The Lincoln County herald., 1872-12-25
TAs Evils Of Slander.
(Csmmunicsted.l

whole body, and setteth on Ire the course
Of nature, and it is set on FIRE Of he'll"
For every kind Of beast, and OF birds,
aud Of serpents, and Of things iu the sea,
is tanned, and hath been tanned Of man
kind, but the tongue can no man tame
it is an uuruly evil, full of deadly poison
Herewith bless we God, even the Father,
aud herewith curse we men, which are
made after the sinilitude Of God. Out
Of the mouth proceed blessing aud
cursing. Ny Brethren, these things
ought not to be-" will here quote the
language of tho learned and distinguished
commentator Scott upon this portion of
divine writ, as it is more lucid, aud TO the
point, than anything l can say:
II compare the deadly venom Of the
slanderous tongue to destructive fire
for let any one consider how vast guam
tlty Of fuel q small match, or even u
spark Of FIRE will suffice to kindle, and
what tremendous conaagrations might
follow, and hence learn the injury Of the
abuse Of the tongue. which is, in fact,
fire to destroy all before it, and . world
Of iuquity, comprehendius all the wick
edness of mankind. Nay; 1t produces
the most extensive mischiefs all over the
universe, being indeed set on fire Of hell
1t instigates men to vent their abomina
ble thoughts, disseminates through q
community discords, backbitings, slauder,
in6delity, heresies, blasphemy, atheism,
reproaches, impieties, whence all kinds
of atrocious crimes proceed, &C."
There is no domicile however high. nc
tenement however low, that is too hal
lowed to escape its polluted touch.
Polluted by the devilish instincts Of malice
to crafty the viudictiveuess Of few
arch and cunning enemies, slander may
enter the hallowed dwelling Of any fam
lily. None are secure from its poisonus
breath. It attacks even the church of
God, with vague and indefinite charges
against the purity and religion Of its
members. No wonder that the church
is attacked, for Christ himself warned US
that it would be aud if the church Of
Christ be attacked, could VIC be surprised
if the sacred precincts of the family
be invaded?
"These things I command you, that ye
love one another; if the world hate you,
yc know that it hated mo before it hated
you. Ifye were of the world, the world
would love its own, but because ye are
not of the world, but have chosen you
out Of the world, therefore the world
hateth you"
1t has not occurred to mind that tho
fire Of the tongue is more destructive to
whole communities, to the world at large,
than the fires which have Of late desc
lated whole cities and neighborhoods,
and the ire Of the tongue has done moro
to make men miserable here, and hero
after, than all other evils combined.
In rumor, slauderous reProachful
rumor, no man is responsible. The
prejudiced, 'eveugeful instigators, do their
dirty work through irresponsible agents.
These agents don't assume to know any
moro than their employers, but hide be.
hind the inusndo, "Have you heard that
such and such an one did so and so ?"
One thinks it, another hears is, and it
spreads as it goes, and there is no one in
the busy round Of rumor that will come
to the light, that his deed may be mani
fest. The instigators will not place
themselves in q condition that the cen.
sneral laws of private right and justice
will take hold Of them and make them
responsible at the bar Of public justice
for vhsn once the shafts of malicious
slander may have been directed against
the unfortunate Individual, whoever be
may be, 1t may have done its work, it
may have Inflicted an injury upon the
character ia the minds Of some crsdulour
persons, which neither time, nor damages
10 money, cen ever etface, even If q just
community should vindicate The aspsrssd
character Of the iejs'ed; aud great com
muuity when ramor, false sumos, props.
gates . sslsnder, siif always say: Stay
your hasd! desist vhat doess thovP
Chsssc.ss 10 too dear 10 be made the
sposs Of psssisn. Of psbl,O curiosity, Of
psivs's, psrsonsl sr political prejudice
.hso out judgement shall be Convinced
10 . ses'sAsbls ~snssr ~ vii! bslisvs,
~ kofoss