William W. Bennett, A narrative of the great revival which prevailed in the Southern armies during the late Civil War

[45] depravity, but the hoarded gain furnishes facilities for uncommon wickedness. The attendant evils are uniform. They have never failed in the history of the past. When commerce, manufactures, and agriculture, pour in their treasures, then, without the counteracting power of Scripture truth and Gospel grace, they infallibly breed the sins which have been, under God, the executioners of nations. Such is the suicidal influence of unsanctified wealth, that the greater the prosperity of a people the shorter the duration. The virulence of the maladies superinduced destroy suddenly, and that without remedy. Now, mark how apposite, how prophetic, how descriptive, the word of the Lord: “They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts.” “He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” “ He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye.” How these passages rebuke the spirit of speculation, the greedy desires, the equivocal expedients, the high-pressure schemes of the people! “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth.” “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded nor trust in uncertain riches.” 0, ye who make, and save, and hide, and hoard, hear ye the word of the Lord: “Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten; your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you and shall eat your flesh as it were fire.” 0, ye who strut and shine in plumage plucked from the poor and needy, “ye have received your consolation ;” “weep and howl for the miseries that shall come upon you.”