MODEST DEPARTMENT

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 24, 1869

MODEST DEPARTMENT.

This is by no means prevalent in the world at the present time. Yet nothing is better adapted to adorn real worth, and nothing so well calculated to excuse ignorance and mistakes. But modesty is not at all in accordance with the spirit of the age. Even the female sex is no exception to the statement that modesty of deportment is exceedingly rare in the world. We are from time to time startled with the announcement of the violation of the seventh commandment. We cannot, in such cases, deny the villainy of the men who commit these deeds, nor have we any disposition to palliate the enormity of their crime. But something must be said on the other side. The men who commit such deeds are not devoid of sharp discernment of character. They are not slow to decide who are those that can be made their victims. And it must be said that the deportment of many who really mean no evil is precisely adapted to encourage the advances of these agents of the Devil. In a very great number of cases it is true that the success of these wicked men is due to the forwardness, and lack of reserve, and want of real modesty, in those who become their victims.

Let us see if there cannot be a change. It is not enough that no evil is intended. God's word forbids even the appearance of evil. It is easier to shun sin than it is to repent of it. We are never to suppose that we may not fall as others have fallen. Keep at a distance from sin. Stand upon your guard. Let your deportment be such as to show that you are not to be trifled with. Keep on your own ground. While you stand there, the danger of such assaults will be small indeed. It is time to cease inviting the attacks of the

Devil. Genuine modesty, and becoming reserve, are barriers against the approach of the destroyer. If there were more of these, there would be less of shameful sin.