diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:59:21 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:59:21 -0700 |
| commit | a4fb8f6a6904e1ac880d317768d945660cf8a241 (patch) | |
| tree | 8ed49757f000a96b3506ad00b53e6e1f826ef397 | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 33340-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 79102 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 33340-h/33340-h.htm | 3808 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 33340.txt | 3831 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 33340.zip | bin | 0 -> 76155 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
7 files changed, 7655 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/33340-h.zip b/33340-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..706ab84 --- /dev/null +++ b/33340-h.zip diff --git a/33340-h/33340-h.htm b/33340-h/33340-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ad1cce8 --- /dev/null +++ b/33340-h/33340-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3808 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=us-ascii"> +<title>Weighed and Wanting</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + body {font-family:'Bookman Old Style', 'Book Antiqua', 'Garamond'; text-align:justify; margin-left:2em; margin-right:2em} + p.pnn {margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0} + p.ps {margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em} + p.pn {text-indent:1.5em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0} + p.pns {text-indent:1.5em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em} + p.psm {text-indent:1.5em; font-size:92%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.3em} + p.pt1 {text-indent:1.5em; font-size:83%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1.0em} + p.pt2 {text-align:center; font-size:83%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1.0em} + p.pt3 {margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.1em; font-size:83%; font-weight:bold} + p.pt4 {margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.5em; margin-left:1.5em; line-height:1.2em; font-size:83%; font-weight:normal} + + .sc {font-variant:small-caps} + h1 {text-align:center; margin-top:1.5em; margin-bottom:0.8em; font-size:117%; font-weight:normal} + h2 {text-align:center; margin-top:1.5em; margin-bottom:0.8em; font-size:83%; font-weight:normal} + hr {margin: 0 auto} +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Weighed and Wanting, by Dwight Moody + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Weighed and Wanting + Addresses on the Ten Commandments + +Author: Dwight Moody + +Release Date: August 3, 2010 [EBook #33340] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WEIGHED AND WANTING *** + + + + +Produced by Keith G Richardson + + + + + +</pre> + +<p class="pnn"><a href="#contents">Contents</a></p> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:221%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1.7em"> +Weighed and Wanting</p> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:135%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:2.9em"> +Addresses<br> +on the Ten Commandments</p> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:64%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.7em"> +BY</p> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:107%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:5.5em"> +D. L. MOODY</p> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:79%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:15.8em"> +“T<span class="sc">ekel</span>: Thou art weighed in the +balances, and art found wanting.”</p> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:108%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.2em"> +Fleming H. Revell Company</p> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:92%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.2em"> +Chicago : New York : + Toronto</p> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:78%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0"> +Publishers of Evangelical Literature</p> +<hr style="margin-top:4.5em; margin-bottom:21em"> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:83%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1.5em"> +<i>Copyright, 1898, by The Bible Institute Colportage +Association</i>.</p> +<hr style="margin-top:22em; margin-bottom:9.5em"> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:114%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1.5em"> +<a name="contents" id="contents">Contents</a></p> +<p class="psm"><a href="#Ten">T<span class="sc">he Ten +Commandments</span></a></p> +<p class="psm"><a href="#Weighed">W<span class="sc">eighed in the +Balances</span></a></p> +<p class="psm"><a href="#I">T<span class="sc">he First +Commandment</span></a></p> +<p class="psm"><a href="#II">T<span class="sc">he Second +Commandment</span></a></p> +<p class="psm"><a href="#III">T<span class="sc">he Third +Commandment</span></a></p> +<p class="psm"><a href="#IV">T<span class="sc">he Fourth +Commandment</span></a></p> +<p class="psm"><a href="#V">T<span class="sc">he Fifth +Commandment</span></a></p> +<p class="psm"><a href="#VI">T<span class="sc">he Sixth +Commandment</span></a></p> +<p class="psm"><a href="#VII">T<span class="sc">he Seventh +Commandment</span></a></p> +<p class="psm"><a href="#VIII">T<span class="sc">he Eighth +Commandment</span></a></p> +<p class="psm"><a href="#IX">T<span class="sc">he Ninth +Commandment</span></a></p> +<p class="psm"><a href="#X">T<span class="sc">he Tenth +Commandment</span></a></p> +<p class="psm"><a href="#Out">T<span class="sc">he Handwriting +Blotted Out</span></a></p> +<hr style="margin-top:12.8em; margin-bottom:2em"> +<h1><a name="Ten" id="Ten">THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.</a></h1> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:78%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1.5em"> +<i>EXODUS 20: 3-17</i>.</p> +<p class="psm">I. T<span class="sc">hou shalt have no other gods +before me</span>.</p> +<p class="psm">II. T<span class="sc">hou shalt not make unto thee +any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven +above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water +under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor +serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the +iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and +fourth generation of them that hate Me; and shewing mercy unto +thousands of them that love Me, and keep My +commandments</span>.</p> +<p class="psm">III. T<span class="sc">hou shalt not take the name +of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him +guiltless that taketh His name in vain</span>.</p> +<p class="psm">IV. R<span class="sc">emember the Sabbath day, to +keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: +but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it +thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, +thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy +stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made +heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested +the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and +hallowed it</span>.</p> +<p class="psm">V. H<span class="sc">onour thy father and thy +mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord +thy God giveth thee</span>.</p> +<p class="psm">VI. T<span class="sc">hou shalt not +kill</span>.</p> +<p class="psm">VII. T<span class="sc">hou shalt not commit +adultery</span>.</p> +<p class="psm">VIII. T<span class="sc">hou shalt not +steal</span>.</p> +<p class="psm">IX. T<span class="sc">hou shalt not bear false +witness against thy neighbour</span>.</p> +<p class="psm">X. T<span class="sc">hou shalt not covet thy +neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy +neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, +nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy +neighbour’s</span>.</p> +<hr style="margin-top:5em; margin-bottom:6em"> +<h1><a name="Weighed" id="Weighed">Weighed in the +Balances</a></h1> +<p class="pn">I<span class="sc">n</span> the fifth chapter of +Daniel we read the history of King Belshazzar. One chapter tells +us all we know about him. One short sight of his career is all we +have. He bursts in upon the scene and then disappears.</p> +<h2>THE EASTERN FEAST.</h2> +<p class="pn">We are told that he made a great feast to a +thousand of his lords, and drank wine before them. In those days +a feast would sometimes last for six months in Eastern countries. +How long this feast had been going on we are not told, but in the +midst of it, he “commanded to bring the golden and silver +vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the +temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, +his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. Then they +brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of +the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his +princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. They drank +wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of +iron, of wood, and of stone.”</p> +<p class="pn">While this impious act was being committed, +“in the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, +and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the +wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the +hand that wrote.” We are not told at what hour of the day +or the night it happened. Perhaps it was midnight. Perhaps nearly +all the guests were more or less under the influence of drink; +but they were not so drunk but that they suddenly became sober as +they saw something that was supernatural—a handwriting on +the wall, right over the golden candlestick.</p> +<p class="pn">Every face turned deathly pale. “The +king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled +him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees +smote one against another.” In haste he sent for his wisest +men to come and read that handwriting on the wall. They came in +one after another, and tried to make it out; but they could not +interpret it. The king promised that whoever could read it should +be made the third ruler in the kingdom; that he should have +gifts, and that a gold chain should be put round his neck. But +the wise men tried in vain. The king was greatly troubled.</p> +<p class="pn">At last, in the midst of the consternation, the +queen came in, and she told the monarch, if he would only send +for one who used to interpret the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar, he +could read the writing and tell him the interpretation thereof. +So Daniel was sent for. He was very familiar with it. He knew his +Father’s handwriting.</p> +<p class="pn">“This is the writing that was written, +<i>Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin</i>. This is the interpretation of +the thing: <i>Mene</i>—God hath numbered thy kingdom and +finished it. <i>Tekel</i>—Thou art weighed in the balances, +and art found wanting. <i>Peres</i>—Thy kingdom is divided, +and given to the Medes and Persians.”</p> +<p class="pn">If some one had told the king an hour before that +the time had come when he must step into the balances and be +weighed, he would have laughed at the thought. But the vital hour +had come.</p> +<p class="pn">The weighing was soon over. The verdict was +announced, and the sentence carried out. “In that night was +Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain, and Darius the Median +took the kingdom.” Darius and his army came marching down +those streets. There was a clash of arms. Shouts of war and +victory rent the air. That night the king’s blood mingled +with the wine of the banquet hall. Judgment came upon him +unexpectedly, suddenly: and probably ninety-nine out of every +hundred judgments come in this way. Death comes upon us +unexpectedly; it comes upon us suddenly.</p> +<p class="pn">Perhaps you say: “I hope Mr. Moody is not +going to compare me with that heathen king.”</p> +<p class="pn">I tell you that a man who does evil in these Gospel +days is far worse than that king. We live in a land of Bibles. +You can get the New Testament for a nickel, and if you +haven’t got a nickel you can get it for nothing. Many +societies will be glad to give it to you free. We live in the +full blaze of Calvary. We live on this side of the cross, but +Belshazzar lived more than five hundred years on the other side. +He never heard of Jesus Christ. He never heard about the Son of +God. He never heard about God except, perhaps, in connection with +his father’s remarkable vision. He probably had no portion +of the Bible, and if he had, probably he didn’t believe it. +He had no godly minister to point him to the Lamb of God.</p> +<p class="pns">Don’t tell me that you are better than that +king. I believe that he will rise in judgment and condemn many of +us.</p> +<p class="pn">All this happened long centuries ago. Let us get +down to this century, to this year, to ourselves. We will come to +the present time. Let us imagine that now, while I am preaching, +down come some balances from the throne of God. They are fastened +to the very throne itself. It is a throne of equity, of justice. +You and I must be weighed. I venture to say this would be a very +solemn audience. There would be no trifling. There would be no +indifference. No one would be thoughtless.</p> +<p class="pn">Some people have their own balances. A great many +are making balances to be weighed in. But after all we must be +weighed in God’s balances, the balances of the sanctuary. +It is a favorite thing with infidels to set their own standard, +to measure themselves by other people. But that will not do in +the Day of Judgment. Now we will use God’s law as a balance +weight. When men find fault with the lives of professing +Christians, it is a tribute to the law of God.</p> +<p class="pn">“Tekel.” It is a very short text. It is +so short I am sure you will remember it: and that is my object, +just to get people to remember God’s own Word.</p> +<h2>GOD’S HANDWRITING.</h2> +<p class="pn">Let me call your attention to the fact that God +wrote on the tables of stone at Sinai as well as on the wall of +Belshazzar’s palace.</p> +<p class="pn">These are the only messages to men that God has +written with His own hand. He wrote the commandments out twice, +and spoke them aloud in the hearing of Israel.</p> +<p class="pn">If it were known that God Himself was going to +speak once again to man, what eagerness and excitement there +would be. For nearly nineteen hundred years He has been silent. +No inspired message has been added to the Bible for nearly +nineteen hundred years. How eagerly all men would listen if God +should speak once more. Yet men forget that the Bible is +God’s own Word, and that it is as truly His message to-day +as when it was delivered of old. The law that was given at Sinai +has lost none of its solemnity. Time cannot wear out its +authority or the fact of its authorship.</p> +<p class="pn">I can imagine some one saying—“I +won’t be weighed by that law. I don’t believe in +it.”</p> +<p class="pn">Now men may cavil as much as they like about other +parts of the Bible, but I have never met an honest man that found +fault with the Ten Commandments. Infidels may mock the Lawgiver +and reject Him who has delivered us from the curse of the law, +but they can’t help admitting that the commandments are +right. Renan said that they are for all nations, and will remain +the commandments of God during all the centuries.</p> +<p class="pn">If God created this world, He must make some laws +to govern it. In order to make life safe we must have good laws; +there is not a country the sun shines upon that does not possess +laws. Now this is God’s law. It has come from on high, and +infidels and skeptics have to admit that it is pure. Legislatures +nearly all over the world adopt it as the foundation of their +legal systems.</p> +<p class="pn">“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting +the soul: the testimony of the Lord is pure, making wise the +simple: the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: +the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the +eyes.”</p> +<p class="pn">Now the question for you and me is—are we +keeping these commandments? Have we fulfilled all the +requirements of the law? If God made us, as we know He did, He +had a right to make that law; and if we don’t use it aright +it would have been better for us if we had never had it, for it +will condemn us. We shall be found wanting. The law is all right, +but are we right?</p> +<h2>AN INFIDEL’S TESTIMONY.</h2> +<p class="pn">It is related of a clever infidel that he sought an +acquaintance with the truths of the Bible, and began to read at +the books of Moses. He had been in the habit of sneering at the +Bible, and in order to be able to refute arguments brought by +Christian men, he made up his mind, as he knew nothing about it, +to read the Bible and get some idea of its contents. After he had +reached the Ten Commandments, he said to a friend:</p> +<p class="pn">“I will tell you what I <i>used</i> to think. +I supposed that Moses was the leader of a horde of banditti; +that, having a strong mind, he acquired great influence over a +superstitious people; and that on Mount Sinai he played off some +sort of fireworks to the amazement of his ignorant followers, who +imagined in their fear and superstition that the exhibition was +supernatural. I have been looking into the <i>nature</i> of that +law. I have been trying to see whether I could add anything to +it, or take anything from it, so as to make it better. Sir, I +cannot! It is perfect!</p> +<p class="pn">The first commandment directs us to make the +Creator the object of our supreme love and reverence. That is +right. If He be our Creator, Preserver, and Supreme Benefactor, +we ought to treat Him, and <i>none other</i>, as such. The second +forbids idolatry. That certainly is right. The third forbids +profanity. The fourth fixes a time for religious worship. If +there be a God, He ought surely to be worshipped. It is suitable +that there should be an outward homage significant of our inward +regard. If God be worshipped, it is proper that some <i>time</i> +should be set apart for that purpose, when all may worship Him +harmoniously, and without interruption. One day in seven is +certainly not too much, and I do not know that it is too +little.</p> +<p class="pn">The fifth commandment defines the peculiar duties +arising from family relations. Injuries to our neighbor are then +<i>classified</i> by the moral law. They are divided into +offences against life, chastity, property, and character; and I +notice that the greatest offence in each class is expressly +forbidden. Thus the greatest injury to life is murder; to +chastity, adultery; to property, theft; to character, perjury. +Now the greatest offence must include the least of the same kind. +Murder must include every injury to life; adultery every injury +to purity; and so of the rest. And the moral code is closed and +perfected by a command forbidding every improper <i>desire</i> in +regard to our neighbors.</p> +<p class="pn">I have been thinking, Where did Moses get that law? +I have read history. The Egyptians and the adjacent nations were +idolaters; so were the Greeks and Romans; and the wisest or best +Greeks or Romans never gave a code of morals like this. Where did +Moses obtain that law, which surpasses the wisdom and philosophy +of the most enlightened ages? He lived at a period comparatively +barbarous; but he has given a law in which the learning and +sagacity of all subsequent time can detect no flaw. Where did he +obtain it? He could not have soared so far above his age as to +have devised it himself. I am satisfied where he obtained it. It +came down from heaven. It has convinced me of the truth of the +religion of the Bible.”</p> +<p class="pn">The infidel, (now an infidel no longer), remained +to his death a firm believer in the truth of Christianity.</p> +<p class="pn">We call it the “Mosaic” Law, but it has +been well said that the commandments did not originate with +Moses, nor were they done away with when the Mosaic Law was +fulfilled in Christ, and many of its ceremonies and regulations +abolished. We can find no trace of the existence of any lawmaking +body in those early times, no parliament or congress that built +up a system of laws. It has come down to us complete and +finished, and the only satisfactory account is that which tells +us that God Himself wrote the commandments on tables of +stone.</p> +<h2>BINDING TO-DAY.</h2> +<p class="pn">Some people seem to think we have got beyond the +commandments. What did Christ say? “Think not that I am +come to destroy the law and the prophets; I am not come to +destroy but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and +earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from +the law, till all be fulfilled.” The commandments of God +given to Moses in the Mount at Horeb are as binding to-day as +ever they have been since the time when they were proclaimed in +the hearing of the people. The Jews said the law was not given in +Palestine, (which belonged to Israel), but in the wilderness, +because the law was for all nations.</p> +<p class="pn">Jesus never condemned the law and the prophets, but +He did condemn those who did not obey them. Because He gave new +commandments it does not follow that He abolished the old. +Christ’s explanation of them made them all the more +searching. In His Sermon on the Mount He carried the principles +of the commandments beyond the mere letter. He unfolded them and +showed that they embraced more, that they are positive as well as +prohibitive. The Old Testament closes with these words: +“Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded +unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and +judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the +coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall +turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of +the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth +with a curse.”</p> +<p class="pn">Does that look as if the law of Moses was becoming +obsolete?</p> +<p class="pn">The conviction deepens in me with the years that +the old truths of the Bible must be stated and restated in the +plainest possible language. I do not remember ever to have heard +a sermon preached on the commandments. I have an index of two +thousand five hundred sermons preached by Spurgeon, and not one +of them selects its text from the first seventeen verses of +Exodus xx. The people must be made to understand that the Ten +Commandments are still binding, and that there is a penalty +attached to their violation. We do not want a gospel of mere +sentiment. The Sermon on the Mount did not blot out the Ten +Commandments.</p> +<p class="pn">When Christ came He condensed the statement of the +law into this form: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with +all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy strength and +with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” Paul said: +“Love is the fulfilling of the law.” But does this +mean that the detailed precepts of the Decalogue are superseded, +and have become back numbers? Does a father cease to give +children rules to obey because they love him? Does a nation burn +its statute books because the people have become patriotic? Not +at all. And yet people speak as if the Commandments do not hold +for Christians because they have come to love God. Paul said: +“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid. +Yea, we establish the law.” It still holds good. The +commandments are necessary. So long as we obey, they do not rest +heavy upon us; but as soon as we try to break away, we find they +are like fences to keep us within bounds. Horses need bridles +even after they have been properly broken in.</p> +<p class="pn">“We know that the law is good if a man use it +lawfully; knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous +man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for +sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and +murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them +that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, +for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is +contrary to sound doctrine.”</p> +<p class="pn">Now, my friend, are you ready to be weighed by this +law of God? A great many people say that if they keep the +commandments, they do not need to be forgiven and saved through +Christ. But have you kept them? I will admit that if you +perfectly keep the commandments, you do not need to be saved by +Christ; but is there a man in the wide world who can truly say +that he has done this? Young lady, can you say: “I am ready +to be weighed by the law?” Can you, young man? Will you +step into the scales and be weighed one by one by the Ten +Commandments?</p> +<p class="pn">Now face these Ten Commandments honestly and +prayerfully. See if your life is right, and if you are treating +God fairly. God’s statutes are just, are they not? If they +are right, let us see if we are right. Let us pray that the Holy +Ghost may search each one of us. Let us get alone with God and +read His law—read it carefully and prayerfully, and ask Him +to show us our sins and what He would have us to do.</p> +<h1><a name="I" id="I">First Commandment</a></h1> +<p class="pt2">“T<span class="sc">hou shalt have no other +gods before me</span>.”</p> +<p class="pn">M<span class="sc">y</span> friend, are you ready to +be weighed against this commandment? Have you fulfilled, or are +you willing to fulfil, all the requirements of this law? Put it +into one of the scales, and step into the other. Is your heart +set upon God alone? Have you no other God? Do you love Him above +father or mother, the wife of your bosom, your children, home or +land, wealth or pleasure?</p> +<p class="pn">If men were true to this commandment, obedience to +the remaining nine would follow naturally. It is because they are +unsound in this that they break the others.</p> +<h2>FEELING AFTER GOD.</h2> +<p class="pn">Philosophers are agreed that even the most +primitive races of mankind reach out beyond the world of matter +to a superior Being. It is as natural for man to feel after God +as it is for the ivy to feel after a support. Hunger and thirst +drive him to seek for food, and there is a hunger of the soul +that needs satisfying, too. Man does not need to be commanded to +worship, as there is not a race so high or so low in the scale of +civilization but has some kind of a god. What he needs is to be +directed aright.</p> +<p class="pn">This is what the first commandment is for. Before +we can worship intelligently, we must know what or whom to +worship. God does not leave us in ignorance. When Paul vent to +Athens, he found an altar dedicated to “An Unknown +God,” and he proceeded to tell of Him whom we worship. When +God gave the commandments to Moses, He commenced with a +declaration of His own character, and demanded exclusive +recognition. “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought +thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou +shalt have no other gods before me.”</p> +<p class="pn">The Rev. Dr. Dale says these words have great +significance. “The Jews knew Jehovah as the God who had +held back the waves like a wall while they fled across the sea to +escape the vengeance of their enemies; they knew him as the God +who had sent thunder, and lightning, and hail, plagues on cattle, +and plagues on men, to punish the Egyptians and to compel them to +let the children of Israel go; they knew Him as the God whose +angel had slain the firstborn of their oppressors, and filled the +land from end to end with death, and agony, and terror. He was +the same God, so Moses and Aaron told them, who by visions and +voices, in promises and precepts, had revealed Himself long +before to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We learn what men are from +what they say and from what they do. A biography of Luther gives +a more vivid and trustworthy knowledge of the man than the most +philosophical essay on his character and creed. The story of his +imprisonment and of his journey to Worms, his Letters, his +Sermons, and his Table-Talk, are worth more than the most +elaborate speculations about him. The Jews learned what God is, +not from theological dissertations on the Divine attributes, but +from the facts of a Divine history. They knew Him for themselves +in His own acts and His own words.”</p> +<p class="pn">Some one asked an Arab: “How do you know that +there is a God?” “How do I know whether a man or a +camel passed my tent last night?” he replied. God’s +footprints in nature and in our own experience are the best +evidence of His existence and character.</p> +<h2>THE ISRAELITES WERE EXPOSED TO DANGER.</h2> +<p class="pn">Remember to whom this commandment was given, and we +shall see further how necessary it was. The forefathers of the +Israelites had worshipped idols, not many generations back. They +had recently been delivered out of Egypt, a land of many gods. +The Egyptians worshipped the sun, the moon, insects, animals, +etc. The ten plagues were undoubtedly meant by God to bring +confusion upon many of their sacred objects. The children of +Israel were going up to take possession of a land that was +inhabited by heathen, who also worshipped idols. There was +therefore great need of such a commandment as this. There could +be no right relationship between God and man in those days any +more than to-day, until man understood that he must recognize God +alone, and not offer Him a divided heart.</p> +<p class="pn">If He created us, He certainly ought to have our +homage. Is it not right that He should have the first and only +place in our affections?</p> +<h2>NO COMPROMISE.</h2> +<p class="pn">This is one matter in which no toleration can be +shown. Religious liberty is a good thing, within certain limits. +But it is one thing to show toleration to those who agree on +essentials, and another, to those who differ on fundamental +beliefs. They were willing to admit any god to the Roman +Pantheon. One reason why the early Christians were persecuted was +that they would not accept a place for Jesus Christ there. +Napoleon is said to have entertained the idea of having separate +temples in Paris for every known religion, so that every stranger +should have a place of worship when attracted toward that city. +Such plans are directly opposed to the Divine one. God sounded no +uncertain note in this commandment. It is plain, unmistakable, +uncompromising.</p> +<p class="pn">We may learn a lesson from the way a farmer deals +with the little shoots that spring up around the trunk of an +apple tree. They look promising, and one who has not learned +better might welcome their growth. But the farmer knows that they +will draw the life-sap from the main tree, injuring its prospects +so that it will produce inferior fruit. He therefore takes his +axe and his hoe, and cuts away these suckers. The tree then gives +a more plentiful and a finer crop.</p> +<h2>GOD’S PRUNING-KNIFE.</h2> +<p class="pn">“Thou shalt not” is the pruning-knife +that God uses. From beginning to end, the Bible calls for +wholehearted allegiance to Him. There is to be no compromise with +other gods.</p> +<p class="pn">It took long years for God to impress this lesson +upon the Israelites. He called them to be a chosen nation. He +made them a peculiar people. But you will notice in Bible history +that they turned away from Him continually, and were punished +with plague, pestilence, war and famine. Their sin was not that +they renounced God altogether, but that they wanted to worship +other gods beside Him. Take the case of Solomon as an example of +the whole nation. He married heathen wives who turned away his +heart after other gods, and built high places for their idols, +and lent countenance to their worship. That was the history of +frequent turnings of the whole nation away from God, until +finally He sent them into captivity in Babylon and kept them +there for seventy years. Since then the Jews have never turned to +other gods.</p> +<p class="pn">Hasn’t the church to contend with the same +difficulty to-day? There are very few who in their hearts do not +believe in God, but what they will not do is give Him exclusive +right of way. Missionaries tell us that they could easily get +converts if they did not require them to be baptized, thus +publicly renouncing their idols. Many a person in our land would +become a Christian if the gate was not so strait. Christianity is +too strict for them. They are not ready to promise full +allegiance to God alone. Many a professing Christian is a +stumbling-block because his worship is divided. On Sunday he +worships God; on week days God has little or no place in his +thoughts.</p> +<h2>FALSE GODS IN AMERICA TO-DAY.</h2> +<p class="pn">You don’t have to go to heathen lands to-day +to find false gods. America is full of them. Whatever you make +most of is your god. Whatever you love more than God is your +idol. Many a mans heart is like some Kaffirs’ huts, so full +of idols that there is hardly room to turn around. Rich and poor, +learned and unlearned, all classes of men and women are guilty of +this sin. “The mean man boweth down, and the great man +humbled himself.”</p> +<p class="pn">A man may make a god of himself, of a child, of a +mother, of some precious gift that God has bestowed upon him. He +may forget the Giver, and let his heart go out in adoration +toward the gift.</p> +<p class="pn">Many make a god of pleasure; that is what their +hearts are set on. If some old Greek or Roman came to life again +and saw men in a drunken debauch, would he believe that the +worship of Bacchus had died out? If he saw the streets of our +large cities filled with harlots, would he believe that the +worship of Venus had ceased?</p> +<p class="pn">Others take fashion as their god. They give their +time and thought to dress. They fear what others will think of +them. Do not let us flatter ourselves that all idolaters are in +heathen countries.</p> +<p class="pn">With many it is the god of money. We haven’t +got through worshipping the golden calf yet. If a man will sell +his principles for gold, isn’t he making it a god? If he +trusts in his wealth to keep him from want and to supply his +needs, are not riches his god? Many a man says, “Give me +money, and I will give you heaven. What care I for all the +glories and treasures of heaven? Give me treasures here! I +don’t care for heaven! I want to be a successful business +man.” How true are the words of Job: “If I have made +gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my +confidence; if I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and +because mine hand had begotten much; if I beheld the sun when it +shined, or the moon walking in brightness; and my heart hath been +secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: this also were +an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied +the God that is above.”</p> +<p class="pn">But all false gods are not as gross as these. There +is <i>the atheist</i>. He says that he does not believe in God; +he denies His existence, but he can’t help setting up some +other god in His place. Voltaire said, “If there were no +God, it would be necessary to invent one.” So the atheist +speaks of the Great Unknown, the First Cause, the Infinite Mind, +etc. Then there is <i>the deist</i>. He is a man who believes in +one God who caused all things: but he doesn’t believe in +revelation. He only accepts such truths as can be discovered by +reason. He doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ, or in the +inspiration of the Bible. Then there is <i>the pantheist</i>, who +says: “I believe that the whole universe is God. He is in +the air, the water, the sun, the stars.”; the liar and the +thief included.</p> +<h2>MOSES’ FAREWELL MESSAGE.</h2> +<p class="pn">Let me call your attention to a verse in the +thirty-second chapter of Deuteronomy, thirty-first verse: +“For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies +themselves being judges.”</p> +<p class="pn">These words were uttered by Moses, in his farewell +address to Israel. He had been with them forty years. He was +their leader and instructor. All the blessings of heaven came to +them through him. And now the old man is about to leave them. If +you have never read his speech, do so. It is one of the best +sermons in print. I know few sermons in the Old or New Testament +that compare with it.</p> +<p class="pn">I can see Moses as he delivers this address. His +natural activity has not abated. He still has the vigor of youth. +His long white hair flows over his shoulders, and his venerable +beard covers his breast. He throws down the challenge: +“Their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves +being judges.”</p> +<p class="pn">Has the human heart ever been satisfied with these +false gods? Can pleasure or riches fill the soul that is empty of +God? How about the atheist, the deist, the pantheist? What do +they look forward to? Nothing! Man’s life is full of +trouble; but when the billows of affliction and disappointment +are rising and rolling over them, they have no God to call upon. +“They shall cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense; +but they shall not save them at all in the time of their +trouble.” Therefore I contend “their rock is not as +our Rock.”</p> +<p class="pn">My friends, when the hour of affliction comes, they +call in a minister to give consolation. When I was settled in +Chicago, I used to be called out to attend many funerals. I would +inquire what the man was in his belief. If I found out he was an +atheist, or a deist, or a pantheist, when I went to the funeral +and in the presence of his friends said one word about that +man’s doctrine, they would feel insulted. Why is it that in +a trying hour, when they have been talking all the time against +God—why is it that in the darkness of affliction they call +in believers in that God to administer consolation? Why +doesn’t the atheist preach no hereafter, no heaven, no God, +in the hour of affliction? This very fact is an admission that +“their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves +being judges.”</p> +<p class="pn">The deist says there is no use in praying, because +nothing can change the decrees of deity; God never answers +prayer. Is his rock as our Rock?</p> +<p class="pn">The Bible is true. There is only one God. How many +men have said to me: “Mr. Moody, I would give the world if +I had your faith, your consolation, the hope you have with your +religion.”</p> +<p class="pn">Isn’t that a proof that their rock is not as +our Rock?</p> +<p class="pn">Some years ago I went into a man’s house, and +when I commenced to talk about religion he turned to his daughter +and said: “You had better leave the room. I want to say a +few words to Mr. Moody.” When she had gone, he opened a +perfect torrent of infidelity upon me. “Why did you send +your daughter out of the room before you said this?” I +asked. “Well,” he replied, “I did not think it +would do her any good to hear what I said.”</p> +<p class="pn">Is his rock as our Rock? Would he have sent his +daughter out if he really believed what he said?</p> +<h2>NO CONSOLATION EXCEPT IN GOD.</h2> +<p class="pn">No. There is no satisfaction for the soul except in +the God of the Bible. We come back to Paul’s words, and get +consolation for time and eternity:—“We know that an +idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God +but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in +heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) yet +to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, +and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, +and we by Him.”</p> +<p class="pn">My friend, can you say that sincerely? Is all your +hope centred on God in Christ? Are you trusting Him alone? Are +you ready to step into the scales and be weighed against this +first commandment?</p> +<h2>WHOLE-HEARTED ALLEGIANCE.</h2> +<p class="pn">God will not accept a divided heart. He must be +absolute monarch. There is not room in your heart for two +thrones. Christ said: “No man can serve two masters; for +either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will +hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and +Mammon.” Mark you, He did not say—“No man +<i>shall</i> serve. . . . Ye <i>shall</i> not serve. . . +.”, but “No man <i>can</i> serve. . . . Ye <i>can</i> +not serve. . . .” That means more than a command; it means +that you cannot mix the worship of the true God with the worship +of another god any more than you can mix oil and water. It cannot +be done. There is not room for any other throne in the heart if +Christ is there. If worldliness should come in, godliness would +go out.</p> +<p class="pn">The road to heaven and the road to hell lead in +different directions. Which master will you choose to follow? Be +an out-and-out Christian. “Him only shalt thou +serve.” Only thus can you be well pleasing to God. The Jews +were punished with seventy years of captivity because they +worshipped false gods. They have suffered nearly nineteen hundred +years because they rejected the Messiah. Will you incur +God’s displeasure by rejecting Christ too? He died to save +you. Trust him with your whole heart, for with the heart man +believeth unto righteousness.</p> +<p class="pn">I believe that when Christ has the first place in +our hearts—when the kingdom of God is first in +everything—we shall have power, and we shall not have power +until we give Him His rightful place. If we let some false god +come in and steal our love away from the God of heaven, we shall +have no peace or power.</p> +<h1><a name="II" id="II">Second Commandment</a></h1> +<p class="pt1">“T<span class="sc">hou shalt not make unto +thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in +heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the +water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, +nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous</span> God, +<span class="sc">visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the +children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate +Me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and +keep My commandments</span>.”</p> +<p class="pn">T<span class="sc">he</span> first commandment, +which we have just considered, points out the one true object of +worship; this commandment is to tell us the right way in which to +worship. The former commands us to worship God alone; this calls +for purity and spirituality as we approach Him. The former +condemns the worship of false gods; this prohibits false forms. +It relates more especially to outward acts of worship; but these +are only the expression of what is in the heart.</p> +<p class="pn">Perhaps you will say that there is no trouble about +this weight. We might go off to other ages or other lands, and +find people who make images and bow down to them; but we have +none here. Let us see if this is true. Let us step into the +scales and see if we can turn them when weighed against this +commandment.</p> +<p class="pn">I believe this is where the battle is fought. Satan +tries to keep us from worshipping God aright, and from making Him +first in everything. If I let some image made by man get into my +heart and take the place of God the Creator, it is a sin. I +believe that Satan is willing to have us worship anything, +however sacred,—the Bible, the crucifix, the +church,—if only we do not worship God Himself.</p> +<p class="pn">You cannot find a place in the Bible where a man +has been allowed to bow down and worship any one but the God of +heaven and Jesus Christ His Son. In the Book of Revelation, when +an angel came down to John, he was about to fall down and worship +him, but the angel would not let him. If an angel from heaven is +not to be worshipped, when you find people bowing down to +pictures, to images, even when they bow down to worship the +cross, <i>it is a sin</i>. There are a great many who seem to be +carried away with these things. “Thou shalt have no other +gods before Me.” “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to +any graven image.” God wants us to worship Him only, and if +we do not believe that Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh +we should not worship Him. I have no more doubt about the +divinity of Christ than I have that I exist.</p> +<p class="pn">Worship involves two things: the internal belief, +and the external act. We transgress in our hearts by having a +wrong conception of God and of Jesus Christ before ever we give +public expression in action. As some one has said, it is wrong to +have loose opinions as well as to be guilty of loose practices. +That is what Paul meant when he said: “We ought not to +<i>think</i> that the Godhead is like unto gold or silver or +stone, graven by art or man’s device.” The opinions +that some people hold about Christ are not in accordance with the +Bible, and are real violations of this second commandment.</p> +<h2>A QUESTION.</h2> +<p class="pn">The question at once arises—is this +commandment intended to forbid the use of drawings and pictures +of created things altogether? Some contend that it does. They +point to the Jews and the Mohammedans as a proof. The Jews have +never been much given to art. The Mohammedans to this day do not +use designs of animals, etc., in patterns. But I do not agree +with them. I think God only meant to forbid images and other +representations when these were intended to be used as objects of +religious veneration. “Thou shalt not make <i>unto +thee</i>. . . . Thou shalt not <i>bow down thyself</i> to them, +nor <i>serve</i> them.” In Exodus we are told that God +ordered the bowls of the golden candlestick for the tabernacle to +be made “like unto almonds, with a knop and a +flower;” and the robe of the ephod had a hem on which they +were to put a bell and a pomegranate alternately. How could God +order something that broke this second commandment?</p> +<p class="pn">I believe that this commandment is a call for +spiritual worship. It is in line with Christ’s declaration +to that Samaritan woman—“God is a spirit, and they +that worship Him must worship Him in <i>spirit</i> and in +<i>truth</i>.”