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TALE BEARERS

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 7, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 31, No. 17.

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TALE BEARERS.

By N. Fuller

“Do not say so before her for she will go and tell of it,” said one member of a family to another in a low tone of voice. I soon learned they were speaking of another member of the family. Go and tell of it? said I. “Yes,” was the reply. What for, I inquired. For no special reason, but it is nature. The family in which she was raised will tell all they know of each other’s wrongs, if it should destroy them. Poor, unfortunate family, that has even one such member. A thief would steal, but you can lock against him. An assassin would murder, but you can confront him. A counterfeiter would take your money for naught, but you can detect him.
But the talebearer can only have his wickedness silenced by the bolts of death. No class of persons are so much to be dreaded as they. If one class of sinners deserve the frown of Heaven more than another, it is they. If the Devil loves one class of his emissaries more than another, it is they. He has some jobs that he would blush to do himself, but they step forward undaunted, and offer their service. Perhaps it is to tell something that would injure father or mother, brother or sister, or the cause of God deeply; they can do it without blushing. They are looked upon with suspicion, and their presence is dreaded by all that know them.
Would you take a scorpion into your bosom? Just as soon as take a talebearer into your family. Would you take a beast into your garden raving with hydrophobia? Just as soon as take a talebearer into the church. He will bite all in reach. Would you plant a garden of upas trees around your dwelling? Just as soon as try to settle a talebearer in your neighborhood.
Unless you have much of the grace of God, it is dangerous to invite one to your dwelling. They will poison your soul. Do not in the least degree encourage this Heaven-daring sin. Just one of them would destroy the happiness of all Heaven. It has been tried, and the consequence was, he and all that sympathized with him had to be turned out. No others will ever be permitted to enter. N. FULLER.