On the next Sabbath, to his great surprise, when the text was announced, it was in the following unexpected words—­

“Owe no man any thing.”

The sermon was didactive and narrative.  In the didactic portion, the minister was exceedingly close in laying down the principles of honesty in all transactions between man and man, and showed that for a man to live beyond his known income, when that was sufficient to supply his actual wants, was dishonest.  Then he gave sundry examples of very common but dishonest practices in those who withhold from others what is justly their due, and concluded this portion of his discourse, by plainly stating the glaring dishonesty of which too many congregations were guilty, in owing their ministers the difference between their regular and fixed income, and what they actually needed for their comfortable support and freedom from care.  This, he said, was but a poor commentary upon their love for the church, and showed too plainly its sordid and selfish quality.

This was felt by many to be quite too pointed and out of place; and for a young man, like him, very bold and immodest.  One member took out his box and struck the lid a smart, emphatic rap before taking a pinch of snuff,—­another coughed—­and three or four of the older ones gave several loud “a-h-h-hems!” Throughout the church there was an uneasy movement.  But soon all was still again, for the minister had commenced the narrative of something which he said had occurred in a parish at no great distance.  For a narrative, introduced in a sermon, all ears are open.

Very deliberately and very minutely did Mr. Malcolm give the leading facts which we have already placed before the reader, even down to the sound lecture he had received from Mr. Larkin, and then closed his sermon, after a few words of application, with a firm repetition of his text: 

“My brethren, ‘Owe no man any thing.’”

Of course, there was a buzzing in the hive after this.  One made inquiries of another, and it was soon pretty well understood throughout, that seven or eight hundred dollars had actually been promised to the minister instead of the four, which all were very content that he should receive, thinking little and caring little whether he lived well or ill upon it.  But who was it that had rated him so soundly?  That was the next question.  But nobody knew.  Some of those most familiar with Mr. Malcolm boldly asked him the question, but he declined giving an answer.  Poor Mr. Larkin trembled but the minister kept his own counsel.

On the Tuesday following this pointed discourse, Mr. Malcolm received his last quarter’s salary four weeks in advance, and three hundred dollars besides.  Two hundred of this had been loaned by Mr. Larkin until such time as it could be collected.

At the next meeting of the vestry, the resignation of Mr. Malcolm as minister of the parish was received.  Before acting upon it, a church-meeting was called, at which it was unanimously voted to double the ministers salary.  That is, make it eight hundred.  Much was said in his favour as a man of fine talents and sincere piety.  In fact, the congregation generally had become much attached to him, and could not bear to think of his leaving them.  Money was no consideration now.