Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-05-24

A@A1DSOAN matt. 0soo-ofS SdAuc1 90
LIP.
GOLDEN TEET-'sPutting away false
hood, speak We truth each man with his
neighbor; for we are members one OF
another:'-Eph. 4:25
In this lesson Jesus makes a still
further application, or rather gives US
another illustration of the righteous+
ness of his new kingdom, which must
be greater than that taught by the
Pharisees. We have studied the sa-
cred relations Of the righteous life.
now We are to consider the matter or
truth. We have first paragraph from
Jesus, then an ethical teaching and APP
plication from the writings OF James
the apostle.
Under the old law men swore by
heaven which Is Gods throne, by the
earth which is his footstool, by Jeru-
salem which was his peculiar chosen
city. They swore by the head and
yet they could not change one hair
white or black. Jesus contrasts all
OF this with his new kingdom In
which absolute simple veracity In our
speech Is all that Is to be required.
This makes all oaths profane. When
men live in these new relations, with
this new consciousness of God they
will speak the truth naturally and or
necessity. To such there will be no
need for any form or speech or oath.
for the simplest, plainest speech Will
be the only necessary and the alto
gether satisfactory medium of giving
and of creating assurance. How about
oaths in court? Jesus is speaking to
the members of his new kingdom. Be
tween them yea and nay is sufficient,
but as between them and others we
must adjust ourselves and therefore
we do not read into this any admonf-
ton not to take an oath in court.
Should Be Swift to Hear.
BE not many teachers" We now
turn to a paragraph from the Epistle
of James which has its peculiar value
and interest as showing the difficulty
of mastering the tongue In the
church of Christ there must of neces-
sity be a great many more disciples
flearners) than teachers. Every man
should be swift to hear, but the posi-
ton of teacher carries with it such
burden of responsibility that no one
should audaciously assume 1t, see
Eph. All, etc. With this responsible
ity is also a correspondingly heavier
Judgment If we stumble. lie that
stumbles not in teaching, In the use
of his tongue, Is indeed a perfect man
and one that is able to bride the
whole body; to guide the ship of life.
of state, and of the church, amidst
the fiercest storms.
1.-THE tongue is a fire." It is in.
deed for it infiames with anger the
whole body, the family, society and
the nation. History is ablaze with the
CONGREGATIONS that are a consequences
of untimely words and OF unbridIed
tongues, Prov. 1871, etc. The tongue
giving utterance to the thoughts of the
heart (for out OF the abundance OF the
heart it speaks), will infiame lust.
wither purity and consume strength.
It fires jealousy and burns the sweet
bonds of friendship. 1t will sever the
ties OF home, burn away the founda-
tions of character, OF commercial in
tegrity. social purity and destroy the
bonds of civic righteousness. 1t Is
indeed "a world of iniquity among our
members" Let us quote from DR.. Il.
A. Torrey: The fires OF hell are
kindled by idle words that set men
thinking wrong about God and sin and
Christ and the Bible. Men usually
careful In handling IRE are careless
about the tongue. Whence come the
words that tnfiame the imagination
and the passions? Whence come the
words that undermine faith and the
credibility Of the BibleY II any man
question James words that the tongue
can no man tame he has evidently
never tried It himself" This does not
mean. however. that the tongue can
not be tanned. for what Ia impossible
with man Is possible with God. James
draws frightful picture OF the un-
tanned tongue and Of its evil conse-
Quences.
Profane Men Classified.
"These things ought not 70 be-
No more can a fountain yield fresh
and salt water at one and the same
time, or flg tree yield olives. than
for Christian to bless God and with
the same tongue curse his fellow men,.
Not only Ia It unlkind but Il 10 un-
Chrsstlike. Sarcasm means literally
ito tear desh like Dogs" the chari-
oteer'E whip tore the flesh, 50 we usa
the tongue 40 lash, biting the sensi-
tive spirits Of men; verify these things
fought not TO be-" Phillips Brooks
said, "Tell ma the words man uses
and reproduce his tone OF voice and
I'll ten what sort OF man he is
It Ia a literal fact that the truthful
man Ia he who usually cxemplifea ali
othsr virtues and we cannot en-
phAsize too strongly that no gantle-
man Ewears. Profane mon are OF
three classes: those who are thought