</p> +<p class="pn">This is precisely what is difficult for men to do. +The apostles were hardly in their graves before they began to put +up images of them, and to worship relics. People have a desire +for something tangible, something that they can see. It is so +much easier to live in the sense than in the spirit. That is why +there is a demand for ritualism. Some people are born Puritans; +they want a simple form of worship. Others think they cannot get +along without forms and ceremonies that appeal to the senses. And +many a one whose heart is not sincere before God takes refuge in +these forms, and eases his conscience by making an outward show +of religion.</p> +<p class="pn">The second commandment is to restrain this desire +and tendency.</p> +<p class="pn">God is grieved when we are untrue to Him. God is +Love, and He is wounded when our affections are transferred to +anything else. The penalty attached to this commandment teaches +us that man has to reap what he sows, whether good or bad; and +not only that, but his children have to reap with him. Notice +that punishment is visited upon the children unto the +<i>third</i> or the <i>fourth</i> generation, while mercy is +shown unto thousands, or (as it is more correctly) unto the +<i>thousandth</i> generation.</p> +<h2>THE FOLLY OF IMAGES.</h2> +<p class="pn">Think for a moment, and you will see how idle it is +to try to make any representation of God. Christians have tried +to paint the Trinity, but how can you depict the Invisible? Can +you draw a picture of your own soul or spirit or will? Moses +impressed it upon Israel that when God spake to them out of the +midst of the fire they saw no manner of similitude, but only +heard His voice.</p> +<p class="pn">A picture or image of God must degrade our +conception of Him. It fastens us down to one idea, whereas we +ought to grow in grace and in knowledge. It makes God finite. It +brings him down to our level. It has given rise to the horrible +idols of India and China, because they fashion these images +according to their own notions. How would the president feel if +Americans made such hideous objects to resemble him as they make +of their gods in heathen countries? Isaiah bore down with +tremendous irony upon the folly of idol makers: upon the smith +who fashioned gods with tongs and hammers; and upon the carpenter +who took a tree, and used part of it for a fire to warm himself +and roast his meat, and made part of it in the figure of a man +with his rule and plane and compass, and called it his god and +worshipped it. “A deceived heart hath turned him +aside.”</p> +<p class="pn">A man must be greater than anything he is able to +make or manufacture. What folly then to think of worshipping such +things!</p> +<p class="pn">The tendency of the human heart to represent God by +something that appeals to the senses is the origin of all +idolatry. It leads directly to image-worship. At first there may +be no desire to worship the thing itself, but it inevitably ends +in that. As Dr. MacLaren says: “Enlisting the senses as +allies of the spirit is risky work. They are apt to fight for +their own band when they once begin, and the history of all +symbolical and ceremonial worship shows that the experiment is +much more likely to end in sensualizing religion than in +spiritualizing sense.”</p> +<h2>PICTURES AND IMAGES.</h2> +<p class="pn">But some one says—“I find pictures are +a great help to me, and images. I know that they are not +themselves sacred, but they help me in my devotions to fix my +thoughts on God.”</p> +<p class="pn">When Dr. Trumbull was in Northfield, he used an +illustration that is a good answer to this. He said, +“Suppose a young man were watching from a window for his +absent mother’s return, with a wish to catch the first +glimpse of her approaching face. Would he be wise or foolish in +putting up a photograph of her on the window-frame before him, as +a help to bear her in as he looks for her coming? As there can be +no doubt about the answer to that question, so there can be no +doubt that we can best come into communion with God by closing +our eyes to everything that can be seen with the natural eye, and +opening the eyes of our spirit to the sight of God the +Spirit.”</p> +<p class="pn">I would a great deal sooner have five minutes +communion with Christ than spend years before pictures and images +of Him. Whatever comes between my soul and my Maker is not a help +to me, but a hindrance. God has given different means of grace by +which we can approach Him. Let us use these, and not seek for +other things that He has distinctly forbidden.</p> +<p class="pn">Dr. Dale says that in his college days he had an +engraving of our Lord hanging over his mantlepiece. “The +calmness, the dignity, the gentleness, and the sadness of the +face represented the highest conceptions which I had in those +days of the human presence of Christ. I often looked at it, and +seldom without being touched by it. I discovered in the course of +a few mouths that the superstitious sentiments were gradually +clustering about it, which are always created by the visible +representations of the Divine. The engraving was becoming to me +the shrine of God manifest in the flesh, and I understood the +growth of idolatry. The visible symbol is at first a symbol and +nothing more; it assists thought; it stirs passion. At last it is +identified with the God whom it represents. If, every day, I bow +before a crucifix in prayer, if I address it as though it were +Christ, though I know it is not, I shall come to feel for it a +reverence and love which are of the very essence of +idolatry.”</p> +<p class="pn">Did you ever stop to think that the world has not a +single picture of Christ that has been handed down to us from His +disciples? Who knows what He was like? The Bible does not tell us +how He looked, except in one or two isolated general expressions +as when it says—“His visage was so marred more than +any man, and His form more than the sons of men.” We +don’t know anything definite about His features, the color +of His hair and eyes, and the other details that would help to +give a true representation. What artist can tell us? He left no +keepsakes to His disciples. His clothes were seized by the Roman +soldiers who crucified Him. Not a solitary thing was left to be +handed down among His followers. Doesn’t it look as if +Christ left no relics lest they should be held sacred and +worshipped?</p> +<p class="pn">History tells us further that the early Christians +shrank from making pictures and statues of any kind of Christ. +They knew Him as they had seen Him after His resurrection, and +had promises of His continued presence that pictures could not +make any more real.</p> +<p class="pn">I have seen very few pictures of Christ that do not +repel me more or less. I sometimes think that it is wrong to have +pictures of Him at all.</p> +<p class="pn">Speaking of the crucifix Dr. Dale says; “It +makes our worship and prayer unreal. We are adoring a Christ who +does not exist. He is not on the cross now, but on the throne. +His agonies are passed forever. He has risen from the dead. He is +at the right hand of God. If we pray to a dying Christ, we are +praying not to Christ Himself, but to a mere remembrance of Him. +The injury which the crucifix has inflicted on the religious life +of Christendom, in encouraging a morbid and unreal devotion, is +absolutely incalculable. It has given us a dying Christ instead +of a living Christ, a Christ separated from us by many centuries +instead of a Christ nigh at hand.”</p> +<h2>THE INDWELLING CHRIST.</h2> +<p class="pn">No one can say that we have nowadays any need of +such things. “Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any +man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and +will sup with him, and he with me.” If Christ is in our +hearts, why need we set Him before our eyes? “Where two or +three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst +of them.” If we take hold of that promise by faith, what +need is there of outward symbols and reminders? If the King +Himself is present, why need we bow down before statues supposed +to represent Him? To fill His place with an image (some one has +said,) is like blotting the sun out of the heavens and +substituting some other light in its place. “You cannot see +Him through chinks of ceremonialism; or through the blind eyes of +erring man; or by images graven with art and man’s device; +or in cunningly devised fables of artificial and perverted +theology. Nay, seek Him in His own Word, in the revelation of +Himself which He gives to all who walk in His ways. So you will +be able to keep that admonition of the last word of all the New +Testament revelation: ‘Little children, keep yourselves +from idols.’”</p> +<p class="pn">I believe many an earnest Christian would be found +wanting if put in the balances against this commandment. +“Tekel” is the sentence that would be written against +them, because their worship of God and of Christ is not pure. May +God open our eyes to the danger that is creeping more and more +into public worship throughout Christendom! Let us ever bear in +mind Christ’s words in the fourth chapter of John’s +gospel, which show that true spiritual worship is not a matter of +special times and special places because it is of all times and +all places:</p> +<p class="pn">“Believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall +neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the +Father. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true +worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for +the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they +that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in +truth.”</p> +<h1><a name="III" id="III">Third Commandment</a></h1> +<p class="pt1">“T<span class="sc">hou shalt not take the +name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him +guiltless that taketh His name in vain</span>.”</p> +<p class="pn">I <span class="sc">was</span> greatly amazed not +long ago in talking to a man who thought he was a Christian, to +find that once in a while, when he got angry, he would swear. I +said: “My friend, I don’t see how you can tear down +with one hand what you are trying to build up with the other. I +don’t see how you can profess to be a child of God and let +those words come out of your lips.”</p> +<p class="pn">He replied: “Mr. Moody, if you knew me you +would understand. I have a very quick temper. I inherited it from +my father and mother, and it is uncontrollable; but my swearing +comes only from the lips.”</p> +<p class="pn">When God said, “I will not hold him guiltless +that takes My name in vain,” He meant what He said, and I +don’t believe any one can be a true child of God who takes +the name of God in vain. What is the grace of God for, if it is +not to give me control of my temper so that I shall not lose +control and bring down the curse of God upon myself? When a man +is born of God, God takes the “swear” out of him. +Make the fountain good, and the stream will be good. Let the +heart be right; then the language will be right; the whole life +will be right. But no man can serve God and keep His law until he +is born of God. There we see the necessity of the new birth.</p> +<p class="pn">To take God’s name “in vain” +means either (1) lightly, without thinking, flippantly; or (2) +profanely, deceitfully.</p> +<h2>USING GOD’S NAME IRREVERENTLY.</h2> +<p class="pn">I think it is shocking to use God’s name with +so little reverence as is common nowadays, even among professing +Christians. We are told that the Jews held it so sacred that the +covenant name of God was never mentioned amongst them except once +a year by the high priest on the Day of Atonement, when he went +into the holy of holies. What a contrast that is to the familiar +use Christians make of it in public and private worship! We are +apt to rush into God’s presence, and rush out again, +without any real sense of the reverence and awe that is due Him. +We forget that we are on holy ground.</p> +<p class="pn">Do you know how often the word +“reverend” occurs in the Bible? Only once. And what +is it used in connection with? God’s name. Psalm cxi. 9: +“H<span class="sc">oly and reverend is His +name</span>.” So important did the Jewish rabbis consider +this commandment that they said the whole world trembled when it +was first proclaimed on Sinai.</p> +<h2>USING GOD’S NAME PROFANELY.</h2> +<p class="pn">But though there is far too much of this frivolous, +familiar use of God’s name, the commandment is broken a +great deal more by profanity. Taking the name of God in vain is +blasphemy. Is there a swearing man who reads this? What would you +do if you were put into the balances of the sanctuary, if you had +to step in opposite to this third commandment? Think a moment. +Have you been taking God’s name in vain to-day?</p> +<p class="pn">I do not believe men would ever have been guilty of +swearing unless God had forbidden it. They do not swear by their +friends, their fathers or mothers, their wives or children. They +want to show how they despise God’s law.</p> +<p class="pn">A great many men think there is nothing in +swearing. Bear in mind that God sees something wrong in it, and +He says He will not hold men guiltless, even though society +does.</p> +<p class="pn">I met a man sometime ago who told me he had never +sinned in his life. He was the first perfect man I had ever met. +I thought I would question him, and began to measure him by the +law. I asked him: “Do you ever get angry?” +“Well,” he said, “sometimes I do; but I have a +right to do so. It is righteous indignation.” “Do you +swear when you get angry?” He admitted he did sometimes. +“Then,” I asked, “are you ready to meet +God?” “Yes,” he replied, “because I never +mean anything when I swear.”</p> +<p class="pn">Suppose I steal a man’s watch and he comes +after me.</p> +<p class="pn">“Yes,” I say, “I stole your watch +and pawned it, but <i>I did not mean anything by it</i>. I pawned +it and spent the money, but <i>I did not mean anything by +it</i>.”</p> +<p class="pn">You would smile at and deride such a statement.</p> +<p class="pn">Ah, friends! You cannot trifle with God in that +way. Even if you swear without meaning it, it is forbidden by +God. Christ said: “Every idle word that men shall speak, +they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment; for by +thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be +condemned.” You will be held accountable whether your words +are <i>idle</i> or <i>blasphemous</i>.</p> +<h2>A SENSELESS HABIT.</h2> +<p class="pn">The habit of swearing is condemned by all sensible +persons. It has been called “the most gratuitous of all +sins,” because no one gains by it; it is “not only +sinful, but useless.” An old writer said that when the +accusing angel, who records men’s words, flies up to heaven +with an oath, he blushes as he hands it in.</p> +<p class="pn">When a man blasphemes, he shows an utter contempt +for God. I was in the army during the war, and heard men cursing +and swearing. Some godly woman would pass along the ranks looking +for her wounded son, and not an oath would be heard. They would +not swear before their mothers, or their wives, or their sisters; +they had more respect for them than they had for God!</p> +<p class="pn">Isn’t it a terrible condemnation that +swearing held its own until it came to be recognized as a vulgar +thing, a sin against society? Men dropped it then, who never +thought of its being a sin against God.</p> +<p class="pn">There will be no swearing men in the kingdom of +God. They will have to drop that sin, and repent of it, before +they see the kingdom of God.</p> +<h2>HOW TO KEEP FROM SWEARING.</h2> +<p class="pn">Men often ask: “How can I keep from +swearing?” I will tell you. If God puts His love into your +heart, you will have no desire to curse Him. If you have much +regard for God, you will no more think of cursing Him than you +would think of speaking lightly or disparagingly of a mother whom +you love. But the natural man is at enmity with God, and has +utter contempt for His law. When that law is written on his +heart, there will be no trouble in obeying it.</p> +<p class="pn">When I was out west about thirty years ago, I was +preaching one day in the open air, when a man drove up in a fine +turn-out, and after listening a little while to what I was +saying, he put the whip to his fine-looking Steed, and away he +went. I never expected to see him again, but the next night he +came back, and he kept on coming regularly night after night.</p> +<p class="pn">I noticed that his forehead itched—you have +noticed people who keep putting their hands to their +foreheads?—he didn’t want any one to see him shedding +tears—of course not! It is not a manly thing to shed tears +in a religions meeting, of course!</p> +<p class="pn">After the meeting I said to a gentleman: “Who +is that man who drives up here every night? Is he +interested?” “Interested! I should think not! You +should have heard the way he talked about you today.” +“Well,” I said, “that is a sign he is +interested.”</p> +<p class="pn">If no man ever has anything to say against you, +your Christianity isn’t worth much. Men said of the Master, +“He has a devil,” and Jesus said that if they had +called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of +his household.</p> +<p class="pn">I asked where this man lived, but my friend told me +not to go to see him, for he would only curse me. I said: +“It takes God to curse a man; man can only bring curses on +his own head.” I found out where he lived, and went to see +him. He was the wealthiest man within a hundred miles of that +place, and had a wife and seven beautiful children. Just as I got +to his gate I saw him coming out of the front door. I stepped up +to him and said: “This is Mr.—, I believe?” He +said: “Yes, sir; that is my name.” Then he +straightened up and asked—“What do you want?” +“Well,” I said, “I would like to ask you a +question, if you won’t be angry.” “Well, what +is it?” “I am told that God has blessed you above all +men in this part of the country; that He has given you wealth, a +beautiful Christian wife, and seven lovely children. I do not +know if it is true, but I hear that all He gets in return is +cursing and blasphemy.” He said, “Come in; come +in.” I went in. “Now,” he said, “what you +said out there is true. If any man has a fine wife I am the man, +and I have a lovely family of children, and God has been good to +me. But do you know, we had company here the other night, and I +cursed my wife at the table, and did not know it till after the +company had gone. I never felt so mean and contemptible in my +life as when my wife told me of it. She said she wanted the floor +to open and let her down out of her seat. If I have tried once, I +have tried a hundred times to stop swearing. You preachers +don’t know anything about it.” “Yes,” I +said, “I know all about it; I have been a drummer.” +“But,” he said, “you don’t know anything +about a business-man’s troubles. When he is harassed and +tormented the whole time, he can’t help swearing.” +“Oh, yes,” I said, “he can. I know something +about it. I used to swear myself.” “What! You used to +swear?” he asked; “how did you stop?” “I +never stopped.” “Why, you don’t swear now, do +you?” “No; I have not sworn for years.” +“How did you stop?” “I never stopped. It +stopped itself.” He said, “I don’t understand +this.” “No,” I said, “I know you +don’t. But I came up to talk to you, so that you will never +want to swear again as long as you live.”</p> +<p class="pn">I began to tell him about Christ in the heart; how +that would take the temptation to swear out of a man,</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” he said, “how am I to get +Christ?” “Get right down here and tell Him what you +want.” “But,” he said, “I was never on my +knees in my life. I have been cursing all the day, and I +don’t know how to pray or what to pray for.” +“Well,” I said, “it is mortifying to have to +call on God for mercy when you have never used His name except in +oaths; but He will not turn you away. Ask God to forgive you if +you want to be forgiven.”</p> +<p class="pn">Then the man got down and prayed—only a few +sentences, but thank God, it is the short prayers, after all, +which bring the quickest answers. After he prayed he got up and +said: “What shall I do now?” I said, “Go down +to the church and tell the people there that you want to be an +out-and-out Christian.” “I cannot do that,” he +said; “I never go to church except to some funeral.” +“Then it is high time for you to go for something +else,” I said.</p> +<p class="pn">After a while he promised to go, but did not know +what the people would say. At the next church prayer-meeting, the +man was there, and I sat right in front of him. He stood up and +put his hands on the settee, and he trembled so much that I could +feel the settee shake. He said:</p> +<p class="pn">“My friends, you know all about me. If God +can save a wretch like me, I want to have you pray for my +salvation.”</p> +<p class="pn">That was thirty odd years ago. Sometime ago I was +back in that town, and did not see him; but when I was in +California, a man asked me to take dinner with him. I told him +that I could not do so, for I had another engagement. Then he +asked if I remembered him, and told me his name. +“Oh,” I said, “tell me, have you ever sworn +since that night you knelt in your drawing-room, and asked God to +forgive you?” “No,” he replied, “I have +never had a desire to swear since then. It was all taken +away.”</p> +<p class="pn">He was not only converted, but became an earnest, +active Christian, and all these years has been serving God. That +is what will take place when a man is born of the divine +nature.</p> +<p class="pn">Is there a swearing man ready to put this +commandment into the scales, and step in to be weighed? Suppose +you swear only once in six months or a year—suppose you +swear only once in ten years—do you think God will hold you +guiltless for that act? It shows that your heart is not clean in +God’s sight. What are you going to do, blasphemer? Would +you not be found wanting? You would be like a feather in the +balance.</p> +<h1><a name="IV" id="IV">Fourth Commandment</a></h1> +<p class="pt1">“R<span class="sc">emember the sabbath day, +to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: +but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it +thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, +thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy +stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made +heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested +the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and +hallowed it</span>.”</p> +<p class="pn">T<span class="sc">here</span> has been an awful +letting-down in this country regarding the sabbath during the +last twenty-five years, and many a man has been shorn of +spiritual power, like Samson, because he is not straight on this +question. Can <i>you</i> say that you observe the sabbath +properly? You may be a professed Christian: are you obeying this +commandment? Or do you neglect the house of God on the sabbath +day, and spend your time drinking and carousing in places of vice +and crime, showing contempt for God and His law? Are you ready to +step into the scales? Where were you last sabbath? How did you +spend it?</p> +<p class="pn">I honestly believe that this commandment is just as +binding to-day as it ever was. I have talked with men who have +said that it has been abrogated, but they have never been able to +point to any place in the Bible where God repealed it. When +Christ was on earth, He did nothing to set it aside; He freed it +from the traces under which the scribes and Pharisees had put it, +and gave it its true place. “The sabbath was made for man, +not man for the sabbath.” It is just as practicable and as +necessary for men to-day as it ever was—in fact, more than +ever, because we live in such an intense age.</p> +<p class="pn">The sabbath was binding in Eden, and it has been in +force ever since. This fourth commandment begins with the word +“remember,” showing that the sabbath already existed +when God wrote this law on the tables of stone at Sinai. How can +men claim that this one commandment has been done away with when +they will admit that the other nine are still binding?</p> +<p class="pn">I believe that the sabbath question to-day is a +vital one for the whole country. It is the burning question of +the present time. If you give up the sabbath the church goes; if +you give up the church the home goes; and if the home goes the +nation goes. That is the direction in which we are traveling.</p> +<p class="pn">The church of God is losing its power on account of +so many people giving up the sabbath, and using it to promote +selfishness.</p> +<h2>HOW TO OBSERVE THE SABBATH.</h2> +<p class="pn">“Sabbath” means “rest,” and +the meaning of the word gives a hint as to the true way to +observe the day. God rested after creation, and ordained the +sabbath as a rest for man. He blessed it and hallowed it. +“Remember <i>the rest-day</i> to keep it +<i>holy</i>.” It is the day when the body may be refreshed +and strengthened after six days of labor, and the soul drawn into +closer fellowship with its Maker.</p> +<p class="pn">True observance of the sabbath may be considered +under two general heads: cessation from ordinary secular work, +and religious exercises.</p> +<h2>I.—CESSATION FROM SECULAR WORK.</h2> +<p class="pn">A man ought to turn aside from his ordinary +employment one day in seven. There are many whose occupation will +not permit them to observe Sunday, but they should observe some +other day as a sabbath. Saturday is my day of rest because I +generally preach on Sunday, and I look forward to it as a boy +does to a holiday. God knows what we need.</p> +<p class="pn">Ministers and missionaries often tell me that they +take no rest-day; they do not need it because they are in the +Lord’s work. That is a mistake. When God was giving Moses +instructions about the building of the tabernacle, He referred +especially to the sabbath, and gave injunctions for its strict +observance; and later, when Moses was conveying the words of the +Lord to the children of Israel, he interpreted them by saying +that not even were sticks to be gathered on the sabbath to kindle +fires for smelting or other purposes. In spite of their zeal and +haste to erect the tabernacle, the workmen were to have their day +of rest. The command applies to ministers and others engaged in +Christian work to-day as much as to those Israelite workmen of +old.</p> +<h2>WORKS OF NECESSITY AND OF EMERGENCY.</h2> +<p class="pn">In judging whether any work may or may not be +lawfully done on the sabbath, find out the reason and object for +doing it. Exceptions are to be made for works of necessity and +works of emergency. By ”<i>works of necessity</i>” I +mean those acts that Christ justified when He approved of leading +one’s ox or ass to water. Watchmen, police, stokers on +board steamers, and many others have engagements that necessitate +their working on the sabbath. By ”<i>works of +emergency</i>” I mean those referred to by Christ when He +approved of pulling an ox or an ass out of a pit on the sabbath +day. In case of fire or sickness a man is often called on to do +things that would not otherwise be justifiable.</p> +<p class="pn">A Christian man was once urged by his employer to +work on Sunday. “Does not your Bible say that if your ass +falls into a pit on the sabbath, you may pull him out?” +“Yes,” replied the other; “but if the ass had +the habit of falling into the same pit every sabbath, I would +either fill up the pit or sell the ass.”</p> +<p class="pn">Every man must settle the question as it effects +unnecessary work, with his own conscience.</p> +<p class="pn">No man should make another work seven days in the +week. One day is demanded for rest. A man who has to work the +seven days has nothing to look forward to, and life becomes +humdrum. Many Christians are guilty in this respect.</p> +<h2>SABBATH TRAVELING.</h2> +<p class="pn">Take, for instance, the question of sabbath +traveling. I believe we are breaking God’s laws by using +the cars on Sunday and depriving conductors and others of their +sabbath. Remember the fourth commandment expressly refers to +“the stranger that is within thy gates.” +Doesn’t that touch sabbath travel?</p> +<p class="pn">But you ask, “What are we to do? How are we +to get to church?”</p> +<p class="pn">I reply, on foot. It will be better for you. Once +when I was holding meetings in London, in my ignorance I made +arrangements to preach four times in different places one +sabbath. After I had made the appointments I found I had to walk +sixteen miles; but I walked it, and I slept that night with a +clear conscience. I have made it a rule never to use the cars, +and if I have a private carriage, I insist that horse and man +shall rest on Monday. I want no hackman to rise up in judgment +against me.</p> +<p class="pn">My friends, if we want to help the sabbath, let +business men and Christians never patronize cars on the sabbath. +I would hate to own stock in those companies, to be the means of +taking the sabbath from these men, and have to answer for it at +the day of judgment. Let those who are Christians at any rate +endeavor to keep a conscience void of offence on this point.</p> +<h2>SABBATH TRADING.</h2> +<p class="pn">There are many who are inclined to use the sabbath +in order to make money faster. This is no new sin. The prophet +Amos hurled his invectives against oppressors who said, +“When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and +the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat?”</p> +<p class="pn">Covetous men have always chafed under the +restraint, but not until the present time do we find that they +have openly counted on sabbath trade to make money. We are told +that many street car companies would not pay if it were not for +the sabbath traffic, and the sabbath edition of newspapers is +also counted upon as the most profitable.</p> +<p class="pn">The railroad men of this country are breaking down +with softening of the brain, and die at the age of fifty or +sixty. They think their business is so important that they must +run their trains seven days in the week. Business men travel on +the sabbath so as to be on hand for business Monday morning. But +if they do so God will not prosper them.</p> +<p class="pn">Work is good for man and is commanded, “Six +days shalt thou labor;” but overwork and work on the +sabbath takes away the best thing he has.</p> +<h2>NECESSARY AND BENEFICIAL.</h2> +<p class="pn">The good effect on a nation’s health and +happiness produced by the return of the sabbath, with its +cessation from work, cannot be overestimated. It is needed to +repair and restore the body after six days of work. It is proved +that a man can do more in six days than in seven. Lord +Beaconsfield. said: “Of all divine institutions, the most +divine is that which secures a day of rest for man. I hold it to +be the most valuable blessing conceded to man. It is the +corner-stone of all civilization, and its removal might affect +even the health of the people.” Mr. Gladstone recently told +a friend that the secret of his long life is that amid all the +pressure of public cares he never forgot the sabbath, with its +rest for the body and the soul. The constitution of the United +States protects the president in his weekly day of rest. He has +ten days, “Sundays excepted,” in which to consider a +bill that has been sent to him for signature. Every workingman in +the republic ought to be as thoroughly protected as the +president. If workingmen got up a strike against unnecessary work +on the sabbath, they would have the sympathy of a good many.</p> +<p class="pn">“Our bodies are seven-day clocks,” says +Talmage, “and they need to be wound up, and if they are not +wound up they run down into the grave. No man can continuously +break the sabbath and keep his physical and mental health. Ask +aged men, and they will tell you they never knew men who +continuously broke the sabbath, who did not fail in mind, body, +or moral principles.”</p> +<p class="pn">All that has been said about rest for man is true +for working animals. God didn’t forget them in this +commandment, and man should not forget them either.</p> +<h2>II.—RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.</h2> +<p class="pn">But “rest” does not mean idleness. No +man enjoys idleness for any length of time. When one goes on a +vacation, one does not lie around doing nothing all the time. +Hard work at tennis, hunting, and other pursuits fills the hours. +A healthy mind must find something to do.</p> +<p class="pn">Hence the sabbath rest does not mean inactivity. +“Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to +do.” The best way to keep off bad thoughts and to avoid +temptation is to engage in active religious exercises.</p> +<p class="pn">As regards these, we should avoid extremes. On the +one hand we find a rigor in sabbath observance that is nowhere +commanded in Scripture, and that reminds one of the formalism of +the Pharisees more than of the spirit of the gospel. Such +strictness does more harm than good. It repels people and makes +the sabbath a burden. On the other hand we should jealously guard +against a loose way of keeping the sabbath. Already in many +cities it is profaned openly.</p> +<p class="pn">When I was a boy the sabbath lasted from sundown on +Saturday to sundown on Sunday, and I remember how we boys used to +shout when it was over. It was the worst day in the week to us. I +believe it can be made the brightest day in the week. Every child +ought to be reared so that he shall be able to say, with a +friend, that he would rather have the other six days weeded out +of his memory than the sabbath of his childhood.</p> +<h2>PUBLIC WORSHIP.</h2> +<p class="pn">Make the sabbath a day of religious activity. First +of all, of course, is attendance at public worship. “There +is a discrepancy,” says John McNeill, “between our +creed about the sabbath day and our actual conduct. In many +families, at ten o’clock on the sabbath, attendance at +church is still an open question. There is no open question on +Monday morning—‘John, will you go to work +to-day?’”</p> +<p class="pn">A minister rebuked a farmer for not attending +church, and said, “You know John you are never absent from +market.”</p> +<p class="pn">“O,” was the reply, “we +<i>must</i> go to market.”</p> +<p class="pn">Some one has said that without the sabbath the +church of Christ could not, as a visible organization, exist on +earth. Another has said that “we need to be in the drill of +observance as well as in the liberty of faith.” Human +nature is so treacherous that we are apt to omit things +altogether unless there is some special reason for doing them. A +man is not likely to worship at all unless he has regularly +appointed times and means for worship. Family and private +devotions are almost certain to be omitted altogether unless one +gets into the habit, and has a special time set apart daily.</p> +<h2>A REMINISCENCE.</h2> +<p class="pn">I remember blaming my mother for sending me to +church on the sabbath. On one occasion the preacher had to send +some one into the gallery to wake me up. I thought it was hard to +have to work in the field all the week, and then to be obliged to +go to church and hear a sermon I didn’t understand. I +thought I wouldn’t go to church any more when I got away +from home; but I had got so in the habit of going that I +couldn’t stay away. After one or two sabbaths, back again +to the house of God I went. There I first found Christ, and I +have often said since,</p> +<p class="pn">“Mother, I thank you for making me go to the +house of God when I didn’t want to go.”</p> +<p class="pn">Parents, if you want your children to grow up and +honor you, have them honor the sabbath day. Don’t let them +go off fishing, and getting into bad company, or it won’t +be long before they will come home and curse you. I know few +things more beautiful than to see a father and mother coming up +the aisle with their daughters and sons, and sitting down +together to hear the Word of God. It is a good thing to have the +children, not in some remote loft or gallery, but in a good +place, well in sight. Though they cannot understand the sermon +now, when they get older they won’t desire to break away, +they will continue attending public worship in the house of +God.</p> +<p class="pn">But we must not mistake the means for the end. We +must not think that the sabbath is just for the sake of being +able to attend meetings. There are some people who think they +must spend the whole day at meetings or private devotions. The +result is that at nightfall they are tired out, and the day has +brought them no rest. The number of church services attended +ought to be measured by the person’s ability to enjoy them +and get good from them, without being wearied. Attending meetings +is not the only way to observe the sabbath. The Israelites were +commanded to keep it in their dwellings as well as in holy +convocation. The home, that centre of so great influence over the +life and character of the people, ought to be made the scene of +true sabbath observance.</p> +<h2>HOME OBSERVANCE.</h2> +<p class="pn">Jeremiah classified godless families with the +heathen: “Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee +not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they +have eaten up Jacob, devoured him, and consumed him, and have +made his habitation desolate.”</p> +<p class="pn">Many mothers have written to me at one time or +another to know what to do to entertain their children on the +sabbath. The boys say, “I do wish ’twas Night,” +or, “I do hate the sabbath,” or, “I do wish the +sabbath was over.” It ought to be the happiest day in the +week to them, one to be looked forward to with pleasure. In order +to this end, many suggestions might be followed. Make family +prayers especially attractive by having the children learn some +verse or story from the Bible. Give more time to your children +than you can give on week days, reading to them and perhaps +taking them to walk in the afternoon or evening. Show by your +conduct that the sabbath is a delight, and they will soon catch +your spirit. Set aside some time for religious instruction, +without making this a task. You can make it interesting for the +children by telling Bible stories and asking them to guess the +names of the characters. Have Sunday games for the younger +children. Picture books, puzzle maps of Palestine, etc., can be +easily obtained. Sunday albums and Sunday clocks are other +devices. Set aside attractive books for the sabbath, not letting +the children have these during the week. By doing this, the +children can be brought to look forward to the day with eagerness +and pleasure.</p> +<h2>PRIVATE OBSERVANCE.</h2> +<p class="pn">Apart from public and family observance, the +individual ought to devote a portion of the time to his own +edification. Prayer, meditation, reading, ought not to be +forgotten. Think of men devoting six days a week to their body, +which will soon pass away, and begrudging one day to the soul +which will live on and on forever: Is it too much for God to ask +for one day to be devoted to the growth and training of the +spiritual senses, when the other senses are kept busy the other +six days?</p> +<p class="pn">If your circumstances permit, engage in some +definite Christian work—such as teaching in Sunder school, +or visiting the sick. Do all the good you can Sin keeps no +sabbath, and no more should good deeds. There is plenty of +opportunity in this fallen world to perform works of mercy and +religion. Make your sabbath down here a foretaste of the eternal +sabbath that is in store for believers.</p> +<p class="pn">You want power in your Christian life, do you? You +want Holy Ghost power? You want the dew of heaven on your brow? +You want to see men convicted and converted? I don’t +believe we shall ever have genuine conversions until we get +straight on this law of God.</p> +<h2>SABBATH DESECRATION.</h2> +<p class="pn">Men seem to think they have a right to change the +holy day into a <i>holiday</i>. The young have more temptations +to break the sabbath than we had forty years ago. There are three +great temptations: first, the trolley car, that will take you off +into the country for a nickel to have a day of recreation; +second, the bicycle, which is leading a good many Christian men +to give up their sabbath and spend the day on excursions; and the +third, the Sunday newspaper.</p> +<p class="pn">Twenty years ago Christian people in Chicago would +have been horrified if any one had prophesied that all the +theatres would be open every sabbath; but that is what has come +to pass. If it had been prophesied twenty years ago that +Christian men would take a wheel and go off on Sunday morning and +be gone all day on an excursion, Christians would have been +horrified and would have said it was impossible; but that is what +is going on to-day all over the country.</p> +<h2>THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER.</h2> +<p class="pn">With regard to the Sunday newspaper, I know all the +arguments that are brought in its favor—that the work on it +is done during the week, that it is the Monday paper that causes +Sunday work, and so on. But there are two hundred thousand +newsboys selling the paper on Sunday. Would you like to have your +boy one of them? Men are kept running trains in order to +distribute the papers. Would you like your sabbath taken away +from you? If not, then practise the Golden Rule, and don’t +touch the papers.</p> +<p class="pn">Their contents make them unfit for reading any day, +not to say Sunday. Some New York dailies advertise Sunday +editions of sixty pages. Many dirty pieces of scandal in this and +other countries are raked up and put into them. “Eight +pages of fun!”—that is splendid reading for Sunday, +isn’t it? Even when a so-called sermon is printed, it is +completely buried by the fiction and news matter. It is time that +ministers went into their pulpits and preached against Sunday +newspapers if they haven’t done it already. Put the man in +the scales that buys and reads Sunday papers. After reading them +for two or three hours he might go and hear the best sermon in +the world, but you couldn’t preach anything into him. His +mind is filled up with what he has read, and there is no room for +thoughts of God. I believe that the archangel Gabriel himself +could not make an impression on an audience that has its head +full of such trash. If you bored a hole into a man’s head, +you could not inject any thoughts of God and heaven.</p> +<p class="pn">I don’t believe that the publishers would +allow their own children to read them. Why then should they give +them to my children and to yours?</p> +<p class="pn">A merchant who advertises in Sunday papers is not +keeping the sabbath. It is a master-stroke of the devil to induce +Christian men to do this in order to make trade for Monday. But +if a man makes money, and yet his sons are ruined and his home +broken up, what has he gained?</p> +<p class="pn">Ladies buy the Sunday papers and read the +advertisements of Monday bargains to see what they can buy cheap. +Just so with their religion. They are willing to have it if it +doesn’t cost anything.</p> +<p class="pn">If Christian men and women refused to buy them, if +Christian merchants refused to advertise in them, they would soon +die out, because that is where they get most of their +support.</p> +<p class="pn">They tell me the Sunday paper has come to stay, and +I may as well let it alone. Never! I believe it is a great evil, +and I shall fight it while I live. I never read a Sunday paper, +and wouldn’t have one in my house. They are often sent me, +but I tear them up without reading them. I will have nothing to +do with them. They do more harm to religion than any other one +agency I know. Their whole influence is against keeping the +sabbath holy. They are an unnecessary evil. Can’t a man +read enough news on week days without desecrating the sabbath? We +had no Sunday papers till the war came, and we got along very +well without them. They have been increasing in size and in +number ever since then, and I think they have been lowering their +tone ever since. If you believe that, help to fight them too. +Stamp them out, beginning with yourself.</p> +<h2>PUNISHMENT OR BLESSING?</h2> +<p class="pn">No nation has ever prospered that has trampled the +sabbath in the dust. Show me a nation that has done this, and I +will show you a nation that has got in it the seeds of ruin and +decay. I believe that sabbath desecration will carry a nation +down quicker than anything else. Adam brought marriage and the +sabbath with him out of Eden, and neither can be disregarded +without suffering. When the children of Israel went into the +Promised Land God told them to let their land rest every seven +years, and He would give them as much in six years as in seven. +For four hundred and ninety years they disregarded that law. But +mark you, Nebuchadnezzar came and took them off into Babylon, and +kept them seventy years in captivity, and the land had its +seventy sabbaths of rest. Seven times seventy is four hundred and +ninety. So they did not gain much by breaking this law. You can +give God His day, or He will take it.</p> +<p class="pn">On the other hand, honoring the fourth commandment +brings blessing. “If thou turn away thy foot from the +sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the +sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt +honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own +pleasure, nor speaking thine own words (‘thine own’ +as contrasted with what God enjoins), then shalt thou delight +thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high +places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy +father, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”</p> +<p class="pn">I do not know what will become of this republic if +we give up our Christian sabbath. If Satan can break the +conscience down on one point, he can break it down on all. When I +was in France in 1867, I could not tell one day from the other. +On Sunday stores were open and buildings were erected, the same +as on other days. See how quickly that country went down. One +hundred years ago France and England stood abreast in the march +of nations. Where do they stand to-day? France undertook to wipe +out the sabbath, and has pretty nearly wiped itself out, while +England belts the globe.