Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

I have known many decent, respectable people, who feared a lie and
trembled at an oath, who, when brought either by failure of trade, sudden
fall of some article of commerce, speculation in business, through the
hope of what they considered honest gain, by which they might be
enabled to pay every man his due,—were led to forge bills—borrow
money—impose upon even their own relations—cover one bad bill with
another as bad, hoping that ere the time of payment they might, by the
speculations or promises that were still in abeyance, be able to pay every
one his due. Reader, if thou be a man in business or trade, and art about
to he straitened in thy circumstances, pray most fervently to God that thou
mayest not fall into abject poverty, lest thou complete thy wretchedness
by lying, cheating, false promising, false swearing, and other dirty acts;
by which many, once respectable, honest, and upright, have been
drowned in destruction of property, and perdition of character and life;
and so the Lord have mercy on thy soul!
Among all thieves and knaves, he is the most execrable who
endeavours to rob another of his character, that he may enhance his own;
lessening his neighbour, that he may aggrandize himself. This is that pest
of society who is full of kind assertions tagged with buts. "He is a good
kind of man; but—every bean has its black! Such a one is very friendly;
but—it is in his own way! My neighbour N. can be very liberal; but—you
must catch him in the humour." Persons like these speak well of their
neighbours, merely that they may have the opportunity to neutralize all
their commendations, and make them suspected whose character stood
deservedly fair, before the traducer began to pilfer his property. He who
repents not for these injuries, and does not make restoration, if possible,
to his defrauded neighbour, will hear, when God comes to take away his
soul, these words, more terrible than the knell of death: "Thou shalt not
steal."
A man, for instance, of a good character, is reported to have done
something evil; the tale is spread, and the slanderers, whisperers, and
backbiters carry it about: and thus the man is stripped of his fair
character, of his clothing of righteousness, truth, and honesty. And yet the