A Word fitly Spoken

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 20, 1871

A Word fitly Spoken.

THE following incident shows the importance of speaking a word in season for Christ. “A word fitly spoken, how good it is!” How it fastens itself upon the conscience and heart, and brings forth fruit in due season!

More than fifteen years ago, when called to watch with an old gentleman, eighty-two years of age, who had been a devoted Christian more than fifty years, who was totally blind, and suffering constantly with intense pain, I found him patiently bearing all, leaning on Christ. I was about sixteen years old, and as I entered the room, the lady introducing me, he said: “I want to take your hand in mine. And so you have come to sit up with me. I should think by your hand that you must be a young man. I want to talk with you more by-and-by.”

When the family had retired, he asked me to place my hand again in his, and said, “I want to ask you a few questions. Are you a Christian?” I thought I must answer honestly, and I said: “No!” “Do you mean to be sometime?” “Yes!” “Well, then, what are you waiting for?” I was speechless. But the questions were daily in my mind until I gave my heart to Christ.—Sel.

ARE we not tempted all to think more of a strict outward observance of our religious duties, than of deep, inward, hourly communion with Christ?

THE sinner’s way of pleasure is far from being everlasting, for even here the wine-cup of sin first yields the sweetness of intoxication, afterwards it becomes insipid with satiety, after that it grows bitter with remorse, and as for the dregs thereof, what a hell burns within them!”

CONSCIENCE is a judge placed in the interior of our being.

No PERSON ever got stung by hornets, who kept away from where they were. It is so with habits.