RELIGIOUS ITEMS | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 13, 1879

RELIGIOUS ITEMS.

A CONTINUAL view of our own sinfulness, and weakness, and dependence has a tendency to humility and tenderness of heart; but a constant dwelling upon the sins and weaknesses of others has a tendency toward pride and hardness of heart.

It is not a good plan for too many of the same family to locate in one neighborhood. They often, by this means, stereotype old family peculiarities, which would probably be smoothed down and worn away by contact with strangers; or, if powerful, they form a clique which is sure to fall into a narrow channel; or, in other cases, they shut themselves out from the world at large, and form to themselves a little circle so very peculiar that it has no charms for those whose views of social and moral life are formed on a broader basis.

A general knowledge of the world and its history is very important in judging of human nature. But general knowledge alone is not sufficient; a particular and critical knowledge of one's own heart, will cause us to be cautious, and exact, and charitable in our views of our fellow-men. JOSEPH CLARKE.