A FEW LINES by ANGELIA J. EDMUNDS.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 7, 1867

A FEW LINES

By ANGELIA J. EDMUNDS.

For the Consideration of those who desire to be Christians.

We learn from the second chapter of James that “Faith without works is dead,” and the sacred writer teaches in the next chapter that we cannot be true Christians having much faith and good works, unless our conversation be ordered aright. “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.”

Let us see to it that we have a right feeling in our hearts toward our brethren and sisters when we attempt to add to knowledge temperance. The wisdom ye have descendeth not from above, “that is earthly, sensual, devilish,” “if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts. Glory not and lie not against the truth.” “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” If you have aught against a brother, or if you feel that a brother have aught against you, go in a humble manner and be reconciled, then come and offer thy gift. Attempt not to pray with a feeling of bitterness in your hearts. It will do you no good. Ask for strength to do duty. Jesus has clearly pointed out the way. “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” We must commence with the heart; for “from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.”

It is possible for us to become holy; but we cannot in our own strength. “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot,” that has been spilled for us on Calvary’s height, and now is being offered in the most holy place before his Father for poor sinners, we may, if we look with faith to him, become pure in heart, “laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings.”

We must be holy in all manner of conversation both at home and abroad. “Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord,” and while at home about your work, “speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord.”

I remember reading when I was quite small, about a father that told his children always to commence singing so soon as there was the least feeling of contention in their midst. This antidote worked like a charm. They could not sing and be angry at the same time. Let every family try it.

“Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” What a pleasant way for young folks who feel happy to spend a few hours together; but let them say in their hearts, “I will sing with the Spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” Especially should the young watch and be sober. The prevailing spirit of the day is to make light all “manner of conversation.” They seem to forget that Jesus said “Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” It is in these days as it was in the days of Lot, who was “vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked; for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.” Paul says, “But fornication, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks.” “Young men likewise exhort to be soberminded, in all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works; in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”

Can it be said that we use “sound speech” when every now and then some foolish by-word escapes our lips? “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Some young persons may say, When we are with unbelievers must we keep still and say nothing? You may find an answer in Col. iv. “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” “Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” “Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost its savor wherewith shall it be salted?”

My young friends, if there is danger of the salt losing its savor, go to your secret place where none but God can hear, three times a day if need be, and plead with Jesus for a new supply. He will not turn you empty away; but your Father who seeth in secret will reward thee openly.

Some of the young are looking to older ones. They say, “Bro. — jokes.” Perhaps the brother fills some responsible place in the church and should set a better example, or the blood of souls will be found on his garments in the last day. Oh! solemn thought! I would say to that young person, Let others do as they may, there is no excuse for you. Jesus is our pattern. “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

“Likewise ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives, while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.”

To all I would say, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised; and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.” “Look up and rejoice knowing that your redemption draweth nigh.” Jesus is soon coming. Happy thought! Then, dear Christian, there will be no more trials and temptations; no more sighing, no more tears shed by you. When this earth is renewed, when she puts on her robes of Eden beauty, oh! how happy we shall be together roving over its extended plains without a thought of parting to shade the smiling brow! “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God.” “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot, and blameless.”

ANGELIA J. EDMUNDS.

Ann Arbor, Mich.