</p> +<h2>A FIRM STAND.</h2> +<p class="pn">We have a fighting chance to save this nation, and +what we want is men and women who have moral courage to stand up +and say:</p> +<p class="pn">“No, I will not touch the Sunday paper, and +all the influence I have I will throw dead against it. I will not +go away on Saturday evening if I have to travel on Sunday to get +back. I will not do unnecessary work on the sabbath. I will do +all I can to keep it holy as God commanded.”</p> +<p class="pn">But some one says: “Mr. Moody, what are you +going to do? I have to work seven days a week or +starve.”</p> +<p class="pn">Then starve! Wouldn’t it be a grand thing to +have a martyr in the nineteenth century? “The blood of the +martyrs is the seed of the church.” Some one says the seed +is getting very low; it has been a long time since we have had +any seed. I would give something to erect a monument to such a +martyr to his fidelity to God’s law. I would go around the +world to attend his funeral.</p> +<p class="pn">We want to-day men who will make up their minds to +do what is right, and stand by it if the heavens tumble on their +heads. What is to become of Christian Associations and Sunday +Schools, of churches and Christian Endeavor Societies, if the +Christian sabbath is given up to recreation, and made a holiday? +Hasn’t the time come to call a halt if men want power with +God? Let men call you narrow and bigoted, but be man enough to +stand by God’s law, and you will have power and blessing. +That is the kind of Christianity we want just now in this +country. Any man can go with the crowd, but we want men who will +go against the current.</p> +<p class="pn">Sabbath-breaker, are you ready to step into the +scales?</p> +<h1><a name="V" id="V">Fifth Commandment</a></h1> +<p class="pt1"><span class="sc">“Honor thy father and thy +mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord +thy God giveth thee</span>.”</p> +<p class="pn">W<span class="sc">e</span> are living in dark days +on this question too. It really seems as if the days the apostle +Paul wrote about are upon us: “In the last days perilous +times shall come; for men shall be lovers of their own selves, +covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, <i>disobedient to +parents, unthankful</i>, unholy, <i>without natural +affection</i>, despisers of those that are good, . . . .” +If Paul was alive to-day, could he have described the present +state of affairs more truly? There are perhaps more men in this +country that are breaking the hearts of their fathers and +mothers, and trampling on the law of God, than in any other +civilized country in the world. How many sons treat their parents +with contempt, and make light of their entreaties? A young man +will have the kindest care from parents; they will watch over +him, and care for all his wants; and some bad companion will come +in and sweep him away from them in a few weeks. How many young +ladies have married against their parents’ wishes, and have +gone off and made their own life bitter! I never knew one case +that did not turn out badly. They invariably bring ruin upon +themselves, unless they repent.</p> +<h2>BEGIN IN THE HOME.</h2> +<p class="pn">The first four commandments deal with our relations +to God. They tell us how to worship and when to worship; they +forbid irreverence and impiety in word and act. Now God turns to +our relations with each other, and isn’t it significant +that He deals first with family life? “God is going to show +us our duty to our neighbor. How does He begin? Not by telling us +how kings ought to reign, or how soldiers ought to fight, or how +merchants ought to conduct their business, but how boys and girls +ought to behave at home.”</p> +<p class="pn">We can see that if their home life is all right, +they are almost sure to fulfil the law both in regard to God and +man. Parents stand in the place of God to their children in a +great many ways until the children arrive at years of discretion. +If the children are true to their parents, it will be easier for +them to be true to God. He used the human relationship as a +symbol of our relationship to Him both by creation and by grace. +God is our Father in heaven. We are His offspring.</p> +<p class="pn">On the other hand, if they have not learned to be +obedient and respectful at home, they are likely to have little +respect for the law of the land. It is all in the heart; and the +heart is prepared at home for good or bad conduct outside. The +tree grows the way the twig is bent.</p> +<p class="pn">“Honor thy father and thy mother.” That +word “honor” means more than mere obedience—a +child may obey through fear. It means love and affection, +gratitude, respect. We are told that in the east the words +“father” and “mother” include those who +are “superiors in age, wisdom and in civil or religious +station,” so that when the Jews were taught to honor their +father and mother it included all who were placed over them in +these relations, as well as their parents. Isn’t there a +crying need for that same feeling to-day? The lawlessness of the +present time is a natural consequence of the growing absence of a +feeling of respect for those in authority.</p> +<h2>HONOR THY MOTHER.</h2> +<p class="pn">It has been pointed out as worthy of notice that +this commandment enjoins honor for <i>the mother</i>, and yet in +eastern countries to the present day woman is held of little +account. When I was in Palestine a few years ago, the prettiest +girl in Jericho was sold by her father in exchange for a donkey. +In many ancient nations, just as in certain parts of heathendom +today, the parents are killed off as soon as they become old and +feeble. Can’t we see the hand of God here, raising the +woman to her rightful position of honor out of the degradation +into which she had been dragged by heathenism?</p> +<p class="pn">“Honor thy father and thy mother that thy +days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth +thee.” I believe that we must get back to the old truths. +You may make light of it, and laugh at it, young man, but +remember that God has given this commandment, and you cannot set +it aside. If we get back to this law, we shall have power and +blessing.</p> +<h2>TEMPORAL BLESSING OR CURSE.</h2> +<p class="pn">I believe it to be literally true that our temporal +condition depends on the way we act upon this commandment. +“Honor thy father and mother, (which is the first +commandment with promise), that it may be well with thee, and +that thou mayest live long on the earth.” “Honor thy +father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; +that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with +thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” +“Cursed is he that setteth light by his father or +mother.” “Whoso curseth his father or mother, his +lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.” It would be +easy to multiply texts from the Bible to prove this truth. +Experience teaches the same thing. A good, loving son generally +turns out better than a refractory son. Obedience and respect at +home prepare the way for obedience to the employer, and are +joined with other virtues that help toward a prosperous career, +crowned with a ripe, honored old age. Disobedience and disrespect +for parents are often the first steps in the downward track. Many +a criminal has testified that this is the point where he first +went astray. I have lived over sixty years, and I have learned +one thing if I have learned nothing else—that no man or +woman who dishonors father or mother ever prospers.</p> +<p class="pn">Young man, young woman, how do you treat your +parents? Tell me that, and I will tell you how you are going to +get on in life. When I hear a young man speaking contemptuously +of his grey-haired father or mother, I say he has sunk very low +indeed. When I see a young man as polite as any gentleman can be +when he is out in society, but who snaps up his mother and speaks +unkindly to his father, I would not give the snap of my finger +for his religion. If there is any man or woman on earth that +ought to be treated kindly and tenderly, it is that loving mother +or that loving father. If they cannot have your regard through +life, what reward are they to have for all their care and +anxiety? Think how they loved you and provided for you in your +early days.</p> +<h2>A MOTHER’S LOVE.</h2> +<p class="pn">Let your mind go back to the time when you were +ill. Did your mother neglect you? When a neighbor came in and +said, “Now, mother, you go and lie down; you have been up +for a week; I will take your place for a night”—did +she do it? No; and if the poor worn body forced her to it at +last, she lay watching, and if she heard your voice, she was at +your side directly, anticipating all your wants, wiping the +perspiration away from your brow. If you wanted water, how soon +you got it! She would gladly have taken the disease into her own +body to save you. Her love for you would drive her to any +lengths. No matter to what depths of vice and misery you have +sunk, no matter how profligate you have grown, she has not turned +you out of her heart. Perhaps she loves you all the more because +you are wayward. She would draw you back by the bands of a love +that never dies.</p> +<h2>FILIAL INGRATITUDE.</h2> +<p class="pn">When I was in England, I read of a man who +professed to be a Christian, who was brought before the +magistrate for not supporting his aged father. He had let him go +to the workhouse. My friends, I’d rather be content with a +crust of bread and a drink of water than let my father or mother +go to the workhouse. The idea of a professing Christian doing +such a thing! God have mercy on such a godless Christianity as +that! It is a withered up thing, and the breath of heaven will +drive it away. Don’t profess to love God and do a thing +like that.</p> +<p class="pn">A friend of mine told me of a poor man who had sent +his son to school in the city. One day the father was hauling +some wood into the city, perhaps to pay his boy’s bills. +The young man was walking down the street with two of his school +friends, all dressed in the very height of fashion. His father +saw him, and was so glad that he left his wood, and went to the +sidewalk to speak to him. But the boy was ashamed of his father, +who had on his old working clothes, and spurned him, and +said:</p> +<p class="pn">“I don’t know you.”</p> +<p class="pn">Will such a young man ever amount to anything? +Never!</p> +<p class="pn">I remember a very promising young man whom I had in +the Sunday school in Chicago. His father was a confirmed +drunkard, and his mother took in washing to educate her four +children. This was her eldest son, and I thought that he was +going to redeem the whole family. But one day a thing happened +that made him go down in my estimation.</p> +<p class="pn">The boy was in the high school, and was a very +bright scholar. One day he stood with his mother at the cottage +door—it was a poor house, but she could not pay for their +schooling, and feed and clothe her children, and hire a very good +house too, out of her earnings. When they were talking a young +man from the high school came up the street, and this boy walked +away from his mother. Next day the young man said:</p> +<p class="pn">“Who was that I saw you talking to +yesterday?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Oh, that was my washerwoman.”</p> +<p class="pn">I said: “Poor fellow! He will never amount to +anything.”</p> +<p class="pn">That was a good many years ago. I have kept my eye +on him. He has gone down, down, down, and now he is just a +miserable wreck. Of course he would go down. Ashamed of his +mother that loved him and toiled for him, and bore so much +hardship for him! I cannot tell you the contempt I had for that +one act.</p> +<p class="pn">Let us look at</p> +<h2>A BRIGHTER PICTURE.</h2> +<p class="pn">Some years ago I heard of a poor woman who sent her +boy to school and college. When he was to graduate, he wrote his +mother to come, but she sent back word that she could not because +her only skirt had already been turned once. She was so shabby +that she was afraid he would be ashamed of her. He wrote back +that he didn’t care how she was dressed, and urged so +strongly that she went. He met her at the station, and took her +to a nice place to stay. The day came for his graduation, and he +walked down the broad aisle with that poor mother dressed very +shabbily, and put her into one of the best seats in the house. To +her great surprise he was the valedictorian of the class, and he +carried everything before him. He won a prize, and when it was +given to him, he stepped down before the whole audience, and +kissed his mother, and said:</p> +<p class="pn">“Here, mother, here is the prize. It is +yours. I would not have had it if it had not been for +you.”</p> +<p class="pn">Thank God for such a man!</p> +<p class="pn">The one glimpse the Bible gives us of thirty out of +the thirty-three years of Christ’s life on earth shows that +He did not come to destroy this fifth commandment. The secret of +all those silent years is embodied in that verse in Luke’s +Gospel—“And He went down with them and came to +Nazareth, and was subject to them.” Did He not set an +example of true filial love and care when in the midst of the +agonies of the cross He mode provision for His mother? Did He not +condemn the miserable evasions of this law by the Pharisees of +His own day:</p> +<p class="pn">“Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, +as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, but +their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, +teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men. . . . Full well +do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your +tradition. For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, +He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him die the death; +but ye say, If a man shall say to his father or his mother, That +wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me, is Corban, +(that is to say, Given to God), ye no longer suffer him to do +aught for his father or his mother: making void the word of God +by your tradition, which ye have delivered.”</p> +<p class="pn">I have read of one heathen custom in China, which +would do us credit in this so-called Christian country. On every +New Year’s morning each man and boy, from the emperor to +the lowest peasant, is said to pay a visit to his mother, +carrying her a present varying in value according to his station +in life. He thanks her for all she has done for him, and asks a +continuance of her favor another year. Abraham Lincoln used to +say: “All I have I owe to my mother.”</p> +<p class="pn">I would rather die a hundred deaths than have my +children grow up to treat me with scorn and contempt. I would +rather have them honor me a thousand times over than have the +world honor me. I would rather have their esteem and favor than +the esteem of the whole world. And any man who seeks the honor +and esteem of the world, and doesn’t treat his parents +right, is sure to be disappointed:</p> +<h2>AN EXHORTATION.</h2> +<p class="pn">Young man, if your parents are still living treat +them kindly. Do all you can to make their declining years sweet +and happy. Bear in mind that this is the only commandment that +you may not always be able to obey. As long as you live, you will +be able to serve God, to keep the sabbath, to obey all the other +commandments, but the day comes to most men when father and +mother die. What bitter feelings you will have when the +opportunity has gone by, if you fail to show them the respect and +love that is their due! How long is it since you wrote to your +mother? Perhaps you have not written home for months, or it may +be for years. How often I get letters from mothers urging me to +try and influence their sons!</p> +<p class="pn">Which would you rather be—a Joseph or an +Absalom? Joseph wasn’t satisfied until he had brought his +old father down into Egypt. He was the greatest man in Egypt, +next to Pharaoh; he was arrayed in the finest garments; he had +Pharaoh’s ring on his hand, and a gold chain about his +neck, and they cried before him, “Bow the knee.” Yet +when he heard Jacob was coming, he hurried out to meet him. He +wasn’t ashamed of the old man, with his shepherds clothes. +What a contrast we see in Absalom. That young man broke his +father’s heart by his rebellion, and the Jews are said to +throw a stone at Absalom’s pillar to the present day, +whenever they pass it, as a token of their horror of +Absalom’s unnatural conduct.</p> +<p class="pn">Come, now, are you ready to be weighed? If you have +been dishonoring your father and mother, step into the scales and +see how quickly you will be found wanting. See how quickly you +will strike the beam. I don’t know any man who is much +lighter than one who treats his parents with contempt. Do you +disobey them just as much as you dare? Do you try to deceive +them? Do you call them old-fashioned, and sneer at their advice? +How do you treat that venerable father and praying mother?</p> +<p class="pn">You may be a professing Christian, but I +wouldn’t give much for your religion unless it gets into +your life and teaches you how to live. I wouldn’t give a +snap of my finger for a religion that doesn’t begin at home +and regulate your conduct toward your parents.</p> +<h1><a name="VI" id="VI">Sixth Commandment</a></h1> +<p class="pt2"><span class="sc">“Thou shalt not +kill</span>.”</p> +<p class="pn">I <span class="sc">used</span> to say: “What +is the use of taking up a law like this in an audience where, +probably, there isn’t a man who ever thought of, or ever +will commit murder?” But as one gets on in years, he sees +many a murder that is not outright killing. I need not kill a +person to be a murderer. If I get so angry that I wish a man +dead, I am a murderer in God’s sight. God looks at the +heart and says he that hateth his brother is a murderer.</p> +<p class="pn">First let us see what this commandment does not +mean.</p> +<p class="pn">It does not forbid the killing of animals for food +and for other reasons. Millions of rams and lambs and +turtle-doves must have been killed every year for sacrifices +under the Mosaic system. Christ Himself ate of the Passover lamb, +and we are told definitely of cases where He ate fish Himself and +provided it for His disciples and the people to eat.</p> +<p class="pn">It does not forbid the killing of burglars, etc., +in self-defence. Directly after the giving of the Ten +Commandments, God laid down the ordinance that if a thief be +found breaking in and be smitten that he die, it was pardonable. +Did not Christ justify this idea of self-defence when He said: +“If the goodman of the house had known in what watch the +thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have +suffered his house to be broken up?”</p> +<p class="pn">It does not forbid capital punishment. God Himself +set the death penalty upon violations of each of the first seven +commandments, as well as for other crimes. God said to Noah after +the deluge—“Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man +shall his blood be shed;” and the reason given is just as +true to-day as it was then—“for in the image of God +made He man.”</p> +<p class="pn">What it does forbid is the wanton, intentional +taking of human life under wrong motives and circumstances. Man +is made in God’s image. He is built for eternity. He is +more than a mere animal. His life ought therefore to be held +sacred. Once taken, it can never be restored. In heathen lands +human life is no more sacred than the life of animals; even in +Christian lands there are heartless and selfish men who hold it +cheap; but God has invested it with a high value. An infidel +philosopher of the eighteenth century said: “In the sight +of God every event is alike important; and the life of a man is +of no greater importance to the universe than that of an +oyster.” “Where is the crime,” he asked, +“of turning a few ounces of blood out of their +channel?” Such language needs no answer.</p> +<h2>THE VALUE OF A MAN.</h2> +<p class="pn">Let me give you a passage from H. L. Hastings: +“A friend of mine visited the Fiji Islands in 1844, and +what do you suppose an infidel was worth there then? You could +buy a man for a musket, or if you paid money, for seven dollars, +and after you had bought him you could feed him, starve him, work +him, whip him, or eat him—they generally ate them, unless +they were so full of tobacco they could not stomach them! But if +you go there to-day you could not buy a man for seven million +dollars. There are no men for sale there now. What has made the +difference in the price of humanity? The twelve hundred Christian +chapels scattered over that Island tell the story. The people +have learned to read that Book which says: ‘Ye were not +redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, but with the +precious blood of Christ’; and since they learned that +lesson, no man is for sale there.”</p> +<p class="pn">Men tell me that the world is getting so much +better. We talk of our American civilization. We forget the +alarming increase of crime in our midst. It is said that there is +no civilized country on the globe where murder is so frequently +committed and so seldom punished.</p> +<h2>SUICIDE.</h2> +<p class="pn">There is that other kind of murder that is +increasing at an appalling rate among us—suicide. There +have been infidels in all ages who have advocated it as a +justifiable means of release from trial and difficulty; yet +thinking men, as far back as Aristotle, have generally condemned +it as cowardly and unjustifiable under any conditions. No man has +a right to take his own life from such motives any more than the +life of another.</p> +<p class="pn">It has been pointed out that the Jewish race, the +people of God, always counted length of days as a blessing. The +Bible does not mention one single instance of a good man +committing suicide. In the four thousand years of Old Testament +history it records only four suicides, and only one suicide in +the New Testament. Saul, king of Israel, and his armor-bearer, +Ahithophel, Zimri and Judas Iscariot are the five cases. Look at +the references in the Bible to see what kind of men they +were.</p> +<h2>OTHER KINDS OF MURDER.</h2> +<p class="pn">But I want to speak of other classes of murderers +that are very numerous in this country, although they are not +classified as murderers. The man who is the cause of the death of +another through criminal carelessness is guilty. The man who +sells diseased meat; the saloon-keeper whose drink has maddened +the brain of a criminal; those who adulterate food; the employer +who jeopardizes the lives of employees and others by unsafe +surroundings and conditions in harmful occupations,—they +are all guilty of blood where life is lost as a consequence.</p> +<p class="pn">When I was in England in 1892, I met a gentleman +who claimed that they were ahead of us in the respect they had +for the law. “We hang our murderers,” he said, +“but there isn’t one out of twenty in your country +that is hung.” I said, “You are greatly mistaken, for +they walk about these two countries unhung.” “What do +you mean?” “I will tell you what I mean,” I +said; “the man that comes into my house and runs a dagger +into my heart for my money, is a prince compared with a son that +takes five years to kill me and the wife of my bosom. A young man +who comes home night after night drunk, and when his mother +remonstrates, curses her grey hairs and kills her by inches, is +the blackest kind of a murderer.”</p> +<p class="pn">That kind of thing is going on constantly all +around us. One young man at college, an only son, whose mother +wrote to him remonstrating against his gambling and drinking +habits, took the letters out of the post-office, and when he +found that they were from her, he tore them up without reading +them. She said,</p> +<p class="pn">“I thought I would die when I found I had +lost my hold on that son.”</p> +<p class="pn">If a boy kills his mother by his conduct, you +can’t call it anything else than <i>murder</i>, and he is +as truly guilty of breaking this sixth commandment as if he drove +a dagger to her heart. If all young men in this country who are +killing their parents and their wives by inches, should be hung +this next week, there would be a great many funerals.</p> +<p class="pn">How are you treating your parents? Come, are you +killing them? This sixth commandment follows very naturally after +the fifth,—“Honor thy father and thy mother.” +Don’t put any thorns in their pillows and make their last +days miserable. Bear in mind that the commandment refers not only +to shooting a man down in cold blood; but he is the worst +murderer who goes on, month after month, year after year, until +he has crowded the life out of a sainted mother and put a godly +father under the sod.</p> +<h2>THE WORDS OF CHRIST.</h2> +<p class="pn">Let us look once again at the Sermon on the Mount, +that men think so much of, and see what Christ had to say: +“Ye have heard that it has been said by them of old time, +Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger +of the judgment: but I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with +his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: +and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, (an expression of +contempt), shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall +say, Thou fool, (an expression of condemnation), shall be in +danger of hell fire.” “Three degrees of murderous +guilt,” as has been said, “all of which can be +manifested without a blow being struck; secret anger—the +spiteful jeer—the open, unrestrained outburst of violent +abusive speech.”</p> +<p class="pn">Again, what does John say? “Whosoever hateth +his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath +eternal life abiding in him.”</p> +<p class="pn">Did you ever in your heart wish a man dead? That +was murder. Did you ever get so angry that you wished any one +harm? Then you are guilty. I may be addressing some one who is +cultivating an unforgiving spirit. That is the spirit of the +murderer, and needs to be rooted out of your heart.</p> +<p class="pn">We can only read man’s acts—what they +have done. God looks down into the heart. That is the birthplace +and home of the evil desires and intentions that lead to the +transgression of all God’s laws.</p> +<p class="pn">Listen once more to the words of Jesus: "From +within, out of the heart of men, proceed <span class="sc">evil +thoughts—adulteries—fornications—murders—thefts—covetousness—wickedness—deceit—lasciviousness—an +evil eye—blasphemy—pride—foolishness</span>. . +. .”</p> +<p class="pn">May God purge our hearts of these evil things, if +we are harboring them! Ah, if many of us were weighed now, we +should find Belshazzar’s doom written against +us—“Tekel—wanting!”</p> +<h1><a name="VII" id="VII">Seventh Commandment</a></h1> +<p class="pt2"><span class="sc">“Thou shalt not commit +adultery.”</span></p> +<p class="pn">A<span class="sc">n</span> English army-officer in +India who had been living an impure life went around one evening +to argue religion with the chaplain. During their talk the +officer said:</p> +<p class="pn">“Religion is all very well, but you must +admit that there are difficulties—about the miracles, for +instance.”</p> +<p class="pn">The chaplain knew the man and his besetting sin, +and quietly looking him in the face, answered:</p> +<p class="pn">“Yes, there are some things in the Bible not +very plain, I admit; but the seventh commandment is very +plain.”</p> +<h2>PLAIN SPEAKING.</h2> +<p class="pn">I would to God I could pass over this commandment, +but I feel that the time has come to cry aloud and spare not. +Plain speaking about it is not very fashionable nowadays. +“Teachers of religion have by common consent banished from +their public teaching all advice, warning or allusion in regard +to love between the sexes,” says Dr. Stalker. These themes +are left to poets and novelists to handle. In an autobiography +recently published in England, the writer attributed no small +share of the follies and vices of his earlier years to his never +having heard a plain, outspoken sermon on this seventh +commandment.</p> +<p class="pn">But though men are inclined to pass it by, God is +not silent or indifferent in regard to it. When I hear any one +make light of adultery and licentiousness, I take the Bible and +see how God has let his curse and wrath come down upon it.</p> +<p class="pn">“Thou shalt not commit adultery. . . . For +this is a heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by +the judges. For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and +would root out all mine increase. . . . By means of a whorish +woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress +will hunt for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his +bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, +and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his +neighbor’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be +innocent. . . . Whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh +understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound +and dishonor shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped +away. . . . Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit +the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor +adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with +mankind shall inherit the kingdom of God. . . . But fornication, +and all uncleanness, let it not be once named among you, as +becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor +jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving thanks. For +this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person hath any +inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man +deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh +the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye +therefore partakers with them. . . . Whoremongers shall have +their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: +which is the second death. . . . For without are whoremongers. . +. .”</p> +<p class="pn">These are a few of the threatenings and warnings +contained in the old Book, up to its closing chapter. It speaks +plainly, without compromise.</p> +<h2>MARRIAGE AND THE HOME.</h2> +<p class="pn">This commandment is God’s bulwark around +marriage and the home. Marriage is one of the institutions that +existed in Eden; it is older than the fall. It is the most sacred +relationship that can exist between human beings, taking +precedence even of the relationship of the parent and child. Some +one has pointed out that as in the beginning God created one man +and one woman, this is the true order for all ages. Where family +ties are disregarded and dishonored, the results are always +fatal. The home existed before the church, and unless the home is +kept pure and undefiled, there can be no family religion and the +church is in danger. Adultery and licentiousness have swept +nation after nation out of existence. Did it not bring fire and +brimstone from heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah? What carried Rome +into ruin? The obscene frescoes and statues at Pompeii and Naples +tell the tale. Where there is no sacredness around the home, +population dwindles; family virtues disappear; the children are +corrupt from their very birth; the seeds of sure decay are +already planted. In 1895 there were twenty-five thousand divorces +in this country. I was on one of the fashionable streets of a +prominent city some time ago, where every family except two in +the whole street had either a son or a daughter that had been +divorced. Divorce and debauchery go hand in hand. We are not +gaining much in turning away from this old law, are we?</p> +<h2>THE DEVIL’S COUNTERFEIT.</h2> +<p class="pn">Lust is the devil’s counterfeit of love. +There is nothing more beautiful on earth than a pure love, and +there is nothing so blighting as lust. I do not know of a +quicker, shorter way down to hell than by adultery and the +kindred sins condemned by this commandment. The Bible says that +with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, but +“whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.” +Lust will drive all natural affection out of a man’s heart. +For the sake of some vile harlot he will trample on the feelings +and entreaties of a sainted mother and beautiful wife and godly +sister.</p> +<p class="pn">Young man, are you leading an impure life? Suppose +God’s scales should drop down before you, what would you +do? Are you fit for the kingdom of heaven? You know very well +that you are not. You loathe yourself. When you look upon that +pure wife or mother, you say,</p> +<p class="pn">“What a vile wretch I am! The harlot is +bringing me down to an untimely and dishonored grave.”</p> +<p class="pn">May God show us what a fearful sin it is! The idea +of making light of it! I do not know of any sin that will make a +man run down to ruin more quickly. I am appalled when I think of +what is going on in the world; of so many young men living impure +lives, and talking about the virtue of women as if it +didn’t amount to anything. This sin is coming in upon us +like a flood at the present day. In every city there is an army +of prostitutes. Young men by hundreds are being utterly ruined by +this accursed sin.</p> +<h2>THE PRODIGAL DAUGHTER.</h2> +<p class="pn">I think that the most infernal thing the sun shines +on in America is the way woman is treated after she has been +ruined by a man, often under fair promises of marriage. Some one +said that when the prodigal son came home he had the best robe +and the fatted calf, but what does the prodigal daughter get? +Although she may have been more sinned against than sinning, she +is cast out and ostracized by society. She is condemned to an +almost hopeless life of degradation and shame, sinking step by +step into a loathsome grave, unless she hurries her doom by +suicide. But the wretch who has ruined her in body and soul, +holds his head as high as ever, and society attaches no stain to +him. If he had failed to pay his gambling debts or was detected +cheating at cards, he would promptly be dropped by society; but +he may boast of his impure life, and his companions will think +nothing of it. Parents who would not allow their daughters to +become acquainted with a man who is rude in manners, sometimes do +not hesitate to accept the society of men who are known to be +impure.</p> +<p class="pn">Talk about stealing—a man who steals the +virtue of a woman is the meanest thief that ever was on the face +of the earth! One who goes into your house and steals your money +is a prince compared with a vile libertine who takes the virtue +of your sister, or steals the affection of your wife, and robs +you of her; no sneakthief that ever walked the earth is so mean +as he. How men pass laws to protect their property, but when that +which is far nearer and dearer to them than money is taken, it is +made light of! If a man should push a young lady into the river +and she should be drowned, the law would lay hold of him, and he +would be tried for murder and hung. But if he wins her affection +and ruins her, and then casts her off, isn’t he worse, than +a murderer? There are some sins that are worse than murder, and +that is one of them. If some one should treat your wife or sister +so, you would want to shoot him as you would a dog. Why do you +not respect all women as you do your mother and sister? +“What law of justice forgives the obscene bird of prey, +while it kicks out of its path the soiled and bleeding +dove?”</p> +<h2>GOD’S COMING JUDGMENT.</h2> +<p class="pn">God has appointed a day when this matter will be +set right. “Be not deceived: God is not mocked: whatsoever +a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” He will render to +every man according to his deeds. You may walk down the aisle of +the church and take your seat, thinking that no one knows of your +sin. But God is on the throne, and He will surely bring you to +judgment. Do you believe that God will allow this infernal thing +to go on,—women bearing all the blame while guilty men go +unpunished? God has appointed a day when He will judge this world +in righteousness, and the day is fast approaching.</p> +<p class="pn">If you are guilty of this sin, do not let the day +pass until you repent. If you are living in some secret sin, or +are fostering impure thoughts, make up your mind that by the +grace of God you will be delivered. I don’t believe a man +who is guilty of this sin is ever going to see the kingdom of God +unless he repents in sackcloth and ashes, and does all he can to +make restitution.</p> +<h2>AN EVIL HARVEST.</h2> +<p class="pn">Even in this life adultery and uncleanness bring +their awful results, both physical and mental. The pleasure and +excitement that lead so many astray at the beginning soon pass +away, and only the evil remains. Vice carries a sting in its +tail, like the scorpion. The body is sinned against, and the body +sooner or later suffers. “Every sin that a man doeth is +without the body: but he that committeth fornication sinneth +against his own body,” said Paul. Nature herself punishes +with nameless diseases, and the man goes down to the grave +rotten, leaving the effects of his sin to blight his posterity. +There are nations whose manhood has been eaten out by this awful +scourge.</p> +<p class="pn">It drags a man lower than the beasts. It stains the +memory. I believe that memory is “the worm that never +dies,” and the memory is never cleansed of obscene stories +and unclean acts. Even if a man repents and reforms he often has +to fight the past.</p> +<p class="pn">Lust gave Samson into the power of Delilah, who +robbed him of his strength. It led David to commit murder and +called down upon him the wrath of God, and if he had not repented +he would have lost heaven. I believe that if Joseph had responded +to the enticement of Potiphar’s wife, his light would have +gone out in darkness.</p> +<p class="pn">It ends in one or other of two ways: either in +remorse and shame because of the realization of the loss of +purity, with a terrible struggle against a hard taskmaster; or in +hardness of heart, brutalizing of the finer senses, which is a +more dreadful condition.</p> +<p class="pn">We hear a good deal about intemperance nowadays. +That sin advertises itself; it shows its marks upon the face and +in the conduct. But this hides itself away under the shadow of +the night. A man who tampers with this evil goes on step by step +until his character is blasted, his reputation ruined, his health +gone, and his life made as dark as hell. May God wake up the +nation to see how this awful sin is spreading!</p> +<p class="pn">Will any one deny that the house of the strange +woman is “the way to hell, going down to the chambers of +death,” as the Bible says? Are there not men whose +characters have been utterly ruined for this life through this +accursed sin? Are there not wives who would rather sink into +their graves than live? Many a man went with a pure woman to the +altar a few years ago, and promised to love and cherish her. Now +he has given his affections to some vile harlot, and brought ruin +on his wife and children!</p> +<h2>ARE YOU GUILTY?</h2> +<p class="pn">Young man, young woman, are you guilty, even in +thought? Bear in mind what Christ said: “Ye have heard that +it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: +but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust +after her has committed adultery with her already in his +heart.” How many would repent but that they are tied hand +and foot, and some vile harlot, whose feet are fastened in hell, +clings to him and says: “If you give me up, I will expose +you!” Can you step on the scales and take that harlot with +you?</p> +<p class="pn">If you are guilty of this awful sin, escape for +your life. Hear God’s voice while there is yet time. +Confess your sin to Him. Ask Him to snap the fetters that bind +you. Ask Him to give you victory over your passions. If your +right eye offends, pluck it out. If your right hand offends, cut +it off. Shake yourself like Samson, and say:</p> +<p class="pn">“By the grace of God I will not go down to an +adulterer’s grave.”</p> +<p class="pn">There is hope for you, adulterer. There is hope for +you, adulteress. God will not turn you away if you truly repent. +No matter how low down in vice and misery you may have sunk, you +may be washed, you may be sanctified, you may be justified in the +name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Remember +what Christ said to that woman which was a +sinner—“Thy sins are forgiven thee; thy faith hath +saved thee; go in peace;” and to that woman that was taken +in adultery—“Go, and sin no more.”</p> +<h1><a name="VIII" id="VIII">Eighth Commandment</a></h1> +<p class="pt2">“T<span class="sc">hou shalt not +steal</span>.”</p> +<p class="pn">D<span class="sc">uring</span> the time of slavery, +a slave was preaching with great power. His master heard of it, +and sent for him, and said:</p> +<p class="pn">“I understand you are preaching?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Yes,” said the slave,</p> +<p class="pn">“Well, now,” said the master, “I +will give you all the time you need, and I want you to prepare a +sermon on the Ten Commandments, and to bear down especially on +stealing, because there is a great deal of stealing on the +plantation.”</p> +<p class="pn">The slave’s countenance fell at once. He said +he wouldn’t like to do that; there wasn’t the warmth +in that subject there was in others.</p> +<p class="pn">I have noticed that people are satisfied when you +preach about the sins of the patriarchs, but they don’t +like it when you touch upon the sins of to-day. That is coming +too near home. But we need to have these old doctrines stated +over and over again in our churches. Perhaps it is not necessary +to speak here about the grosser violations of this eighth +commandment, because the law of the land looks after these; but a +man or woman can steal without cracking safes and picking +pockets. Many a person who would shrink from taking what belongs +to another person, thinks nothing of stealing from the government +or from large public corporations, such as streetcar companies. +If you steal from a rich man it is as much a sin as stealing from +a poor man. If you lie about the value of things you buy, are you +not trying to defraud the storekeeper? "It is naught, it is +naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he +boasteth.”</p> +<p class="pn">On the other hand, many a person who would not +steal himself, holds stock in companies that make dishonest +profits; but “though hand join in hand, the wicked shall +not go unpunished.”</p> +<p class="pn">A young man in our Bible Institute in Chicago got +on the grip-car, and before the conductor came around to take the +fare, they reached the Institute and he jumped off without paying +his fare. In thinking over that act he said: “That was not +just right. I had my ride and I ought to pay the fare.”</p> +<p class="pn">He remembered the face of the conductor, and he +went to the car barns and paid him the five cents.</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” the conductor said, “you +are a fool not to keep it.” “No,” the young man +said, “I am not. I got the ride, and I ought to have paid +for it.” “But it was my business to collect +it.” “No, it was my business to hand it to +you.” The conductor said, “I think you must belong to +that Bible Institute.”</p> +<p class="pn">I have heard few things said of the Institute that +pleased me so much as that one thing. Not long after that the +conductor came to the Institute and asked the student to come to +see him. A cottage-meeting was started in his house; and not only +himself but a number of others around there were converted as a +result of that one act.</p> +<p class="pn">You can hardly take up a paper now without reading +of some cashier of a bank who has become a defaulter, or of some +large swindling operation that has ruined scores, or of some +breach of trust, or fraudulent failure in business. These things +are going on all over the land.</p> +<p class="pn">I would to God that we could have all gambling +swept away. If Christian men take the right stand, they can check +it and break it up in a great many places. It leads to +stealing.</p> +<h2>WHERE THE STREAM STARTS.</h2> +<p class="pn">The stream generally starts at home and in the +school. Parents are woefully lax in their condemnation and +punishment of the sin of stealing. The child begins by taking +sugar, it may be. The mother makes light of it at first, and the +child’s conscience is violated without any sense of wrong. +By and by it is not an easy matter to check the habit, because it +grows and multiplies with every new commission.</p> +<p class="pn">The value of the thing that is stolen has nothing +to say to the guilt of the act. Two people were once arguing upon +this point, and one said: “Well, you will not contend that +a theft of a pin and of a dollar are the same to God?” +“When you tell me the difference between the value of a pin +and of a dollar to God,” said the other, “I will +answer your question.”</p> +<p class="pn">The value or amount is not what is to be +considered, but whether the act is <i>right</i> or <i>wrong</i>. +Partial obedience is not enough: obedience must be entire. The +little indulgences, the small transgressions are what drive +religion out of the soul. They lay the foundation for the grosser +sins. If you give way to little temptations, you will not be able +to resist when great temptations come to you.