The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-05-24

hood, speak We truth each man with his
neighbor; for we are members one OF
another."-Eph. 4:sa.
In this lesson Jesus makes q still
further application, or rather gives ua
another illustration OF the righteous.
ness OF his new kingdom, which must
be greater than that taught by tho
Pharisees. We have studied the ga.
cred relations of the righteous life,
now we are to consider the matter OF
truth. We have first a 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 tine
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 OF
necessity. TO such there will be no
need for any form Of 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 Il
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 admoni
ton not to take an oath In court.
Should Be Swift to Hear.
BE not many teachers" We nov
turn to a paragraph from the Epistl'
OF James which has It's peculiar value
and interest as showing the difficulty
OF mastering the tongue. In In,
church Of Christ there must OF neces
sity be a great many more disciples
(learners) than teachers. Every maj
should be swift to hear, but the posi-
ton OF teacher carries With 1t sucl
burden, of responsibility that no ON
should audaciously asssiiiiie It. he,
Eph. ALI, etc. With this responsible
ity is also a correspondingly heayle
Judgment II we stumble. he tina
stumbles not In teaching, In the us'
of his tongue, is indeed q perfect mar
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 fire." 1t 10 In
deed for 1t iniiames with anger the
whole body, the family, society anC
the nation. History Is ablaze with thC
eo1nagrations that are consequence
OF untimely words and OF unbridlec
tongues, Prov. 1871, etc. The tongue
giving ufterance to the thoughts OF the
heart (for out Of the abundance OF tbs
heart It speaks), will iniiame lust
wither purity and consume strength
Il fires jealousy and burns the sweet
bonds OF friendship. 1t viii sever tina
ties OF home, burn away the founda
lions OF character, OF commercial in
tegrity. social purity and destroy ths
bonds OF civic righteousness. 1t Ia
indeed "a world of iniquity among ouI
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 fire are carelesa
about the tongue. Whence come the
words that infame the imagination
and the passions? Whence come the
words that undermine faith and the
,credibflfty Of the Bible? II any man
question James words that the tongue
can no man tame he has evidently
never tried 1t himself" This does not
mean, however. that the tongue can
not be- tanned. for what Is impossible
with man is possible with God James
draws q frightful picture OF the I'M
tanned tongue and OF its evil conss-
quences.
Profane Man Classified.
These things ought not to be-"
No more can fountain yield fresh
and salt water at one and the same
time. or a fig tree yield olives, than
for Christian to bless God and with
the same tongue curse his fellow men.
Not only is 1t unkind but It is un.
Christlike. Sarcasm means literally
ITO tear flesh like dogs" the chart.
oteef's whip tore the flesh, so We use
the tongue as a lash, biting the sensi'
tive spirits OF men; verify these things
Ought not to be-" Phillips Brooks
said, Tell me the words a man uses
and reproduce his tone OF voice and
III tell what sort OF man he is"
! It is a literal fact that the truthful
man Is he who usually exempIines all
other Virtuea and we cannot en-
phasize too strongly that no gentls-
man swears. Profane men are OF