The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-08-27
POWER OF KINDNESS.
Rev. DR.. Talmage breaches ON One
OF King Solomon's Proverbs.
Kindness ~ n Means OF Defense and Of
Usofulness-How II VIII Conquer tho
Worst Ensmies-What 1t VIII
Accomplish ~ the Saw
lthl ing Of Sinners 4. Ut.

saved the church and the world from in.
finite discord and sorrow-the power OF
Kindness. His text was "a Soft Tongue
Breaketh the Bone"-Prov. XIV. Is.
Following is the DISCOURSE:
When Solomon said this he drove a
whole volume into one phrase. You, OF
course, will not be so silly as to take the
words OF the text in literal sense.
They simply mean to set forth the fact
that there is tremendous power in a
kind word. Although it may seem to be
very insignificant, its force is indescrib-
able and illimitable. Pungent and ALI
conquering uttorance: "A soft tongue
breaketh the bone"
II the weather were not 80 hot, and l
had time, l would show you kindness as
a means OF defense; kindness as means
Of usefulness; kindness as means OF
domestic harmony; kindness as best en-
ployed by governments for the tanning
and curing of criminals; aud kindness as
best adapted for the settling and adjust
ment Of international quarrels; but I
shall call your attention to only two or
three Of these thoughts.
And first, speak to you Of kindness
as means OF defense. Almost every
man, in the course OF his life, is set
upon and assaulted. Your motives are
misinterpreted or your religious or po-
litical principles are bombarded. What
TO do under such circumstances is the
question. The first impulse Of the
natural heart says: "Strike back. Give
as much as he sent Trip him into the
ditch which he dug for your feet Cash
him with as severe wound as that
which he inflicted on your soul. Shot
for shot. Sarcasm for sarcasm. An
eye for an eye. A tooth for tooth"
But the better spirit in the mans soul
rises up and says: "You ought to recon-
slider that matter" You look up into
the face OF Christ and say: "My Master,
how ought TO act under these difficult
circumstances?" And Christ instantly
answers: "Bless them that curse you
and pray for them which despitefully
use YOU" Then the old nature rises up
again and says: "You had better not
forgive him until first you have chas-
tised him. You will never get him In
30 tight corner again. You will never
have such an opportunity OF infiicting
the right kind Of punishment upon him
again. First chastise him and then let
him 60" mo" says the better nature,
'hush, thou foul heart Try the soft
tongue that breaksth the bone" Have
you ever in all your life known scerbity
and acrimonious dispute to settle
quarrel2 Did they not always make
matters worse, and worse?
Many years ago there was great
quarrel in the Presbyterian family,
Ministers Of Christ were thought ortho
doI in proportion as they had measured
lances with other clergymen OF the same
denomination. The most outrageous
personalities were abroad As, in th'
autumn, hunter comes home with I
string OF game, partridges and wild
dncks slung over his shoulder, SO thor'
we're many ministers who came bacl
from the ecclesiastical courts with lonl
strings OF doctors OF divinity whom
they had shot with their own rife. TIT
division became wider, the animosit!
greater, until after while some goo'
men resolved upon another tack. The.
began to explain away the difficulties
they began TO forgive each others fault
md, 10! the great church quarrel wa
settled, and the new school Presbyterial
Church and the old &C bool Presbyterian
Church became one. The different part
Of the Presbyterian order welded by
hammer, little hammer, Christian
hammer that the Scripture calls "a sol
tongue"
You have q dispute with your neigh
Dor. You say TO him, 81 despise you.
He replies: ~ can't bear the sight 9
you." You say TO him; "Never ente
my house again" He says: "If 20
come on my door sill. I'll kick you Of.
You say 10 him: "Tll put you down.
He says TO you: "You are mistaken
I'll nut you down" And 80 the conteI
r.xss, and year atter year you act d
aishris.isn1 part 'and he acts the III
christian part. After q while the bett'
spirit soiEes you, and one day you 9
over to the noighbor and say: Give N
your hand. We have fought Ion
enough. Time is 90 short, and eterhii
10 90 near, that we can not afford an
lsnger 70 quarrel feel that you ha,
vronEsd mo very much; but let US SO
De now In one great hand-shaking, an
b rood friends for all the rest OF OF
liyes." You have risen 10 higher pla
form than that on which before yc
stood. You win his admiration, and yc
rot his fspoloey. But Il you have n
conquered him IN that way, at any ra
you have won the applause OF your ov
conscience, the high estimation Of go'
mon, and the honor Of your Lord wi
died for His armed enemies. y. 'Elt
But" you say, what are we to
whom ISLANDERS assault US, and the
como aefihonious sayings all aroul
about us, and we arc abused and 81
upon9" Ny reply is; Do not go ri
sttempt 10 chase down the slandel
lies are prolific, and while you are XII
ing one, fifty are born. AL your demo
STATIONS 'of,indignation only ethau
yourseifs Hou might as we'll, on sor
summer night when the swarms OF
sccts are coming up from the meade
snd disturbing you, and disturbing 70
family, BRING up some great "swar
sngel, like that which thundered ov
Charleston, and try 10 shoot them dow
Tho game is too small for the gun.
But what, then, are you to do With
sbuses, that como upon you IN your ~
Lyon arc TO Ave them down! ] SAW
farmer 20 out 10 get back swarm
bees that had wandered of from
49, a. =. ,.a-nA ay,ntd than, th