In due time, the minister arose and announced his text: "Give to him that asketh, and of him that would borrow of thee, turn thou not away." "My dear friends," said he, on drawing near to the close of his subject, "the text teaches us, besides that of simple alms-giving, the duty of lending; but you will observe, it says not a word about borrowing.

Under the law laid down here, we may lend as much as we please, but it gives no license to borrow.

Now, as far as I have been able to learn, a number of my congregation have not been very particular on this point.

They seem to think that it is helping their neighbours to keep this injunction to lend, by compelling an obedience to the precept, whether they are inclined to obey or not.

Now, this is wrong.