</p> +<h2>GOD’S WEIGHTS.</h2> +<p class="pn"><i>Extortioner</i>, are you ready to step into the +scales? What will you do with the condemnation of +God—“Thou has taken usury and increase, and thou hast +greedily gained of thy neighbor’s by extortion, and hast +forgotten me, saith the Lord God?”</p> +<p class="pn"><i>Employer</i>, are you guilty of sweating your +employees? Have you defrauded the hireling of his wages? Have you +paid starvation wages? “Thou shalt not oppress a hired +servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or +of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates. . . . +What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the +faces of the poor? saith the Lord God of hosts. . . . Behold, the +hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is +of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which +have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of +sabaoth.”</p> +<p class="pn">And you, <i>employee</i>, have you been honest with +your employer? Have you robbed him of his due by wasting your +time when he was not looking? If God should summon you into His +presence now, what would you say?</p> +<p class="pn">Let the <i>merchant</i> step into the scales. See +if you will prove light when weighed against the law of God. Are +you guilty of adulterating what you sell? Do you substitute +inferior grades of goods? Are your advertisements deceptive? Are +your cheap prices made possible by defrauding your customers +either in quantity or in quality? Do you teach your clerks to put +a French or an English tag on domestic manufactures, and then +sell them as imported goods? Do you tell them to say that the +goods are all wool when you know they are half cotton? Do you +give short weight or measure? See what God says in His Word: +“Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with +the bag of deceitful weights? Thou shalt not have in thy bag +divers weights, a great and a small: thou shalt not have in thy +house divers measures, a great and a small: but thou shalt have a +perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou +have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord +thy God giveth thee. . . . Ye shall do no unrighteousness in +judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. Just balances, +just weights, a just ephah and a just hin, shall ye have.” +Are you like those who said: “When will the new moon be +gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set +forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and +falsifying the balances by deceit? that we may buy the poor for +silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the +refuse of the wheat?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Show me a people whose trade is +dishonest,” said Fronde, “and I will show you a +people whose religion is a sham.” Unless your religion can +keep you honest in your business, it isn’t worth much; it +isn’t the right kind. God is a God of righteousness, and no +true follower of his can swerve one inch to the right or left +without disobeying Him.</p> +<h2>STOLEN GOODS A BURDEN.</h2> +<p class="pn">I heard of a boy who stole a cannon-ball from a +navy-yard. He watched his opportunity, sneaked into the yard, and +secured it. But when he had it, he hardly knew what to do with +it. It was heavy, and too large to conceal in his pocket, so he +had to put it under his hat. When he got home with it, he dared +not show it to his parents, because it would have led at once to +his detection. He said in after years it was the last thing he +ever stole. The story is told that one of Queen Victoria’s +diamonds valued at $600,000 was stolen from a jeweler’s +window, to whom it had been given to set. A few months afterward +a miserable man died a miserable death in a poor lodging-house. +In his pocket was found the diamond and a letter telling how he +had not dared to sell it lest it should lead to his discovery and +imprisonment. It never brought him anything but anxiety and +pain.</p> +<p class="pn">Everything you steal is a curse to you in that way. +The sin overreaches itself. A man who takes money that does not +belong to him never gets any lasting comfort. He has no real +pleasure, for he has a guilty conscience. He cannot look an +honest man in the face. He loses peace of mind here, and all hope +of heaven hereafter. “As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and +hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, +shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall +be a fool. . . . Let no man go beyond and defraud his brother in +any matter; because that the Lord is the avenger of all +such.”</p> +<p class="pn">I may be speaking to some clerk who perhaps took +five cents to-day out of his employer’s drawer to buy a +cigar; perhaps he took ten cents to get a shave, and thinks he +will put it back to-morrow—no one will ever know it. If you +have taken a cent, you are a thief. Do you ever think how those +little stealings may bring you to ruin? Let your employer find it +out. If he doesn’t take you into court, he will discharge +you. Your hopes will be blasted, and it will be hard work to get +up again. Whatever condition you are in, do not take a cent that +does not belong to you. Rather than steal, go up to heaven in +poverty—go up to heaven from the poor-house. Be honest +rather than go through the world in a gilded chariot of stolen +riches.</p> +<h2>RESTITUTION.</h2> +<p class="pn">If you have ever taken money dishonestly, you need +not pray God to forgive you and fill you with the Holy Ghost +until you make restitution. If you have not got the money now to +pay back, will to do it, and God accepts the willing mind.</p> +<p class="pn">Many a man is kept in darkness and unrest because +he fails to obey God on this point. If the plough has gone deep, +if the repentance is true, it will bring forth fruit. What use is +there in my coming to God until I am willing to make it good, +like Zacchaeus, if I have done any man wrong or have taken +anything from him falsely? “If the wicked restore the +pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of +life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall +not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be +mentioned unto him.” Confession and restitution are the +steps that lead up to forgiveness. Until you tread those steps, +you may expect your conscience to be troubled, your sin to haunt +you.</p> +<p class="pn">I was preaching in British Columbia some years ago, +and a young man came to me, and wanted to become a Christian. He +had been smuggling opium into the States.</p> +<p class="pn">“Well, my friend,” I said, “I +don’t think there is any chance for you to become a +Christian until you make restitution.” He said, “If I +attempt to do that, I will fall into the clutches of the law, and +I will go to the penitentiary.” “Well,” I +replied, “you had better do that than go to the +judgment-seat of God with that sin upon your soul, and have +eternal punishment. The Lord will be very merciful if you set +your face to do right.”</p> +<p class="pn">He went away sorrowful, but came back the next day, +and said: “I have a young wife and child, and all the +furniture in my house I have bought with money I have got in this +dishonest way. If I become a Christian, that furniture will have +to go, and my wife will know it.” “Better let your +wife know it, and better let your home and furniture go.” +“Would you come up and see my wife?” he asked; +“I don’t know what she will say.”</p> +<p class="pn">I went up to see her, and when I told her, the +tears trickled down her cheeks, and she said: “Mr. Moody, I +will gladly give everything if my husband can become a true +Christian.”</p> +<p class="pn">She took out her pocketbook, and handed over her +last penny. He had a piece of land in the United States, which he +deeded over to the government. I do not know in all my backward +track of any living man who has had a better testimony for Jesus +Christ than that man. He had been dishonest, but when the truth +came to him that he must make it right before God would help him, +he made it right and then God used him wonderfully.</p> +<p class="pn">No amount of weeping over sin, and saying that you +feel sorry, is going to help it unless you are willing to +confess, and make restitution.</p> +<h1><a name="IX" id="IX">Ninth Commandment</a></h1> +<p class="pt1">“T<span class="sc">hou shalt not bear false +witness against thy neighbor</span>.”</p> +<p class="pn">Two out of the Ten Commandments deal with sins that +find expression by the tongue—the third commandment, which +forbids taking God’s name in vain, and this ninth +commandment, which forbids false witness against our neighbor. +This two-fold prohibition ought to impress us as a solemn +warning, especially as we find that the pages of Scripture are +full of condemnation of sins of the tongue. The Psalms, Proverbs +and the epistle of James deal largely with the subject.</p> +<h2>TRUTH NECESSARY.</h2> +<p class="pn">Organized society of a degree higher than that of +the herding of animals and flocking of birds depends so much upon +the power of speech, that without it we may say society would be +impossible. Language is an essential element in the social +fabric. To its purpose it must be trustworthy. Words must command +confidence. Anything which undermines the truth takes (as it +were) the mortar out of the building and if general, must mean +ruin. Paul said—“Wherefore putting away lying, speak +every man truth to his neighbor: for we are members one of +another.” Note the reason given—“we are members +one of another.” All community, all union and fellowship +would be shattered if a man did not know whether to believe his +neighbor or not.</p> +<p class="pn">The transgressions of this commandment are very +varied in form, and very frequent. Men and women of all ages have +to guard against them. They include some of the most besetting +sins. David said in his haste—“All men are +liars.” Some one has remarked that if he had been living +nowadays, he might say it without haste and not be very far wide +of the truth.</p> +<h2>PERJURY.</h2> +<p class="pn">The bearing of false witness is forbidden, but this +must not be limited merely to testimony given in the law court or +under oath. Isn’t it a condemnation that men have to be put +under oath in order to make sure of their speaking the truth? As +a legal offence, <i>perjury</i>—the bearing of false +witness when under oath—is one of the most serious crimes +that can be committed. Nearly every civilized nation visits it +with heavy punishment. Unless promptly checked, it would shake +the very foundations of justice.</p> +<p class="pn"><i>Lying</i>—uttering or acting +falsehood—and <i>slander</i>—the spreading of false +reports tending to destroy the reputation of another—are +two of the most common violations of this commandment.</p> +<h2>LYING.</h2> +<p class="pn">We have got nowadays so that we divide lies into +white lies and black lies, society lies, business lies, etc. The +Word of God knows no such letting-down of the standard. A lie is +a lie, no matter what are the circumstances under which it is +uttered, or by whom. I have heard that in Siam they sew up the +mouth of a confirmed liar. I am afraid if that was the custom in +America, a good many would suffer. Parents should begin with +their children while they are young and teach them to be strictly +truthful at all times. There is a proverb: “A lie has no +legs.” It requires other lies to support it. Tell one lie +and you are forced to tell others to back it up.</p> +<h2>SLANDER.</h2> +<p class="pn">You don’t like to have any one bear false +witness against you, or help to ruin your character or +reputation: then why should you do it to others? How public men +are slandered in this country! None escape, whether good or bad. +Judgment is passed upon them, their family, their character, by +the press and by individuals who know little or nothing about +them. If one tenth that is said and written about our public men +was true, half of them should be hung. Slander has been called +“tongue murder.” Slanderers are compared to flies +that always settle on sores, but do not touch a man’s good +parts.</p> +<p class="pn">If the archangel Gabriel should come down to earth +and mix in human affairs, I believe his character would be +assailed inside of forty-eight hours. Slander called Christ a +gluttonous man and a winebibber. He claimed to be the Truth, but +instead of worshipping Him, men took Him and crucified Him.</p> +<p class="pn">When any one spoke evil of another in the presence +of Peter the Great, he used promptly to stop him, and say:</p> +<p class="pn">“Well, now, has he not got a bright side? +Tell me what you know good of him. It is easy to splash mud, but +I would rather help a man to keep his coat clean.”</p> +<p class="pn">I need not stop to run through the whole catalogue +of sins that are related to these three. False +rumor—exaggeration—misrepresentation—insinuation—gossip—equivocation—holding +back of the truth when it is due and right to tell +it—disparagement—perversion of meaning: these are +common transgressions of this ninth commandment, differing in +form and degree of guilt according to the motive or manner of +their expression. They bear false witness against a man before +the tribunal of public opinion—a court whose judgment none +of us escape. As so much of our life is passed in public view, +any untruth that leads to a false judgment is a grievous +wrong.</p> +<h2>A TEST OF TRUE RELIGION.</h2> +<p class="pn">Government of the tongue is made the test of true +religion by James. “If any man among you seem to be +religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own +heart, this man’s religion is vain. . . . For in many +things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is +a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body:” +Just as a doctor looks at the tongue and can tell the condition +of the bodily health, so a man’s words are an index of what +is within. Truth will spring from a good heart: falsehood and +deceit from a corrupt heart. When Ananias kept back part of the +price of the land, Peter asked him—“Why hath +S<span class="sc">atan</span> filled <span class="sc">thine +heart</span> to lie unto the Holy Ghost?” Satan is the +father of lies and the promoter of lies:</p> +<h2>FOR GOOD OR EVIL.</h2> +<p class="pn">The tongue can be an instrument of untold good or +incalculable evil. Some one has said that a sharp tongue is the +only edged tool that grows keener with constant use. “Thy +tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working +deceitfully. . . . They have sharpened their tongues like a +serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. . . . The +mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth +the mouth of the wicked. . . . A wholesome tongue is a tree of +life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit, . . +.” Bishop Hall said that the tongues of busybodies are like +the tails of Samson’s foxes—they carry firebrands and +are enough to set the whole field of the world in a flame. +“Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths that they +may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the +ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce +winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, +whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a +little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how great a +matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world +of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth +the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it +is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, +and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed and hath been +tamed by mankind: but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly +evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the +Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the +similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and +cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a +fountain send forth at the same time sweet water and bitter? Can +the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine +figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is +a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out +of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if +ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and +lie not against the truth.”</p> +<p class="pn">Blighted hopes and blasted reputations are witness +to its awful power. In many cases the tongue has murdered its +victims. Can we not all recall cases where men and women have +died under the wounds of calumny and misrepresentation? History +is full of such cases.</p> +<h2>WORDS NEVER CALLED BACK.</h2> +<p class="pn">The most dangerous thing about it is that a word +once uttered can never be obliterated. Some one has said that +lying is a worse crime than counterfeiting. There is some hope of +following up bad coins until they are all recovered; but an evil +word can never be overtaken. The mind of the hearer or reader has +been poisoned, and human devices cannot reach in and cleanse it. +Lies can never be called back.</p> +<p class="pn">A woman who was well known as a scandal-monger, +went and confessed to the priest. He gave her a ripe thistle-top, +and told her to go out and scatter the seeds one by one. She +wondered at the penance, but obeyed; then she came and told the +priest. He next told her to go and gather again the scattered +seeds. Of course she saw that it was impossible. The priest used +it as an object-lesson to cure her of the sin of scandalous +talk.</p> +<h2>THE FATE OF THE LIAR AND SLANDERER.</h2> +<p class="pn">These sins are devilish, and the Bible is severe in +its denunciations of them. It contains many solemn warnings. +“Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will +abhor the bloody and deceitful man. . . . The mouth of them that +speak lies shall be stopped. Whoso privily slandereth his +neighbor, him will I cut off. . . . Lying lips are an abomination +to the Lord: but they that deal truly are His delight. . . . By +thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be +condemned. . . . All liars shall have their part in the lake +which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second +death.” Whoso loveth and maketh a lie shall in no wise +enter into the new Jerusalem.</p> +<h2>HOW TO OVERCOME.</h2> +<p class="pn">“But, Mr. Moody,” you say, “how +can I check myself? how can I overcome the habit of lying and +gossip?” A lady once said to me that she had got so into +the habit of exaggerating that her friends said they could never +understand her.</p> +<p class="pn">The cure is simple, but not very pleasant. Treat it +as a sin, and confess it to God and the man whom you have +wronged. As soon as you catch yourself lying, go straight to the +person and confess you have lied. Let your confession be as wide +as your transgression. If you have slandered or lied about any +one in public, let your confession be public. Many a person says +some mean, false thing about another in the presence of others, +and then tries to patch it up by going to that person alone. That +is not making restitution. I need not go to God with confession +until I have made it right with that person, if it is in my power +to do so; He will not hear me.</p> +<p class="pn">Hannah Moore’s method was a sure cure for +scandal. Whenever she was told anything derogatory of another, +her invariable reply was:</p> +<p class="pn">“Come, we will go and ask if it be +true.”</p> +<p class="pn">The effect was sometimes ludicrously painful. The +talebearer was taken aback, stammered out a qualification, or +begged that no notice might be taken of the statement. But the +good lady was inexorable. Off she took the scandal-monger to the +scandalized to make inquiry and compare accounts.</p> +<p class="pn">It is not likely that anybody ventured a second +time to repeat a gossipy story to Hannah Moore.</p> +<p class="pn">My friend, how is it? If God should weigh you +against this commandment, would you be found wanting? “Thou +shalt not bear false witness.” Are you innocent or +guilty?</p> +<h1><a name="X" id="X">Tenth Commandment</a></h1> +<p class="pt1"><span class="sc">“Thou shalt not covet thy +neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s +wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor +his ass, nor anything that is thy +neighbor’s.”</span></p> +<p class="pn">I<span class="sc">n</span> the twelfth chapter of +Luke our Saviour lifted two danger signals. “Beware ye of +the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. . . . Take heed +and beware of covetousness.”</p> +<p class="pn">The greatest dupe the devil has in the world is the +hypocrite; but the next greatest is the covetous man, “for +a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things +which he possesseth.”</p> +<p class="pn">I believe this sin is much stronger now than ever +before in the world’s history. We are not in the habit of +condemning it as a sin. In his epistle to the Thessalonians Paul +speaks of “the cloke of covetousness.” Covetous men +use it as a cloke, and call it prudence, and foresight. Who ever +heard it confessed as a sin? I have heard many confessions, in +public and private, during the past forty years, but never have I +heard a man confess that he was guilty of this sin. The Bible +does not tell of one man who ever recovered from it, and in all +my experience I do not recall many who have been able to shake it +off after it had fastened on them. A covetous man or woman +generally remains covetous to the very end.</p> +<p class="pn">We may say that covetous desire plunged the human +race into sin. We can trace the river back from age to age until +we get to its rise in Eden. When Eve saw that the forbidden fruit +was good for food and that it was desirable to the eyes, she +partook of it, and Adam with her. They were not satisfied with +all that God had showered upon them, but coveted the wisdom of +gods which Satan deceitfully told them might be obtained by +eating the fruit. She saw,—she desired—then she took! +Three steps from innocence into sin.</p> +<h2>A SEARCHING COMMANDMENT.</h2> +<p class="pn">It would be absurd for such a law as this to be +placed upon any human statute book. It could never be enforced. +The officers of the law would be powerless to detect infractions. +The outward conduct may be regulated, but the thoughts and +intents of a man are beyond the reach of human law.</p> +<p class="pn">But God can see behind outward actions. He can read +the thoughts of the heart. Our innermost life, invisible to +mortal eye, is laid bare before Him. We cannot deceive Him by +external conformity. He is able to detect the least transgression +and shortcoming, so that no man can shirk detection. God cannot +be imposed upon by the cleanness of the outside of the cup and +the platter.</p> +<p class="pn">Surely we have here another proof that the Ten +Commandments are not of human origin, but must be divine.</p> +<p class="pn">This commandment, then, did not, even on the +surface, confine itself to visible actions as did the preceding +commandments. Even before Christ came and showed their spiritual +sweep, men had a commandment that went beneath public-conduct and +touched the very springs of action. It directly +prohibited—not the wrong act, but the wicked desire that +prompted the act. It forbade the evil thought, the unlawful wish. +It sought to prevent—not only sin, but the desire to sin. +In God’s sight it is as wicked to set covetous eyes, as it +is to lay thieving hands, upon anything that is not ours.</p> +<p class="pn">And why? Because if the evil desire can be +controlled, there will be no outbreak in conduct. Desires have +been called “actions in the egg.” The desire in the +heart is the first step in the series that ends in action. Kill +the evil desire, and you successfully avoid the ill results that +would follow upon its hatching and development. Prevention is +better than cure.</p> +<p class="pn">We must not limit covetousness to the matter of +money. The commandment is not thus limited; it reads, “Thou +shalt not covet. . . anything. . . .” That word +“anything” is what will condemn us. Though we do not +join in the race for wealth, have we not sometimes a hungry +longing for our neighbor’s goodly lands—fine +houses,—beautiful clothes,—brilliant +reputation,—personal accomplishments,—easy +circumstances,—comfortable surroundings? Have we not had +the desire to increase our possessions or to change our lot in +accordance with what we see in others? If so, we are guilty of +having broken this law.</p> +<h2>GODS THOUGHTS ABOUT COVETOUSNESS.</h2> +<p class="pn">Let us examine a few of the Bible passages that +bear down on this sin, and see what are God’s thoughts +about it.</p> +<p class="pn">“<i>Know ye not that the unrighteous shall +not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither +fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor +abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves,</i> <span class= +"sc">nor covetous</span>, <i>nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor +extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God</i>.”</p> +<p class="pn">Notice that the covetous are named between thieves +and drunkards. We lock up thieves, and have no mercy on them. We +loathe drunkards, and consider them great sinners against the law +of God as well as the law of the land. Yet there is far more said +in the Bible against covetousness than against either stealing or +drunkenness.</p> +<p class="pn">Covetousness and stealing are almost like Siamese +twins—they go together so often. In fact we might add +lying, and make them triplets. “The covetous person is a +thief <i>in</i> the shell. The thief is a covetous person <i>out +of</i> the shell. Let a covetous person see something that he +desires very much; let an opportunity of taking it be offered; +how very soon he will break through the shell and come out in his +true character as a thief.” The Greek word translated +“covetousness” means—an inordinate desire of +getting. When the Gauls tasted the sweet wines of Italy, they +asked where they came from, and never rested until they had +overrun Italy.</p> +<p class="pn">“<i>For this ye know, that no whoremonger, +nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath +any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God</i>.”</p> +<p class="pn">There we have the same truth repeated; but notice +that covetousness is called idolatry. The covetous man worships +Mammon, not God.</p> +<p class="pn">“<i>Moreover thou shalt provide out of all +the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth,</i> +<span class="sc">hating covetousness</span>; <i>and place such +over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, +rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens</i>.”</p> +<p class="pn">Isn’t it extraordinary that Jethro, the man +of the desert, should have given this advice to Moses? How did he +learn to beware of covetousness? We honor men to-day if they are +wealthy and covetous. We elect them to office in church and +state. We often say that they will make better treasurers just +because we know them to be covetous. But in God’s sight a +covetous man is as vile and black as any thief or drunkard. David +said: “The wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and +blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.” I am +afraid that many who profess to have put away wickedness also +speak well of the covetous.</p> +<h2>A SORE EVIL.</h2> +<p class="pn">“<i>He that loveth silver shall not be +satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with +increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are +increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners +thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? The sleep +of the laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but +the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. There is +a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept +for the owners thereof to their hurt</i>.”</p> +<p class="pn">Isn’t that true? Is the covetous man ever +satisfied with his possessions? Aren’t they vanity? Does he +have peace of mind? Don’t selfish riches always bring +hurt?</p> +<p class="pn">The folly of covetousness is well shown in the +following extract: “If you should see a man that had a +large pond of water, yet living in continual thirst, nor +suffering himself to drink half a draught for fear of lessening +his pond; if you should see him wasting his time and strength in +fetching more water to his pond, always thirsty, yet always +carrying a bucket of water in his hand, watching early and late +to catch the drops of rain, gaping after every cloud, and running +greedily into every mire and mud in hopes of water, and always +studying how to make every ditch empty itself into the pond; if +you should see him grow grey in these anxious labors, and at last +end a thirsty life by falling into his own pond, would you not +say that such a one was not only the author of his own disquiet, +but was foolish enough to be reckoned among madmen? But foolish +and absurd as this character is, it does not represent half the +follies and absurd disquiets of the covetous man.”</p> +<p class="pn">I have read of a millionaire in France, who was a +miser. In order to make sure of his wealth, he dug a cave in his +wine cellar so large and deep that he could go down into it with +a ladder. The entrance had a door with a spring lock. After a +time, he was missing. Search was made, but they could find no +trace of him. At last his house was sold, and the purchaser +discovered this door in the cellar. He opened it, went down, and +found the miser lying dead on the ground, in the midst of his +riches. The door must have shut accidentally after him, and he +perished miserably.</p> +<h2>A TEMPTATION AND A SNARE.</h2> +<p class="pn">“<i>They that will be</i>, (that is, desire +to be), <i>rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many +foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and +perdition</i>.”</p> +<p class="pn">The Bible speaks of the deceitfulness of two +things—“the deceitfulness of <i>sin</i>” and +“the deceitfulness of <i>riches</i>.” Riches are like +a mirage in the desert, which has all the appearance of +satisfying, and lures on the traveler with the promise of water +and shade; but he only wastes his strength in the effort to reach +it. So riches never satisfy: the pursuit of them always turns out +a snare.</p> +<p class="pn">Lot coveted the rich plains of Sodom, and what did +he gain? After twenty years spent in that wicked city, he had to +escape for his life, leaving all his wealth behind him.</p> +<p class="pn">What did the thirty pieces of silver do for Judas? +Weren’t they a snare?</p> +<p class="pn">Think of Balaam. He is generally regarded as a +false prophet, but I do not find that any of his prophecies that +are recorded are not true; they have been literally fulfilled. Up +to a certain point his character shone magnificently, but the +devil finally overcame him by the bait of covetousness. He +stepped over a heavenly crown for the riches and honors that +Balak promised him. He went to perdition backwards. His face was +set toward God, but he backed into hell. He wanted to die the +death of the righteous, but he did not live the life of the +righteous. It is sad to see so many who know God, miss everything +for riches.</p> +<p class="pn">Then consider the case of Gehazi. There is another +man who was drowned in destruction and perdition by covetousness. +He got more out of Naaman than he asked for, but he also got +Naaman’s leprosy. Think how he forfeited the friendship of +his master Elisha, the man of God! So to-day lifelong friends are +separated by this accursed desire. Homes are broken up. Men are +willing to sell out peace and happiness for the sake of a few +dollars.</p> +<p class="pn">Didn’t David fall into foolish and hurtful +lusts? He saw Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife, and she was +“very beautiful to look upon,” and David became a +murderer and an adulterer. The guilty longing hurled him into the +deepest pit of sin. He had to reap bitterly as he had sowed.</p> +<p class="pn">I heard of a wealthy German out west, who owned a +lumber mill. He was worth nearly two millions of dollars, but his +covetousness was so great that he once worked as a common laborer +carrying railroad ties all day. It was the cause of his +death.</p> +<p class="pn">“<i>And Achan answered Joshua, and said, +Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and +thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish +garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold +of fifty shekels weight, then I</i> <span class="sc">coveted +them</span>,<i>and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the +earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under +it</i>.”</p> +<p class="pn">He saw—he coveted—he took—he hid! +The covetous eye was what led Achan up to the wicked deed that +brought sorrow and defeat upon the camp of Israel.</p> +<p class="pn">We know the terrible punishment that was meted out +to Achan. God seems to have set danger signals at the threshold +of each new age. It is remarkable how soon the first outbreaks of +covetousness occurred. Think of Eve in Eden, Achan just after +Israel had entered the Promised Land, Ananias and Sapphira in the +early Christian Church.</p> +<h2>A ROOT EXTRACTOR.</h2> +<p class="pn">“<i>For the love of money is the root of all +evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the +faith, and pierced themselves through with many +sorrows</i>.”</p> +<p class="pn">The Revised Version translates it—“<i>a +root of all kinds of evil</i>.” This tenth commandment has +therefore been aptly called a “root-extractor,” +because it would tear up and destroy this root. Deep down in our +corrupt nature it has spread. No one but God can rid us of +it.</p> +<p class="pn">Matthew tells us that the deceitfulness of riches +chokes the Word of God. Like the Mississippi river, which chokes +up its mouth by the amount of soil it carries down. Isn’t +that true of many business-men to day? They are so engrossed with +their affairs that they have not time for religion. They lose +sight of their soul and its eternal welfare in their desire to +amass wealth. They do not even hesitate to sell their souls to +the devil. How many a man says, “We must make money, and if +God’s law stands in the way, brush it aside.”</p> +<p class="pn">The word “lucre” occurs five times in +the New Testament, and each time it is called +“<i>filthy</i> lucre.”</p> +<p class="pn">“A root of all kinds of evil.” Yes, +because what will not men be guilty of when prompted by the +desire to be rich? Greed for gold leads men to commit violence +and murder, to cheat and deceive and steal. It turns the heart to +stone, devoid of all natural affection, cruel, unkind. How many +families are wrecked over the father’s will! The scramble +for a share of the wealth smashes them to pieces. Covetous of +rank and position in society, parents barter sons and daughters +in ungodly marriage. Bodily health is no consideration. The +uncontrollable fever for gold makes men renounce all their +settled prospects, and undertake hazardous journeys—no +peril can drive them back. It destroys faith and spirituality, +turning men’s minds and hearts away from God. It disturbs +the peace of the community by prompting to acts of wrong. +Covetousness has more than once led nation to war against nation +for the sake of gaining territory or other material resources. It +is said that when the Spaniards came over to conquer Peru, they +sent a message to the king, saying, “Give us gold, for we +Spaniards have a disease that can only be cured by +gold.”</p> +<p class="pn">Dr. Boardman has shown how covetousness leads to +the transgression of every one of the commandments, and I cannot +do better than quote his words: “Coveting tempts us into +the violation of the first commandment, worshipping Mammon in +addition to Jehovah. Coveting tempts us into a violation of the +second commandment, or idolatry. The apostle Paul expressly +identifies the covetous man with an idolater: +‘Covetousness, which is idolatry.’ Again: Coveting +tempts us into violation of the third commandment, or +sacrilegious falsehood: for instance, Gehazi, lying in the matter +of his interview with Naaman the Syrian, and Ananias and +Sapphira, perjuring themselves in the matter of the community of +goods. Again: Coveting tempts us into the violation of the fourth +commandment, or Sabbath-breaking. It is covetousness which +encroaches on God’s appointed day of sacred rest, tempting +us to run trains for merely secular purposes, to vend tobacco and +liquors, to hawk newspapers. Again: Coveting tempts us into the +violation of the fifth commandment, or disrespect for authority; +tempting the young man to deride his early parental counsels, the +citizen to trample on civic enactments. Again: Covetousness +tempts us into violation of the sixth commandment, or murder. +Recall how Judas’ love of money lured him into the betrayal +of his Divine Friend into the hand of His murderers, his lure +being the paltry sum of—say—fifteen dollars. Again: +Covetousness tempts us into the violation of the seventh +commandment, or adultery. Observe how Scripture combines greed +and lust. Again: Covetousness tempts us into the violation of the +eighth commandment, or theft. Recall how it tempted Achan to +steal a goodly Babylonish mantle, and two hundred shekels of +silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight. Again: +Covetousness tempts us into the violation of the ninth +commandment, or bearing false witness against our neighbor. +Recall how the covetousness of Ahab instigated his wife Jezebel +to employ sons of Belial to bear blasphemous and fatal testimony +against Naboth, saying, ‘Thou didst curse God and the +king.’”</p> +<h2>HOW TO OVERCOME.</h2> +<p class="pn">You ask me how you are to cast this unclean spirit +out of your heart? I think I can tell you.</p> +<p class="pn">In the first place, make up your mind that by the +grace of God you will overcome the spirit of selfishness. You +must overcome it, or it will overcome you. Paul said: +“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; +fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil +concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which +things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of +disobedience.”</p> +<p class="pn">I heard of a rich man who was asked to make a +contribution on behalf of some charitable object. The text was +quoted to him—“He that hath pity upon the poor +lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay +him again.” He said that the security might be good enough, +but the credit was too long. He was dead within two weeks. The +wrath of God rested upon him as he never expected.</p> +<p class="pn">If you find yourself getting very miserly, begin to +scatter, like a wealthy farmer in New York state I heard of. He +was a noted miser, but he was converted. Soon after, a poor man +who had been burned out and had no provisions, came to him for +help. The farmer thought he would be liberal and give the man a +ham from his smoke-house. On his way to get it, the tempter +whispered to him:</p> +<p class="pn">“Give him the smallest one you +have.”</p> +<p class="pn">He had a struggle whether he would give a large or +a small ham, but finally he took down the largest he could +find.</p> +<p class="pn">“You are a fool,” the devil said.</p> +<p class="pn">“If you don’t keep still,” the +farmer replied, “I will give him every ham I have in the +smoke house.”</p> +<p class="pn">Mr. Durant told me he woke up one morning to find +that he was a rich man, and he said that the greatest struggle of +his life then took place as to whether he would let money be his +master, or he be master of money, whether he would be its slave, +or make it a slave to him. At last he got the victory, and that +was how Wellesley College came to be built.</p> +<p class="pn">In the next place, cultivate the spirit of +contentment. “Let your conversation be without +covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He +hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we +may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what +man shall do unto me.”</p> +<p class="pn">Contentment is the very opposite of covetousness, +which is continually craving for something it does not possess. +“Be content with such things as ye have,” not +worrying about the future, because God has promised never to +leave or forsake you. What does the child of God want more than +this? I would rather have that promise than all the gold of the +earth.</p> +<p class="pn">Would to God we might all be able to say with +Paul—“I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, +or apparel.” The Lord had made him partaker of His grace, +and he was soon to be a partaker of His glory, and earthly things +looked very small. “Godliness with contentment is great +gain,” he wrote to Timothy; “having food and raiment, +therewith let us be content.” Observe that he puts +godliness first. No worldly gain can satisfy the human heart. +Roll the whole world in, and still there would be room.</p> +<p class="pn">May God tear the scales off our eyes if we are +blinded by this sin. Oh, the folly of it, that we should set our +heart’s affections upon anything below! “For we +brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry +nothing out. . . . Be thou not afraid when one is made rich, when +the glory of his house is increased; for when he dieth he shall +take nothing away: his glory shall not descend after +him.”</p> +<h1><a name="Out" id="Out">The Handwriting Blotted Out</a></h1> +<p class="pn">W<span class="sc">e</span> have now considered the +Ten Commandments, and the question for each one of us +is—are we keeping them? If God should weigh us by them, +would we be found wanting or not wanting? Do we keep the law, the +<i>whole</i> law? Are we obeying God with all our heart? Do we +render Him a full and willing obedience?</p> +<h2>ONE LAW, NOT TEN.</h2> +<p class="pn">These ten commandments are not ten different laws; +they are one law. If I am being held up in the air by a chain +with ten links and I break one of them, down I come, just as +surely as if I break the whole ten. If I am forbidden to go out +of an enclosure, it makes no difference at what point I break +through the fence. “Whosoever shall keep the whole law and +yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” “The +golden chain of obedience is broken if one link is +missing.”</p> +<p class="pn">We sometimes hear people pray to be preserved from +certain sins, as if they were in no danger of committing others. +I firmly believe that if a man begins by wilfully breaking one of +these commandments it is much easier for him to break the others. +I know of a gentleman who had a confidential clerk, and insisted +on his going down Sunday morning to work on his books. The young +man had a good deal of principle, and at first refused, but he +was anxious to keep in the good graces of his employer and +finally yielded. He had not done that a great while before he +speculated in stocks, and became a defaulter for $120,000. The +employer had him arrested and put in the penitentiary for ten +years, but I believe he was just as guilty in the sight of God as +that young man, for he led him to take the first step on the +downward road. You remember the story of a soldier who was +smuggled into a fortress in a load of hay, and opened the gates +to his comrades. Every sin we commit opens the door for other +sins.</p> +<h2>ALL HAVE COME SHORT.</h2> +<p class="pn">For fifteen hundred years man was under the law, +and no one was equal to it. Christ came and showed that the +commandments went beyond the mere letter; and can any one since +say that he has been able to keep them in his own strength? As +the plummet is held up, we see how much we are out of the +perpendicular. As we measure ourselves by that holy standard, we +find how much we are lacking. As a child said, when reproved by +her mother and told that she ought to do right: “How can I +do right when there is no ‘right’ in me?” All +have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There is none +righteous, no, not one.</p> +<p class="pn">I do not say that all are equally guilty of gross +violations of the commandments. It needs a certain amount of +reckless courage openly to break a law, human or divine; but it +is easy to <i>crack</i> them, as the child said. It has been +remarked that the life of many professors of religion is full of +fractures that result from little sins, little acts of temper and +selfishness. It is possible to crack a costly vase so finely that +it cannot be noticed by the observer; but let this be done again +and again in different directions, and some day the vase will go +to pieces at a touch. When we hear of some one who has had a +lifelong reputation for good character and consistent living, +suddenly falling into some shameful sin, we are shocked and +puzzled. If we knew all, we would find that only the fall has +been sudden, that he has been sliding toward it for years. Away +back in his life we should find numerous <i>cracked</i> +commandments. His exposure is only the falling of the vase to +pieces.</p> +<h2>FALSE WEIGHTS.</h2> +<p class="pn">Men have all sorts of weights that they think are +going to satisfy, but they will find that they are altogether +vanity, and lighter than vanity.</p> +<p class="pn">The moral man is as guilty as the rest. His +morality cannot save him. “Except ye repent, ye shall all +likewise perish. . . . Except ye be converted, and become as +little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of +heaven.” I have often heard good people say that our +meetings were doing good, they were reaching the drunkards, and +gamblers, and harlots; but they never realized that they needed +the grace of God for themselves.