BREVITIES | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 27, 1860

BREVITIES.

Tears are well as far as they testify, and we generally think well of them in their season; but tears are not in themselves of much weight, unless backed up with corresponding acts; a tender heart and a tender conscience, and kind words and acts, along with a consistent life, give weight to tears, and lend them brilliancy and lustre; they do then prove a true and loving heart, and to us they are more precious than diadems in the crowns of princes; and God takes note of the tears of his chosen ones.

But on the other hand we find tears freely shed by the worst of characters; those left to shame often weep in utter despair; and the opposer of God's holy law is seen to weep while the gifted speaker sets forth the claims of God upon him, and in less than a month he perhaps forbids his nearest companion to comply with the terms of this very law; tyrants I believe have wept at the constancy of those whom they have followed with flame and sword; Saul wept aloud at the words of David, whose life he sought, and continued to seek [1 Sam. xxiv, 16]; such tears only attest a temporary pang, a short-lived sorrow, quickly dispelled by stronger and unholy passions.

Saying too much, is sometimes a damage to the very cause we would build up; and this officious censorship binds the very man whom we would set free: how beautiful the brevity and conciseness of God's word; "What hast thou done?" Short and comprehensive reproofs and instructions are given, and the mind of the offender is left to meditate and enlarge upon the mighty truth, which like the electric current penetrates the deepest recesses of the soul: no redundancy of words, or variety of ideas is permitted to clog the course of conviction; but left to his own thoughts the reproved one looks around in vain for relief, as the heaven-sent reproof enters like an arrow into his soul; and now there is but one hope, and justice and mercy are alike magnified.

J. C.