The Warwickshire Herald. — 1892-03-03 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE REV. JOSEPH SHILLITO ON "COMMON HONESTY."  On Sunday evening last, the Rev. Joseph Shillito preached at the Park-road Congregational Chapel, on "Common Honesty." He had two texts, viz.— Romans 12 and 17, "Provide things hone,t in the sight of all men " ; and Rotnans 13 and 8, "Owe no man anything. but to love one another." He said a complaint was comet imen made that ministers of religion did not often preach of Christian ethics. It was said they sot forth Christian doctrine, but did not equally set forth Christian practice. They dwelt upon the great truths of the Gospel, but did not speak often enough and plainly enough upon the great duty of morality in the relations and intercourse of everyday life. He did not know how much ground there a as for such complaint, but it was not one that he would willingly have his miniAry open to. If therefore he spoke simply and plainly upon the first and elementary principles and duties, they would not reason why. The two passages of scripture read as the texts set forth that it was a Christian obligation to render what in right, what is just and honest towards all men. The oblige., tion in not to owe any man anything. We all recognise that to steal is to transgress the laws of God and man, that fraud of every kind is dishonest, but all men did not equally recognise that to run into debt with a prospect of paying the stet:B4 and that to run into debt and not pay when it is due is really a species of fraud, a transgression of the Divine commandment which says, "Owe no man anything, but to love one another." Providing things honest in the sight of all men includes the paying of our debts when due, for we may do a man wrong, we may put him to great inconvenience and disadvantage. We may injure his credit and puree by keeping him out of his  money as well as by taking from him what belongs to him. The preacher then went on to say there were many things prevalent in nominally Christian society which are little thought of, but which cannot be harinonised with thorough honest principle. He mentioned amongst others the starting of groat companies with false prospectuses, framed and intended to deceive, practical miarepreeentationa taking advantage of the ignorant and imposing on the credulity of others, and these reduced to • system as if it were& very fair and proper way of dealing. The rovelotions furnished by bankruptcy °mule of reckless disregard of all honest principles, and the habit amongst servants and dependent. to purloin the food and other property belonging to their employers!, but he said it was endless to point out the different ways in which the principles lot honeaty were violated. In the majority of these cases there were multitudes who saw no harm in them. They were regarded as matters of course— things which it was supposed every one did. Yet it was easy to see how by this means the moral sense of vast numbers of people may be injured. They lose all apprehension uf what strict principle requires. It becomes us all to remember that Christianity exhibitc a very Hall standeel iii this matt. r. It not only Hos with the gerierel community in branding the burglar, the forger, foal the thief, but it dresses with them men of thieviali disposition who seek to make an easy life if it by deceiving and defrauding others. The reverend gentleman saki there were one or two simple rules which he would like to give, especially for tho benefit of the young people. The first was, don't get into the habit of running bills. At any rate don't run long bills. If you do they will mount nil beyond your expectation. Years ago he knew a newly married couple who began their domestic life by running bills, and when as the end of six menthe the butcher's bill came in, it made them both ill. Short reckonings make easy payments. Things bought must be paid for sooner or later. Baiter sooner than later. Better for you, better for the tradesman. better for his creditors, end better all round. Do without things sooner than run iota debt. It is go r'itheult to get straight when once you go, la. bind. Ho would have hie hearers hate deb, with a perfect hatred. Dread it, shun it, :avoid it as you would a pestilence or a plague. There ale some people who have a dread of tiiiius which are harmless. If a mouse runs acre, the room they are stormed. The sight of a t mmi is , almost enough to send them ;into hysterics. He would have them dread debt far more Limn this : for debt, was not a harmless but is monster of hi Icons shape and relentless cruelty. It, makes a man's life miserable. It haunts him like an evil spirit. It hangs is mill-stone round his ne•k by day, and kelps him awake during the black hours of the night. It makes hint afraid to show his face in the streets lest he should meet hi. creditors. It makes him the slave of others!. It, cripples his energies. It paralyaes his arm. it fills his future with forebodings. It enchains Ida mind. It prompts him to evasion, suhserfuge, and falsehood. It drives him at times to his its etel and often to crime and suicide. 0 ! my young friends, as you desire a life of comfort, 'veneer, and happineo., shun debt as you would shun the plague. It is a disgrace to ride ninon you cannot afford it. It is 110 disgrace ,o live a small house, but it is t disgrace to live in a large one when the rent inora than you can pay. It is no disgrace to have is coat or a bonnet which is not in the latest style or fashion, but it is a disgrace to have the last novelty for which your tail r and milliner ha a to apply again and again for the aaseey. ••• I speak as unto else men: judge ye what I say." 0 !there are some thing. which are !nose than money, sorne things which are shore all price. Hearts CRFC is On,: of these. A mind free from corroding anxiety and care. Character is one of the-se. To be held in respect rind honour, becatese of the faitlibil and pont:wail discharge of the ebligations of life. The favour of (led is one of these. To have His smile bemire: upon tie :pet His blessing on our Ilaily ixortion. These are jewel a hiell are beyond all prim, but they can only be ours as we provide thins. lioneet in the sight of all men, and in we take care to owe no non anything but to love one nnother.