Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1912-05-23

IL
GOLDEN TEHT-"Putting away false
hood. speak ye truth each man with his
~neighbor; for we are members one OF
snother."-Eph. 4:25.
In this lesson Jesus makes q still
further application. or rather giles us
another illustration of the righteousA
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 a 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.
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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
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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 admoni-
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
Uearners) than teachers. Every man
should be swift to hear, but the posi-
ton Of teacher carries with 1t such
q burden of responsibility that no one
should audaciously ASSUME 1t. see
Eph. All, etc. With this responsible.
ity Is also a CORRESPONDENCE heavier
Judgment IL 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.
THE tongue Is a fire. 1t is in.
deed for 1t inflames with anger the
whole body. the family. society and
the nation. History is ablaze with the
Of untimely words and Of unbridled
tongues. Prov. 1871, etc. The tongue
giving utterance to the thoughts OF the
heart (for out of the abundance of the
heart 1t speaks), will intlame lust.
wither purity and consume strength.
1t fires jealousy and burns the sweet
bonds of friendship. 1t will sever the
lions Of character, OF commercial in.
tegrlty, social purity and destroy the
bonds Of civic righteousness. 1t is
indeed "a world of iniqSity among our
members" Let us quote from DIR. X.
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 careless
about the tongue. Whence come the
words that infiame the imagination
and the passions? Whence come the
words that undermine faith and the
crediDility OF the Bible? II any man
question James words that the tongue
can lie 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 a frightful picture OF the un-
tanned tongue and OF its evil conse-
Quences.
Profane Men Classified.
these things ought not to be-"
No more a q fountain yield fresh
and salt water at one and the same
time. or a fig tree yield olives, than
for q Christian to bless God and with
the same tongue curse his fellow men.
Not only rs 1t unkind but 1t Is un-
Christlike. Sarcasm means literally
ito tear flesh like dogs" the chart
oteer's whip tore the flesh. so We use
the tongue as a lash. biting the sensi-
tive spirits Of men; verify these things
fought not to be-" Phillips Brooks
said. "Tell me the- words q man uses