II.
MoKAL Debts.
"Eender to all their dues." St. Paul does not disdain to urge upon his friends at Eome the duty of common honesty in all matters of indebtedness to the State to which they belonged. He would have them remember that the powers that be are ordained of God, and that they that resist shall receive to them- selves judgment, as in more spiritual things, so in these secular things — ^judgment according to their neglect.
^ Money-making or money-saving is a great inducement to dishonour — though most persons would indignantly deny that such a thing could be possible in their case. The conferences and discussions of the passengers on an ocean liner about to land at an American port, as they consider the matter of their customs declarations, form an interesting illustration of this. It is so much easier to denounce the outrages of the use of a secret spring by the Sugar Trust to defraud the United States of millions of dollars of dodged duties than to admit that one is considering participation in just such dishonour by "inter- preting" the customs requirements rather broadly as to one's personal eflects. The printed circular which is given to every passenger, explaining what is required by law, is so explicit and simple that no intelligent child of twelve could readily misunder- stand it. It is plainly stated that every article obtained abroad,
1 Bishop Potter. 2 j_ stark, Lr. Kidd of Aberdeen, 166.
350 DEBT
whether by purchase or otherwise, and whether used or unused, must be declared, including all the articles upon which an exemption of duty is allowed. Moreover, each person reporting must sign his or her name to a statement declaring that every article brought from abroad, whether on the person, or in the clothing, or in the baggage, is thus mentioned. Yet the majority of otherwise reputable people on an incoming steamer, in the face of all this, will discuss whether to declare this or that article, whether such a garment, having been used, need be declared, whether this ring or pin, if worn, need be mentioned, and the person who, preferring a literal honouring of the law to deliberate, written perjury, declares everything he has, is looked upon with tolerant amusement as a rather weak-minded fanatic. It is easier to condemn public graft than private. But public and general standards of honour in any community will rise no higher than that of the majority of its individuals.^
1. We owe a debt to society. — Not to do something good, not to have an honest trade, and be making or producing something material and spiritual which is worth producing and offering to mankind, is, in itself, a sort of stealing. We owe it to society that we should be doing something worth doing. We may have means enough to be idle, as people say, but that does not exempt us. No man is justified in living who is not performing some- thing for society.
^ Eemember we are debtors to the good by birth, but re- member we may become debtors to the bad by life, and both sides of service and allegiance must be paid alike.^
Heaven doth with us as we with torches do.
Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues
Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike
As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd
But to fine issues, nor Nature never lends
The smallest scruple of her excellence
But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines
Herself the glory of a creditor,
Both thanks and use.^
(1) The employer has a debt to the employed. In society we are members one of another, and every member needs all the rest. As society is now constituted, our wealth may generally
1 Sunday- School Times (Philadelphia). ' Phillips Brooks, Life, 76.
' Shakespeare, Measurt/or Measure, I. i. 33.
ROMANS XIII. 8 351
command the service of others, but it does not make us in- dependent of that service. Inequality does not cancel obligation. For suppose that the poor and dependent, for some reason or other, should refuse to render us the needful service. What becomes of our independence then ? Is the lady housewife less dependent on her cook than the cook is on her ?
(2) The employed has a debt to the employer. The responsi- bility is equally on this side. God expects our best work; if it be only dusting a room. He expects that it shall be done thoroughly. God's eye sees our work, whether it is thorough, whether it is the best we can give in small things or in great. Our obligation is not only to pass muster and get our wages ; our obligation is to do the best we can. That is what our duty is ; that is our obligation, whether the business in which we are employed is one which demands a black coat and a smart dress, or one of a much lower kind. Everywhere God expects that as we are receiving so we shall give of our best and to God " Owe no man anything."
2. We owe a debt to those whom we can help. — The Day of Judgment will be a surprise to us in regard to our relations to our fellow-men. You know how Christ depicts the gathering of all nations before His feet. They are the nations, not the Jews ; they are those who had no special revelation from God ; but He tests them by their conduct one to another, by their mercifulness. And they are astonished when they find themselves charged with having neglected Christ in His need. " Lord, when saw we thee poor, or sick, or in prison, and ministered not to thee in thy necessity ? " And the reply we know very well : " Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me." It is the surprise of the not specially enlightened multitude that they were neglecting anything that Christ could care about in neglecting the poor and the oppressed. It is the surprise con- tinually for the enlightened consciences of us upon whom has shone the Sun of Eighteousness. It is the continued surprise that we who thought ourselves walking so uprightly in the way of God were neglecting the plain and manifest duties, or duties that ought to have been plain and manifest, towards our fellow-men.