No Corrupt Communication.
By Mrs. M. J. Bahler
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Eph. 4:29, 30. I CANNOT help wondering sometimes if some who profess to love God and represent the life of Christ, know that there are such words as these in the Bible. And it seems to me it might be well if those words of holy admonition could be placed in illuminated text in every home, thereby if possible to check the retailer of news so corrupt that it can never minister grace to the hearers in even the smallest measure. It would be better, I grant, could we all have them graven upon our hearts and illuminated by God's Holy Spirit. Not long since I met a stranger. She was earnest and zealous for the cause of Christ, but we had not continued in conversation ten minutes when my heart was sickened by a recital of news which made me wish I could have guessed the horrid repast which was to be placed before me, guessed at it just enough to have remained a stranger. I could but think of the words of Paul, "For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret." Is it any less a shame now to speak of the corrupt actions of wicked men than it was in Paul's day? The cheek is made to burn with the blush of shame in some places at the things which are done openly in public. Then, oh, for pity's sake do not serve up to your listeners a dish of the carrion of some sickening, secret horror! If you love to feast on such things because they are evidences of the world's filling up its measure of iniquity, then take your feast alone, I beg of you. There is evidence enough in public without the details of something of which Paul would tell you it is a shame even to speak. Besides, do not you remember that by "beholding we become changed"? This is just as true one way as the other. If we would become like Christ, let the mind dwell upon his life. If we wish God's righteous character to become ours, we must study to know what that character is. Let the mind feast on purity, and it will become pure. Let it feed upon scenes of impurity and, although at first they sicken it, if these scenes are tolerated, the mind will become changed. The poison will be absorbed, and this is why Paul says again, "If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." And Peter exhorts thus:— "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance; but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation." 1 Peter 1:13-15. Do not let the mind run loose upon any and every subject that may be presented. And if circumstances are such that you cannot avoid a knowledge of the existence of some soul-harrowing crime, do not, please do not, defile yourself by becoming a channel through which it shall be conveyed to others. Put away its memory as quickly as possible by a vigorous effort of the will, and say to yourself, I will not be a medium to transmit to others a knowledge of things of which "it is a shame even to speak." Oh, would that we could realize the foul influence of this by far too prevalent habit! I have only touched upon its worst feature. It broadens and branches, and sends its poisonous miasma everywhere. "By beholding we become changed"—changed like unto that we behold. Alas! could we know the cause of the first deviations from right in the lives of hundreds around us, we should find that it was in beholding sin—looking upon it instead of turning away. If you are a moral vulture and love to feast upon putrid characters and loathsome acts, do not bring your sickening carcasses to my door. Do not take them to any one. Feed upon them if you will, but feast in solitude until you are joined by others who may relish your chosen food and join you of their own will.