BREVITIES by Jos. Clarke

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 17, 1860

BREVITIES.

By Jos. Clarke

TYRANNY.—Pharaohs are not scarce, and I would that there were no Pharaohs, hard close fisted Pharaohs, in this message.

Pharaoh was in such a hurry for brick, that he did not give his brick-makers time to read or pray. Now therefore beware, oh modern Pharaoh of this ugly sin, or the Sabbath keeping doctrines will only be a millstone to sink thee in an ocean deep as eternity.

May God pity the oppressed speedily. O speedily deliver them from their onerous burdens.

A GOOD MASTER.—Don't you know that a kind, good master makes a good servant? Oh the loving bond there is between such a master as Cornelius was and his servants! Yes, his servants were his solace, his good fortune, his recommendation. They loved him.

A HARD MASTER.—Don't you observe that a hard master makes a bad servant? His cutting reproaches, his rapacious demands for more work, stir up all the evil passions of the servant and sink him lower than he would have imagined it possible for him to sink. Alas! he ejaculates, I must earn something for my family, I must bear it, and so he resolves; but his strength fails, his arm trembles, his knees grow weak. "Why is this!" he exclaims, I was always strong before. Oh says a voice within, "Discouragement of mind afflicts the body." Oh there will be an end of this soon, thank God.

IF.—That spoils the concession; better be silent than to say If I have done wrong I am sorry. Such an assertion is hypocrisy. Wait until you have weighed the matter in the balances of the sanctuary; then frankly confess the wrong or justify the right; be one thing or the other.

TREACHERY.—The soldier may have many faults, but if he is true to his general he will still have a standing among his fellows; but the moment he makes a confident of the common enemy, he is expelled from the camp in some way. Those who understand Christianity will see the bearing of the above principle.

GRATITUDE.—Does a brother or sister or friend or enemy do you the least favor, cultivate a spirit of gratitude; think of it, appreciate it, thank the donor, show him you are not an ungrateful mule, without heart or soul. Think of poverty too proud to receive or acknowledge a favor! Away with a christianity, soulless, stubborn, ungrateful. Suppose you are poor, only be polite, amiable thankful, patient. Oh poor man do for Christ's sake get a poor man's virtue.

TRANSPARENT.—It is vain to pretend godliness, and still be Satan's agent. An ass may wear a lion's skin, yet his voice will betray his pedigree. Not less surely the hypocrite will show his true parentage, that his father is Satan the inventor of all sin and deceit.

POLICY.—Christ has said that "the children of this world are wiser in their generation (in their sphere) than the children of light;" not that it should be so, but so it is. Here is much instruction in this text; it is full of good food, and happy is he who can extract its hidden and deep meaning; we shall need it all before we get through to the city. Jos. CLARKE.