St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-07-02
The HONEST
MAN
BY Rev. David James Burrell, D. D.
Montreal. Can.

/
pays his debts. That covers the Who'll
case. It will be seen that this del
milton, SO simple apparently, is quit
comprehensive, and it cuts deepe
than we think. For when the matte
of life's assets and liabilities is full
canvassed. it will appear that 1t /
no easy matter to live and die wit
clean balance sheet.
The question at the outset touche
our relations with God. Are W.
debtors to God? Yes. by universe
consent In the bill of particular
there are three items, to-wit:
First: Creation. Is there any ont
who does not rejoice in the fact tina
he was made "but little lower thai
the angels" and in the likeness o.
God? Is it nothing to stand erect
sensible of a divine birthright and Of
divine inheritance? Is there NJ
occasion for gratitude in the fact thai
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 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 an honest man?
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 man has accented
the overtures of Gods mercy or not:
1t 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 Won
might be saved from sin. Here il an
immeasurable 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 / can do"
Would that we might sing it, 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 man rob God?" Shall
We withhold from God that which is
his honest due? Nay, that is clearly
impossible if 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. 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.
I 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, am
a debtor to the community in which
I live. How shall meet that obli-
cation? To state it as briefly as pos
sible, am bound to put more into the
common exchequer that I draw out
Of 1t.
There are two kinds of people, con-
sumers and producers. The consumer
says: "The world owes me living"
and proceeds to exact It. An idler,
rich or poor, living in pursuance of
hat dictum, is dishonest man. The
producer, on the other hand, is one
who adds to the common fund by ma
King something. He earns livelihood.
md something more. And when he
makes his exit, he leaves the communi
y richer from his having lived in it.
What are you producing, my friend?
Make something, I pray you. Make
pillow or poem, make house or
history, dig we'll or build a stable:
produce something that will remain as
1our memorial, leaving the balance on
he right side when you have gone
vour way.
But my Indebtedness is not merely
o humanity en- masse. Il am debtor
o every man." The original break
n the family circle was made when
Jain asked: Gam my brothers keep
r" l owe something to the next
nan. Get that in mind when you meet
drunkard Keeling in the street, for
le is brother of yours. To such you
re debtor. What do you owe them?
LII the category of kindnesses marked
tut in the Golden Rule: do unto
hem as We would be done by" Lend
hand! Be not an overreacher, like
acob; buy no mans birthright for a
aess OF pottage. Say never, Honesty
the best policy" for honesty is
light whether it pay or not. Take
hame to yourself if ever you get the
letter OF another man. And if he
all, what then? Lend a hand: help
i'm up!
Are you living that way? Are you
aging your debt to the communitv7