John Newton's Letters
A word to professors in trade
Dear Sir,
It is suspected (or, rather, it is too certainly known), that, among those
who are deemed Gospel professors, there are some people who allow themselves
in the practice of dealing in prohibited, smuggled goods, to the injury of
the public revenue, and the detriment of the fair trader. The decisions of
the word of God, upon this point, are so plain and determinate, that it is
rather difficult to conceive how a sincere mind can either overlook or
mistake them. The same authority which forbids us to commit adultery or
murder, requires us to "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's."
"Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue,
then revenue." These precepts enjoin no more than what the common sense of
mankind pronounces to be due, from subjects and members of society, to the
governments they live under, and by which they are protected.
But the obligation is greatly enforced upon those who
acknowledge themselves the disciples of Christ, since he has been pleased to
make their compliance herein a part of the obedience they owe to himself.
And it is plain, that these injunctions are universal and binding, under all
civil governments, as such; for none can justly suppose, that tributes
exacted by the Roman emperors (under whose dominion the first Christians
lived), such as Tiberius or Nero, had the sanction of our Lord and his
apostles on account of their peculiar equity.
The vending of smuggled goods, or the buying them, if
known to be so, is likewise injurious to the fair trader, who,
conscientiously paying the prescribed taxes, cannot afford to sell so cheap
as the smuggler, and therefore must expect the fewer customers. In this
view, it offends the royal law of "doing to others as we desire that they
should do unto us." The force of this argument may be easily felt, by anyone
who will honestly make the case his own. Without any fancy reasoning, people
may know in a moment that they would not like to be put to this
disadvantage. It is therefore unjust (that is sinful, and utterly unfitting
a professor of religion) to purchase smuggled goods, even in small
quantities, and for family use.
As for those who, being in trade themselves, make this
practice a branch of their business, and, under the semblance of a fair
reputation, are doing things in secret which they would tremble to have
discovered, being afraid of the tax collector, though not of God; I can only
pray, that God may give them repentance: for it is a work of darkness, and
needs it. Transactions of this kind cannot be carried on for a course of
time, without such a series and complication of fraud and baseness, and for
the most part of perjury likewise, as would be scandalous, not only in a
professed Christian, but in an avowed infidel.
It should be observed likewise, that there is hardly any
set of men more lost to society, or in a situation more dangerous to
themselves and others, than the people who are called smugglers. Frequent
fighting, and sometimes murder itself, are the consequence of their illicit
commerce. Their money is ill gotten, and it is generally ill spent. They are
greatly to be pitied. The employment they are accustomed to, has a
direct tendency to deprive them of character and the privileges of social
life, and to harden their hearts and stupefy their consciences in the ways
of sin. But for whom are they risking their lives and ruining their souls? I
would hope, Reader, not for you, if you account yourself a Christian. If
you, for the sake of gain, encourage and assist them, by buying or selling
their goods, you are so far responsible for the consequences: you encourage
them in sin; you expose them to mischief.
And have you so learned Christ? Is this the testimony you
give of the uprightness of your hearts and ways? Is it thus you show your
compassion for the souls of men? Ah! shake your hands from gain so dearly
earned. Think not to support the cause of God with such gain; he hates
robbery for burnt-offering. Think it not lawful, or safe, to put a farthing
of it into your treasury, lest it secretly communicate a moth and a curse to
all that you possess: for it is the price of blood, the blood of souls. If
you are indeed a child of God, and will persist in this path after
admonition received, be assured your sin will find you out. If the Lord
loves you, he will not allow you to prosper in your perverseness. You may
rather expect, that, as a little rotted corn is sufficient to spoil the
whole heap to which it is laid, so money thus obtained will deprive you of
the blessing and comfort you might otherwise expect from your lawful
acquisitions.
If you are determined to persist, in opposition to
Scripture, to law, to equity and humanity, you have doubtless, as I suppose
you a professor, some plea or excuse with which you attempt to justify
yourself, and to keep your conscience quiet. See to it, that it be such a
one as will bear the examination of a dying hour. You will not surely plead,
that "things are come to such a pass, there is no carrying on business upon
other terms to advantage!" Will the practice of the world, who know not
Christ, be a proper precedent for you, who call yourself by his name? That
cannot be, since his command is, "You shall not follow a multitude to do
evil." That the truth and power of his grace may be manifested, he is
pleased to put his servants into such situations, that they must forego some
seeming advantages, and suffer some seeming hardships, in their worldly
connections, if they will approve themselves faithful to him, and live in
the exercise of a good conscience. He promises that his grace shall be
sufficient for them. It is the blessing of the Lord which makes rich; and
for lack of this we see many rise early, take late rest, and eat the bread
of carefulness, to no purpose. And I believe, integrity and diligence in
business, with a humble dependence upon his Providence, are the best methods
of thriving even in temporals. However, those who lose for him are in no
danger of losing by him. They may be confident of so much as he sees best
for them; and they shall have his peace and blessing with it. But if, when
you are placed in a state of trial, the love of the world is so powerful in
your heart that you cannot resist the temptation of enriching yourself by
unlawful means, you have great reason to fear you have not his Spirit, and
are therefore none of his.