Your ShelfYour Projects

VARIOUS MATTERS

14%

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 2, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 31, No. 24.

Read the full edition

VARIOUS MATTERS.

By Jos. Clarke

Beauty is enhanced by humility, and condescension, and appreciation of others' talents; so mental endowments are made acceptable by forgetfulness of self, and a seeming forgetfulness of, and inattention to, your own superiority, if you have it, which will not, or need not, detract at all from your true standard of decorum and dignity.
He who very highly values and appreciates himself, will soon have the sole monopoly of this branch of business; while he who appreciates others, is sure to be appreciated by his associates.
People sometimes say of a highly gifted and cultivated mind, that such a person is smart; would it not be better to say, he is gifted, or talented. We say of a nimble horse, he is a smart horse; thus limiting this word to physical abilities; as we say of a good, faithful, capable work-hand, that he is smart to work; while we should say of mental powers, thus: he is an able statesman; an eloquent speaker; a talented author; a gifted orator; and thus reserve the word smart, for the activity or nimbleness and strength of the physical powers. We need this word for this purpose, while to apply it to mental endowments is unbecoming and incorrect, as it introduces confusion of terms.
Wandering thoughts may often be disposed of by making them (each one in particular) subjects of secret-prayer. If they are cares, cast them as burdens upon the Lord; if sinful thoughts, repent of them; if of a doubtful character, and we can get rid of them in no other way, present them, in particular, as such to God for his direction; thus, if Satan is the cause, he is foiled, if not, we are free.
Sometimes God gives to leaders and king, dreams of a public nature and interest; but this does not prove that every dream of the obscure person is invested with importance to all. Even if God condescends to help the lonely one by a dream, it should be a question whether it would be as edifying to all, especially if the dreamer is a little vain. Dreams are as various as our thoughts, and we distinguish the wise man from the fool by this: the wise man culls his words from his thoughts, while the fool tells them all; so of dreams.
JOS. CLARKE.