Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-06-05
THE POWER OF
THE TONGUE
Sunday School Lesson for June S. 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper


LESSON TEXT.-James 3l-i2 Mem
ory verses $40
GOLDEN TEXT.-whoso keepeth his
mouth and his tongue. keepeth his soul
from troubles. Prov. 2is2
TIME-lt is believed the epistle was
written between a. u. 40 and 3d.
PLACE--Beueved 90 be az Jerusalem.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
Philosophers have striven TO discoy-
ar what faculty most clearly separates
man from the brute. as. that man IS
the only animal that laughs. or the
only animal J1at cooks. OF the only an
imal that stands upright Most think
ers, however. agree that the power OF
speech. with ali that has grown out OF
II, is the clearest and most important
distinction OF mankind. and the surest
Indication Of the superiority that God
has conferred upon the human race.
The passage we are 20 study Is one OF
the finest in the Bible. aud is the
crown Of all writings upon the sub
iect.
VS.. I. "a. Why did James urge his
readers not 20 be many masters
tteachers, as in "schoolmasters") l..
Because the young church met that
danger continually (see Acts 1924:
Cor 1:12; 1926. Gal 2:12l. In the
Jewish church the function OF the rab-
bi was jealousy guarded. but the lib
srty OF prophesying (teaching) in
Christianity was liable 20 become H.
cense. And the more the idea pre-
vailed that faith. without correspond
Ing obedience. was all that is needfuI.
the more men would eagerly press for
ward 70 teach-"-Alford. This thought
Joins our present Lesson with the last.
To illustrate perfect speech. 20
what does James compare the tongue2
To horses bit or bride. which.
though small. turns and governs the
whole body Of the great animal: and.
similarly. 20 a ships helm OF rudder.
which. though so small In comparison
with the great ship. aud so weak IN
comparison with the fierce winds. yet
turns the ship. in the face OF the
winds. whlthersOever the governor
(R v "steersmsn') hsteth Or. V.
"wilisth"). Even 50 like the bride
and the ruddsr) the tongue Is a little
momber. and boasteth great things.
Naunts great words which bring
about great acts OF mischief Afford
What is the point OF the compari-
son? The power Of the tongue in the
guidance and direction of Iife-our
own lives and those OF others. And
we are never 20 forget that the
tongue includes the pen. Deems.
What Is the next comparison used
by James? The tongue-that world
Of OF iniQuity-is a FIRE. sprung from
the fires OF Gehenna. 10 Is a little FIRE
TO the eye. but little IRE can kindIe
4 great forest SO the tongue can ruin
the whole bOdy-nay. the whole life
tn its revolving course from the cradle
to the grave" The tongue is called a
world Of iniquity because all kinds OF
evil that are In the world are exhibited
there in miniature. Barnes
What is the point OF this compari-
son? 1t pictures the destructive power
OF the tongue. as the fret two compari-
sons pictured the tongues guiding
power. Little words, mere purs of
air. are Insignificant as small sparks.
bet as the flame and smoke may
spread everywhere. so the bAneful ef
feet OF evil speech may penetrate all
life.
What is James next comparison OF
the tOngue7 To an untamed beast. all
other living things have been mastered
by mankind-the four divisions OF AMI.
mails. according TO James rough
sooioSy. namely. quAdrupeds. birds
reptiles and fishes. But the tongue Is
al exception. No man can tame II.
only God, who made It, can keep II
under control 1T is an unruly treat
less) evil, full OF deadly poison" and
so 70 De elAssed with the animals most
hated and feared. the serpents.
What is the point Of this compari-
SOM AS the frst emphasized the
guiding power OF the tongue and the
second its destructive power. so this
comparison emphasizes its unre-
strained power.
IL the tongue cannot be tanned. ara
we TO blame for our unRoverned
speech? Yes. as James himself saws
". lO), These things ought not so 10
De-. n We be truly Christ's, though
reViled' by the unruly tongues OF
others, we shall, like him, 'revile not
again q Peter 2:23). And as the
whole body is the Lords 10 be sanoti.
ned to him q Cor. 6:1S. 2Ol. so partie.
ulariy must the tongue be kept from
'eyil-speaKing. lying and slanderine'
and used rightly for the service OF
God. Thus may we truly offer the
calves OF our lips (Hos. 14:2). more
acceptable than the blood OF victims
slain On thousand affairs '-EHicott.
Why does James drop comparisons
when he comes TO his last point? Be
cause there are no comparisons In ma.
ture to mans Inconsistency in speech
only contrasts. The constancy OF
nature was as well known in James
day as in ours. But the tongue is sadly
different out of the same mouth
proceedeth blessing and cursingi"
What is the point OF this contrast
Evil speech has been pictured as On
Influential. Cd destructive, CD uncon
trollsble. and now finally as (D un-
natural. Men are made after the
similitude OF God. The nature of man
q % aAnra Ca