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Literary
June 8, 1802
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A sermon critiquing modern friendship as selfish, favoring the rich and powerful while shunning the poor, using biblical metaphors of vines and harvests. It laments the substitution of self-interest for duty and promises divine reward for the sorrowful.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Moralist.
A SERMON ON SELFISHNESS.
"If each is an empty vine he brings forth fruit unto himself."
Such a vine is modern friendship, the
tendrils of which twine round the rich
man's purse, and the seat of him who ruleth
the people. Such is the soil from whence
it springs, and such the dews, which nurture
it, that the finest branches thereof will not
encircle him who hath fellowship with
poverty or walketh in the lone vale of misfortune.
The sun, which ornamented the temple
of the ancient Mexicans, though considered
by them of no other value, than as a representative of the glorious Luminary they adored, is of prime virtue, in the nutrition of
the world's esteem, and receives more polite literary applicants at its shrine, than
never bent the knee in the wilds of the Western Hemisphere. I would not willingly record this despicable truth-that one half
of the apparent friendship in the world is
a mere empty vine--that the affection,
which walketh in rich attire and glitters in
the market, is but precious little more than
the forced fruit of extraneous virtue.
In the vineyard of life, the rich husbandmen have kept company too long with those
who heap up corn and fill their garners with
the fatness of the field-to sit down contented with the breakers of clods and drawers of
water. They know, too well, that bare
feet and light pockets will not fill their empty vine, or add oil to their cruise, and the
"Maxim of Self-Interest" have been too
long a substitute for the "Duty of Man" to
excite a fellow feeling in their breasts. Yet.
weep not. ye sorrowful of the earth for in
the great day of harvest, when the reapers
of your LORD go forth, you shall be gathered into the store house of gladness and
rejoicing.
A SERMON ON SELFISHNESS.
"If each is an empty vine he brings forth fruit unto himself."
Such a vine is modern friendship, the
tendrils of which twine round the rich
man's purse, and the seat of him who ruleth
the people. Such is the soil from whence
it springs, and such the dews, which nurture
it, that the finest branches thereof will not
encircle him who hath fellowship with
poverty or walketh in the lone vale of misfortune.
The sun, which ornamented the temple
of the ancient Mexicans, though considered
by them of no other value, than as a representative of the glorious Luminary they adored, is of prime virtue, in the nutrition of
the world's esteem, and receives more polite literary applicants at its shrine, than
never bent the knee in the wilds of the Western Hemisphere. I would not willingly record this despicable truth-that one half
of the apparent friendship in the world is
a mere empty vine--that the affection,
which walketh in rich attire and glitters in
the market, is but precious little more than
the forced fruit of extraneous virtue.
In the vineyard of life, the rich husbandmen have kept company too long with those
who heap up corn and fill their garners with
the fatness of the field-to sit down contented with the breakers of clods and drawers of
water. They know, too well, that bare
feet and light pockets will not fill their empty vine, or add oil to their cruise, and the
"Maxim of Self-Interest" have been too
long a substitute for the "Duty of Man" to
excite a fellow feeling in their breasts. Yet.
weep not. ye sorrowful of the earth for in
the great day of harvest, when the reapers
of your LORD go forth, you shall be gathered into the store house of gladness and
rejoicing.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Friendship
Religious
What keywords are associated?
Selfishness
Friendship
Moral Vine
Poverty
Wealth
Divine Harvest
Self Interest
Literary Details
Title
A Sermon On Selfishness.
Subject
On Selfishness In Modern Friendship
Form / Style
Moral Sermon In Prose
Key Lines
"If Each Is An Empty Vine He Brings Forth Fruit Unto Himself."
Such A Vine Is Modern Friendship, The Tendrils Of Which Twine Round The Rich Man's Purse, And The Seat Of Him Who Ruleth The People.
I Would Not Willingly Record This Despicable Truth That One Half Of The Apparent Friendship In The World Is A Mere Empty Vine
Yet. Weep Not. Ye Sorrowful Of The Earth For In The Great Day Of Harvest, When The Reapers Of Your Lord Go Forth, You Shall Be Gathered Into The Store House Of Gladness And Rejoicing.