p. 123 | They Say

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 31, 1874

They Say.

WELL, what if they do? It may not be true. A great many false reports are circulated, and the reputation of a good man may be sadly sullied by a baseless rumor. Have you any reason to believe that what they say about your brother is true? If not, why should you permit your name to be included among the “they” who circulate a scandal?

They say—Who says? Is any person responsible for the assertion? Such phrases are frequently used to conceal the point of an enemy’s poniard who thus meanly strikes one whom he dare not openly assail. Are you helping the cowardly attack? If “they” means nobody, then regard the rumor as nothing. They say—Why do they say so? Is any good purpose secured by the circulation of the report? Will it benefit the individual to have it known? or will any interests of society be promoted by whispering it about? If not, you had better employ time and speech to some more worthy purpose. They say—To whom do they say it? To those who have no business with the affair? To those who cannot help it, or mend it, or prevent any unpleasant results? That certainly shows a tattling, scandal-loving spirit that ought to be rebuked.

They say—Well, do they say it to him? or are they very careful to whisper it in places where he cannot hear, and to persons who are known not to be his friends? Would they dare to say it to him, as well as about him? No one has a right to say that concerning another which he is not ready to speak in his own ear. They say—Well, suppose it is true, are you sorry for it? or do you rejoice that a brother has been discovered erring? Oh! pity him if he has fallen into sin, and pray for him that he may be forgiven and restored. If it should be true, don’t bruit it abroad to his injury. It will not benefit you, nor him, nor society, to publish his faults. You are as liable to be slandered, or err, as your brother; and as ye would that he should defend or excuse or forgive you, do you even so to him.

Remember thy follies, thy sins, and thy crimes, How vast is that infinite debt; Yet mercy hath seven by seventy times Been swift to forgive and forget. —Sel.