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EVIL SPEAKING

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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 2, 1858

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 13, No. 2.

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EVIL SPEAKING.

By M. E. Cornell

HARD sayings against the law of God and those who keep it, are becoming more and more prevalent every day. It is a prominent sign of the times. A minister, in my hearing yesterday, called those who teach the present truth, “blasphemers,” “railers,” “liars,” “infidels,” &c., and said they did not know enough to comprehend truth, professed to be angels of God, with many other things equally cruel and false. But we are advertised of such a state of things in the last days, and we must not think it strange concerning the fiery trial that is to try us. The apostle Paul describes the perils of the last days, that there shall be “false accusers,” “despisors of those that are good,” &c., and Peter says, “the way of truth shall be evil spoken of,” “they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities,” “speak evil of the things they understand not.” “They speak great swelling words of vanity.” “There shall come in the last days scoffers,” &c.
Truly we are living in the last days of perilous times. “HERE is the patience of the saints.” “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Amen! Some have remarked that if we only had more persecution, we should live nearer the Lord; but this is substituting the effect for the cause, if we wait for persecution to drive us nearer to the Lord we shall never go. “The world will not persecute those who are like them.” When the church is out of the world, then will they be hated by the world. Separation and holiness will bring persecution. Living godly is the cause, while persecution is the effect. But great patience and faith is needed that when we are reviled, we revile not again. A certain minister, once preaching on the subject of misrepresentation and slander, said:
“When professors of religion so far degrade themselves and their profession as to attempt to injure others by lying and misrepresentation, they should remember that, when the devil was disputing with the archangel about the body of Moses, the Lord would not permit the archangel to bring a railing accusation against the devil; and until they can prove that the individual they wish to injure is worse than the devil, and that they themselves are better than the archangel, the Bible requires them to hold their tongues and mind their own business.”
John Wesley says:
“Condemn no man for not thinking as you think. Let every one enjoy the full and free liberty of thinking for himself. Let every man use his own judgment, since every man must give an account of himself to God. Abhor every approach, in any kind of degree, to the spirit of persecution. If you cannot reason or persuade a man into the truth, never attempt to force him into it. If love will not compel him, leave him to God, the Judge of all.”
“'Tis wondrous strange, and yet 'tis true, That some folks take delight The deeds of other men to view, As if their own are right.
“And if a piece of news comes out, They’ll eagerly pursue it; Then hand the charming dish about And add a little to it.
“Each fault they’ll try to magnify, Yet seeming to bemoan The mote within a brother’s eye, Are blinded to their own.”
The “Liars’ Department” is the lake of fire.
“SPEAK EVIL OF NO MAN.” Titus iii, 2.
M. E. CORNELL.