Untitled article | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, November 12, 1867

LITTLE THINGS.

“He that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little.” Ecclesiasticus xix, 1.

Although this is not the declaration of an inspired writer, yet it is certainly the language of wisdom and experience, and is well worthy attentive consideration. If it had been asserted that he that despiseth small things shall fall suddenly and immediately, it might have been considered a more formidable threat. But in fact, the peril of a person of the disposition here described, is greatly increased by the gradual nature of his decline. No danger is greater than that which approaches us by imperceptible steps; since we are not then likely to place ourselves in the posture of defense. Thus, if all the ill consequences of a bad habit were experienced at the very commencement of it, there is scarcely any one so weak or so indulgent, but would summon strength of mind enough to break it off at the outset. Could a person but glance at the future extent and the massive strength of that chain which he is forming for himself, link by link, in every indulgence of an evil habit, he would instantly snap it asunder. But neither seeing this, nor believing the testimony made by the universal experience of others, he proceeds despising such small things, till his fall is inevitable and great.

Temptation in its earlier approaches, is comparatively weak; and a slight effort, a trifling sacrifice, would then be sufficient to overcome it. This is the time, the happy, the favorable opportunity; and he who sees the importance, or (if we might be allowed the expression) the magnitude of small things, will then conquer. With what keen remorse have such seasons been looked back upon by elderly persons now bound down by “twice ten thousand chains,” who lament in hardened impotence, that, when it would have been easy, when a trifling act of self denial, when a momentary deference to principle and conscience would have sufficed, they despised the small transgression and thus commenced their gradual but certain thraldom.

Observe this most affecting and lamentable sight, an old person in the slavery of sin; and inquire how he became so hopelessly enthralled; and he must confess it was by little and little. The declension was so gradual, that it is only by looking back to what he was, that he can tell how far he has fallen.

There was a time when he possessed sensibility, when he dreaded vice; when he felt a respect for moral excellence, and even desired to possess it. But despising small things, whether good or evil, he neglected those early movements of his mind toward goodness, as well as his trifling deviations from it, and thus became what he is.

It is very possible that persons of feeble characters, and possessed of no new strength or energy of mind, may under the influence of sudden excitement, make a noble sacrifice or resist a forcible temptation; but as it has been often remarked, greatness of mind is apparent on little rather than on great occasions. True magnanimity considers no duty too small to be punctually and properly discharged, no indulgence so trivial that it may be indolently yielded to.

In the management of the temper, on which our own comfort, as well as that of all around us, so much depends, nothing effective will be done but by a watchful attention to little things. The temper is oftener ruffled by slight provocations than by great and serious injuries. Now if because they are slight we think it not worth while to resist them; if we suffer a cloud to pass over the brow on every such occasion, the result will be, (for such occasions are of daily occurrence) that by little these clouds will gather and rest there. A morose or a fretful temper will be fixed upon us; and all power of self government will be lost. If on the contrary, a resolute determination had been made, at first, not to yield to these small and frequent invitations, this effort, continued day after day, would soon have strengthened into a good habit; rendering it not only pleasant but easy, ever after, to exercise forbearance, and to give the “soft answer that turneth away wrath.”

It is in small things that brotherly kindness and charity chiefly consist. Little attentions; trifling, but perpetual acts of self denial, a minute consultation of the wants and wishes, tastes and tempers of others; an imperceptible delicacy in avoiding what will give pain;—these are the small things that diffuse peace and love wherever they are exercised, and which outweigh a thousand acts of showy heroism. That which requires the greatest effort is the greatest charity; and it is beyond comparison a greater exertion to keep a daily and hourly watch and restraint upon ourselves for the sake of others, than to summon our whole stock of forbearance or benevolence once or twice in our lives, in order to perform some deeds of munificence, or to forgive a great injury. “Take up your cross daily,” our Lord says,—it is but a light one, indeed, but shall we on that account despise it?

The truth of the assertion contained in these words, might be illustrated in a great variety of instances. It is applicable, indeed, to all the evil courses and inveterate habits of wickedness and profaneness that disgrace society. Habits of profusion are commonly formed by thinking little of small indulgences, of trifling, but needless expenses. More fortunes have been squandered, by little and little, than by large and extravagant sums;—the aggregate of such expenses at the year’s end, or at seven years’ end, would surprise and alarm many a sanguine and uncalculating

spendthrift. Nor is it less true, that a covetous and miserly temper is formed by the same gradual process; by petty savings and little acts of meanness.

But that fall, which is at once the most frequent, and the most lamentable, is from the restraints of a religious education. This is a gradual and insensible decline generally. A young person who has been trained to the habit of private prayer is, on some occasion, tempted to omit it, it is but a small thing, he thinks to pass it but once; but another occasion, still more pressing, soon presents itself. The conscience, slightly as it was wounded in the first place, puts in a still feebler remonstrance now; and every time it occurs in future, its voice will become less distinct. In the mean time other religious duties will be neglected in the same proportion. Thus, by little and little, the conscience becomes insensible, till the individual has fallen so far as to live without calling upon God, and to forget the value of the soul. And all this chiefly arises from the delusion of supposing that the little temptation, to which we yield to-day, we shall have more strength or more willingness, to resist to-morrow, a supposition which is directly the reverse of the truth, and contrary to universal observation and experience.

There can be no appearance more hopeful and promising in childhood and youth than a tenderness of conscience respecting small things! A child who is never inclined to plead excuses for what is known to be wrong, by saying, “Is it not a little one?” who resists an improper thought, forbids a hasty word, who fears the slightest deviation from the truth, bids fair to rise, by gradual, but certain steps, to true excellence.

But whatever may be our view of the subject, it is certain that God does not, in any sense, contemn small things. He looks at motives more than at actions; at thoughts more than at words; and by these we shall be judged. And let us be thankful that “He does not despise the day of small things;”—the bruised reed, the smoking flax, the grain of mustard seed, the little leaven;—over these small beginnings he watches with patient and gracious care, till, by little and little they attain to perfection.—Contributions of 22, by the late Jane Taylor.