of kindnesses marked
out In the Golden Rule: DO unto
them as ye would be done by" Lend
a handl Be not an oyerreacher, like
Jacob; buy no mans birthright for a
mess of pottage. Say never. Honesty
is the best policy" for honesty is
right whether 1t pay or not Take
shame to yourself if ever you get the
better OF another man. And If he
fall, what then? Lend a hand; help
him upi
Are you living that way? Are you
paying your debt TO the community
Are you dealing fairly with your fell
low men? If not, give ear to your
conscience, which is saying: Thou
art not an honest man."
But there is a third reckoning. not
with God nor with our fellows, but
with ourselves. 1t is written: Unto
myself be true; and it must follow
as the night the day. thou canst not
then be false to any man"
I owe It to myself to be 3 clean
mar