OUR WORDS by E. J. Burnham

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 14, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 24.

OUR WORDS.

By E. J. Burnham

"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh," says our Saviour. Matt. 12:34. James compares the heart to a fountain, and the words to a stream that issues from it. He asks, "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?" Chap. 3:11. So, then, the words are an indication of the character; for they show what is in the heart. If "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance," dwell there, the words will show it; if the heart is "like the troubled sea, when it can not rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt," this, too, will appear in the words.

Judging people by their words, what a variety of characters we meet. There are talkers of the type of—

"Iagoo, the great boaster, He the marvelous story-teller."

The writer knew one of this class, a soldier in the ranks, who was fond of telling how, just on the eve of an important battle, a major-general came down the line of the company tents, inquiring for private Blank; and the major-general actually spent two hours discussing the military situation with this soldier who had worn Uncle Sam's uniform but a very few weeks. The hallucination deceived no one, and the conceit made the soldier better disposed toward himself. But that is the way with the boaster. He is a hero in his own eyes; and it is evident that self is very dear to him, and has a large place in his heart.

Then there is the inveterate talker, the individual who goes into no end of tiresome

details in relating incidents of no possible interest. One can not help wondering that he can talk so much and say so little. But tho he may waste time and patience, he is often well-meaning and kindly, and he is certainly a far more pleasant person to have around than one who is sullen and sulky.

The gossip seems to have an itching ear for news, and a burning desire to be the first to tell it. He prys into everything, and repeats everything he hears, seeming quite unconscious of the harm he may be doing. He may not be really malicious, but he likes to make a sensation, and so a scandal is a choice morsel under his tongue. The inveterate talker and the gossip seem to desire "to make talk" and be entertaining. It is pretty certain that trivialities occupy the minds of both.

Still worse is the malicious gossip. Wo to the man, woman, or child whose character passes under his dissecting-knife. The pain he may cause, the harm he may do, will never deter him from telling all he knows or imagines, that may injure another. If he would stop with what he knows, it would generally not be so bad. The faults of his near friends give him great pain, no doubt; but he will often discuss them with a gusto that indicates a sincere relish. Try it, tho, and you will find that he does not like scandals or harsh criticisms that touch those who are really "nearest and dearest;" so it is not pure unselfish love that speaks from the heart in detraction. Whatever his profession, the gossip does not love as himself the one whose character he blackens, and it is not the charity that "thinketh no evil," that leads him to confess his neighbor's faults and sins behind his back.

There are some people who seem to think they ought to contradict every remark that does not strike them just right, and they conscientiously do this duty. Truly wonderful are their resources for showing that anything they take exceptions to is impossible, unreasonable, or absurd. They have been known to flatly contradict a statement made by "one who was there," in no way deterred or embarrassed by the fact they had no personal knowledge of the things whereof they spoke. Such persons can hardly be said to obey the apostle's injunction to be "gentle, showing all meekness unto all men." If they believe that the narrator of some incident either lies or "don't know what he is talking about," they would hardly be held guilty of dissembling if they were politely to say nothing.

Another unpleasant companion is the one who always has some misfortune to relate. Any true, warm-hearted man or woman will delight to give sympathy, and aid if possible, to those in trial and affliction; but there are many who morbidly dwell on the dark side of things, and who overwork the command, "Bear ye one another's burdens." We can hardly believe that joy and peace reign in their hearts, or that they have learned the sweet lesson that "godliness with contentment is great gain."

Some may think that where the singular pronoun has been used to represent "talker" or "gossip," it should be "she," and not "he." Very well, friends; read it that way if you like; but observation has convinced the writer that neither sex has the monopoly of the talking business. Men take as great an interest in their neighbors' affairs as women do, and are as fond of discussing them. And of all these talkers, except the hopelessly bad, no doubt Burns' words are appropriate:—

"O wad some power the giftie gie us To see oursel's as ithers see us, It wad frae mony a blunder free us, And foolish notion."

In conversation, as in everything else, Jesus is our Example, and of Him it was said prophetically, "Grace is poured into Thy lips." Ps. 45:2. He denounced the priests and scribes who were false to their trust as religious teachers, and were misleading the people; but He received the repenting sinner with tender, loving forgiveness. He reproved Peter, James, and John when they manifested a spirit that, because of the influence it might exert, could not be silently tolerated; but in His daily life with His disciples He was patient and forbearing, and not even the thieving Judas was betrayed to his fellow disciples.

Jesus did not guide His hearers into the right way by reproaches and criticism; but by His life and teaching He placed before them the beauty of holiness. John, who was with Him through all His ministry, testified: "He dwelt among us, . . . full of grace and truth." What winning, gracious sweetness, what loving tact, what tender sympathy, do these words suggest. Grace was poured into His lips because in His heart "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness," held undisputed sway. He was "full of grace and truth" because He was one with the Father, and reflected His glory.

Because the words are an index of character, because they show what is in the heart, they will have due weight in deciding our final destiny. The Saviour says, "By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Matt. 12:37. But if we will seek grace and wisdom where He found them, our words will not condemn us in the judgment.

E. J. BURNHAM. Troy, Pa.