</p> +<p class="pn">Nicodemus was probably one of the most moral men of +his day. He was a teacher of the law. Yet Christ said to him: +“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of +God.” It is much easier to reach was a Lamb without spot or +blemish, His atoning death is efficacious for you and me. He had +no sin of His own to atone for, and so God accepted His +sacrifice. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to +every one that believeth. We are righteous in God’s sight +because the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus +Christ is unto all and upon all them that believe.</p> +<p class="pn">If we had to live forever with our sins in the +handwriting of God on the wall, it would be hell on earth. But +thank God for the gospel we preach! If we repent, our sins will +all be blotted out. “You, being dead in your sins, hath He +quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all your +trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was +against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, +nailing it to His cross:”</p> +<h2>LOVE THE FULFILLING OF THE LAW.</h2> +<p class="pn">If the love of God is shed abroad in your heart, +you will be able to fulfil the law. Paul reduced the commandments +to one: “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” Some one +has written the following:</p> +<p class="pn">“Love to God will admit no other God.</p> +<p class="pn">Love resents everything that debases its object by +representing it by an image.</p> +<p class="pn">Love to God will never dishonor His name.</p> +<p class="pn">Love to God will reverence His day.</p> +<p class="pn">Love to parents makes one honor them.</p> +<p class="pn">Hate, not love, is a murderer.</p> +<p class="pn">Lust, not love, commits adultery.</p> +<p class="pn">Love will give, but never steal.</p> +<p class="pn">Love will not slander or lie.</p> +<p class="pn">Love’s eye is not covetous.”</p> +<h2>ARE YOU READY?</h2> +<p class="pn">It is the height of madness to turn away and run +the risk of being called by God to judgment and have no hope in +Christ. Now is the day and hour to accept salvation, and then He +will be with you. Do you step aside and say: “I’m not +ready yet. I want a little more time to prepare, to turn the +matter over in my mind?” Well, you have time, but bear in +mind it is only the present; you do not know that you will have +to-morrow. Wasn’t Belshazzar cut off suddenly? Would he +have believed that that was going to be his last night, that he +would never see the light of another sun? That banquet of sin +didn’t close as he expected. As long as you delay you are +in danger. If you don’t enter into the kingdom of heaven by +God’s way, you cannot enter at all. You must accept Christ +as your Savior, or you will never be fit to be weighed.</p> +<p class="pn">My friend, have you got Him? Will you remain as you +are and be found wanting, or will you accept Christ and be ready +for the summons? “This is the record, that God hath given +to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the +Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not +life.”</p> +<p class="pn">May God open your heart to receive His Son now!</p> +<hr style="margin-top:5em; margin-bottom:5em"> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:133%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1.2em; font-weight:bold"> +WORKS BY G. CAMPBELL MORGAN</p> +<hr style="width:20em;margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1.5em"> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">The Crises of the +Christ.</span></p> +<p class="pt4">8vo, cloth, net, $2.00</p> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">The Spirit of God.</span></p> +<p class="pt4">12mo, cloth, $1.25.</p> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">A First Century Message to +Twentieth Century Christians.</span></p> +<p class="pt4">12mo, cloth, net, $1.00.</p> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">God’s Methods with +Man;</span></p> +<p class="pt4"><span class="sc">In Time—Past, Present and +Future</span>. With colored chart. 12mo, paper, 50 cents. Cloth, +$1.00.</p> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">Wherein Have We Robbed +God?</span></p> +<p class="pt4"><span class="sc">Malachi’s Message to the +Men of To-Day</span>. 12mo, cloth, 75 cents.</p> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">God’s Perfect +Will.</span></p> +<p class="pt4">16mo, cloth, 50 cents.</p> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">Life Problems.</span></p> +<p class="pt4"><span class="sc">Little Books Series</span>. Long +16mo, 50 cents.</p> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">The Ten Commandments.</span></p> +<p class="pt4"><span class="sc">Studies in the Law of Moses and +the Law of Christ</span>. 12mo, cloth, 50 cents.</p> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">Discipleship.</span></p> +<p class="pt4"><span class="sc">Little Books Series</span>. Long +16mo, cloth, 50c.</p> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">The Hidden Years at +Nazareth.</span></p> +<p class="pt4"><span class="sc">Quiet Hour Series</span>. 18mo, +cloth, 25 cents.</p> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">The True Estimate of +Life.</span></p> +<p class="pt4">12mo, paper, 15 cents. Cloth, 75 cents, net.</p> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">“All Things +New”</span></p> +<p class="pt4"><span class="sc">A Message to New Converts</span>. +16mo, paper, 10 cents.</p> +<hr style="width:13em;margin-top:1.7em; margin-bottom:0.7em"> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:92%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.7em"> +<span class="sc">Fleming H. Revell Company</span></p> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:63%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1.5em"> +PUBLISHERS</p> +<hr style="margin-top:5em; margin-bottom:5em"> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:133%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1.2em; font-weight:bold"> +THE WITH CHRIST SERIES</p> +<hr style="width:16em;margin-top:1.7em; margin-bottom:1.2em"> +<p style= +"text-indent:0.5em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.5em; font-size:88%"> +By ANDREW MURRAY</p> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">With Christ in the School of +Prayer.</span></p> +<p class="pt4"><span class="sc">Thoughts on Our Training for the +Ministry of Intercession</span>.</p> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">Abide in Christ.</span></p> +<p class="pt4"><span class="sc">Thoughts on the Blessed Life of +Fellowship with the Son of God</span>.</p> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">Like Christ.</span></p> +<p class="pt4"><span class="sc">Thoughts on the Blessed Life of +Conformity to the Son of God</span>.</p> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">Holy in Christ.</span></p> +<p class="pt4"><span class="sc">Thoughts on the Calling of +God’s Children to be Holy as He is Holy</span>.</p> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">The Master’s +Indwelling.</span></p> +<p class="pt4"><span class="sc">Northfield Addresses</span>, +1895.</p> +<p class="pt3"><span class="sc">The Spirit of Christ.</span></p> +<p class="pt4"><span class="sc">Thoughts on the Indwelling of the +Holy Spirit in the Believer and the Church</span>.</p> +<p style= +"text-indent:2em; font-size:83%; margin-top:1.5em; margin-bottom:1.5em"> +Comprising the six great works in connection with which the +author attained such world-wide favor as a writer of helpful and +spiritual devotional works. The bindings are unique and +attractive, and the price, which, in view of the fact that this +is the authorized edition, upon which royalties are paid to the +author, was already astonishingly low, has now been still further +reduced.</p> +<p style= +"text-indent:2em; font-size:83%; font-style:italic; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0"> +16mo, cloth, each, 35 cts.: the set of six volumes, boxed, +$2.00.</p> +<hr style="width:17em;margin-top:1.7em; margin-bottom:0.7em"> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:100%; letter-spacing:0.1em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.2em"> +<span class="sc">Fleming H. Revell Company</span></p> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:71%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.2em"> +CHICAGO NEW YORK TORONTO</p> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:71%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:3.5em"> +PUBLISHERS OF EVANGELICAL LITERATURE</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Weighed and Wanting, by Dwight Moody + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WEIGHED AND WANTING *** + +***** This file should be named 33340-h.htm or 33340-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/3/4/33340/ + +Produced by Keith G Richardson + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/33340.txt b/33340.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f77efb6 --- /dev/null +++ b/33340.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3831 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Weighed and Wanting, by Dwight Moody + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Weighed and Wanting + Addresses on the Ten Commandments + +Author: Dwight Moody + +Release Date: August 3, 2010 [EBook #33340] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WEIGHED AND WANTING *** + + + + +Produced by Keith G Richardson + + + + + + + +Weighed and Wanting + +Addresses +on the Ten Commandments + +BY + +D. L. MOODY + +"Tekel: Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." + +Fleming H. Revell Company + +Chicago : New York : Toronto + +Publishers of Evangelical Literature + +_Copyright, 1898, by The Bible Institute Colportage Association_. + + + +Contents + +The Ten Commandments + +Weighed in the Balances + +The First Commandment + +The Second Commandment + +The Third Commandment + +The Fourth Commandment + +The Fifth Commandment + +The Sixth Commandment + +The Seventh Commandment + +The Eighth Commandment + +The Ninth Commandment + +The Tenth Commandment + +The Handwriting Blotted Out + + + +THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. + +_EXODUS 20: 3-17_. + +I. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. + +II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of +any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or +that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself +to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, +visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third +and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and shewing mercy unto +thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments. + +III. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the +Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. + +IV. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou +labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the +Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor +thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor +thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made +heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the +seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed +it. + +V. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon +the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. + +VI. Thou shalt not kill. + +VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery. + +VIII. Thou shalt not steal. + +IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. + +X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet +thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his +ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. + + + +Weighed in the Balances + +In the fifth chapter of Daniel we read the history of King Belshazzar. +One chapter tells us all we know about him. One short sight of his +career is all we have. He bursts in upon the scene and then +disappears. + +THE EASTERN FEAST. + +We are told that he made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and +drank wine before them. In those days a feast would sometimes last for +six months in Eastern countries. How long this feast had been going on +we are not told, but in the midst of it, he "commanded to bring the +golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken +out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his +princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. Then they +brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the +house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, +his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and +praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, +and of stone." + +While this impious act was being committed, "in the same hour came +forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick +upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace; and the king saw +the part of the hand that wrote." We are not told at what hour of the +day or the night it happened. Perhaps it was midnight. Perhaps nearly +all the guests were more or less under the influence of drink; but +they were not so drunk but that they suddenly became sober as they saw +something that was supernatural--a handwriting on the wall, right over +the golden candlestick. + +Every face turned deathly pale. "The king's countenance was changed, +and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were +loosed, and his knees smote one against another." In haste he sent for +his wisest men to come and read that handwriting on the wall. They +came in one after another, and tried to make it out; but they could +not interpret it. The king promised that whoever could read it should +be made the third ruler in the kingdom; that he should have gifts, and +that a gold chain should be put round his neck. But the wise men tried +in vain. The king was greatly troubled. + +At last, in the midst of the consternation, the queen came in, and she +told the monarch, if he would only send for one who used to interpret +the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar, he could read the writing and tell him +the interpretation thereof. So Daniel was sent for. He was very +familiar with it. He knew his Father's handwriting. + +"This is the writing that was written, _Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin_. +This is the interpretation of the thing: _Mene_--God hath numbered thy +kingdom and finished it. _Tekel_--Thou art weighed in the balances, +and art found wanting. _Peres_--Thy kingdom is divided, and given to +the Medes and Persians." + +If some one had told the king an hour before that the time had come +when he must step into the balances and be weighed, he would have +laughed at the thought. But the vital hour had come. + +The weighing was soon over. The verdict was announced, and the +sentence carried out. "In that night was Belshazzar the king of the +Chaldeans slain, and Darius the Median took the kingdom." Darius and +his army came marching down those streets. There was a clash of arms. +Shouts of war and victory rent the air. That night the king's blood +mingled with the wine of the banquet hall. Judgment came upon him +unexpectedly, suddenly: and probably ninety-nine out of every hundred +judgments come in this way. Death comes upon us unexpectedly; it comes +upon us suddenly. + +Perhaps you say: "I hope Mr. Moody is not going to compare me with +that heathen king." + +I tell you that a man who does evil in these Gospel days is far worse +than that king. We live in a land of Bibles. You can get the New +Testament for a nickel, and if you haven't got a nickel you can get it +for nothing. Many societies will be glad to give it to you free. We +live in the full blaze of Calvary. We live on this side of the cross, +but Belshazzar lived more than five hundred years on the other side. +He never heard of Jesus Christ. He never heard about the Son of God. +He never heard about God except, perhaps, in connection with his +father's remarkable vision. He probably had no portion of the Bible, +and if he had, probably he didn't believe it. He had no godly minister +to point him to the Lamb of God. + +Don't tell me that you are better than that king. I believe that he +will rise in judgment and condemn many of us. + +All this happened long centuries ago. Let us get down to this century, +to this year, to ourselves. We will come to the present time. Let us +imagine that now, while I am preaching, down come some balances from +the throne of God. They are fastened to the very throne itself. It is +a throne of equity, of justice. You and I must be weighed. I venture +to say this would be a very solemn audience. There would be no +trifling. There would be no indifference. No one would be thoughtless. + +Some people have their own balances. A great many are making balances +to be weighed in. But after all we must be weighed in God's balances, +the balances of the sanctuary. It is a favorite thing with infidels to +set their own standard, to measure themselves by other people. But +that will not do in the Day of Judgment. Now we will use God's law as +a balance weight. When men find fault with the lives of professing +Christians, it is a tribute to the law of God. + +"Tekel." It is a very short text. It is so short I am sure you will +remember it: and that is my object, just to get people to remember +God's own Word. + +GOD'S HANDWRITING. + +Let me call your attention to the fact that God wrote on the tables of +stone at Sinai as well as on the wall of Belshazzar's palace. + +These are the only messages to men that God has written with His own +hand. He wrote the commandments out twice, and spoke them aloud in the +hearing of Israel. + +If it were known that God Himself was going to speak once again to +man, what eagerness and excitement there would be. For nearly nineteen +hundred years He has been silent. No inspired message has been added +to the Bible for nearly nineteen hundred years. How eagerly all men +would listen if God should speak once more. Yet men forget that the +Bible is God's own Word, and that it is as truly His message to-day as +when it was delivered of old. The law that was given at Sinai has lost +none of its solemnity. Time cannot wear out its authority or the fact +of its authorship. + +I can imagine some one saying--"I won't be weighed by that law. I +don't believe in it." + +Now men may cavil as much as they like about other parts of the Bible, +but I have never met an honest man that found fault with the Ten +Commandments. Infidels may mock the Lawgiver and reject Him who has +delivered us from the curse of the law, but they can't help admitting +that the commandments are right. Renan said that they are for all +nations, and will remain the commandments of God during all the +centuries. + +If God created this world, He must make some laws to govern it. In +order to make life safe we must have good laws; there is not a country +the sun shines upon that does not possess laws. Now this is God's law. +It has come from on high, and infidels and skeptics have to admit that +it is pure. Legislatures nearly all over the world adopt it as the +foundation of their legal systems. + +"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of +the Lord is pure, making wise the simple: the statutes of the Lord are +right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, +enlightening the eyes." + +Now the question for you and me is--are we keeping these commandments? +Have we fulfilled all the requirements of the law? If God made us, as +we know He did, He had a right to make that law; and if we don't use +it aright it would have been better for us if we had never had it, for +it will condemn us. We shall be found wanting. The law is all right, +but are we right? + +AN INFIDEL'S TESTIMONY. + +It is related of a clever infidel that he sought an acquaintance with +the truths of the Bible, and began to read at the books of Moses. He +had been in the habit of sneering at the Bible, and in order to be +able to refute arguments brought by Christian men, he made up his +mind, as he knew nothing about it, to read the Bible and get some idea +of its contents. After he had reached the Ten Commandments, he said to +a friend: + +"I will tell you what I _used_ to think. I supposed that Moses was the +leader of a horde of banditti; that, having a strong mind, he acquired +great influence over a superstitious people; and that on Mount Sinai +he played off some sort of fireworks to the amazement of his ignorant +followers, who imagined in their fear and superstition that the +exhibition was supernatural. I have been looking into the _nature_ of +that law. I have been trying to see whether I could add anything to +it, or take anything from it, so as to make it better. Sir, I cannot! +It is perfect! + +The first commandment directs us to make the Creator the object of our +supreme love and reverence. That is right. If He be our Creator, +Preserver, and Supreme Benefactor, we ought to treat Him, and _none +other_, as such. The second forbids idolatry. That certainly is right. +The third forbids profanity. The fourth fixes a time for religious +worship. If there be a God, He ought surely to be worshipped. It is +suitable that there should be an outward homage significant of our +inward regard. If God be worshipped, it is proper that some _time_ +should be set apart for that purpose, when all may worship Him +harmoniously, and without interruption. One day in seven is certainly +not too much, and I do not know that it is too little. + +The fifth commandment defines the peculiar duties arising from family +relations. Injuries to our neighbor are then _classified_ by the moral +law. They are divided into offences against life, chastity, property, +and character; and I notice that the greatest offence in each class is +expressly forbidden. Thus the greatest injury to life is murder; to +chastity, adultery; to property, theft; to character, perjury. Now the +greatest offence must include the least of the same kind. Murder must +include every injury to life; adultery every injury to purity; and so +of the rest. And the moral code is closed and perfected by a command +forbidding every improper _desire_ in regard to our neighbors. + +I have been thinking, Where did Moses get that law? I have read +history. The Egyptians and the adjacent nations were idolaters; so +were the Greeks and Romans; and the wisest or best Greeks or Romans +never gave a code of morals like this. Where did Moses obtain that +law, which surpasses the wisdom and philosophy of the most enlightened +ages? He lived at a period comparatively barbarous; but he has given a +law in which the learning and sagacity of all subsequent time can +detect no flaw. Where did he obtain it? He could not have soared so +far above his age as to have devised it himself. I am satisfied where +he obtained it. It came down from heaven. It has convinced me of the +truth of the religion of the Bible." + +The infidel, (now an infidel no longer), remained to his death a firm +believer in the truth of Christianity. + +We call it the "Mosaic" Law, but it has been well said that the +commandments did not originate with Moses, nor were they done away +with when the Mosaic Law was fulfilled in Christ, and many of its +ceremonies and regulations abolished. We can find no trace of the +existence of any lawmaking body in those early times, no parliament or +congress that built up a system of laws. It has come down to us +complete and finished, and the only satisfactory account is that which +tells us that God Himself wrote the commandments on tables of stone. + +BINDING TO-DAY. + +Some people seem to think we have got beyond the commandments. What +did Christ say? "Think not that I am come to destroy the law and the +prophets; I am not come to destroy but to fulfil. For verily I say +unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall +in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." The commandments +of God given to Moses in the Mount at Horeb are as binding to-day as +ever they have been since the time when they were proclaimed in the +hearing of the people. The Jews said the law was not given in +Palestine, (which belonged to Israel), but in the wilderness, because +the law was for all nations. + +Jesus never condemned the law and the prophets, but He did condemn +those who did not obey them. Because He gave new commandments it does +not follow that He abolished the old. Christ's explanation of them +made them all the more searching. In His Sermon on the Mount He +carried the principles of the commandments beyond the mere letter. He +unfolded them and showed that they embraced more, that they are +positive as well as prohibitive. The Old Testament closes with these +words: "Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded +unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. +Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the +great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the +fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their +fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." + +Does that look as if the law of Moses was becoming obsolete? + +The conviction deepens in me with the years that the old truths of the +Bible must be stated and restated in the plainest possible language. I +do not remember ever to have heard a sermon preached on the +commandments. I have an index of two thousand five hundred sermons +preached by Spurgeon, and not one of them selects its text from the +first seventeen verses of Exodus xx. The people must be made to +understand that the Ten Commandments are still binding, and that there +is a penalty attached to their violation. We do not want a gospel of +mere sentiment. The Sermon on the Mount did not blot out the Ten +Commandments. + +When Christ came He condensed the statement of the law into this form: +"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy +soul and with all thy strength and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor +as thyself." Paul said: "Love is the fulfilling of the law." But does +this mean that the detailed precepts of the Decalogue are superseded, +and have become back numbers? Does a father cease to give children +rules to obey because they love him? Does a nation burn its statute +books because the people have become patriotic? Not at all. And yet +people speak as if the Commandments do not hold for Christians because +they have come to love God. Paul said: "Do we then make void the law +through faith? God forbid. Yea, we establish the law." It still holds +good. The commandments are necessary. So long as we obey, they do not +rest heavy upon us; but as soon as we try to break away, we find they +are like fences to keep us within bounds. Horses need bridles even +after they have been properly broken in. + +"We know that the law is good if a man use it lawfully; knowing this, +that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and +disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, +for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for +whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for +menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any +other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine." + +Now, my friend, are you ready to be weighed by this law of God? A +great many people say that if they keep the commandments, they do not +need to be forgiven and saved through Christ. But have you kept them? +I will admit that if you perfectly keep the commandments, you do not +need to be saved by Christ; but is there a man in the wide world who +can truly say that he has done this? Young lady, can you say: "I am +ready to be weighed by the law?" Can you, young man? Will you step +into the scales and be weighed one by one by the Ten Commandments? + +Now face these Ten Commandments honestly and prayerfully. See if your +life is right, and if you are treating God fairly. God's statutes are +just, are they not? If they are right, let us see if we are right. Let +us pray that the Holy Ghost may search each one of us. Let us get +alone with God and read His law--read it carefully and prayerfully, +and ask Him to show us our sins and what He would have us to do. + + + +First Commandment + +"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." + +My friend, are you ready to be weighed against this commandment? Have +you fulfilled, or are you willing to fulfil, all the requirements of +this law? Put it into one of the scales, and step into the other. Is +your heart set upon God alone? Have you no other God? Do you love Him +above father or mother, the wife of your bosom, your children, home or +land, wealth or pleasure? + +If men were true to this commandment, obedience to the remaining nine +would follow naturally. It is because they are unsound in this that +they break the others. + +FEELING AFTER GOD. + +Philosophers are agreed that even the most primitive races of mankind +reach out beyond the world of matter to a superior Being. It is as +natural for man to feel after God as it is for the ivy to feel after a +support. Hunger and thirst drive him to seek for food, and there is a +hunger of the soul that needs satisfying, too. Man does not need to be +commanded to worship, as there is not a race so high or so low in the +scale of civilization but has some kind of a god. What he needs is to +be directed aright. + +This is what the first commandment is for. Before we can worship +intelligently, we must know what or whom to worship. God does not +leave us in ignorance. When Paul vent to Athens, he found an altar +dedicated to "An Unknown God," and he proceeded to tell of Him whom we +worship. When God gave the commandments to Moses, He commenced with a +declaration of His own character, and demanded exclusive recognition. +"I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of +Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods +before me." + +The Rev. Dr. Dale says these words have great significance. "The Jews +knew Jehovah as the God who had held back the waves like a wall while +they fled across the sea to escape the vengeance of their enemies; +they knew him as the God who had sent thunder, and lightning, and +hail, plagues on cattle, and plagues on men, to punish the Egyptians +and to compel them to let the children of Israel go; they knew Him as +the God whose angel had slain the firstborn of their oppressors, and +filled the land from end to end with death, and agony, and terror. He +was the same God, so Moses and Aaron told them, who by visions and +voices, in promises and precepts, had revealed Himself long before to +Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We learn what men are from what they say +and from what they do. A biography of Luther gives a more vivid and +trustworthy knowledge of the man than the most philosophical essay on +his character and creed. The story of his imprisonment and of his +journey to Worms, his Letters, his Sermons, and his Table-Talk, are +worth more than the most elaborate speculations about him. The Jews +learned what God is, not from theological dissertations on the Divine +attributes, but from the facts of a Divine history. They knew Him for +themselves in His own acts and His own words." + +Some one asked an Arab: "How do you know that there is a God?" "How do +I know whether a man or a camel passed my tent last night?" he +replied. God's footprints in nature and in our own experience are the +best evidence of His existence and character. + +THE ISRAELITES WERE EXPOSED TO DANGER. + +Remember to whom this commandment was given, and we shall see further +how necessary it was. The forefathers of the Israelites had worshipped +idols, not many generations back. They had recently been delivered out +of Egypt, a land of many gods. The Egyptians worshipped the sun, the +moon, insects, animals, etc. The ten plagues were undoubtedly meant by +God to bring confusion upon many of their sacred objects. The children +of Israel were going up to take possession of a land that was +inhabited by heathen, who also worshipped idols. There was therefore +great need of such a commandment as this. There could be no right +relationship between God and man in those days any more than to-day, +until man understood that he must recognize God alone, and not offer +Him a divided heart. + +If He created us, He certainly ought to have our homage. Is it not +right that He should have the first and only place in our affections? + +NO COMPROMISE. + +This is one matter in which no toleration can be shown. Religious +liberty is a good thing, within certain limits. But it is one thing to +show toleration to those who agree on essentials, and another, to +those who differ on fundamental beliefs. They were willing to admit +any god to the Roman Pantheon. One reason why the early Christians +were persecuted was that they would not accept a place for Jesus +Christ there. Napoleon is said to have entertained the idea of having +separate temples in Paris for every known religion, so that every +stranger should have a place of worship when attracted toward that +city. Such plans are directly opposed to the Divine one. God sounded +no uncertain note in this commandment. It is plain, unmistakable, +uncompromising. + +We may learn a lesson from the way a farmer deals with the little +shoots that spring up around the trunk of an apple tree. They look +promising, and one who has not learned better might welcome their +growth. But the farmer knows that they will draw the life-sap from the +main tree, injuring its prospects so that it will produce inferior +fruit. He therefore takes his axe and his hoe, and cuts away these +suckers. The tree then gives a more plentiful and a finer crop. + +GOD'S PRUNING-KNIFE. + +"Thou shalt not" is the pruning-knife that God uses. From beginning to +end, the Bible calls for wholehearted allegiance to Him. There is to +be no compromise with other gods. + +It took long years for God to impress this lesson upon the Israelites. +He called them to be a chosen nation. He made them a peculiar people. +But you will notice in Bible history that they turned away from Him +continually, and were punished with plague, pestilence, war and +famine. Their sin was not that they renounced God altogether, but that +they wanted to worship other gods beside Him. Take the case of Solomon +as an example of the whole nation. He married heathen wives who turned +away his heart after other gods, and built high places for their +idols, and lent countenance to their worship. That was the history of +frequent turnings of the whole nation away from God, until finally He +sent them into captivity in Babylon and kept them there for seventy +years. Since then the Jews have never turned to other gods. + +Hasn't the church to contend with the same difficulty to-day? There +are very few who in their hearts do not believe in God, but what they +will not do is give Him exclusive right of way. Missionaries tell us +that they could easily get converts if they did not require them to be +baptized, thus publicly renouncing their idols. Many a person in our +land would become a Christian if the gate was not so strait. +Christianity is too strict for them. They are not ready to promise +full allegiance to God alone. Many a professing Christian is a +stumbling-block because his worship is divided. On Sunday he worships +God; on week days God has little or no place in his thoughts. + +FALSE GODS IN AMERICA TO-DAY. + +You don't have to go to heathen lands to-day to find false gods. +America is full of them. Whatever you make most of is your god. +Whatever you love more than God is your idol. Many a mans heart is +like some Kaffirs' huts, so full of idols that there is hardly room to +turn around. Rich and poor, learned and unlearned, all classes of men +and women are guilty of this sin. "The mean man boweth down, and the +great man humbled himself." + +A man may make a god of himself, of a child, of a mother, of some +precious gift that God has bestowed upon him. He may forget the Giver, +and let his heart go out in adoration toward the gift. + +Many make a god of pleasure; that is what their hearts are set on. If +some old Greek or Roman came to life again and saw men in a drunken +debauch, would he believe that the worship of Bacchus had died out? If +he saw the streets of our large cities filled with harlots, would he +believe that the worship of Venus had ceased? + +Others take fashion as their god. They give their time and thought to +dress. They fear what others will think of them. Do not let us flatter +ourselves that all idolaters are in heathen countries. + +With many it is the god of money. We haven't got through worshipping +the golden calf yet. If a man will sell his principles for gold, isn't +he making it a god? If he trusts in his wealth to keep him from want +and to supply his needs, are not riches his god? Many a man says, +"Give me money, and I will give you heaven. What care I for all the +glories and treasures of heaven? Give me treasures here! I don't care +for heaven! I want to be a successful business man." How true are the +words of Job: "If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine +gold, Thou art my confidence; if I rejoiced because my wealth was +great, and because mine hand had begotten much; if I beheld the sun +when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; and my heart hath +been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: this also were +an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the +God that is above." + +But all false gods are not as gross as these. There is _the atheist_. +He says that he does not believe in God; he denies His existence, but +he can't help setting up some other god in His place. Voltaire said, +"If there were no God, it would be necessary to invent one." So the +atheist speaks of the Great Unknown, the First Cause, the Infinite +Mind, etc. Then there is _the deist_. He is a man who believes in one +God who caused all things: but he doesn't believe in revelation. He +only accepts such truths as can be discovered by reason. He doesn't +believe in Jesus Christ, or in the inspiration of the Bible. Then +there is _the pantheist_, who says: "I believe that the whole universe +is God. He is in the air, the water, the sun, the stars."; the liar +and the thief included. + +MOSES' FAREWELL MESSAGE. + +Let me call your attention to a verse in the thirty-second chapter of +Deuteronomy, thirty-first verse: "For their rock is not as our Rock, +even our enemies themselves being judges." + +These words were uttered by Moses, in his farewell address to Israel. +He had been with them forty years. He was their leader and instructor. +All the blessings of heaven came to them through him. And now the old +man is about to leave them. If you have never read his speech, do so. +It is one of the best sermons in print. I know few sermons in the Old +or New Testament that compare with it. + +I can see Moses as he delivers this address. His natural activity has +not abated. He still has the vigor of youth. His long white hair flows +over his shoulders, and his venerable beard covers his breast. He +throws down the challenge: "Their rock is not as our Rock, even our +enemies themselves being judges." + +Has the human heart ever been satisfied with these false gods? Can +pleasure or riches fill the soul that is empty of God? How about the +atheist, the deist, the pantheist? What do they look forward to? +Nothing! Man's life is full of trouble; but when the billows of +affliction and disappointment are rising and rolling over them, they +have no God to call upon. "They shall cry unto the gods unto whom they +offer incense; but they shall not save them at all in the time of +their trouble." Therefore I contend "their rock is not as our Rock." + +My friends, when the hour of affliction comes, they call in a minister +to give consolation. When I was settled in Chicago, I used to be +called out to attend many funerals. I would inquire what the man was +in his belief. If I found out he was an atheist, or a deist, or a +pantheist, when I went to the funeral and in the presence of his +friends said one word about that man's doctrine, they would feel +insulted. Why is it that in a trying hour, when they have been talking +all the time against God--why is it that in the darkness of affliction +they call in believers in that God to administer consolation? Why +doesn't the atheist preach no hereafter, no heaven, no God, in the +hour of affliction? This very fact is an admission that "their rock is +not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges." + +The deist says there is no use in praying, because nothing can change +the decrees of deity; God never answers prayer. Is his rock as our +Rock? + +The Bible is true. There is only one God. How many men have said to +me: "Mr. Moody, I would give the world if I had your faith, your +consolation, the hope you have with your religion." + +Isn't that a proof that their rock is not as our Rock? + +Some years ago I went into a man's house, and when I commenced to talk +about religion he turned to his daughter and said: "You had better +leave the room. I want to say a few words to Mr. Moody." When she had +gone, he opened a perfect torrent of infidelity upon me. "Why did you +send your daughter out of the room before you said this?" I asked. +"Well," he replied, "I did not think it would do her any good to hear +what I said." + +Is his rock as our Rock? Would he have sent his daughter out if he +really believed what he said? + +NO CONSOLATION EXCEPT IN GOD. + +No. There is no satisfaction for the soul except in the God of the +Bible. We come back to Paul's words, and get consolation for time and +eternity:--"We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that +there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called +gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords +many,) yet to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all +things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all +things, and we by Him." + +My friend, can you say that sincerely? Is all your hope centred on God +in Christ? Are you trusting Him alone? Are you ready to step into the +scales and be weighed against this first commandment? + +WHOLE-HEARTED ALLEGIANCE. + +God will not accept a divided heart. He must be absolute monarch. +There is not room in your heart for two thrones. Christ said: "No man +can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the +other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye +cannot serve God and Mammon." Mark you, He did not say--"No man +_shall_ serve. . . . Ye _shall_ not serve. . . .", but "No man _can_ +serve. . . . Ye _can_ not serve. . . ." That means more than a +command; it means that you cannot mix the worship of the true God with +the worship of another god any more than you can mix oil and water. It +cannot be done. There is not room for any other throne in the heart if +Christ is there. If worldliness should come in, godliness would go +out. + +The road to heaven and the road to hell lead in different directions. +Which master will you choose to follow? Be an out-and-out Christian. +"Him only shalt thou serve." Only thus can you be well pleasing to +God. The Jews were punished with seventy years of captivity because +they worshipped false gods. They have suffered nearly nineteen hundred +years because they rejected the Messiah. Will you incur God's +displeasure by rejecting Christ too? He died to save you. Trust him +with your whole heart, for with the heart man believeth unto +righteousness. + +I believe that when Christ has the first place in our hearts--when the +kingdom of God is first in everything--we shall have power, and we +shall not have power until we give Him His rightful place. If we let +some false god come in and steal our love away from the God of heaven, +we shall have no peace or power. + + + +Second Commandment + +"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of +any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or +that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself +to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, +visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third +and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and shewing mercy unto +thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments." + +The first commandment, which we have just considered, points out the +one true object of worship; this commandment is to tell us the right +way in which to worship. The former commands us to worship God alone; +this calls for purity and spirituality as we approach Him. The former +condemns the worship of false gods; this prohibits false forms. It +relates more especially to outward acts of worship; but these are only +the expression of what is in the heart. + +Perhaps you will say that there is no trouble about this weight. We +might go off to other ages or other lands, and find people who make +images and bow down to them; but we have none here. Let us see if this +is true. Let us step into the scales and see if we can turn them when +weighed against this commandment. + +I believe this is where the battle is fought. Satan tries to keep us +from worshipping God aright, and from making Him first in everything. +If I let some image made by man get into my heart and take the place +of God the Creator, it is a sin. I believe that Satan is willing to +have us worship anything, however sacred,--the Bible, the crucifix, +the church,--if only we do not worship God Himself. + +You cannot find a place in the Bible where a man has been allowed to +bow down and worship any one but the God of heaven and Jesus Christ +His Son. In the Book of Revelation, when an angel came down to John, +he was about to fall down and worship him, but the angel would not let +him. If an angel from heaven is not to be worshipped, when you find +people bowing down to pictures, to images, even when they bow down to +worship the cross, _it is a sin_. There are a great many who seem to +be carried away with these things. "Thou shalt have no other gods +before Me." "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to any graven image." God +wants us to worship Him only, and if we do not believe that Jesus +Christ is God manifest in the flesh we should not worship Him. I have +no more doubt about the divinity of Christ than I have that I exist. + +Worship involves two things: the internal belief, and the external +act. We transgress in our hearts by having a wrong conception of God +and of Jesus Christ before ever we give public expression in action. +As some one has said, it is wrong to have loose opinions as well as to +be guilty of loose practices. That is what Paul meant when he said: +"We ought not to _think_ that the Godhead is like unto gold or silver +or stone, graven by art or man's device." The opinions that some +people hold about Christ are not in accordance with the Bible, and are +real violations of this second commandment. + +A QUESTION. + +The question at once arises--is this commandment intended to forbid +the use of drawings and pictures of created things altogether? Some +contend that it does. They point to the Jews and the Mohammedans as a +proof. The Jews have never been much given to art. The Mohammedans to +this day do not use designs of animals, etc., in patterns. But I do +not agree with them. I think God only meant to forbid images and other +representations when these were intended to be used as objects of +religious veneration. "Thou shalt not make _unto thee_. . . . Thou +shalt not _bow down thyself_ to them, nor _serve_ them." In Exodus we +are told that God ordered the bowls of the golden candlestick for the +tabernacle to be made "like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower;" +and the robe of the ephod had a hem on which they were to put a bell +and a pomegranate alternately. How could God order something that +broke this second commandment? + +I believe that this commandment is a call for spiritual worship. It is +in line with Christ's declaration to that Samaritan woman--"God is a +spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in _spirit_ and in +_truth_." + +This is precisely what is difficult for men to do. The apostles were +hardly in their graves before they began to put up images of them, and +to worship relics. People have a desire for something tangible, +something that they can see. It is so much easier to live in the sense +than in the spirit. That is why there is a demand for ritualism. Some +people are born Puritans; they want a simple form of worship. Others +think they cannot get along without forms and ceremonies that appeal +to the senses. And many a one whose heart is not sincere before God +takes refuge in these forms, and eases his conscience by making an +outward show of religion. + +The second commandment is to restrain this desire and tendency. + +God is grieved when we are untrue to Him. God is Love, and He is +wounded when our affections are transferred to anything else. The +penalty attached to this commandment teaches us that man has to reap +what he sows, whether good or bad; and not only that, but his children +have to reap with him. Notice that punishment is visited upon the +children unto the _third_ or the _fourth_ generation, while mercy is +shown unto thousands, or (as it is more correctly) unto the +_thousandth_ generation. + +THE FOLLY OF IMAGES. + +Think for a moment, and you will see how idle it is to try to make any +representation of God. Christians have tried to paint the Trinity, but +how can you depict the Invisible? Can you draw a picture of your own +soul or spirit or will? Moses impressed it upon Israel that when God +spake to them out of the midst of the fire they saw no manner of +similitude, but only heard His voice. + +A picture or image of God must degrade our conception of Him. It +fastens us down to one idea, whereas we ought to grow in grace and in +knowledge. It makes God finite. It brings him down to our level. It +has given rise to the horrible idols of India and China, because they +fashion these images according to their own notions. How would the +president feel if Americans made such hideous objects to resemble him +as they make of their gods in heathen countries? Isaiah bore down with +tremendous irony upon the folly of idol makers: upon the smith who +fashioned gods with tongs and hammers; and upon the carpenter who took +a tree, and used part of it for a fire to warm himself and roast his +meat, and made part of it in the figure of a man with his rule and +plane and compass, and called it his god and worshipped it. "A +deceived heart hath turned him aside." + +A man must be greater than anything he is able to make or manufacture. +What folly then to think of worshipping such things! + +The tendency of the human heart to represent God by something that +appeals to the senses is the origin of all idolatry. It leads directly +to image-worship. At first there may be no desire to worship the thing +itself, but it inevitably ends in that. As Dr. MacLaren says: +"Enlisting the senses as allies of the spirit is risky work. They are +apt to fight for their own band when they once begin, and the history +of all symbolical and ceremonial worship shows that the experiment is +much more likely to end in sensualizing religion than in +spiritualizing sense." + +PICTURES AND IMAGES. + +But some one says--"I find pictures are a great help to me, and +images. I know that they are not themselves sacred, but they help me +in my devotions to fix my thoughts on God." + +When Dr. Trumbull was in Northfield, he used an illustration that is a +good answer to this. He said, "Suppose a young man were watching from +a window for his absent mother's return, with a wish to catch the +first glimpse of her approaching face. Would he be wise or foolish in +putting up a photograph of her on the window-frame before him, as a +help to bear her in as he looks for her coming? As there can be no +doubt about the answer to that question, so there can be no doubt that +we can best come into communion with God by closing our eyes to +everything that can be seen with the natural eye, and opening the eyes +of our spirit to the sight of God the Spirit." + +I would a great deal sooner have five minutes communion with Christ +than spend years before pictures and images of Him. Whatever comes +between my soul and my Maker is not a help to me, but a hindrance. God +has given different means of grace by which we can approach Him. Let +us use these, and not seek for other things that He has distinctly +forbidden. + +Dr. Dale says that in his college days he had an engraving of our Lord +hanging over his mantlepiece. "The calmness, the dignity, the +gentleness, and the sadness of the face represented the highest +conceptions which I had in those days of the human presence of Christ. +I often looked at it, and seldom without being touched by it. I +discovered in the course of a few mouths that the superstitious +sentiments were gradually clustering about it, which are always +created by the visible representations of the Divine. The engraving +was becoming to me the shrine of God manifest in the flesh, and I +understood the growth of idolatry. The visible symbol is at first a +symbol and nothing more; it assists thought; it stirs passion. At last +it is identified with the God whom it represents. If, every day, I bow +before a crucifix in prayer, if I address it as though it were Christ, +though I know it is not, I shall come to feel for it a reverence and +love which are of the very essence of idolatry." + +Did you ever stop to think that the world has not a single picture of +Christ that has been handed down to us from His disciples? Who knows +what He was like? The Bible does not tell us how He looked, except in +one or two isolated general expressions as when it says--"His visage +was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of +men." We don't know anything definite about His features, the color of +His hair and eyes, and the other details that would help to give a +true representation. What artist can tell us? He left no keepsakes to +His disciples. His clothes were seized by the Roman soldiers who +crucified Him. Not a solitary thing was left to be handed down among +His followers. Doesn't it look as if Christ left no relics lest they +should be held sacred and worshipped? + +History tells us further that the early Christians shrank from making +pictures and statues of any kind of Christ. They knew Him as they had +seen Him after His resurrection, and had promises of His continued +presence that pictures could not make any more real. + +I have seen very few pictures of Christ that do not repel me more or +less. I sometimes think that it is wrong to have pictures of Him at +all. + +Speaking of the crucifix Dr. Dale says; "It makes our worship and +prayer unreal. We are adoring a Christ who does not exist. He is not +on the cross now, but on the throne. His agonies are passed forever. +He has risen from the dead. He is at the right hand of God. If we pray +to a dying Christ, we are praying not to Christ Himself, but to a mere +remembrance of Him. The injury which the crucifix has inflicted on the +religious life of Christendom, in encouraging a morbid and unreal +devotion, is absolutely incalculable. It has given us a dying Christ +instead of a living Christ, a Christ separated from us by many +centuries instead of a Christ nigh at hand." + +THE INDWELLING CHRIST. + +No one can say that we have nowadays any need of such things. "Behold +I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the +door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." +If Christ is in our hearts, why need we set Him before our eyes? +"Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in +the midst of them." If we take hold of that promise by faith, what +need is there of outward symbols and reminders? If the King Himself is +present, why need we bow down before statues supposed to represent +Him? To fill His place with an image (some one has said,) is like +blotting the sun out of the heavens and substituting some other light +in its place. "You cannot see Him through chinks of ceremonialism; or +through the blind eyes of erring man; or by images graven with art and +man's device; or in cunningly devised fables of artificial and +perverted theology. Nay, seek Him in His own Word, in the revelation +of Himself which He gives to all who walk in His ways. So you will be +able to keep that admonition of the last word of all the New Testament +revelation: 'Little children, keep yourselves from idols.'" + +I believe many an earnest Christian would be found wanting if put in +the balances against this commandment. "Tekel" is the sentence that +would be written against them, because their worship of God and of +Christ is not pure. May God open our eyes to the danger that is +creeping more and more into public worship throughout Christendom! Let +us ever bear in mind Christ's words in the fourth chapter of John's +gospel, which show that true spiritual worship is not a matter of +special times and special places because it is of all times and all +places: + +"Believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, +nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. But the hour cometh, and now +is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and +in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: +and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." + + + +Third Commandment + +"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the +Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain." + +I was greatly amazed not long ago in talking to a man who thought he +was a Christian, to find that once in a while, when he got angry, he +would swear. I said: "My friend, I don't see how you can tear down +with one hand what you are trying to build up with the other. I don't +see how you can profess to be a child of God and let those words come +out of your lips." + +He replied: "Mr. Moody, if you knew me you would understand. I have a +very quick temper. I inherited it from my father and mother, and it is +uncontrollable; but my swearing comes only from the lips." + +When God said, "I will not hold him guiltless that takes My name in +vain," He meant what He said, and I don't believe any one can be a +true child of God who takes the name of God in vain. What is the grace +of God for, if it is not to give me control of my temper so that I +shall not lose control and bring down the curse of God upon myself? +When a man is born of God, God takes the "swear" out of him. Make the +fountain good, and the stream will be good. Let the heart be right; +then the language will be right; the whole life will be right. But no +man can serve God and keep His law until he is born of God. There we +see the necessity of the new birth. + +To take God's name "in vain" means either (1) lightly, without +thinking, flippantly; or (2) profanely, deceitfully. + +USING GOD'S NAME IRREVERENTLY. + +I think it is shocking to use God's name with so little reverence as +is common nowadays, even among professing Christians. We are told that +the Jews held it so sacred that the covenant name of God was never +mentioned amongst them except once a year by the high priest on the +Day of Atonement, when he went into the holy of holies. What a +contrast that is to the familiar use Christians make of it in public +and private worship! We are apt to rush into God's presence, and rush +out again, without any real sense of the reverence and awe that is due +Him. We forget that we are on holy ground. + +Do you know how often the word "reverend" occurs in the Bible? Only +once. And what is it used in connection with? God's name. Psalm cxi. +9: "Holy and reverend is His name." So important did the Jewish rabbis +consider this commandment that they said the whole world trembled when +it was first proclaimed on Sinai. + +USING GOD'S NAME PROFANELY. + +But though there is far too much of this frivolous, familiar use of +God's name, the commandment is broken a great deal more by profanity. +Taking the name of God in vain is blasphemy. Is there a swearing man +who reads this? What would you do if you were put into the balances of +the sanctuary, if you had to step in opposite to this third +commandment? Think a moment. Have you been taking God's name in vain +to-day? + +I do not believe men would ever have been guilty of swearing unless +God had forbidden it. They do not swear by their friends, their +fathers or mothers, their wives or children. They want to show how +they despise God's law. + +A great many men think there is nothing in swearing. Bear in mind that +God sees something wrong in it, and He says He will not hold men +guiltless, even though society does. + +I met a man sometime ago who told me he had never sinned in his life. +He was the first perfect man I had ever met. I thought I would +question him, and began to measure him by the law. I asked him: "Do +you ever get angry?" "Well," he said, "sometimes I do; but I have a +right to do so. It is righteous indignation." "Do you swear when you +get angry?" He admitted he did sometimes. "Then," I asked, "are you +ready to meet God?" "Yes," he replied, "because I never mean anything +when I swear." + +Suppose I steal a man's watch and he comes after me. + +"Yes," I say, "I stole your watch and pawned it, but _I did not mean +anything by it_. I pawned it and spent the money, but _I did not mean +anything by it_." + +You would smile at and deride such a statement. + +Ah, friends! You cannot trifle with God in that way. Even if you swear +without meaning it, it is forbidden by God. Christ said: "Every idle +word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the +day of judgment; for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy +words thou shalt be condemned." You will be held accountable whether +your words are _idle_ or _blasphemous_. + +A SENSELESS HABIT. + +The habit of swearing is condemned by all sensible persons. It has +been called "the most gratuitous of all sins," because no one gains by +it; it is "not only sinful, but useless." An old writer said that when +the accusing angel, who records men's words, flies up to heaven with +an oath, he blushes as he hands it in. + +When a man blasphemes, he shows an utter contempt for God. I was in +the army during the war, and heard men cursing and swearing. Some +godly woman would pass along the ranks looking for her wounded son, +and not an oath would be heard. They would not swear before their +mothers, or their wives, or their sisters; they had more respect for +them than they had for God! + +Isn't it a terrible condemnation that swearing held its own until it +came to be recognized as a vulgar thing, a sin against society? Men +dropped it then, who never thought of its being a sin against God. + +There will be no swearing men in the kingdom of God. They will have to +drop that sin, and repent of it, before they see the kingdom of God. + +HOW TO KEEP FROM SWEARING. + +Men often ask: "How can I keep from swearing?" I will tell you. If God +puts His love into your heart, you will have no desire to curse Him. +If you have much regard for God, you will no more think of cursing Him +than you would think of speaking lightly or disparagingly of a mother +whom you love. But the natural man is at enmity with God, and has +utter contempt for His law. When that law is written on his heart, +there will be no trouble in obeying it. + +When I was out west about thirty years ago, I was preaching one day in +the open air, when a man drove up in a fine turn-out, and after +listening a little while to what I was saying, he put the whip to his +fine-looking Steed, and away he went. I never expected to see him +again, but the next night he came back, and he kept on coming +regularly night after night. + +I noticed that his forehead itched--you have noticed people who keep +putting their hands to their foreheads?--he didn't want any one to see +him shedding tears--of course not! It is not a manly thing to shed +tears in a religions meeting, of course! + +After the meeting I said to a gentleman: "Who is that man who drives +up here every night? Is he interested?" "Interested! I should think +not! You should have heard the way he talked about you today." "Well," +I said, "that is a sign he is interested." + +If no man ever has anything to say against you, your Christianity +isn't worth much. Men said of the Master, "He has a devil," and Jesus +said that if they had called the master of the house Beelzebub, how +much more them of his household. + +I asked where this man lived, but my friend told me not to go to see +him, for he would only curse me. I said: "It takes God to curse a man; +man can only bring curses on his own head." I found out where he +lived, and went to see him. He was the wealthiest man within a hundred +miles of that place, and had a wife and seven beautiful children. Just +as I got to his gate I saw him coming out of the front door. I stepped +up to him and said: "This is Mr.--, I believe?" He said: "Yes, sir; +that is my name." Then he straightened up and asked--"What do you +want?" "Well," I said, "I would like to ask you a question, if you +won't be angry." "Well, what is it?" "I am told that God has blessed +you above all men in this part of the country; that He has given you +wealth, a beautiful Christian wife, and seven lovely children. I do +not know if it is true, but I hear that all He gets in return is +cursing and blasphemy." He said, "Come in; come in." I went in. "Now," +he said, "what you said out there is true. If any man has a fine wife +I am the man, and I have a lovely family of children, and God has been +good to me. But do you know, we had company here the other night, and +I cursed my wife at the table, and did not know it till after the +company had gone. I never felt so mean and contemptible in my life as +when my wife told me of it. She said she wanted the floor to open and +let her down out of her seat. If I have tried once, I have tried a +hundred times to stop swearing. You preachers don't know anything +about it." "Yes," I said, "I know all about it; I have been a +drummer." "But," he said, "you don't know anything about a +business-man's troubles. When he is harassed and tormented the whole +time, he can't help swearing." "Oh, yes," I said, "he can. I know +something about it. I used to swear myself." "What! You used to +swear?" he asked; "how did you stop?" "I never stopped." "Why, you +don't swear now, do you?" "No; I have not sworn for years." "How did +you stop?" "I never stopped. It stopped itself." He said, "I don't +understand this." "No," I said, "I know you don't. But I came up to +talk to you, so that you will never want to swear again as long as you +live." + +I began to tell him about Christ in the heart; how that would take the +temptation to swear out of a man, + +"Well," he said, "how am I to get Christ?" "Get right down here and +tell Him what you want." "But," he said, "I was never on my knees in +my life. I have been cursing all the day, and I don't know how to pray +or what to pray for." "Well," I said, "it is mortifying to have to +call on God for mercy when you have never used His name except in +oaths; but He will not turn you away. Ask God to forgive you if you +want to be forgiven." + +Then the man got down and prayed--only a few sentences, but thank God, +it is the short prayers, after all, which bring the quickest answers. +After he prayed he got up and said: "What shall I do now?" I said, "Go +down to the church and tell the people there that you want to be an +out-and-out Christian." "I cannot do that," he said; "I never go to +church except to some funeral." "Then it is high time for you to go +for something else," I said. + +After a while he promised to go, but did not know what the people +would say. At the next church prayer-meeting, the man was there, and I +sat right in front of him. He stood up and put his hands on the +settee, and he trembled so much that I could feel the settee shake. He +said: + +"My friends, you know all about me. If God can save a wretch like me, +I want to have you pray for my salvation." + +That was thirty odd years ago. Sometime ago I was back in that town, +and did not see him; but when I was in California, a man asked me to +take dinner with him. I told him that I could not do so, for I had +another engagement. Then he asked if I remembered him, and told me his +name. "Oh," I said, "tell me, have you ever sworn since that night you +knelt in your drawing-room, and asked God to forgive you?" "No," he +replied, "I have never had a desire to swear since then. It was all +taken away." + +He was not only converted, but became an earnest, active Christian, +and all these years has been serving God. That is what will take place +when a man is born of the divine nature. + +Is there a swearing man ready to put this commandment into the scales, +and step in to be weighed? Suppose you swear only once in six months +or a year--suppose you swear only once in ten years--do you think God +will hold you guiltless for that act? It shows that your heart is not +clean in God's sight. What are you going to do, blasphemer? Would you +not be found wanting? You would be like a feather in the balance. + + + +Fourth Commandment + +"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, +and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord +thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy +daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy +stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made +heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the +seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed +it." + +There has been an awful letting-down in this country regarding the +sabbath during the last twenty-five years, and many a man has been +shorn of spiritual power, like Samson, because he is not straight on +this question. Can _you_ say that you observe the sabbath properly? +You may be a professed Christian: are you obeying this commandment? Or +do you neglect the house of God on the sabbath day, and spend your +time drinking and carousing in places of vice and crime, showing +contempt for God and His law? Are you ready to step into the scales? +Where were you last sabbath? How did you spend it? + +I honestly believe that this commandment is just as binding to-day as +it ever was. I have talked with men who have said that it has been +abrogated, but they have never been able to point to any place in the +Bible where God repealed it. When Christ was on earth, He did nothing +to set it aside; He freed it from the traces under which the scribes +and Pharisees had put it, and gave it its true place. "The sabbath was +made for man, not man for the sabbath." It is just as practicable and +as necessary for men to-day as it ever was--in fact, more than ever, +because we live in such an intense age. + +The sabbath was binding in Eden, and it has been in force ever since. +This fourth commandment begins with the word "remember," showing that +the sabbath already existed when God wrote this law on the tables of +stone at Sinai. How can men claim that this one commandment has been +done away with when they will admit that the other nine are still +binding? + +I believe that the sabbath question to-day is a vital one for the +whole country. It is the burning question of the present time. If you +give up the sabbath the church goes; if you give up the church the +home goes; and if the home goes the nation goes. That is the direction +in which we are traveling. + +The church of God is losing its power on account of so many people +giving up the sabbath, and using it to promote selfishness. + +HOW TO OBSERVE THE SABBATH. + +"Sabbath" means "rest," and the meaning of the word gives a hint as to +the true way to observe the day. God rested after creation, and +ordained the sabbath as a rest for man. He blessed it and hallowed it. +"Remember _the rest-day_ to keep it _holy_." It is the day when the +body may be refreshed and strengthened after six days of labor, and +the soul drawn into closer fellowship with its Maker. + +True observance of the sabbath may be considered under two general +heads: cessation from ordinary secular work, and religious exercises. + +I.--CESSATION FROM SECULAR WORK. + +A man ought to turn aside from his ordinary employment one day in +seven. There are many whose occupation will not permit them to observe +Sunday, but they should observe some other day as a sabbath. Saturday +is my day of rest because I generally preach on Sunday, and I look +forward to it as a boy does to a holiday. God knows what we need. + +Ministers and missionaries often tell me that they take no rest-day; +they do not need it because they are in the Lord's work. That is a +mistake. When God was giving Moses instructions about the building of +the tabernacle, He referred especially to the sabbath, and gave +injunctions for its strict observance; and later, when Moses was +conveying the words of the Lord to the children of Israel, he +interpreted them by saying that not even were sticks to be gathered on +the sabbath to kindle fires for smelting or other purposes. In spite +of their zeal and haste to erect the tabernacle, the workmen were to +have their day of rest. The command applies to ministers and others +engaged in Christian work to-day as much as to those Israelite workmen +of old. + +WORKS OF NECESSITY AND OF EMERGENCY. + +In judging whether any work may or may not be lawfully done on the +sabbath, find out the reason and object for doing it. Exceptions are +to be made for works of necessity and works of emergency. By "_works +of necessity_" I mean those acts that Christ justified when He +approved of leading one's ox or ass to water. Watchmen, police, +stokers on board steamers, and many others have engagements that +necessitate their working on the sabbath. By "_works of emergency_" I +mean those referred to by Christ when He approved of pulling an ox or +an ass out of a pit on the sabbath day. In case of fire or sickness a +man is often called on to do things that would not otherwise be +justifiable. + +A Christian man was once urged by his employer to work on Sunday. +"Does not your Bible say that if your ass falls into a pit on the +sabbath, you may pull him out?" "Yes," replied the other; "but if the +ass had the habit of falling into the same pit every sabbath, I would +either fill up the pit or sell the ass." + +Every man must settle the question as it effects unnecessary work, +with his own conscience. + +No man should make another work seven days in the week. One day is +demanded for rest. A man who has to work the seven days has nothing to +look forward to, and life becomes humdrum. Many Christians are guilty +in this respect. + +SABBATH TRAVELING. + +Take, for instance, the question of sabbath traveling. I believe we +are breaking God's laws by using the cars on Sunday and depriving +conductors and others of their sabbath. Remember the fourth +commandment expressly refers to "the stranger that is within thy +gates." Doesn't that touch sabbath travel? + +But you ask, "What are we to do? How are we to get to church?" + +I reply, on foot. It will be better for you. Once when I was holding +meetings in London, in my ignorance I made arrangements to preach four +times in different places one sabbath. After I had made the +appointments I found I had to walk sixteen miles; but I walked it, and +I slept that night with a clear conscience. I have made it a rule +never to use the cars, and if I have a private carriage, I insist that +horse and man shall rest on Monday. I want no hackman to rise up in +judgment against me. + +My friends, if we want to help the sabbath, let business men and +Christians never patronize cars on the sabbath. I would hate to own +stock in those companies, to be the means of taking the sabbath from +these men, and have to answer for it at the day of judgment. Let those +who are Christians at any rate endeavor to keep a conscience void of +offence on this point. + +SABBATH TRADING. + +There are many who are inclined to use the sabbath in order to make +money faster. This is no new sin. The prophet Amos hurled his +invectives against oppressors who said, "When will the new moon be +gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth +wheat?" + +Covetous men have always chafed under the restraint, but not until the +present time do we find that they have openly counted on sabbath trade +to make money. We are told that many street car companies would not +pay if it were not for the sabbath traffic, and the sabbath edition of +newspapers is also counted upon as the most profitable. + +The railroad men of this country are breaking down with softening of +the brain, and die at the age of fifty or sixty. They think their +business is so important that they must run their trains seven days in +the week. Business men travel on the sabbath so as to be on hand for +business Monday morning. But if they do so God will not prosper them. + +Work is good for man and is commanded, "Six days shalt thou labor;" +but overwork and work on the sabbath takes away the best thing he has. + +NECESSARY AND BENEFICIAL. + +The good effect on a nation's health and happiness produced by the +return of the sabbath, with its cessation from work, cannot be +overestimated. It is needed to repair and restore the body after six +days of work. It is proved that a man can do more in six days than in +seven. Lord Beaconsfield. said: "Of all divine institutions, the most +divine is that which secures a day of rest for man. I hold it to be +the most valuable blessing conceded to man. It is the corner-stone of +all civilization, and its removal might affect even the health of the +people." Mr. Gladstone recently told a friend that the secret of his +long life is that amid all the pressure of public cares he never +forgot the sabbath, with its rest for the body and the soul. The +constitution of the United States protects the president in his weekly +day of rest. He has ten days, "Sundays excepted," in which to consider +a bill that has been sent to him for signature. Every workingman in +the republic ought to be as thoroughly protected as the president. If +workingmen got up a strike against unnecessary work on the sabbath, +they would have the sympathy of a good many. + +"Our bodies are seven-day clocks," says Talmage, "and they need to be +wound up, and if they are not wound up they run down into the grave. +No man can continuously break the sabbath and keep his physical and +mental health. Ask aged men, and they will tell you they never knew +men who continuously broke the sabbath, who did not fail in mind, +body, or moral principles." + +All that has been said about rest for man is true for working animals. +God didn't forget them in this commandment, and man should not forget +them either. + +II.--RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY. + +But "rest" does not mean idleness. No man enjoys idleness for any +length of time. When one goes on a vacation, one does not lie around +doing nothing all the time. Hard work at tennis, hunting, and other +pursuits fills the hours. A healthy mind must find something to do. + +Hence the sabbath rest does not mean inactivity. "Satan finds some +mischief still for idle hands to do." The best way to keep off bad +thoughts and to avoid temptation is to engage in active religious +exercises. + +As regards these, we should avoid extremes. On the one hand we find a +rigor in sabbath observance that is nowhere commanded in Scripture, +and that reminds one of the formalism of the Pharisees more than of +the spirit of the gospel. Such strictness does more harm than good. It +repels people and makes the sabbath a burden. On the other hand we +should jealously guard against a loose way of keeping the sabbath. +Already in many cities it is profaned openly. + +When I was a boy the sabbath lasted from sundown on Saturday to +sundown on Sunday, and I remember how we boys used to shout when it +was over. It was the worst day in the week to us. I believe it can be +made the brightest day in the week. Every child ought to be reared so +that he shall be able to say, with a friend, that he would rather have +the other six days weeded out of his memory than the sabbath of his +childhood. + +PUBLIC WORSHIP. + +Make the sabbath a day of religious activity. First of all, of course, +is attendance at public worship. "There is a discrepancy," says John +McNeill, "between our creed about the sabbath day and our actual +conduct. In many families, at ten o'clock on the sabbath, attendance +at church is still an open question. There is no open question on +Monday morning--'John, will you go to work to-day?'" + +A minister rebuked a farmer for not attending church, and said, "You +know John you are never absent from market." + +"O," was the reply, "we _must_ go to market." + +Some one has said that without the sabbath the church of Christ could +not, as a visible organization, exist on earth. Another has said that +"we need to be in the drill of observance as well as in the liberty of +faith." Human nature is so treacherous that we are apt to omit things +altogether unless there is some special reason for doing them. A man +is not likely to worship at all unless he has regularly appointed +times and means for worship. Family and private devotions are almost +certain to be omitted altogether unless one gets into the habit, and +has a special time set apart daily. + +A REMINISCENCE. + +I remember blaming my mother for sending me to church on the sabbath. +On one occasion the preacher had to send some one into the gallery to +wake me up. I thought it was hard to have to work in the field all the +week, and then to be obliged to go to church and hear a sermon I +didn't understand. I thought I wouldn't go to church any more when I +got away from home; but I had got so in the habit of going that I +couldn't stay away. After one or two sabbaths, back again to the house +of God I went. There I first found Christ, and I have often said +since, + +"Mother, I thank you for making me go to the house of God when I +didn't want to go." + +Parents, if you want your children to grow up and honor you, have them +honor the sabbath day. Don't let them go off fishing, and getting into +bad company, or it won't be long before they will come home and curse +you. I know few things more beautiful than to see a father and mother +coming up the aisle with their daughters and sons, and sitting down +together to hear the Word of God. It is a good thing to have the +children, not in some remote loft or gallery, but in a good place, +well in sight. Though they cannot understand the sermon now, when they +get older they won't desire to break away, they will continue +attending public worship in the house of God. + +But we must not mistake the means for the end. We must not think that +the sabbath is just for the sake of being able to attend meetings. +There are some people who think they must spend the whole day at +meetings or private devotions. The result is that at nightfall they +are tired out, and the day has brought them no rest. The number of +church services attended ought to be measured by the person's ability +to enjoy them and get good from them, without being wearied. Attending +meetings is not the only way to observe the sabbath. The Israelites +were commanded to keep it in their dwellings as well as in holy +convocation. The home, that centre of so great influence over the life +and character of the people, ought to be made the scene of true +sabbath observance. + +HOME OBSERVANCE. + +Jeremiah classified godless families with the heathen: "Pour out thy +fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that +call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, devoured him, and +consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate." + +Many mothers have written to me at one time or another to know what to +do to entertain their children on the sabbath. The boys say, "I do +wish 'twas Night," or, "I do hate the sabbath," or, "I do wish the +sabbath was over." It ought to be the happiest day in the week to +them, one to be looked forward to with pleasure. In order to this end, +many suggestions might be followed. Make family prayers especially +attractive by having the children learn some verse or story from the +Bible. Give more time to your children than you can give on week days, +reading to them and perhaps taking them to walk in the afternoon or +evening. Show by your conduct that the sabbath is a delight, and they +will soon catch your spirit. Set aside some time for religious +instruction, without making this a task. You can make it interesting +for the children by telling Bible stories and asking them to guess the +names of the characters. Have Sunday games for the younger children. +Picture books, puzzle maps of Palestine, etc., can be easily obtained. +Sunday albums and Sunday clocks are other devices. Set aside +attractive books for the sabbath, not letting the children have these +during the week. By doing this, the children can be brought to look +forward to the day with eagerness and pleasure. + +PRIVATE OBSERVANCE. + +Apart from public and family observance, the individual ought to +devote a portion of the time to his own edification. Prayer, +meditation, reading, ought not to be forgotten. Think of men devoting +six days a week to their body, which will soon pass away, and +begrudging one day to the soul which will live on and on forever: Is +it too much for God to ask for one day to be devoted to the growth and +training of the spiritual senses, when the other senses are kept busy +the other six days? + +If your circumstances permit, engage in some definite Christian +work--such as teaching in Sunder school, or visiting the sick. Do all +the good you can Sin keeps no sabbath, and no more should good deeds. +There is plenty of opportunity in this fallen world to perform works +of mercy and religion. Make your sabbath down here a foretaste of the +eternal sabbath that is in store for believers. + +You want power in your Christian life, do you? You want Holy Ghost +power? You want the dew of heaven on your brow? You want to see men +convicted and converted? I don't believe we shall ever have genuine +conversions until we get straight on this law of God. + +SABBATH DESECRATION. + +Men seem to think they have a right to change the holy day into a +_holiday_. The young have more temptations to break the sabbath than +we had forty years ago. There are three great temptations: first, the +trolley car, that will take you off into the country for a nickel to +have a day of recreation; second, the bicycle, which is leading a good +many Christian men to give up their sabbath and spend the day on +excursions; and the third, the Sunday newspaper. + +Twenty years ago Christian people in Chicago would have been horrified +if any one had prophesied that all the theatres would be open every +sabbath; but that is what has come to pass. If it had been prophesied +twenty years ago that Christian men would take a wheel and go off on +Sunday morning and be gone all day on an excursion, Christians would +have been horrified and would have said it was impossible; but that is +what is going on to-day all over the country. + +THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER. + +With regard to the Sunday newspaper, I know all the arguments that are +brought in its favor--that the work on it is done during the week, +that it is the Monday paper that causes Sunday work, and so on. But +there are two hundred thousand newsboys selling the paper on Sunday. +Would you like to have your boy one of them? Men are kept running +trains in order to distribute the papers. Would you like your sabbath +taken away from you? If not, then practise the Golden Rule, and don't +touch the papers. + +Their contents make them unfit for reading any day, not to say Sunday. +Some New York dailies advertise Sunday editions of sixty pages. Many +dirty pieces of scandal in this and other countries are raked up and +put into them. "Eight pages of fun!"