The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-12-17

quoted should come to be thoroughly un
derstood and appreciated. Christ, aftel
commanding his Apostles to go fortf
and perform miracles, began teaching an(
preaching the Kingdom of Heaven. Filled
with His holy mission he went about the
cities performing miracles, and giving
testimony of Divine Power. During the
work of love and mercy, there was
brought to him man possessed with 9
devil, blind, dumb; and had we not the
sacred record that the man was healed
we should be inclined to think that the
man had outlived his day and generation
and was still with us. Certainly we have
with us the man possessed of the Devil
He appears in various aspects and atti-
tudes, from either of which the devil
shows forth with degree of plainness
that is both shocking and grievous. The
missionary of to-day, however, does not
depend upon the bringing before him of
the devilpossessed man, but will run
against him in all walks of life, and in
all phases of society. Often, however, it
is necessary to go below the mere sur
face of the life to find and unearth the
old demon who lies in wait for victims.
Not every man, or every woman, who
appeals to our sympathy or our admira-
tion by an apparently worthy life, is to
be trusted to the extent indicated by out
ward appearance. 1t is one of the mis-
fortunes of the human family, and
brought about through the sin of man.
kind, that the germ of sin seems to spring
at times in almost every heart. If this,
as soon as it's existence be discovered,
shall be cured by the only physician who
can perform miraculous cures, the life
will be rendered safe and pure. But
if the dread disease be nurtured by neg
lect, it will grow, and spread, until it de-
velops at last into a full-grown, active,
treacherous devil, misery to the pos
SCISSOR, and source of solicitation and
sorrow to his friends.
This devil is the source of the speaking
of more idle and harmful words than all
other known agencies of earth. 1t causes
more sorrow and discord than all others.
And it is endured uncomplainingly in the
light and presence of the great healer.
Perhaps no thoughtless act or deed Of
the human family does more harm than
the idle word. Untold damage may be
| wrought to a fellow-creature through the
mere speaking of the idle word. A fam
GUS poet has said, in describing certain
condition of social life, cat every breath
a reputation dies" While this would be
extraordinary if literally true, still there
are conditions of life which give some
tangible grounds for such conclusions.
How many, who are prone-and even
anxious-to speak the idle word of
neighbor or friend, ever think of Christ's
solemn assurance that they will be called
to account for it in the day of judgment?
How many are there in the world, who
speak idle words, who ever expect to be
called to account for them at all?
We knew man who was singularly
gifted, in that he knew to very great
extent just what his neighbors and
friends were doing, and so close was his
discernment that he seemed to be able
even to divine their thoughts. At least
he could tell with extraordinary minute
ness of detail, what they were doing
long before they had done anything of
the kind. So persistent was he in his
declarations, and so firm in asserting
positive knowledge, that his friends de-
cided to discipline him little, for his
own benefit One day two friends-we
will call them Jones and Brown, for the
purpose of illuStration-called upon this
man, whom we will call Smith. Mr..
Mr.. Brown appeared in disguise and
Jones introduced him by fictitious
name. After the conversation had run
on for some time, Jones exclaimed: "By
the way, Smith, have you seen Brown,
lately?"
Smith gazed steadily at Jones for fully
minute, without speaking, and with
look which seemed to convey about equal
degrees of pity and contempt. At last he
gave two or three vigorous winks, and in
a half-whisper, said: "Yo ou don't know as
much about Brown as I do. Fact is,
Browns a little off. Been drinking. you
know. Had trouble with his wife. His
Poor fellow, it's a pity, thought
"But perhaps that is only idle rumor,"
said Jones.
idle rumor, indeed Don't knoao
it to be so? Do you think I'd tell false
hood on man for the mere Satisfaction |
of talking?"
The two men left after few moments,
to avoid exploding with laughter. The
next time they saw Smith he was stand
ing in the public congregation, singing:
"Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in
Christian love-"
And we may add that the devout Mr. |
Smith did not say unto the Lord Jesus,
Behold, I am blind, and deaf, and pos
sessed of the devil" He said 81 know
that Jesus is mine, and am his p What
a great and grievous deception is there
While the devout man sings before the
altar of conservation, the idle words are
being piled upon the altar of condemna-
tion to await his appearance in the judg-
ment. There will be, sometime in the
near future an awakening which will be
a surprise and sorrow to this individual, |
and to all of this class.
Nor is the solemn warning, in the |
quoted passage, given to men alone as
the wording would seem to imply, but |
the word "men" here represents the hu-
man race, and some people of an observ-
ing turn of mind have made the discovery
that the ladies have tongues, and some of |
them, too, of remarkable vigor and ac-
tivity. If man is to be confronted in
judgment by all the idle words he has
uttered during the temporal existence,
may it not be considered as highly proba-
BILE that woman may find an occasional
blot upon the register of the recording
angel?
Among women one would naturally
look for that tender bond of sympathy
which would lift up and protect fallen