Once D. L. Moody was talking to a man who sold soap which he
claimed would do all kinds of remarkable things, including the
removing of spots caused by grease. The man was, nevertheless,
very perturbed, and at last he told Mr. Moody what his trouble
was. “The soap accomplishes all that I assert; but the truth is
that it also rots all the clothes which it washes. If I become
a Christian, I shall have to give up my business, and I can not
bring myself to do that.” The evangelist used to say that it was
only soap which stood between this man and a Christian life.
(Text.)
(795)
* * * * *
Henry Ward Beecher tells a story of a man in the Canadian
backwoods, who, during the summer months, had procured a stock
of fuel sufficient for the winter. This man had a neighbor
who was very indolent, and not very honest, and who, having
neglected to provide against the winter storms, was mean enough
to avail himself of his neighbor’s supplies without the latter’s
permission or knowledge. Mr. Beecher states that it was found,
on computation, that the thief had actually spent more time in
watching for opportunities to steal, and labored more arduously
to remove the wood (to say nothing of the risk and penalty of
detection), than the man who in open daylight, and by honest
means, had gathered it.
(796)
=Dishonesty Discovered=--See EVIDENCE, PROVIDENTIAL.
=Dishonesty in Business=--See BUSINESS CHEATING.
=Disillusionment=--See LABELS, MISLEADING.
=Disobedience=--See CONSCIENCE A MONITOR.
=Disobedience Approved=--See HIGHER LAW, THE.
=Disparity=--See MASSES, AMONG THE.
=Disparity in Punishment=--See INJUSTICE; DECAY.