--that is splendid reading for +Sunday, isn't it? Even when a so-called sermon is printed, it is +completely buried by the fiction and news matter. It is time that +ministers went into their pulpits and preached against Sunday +newspapers if they haven't done it already. Put the man in the scales +that buys and reads Sunday papers. After reading them for two or three +hours he might go and hear the best sermon in the world, but you +couldn't preach anything into him. His mind is filled up with what he +has read, and there is no room for thoughts of God. I believe that the +archangel Gabriel himself could not make an impression on an audience +that has its head full of such trash. If you bored a hole into a man's +head, you could not inject any thoughts of God and heaven. + +I don't believe that the publishers would allow their own children to +read them. Why then should they give them to my children and to yours? + +A merchant who advertises in Sunday papers is not keeping the sabbath. +It is a master-stroke of the devil to induce Christian men to do this +in order to make trade for Monday. But if a man makes money, and yet +his sons are ruined and his home broken up, what has he gained? + +Ladies buy the Sunday papers and read the advertisements of Monday +bargains to see what they can buy cheap. Just so with their religion. +They are willing to have it if it doesn't cost anything. + +If Christian men and women refused to buy them, if Christian merchants +refused to advertise in them, they would soon die out, because that is +where they get most of their support. + +They tell me the Sunday paper has come to stay, and I may as well let +it alone. Never! I believe it is a great evil, and I shall fight it +while I live. I never read a Sunday paper, and wouldn't have one in my +house. They are often sent me, but I tear them up without reading +them. I will have nothing to do with them. They do more harm to +religion than any other one agency I know. Their whole influence is +against keeping the sabbath holy. They are an unnecessary evil. Can't +a man read enough news on week days without desecrating the sabbath? +We had no Sunday papers till the war came, and we got along very well +without them. They have been increasing in size and in number ever +since then, and I think they have been lowering their tone ever since. +If you believe that, help to fight them too. Stamp them out, beginning +with yourself. + +PUNISHMENT OR BLESSING? + +No nation has ever prospered that has trampled the sabbath in the +dust. Show me a nation that has done this, and I will show you a +nation that has got in it the seeds of ruin and decay. I believe that +sabbath desecration will carry a nation down quicker than anything +else. Adam brought marriage and the sabbath with him out of Eden, and +neither can be disregarded without suffering. When the children of +Israel went into the Promised Land God told them to let their land +rest every seven years, and He would give them as much in six years as +in seven. For four hundred and ninety years they disregarded that law. +But mark you, Nebuchadnezzar came and took them off into Babylon, and +kept them seventy years in captivity, and the land had its seventy +sabbaths of rest. Seven times seventy is four hundred and ninety. So +they did not gain much by breaking this law. You can give God His day, +or He will take it. + +On the other hand, honoring the fourth commandment brings blessing. +"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure +on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, +honorable; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding +thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words ('thine own' as +contrasted with what God enjoins), then shalt thou delight thyself in +the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the +earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father, for the +mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." + +I do not know what will become of this republic if we give up our +Christian sabbath. If Satan can break the conscience down on one +point, he can break it down on all. When I was in France in 1867, I +could not tell one day from the other. On Sunday stores were open and +buildings were erected, the same as on other days. See how quickly +that country went down. One hundred years ago France and England stood +abreast in the march of nations. Where do they stand to-day? France +undertook to wipe out the sabbath, and has pretty nearly wiped itself +out, while England belts the globe. + +A FIRM STAND. + +We have a fighting chance to save this nation, and what we want is men +and women who have moral courage to stand up and say: + +"No, I will not touch the Sunday paper, and all the influence I have I +will throw dead against it. I will not go away on Saturday evening if +I have to travel on Sunday to get back. I will not do unnecessary work +on the sabbath. I will do all I can to keep it holy as God commanded." + +But some one says: "Mr. Moody, what are you going to do? I have to +work seven days a week or starve." + +Then starve! Wouldn't it be a grand thing to have a martyr in the +nineteenth century? "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the +church." Some one says the seed is getting very low; it has been a +long time since we have had any seed. I would give something to erect +a monument to such a martyr to his fidelity to God's law. I would go +around the world to attend his funeral. + +We want to-day men who will make up their minds to do what is right, +and stand by it if the heavens tumble on their heads. What is to +become of Christian Associations and Sunday Schools, of churches and +Christian Endeavor Societies, if the Christian sabbath is given up to +recreation, and made a holiday? Hasn't the time come to call a halt if +men want power with God? Let men call you narrow and bigoted, but be +man enough to stand by God's law, and you will have power and +blessing. That is the kind of Christianity we want just now in this +country. Any man can go with the crowd, but we want men who will go +against the current. + +Sabbath-breaker, are you ready to step into the scales? + + + +Fifth Commandment + +"Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the +land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." + +We are living in dark days on this question too. It really seems as if +the days the apostle Paul wrote about are upon us: "In the last days +perilous times shall come; for men shall be lovers of their own +selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, _disobedient to +parents, unthankful_, unholy, _without natural affection_, despisers +of those that are good, . . . ." If Paul was alive to-day, could he +have described the present state of affairs more truly? There are +perhaps more men in this country that are breaking the hearts of their +fathers and mothers, and trampling on the law of God, than in any +other civilized country in the world. How many sons treat their +parents with contempt, and make light of their entreaties? A young man +will have the kindest care from parents; they will watch over him, and +care for all his wants; and some bad companion will come in and sweep +him away from them in a few weeks. How many young ladies have married +against their parents' wishes, and have gone off and made their own +life bitter! I never knew one case that did not turn out badly. They +invariably bring ruin upon themselves, unless they repent. + +BEGIN IN THE HOME. + +The first four commandments deal with our relations to God. They tell +us how to worship and when to worship; they forbid irreverence and +impiety in word and act. Now God turns to our relations with each +other, and isn't it significant that He deals first with family life? +"God is going to show us our duty to our neighbor. How does He begin? +Not by telling us how kings ought to reign, or how soldiers ought to +fight, or how merchants ought to conduct their business, but how boys +and girls ought to behave at home." + +We can see that if their home life is all right, they are almost sure +to fulfil the law both in regard to God and man. Parents stand in the +place of God to their children in a great many ways until the children +arrive at years of discretion. If the children are true to their +parents, it will be easier for them to be true to God. He used the +human relationship as a symbol of our relationship to Him both by +creation and by grace. God is our Father in heaven. We are His +offspring. + +On the other hand, if they have not learned to be obedient and +respectful at home, they are likely to have little respect for the law +of the land. It is all in the heart; and the heart is prepared at home +for good or bad conduct outside. The tree grows the way the twig is +bent. + +"Honor thy father and thy mother." That word "honor" means more than +mere obedience--a child may obey through fear. It means love and +affection, gratitude, respect. We are told that in the east the words +"father" and "mother" include those who are "superiors in age, wisdom +and in civil or religious station," so that when the Jews were taught +to honor their father and mother it included all who were placed over +them in these relations, as well as their parents. Isn't there a +crying need for that same feeling to-day? The lawlessness of the +present time is a natural consequence of the growing absence of a +feeling of respect for those in authority. + +HONOR THY MOTHER. + +It has been pointed out as worthy of notice that this commandment +enjoins honor for _the mother_, and yet in eastern countries to the +present day woman is held of little account. When I was in Palestine a +few years ago, the prettiest girl in Jericho was sold by her father in +exchange for a donkey. In many ancient nations, just as in certain +parts of heathendom today, the parents are killed off as soon as they +become old and feeble. Can't we see the hand of God here, raising the +woman to her rightful position of honor out of the degradation into +which she had been dragged by heathenism? + +"Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the +land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." I believe that we must get +back to the old truths. You may make light of it, and laugh at it, +young man, but remember that God has given this commandment, and you +cannot set it aside. If we get back to this law, we shall have power +and blessing. + +TEMPORAL BLESSING OR CURSE. + +I believe it to be literally true that our temporal condition depends +on the way we act upon this commandment. "Honor thy father and mother, +(which is the first commandment with promise), that it may be well +with thee, and that thou mayest live long on the earth." "Honor thy +father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that +thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the +land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." "Cursed is he that setteth +light by his father or mother." "Whoso curseth his father or mother, +his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness." It would be easy to +multiply texts from the Bible to prove this truth. Experience teaches +the same thing. A good, loving son generally turns out better than a +refractory son. Obedience and respect at home prepare the way for +obedience to the employer, and are joined with other virtues that help +toward a prosperous career, crowned with a ripe, honored old age. +Disobedience and disrespect for parents are often the first steps in +the downward track. Many a criminal has testified that this is the +point where he first went astray. I have lived over sixty years, and I +have learned one thing if I have learned nothing else--that no man or +woman who dishonors father or mother ever prospers. + +Young man, young woman, how do you treat your parents? Tell me that, +and I will tell you how you are going to get on in life. When I hear a +young man speaking contemptuously of his grey-haired father or mother, +I say he has sunk very low indeed. When I see a young man as polite as +any gentleman can be when he is out in society, but who snaps up his +mother and speaks unkindly to his father, I would not give the snap of +my finger for his religion. If there is any man or woman on earth that +ought to be treated kindly and tenderly, it is that loving mother or +that loving father. If they cannot have your regard through life, what +reward are they to have for all their care and anxiety? Think how they +loved you and provided for you in your early days. + +A MOTHER'S LOVE. + +Let your mind go back to the time when you were ill. Did your mother +neglect you? When a neighbor came in and said, "Now, mother, you go +and lie down; you have been up for a week; I will take your place for +a night"--did she do it? No; and if the poor worn body forced her to +it at last, she lay watching, and if she heard your voice, she was at +your side directly, anticipating all your wants, wiping the +perspiration away from your brow. If you wanted water, how soon you +got it! She would gladly have taken the disease into her own body to +save you. Her love for you would drive her to any lengths. No matter +to what depths of vice and misery you have sunk, no matter how +profligate you have grown, she has not turned you out of her heart. +Perhaps she loves you all the more because you are wayward. She would +draw you back by the bands of a love that never dies. + +FILIAL INGRATITUDE. + +When I was in England, I read of a man who professed to be a +Christian, who was brought before the magistrate for not supporting +his aged father. He had let him go to the workhouse. My friends, I'd +rather be content with a crust of bread and a drink of water than let +my father or mother go to the workhouse. The idea of a professing +Christian doing such a thing! God have mercy on such a godless +Christianity as that! It is a withered up thing, and the breath of +heaven will drive it away. Don't profess to love God and do a thing +like that. + +A friend of mine told me of a poor man who had sent his son to school +in the city. One day the father was hauling some wood into the city, +perhaps to pay his boy's bills. The young man was walking down the +street with two of his school friends, all dressed in the very height +of fashion. His father saw him, and was so glad that he left his wood, +and went to the sidewalk to speak to him. But the boy was ashamed of +his father, who had on his old working clothes, and spurned him, and +said: + +"I don't know you." + +Will such a young man ever amount to anything? Never! + +I remember a very promising young man whom I had in the Sunday school +in Chicago. His father was a confirmed drunkard, and his mother took +in washing to educate her four children. This was her eldest son, and +I thought that he was going to redeem the whole family. But one day a +thing happened that made him go down in my estimation. + +The boy was in the high school, and was a very bright scholar. One day +he stood with his mother at the cottage door--it was a poor house, but +she could not pay for their schooling, and feed and clothe her +children, and hire a very good house too, out of her earnings. When +they were talking a young man from the high school came up the street, +and this boy walked away from his mother. Next day the young man said: + +"Who was that I saw you talking to yesterday?" + +"Oh, that was my washerwoman." + +I said: "Poor fellow! He will never amount to anything." + +That was a good many years ago. I have kept my eye on him. He has gone +down, down, down, and now he is just a miserable wreck. Of course he +would go down. Ashamed of his mother that loved him and toiled for +him, and bore so much hardship for him! I cannot tell you the contempt +I had for that one act. + +Let us look at + +A BRIGHTER PICTURE. + +Some years ago I heard of a poor woman who sent her boy to school and +college. When he was to graduate, he wrote his mother to come, but she +sent back word that she could not because her only skirt had already +been turned once. She was so shabby that she was afraid he would be +ashamed of her. He wrote back that he didn't care how she was dressed, +and urged so strongly that she went. He met her at the station, and +took her to a nice place to stay. The day came for his graduation, and +he walked down the broad aisle with that poor mother dressed very +shabbily, and put her into one of the best seats in the house. To her +great surprise he was the valedictorian of the class, and he carried +everything before him. He won a prize, and when it was given to him, +he stepped down before the whole audience, and kissed his mother, and +said: + +"Here, mother, here is the prize. It is yours. I would not have had it +if it had not been for you." + +Thank God for such a man! + +The one glimpse the Bible gives us of thirty out of the thirty-three +years of Christ's life on earth shows that He did not come to destroy +this fifth commandment. The secret of all those silent years is +embodied in that verse in Luke's Gospel--"And He went down with them +and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them." Did He not set an +example of true filial love and care when in the midst of the agonies +of the cross He mode provision for His mother? Did He not condemn the +miserable evasions of this law by the Pharisees of His own day: + +"Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This +people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. +But in vain do they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the +precepts of men. . . . Full well do ye reject the commandment of God, +that ye may keep your tradition. For Moses said, Honor thy father and +thy mother; and, He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him +die the death; but ye say, If a man shall say to his father or his +mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me, is +Corban, (that is to say, Given to God), ye no longer suffer him to do +aught for his father or his mother: making void the word of God by +your tradition, which ye have delivered." + +I have read of one heathen custom in China, which would do us credit +in this so-called Christian country. On every New Year's morning each +man and boy, from the emperor to the lowest peasant, is said to pay a +visit to his mother, carrying her a present varying in value according +to his station in life. He thanks her for all she has done for him, +and asks a continuance of her favor another year. Abraham Lincoln used +to say: "All I have I owe to my mother." + +I would rather die a hundred deaths than have my children grow up to +treat me with scorn and contempt. I would rather have them honor me a +thousand times over than have the world honor me. I would rather have +their esteem and favor than the esteem of the whole world. And any man +who seeks the honor and esteem of the world, and doesn't treat his +parents right, is sure to be disappointed: + +AN EXHORTATION. + +Young man, if your parents are still living treat them kindly. Do all +you can to make their declining years sweet and happy. Bear in mind +that this is the only commandment that you may not always be able to +obey. As long as you live, you will be able to serve God, to keep the +sabbath, to obey all the other commandments, but the day comes to most +men when father and mother die. What bitter feelings you will have +when the opportunity has gone by, if you fail to show them the respect +and love that is their due! How long is it since you wrote to your +mother? Perhaps you have not written home for months, or it may be for +years. How often I get letters from mothers urging me to try and +influence their sons! + +Which would you rather be--a Joseph or an Absalom? Joseph wasn't +satisfied until he had brought his old father down into Egypt. He was +the greatest man in Egypt, next to Pharaoh; he was arrayed in the +finest garments; he had Pharaoh's ring on his hand, and a gold chain +about his neck, and they cried before him, "Bow the knee." Yet when he +heard Jacob was coming, he hurried out to meet him. He wasn't ashamed +of the old man, with his shepherds clothes. What a contrast we see in +Absalom. That young man broke his father's heart by his rebellion, and +the Jews are said to throw a stone at Absalom's pillar to the present +day, whenever they pass it, as a token of their horror of Absalom's +unnatural conduct. + +Come, now, are you ready to be weighed? If you have been dishonoring +your father and mother, step into the scales and see how quickly you +will be found wanting. See how quickly you will strike the beam. I +don't know any man who is much lighter than one who treats his parents +with contempt. Do you disobey them just as much as you dare? Do you +try to deceive them? Do you call them old-fashioned, and sneer at +their advice? How do you treat that venerable father and praying +mother? + +You may be a professing Christian, but I wouldn't give much for your +religion unless it gets into your life and teaches you how to live. I +wouldn't give a snap of my finger for a religion that doesn't begin at +home and regulate your conduct toward your parents. + + + +Sixth Commandment + +"Thou shalt not kill." + +I used to say: "What is the use of taking up a law like this in an +audience where, probably, there isn't a man who ever thought of, or +ever will commit murder?" But as one gets on in years, he sees many a +murder that is not outright killing. I need not kill a person to be a +murderer. If I get so angry that I wish a man dead, I am a murderer in +God's sight. God looks at the heart and says he that hateth his +brother is a murderer. + +First let us see what this commandment does not mean. + +It does not forbid the killing of animals for food and for other +reasons. Millions of rams and lambs and turtle-doves must have been +killed every year for sacrifices under the Mosaic system. Christ +Himself ate of the Passover lamb, and we are told definitely of cases +where He ate fish Himself and provided it for His disciples and the +people to eat. + +It does not forbid the killing of burglars, etc., in self-defence. +Directly after the giving of the Ten Commandments, God laid down the +ordinance that if a thief be found breaking in and be smitten that he +die, it was pardonable. Did not Christ justify this idea of +self-defence when He said: "If the goodman of the house had known in +what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not +have suffered his house to be broken up?" + +It does not forbid capital punishment. God Himself set the death +penalty upon violations of each of the first seven commandments, as +well as for other crimes. God said to Noah after the deluge--"Whoso +sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed;" and the reason +given is just as true to-day as it was then--"for in the image of God +made He man." + +What it does forbid is the wanton, intentional taking of human life +under wrong motives and circumstances. Man is made in God's image. He +is built for eternity. He is more than a mere animal. His life ought +therefore to be held sacred. Once taken, it can never be restored. In +heathen lands human life is no more sacred than the life of animals; +even in Christian lands there are heartless and selfish men who hold +it cheap; but God has invested it with a high value. An infidel +philosopher of the eighteenth century said: "In the sight of God every +event is alike important; and the life of a man is of no greater +importance to the universe than that of an oyster." "Where is the +crime," he asked, "of turning a few ounces of blood out of their +channel?" Such language needs no answer. + +THE VALUE OF A MAN. + +Let me give you a passage from H. L. Hastings: "A friend of mine +visited the Fiji Islands in 1844, and what do you suppose an infidel +was worth there then? You could buy a man for a musket, or if you paid +money, for seven dollars, and after you had bought him you could feed +him, starve him, work him, whip him, or eat him--they generally ate +them, unless they were so full of tobacco they could not stomach them! +But if you go there to-day you could not buy a man for seven million +dollars. There are no men for sale there now. What has made the +difference in the price of humanity? The twelve hundred Christian +chapels scattered over that Island tell the story. The people have +learned to read that Book which says: 'Ye were not redeemed with +corruptible things as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of +Christ'; and since they learned that lesson, no man is for sale +there." + +Men tell me that the world is getting so much better. We talk of our +American civilization. We forget the alarming increase of crime in our +midst. It is said that there is no civilized country on the globe +where murder is so frequently committed and so seldom punished. + +SUICIDE. + +There is that other kind of murder that is increasing at an appalling +rate among us--suicide. There have been infidels in all ages who have +advocated it as a justifiable means of release from trial and +difficulty; yet thinking men, as far back as Aristotle, have generally +condemned it as cowardly and unjustifiable under any conditions. No +man has a right to take his own life from such motives any more than +the life of another. + +It has been pointed out that the Jewish race, the people of God, +always counted length of days as a blessing. The Bible does not +mention one single instance of a good man committing suicide. In the +four thousand years of Old Testament history it records only four +suicides, and only one suicide in the New Testament. Saul, king of +Israel, and his armor-bearer, Ahithophel, Zimri and Judas Iscariot are +the five cases. Look at the references in the Bible to see what kind +of men they were. + +OTHER KINDS OF MURDER. + +But I want to speak of other classes of murderers that are very +numerous in this country, although they are not classified as +murderers. The man who is the cause of the death of another through +criminal carelessness is guilty. The man who sells diseased meat; the +saloon-keeper whose drink has maddened the brain of a criminal; those +who adulterate food; the employer who jeopardizes the lives of +employees and others by unsafe surroundings and conditions in harmful +occupations,--they are all guilty of blood where life is lost as a +consequence. + +When I was in England in 1892, I met a gentleman who claimed that they +were ahead of us in the respect they had for the law. "We hang our +murderers," he said, "but there isn't one out of twenty in your +country that is hung." I said, "You are greatly mistaken, for they +walk about these two countries unhung." "What do you mean?" "I will +tell you what I mean," I said; "the man that comes into my house and +runs a dagger into my heart for my money, is a prince compared with a +son that takes five years to kill me and the wife of my bosom. A young +man who comes home night after night drunk, and when his mother +remonstrates, curses her grey hairs and kills her by inches, is the +blackest kind of a murderer." + +That kind of thing is going on constantly all around us. One young man +at college, an only son, whose mother wrote to him remonstrating +against his gambling and drinking habits, took the letters out of the +post-office, and when he found that they were from her, he tore them +up without reading them. She said, + +"I thought I would die when I found I had lost my hold on that son." + +If a boy kills his mother by his conduct, you can't call it anything +else than _murder_, and he is as truly guilty of breaking this sixth +commandment as if he drove a dagger to her heart. If all young men in +this country who are killing their parents and their wives by inches, +should be hung this next week, there would be a great many funerals. + +How are you treating your parents? Come, are you killing them? This +sixth commandment follows very naturally after the fifth,--"Honor thy +father and thy mother." Don't put any thorns in their pillows and make +their last days miserable. Bear in mind that the commandment refers +not only to shooting a man down in cold blood; but he is the worst +murderer who goes on, month after month, year after year, until he has +crowded the life out of a sainted mother and put a godly father under +the sod. + +THE WORDS OF CHRIST. + +Let us look once again at the Sermon on the Mount, that men think so +much of, and see what Christ had to say: "Ye have heard that it has +been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever +shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, +that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in +danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, +(an expression of contempt), shall be in danger of the council: but +whosoever shall say, Thou fool, (an expression of condemnation), shall +be in danger of hell fire." "Three degrees of murderous guilt," as has +been said, "all of which can be manifested without a blow being +struck; secret anger--the spiteful jeer--the open, unrestrained +outburst of violent abusive speech." + +Again, what does John say? "Whosoever hateth his brother is a +murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in +him." + +Did you ever in your heart wish a man dead? That was murder. Did you +ever get so angry that you wished any one harm? Then you are guilty. I +may be addressing some one who is cultivating an unforgiving spirit. +That is the spirit of the murderer, and needs to be rooted out of your +heart. + +We can only read man's acts--what they have done. God looks down into +the heart. That is the birthplace and home of the evil desires and +intentions that lead to the transgression of all God's laws. + +Listen once more to the words of Jesus: "From within, out of the heart +of men, proceed evil thoughts--adulteries--fornications--murders +--thefts--covetousness--wickedness--deceit--lasciviousness--an evil +eye--blasphemy--pride--foolishness. . . ." + +May God purge our hearts of these evil things, if we are harboring +them! Ah, if many of us were weighed now, we should find Belshazzar's +doom written against us--"Tekel--wanting!" + + + +Seventh Commandment + +"Thou shalt not commit adultery." + +An English army-officer in India who had been living an impure life +went around one evening to argue religion with the chaplain. During +their talk the officer said: + +"Religion is all very well, but you must admit that there are +difficulties--about the miracles, for instance." + +The chaplain knew the man and his besetting sin, and quietly looking +him in the face, answered: + +"Yes, there are some things in the Bible not very plain, I admit; but +the seventh commandment is very plain." + +PLAIN SPEAKING. + +I would to God I could pass over this commandment, but I feel that the +time has come to cry aloud and spare not. Plain speaking about it is +not very fashionable nowadays. "Teachers of religion have by common +consent banished from their public teaching all advice, warning or +allusion in regard to love between the sexes," says Dr. Stalker. These +themes are left to poets and novelists to handle. In an autobiography +recently published in England, the writer attributed no small share of +the follies and vices of his earlier years to his never having heard a +plain, outspoken sermon on this seventh commandment. + +But though men are inclined to pass it by, God is not silent or +indifferent in regard to it. When I hear any one make light of +adultery and licentiousness, I take the Bible and see how God has let +his curse and wrath come down upon it. + +"Thou shalt not commit adultery. . . . For this is a heinous crime; +yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges. For it is +a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine +increase. . . . By means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece +of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Can a man +take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon +hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his +neighbor's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. . . . +Whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that +doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonor shall he get; +and his reproach shall not be wiped away. . . . Know ye not that the +unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: +neither fornicators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of +themselves with mankind shall inherit the kingdom of God. . . . But +fornication, and all uncleanness, let it not be once named among you, +as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor +jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving thanks. For +this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person hath any +inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive +you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of +God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers +with them. . . . Whoremongers shall have their part in the lake which +burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. . . . For +without are whoremongers. . . ." + +These are a few of the threatenings and warnings contained in the old +Book, up to its closing chapter. It speaks plainly, without +compromise. + +MARRIAGE AND THE HOME. + +This commandment is God's bulwark around marriage and the home. +Marriage is one of the institutions that existed in Eden; it is older +than the fall. It is the most sacred relationship that can exist +between human beings, taking precedence even of the relationship of +the parent and child. Some one has pointed out that as in the +beginning God created one man and one woman, this is the true order +for all ages. Where family ties are disregarded and dishonored, the +results are always fatal. The home existed before the church, and +unless the home is kept pure and undefiled, there can be no family +religion and the church is in danger. Adultery and licentiousness have +swept nation after nation out of existence. Did it not bring fire and +brimstone from heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah? What carried Rome into +ruin? The obscene frescoes and statues at Pompeii and Naples tell the +tale. Where there is no sacredness around the home, population +dwindles; family virtues disappear; the children are corrupt from +their very birth; the seeds of sure decay are already planted. In 1895 +there were twenty-five thousand divorces in this country. I was on one +of the fashionable streets of a prominent city some time ago, where +every family except two in the whole street had either a son or a +daughter that had been divorced. Divorce and debauchery go hand in +hand. We are not gaining much in turning away from this old law, are +we? + +THE DEVIL'S COUNTERFEIT. + +Lust is the devil's counterfeit of love. There is nothing more +beautiful on earth than a pure love, and there is nothing so blighting +as lust. I do not know of a quicker, shorter way down to hell than by +adultery and the kindred sins condemned by this commandment. The Bible +says that with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, but +"whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart." Lust will drive +all natural affection out of a man's heart. For the sake of some vile +harlot he will trample on the feelings and entreaties of a sainted +mother and beautiful wife and godly sister. + +Young man, are you leading an impure life? Suppose God's scales should +drop down before you, what would you do? Are you fit for the kingdom +of heaven? You know very well that you are not. You loathe yourself. +When you look upon that pure wife or mother, you say, + +"What a vile wretch I am! The harlot is bringing me down to an +untimely and dishonored grave." + +May God show us what a fearful sin it is! The idea of making light of +it! I do not know of any sin that will make a man run down to ruin +more quickly. I am appalled when I think of what is going on in the +world; of so many young men living impure lives, and talking about the +virtue of women as if it didn't amount to anything. This sin is coming +in upon us like a flood at the present day. In every city there is an +army of prostitutes. Young men by hundreds are being utterly ruined by +this accursed sin. + +THE PRODIGAL DAUGHTER. + +I think that the most infernal thing the sun shines on in America is +the way woman is treated after she has been ruined by a man, often +under fair promises of marriage. Some one said that when the prodigal +son came home he had the best robe and the fatted calf, but what does +the prodigal daughter get? Although she may have been more sinned +against than sinning, she is cast out and ostracized by society. She +is condemned to an almost hopeless life of degradation and shame, +sinking step by step into a loathsome grave, unless she hurries her +doom by suicide. But the wretch who has ruined her in body and soul, +holds his head as high as ever, and society attaches no stain to him. +If he had failed to pay his gambling debts or was detected cheating at +cards, he would promptly be dropped by society; but he may boast of +his impure life, and his companions will think nothing of it. Parents +who would not allow their daughters to become acquainted with a man +who is rude in manners, sometimes do not hesitate to accept the +society of men who are known to be impure. + +Talk about stealing--a man who steals the virtue of a woman is the +meanest thief that ever was on the face of the earth! One who goes +into your house and steals your money is a prince compared with a vile +libertine who takes the virtue of your sister, or steals the affection +of your wife, and robs you of her; no sneakthief that ever walked the +earth is so mean as he. How men pass laws to protect their property, +but when that which is far nearer and dearer to them than money is +taken, it is made light of! If a man should push a young lady into the +river and she should be drowned, the law would lay hold of him, and he +would be tried for murder and hung. But if he wins her affection and +ruins her, and then casts her off, isn't he worse, than a murderer? +There are some sins that are worse than murder, and that is one of +them. If some one should treat your wife or sister so, you would want +to shoot him as you would a dog. Why do you not respect all women as +you do your mother and sister? "What law of justice forgives the +obscene bird of prey, while it kicks out of its path the soiled and +bleeding dove?" + +GOD'S COMING JUDGMENT. + +God has appointed a day when this matter will be set right. "Be not +deceived: God is not mocked: whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he +also reap." He will render to every man according to his deeds. You +may walk down the aisle of the church and take your seat, thinking +that no one knows of your sin. But God is on the throne, and He will +surely bring you to judgment. Do you believe that God will allow this +infernal thing to go on,--women bearing all the blame while guilty men +go unpunished? God has appointed a day when He will judge this world +in righteousness, and the day is fast approaching. + +If you are guilty of this sin, do not let the day pass until you +repent. If you are living in some secret sin, or are fostering impure +thoughts, make up your mind that by the grace of God you will be +delivered. I don't believe a man who is guilty of this sin is ever +going to see the kingdom of God unless he repents in sackcloth and +ashes, and does all he can to make restitution. + +AN EVIL HARVEST. + +Even in this life adultery and uncleanness bring their awful results, +both physical and mental. The pleasure and excitement that lead so +many astray at the beginning soon pass away, and only the evil +remains. Vice carries a sting in its tail, like the scorpion. The body +is sinned against, and the body sooner or later suffers. "Every sin +that a man doeth is without the body: but he that committeth +fornication sinneth against his own body," said Paul. Nature herself +punishes with nameless diseases, and the man goes down to the grave +rotten, leaving the effects of his sin to blight his posterity. There +are nations whose manhood has been eaten out by this awful scourge. + +It drags a man lower than the beasts. It stains the memory. I believe +that memory is "the worm that never dies," and the memory is never +cleansed of obscene stories and unclean acts. Even if a man repents +and reforms he often has to fight the past. + +Lust gave Samson into the power of Delilah, who robbed him of his +strength. It led David to commit murder and called down upon him the +wrath of God, and if he had not repented he would have lost heaven. I +believe that if Joseph had responded to the enticement of Potiphar's +wife, his light would have gone out in darkness. + +It ends in one or other of two ways: either in remorse and shame +because of the realization of the loss of purity, with a terrible +struggle against a hard taskmaster; or in hardness of heart, +brutalizing of the finer senses, which is a more dreadful condition. + +We hear a good deal about intemperance nowadays. That sin advertises +itself; it shows its marks upon the face and in the conduct. But this +hides itself away under the shadow of the night. A man who tampers +with this evil goes on step by step until his character is blasted, +his reputation ruined, his health gone, and his life made as dark as +hell. May God wake up the nation to see how this awful sin is +spreading! + +Will any one deny that the house of the strange woman is "the way to +hell, going down to the chambers of death," as the Bible says? Are +there not men whose characters have been utterly ruined for this life +through this accursed sin? Are there not wives who would rather sink +into their graves than live? Many a man went with a pure woman to the +altar a few years ago, and promised to love and cherish her. Now he +has given his affections to some vile harlot, and brought ruin on his +wife and children! + +ARE YOU GUILTY? + +Young man, young woman, are you guilty, even in thought? Bear in mind +what Christ said: "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, +Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, That whosoever +looketh on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her +already in his heart." How many would repent but that they are tied +hand and foot, and some vile harlot, whose feet are fastened in hell, +clings to him and says: "If you give me up, I will expose you!" Can +you step on the scales and take that harlot with you? + +If you are guilty of this awful sin, escape for your life. Hear God's +voice while there is yet time. Confess your sin to Him. Ask Him to +snap the fetters that bind you. Ask Him to give you victory over your +passions. If your right eye offends, pluck it out. If your right hand +offends, cut it off. Shake yourself like Samson, and say: + +"By the grace of God I will not go down to an adulterer's grave." + +There is hope for you, adulterer. There is hope for you, adulteress. +God will not turn you away if you truly repent. No matter how low down +in vice and misery you may have sunk, you may be washed, you may be +sanctified, you may be justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by +the Spirit of our God. Remember what Christ said to that woman which +was a sinner--"Thy sins are forgiven thee; thy faith hath saved thee; +go in peace;" and to that woman that was taken in adultery--"Go, and +sin no more." + + + +Eighth Commandment + +"Thou shalt not steal." + +During the time of slavery, a slave was preaching with great power. +His master heard of it, and sent for him, and said: + +"I understand you are preaching?" + +"Yes," said the slave, + +"Well, now," said the master, "I will give you all the time you need, +and I want you to prepare a sermon on the Ten Commandments, and to +bear down especially on stealing, because there is a great deal of +stealing on the plantation." + +The slave's countenance fell at once. He said he wouldn't like to do +that; there wasn't the warmth in that subject there was in others. + +I have noticed that people are satisfied when you preach about the +sins of the patriarchs, but they don't like it when you touch upon the +sins of to-day. That is coming too near home. But we need to have +these old doctrines stated over and over again in our churches. +Perhaps it is not necessary to speak here about the grosser violations +of this eighth commandment, because the law of the land looks after +these; but a man or woman can steal without cracking safes and picking +pockets. Many a person who would shrink from taking what belongs to +another person, thinks nothing of stealing from the government or from +large public corporations, such as streetcar companies. If you steal +from a rich man it is as much a sin as stealing from a poor man. If +you lie about the value of things you buy, are you not trying to +defraud the storekeeper? "It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: +but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth." + +On the other hand, many a person who would not steal himself, holds +stock in companies that make dishonest profits; but "though hand join +in hand, the wicked shall not go unpunished." + +A young man in our Bible Institute in Chicago got on the grip-car, and +before the conductor came around to take the fare, they reached the +Institute and he jumped off without paying his fare. In thinking over +that act he said: "That was not just right. I had my ride and I ought +to pay the fare." + +He remembered the face of the conductor, and he went to the car barns +and paid him the five cents. + +"Well," the conductor said, "you are a fool not to keep it." "No," the +young man said, "I am not. I got the ride, and I ought to have paid +for it." "But it was my business to collect it." "No, it was my +business to hand it to you." The conductor said, "I think you must +belong to that Bible Institute." + +I have heard few things said of the Institute that pleased me so much +as that one thing. Not long after that the conductor came to the +Institute and asked the student to come to see him. A cottage-meeting +was started in his house; and not only himself but a number of others +around there were converted as a result of that one act. + +You can hardly take up a paper now without reading of some cashier of +a bank who has become a defaulter, or of some large swindling +operation that has ruined scores, or of some breach of trust, or +fraudulent failure in business. These things are going on all over the +land. + +I would to God that we could have all gambling swept away. If +Christian men take the right stand, they can check it and break it up +in a great many places. It leads to stealing. + +WHERE THE STREAM STARTS. + +The stream generally starts at home and in the school. Parents are +woefully lax in their condemnation and punishment of the sin of +stealing. The child begins by taking sugar, it may be. The mother +makes light of it at first, and the child's conscience is violated +without any sense of wrong. By and by it is not an easy matter to +check the habit, because it grows and multiplies with every new +commission. + +The value of the thing that is stolen has nothing to say to the guilt +of the act. Two people were once arguing upon this point, and one +said: "Well, you will not contend that a theft of a pin and of a +dollar are the same to God?" "When you tell me the difference between +the value of a pin and of a dollar to God," said the other, "I will +answer your question." + +The value or amount is not what is to be considered, but whether the +act is _right_ or _wrong_. Partial obedience is not enough: obedience +must be entire. The little indulgences, the small transgressions are +what drive religion out of the soul. They lay the foundation for the +grosser sins. If you give way to little temptations, you will not be +able to resist when great temptations come to you. + +GOD'S WEIGHTS. + +_Extortioner_, are you ready to step into the scales? What will you do +with the condemnation of God--"Thou has taken usury and increase, and +thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbor's by extortion, and hast +forgotten me, saith the Lord God?" + +_Employer_, are you guilty of sweating your employees? Have you +defrauded the hireling of his wages? Have you paid starvation wages? +"Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, +whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy +land within thy gates. . . . What mean ye that ye beat my people to +pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord God of hosts. +. . . Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your +fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of +them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of +sabaoth." + +And you, _employee_, have you been honest with your employer? Have you +robbed him of his due by wasting your time when he was not looking? If +God should summon you into His presence now, what would you say? + +Let the _merchant_ step into the scales. See if you will prove light +when weighed against the law of God. Are you guilty of adulterating +what you sell? Do you substitute inferior grades of goods? Are your +advertisements deceptive? Are your cheap prices made possible by +defrauding your customers either in quantity or in quality? Do you +teach your clerks to put a French or an English tag on domestic +manufactures, and then sell them as imported goods? Do you tell them +to say that the goods are all wool when you know they are half cotton? +Do you give short weight or measure? See what God says in His Word: +"Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of +deceitful weights? Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a +great and a small: thou shalt not have in thy house divers measures, a +great and a small: but thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a +perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be +lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. . . . Ye +shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in +measure. Just balances, just weights, a just ephah and a just hin, +shall ye have." Are you like those who said: "When will the new moon +be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth +wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying +the balances by deceit? that we may buy the poor for silver, and the +needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?" + +"Show me a people whose trade is dishonest," said Fronde, "and I will +show you a people whose religion is a sham." Unless your religion can +keep you honest in your business, it isn't worth much; it isn't the +right kind. God is a God of righteousness, and no true follower of his +can swerve one inch to the right or left without disobeying Him. + +STOLEN GOODS A BURDEN. + +I heard of a boy who stole a cannon-ball from a navy-yard. He watched +his opportunity, sneaked into the yard, and secured it. But when he +had it, he hardly knew what to do with it. It was heavy, and too large +to conceal in his pocket, so he had to put it under his hat. When he +got home with it, he dared not show it to his parents, because it +would have led at once to his detection. He said in after years it was +the last thing he ever stole. The story is told that one of Queen +Victoria's diamonds valued at $600,000 was stolen from a jeweler's +window, to whom it had been given to set. A few months afterward a +miserable man died a miserable death in a poor lodging-house. In his +pocket was found the diamond and a letter telling how he had not dared +to sell it lest it should lead to his discovery and imprisonment. It +never brought him anything but anxiety and pain. + +Everything you steal is a curse to you in that way. The sin +overreaches itself. A man who takes money that does not belong to him +never gets any lasting comfort. He has no real pleasure, for he has a +guilty conscience. He cannot look an honest man in the face. He loses +peace of mind here, and all hope of heaven hereafter. "As the +partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth +riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, +and at his end shall be a fool. . . . Let no man go beyond and defraud +his brother in any matter; because that the Lord is the avenger of all +such." + +I may be speaking to some clerk who perhaps took five cents to-day out +of his employer's drawer to buy a cigar; perhaps he took ten cents to +get a shave, and thinks he will put it back to-morrow--no one will +ever know it. If you have taken a cent, you are a thief. Do you ever +think how those little stealings may bring you to ruin? Let your +employer find it out. If he doesn't take you into court, he will +discharge you. Your hopes will be blasted, and it will be hard work to +get up again. Whatever condition you are in, do not take a cent that +does not belong to you. Rather than steal, go up to heaven in +poverty--go up to heaven from the poor-house. Be honest rather than go +through the world in a gilded chariot of stolen riches. + +RESTITUTION. + +If you have ever taken money dishonestly, you need not pray God to +forgive you and fill you with the Holy Ghost until you make +restitution. If you have not got the money now to pay back, will to do +it, and God accepts the willing mind. + +Many a man is kept in darkness and unrest because he fails to obey God +on this point. If the plough has gone deep, if the repentance is true, +it will bring forth fruit. What use is there in my coming to God until +I am willing to make it good, like Zacchaeus, if I have done any man +wrong or have taken anything from him falsely? "If the wicked restore +the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of +life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not +die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto +him." Confession and restitution are the steps that lead up to +forgiveness. Until you tread those steps, you may expect your +conscience to be troubled, your sin to haunt you. + +I was preaching in British Columbia some years ago, and a young man +came to me, and wanted to become a Christian. He had been smuggling +opium into the States. + +"Well, my friend," I said, "I don't think there is any chance for you +to become a Christian until you make restitution." He said, "If I +attempt to do that, I will fall into the clutches of the law, and I +will go to the penitentiary." "Well," I replied, "you had better do +that than go to the judgment-seat of God with that sin upon your soul, +and have eternal punishment. The Lord will be very merciful if you set +your face to do right." + +He went away sorrowful, but came back the next day, and said: "I have +a young wife and child, and all the furniture in my house I have +bought with money I have got in this dishonest way. If I become a +Christian, that furniture will have to go, and my wife will know it." +"Better let your wife know it, and better let your home and furniture +go." "Would you come up and see my wife?" he asked; "I don't know what +she will say." + +I went up to see her, and when I told her, the tears trickled down her +cheeks, and she said: "Mr. Moody, I will gladly give everything if my +husband can become a true Christian." + +She took out her pocketbook, and handed over her last penny. He had a +piece of land in the United States, which he deeded over to the +government. I do not know in all my backward track of any living man +who has had a better testimony for Jesus Christ than that man. He had +been dishonest, but when the truth came to him that he must make it +right before God would help him, he made it right and then God used +him wonderfully. + +No amount of weeping over sin, and saying that you feel sorry, is +going to help it unless you are willing to confess, and make +restitution. + + + +Ninth Commandment + +"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." + +Two out of the Ten Commandments deal with sins that find expression by +the tongue--the third commandment, which forbids taking God's name in +vain, and this ninth commandment, which forbids false witness against +our neighbor. This two-fold prohibition ought to impress us as a +solemn warning, especially as we find that the pages of Scripture are +full of condemnation of sins of the tongue. The Psalms, Proverbs and +the epistle of James deal largely with the subject. + +TRUTH NECESSARY. + +Organized society of a degree higher than that of the herding of +animals and flocking of birds depends so much upon the power of +speech, that without it we may say society would be impossible. +Language is an essential element in the social fabric. To its purpose +it must be trustworthy. Words must command confidence. Anything which +undermines the truth takes (as it were) the mortar out of the building +and if general, must mean ruin. Paul said--"Wherefore putting away +lying, speak every man truth to his neighbor: for we are members one +of another." Note the reason given--"we are members one of another." +All community, all union and fellowship would be shattered if a man +did not know whether to believe his neighbor or not. + +The transgressions of this commandment are very varied in form, and +very frequent. Men and women of all ages have to guard against them. +They include some of the most besetting sins. David said in his +haste--"All men are liars." Some one has remarked that if he had been +living nowadays, he might say it without haste and not be very far +wide of the truth. + +PERJURY. + +The bearing of false witness is forbidden, but this must not be +limited merely to testimony given in the law court or under oath. +Isn't it a condemnation that men have to be put under oath in order to +make sure of their speaking the truth? As a legal offence, +_perjury_--the bearing of false witness when under oath--is one of the +most serious crimes that can be committed. Nearly every civilized +nation visits it with heavy punishment. Unless promptly checked, it +would shake the very foundations of justice. + +_Lying_--uttering or acting falsehood--and _slander_--the spreading of +false reports tending to destroy the reputation of another--are two of +the most common violations of this commandment. + +LYING. + +We have got nowadays so that we divide lies into white lies and black +lies, society lies, business lies, etc. The Word of God knows no such +letting-down of the standard. A lie is a lie, no matter what are the +circumstances under which it is uttered, or by whom. I have heard that +in Siam they sew up the mouth of a confirmed liar. I am afraid if that +was the custom in America, a good many would suffer. Parents should +begin with their children while they are young and teach them to be +strictly truthful at all times. There is a proverb: "A lie has no +legs." It requires other lies to support it. Tell one lie and you are +forced to tell others to back it up. + +SLANDER. + +You don't like to have any one bear false witness against you, or help +to ruin your character or reputation: then why should you do it to +others? How public men are slandered in this country! None escape, +whether good or bad. Judgment is passed upon them, their family, their +character, by the press and by individuals who know little or nothing +about them. If one tenth that is said and written about our public men +was true, half of them should be hung. Slander has been called "tongue +murder." Slanderers are compared to flies that always settle on sores, +but do not touch a man's good parts. + +If the archangel Gabriel should come down to earth and mix in human +affairs, I believe his character would be assailed inside of +forty-eight hours. Slander called Christ a gluttonous man and a +winebibber. He claimed to be the Truth, but instead of worshipping +Him, men took Him and crucified Him. + +When any one spoke evil of another in the presence of Peter the Great, +he used promptly to stop him, and say: + +"Well, now, has he not got a bright side? Tell me what you know good +of him. It is easy to splash mud, but I would rather help a man to +keep his coat clean." + +I need not stop to run through the whole catalogue of sins that are +related to these three. Falserumor--exaggeration--misrepresentation +--insinuation--gossip--equivocation--holding back of the truth when +it is due and right to tell it--disparagement--perversion of meaning: +these are common transgressions of this ninth commandment, differing +in form and degree of guilt according to the motive or manner of their +expression. They bear false witness against a man before the tribunal +of public opinion--a court whose judgment none of us escape. As so +much of our life is passed in public view, any untruth that leads to +a false judgment is a grievous wrong. + +A TEST OF TRUE RELIGION. + +Government of the tongue is made the test of true religion by James. +"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, +but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. . . . For +in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the +same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body:" Just +as a doctor looks at the tongue and can tell the condition of the +bodily health, so a man's words are an index of what is within. Truth +will spring from a good heart: falsehood and deceit from a corrupt +heart. When Ananias kept back part of the price of the land, Peter +asked him--"Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie unto the Holy +Ghost?" Satan is the father of lies and the promoter of lies: + +FOR GOOD OR EVIL. + +The tongue can be an instrument of untold good or incalculable evil. +Some one has said that a sharp tongue is the only edged tool that +grows keener with constant use. "Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a +sharp razor, working deceitfully. . . . They have sharpened their +tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. . . . The +mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the +mouth of the wicked. . . . A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but +perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit, . . ." Bishop Hall +said that the tongues of busybodies are like the tails of Samson's +foxes--they carry firebrands and are enough to set the whole field of +the world in a flame. "Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths that +they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the +ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, +yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the +governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth +great things. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And +the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our +members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the +course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of +beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is +tamed and hath been tamed by mankind: but the tongue can no man tame; +it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, +even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the +similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and +cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain +send forth at the same time sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, +my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine figs? so can no +fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued +with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his +works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and +strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth." + +Blighted hopes and blasted reputations are witness to its awful power. +In many cases the tongue has murdered its victims. Can we not all +recall cases where men and women have died under the wounds of calumny +and misrepresentation? History is full of such cases. + +WORDS NEVER CALLED BACK. + +The most dangerous thing about it is that a word once uttered can +never be obliterated. Some one has said that lying is a worse crime +than counterfeiting. There is some hope of following up bad coins +until they are all recovered; but an evil word can never be overtaken. +The mind of the hearer or reader has been poisoned, and human devices +cannot reach in and cleanse it. Lies can never be called back. + +A woman who was well known as a scandal-monger, went and confessed to +the priest. He gave her a ripe thistle-top, and told her to go out and +scatter the seeds one by one. She wondered at the penance, but obeyed; +then she came and told the priest. He next told her to go and gather +again the scattered seeds. Of course she saw that it was impossible. +The priest used it as an object-lesson to cure her of the sin of +scandalous talk. + +THE FATE OF THE LIAR AND SLANDERER. + +These sins are devilish, and the Bible is severe in its denunciations +of them. It contains many solemn warnings. "Thou shalt destroy them +that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. +. . . The mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. Whoso +privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I cut off. . . . Lying lips +are an abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are His +delight. . . . By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words +thou shalt be condemned. . . . All liars shall have their part in the +lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second +death." Whoso loveth and maketh a lie shall in no wise enter into the +new Jerusalem. + +HOW TO OVERCOME. + +"But, Mr. Moody," you say, "how can I check myself? how can I overcome +the habit of lying and gossip?" A lady once said to me that she had +got so into the habit of exaggerating that her friends said they could +never understand her. + +The cure is simple, but not very pleasant. Treat it as a sin, and +confess it to God and the man whom you have wronged. As soon as you +catch yourself lying, go straight to the person and confess you have +lied. Let your confession be as wide as your transgression. If you +have slandered or lied about any one in public, let your confession be +public. Many a person says some mean, false thing about another in the +presence of others, and then tries to patch it up by going to that +person alone. That is not making restitution. I need not go to God +with confession until I have made it right with that person, if it is +in my power to do so; He will not hear me. + +Hannah Moore's method was a sure cure for scandal. Whenever she was +told anything derogatory of another, her invariable reply was: + +"Come, we will go and ask if it be true." + +The effect was sometimes ludicrously painful. The talebearer was taken +aback, stammered out a qualification, or begged that no notice might +be taken of the statement. But the good lady was inexorable. Off she +took the scandal-monger to the scandalized to make inquiry and compare +accounts. + +It is not likely that anybody ventured a second time to repeat a +gossipy story to Hannah Moore. + +My friend, how is it? If God should weigh you against this +commandment, would you be found wanting? "Thou shalt not bear false +witness." Are you innocent or guilty? + + + +Tenth Commandment + +"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy +neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, +nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's." + +In the twelfth chapter of Luke our Saviour lifted two danger signals. +"Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. . . . +Take heed and beware of covetousness." + +The greatest dupe the devil has in the world is the hypocrite; but the +next greatest is the covetous man, "for a man's life consisteth not in +the abundance of the things which he possesseth." + +I believe this sin is much stronger now than ever before in the +world's history. We are not in the habit of condemning it as a sin. In +his epistle to the Thessalonians Paul speaks of "the cloke of +covetousness." Covetous men use it as a cloke, and call it prudence, +and foresight. Who ever heard it confessed as a sin? I have heard many +confessions, in public and private, during the past forty years, but +never have I heard a man confess that he was guilty of this sin. The +Bible does not tell of one man who ever recovered from it, and in all +my experience I do not recall many who have been able to shake it off +after it had fastened on them. A covetous man or woman generally +remains covetous to the very end. + +We may say that covetous desire plunged the human race into sin. We +can trace the river back from age to age until we get to its rise in +Eden. When Eve saw that the forbidden fruit was good for food and that +it was desirable to the eyes, she partook of it, and Adam with her. +They were not satisfied with all that God had showered upon them, but +coveted the wisdom of gods which Satan deceitfully told them might be +obtained by eating the fruit. She saw,--she desired--then she took! +Three steps from innocence into sin. + +A SEARCHING COMMANDMENT. + +It would be absurd for such a law as this to be placed upon any human +statute book. It could never be enforced. The officers of the law +would be powerless to detect infractions. The outward conduct may be +regulated, but the thoughts and intents of a man are beyond the reach +of human law. + +But God can see behind outward actions. He can read the thoughts of +the heart. Our innermost life, invisible to mortal eye, is laid bare +before Him. We cannot deceive Him by external conformity. He is able +to detect the least transgression and shortcoming, so that no man can +shirk detection. God cannot be imposed upon by the cleanness of the +outside of the cup and the platter. + +Surely we have here another proof that the Ten Commandments are not of +human origin, but must be divine. + +This commandment, then, did not, even on the surface, confine itself +to visible actions as did the preceding commandments. Even before +Christ came and showed their spiritual sweep, men had a commandment +that went beneath public-conduct and touched the very springs of +action. It directly prohibited--not the wrong act, but the wicked +desire that prompted the act. It forbade the evil thought, the +unlawful wish. It sought to prevent--not only sin, but the desire to +sin. In God's sight it is as wicked to set covetous eyes, as it is to +lay thieving hands, upon anything that is not ours. + +And why? Because if the evil desire can be controlled, there will be +no outbreak in conduct. Desires have been called "actions in the egg." +The desire in the heart is the first step in the series that ends in +action. Kill the evil desire, and you successfully avoid the ill +results that would follow upon its hatching and development. +Prevention is better than cure. + +We must not limit covetousness to the matter of money. The commandment +is not thus limited; it reads, "Thou shalt not covet. . . anything. . . ." +That word "anything" is what will condemn us. Though we do not +join in the race for wealth, have we not sometimes a hungry longing +for our neighbor's goodly lands--fine houses,--beautiful +clothes,--brilliant reputation,--personal accomplishments,--easy +circumstances,--comfortable surroundings? Have we not had the desire +to increase our possessions or to change our lot in accordance with +what we see in others? If so, we are guilty of having broken this law. + +GODS THOUGHTS ABOUT COVETOUSNESS. + +Let us examine a few of the Bible passages that bear down on this sin, +and see what are God's thoughts about it. + +"_Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of +God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor +adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, +nor thieves,_ nor covetous, _nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor +extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God_." + +Notice that the covetous are named between thieves and drunkards. We +lock up thieves, and have no mercy on them. We loathe drunkards, and +consider them great sinners against the law of God as well as the law +of the land. Yet there is far more said in the Bible against +covetousness than against either stealing or drunkenness. + +Covetousness and stealing are almost like Siamese twins--they go +together so often. In fact we might add lying, and make them triplets. +"The covetous person is a thief _in_ the shell. The thief is a +covetous person _out of_ the shell. Let a covetous person see +something that he desires very much; let an opportunity of taking it +be offered; how very soon he will break through the shell and come out +in his true character as a thief." The Greek word translated +"covetousness" means--an inordinate desire of getting. When the Gauls +tasted the sweet wines of Italy, they asked where they came from, and +never rested until they had overrun Italy. + +"_For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor +covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom +of Christ and God_." + +There we have the same truth repeated; but notice that covetousness is +called idolatry. The covetous man worships Mammon, not God. + +"_Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as +fear God, men of truth,_ hating covetousness; _and place such over +them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of +fifties, and rulers of tens_." + +Isn't it extraordinary that Jethro, the man of the desert, should have +given this advice to Moses? How did he learn to beware of +covetousness? We honor men to-day if they are wealthy and covetous. We +elect them to office in church and state. We often say that they will +make better treasurers just because we know them to be covetous. But +in God's sight a covetous man is as vile and black as any thief or +drunkard. David said: "The wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and +blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth." I am afraid that many +who profess to have put away wickedness also speak well of the +covetous. + +A SORE EVIL. + +"_He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he +that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods +increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to +the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? The +sleep of the laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but +the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. There is a +sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the +owners thereof to their hurt_." + +Isn't that true? Is the covetous man ever satisfied with his +possessions? Aren't they vanity? Does he have peace of mind? Don't +selfish riches always bring hurt? + +The folly of covetousness is well shown in the following extract: "If +you should see a man that had a large pond of water, yet living in +continual thirst, nor suffering himself to drink half a draught for +fear of lessening his pond; if you should see him wasting his time and +strength in fetching more water to his pond, always thirsty, yet +always carrying a bucket of water in his hand, watching early and late +to catch the drops of rain, gaping after every cloud, and running +greedily into every mire and mud in hopes of water, and always +studying how to make every ditch empty itself into the pond; if you +should see him grow grey in these anxious labors, and at last end a +thirsty life by falling into his own pond, would you not say that such +a one was not only the author of his own disquiet, but was foolish +enough to be reckoned among madmen? But foolish and absurd as this +character is, it does not represent half the follies and absurd +disquiets of the covetous man." + +I have read of a millionaire in France, who was a miser. In order to +make sure of his wealth, he dug a cave in his wine cellar so large and +deep that he could go down into it with a ladder. The entrance had a +door with a spring lock. After a time, he was missing. Search was +made, but they could find no trace of him. At last his house was sold, +and the purchaser discovered this door in the cellar. He opened it, +went down, and found the miser lying dead on the ground, in the midst +of his riches. The door must have shut accidentally after him, and he +perished miserably. + +A TEMPTATION AND A SNARE. + +"_They that will be_, (that is, desire to be), _rich fall into +temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which +drown men in destruction and perdition_." + +The Bible speaks of the deceitfulness of two things--"the +deceitfulness of _sin_" and "the deceitfulness of _riches_." Riches +are like a mirage in the desert, which has all the appearance of +satisfying, and lures on the traveler with the promise of water and +shade; but he only wastes his strength in the effort to reach it. So +riches never satisfy: the pursuit of them always turns out a snare. + +Lot coveted the rich plains of Sodom, and what did he gain? After +twenty years spent in that wicked city, he had to escape for his life, +leaving all his wealth behind him. + +What did the thirty pieces of silver do for Judas? Weren't they a +snare? + +Think of Balaam. He is generally regarded as a false prophet, but I do +not find that any of his prophecies that are recorded are not true; +they have been literally fulfilled. Up to a certain point his +character shone magnificently, but the devil finally overcame him by +the bait of covetousness. He stepped over a heavenly crown for the +riches and honors that Balak promised him. He went to perdition +backwards. His face was set toward God, but he backed into hell. He +wanted to die the death of the righteous, but he did not live the life +of the righteous. It is sad to see so many who know God, miss +everything for riches. + +Then consider the case of Gehazi. There is another man who was drowned +in destruction and perdition by covetousness. He got more out of +Naaman than he asked for, but he also got Naaman's leprosy. Think how +he forfeited the friendship of his master Elisha, the man of God! So +to-day lifelong friends are separated by this accursed desire. Homes +are broken up. Men are willing to sell out peace and happiness for the +sake of a few dollars. + +Didn't David fall into foolish and hurtful lusts? He saw Bathsheba, +Uriah's wife, and she was "very beautiful to look upon," and David +became a murderer and an adulterer. The guilty longing hurled him into +the deepest pit of sin. He had to reap bitterly as he had sowed. + +I heard of a wealthy German out west, who owned a lumber mill. He was +worth nearly two millions of dollars, but his covetousness was so +great that he once worked as a common laborer carrying railroad ties +all day. It was the cause of his death. + +"_And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against +the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw +among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels +of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I_ +coveted them,_and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in +the midst of my tent, and the silver under it_." + +He saw--he coveted--he took--he hid! The covetous eye was what led +Achan up to the wicked deed that brought sorrow and defeat upon the +camp of Israel. + +We know the terrible punishment that was meted out to Achan. God seems +to have set danger signals at the threshold of each new age. It is +remarkable how soon the first outbreaks of covetousness occurred. +Think of Eve in Eden, Achan just after Israel had entered the Promised +Land, Ananias and Sapphira in the early Christian Church. + +A ROOT EXTRACTOR. + +"_For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some +coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves +through with many sorrows_." + +The Revised Version translates it--"_a root of all kinds of evil_." +This tenth commandment has therefore been aptly called a +"root-extractor," because it would tear up and destroy this root. Deep +down in our corrupt nature it has spread. No one but God can rid us of +it. + +Matthew tells us that the deceitfulness of riches chokes the Word of +God. Like the Mississippi river, which chokes up its mouth by the +amount of soil it carries down. Isn't that true of many business-men +to day? They are so engrossed with their affairs that they have not +time for religion. They lose sight of their soul and its eternal +welfare in their desire to amass wealth. They do not even hesitate to +sell their souls to the devil. How many a man says, "We must make +money, and if God's law stands in the way, brush it aside." + +The word "lucre" occurs five times in the New Testament, and each time +it is called "_filthy_ lucre." + +"A root of all kinds of evil." Yes, because what will not men be +guilty of when prompted by the desire to be rich? Greed for gold leads +men to commit violence and murder, to cheat and deceive and steal. It +turns the heart to stone, devoid of all natural affection, cruel, +unkind. How many families are wrecked over the father's will! The +scramble for a share of the wealth smashes them to pieces. Covetous of +rank and position in society, parents barter sons and daughters in +ungodly marriage. Bodily health is no consideration. The +uncontrollable fever for gold makes men renounce all their settled +prospects, and undertake hazardous journeys--no peril can drive them +back. It destroys faith and spirituality, turning men's minds and +hearts away from God. It disturbs the peace of the community by +prompting to acts of wrong. Covetousness has more than once led nation +to war against nation for the sake of gaining territory or other +material resources. It is said that when the Spaniards came over to +conquer Peru, they sent a message to the king, saying, "Give us gold, +for we Spaniards have a disease that can only be cured by gold." + +Dr. Boardman has shown how covetousness leads to the transgression of +every one of the commandments, and I cannot do better than quote his +words: "Coveting tempts us into the violation of the first +commandment, worshipping Mammon in addition to Jehovah. Coveting +tempts us into a violation of the second commandment, or idolatry. The +apostle Paul expressly identifies the covetous man with an idolater: +'Covetousness, which is idolatry.' Again: Coveting tempts us into +violation of the third commandment, or sacrilegious falsehood: for +instance, Gehazi, lying in the matter of his interview with Naaman the +Syrian, and Ananias and Sapphira, perjuring themselves in the matter +of the community of goods. Again: Coveting tempts us into the +violation of the fourth commandment, or Sabbath-breaking. It is +covetousness which encroaches on God's appointed day of sacred rest, +tempting us to run trains for merely secular purposes, to vend tobacco +and liquors, to hawk newspapers. Again: Coveting tempts us into the +violation of the fifth commandment, or disrespect for authority; +tempting the young man to deride his early parental counsels, the +citizen to trample on civic enactments. Again: Covetousness tempts us +into violation of the sixth commandment, or murder. Recall how Judas' +love of money lured him into the betrayal of his Divine Friend into +the hand of His murderers, his lure being the paltry sum +of--say--fifteen dollars. Again: Covetousness tempts us into the +violation of the seventh commandment, or adultery. Observe how +Scripture combines greed and lust. Again: Covetousness tempts us into +the violation of the eighth commandment, or theft. Recall how it +tempted Achan to steal a goodly Babylonish mantle, and two hundred +shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight. Again: +Covetousness tempts us into the violation of the ninth commandment, or +bearing false witness against our neighbor. Recall how the +covetousness of Ahab instigated his wife Jezebel to employ sons of +Belial to bear blasphemous and fatal testimony against Naboth, saying, +'Thou didst curse God and the king.'" + +HOW TO OVERCOME. + +You ask me how you are to cast this unclean spirit out of your heart? +I think I can tell you. + +In the first place, make up your mind that by the grace of God you +will overcome the spirit of selfishness. You must overcome it, or it +will overcome you. Paul said: "Mortify therefore your members which +are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, +evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which +things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience." + +I heard of a rich man who was asked to make a contribution on behalf +of some charitable object. The text was quoted to him--"He that hath +pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given +will He pay him again." He said that the security might be good +enough, but the credit was too long. He was dead within two weeks. The +wrath of God rested upon him as he never expected. + +If you find yourself getting very miserly, begin to scatter, like a +wealthy farmer in New York state I heard of. He was a noted miser, but +he was converted. Soon after, a poor man who had been burned out and +had no provisions, came to him for help. The farmer thought he would +be liberal and give the man a ham from his smoke-house. On his way to +get it, the tempter whispered to him: + +"Give him the smallest one you have." + +He had a struggle whether he would give a large or a small ham, but +finally he took down the largest he could find. + +"You are a fool," the devil said. + +"If you don't keep still," the farmer replied, "I will give him every +ham I have in the smoke house." + +Mr. Durant told me he woke up one morning to find that he was a rich +man, and he said that the greatest struggle of his life then took +place as to whether he would let money be his master, or he be master +of money, whether he would be its slave, or make it a slave to him. At +last he got the victory, and that was how Wellesley College came to be +built. + +In the next place, cultivate the spirit of contentment. "Let your +conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things +as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake +thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not +fear what man shall do unto me." + +Contentment is the very opposite of covetousness, which is continually +craving for something it does not possess. "Be content with such +things as ye have," not worrying about the future, because God has +promised never to leave or forsake you. What does the child of God +want more than this? I would rather have that promise than all the +gold of the earth. + +Would to God we might all be able to say with Paul--"I have coveted no +man's silver, or gold, or apparel." The Lord had made him partaker of +His grace, and he was soon to be a partaker of His glory, and earthly +things looked very small. "Godliness with contentment is great gain," +he wrote to Timothy; "having food and raiment, therewith let us be +content." Observe that he puts godliness first. No worldly gain can +satisfy the human heart. Roll the whole world in, and still there +would be room. + +May God tear the scales off our eyes if we are blinded by this sin. +Oh, the folly of it, that we should set our heart's affections upon +anything below! "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is +certain we can carry nothing out. . . . Be thou not afraid when one is +made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dieth +he shall take nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him." + + + +The Handwriting Blotted Out + +We have now considered the Ten Commandments, and the question for each +one of us is--are we keeping them? If God should weigh us by them, +would we be found wanting or not wanting? Do we keep the law, the +_whole_ law? Are we obeying God with all our heart? Do we render Him a +full and willing obedience? + +ONE LAW, NOT TEN. + +These ten commandments are not ten different laws; they are one law. +If I am being held up in the air by a chain with ten links and I break +one of them, down I come, just as surely as if I break the whole ten. +If I am forbidden to go out of an enclosure, it makes no difference at +what point I break through the fence. "Whosoever shall keep the whole +law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." "The golden +chain of obedience is broken if one link is missing." + +We sometimes hear people pray to be preserved from certain sins, as if +they were in no danger of committing others. I firmly believe that if +a man begins by wilfully breaking one of these commandments it is much +easier for him to break the others. I know of a gentleman who had a +confidential clerk, and insisted on his going down Sunday morning to +work on his books. The young man had a good deal of principle, and at +first refused, but he was anxious to keep in the good graces of his +employer and finally yielded. He had not done that a great while +before he speculated in stocks, and became a defaulter for $120,000. +The employer had him arrested and put in the penitentiary for ten +years, but I believe he was just as guilty in the sight of God as that +young man, for he led him to take the first step on the downward road. +You remember the story of a soldier who was smuggled into a fortress +in a load of hay, and opened the gates to his comrades. Every sin we +commit opens the door for other sins. + +ALL HAVE COME SHORT. + +For fifteen hundred years man was under the law, and no one was equal +to it. Christ came and showed that the commandments went beyond the +mere letter; and can any one since say that he has been able to keep +them in his own strength? As the plummet is held up, we see how much +we are out of the perpendicular. As we measure ourselves by that holy +standard, we find how much we are lacking. As a child said, when +reproved by her mother and told that she ought to do right: "How can I +do right when there is no 'right' in me?" All have sinned and come +short of the glory of God. There is none righteous, no, not one. + +I do not say that all are equally guilty of gross violations of the +commandments. It needs a certain amount of reckless courage openly to +break a law, human or divine; but it is easy to _crack_ them, as the +child said. It has been remarked that the life of many professors of +religion is full of fractures that result from little sins, little +acts of temper and selfishness. It is possible to crack a costly vase +so finely that it cannot be noticed by the observer; but let this be +done again and again in different directions, and some day the vase +will go to pieces at a touch. When we hear of some one who has had a +lifelong reputation for good character and consistent living, suddenly +falling into some shameful sin, we are shocked and puzzled. If we knew +all, we would find that only the fall has been sudden, that he has +been sliding toward it for years. Away back in his life we should find +numerous _cracked_ commandments. His exposure is only the falling of +the vase to pieces. + +FALSE WEIGHTS. + +Men have all sorts of weights that they think are going to satisfy, +but they will find that they are altogether vanity, and lighter than +vanity. + +The moral man is as guilty as the rest. His morality cannot save him. +"Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. . . . Except ye be +converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the +kingdom of heaven." I have often heard good people say that our +meetings were doing good, they were reaching the drunkards, and +gamblers, and harlots; but they never realized that they needed the +grace of God for themselves. + +Nicodemus was probably one of the most moral men of his day. He was a +teacher of the law. Yet Christ said to him: "Except a man be born +again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." It is much easier to reach +was a Lamb without spot or blemish, His atoning death is efficacious +for you and me. He had no sin of His own to atone for, and so God +accepted His sacrifice. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness +to every one that believeth. We are righteous in God's sight because +the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ is unto all +and upon all them that believe. + +If we had to live forever with our sins in the handwriting of God on +the wall, it would be hell on earth. But thank God for the gospel we +preach! If we repent, our sins will all be blotted out. "You, being +dead in your sins, hath He quickened together with Him, having +forgiven you all your trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of +ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it +out of the way, nailing it to His cross." + +LOVE THE FULFILLING OF THE LAW. + +If the love of God is shed abroad in your heart, you will be able to +fulfil the law. Paul reduced the commandments to one: "Love is the +fulfilling of the law." Some one has written the following: + + "Love to God will admit no other God. + Love resents everything that debases its object by representing it +by an image. + Love to God will never dishonor His name. + Love to God will reverence His day. + Love to parents makes one honor them. + Hate, not love, is a murderer. + Lust, not love, commits adultery. + Love will give, but never steal. + Love will not slander or lie. + Love's eye is not covetous." + +ARE YOU READY? + +It is the height of madness to turn away and run the risk of being +called by God to judgment and have no hope in Christ. Now is the day +and hour to accept salvation, and then He will be with you. Do you +step aside and say: "I'm not ready yet. I want a little more time to +prepare, to turn the matter over in my mind?" Well, you have time, but +bear in mind it is only the present; you do not know that you will +have to-morrow. Wasn't Belshazzar cut off suddenly? Would he have +believed that that was going to be his last night, that he would never +see the light of another sun? That banquet of sin didn't close as he +expected. As long as you delay you are in danger. If you don't enter +into the kingdom of heaven by God's way, you cannot enter at all. You +must accept Christ as your Savior, or you will never be fit to be +weighed. + +My friend, have you got Him? Will you remain as you are and be found +wanting, or will you accept Christ and be ready for the summons? "This +is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life +is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not +the Son of God hath not life." + +May God open your heart to receive His Son now! + + + +WORKS BY G. CAMPBELL MORGAN + +The Crises of the Christ. + +8vo, cloth, net, $2.00 + +The Spirit of God. + +12mo, cloth, $1.25. + +A First Century Message to Twentieth Century Christians. + +12mo, cloth, net, $1.00. + +God's Methods with Man; + +In Time--Past, Present and Future. With colored chart. 12mo, paper, 50 +cents. Cloth, $1.00. + +Wherein Have We Robbed God? + +Malachi's Message to the Men of To-Day. 12mo, cloth, 75 cents. + +God's Perfect Will. + +16mo, cloth, 50 cents. + +Life Problems. + +Little Books Series. Long 16mo, 50 cents. + +The Ten Commandments. + +Studies in the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ. 12mo, cloth, 50 +cents. + +Discipleship. + +Little Books Series. Long 16mo, cloth, 50c. + +The Hidden Years at Nazareth. + +Quiet Hour Series. 18mo, cloth, 25 cents. + +The True Estimate of Life. + +12mo, paper, 15 cents. Cloth, 75 cents, net. + +"All Things New" + +A Message to New Converts. 16mo, paper, 10 cents. + +Fleming H. Revell Company + +PUBLISHERS + + + +THE WITH CHRIST SERIES + +By ANDREW MURRAY + +With Christ in the School of Prayer. + +Thoughts on Our Training for the Ministry of Intercession. + +Abide in Christ. + +Thoughts on the Blessed Life of Fellowship with the Son of God. + +Like Christ. + +Thoughts on the Blessed Life of Conformity to the Son of God. + +Holy in Christ. + +Thoughts on the Calling of God's Children to be Holy as He is Holy. + +The Master's Indwelling. + +Northfield Addresses, 1895. + +The Spirit of Christ. + +Thoughts on the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Believer and the +Church. + +Comprising the six great works in connection with which the author +attained such world-wide favor as a writer of helpful and spiritual +devotional works. The bindings are unique and attractive, and the +price, which, in view of the fact that this is the authorized edition, +upon which royalties are paid to the author, was already astonishingly +low, has now been still further reduced. + +16mo, cloth, each, 35 cts.: the set of six volumes, boxed, $2.00. + +Fleming H. Revell Company + +CHICAGO NEW YORK TORONTO + +PUBLISHERS OF EVANGELICAL LITERATURE + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Weighed and Wanting, by Dwight Moody + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WEIGHED AND WANTING *** + +***** This file should be named 33340.txt or 33340.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/3/4/33340/ + +Produced by Keith G Richardson + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/33340.zip b/33340.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..68fcd55 --- /dev/null +++ b/33340.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..007cbf4 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #33340 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33340) |