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The Tongue

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 15, 1907

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 33.

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The Tongue

By Mrs. M. C. Du Bois

MRS. M. C. DU BOIS
Have you ever thought of the power there is in that little boneless member we call the tongue? What says the Word of God of this member?
“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. . . . And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body; and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. “For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: but the tongue can no man tame, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” James 3:5-10.
What a terrible picture is this! The tongue, though so small—what terrible work it can do! Man can do many wonderful things, but the taming of the human tongue is beyond his boasted power.
“The tongue is a fire.” Who has not felt the scorching blast from a fiery tongue, burning with its cruel words to the very heart’s core!
“An unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” Who has not felt the power of an unruly tongue, and this, too, from one professing to love God.
“My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” Who of us is not guilty before God because of the improper use of the tongue?
Only the power of God can tame this fiery little member of our body. Shall we let him subdue this unruly member, and remove the venom from it?
“The boneless tongue, so small, so weak, Can crush and kill,” declares the Greek.
“The tongue destroys a greater horde,” The Turks assert, “than does the sword.”
The Persian proverb wisely saith, “A lengthy tongue, an early death;” Or sometimes takes this form instead, “Don’t let your tongue cut off your head.” “The tongue can speak a word whose speed,” Says the Chinese, “outstrips the steed;”
While Arab sages this impart: “The tongue’s great storehouse is the heart.”
From Hebrew writ this saying sprung, “Though feet should slip, ne’er let the tongue.”
The sacred writer crowns the whole, “Who keeps his tongue, doth keep his soul.”
Grand Ledge, Mich.