The Evil of Loose Tongues
Loose tongues “gadding abroad,” in professors of religion, are ever to be bemoaned by all well-wishers of the church of Christ. They are hornet’s nests, which ought to be destroyed at all hazards. This matter is so pitifully touched off by the editor of the Morning Star, in a paper on purging out the old leaves, that we cannot forbear giving our readers the pleasure, and may-be the profit, of reading it. He says: “Some Christians have lawless tongues. They pray well, talk well, are in many things very good, but their tongue is very unruly. The imperfections of the whole neighborhood are treasured and repeated. They rattle away at all hours, under all circumstances, to all people. Regular picking machines they are, sharp, relentless, vigilant. And they make a conscience of it, too. ‘We are open-hearted,’ ‘we must be honest,’ ‘we must speak right, and just what we think,’ ‘we are no hypocrites,’ ‘we are very sorry, but we must tell the truth,’ they say, and then let loose hailstones and coals of fire. This tendency in them is their nature, habit, and passion, and it will cost them a battle to subdue it. But what a scandal they bring upon the gospel! How they dishonor Christ! They do more hurt than a score of infidels.—Sel.