the sake of gain, they deprive others of their property and even rob."[1]
It is to be hoped that the latter part of this description is applicable to few or none that now hear me,—namely, the disposition to obtain the property of others by fraud and artifice. Yet we know how strong the temptation is to such a course, in the business world at this day; and the best men have need to be on their guard against it. Under the sharp competition that exists in all branches of trade, men are often tempted to use artifices to obtain that profit on their goods, which seems sometimes difficult to be obtained by a fair and regular mode of doing business. Therein lies the power of the temptation. If it were perfectly easy to be honest and get rich, too, there would be no temptation to be dishonest, and the worst men might be upright, because it was respectable and at the same time perfectly convenient to be so. But without temptation, there is less perfection; because without temptation there is no combat, and it is combat against evils which gives us a clear perception of their hateful nature, and a stronger relish for the opposite good. Hence, the Lord's words are, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire;"[2] that is, to seek to obtain that heavenly goodness (signified by gold) which is reached only through the purifying fires of temptation. Temptations are indeed all around us in the world: there is opportunity enough for spiritual combat: and the spiritual-minded man, fighting in the Lord's strength, will make these trials the means to
- ↑ Heavenly Doctrine, n. 76.
- ↑ Rev. iii. 18.
