Rock Island daily Argus., 1888-03-19

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, by those who claim to be friends. fhe
come in and go out of the house with
! welcome. thus having opportunity to Sc
into the privacy of life, and discoverin
its shortcomings and infirmities, they 6
forth to spread them, to magnify them
to distort them; to hint that perhap
graver things lie concealed, and set ol
foot suspicion which grows with all tn
strength and tenacity of poisonou
weeds. All are more or less guilty o
this sin with the tongue. Every kind
of beasts and birds, serpents, and
things in the sea. have been tanned, bu
the tongue can no man tame. 1t is ar
uuruly evil, full of deadly poison"
Another deadly power of the tongue il
Its misleading power. 1t is with the
tongue the sinner entices his victim
astray-using flAttery, cajolery, false
hood, ridicule, Misrepresentation. With
the tongue, the intide tears down the
house of faith and turns the souls of men
into the path of error. exalting tina,
which is evil and calling it good, traduc'
ing that which is good and calling it evil.
If a man does not have an honest convic-
tion that he is right. what fearful thing
it is for him to talk and argue upon the
subject of religion. If there be doubt,
it should be kept a secret and divulged
nnlV no its SnIutinn 10 snuuht
Another deadly power of the tongue is
the encouragement and obstruction of
good. 1t is easy to hinder that which
one does not oppose. 1t is easy to dis
courage when one has no idea of resisting
or injury. Many careless and slight
ing criticism has resulted in the discourn
agement and permanent injury of the
young, falling like frost on budding
ambition
o, many shaft at random sent,
Finds mark the archer little meant;
Aud many Il word at random spoken
May soothe or wound heart that's broken.
1t seems to be some peoples delight
and special business to throw cold water
on everything somebody else starts.
They do not ppose-simply smile at it;
stand at one side and find fault. 1t is to
be noticed such people very seldom start
any good enterprise themselves or assume
any responsibilities
The tongues power of life was also
dwelt upon at length and with equal
force. The tongues power for good is
just as great as for evil; it is an instru~
ment, and like pen is guided wholly by
the heart and mind. If the tongue does
good it is because the heart is good, and
the same is true as TO evil. The tongue
has power to proclaim truth. More
humble and quiet witnesses for truth
haye turned more souls from the error of
their ways and thus saved more souls
from death than those who sit upon the
pedestal of fame and the world
points to as its great men.
The tongue has further the power to
comfort and encourage. It can water
that which is dropping with words of
good cheer, bind up that which is broken
and bleeding with words of hope, and
pour oil INTO the wounds which have
been made by the sharp arrow of some
cruel or careless tongue
The tongue has power in kind re
Dukes and warn ngs. Shakespeare de-
scribes the tongue rs the hearts clapper,
for what the heart thinks the tongue |
speaks out, and if the tongue is untamed, |
the heart is untamed. The way to OBJ |
Jain control of this member is by seeking |
irst heart that is not as St. James says. |
set afre by hell" A clean and perfect
leart is what all should pray for, and
hen to diligently train the tongue. It's
,rrOrs help to retard the publication
If the heart Let US with the psalmist
ay, Il will set watch before the door
If my lips, oh, Lord"
when over the fa ir fame of friend or foe
The light of deep disgrace is fallen, instead
)f words of blanc or hints Of so and SO,
Let something gooj be said.
Forget not that no human being yet
Has fallen 50 low but love may lift his head
Even the cheek of shame with tears is wet,
II something good be said.
10 tender heart can vainly turn aside
in paths of charity, no soul so dead;
3ut It may waken grand and glorifed
II something good be said.
And so charge thee by the thorny crown.
Aud by the cross on which thv Savior bled,
md by thine own souls hope of fair renown,
Let something good be said"