The Tupelo journal., 1910-02-25


In Westminster Abbey there are
two tombs, which will serve to illus
trate the matter in hand. One is thai
of John Wesley, who lived in his
country parish content on forty
pounds a year" His motto was: owe
no man anything, save to love n an
other" He was buried without pomp
or circumstance, and left only enough
to furnish 20 shillings each to the
bearers who carried him to his, grave.
The other is the tomb of William Pitt,
earl of Chatham, who died with
honors thick upon him, but so deep
~ in debt that parliament was con-
strained to vote an appropriation or
100000 to meet his outstanding OBJ
legations. We take our stand between
those tombs, and give our need or
praise to the poor itinerant, who lived
and died an honest man, says Rev.
David James Burrell, d. D., writing
In the Christian Herald.
1t will be seen that the definition,
so simple apparently. is quite COM
prehensive. and it cuts deeper than
we think. For when the matter OF
life's assets and liabilities is fully
c~anvassed, it will appear that it is
no easy matter to live and die with a
clean balance sheet.
Debtors to God.
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 a little lower than
the angels and in the likeness OF
God? Is it nothing to stand erect,
sensible of a divine birthright n a
divine inheritance? Is there no occa-
sion 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 par
t~iculars 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
mothers 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,
this morning, stretched out his hand
saying, Il am hungry" l gave enough
to buy himself a breakfast, and he
said, Il thank you" Could he do less
and bear the semblance of a nan?
What then of the man who never
prays, who takes Gods gifts without
a word of recognition? Is he an
honest man? Not so did the pagan
Socrates think, who asked Euthyde-
mus, Did you v reflect how much
care the gods have bestowed upon
u.s." mo, never, l assure you" go
then to the temple and, %pondering on
their gifts, bow down and prove thy
self a man"
The Debt We Owe to Society.
The third item in the bill of partic-
ulars 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;
it 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 be-
gotten son to die in your behalf that
you might be saved from sin. Here
is an immeasurable obligation laid
upon every man. How shall we pay
it? The answer is in the familiar
hymn which we have just sung.
Would that we might sing it but once
with heart and understanding! For it
contains the sum total of the philoso-
ply of duety; 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
honesty. ''Will a 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
appear that the angels were created
one by one; but men are of n fam
ily. 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 fellow-men.
There are two kinds OF people, con
sinners and producers. The consum-
err say THE world yves me a lfy-
ing 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
making something. He earns a live
1ihood and something more. He ex-
acts nothing which is not quid pro
ouo. And when he makes his exit,
he leaves the community richer from
his having lived in it.
our Debt to the Human Race.
What are you producing, my friend?
Make something, | pray you. Make .
plow or a poem, make a house or a
history, dig a well or build a stable;
produce something that will remain as
YOUR memorial. leaving the balance on
the right side when you have gone