UNCHASTE CONVERSATION by Eliza H. Morton

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 31, 1876

UNCHASTE CONVERSATION.

By Eliza H. Morton

Few are aware to what an alarming extent unchaste conversation prevails in the world, especially among the young. Being a teacher, I have had many opportunities of knowing the extent of this evil, and of raising my voice against it. I have been shocked at the knowledge of sin manifested, and the obscene language used, by even the smallest children in our common schools.

Many people think it no harm to talk about the sinful deeds and acts committed by their neighbors; and so they get together and talk, and laugh, and joke, about those things which Paul says “ought not to be mentioned by those professing godliness.”

The mind is the seat of all sin. Keep the mind full of licentious images, and the animal passions gain strength and clamor for indulgence. Impure thoughts lead to impure words; and impure words, to impure acts. No person changes from purity and holiness to depravity, corruption, and crime, in a moment. The work is gradual, and takes time. The mind becomes debased by encouraging the constant presence of low, vulgar thoughts, and the sin which was once loathsome becomes pleasant.

No one can take “coals in his bosom and not be burned,” no more can an individual associate with the sensualist and not be influenced to evil. Many virtuous youths have been led into the path of the libertine by indulging in impure conversation. Although at first such conversation shocked the finer sensibilities of their souls and caused a feeling of disgust to creep over them, yet by degrees these feelings wore off, lustful passions took their place, their natures became low and sensual, and ruin of body and soul was the result.

Human language is not forcible enough to picture the misery, woe, and unhappiness caused by unchaste conversation. It leads to a sin which the Bible rebukes in language of the greatest detestation, and which it frequently and earnestly admonishes men to loathe and abhor.

In this generation, unchastity is the prevailing sin; and those who would be pure must resolutely shut their eyes and close their ears against that knowledge which leaves a stain upon the soul. The only safety for any one is in diligently seeking that wisdom which comes from above, that will destroy all desire for corrupt knowledge, raise men from the lowest depths of sin and degradation, and elevate them to unfading beauty and purity in the paradise of God. ELIZA H. MORTON.

Allan’s Corner, Me.