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Cheerfulness With Sobriety, May 15
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips
shall be right things.
Proverbs 8:6
.
[
Early morning diary entry, July 12, 1897.
] I ask that the Holy Spirit
shall control my thoughts through the day. I plead for wisdom in judgment,
clearness of brain, and understanding, that I may see the treasures in the
Word of God and bring out the precious truth in the simplest language.
Thus did the greatest Teacher the world ever knew.
I feel more and more impressed with the greatness of the subject of the
Lord’s soon appearing in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.
This faith moves me greatly to observe due solemnity at all times and in
all places, but while I enjoin upon myself and others to be sober, they are
not to cherish sadness and gloom....
While we are not to be gloomy, but cheerful and happy, there is to be no
silliness, but a sobriety in harmony with our faith. Words and actions form
character. Therefore our words should be clean, pure, simple, yet elevated.
The gift of speech is a valuable talent, and the Lord has no pleasure in
hearing low, cheap, degrading nonsense which tastes strongly of vice and
revelry. No Christian should condescend to imitate and catch such habits
from another.... These evil, silly words are discordant notes and contribute
to the happiness of no one. They are a detriment to spirituality. The Word
of God forbids them.
“A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good
things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall
give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be
justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (
Matthew 12:35-37
).
“And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your
hearts?” (
Matthew 9:4
). Jesus reads the hearts and minds and thoughts....
There is a Witness present, tracing every word spoken and every act per-
formed, good or evil
[142]
19
Manuscript 174, 1897
.
144