p. 158 | SPEAK EVIL OF NO MAN by F. Morrow

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 5, 1860

SPEAK EVIL OF NO MAN.

By F. Morrow

It is truly gratifying to see that the brethren in different places are waking up and examining what is duty. May the God of mercy direct us in the path of duty, and help us to walk therein.

The Advent body is made up of those from the different denominations, principally, who by the grace of God were led to see the confusion and error in the churches, and had sufficient grace to come out of Babylon; let us therefore avoid confusion, and try and be consistent. A few more such articles as the ones from Bro. R. F. C. and L., by the grace of God, will help to show the remnant some of the wiles of the evil one. You that are able, show the people their sins through the weekly preacher (the Review). Bro. L. truly says that the time of the messengers is often thrown away or hindered by the hearing of church trials. This should not be the case. There is another source of evil, and a very prolific one it is; viz., when a messenger comes to visit a church, almost the first thing that greets his ears is likely to be the faults of this or that brother, some of which are based on supposition. Such a brother has not been to meeting for three or four weeks, or the corners of some brother's mouth looked as if he had been using tobacco, &c. This, brethren, is certainly evil speaking, and always tends to evil and bad results. It brings barrenness and leanness of soul, and certainly must be painful to the messenger, often causing him to say, I am bound up, I have no freedom, &c. Is it much to be wondered at? But this might be avoided by the messenger's stopping the one who should commence to tell faults of his absent brother, and asking if he has discharged his duty, according to the discipline (the Bible, Matt. xviii, 15–17).

But it may be said that the messenger has a duty to the church, to inquire about the welfare of the church, and that much information comes to him by this means. But certainly the church's welfare does not consist in telling the faults of others, real or imaginary, for it weakens the confidence the messenger would otherwise have. The brother will see it, and the good that might be done is hindered.

Brethren, let us try and live nearer to the rule laid down for us, do as we would wish others to do unto us, and see that we love one another with pure hearts fervently. Rom. xiii, 10.

If we enter our complaints to the messenger to shoulder the responsibility on him, it certainly is wrong. If we think we have not strength to discharge the duty ourselves, let us come to the fountain of strength and ask for help, that we may be found of him who is our life, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, through obeying the truth.

F. Morrow.

Mt. Vernon, Iowa, March, 1860.