p. 141 | Our Words by Jesse Dorcas

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 3, 1866

Our Words.

By Jesse Dorcas

How important are our words. They may be made instruments of life or death. Hence the Saviour's timely caution, or declaration: “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.” Then how careful we should be, that our words be not of a character that shall “eat as doth a canker,” but gracious words whereby we may edify each other. It is said of the Saviour, “They wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth.” He is our example. Oh that we might at all times be mindful of the injunction, “So speak ye and so do as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” The apostle says, “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man.”

It is said of some that shall live in the last days, “Your words have been stout against me saith the Lord,” while of another class, it is said, “Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another.” With this agrees also the admonition of the apostle, to exhort one another daily. The Lord has given words, whereby his people may comfort one another. Do we feel our lack of wisdom, let us “ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not.” To do this, we are encouraged by the words of the prophet; Isa. l, 4. “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary.” It is also written, “The preacher sought to find out acceptable words, (or words of delight, margin).” Though no one is justifiable in the use of “flattering words,” yet our words should be kind on all occasions. It is said,

“Charity is decent, modest, easy, kind, Softens the high, and rears the abject mind; Knows with just reins, and gentle hand, to guide Between vile shame, and arbitrary pride. Not soon provoked, she easily forgives; And much she suffers, as she much believes. Soft peace she brings wherever she arrives; She builds our quiet as she forms our lives; Lays the rough paths of peevish nature even; And opens in each heart a little Heaven.”

And yet, at times it may be necessary that the “words of the wise man be as goads,” and though they may not set well for the present, but be grievous, yet when it is seen that “they come as from one Shepherd” and are received in meekness and humility, they cannot fail to do good in the end.

So clearly is it understood even by the world, that our words are a just criterion by which to be judged, that the Lord said, “Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” There is truth in the words of the prophet, that “a man shall be made an offender for a word.” Let us labor therefore, to have the fountain of our words so cleansed, that the stream may also be pure. JESSE DORCAS.