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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
good days? yet how few comply with the conditions, to refrain the
tongue from evil and the lips from speaking guile. Few are willing to
follow the Saviour’s example of meekness and humility. Many ask
the Lord to humble them, but are unwilling to submit to the needful
discipline. When the test comes, when trials or even annoyances occur,
the heart rebels, and the tongue utters words that are like poisoned
arrows or blasting hail.
Evilspeaking is a twofold curse, falling more heavily upon the
speaker than upon the hearer. He who scatters the seeds of dissension
and strife reaps in his own soul the deadly fruits. How miserable is the
talebearer, the surmiser of evil! He is a stranger to true happiness.
“Blessed are the peacemakers.” Grace and peace rest upon those
who refuse to join in the strife of tongues. When vendors of scandal
are passing from family to family, those who fear God will be chaste
keepers at home. The time that is so often worse than wasted in idle,
frivolous, and malicious gossip should be given to higher and nobler
objects. If our brethren and sisters would become missionaries for
God, visiting the sick and afflicted, and laboring patiently and kindly
for the erring,—in short, if they would copy the Pattern,—the church
would have prosperity in all her borders.
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The sin of evilspeaking begins with the cherishing of evil thoughts.
Guile includes impurity in all its forms. An impure thought tolerated,
an unholy desire cherished, and the soul is contaminated, its integrity
compromised. “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:
and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” If we would not
commit sin, we must shun its very beginnings. Every emotion and
desire must be held in subjection to reason and conscience. Every
unholy thought must be instantly repelled. To your closet, followers
of Christ. Pray in faith and with all the heart. Satan is watching to
ensnare your feet. You must have help from above if you would escape
his devices.
By faith and prayer all may meet the requirements of the gospel. No
man can be forced to transgress. His own consent must be first gained;
the soul must purpose the sinful act before passion can dominate over
reason or iniquity triumph over conscience. Temptation, however
strong, is never an excuse for sin. “The eyes of the Lord are over the
righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers.” Cry unto the Lord,
tempted soul. Cast yourself, helpless, unworthy, upon Jesus, and claim