Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-05-21
INYTEfAnEhI ItrsEs6
NTEBRDkLYN J
1lAsBER \
INV BIBLE. STUDIES.
WORDS -sP oLITE
SPEECH
.BIRLF STUDIES.
Matthew v, 1897; James iii, LIP; v,
IL. May 26.

Putting away falsehood, speak every
ntn truth with Ills ueighbor for we
are members one of another Ephesians
Nv u
Ia our fast study We contrasted the
teachings Of Jesus with those OF the
PHrisces respecting obligations to the
Law oar DECISION was that ,.never man
spalse lik4 shis Man
An. to7days study We note that the re-
ligienists Of Ills day attempted 10 limit
tbs habit Of swearing, but the Great
irSaclief said, swear not at an, How
fooiish is swearing of every kind. we
are not, of course. objedting to solemn
'adinnations, or oaths Required by law.
Truly ST Paul declares that those who
reserve the Spirit of the Lord possess
the spirit of a sound mind" They
soon begin to realize the senseIessnes;
and valgarity of swearing or of sup
posing it necessary to substantiate our
word. Quite 10 the contrary, the fact
that one boisterously swears that what
he SAYS is true implies thai he does not
expee. his hearer to- believe his simpIe
word. ard this in turn pfesupposes that
his worl ordinarily is not worthy of
belief. Note the Injunction Of tie Ma,;-
ter. LIT your speech be yea, yea, nay,
nay anything further implies evil.
The Masters meaning evidently ia,when
Noa say yes, let it be yes when you
say no. let il he no: Tel the truth.
@inist prs Should Be Truthful.
In Tie, SECOND u6rtiol Of our study
saint James exhoffs seIse not many
teachers, my brethren, knowing that we
shall receive severer testing For Ind
many things we offend all. In any man
offend not IN word. the same Is d per-
feef man, ana able also to- bride the
Whole body. Saint james seems to
say that, while all Christians need to
bride their tongues. those in the more
exalted positions are al the more liable
IL effef IN this respect They have a
special gift of speech aud another sPe-
eial gift of opportunity To use this
speech and so exerting a Wide innu-
ence their responsibility is proportion
ate.
1t is not for Us to judge ministers or
others; there is One thai judgeth, the
Lord. We greatly fear, however, that
many ministers, as well as Christians
IN humber stations. fail to fully appre-
eiate their esponsibilities- for every
word they utter or haze the opportunity
OF utsering. Many tell Us that for
years they preached what they did not
believe. How terrible, How stulsify-
ing To their manhood How serious a
reflection upon their brand of Christian
ity! However, we should rejoice that
finally their censciences triumphed.
Not all Of US have such widd oppor-
tanities for good or evil. but in our own
homes. IN our offices. shops, markets,
We may send forth either good or evil
influences, far reaching for either hap
piness or misery. either upbailding on,
dowptearing character, either of heIp4
fnlness or of Encouragement. sihely
no Christian could be Indifferent to this
has most powerful member Saint
James suggests that as a match will
kindle great fire 50 the tongue might
start Il great iuror great eommotion
and do much injury. lie suggests
Boosting as being one of the most dan
gerOus uses Of the tongue. our expert
ence corrobpratns this Boosting often
leads Us into error and fastens us
there because we are not humble
enough to acknowledge tie fault. Il
often leads into untruth from which
we may have difficulty in escaping. 1t
is an evidence of pride, and therefore
improper
Angry words. bitter words, sarcastic
words, haunting words may set ablaze
the course OF whole life and impel i'd
with angry force toward the. second
Death. Gehenna. Hence Saint James sug-
gestS that such evil-breeding words are
like sparks frem Gehenna, tending to-
ward destruction s.
No Man Can Tame the Tongue.
The APOSTLE reminds Us that beasts
ana birds and fishes are all subject to a
tanning power under mans direction,
but that no man can tame another
mans tongue. Yea is it not safe Ia
say that no fallen man can tame Id ,
own'tonguee The only way by which
10 have our tongues brought into subj
lection 10 the Divine will and made.use,
fui as. servants OF truth and righteous ]
ness ana love is by having them con,
yerted. And since the tongue is but the
agent speaking for the sentiments of
the heart, it follows that Ii is the heart
that needs to be converted The power
of true conversion, true transformation
of character, so that "all things become
new, is of God
The child of God begotten of the
Holy Spirit has an assistance in the
mastering and tanning of his tongue
that the unregenerate have not. How
important then the message, my son,
give Me thine heart" Out of the heart
are the issues of life. Out of the album
dance of the heart, of the hearts med
itations, the mouth speaketh.
Saint James declares that the tongue
of the natural man is fun of deadly
poison. His Illustration seems to be
that of serpent. Alas, that in our
fallen condition it should be so true
that tile poison of asps is under their
lips!" IT is when we become new crea-
lures with new motive power and
incentive of love instead of selfishness,
that the poison fangs are drawn. The
new mind, the new creature can then
use the lips TO show forth the praises
of God and bless his fellow men