2. Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue
it.--GEN I-28.
3. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that
they may not understand one another's speech.--GEN. XI-7.
Nothing in the Holy Scriptures is more prominently set forth and
persistently impressed than the duty of man to labor. In the quotations
above made, it is clearly seen,
1. That labor is ordained by God, and therefore dignified. There is
nothing dishonorable about labor. The man who is ashamed to put his
hand to any kind of work which will bring a support to his family, has
the wrong idea of labor, and will soon or late come to poverty or the
prison. None are exempt. All are commanded to work, and the idler is an
enemy to the state, a burden upon society, and a dishonor to his God.
2. That the labor of man is to be methodical--with an object in view,
viz: building up the earth for pleasant abode of man, increasing both
animal and vegetable life, and reducing wild nature--animal, aerial,
mineral and plant life--to useful and comfortable forms for the
children of men. This is a grand work! He is to be a constant builder!
No where is he told to be destructive and cruel. But he must be
fruitful, and multiply, replenish and subdue the things on and in the
earth. The great God never gives a command _to do_ without conferring
the ability to do. The command is to every man, from the lowest to the
highest--not to lawyers, doctors, philosophers and great men only, but
to all men, and God has given every man the power of performing his
part in this great work of multiplying, replenishing, subduing and
making the earth more fruitful. And that great, wise and good God will
hold each of you as much responsible for the exercise of your physical
powers, your working powers, as for the exercise of your intellectual
and moral capacities in the replenishing and subduing the earth. How
many will make up your minds that you will go forth in the strength of
heaven and endeavor to do your full duty in the great and grand work
which God has given to man?
3. That misdirected energy and inordinate ambition are displeasing to
God, and will surely be punished by Him in His own time and way. The
people who set about building the tower of Babel had been told by God
to be fruitful, multiply, replenish and subdue the earth, and He gave
them the power to do it. But they misapplied that power, and let their
unholy ambition lead them in the wrong way. Hence God came down from
heaven and scattered them abroad, thus setting his everlasting law
against such folly: for bad ambition and power misspent are the same
thing as destroying property, and God abominates such. Then it is our
duty to see that our abilities are not only employed, but usefully
employed, not only to our advantage, but not to the detriment or hurt
of any other person. It is cruel and wicked to seek riches, or fame, or
honor by destroying the property or the reputation of another person.
Having advanced these preliminary ideas, I shall now proceed to say
some things further in regard to the Labor Question.