p. 1 | Speak Boldly

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 25, 1876

FromThe Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 21.

Speak Boldly.

The armies of the living God need brave, bold words—words as tender as love, but sharp as drawn swords. It is for the leaders to utter them in trenchant kindness. Soldiers fight well when well led. Hannibal once said he had rather have an army of stags governed by lions, than an army of lions governed by stags. Away with pusillanimity! The path of duty has no place for fear. “Woe to thee, O land, where thy king is a child.” “The Lord is a man of war,” and “Great Heart” is his general. Courage, ye timid souls! To the front, and in God’s strength bear the fiercest blows. “We can’t,” said ten cowardly spies. “We can,” cried two brave hearts. The counsel of the brave prevailed; Israel took the land. “Impossible is the adjective of fools,” said Napoleon Bonaparte to one who betrayed lack of courage. It certainly is when the eternal God bids men do a brave thing. Use brave words, then, and carry brave souls. Of John Knox it was said, “He never feared the face of clay.” Why need we? We have his God. Of Luther it was recorded that “his words were half battles.” Engirded with truth, encompassed with Omnipotent arms, the true reformer should be as Jeremiah, “a brazen wall, a defensed city, an iron pillar.” It is God who says, “Be not dismayed.” Therefore, “be strong and show thyself a man.”

“And if thou hast truth to utter, Speak! and leave the rest to God.” —D. T. Taylor, in Bible Banner.