The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-05-24

hoOd. speak We truth each man with his
neishbor; for We are members one Of
another. "-Eph. 4::2o5.
In this lesson Jesus makes still
further application, or rather gives Us
another Illustration of the righteous4
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 OF
truth. We have first paragraph from
Jesus, then an ethical teaching and ap-
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 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 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 admonl-
ton not to take an oath in court.
Should Be Swift to Hear.
BE not many teachers" We now
turn to paragraph from the Epistle
Of James which has it's 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
(learners) than teachers. Every man
should be swift to hear, but the posi-
don Of teacher carries with it such
d burden of responsibility that no one
should audaciously assume it, see
lsEph. All, etc. With this responsible.
lily Is also a CORRESPONDENCE heavier
Judgment If We stumble. He that
aMmbles not In teaching, In the use
Of his tongue, is indeed perfect man
and one that is able to bride the
\ whole body; to guide the ship of life,
IIof state, and of the church, amidst
/ the fiercest storms.
L 1.-THE tongue is a fire." 1t is in.
deed for it inflames with anger the
whole body, the family, society and
\ the nation. History is ablaze with the
sonflagrations that are a consequence
Of untimely words and of unbridled
tongues, Prov. 1871, etc. The tongue
diving utterance to the thoughts Of the
| heart (for out Of the abundance Of the
heart it speaks, will intlame lust,
vither purity and consume strength.
4 fires jealousy and burns the sweet
| bonds of friendship. 1t will sever the
Hes of home, burn away the founda'
| lions Of character, Of commercial In.
tsgrity. social purity and destroy the
| bonds Of civic Righteousness. 1t is
indeed "a world Of iniquity among our
members" Let US quote from DR.. X.
/. Torrey: The fires Of hell are
k1ndled by idle words that set men
thinking wrong about God and sin and
Christ and the Bible. Men usually
careful in handling fire are careless
| shout the tongue. Whence come the
words that infame the imagination
and the passions? Whence come the
! words that undermine faith and the
credibility Of the Bible? II any man
duestion 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 is impossible
! with man is possible with God. James
draws a frightful picture of the un-
tanned tongue and Of It's evil conse-
uuences.
Profans Men classlhed.
.srhese things ought not to be-"
No more can q fountain yield fresh
And salt water at ono and the same