The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-06-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
international Lesson for June q, 1907
Sins of the Tongue-James 3sI-I3.
IArranged from Peloubet's Mold

Sins OF the Tongue-James 3i1-13.
ARRANGED from Peloubet's Notesl
GOLDEN TEXT.-Keep thy tongue from
evil. and thy lips from speaking guile
Psalm 34:l3.
PLACE IN THE HISTORY.-In connec-
ton with James as the presiding officer at
the conference in Jerusalem. A. d. SO. Be-
tween the first and second missionary
journeys. oo
1. Be Not Many Teachers.-Vs. 1, g
1. "My brethren" James knew that
whatever his attainments, he was "of
like passions" and subject to the same
temptations as other Christians. BE
not many masters" Paul bids us ''covet
the best gifts" not honors, but fitness
for service Il Cor. IL: 81; and this is a
true saying. If a man desire the office
of bishop, he desiIeth q good work"
q Tim. 81: y. But Il is for service not
for rule, and the desire is most for fit
ness, and not for the honor. knowing
that we GALL who would be teachers)
shall receive the greater condemna-
tom" If we err, or make mistakes, or
teach wrong doctrine, or guide into
wrong ways.
2. For in many things we offend
ALL" We all stumble or trip in our
moral walk; we err, we fail of the per-
lection of duty. We all do this, and do
it in many things.
III. The Test of Perfection.-V. 2. eff
any man offend not (stumbles not, is
not tripped up) in word, the same is n
perfect man." One who has attained
full spiritual and moral development.
who is perfect and entire, lacking in
nothing O.: ~. able also TO bride the
whole body" The control of the tongue
is enc OF the means by which the body
and soul are controlled and guided, as
horse is guided by his bride. Ex-
pressing feeling increases, not the
emotion, but the source of the feeling.
Angry words cultivate anger, soft
words cherish gentleness of spirit, low
ing words increase love.
III. Two illustrations of the Power
OF so Small Thing as the Tongue
VS.. 3-5. First. 8. "We put bits in the
horses mouths:" "a horses bit is a
small thing, yet when put in the unruly
horses mouth, we can control him bet
ter Herewith than if he had much har-
ness fastened to every limb, and worked
by neutrality-suspicious..
Second. 4. "Ships so great
fierce winds, yet are they
turned about with a very small helm"
Great as was the contrast between the
rudder and the ship in those days, tho
contrast is far greater in our day, when
we see our immense steamers, which
will hold a small city full of people,
controlled by one man.
". Two Illustrations of the Danger
of an Uncontrolled Tongue.-Vs. 5-S-
First The Tongue Compared to a
Fire. Behold how great a natter" n
forest, or any material for burning.
6. 1.-THE tongue is q fire." Q) 1t can
inflict burning pains. (2) 1t can kindle
a great amount of evil. (3) 1t is n
destructive agent, destroying much
good "a world of iniquity:" The
amount Of iniquity is vast, the kinds OF
iriquity innumerable, as, for instance,
blasphemy, lying, profanity, scandal.
Islander, scolding, backbiting, fattery,
obscenity, anger, Boosting, murmuring,
dishonesty, cruelty, error, suspicion.
'The tongue" is the fire of hell, "tho
DEVILS ammunition"
at defileth the whole body" This
flow Of evil from us means nothing less
than this, that we have made ourselves
a channel through which internal
agencies pass into the world. Is it
possible for such a channel to escape
deflcment? "-Plummer. "Setteth on
fire the course of nature" or wheel
of nature. What is meant is that from
the beginning Of life to its close, tho
tongue is an ever-present infiammatory
element of evil And is set on fire Of
hell:" He'll is the source of the evils
that flow from the tongue; they are the
characteristics Of hell which make it
what it is
Second. The Tongue Compared to
Wild, Untamable, Nenomous Beast
Z. Every kind of beast" i. e., quad
rupeds of every disposition; as distin-
guished from the three other classes OF
creation. Birds serpents:"
Creeping things of all kinds are in
cluded in the original term, land Of
things in the sea-" Nearly all the do
ueStic animals, which we are ac-
customed to see only when they are
tame, were once fierce and savage
races.
8. But the tongue can no man tame:"
Neither his own TOR others'l No one
but God can tame the tongue, and that
by changing the heart. ut is an I'M
ruly evil" Restless, uncomfortable,
V. The Double Power of the Tongue.
According to What Inspires Tvs
9-13. Any great power can be used
either for good or evil not only tho
tongue. but mind, wit, education, at
Effectiveness.
0. "Therewith bless we Cod" If our
hearts arc right. Herewith curse we
mem" If our hearts are evil.
10. "Out of the same mouth proceed
eth blessing and cursing:" Either the
same kind of mouth, or the mouth OF
the same individual. This is possible.
because the henrt that inspires the
tongue is partly bad and partly good.
II. For while "a fountain" cannot
"send forth at the same place sweet
water and bitter" yet from the foun-
tain of the heart this unnatural thing
takes Dlace and will fill tho heart 10