p. 83 | Brief Thoughts by Jos. Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 1, 1870

Brief Thoughts.

By Jos. Clarke

WHEN we consider the great advantages to be gained by prayer, by meditation, by reading the word of God, by doing the will of God, it seems wonderful that all do not practice each of these things, to their fullest extent.

Christ says, Go, work in my vineyard. He has no drones in his hive: if you would prove yourself his, harness yourself for work.

You are severely stung, when one whom you have signally helped, plays a double, a traitor's part with you; does not God feel when you play this wicked game before him?

Of all who possess the principle of love to God, no one knows the strength, or the weakness of this principle, in himself, until it is tested.

Children and uneducated people sometimes misunderstand you; therefore be very explicit, lest you lose your labor.

Very great events require longer notice than less important ones; cease then to wonder at the echoes from century to century, of the coming advent.

No lunatic is more beside himself in his peculiar way, than the world are upon spiritual matters.

God's people are a discerning people; if you would help to call them out of Babylon, you must be a child of God in every sense of the word, or they will suspect and avoid you.

If you would be useful to the extent of your ability, consecrate all; then act yourself. Do not assume the style of another, however faultless he may be: a genuine human face, however homely, is infinitely better than the most beautiful mask.

Envy singles out the most precious gems for its objects of attack.

He who does wrong because he is suspected of wrong, adds silliness to guilt.

Men would see the evil of Satan’s deception, if he would attempt to pervert a mathematical principle, or introduce confusion on questions of commerce. But his perversions of theological principles are unnoticed, because present selfish interests do not apparently suffer by them; thus they pass unnoticed until they become respectable from age; then these perversions become venerable.

It often happens, that men's severest hardships, trials, and privations, become their stepping-stones to improvement and usefulness.

Paul feared lest he might become a castaway; this was a wholesome fear, stimulating him to exertion: not a dread of falling, causing unsteadiness and precipitation.

A very bad idea may be expressed in a beautiful handwriting, or a very good idea may be indicated through a very bad handwriting. So of character; a polished exterior may cover a vile heart, and vice versa; yet this does not excuse a neglect of penmanship, nor does it discourage good manners.

Guilt creates uneasiness and nervous irritation, while innocence quiets the nerves, and gives an invitation to the angel of peace.

A corrupt heart retains evil, and rejects good, thus cursing the memory; while a pure heart retains the good and rejects the bad, thus blasting the memory. This principle accounts for the fact, that Christianity is, and always has been, intelligent; while irreligion has always tended to ignorance and poverty.

JOS. CLARKE.