p. 140 | Untitled article by Ellet Joseph Waggoner

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, August 13, 1867

THE EFFECT—“HE GOT MAD.”

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

I HAVE been acquainted with some professors of the truth who are always ready to talk in its favor (and such generally do nothing in its favor but talk), who often boast of their success in advocating its claims. Their opponents cannot stand a moment before them; and their uniform testimony is that after talking a little while with a man he gets mad and leaves them. To get their opponents real mad seems in their minds to indicate a complete triumph. But what good has been accomplished? Has the truth triumphed? No; the truth only triumphs when men yield to its claims, and the love of God is shed abroad in their hearts. The only victory in such cases is a triumph of selfishness, and the gratification of a contentious spirit. If such persons had even a little judgment, they would know that they would serve the cause of truth far better by holding their peace, and letting their neighbors alone. What would the same persons think of the success of our ministers if their preachers had no other effect than to make the hearers mad? There are some foolish and unreasonable men who have no more sense than to meet argument with anger; but they are not met with every day, and the man who has prudence enough to be trusted to advocate the truth will have discretion enough to leave them before they get very angry. This self-conceited style of talking the truth which stirs up a spirit of strife and contention is a great evil in some places. It begets prejudice, and shuts up minds against the claims of God's word. The Scriptures say we should “study to be quiet,” and I recommend this text to those whose friends and neighbors are apt to get angry at their conversation.

J. H. WAGGONER.