The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-09-11
A SOFT TONGUE.
Rev. DR.. Talmage Discourses on
Human Forbearanoe.
Kind Words and Gentle Demeanor
- Weapon of Defense
Against the AssauIts
OF tho Unruly.

Ing AoiioWiAS DISCOURSE by Rev.
Dewitt Talmage was delivered befo
his Washington congregation. Itw
based on the text:
A soft tongue breaketh the bone Proven,
XIV, Is.
When Solomon said this he drove
whole volume into one phrase. Yo,
Of course, will not be SO silly as /
take the words of the text in liters
sense They simply mean to set fort
the fact that there is a tremendon
power in a kind word. Although
may seem to be very insignificant. Il
force is indescribable and illimita bic
Pungent and all-conquering utteran &c
"a soft tongue breaketh the bone.n
II ! had time, I would show vo,
kindness as means of defense. as :,
means Of usefulness, kindness as ,
means OF domestic harmony, kindnes.
IS best employed BY governments 10,
the tanning and curing of criminals
and kindness as best adapted for the
settling and adjusting Of international
quarrel; but ! shall call your atten-
tion only to two OF these thoughts.
And first, ! speak to you of kindness
rs means Of defense. Almost every
imam. in the course Of his life, is set
upon and assaulted. Your motives
are misrepresented or your religions
pr political principles are bombarded.
What to DO under such circumstances
hthe 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 vour
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 eve. A
Eooth for TOOTH" But the better
Fpirit in the mans soul rises up and |
fys: You ought to consider that |
natter"
You look up into the face OF Christ
|nd say: my Master how ought / to
lct under these difficult circum-
|tances?" And Christ instantly an.
|Hers: BLESS them that curse Won.
|nd pray for them which despitefully
lse you" Then the old nature rises
pagan and says: "You had better
|ot forgive him until first you have
!astised him. You will never ret
~ in 50 tight a corner again. You {
" never have such an opportunity !
Fintiicting the right kind of punish 9
|ent upon him again. First chastise 4
n and then let him go. "No,a says p
\ better nature, ''hush, thou foul q
Fart. Try the soft tongue that s
eaketh the bone" Have Won k
'sr in all your life known acerbitv g
y acrimonious dispute to settle a a
larrel? Did they not always make Il
asters worse and worse? About SIS II
ars ago there was great quarrel in o.
Pres byterian family. Ministers Of W
'flst were thought orthodox in pro- m
rtion as they had measured lances 81
" other clergymen Of the same de- =
The most outrageous OF
were abroad. As, in the pl
.amn, hunter comes home with a IN
ing OF game, cartridges and wild co
MS Sung over his shoulder, 80 IL
y We're many ministers who su
y back from the ecclesiastical ne
IT'S with long strings of doctors We
divinity whom they had shot OIL
their own rifle. The division be- th'
y wider, the animosity greater. SIC
y aiter awhile some good men re- pa
"a upon another tack. They be- les
70 explain away the difficulties; CHI
began to forgive each others dea
rs; and 10! the great church quar- Co
vas settled, and the new school OF
oyterian church and the old bri
oi Presbyterian church became to
The different parts of the Pres thu
nan order, welded by hammer. yer
We hammer, a Christian hammer wit
the Scripture calls ..a eoft CON
ue." gun
nave dispute with your neigh ligi
lou say to him. II despise YOU. y He
plies, Il can't bear the sight of bine
You say to him, ''Never enter his
'ouse again." He says, .,if YOU But
on my door sill I'll kick Won ar ;, ing
ay to him. III put you down." ness
- TO you. "You are mistaken; In
u You down." And so the con. swel
ases; and year after year you act :"
part. After awhile n sMs
,.'er spirit seizes you, and one . D,u
W 60 over to the neighbor and s ae
Uive me your hand. We u:.
iought long enough. Time ~ ea,
!, snort, and eternity is SO sno
sna1 we can not afford any long a !,
!uarrei. feel you have wronged " ~
y much; but let let us settle ali YOU
one great Misunderstanding and be s aw, u
fiends for all the rest of our you
lou have risen to a higher 49, no.'
.m than that on which before . uovA'
N get his anolorr p'.. &c s'lon' his, h
OF conouersd - a. - you light
rate you have won the applause :, ws WI
own conscience. the high esti- =