The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-03-29

Paul saying to
the church at Corlnth: IL fear lest
there be among you debates, ~envyings,
backbitlngs, wbisperings, swellings,
tumults."
The evil speaking we have to guard
against is not Sc much the fragrant lie
and the revillng speech, but the pri-
vate ways Of calumny-the unground-
ed and false rumors, the unkind con
structions, the. ready acceptance Of
bad reports, the carrying Of tales and
the disposition to dwell upon the worst
rather than the best In people. AS
someone has said, this is what the flies
do-skip ove what is sound In men
and alight upon their sores.
There are some lives so blameless
that even malice Is ashamed to vent
Its spite against them, and yet there Is
a way Of accomplishing the evil pur-
pose even In their case. Their whole
character may not be attacked but as
saults made upon parts Of 1t. The
edges will be nibbled at and the bor-
ders Of their good lame clipped away.
Someone says that "~so-and-so is a very
accomplished person." and we reply
that probably he knows 1t pretty
wellw This does not say that he is
proud or vain, but 1t comes so near to
1t that there Is no need to say II. II
another Is commended for his good
works we can add that doubtless he
has his own particular ends In view"
This does not say that he is n hypo-
critic, but 1t makes 1t unnecessary to
say 1t. And so 1t goes. Indeed the
truth about another may be spoken,
and yet in such a way as to come I'M
der the designation of evil speaking.
To reveal another's faults from n hurt
full motive is another illustration Of
what Is meant.
All Are Exposed to II.
One would think 1t would deter us
from evil speaking of another to re-
fleet how we ourselves are exposed to
the same danger. The Scripture says,
stake heed If We bite and devour one
another that We be not consumed one
Of another" 1t Is a game that two can
play at. The devil who lnstigated your
SANDER against your n~eighbor can EN-
ploy your neighbor to instigate n SINH
lar SANDER against you.
And then there is the other thought,
that when we search into the corners
of our life and ransack the garnet and
cellar of u corrupt nature, many
things may be found for occasion
against US MS well as others. AS Paul
said to the Galatians, IF n mar be
overtaken in n fault, We which are
spiritual restore such an one In the
spirit Of meekness, considering thyself
lest We also be tempted" In other
words shame for our sins should be q
covering for our brothers sins, and
recognition of our own weakness should
make us compassionate toward his.
We shall find that as we a being
evil listeners we lessen the temptation
to be evil speakers. All conversation
is kept up by exchange, and If one
brings you a story 1t will seem as In
civility not to repay him with an
other. Therefore If he accuses A.
you will condemn B and
thus 1t goes. The Scripture says
again, "Thou shalt not receive Q
false report" Here V where nine
tenths Of the trouble of evil speak
ing begins. Do not lend your ears tC
those who 60 about with tales ant
whisperings, and as you thus heal
fewer stories fewer will there be t
tell.
Keeping the Balance.
OF course there Is a prudent observa
ton Of each others conduct which
should be practiced by Christians ant
there may be n useful importation t.
each other Of what we have seen ant
known, not what we have heard OF
guessed. For s~elf-defense, for the sakt
Of justice, for the love Of others, l
may be necessary to proclaim our ties
timony. But this is not speaking evi
of one another for 1t Is done with al
honest purpose and q harmless mind.
AS William Cullen Bryant says:
Dear ties of mutual succor bind
The children Of our feeble race,
And, II our brethren were not kind.
This earth were but a weary place.
We lean on others as we walk.
LIES twilight path with pitfalls strewn
And 'twere. an idle boast to talk
OF treadihg that dim path alone!
In vain, however, does the Chris
tan preacher inveigh against a wron,
thing like this, or exhort to a righteou'
one, except as he points out the powe'
by which the one may be avoided ant
the other attained. That power Il
Jesus Christ. To the Christian, |. e.
the truly regenerated man, there shoul'
be no mystery In this. He should know
that IL he surrenders himself to tn,
Spirit of the Lord who dwells within
him. he will receive power to becom,
a child Of God in deed as well as II
name.
And to the man who is not a Chris
tian, the advice is practically the same
Let him accept Jesus Christ by faitl
rs his Savior and confess him as hi
Lord, and he will discover that he |
able not only to redeem him from tn
guilt Of sin, but keep him day by da.
from its power. Yes, even from 1t
power as expressed in an evil tongue.