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The Voice in Speech and Song
yet you may place a burden upon someone else, far outweighing the
advantage you think you will gain. It is hard to heal the wounds caused
by harsh words.
Often you may preserve peace by guarding the tongue. Never
introduce into your conversation matters that will create strife, hurting
your own soul and the souls of others.—
Manuscript 60, 1903
.
Hasty, Impatient Speech—In the use of language there is perhaps
no error that old and young are more ready to pass over lightly in
themselves than hasty, impatient speech. They think it a sufficient
excuse to plead, “I was off my guard, and did not really mean what
I said.” But God’s Word does not treat it lightly. The Scripture says:
“Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a
fool than of him.”
Proverbs 29:20
. “He that hath no rule over his own
spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”
Proverbs
[144]
25:28
.
In one moment, by the hasty, passionate, careless tongue, may
be wrought evil that a whole lifetime’s repentance cannot undo. Oh,
the hearts that are broken, the friends estranged, the lives wrecked,
by the harsh, hasty words of those who might have brought help and
healing!—
Education, 236, 237
.
A Well-Regulated Temper—It is the “soft answer” which “tur-
neth away wrath.” Revenge has never conquered a foe. A well-
regulated temper exerts a good influence on all around; but “he that
hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and
without walls.”—
Testimonies for the Church 4:367, 368
.
Tirades and Swearing—A large share of life’s happiness is de-
pendent upon our manners and actions toward others. The sharp word
must be left unspoken. The passionate words must be quenched in the
love of Jesus Christ; for if this dross is not cleansed from the soul, there
is no hope of eternal life. The selfish temper, and tirade of passionate
words is placed in the same dark list with swearing.—Lt 6a, 1893.
Evil Thinking and Speaking—There is nothing Christ needs so
much as agents who feel the necessity of representing Him. Evils-
peaking and evil-thinking are ruinous to the soul.—
Manuscript 8a,
1888
.
No Words of Irritation—God desires your words to be life-
giving. Not a word of irritation is to be spoken. However provoked you
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may feel, keep back every word that would stir up the evil in another