USE AND ABUSE OF THE POWER OF SPEECH.
By C. A. Osgood
THE power to communicate our thoughts, wishes and intentions, to another, is a clear proof of the wisdom and goodness of God. How cheerless indeed would be our condition if we could neither speak to, nor hear from, our friends or neighbors. When a very few are mutes, science and benevolence can do something to alleviate their condition, and improve their minds. But were all doomed to perpetual silence, the world would be in a sad condition indeed. When the power of speech is rightly used we augment our own happiness, and that of those around us, and also declare abroad the glory of God in the earth. But if we abuse it, we may do great mischief. "The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the whole course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell! The tongue is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." Jas. iii, 6, 8. Said Jesus, "By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Matt. xii, 37. How important, then, that this mighty engine for good or evil should be brought, and kept under perfect control. Our words should ever be reverent toward God. We ought always to hallow his name. His titles and attributes, as well as his name, should be pronounced with great reverence. Sometimes these are repeated too often in prayer. Some, in their common talk, even those called Christians, frequently use such expressions as these. "Good Lord!" "O Lord!" "Lord have mercy!" "Mercy!" "Gracious!" "Good gracious!" "Surely such words are not pleasing to the ear of God. Jesus said, 'Swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne, neither by the earth, for it is his footstool, neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King; neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be yea, yea; nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.'" Matt. v, 34-37. Thus our Lord has taught us simply to affirm or deny what we wish to, without using unnecessary words. But alas! how many there are among us, whenever anything is seen or heard unusual or surprising, or when they wish to give emphasis to what they are about to utter, use the following expressions, "I swear!" "I swain!" "My conscience!" "My goodness!" "My stars!" "My sakes!" "O my!" and the like. Though we may forget these idle words, yet God remembers them all, and will call us into judgment for every one of them. Again, all our words should be truthful. God is a God of truth. Upon his word we may rely with unshaken confidence. And we are commanded to "speak every one truth with his neighbor." The practice of speaking truth inspires confidence between man and man, also between members of the same family. But varying from the truth seriously impairs this confidence. Guile, or falsehood, is severely reprehended in the book of God. "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord." Prov. xii, 22. Not big liars alone, but all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. Rev. xxi, 8. Without the city, New Jerusalem, will be whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. We are directed to lay aside all guile. Jesus said of Nathanael, Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile. And of the company which John saw [Rev. xiv, 1-5] he said, In their mouth was found no guile. Such, and such only, God approves. Reader, how important it is that you and I should be perfectly frank in our communications, that we keep our lips, that they speak no guile; that we make no exaggerated or false statements, that we do not misrepresent the quality or value of property when wishing to sell or trade, but that we study to convey truthful impressions to those with whom we have to do. Furthermore, our words should be always kind. We are to speak the truth in love. How much this will tend to make ourselves and others happy. Love begets love, but hatred begets hatred. Alas! how much do angry and fretful words tend to destroy the peace and happiness of families and communities. When men use this kind of language to us, or concerning us, we need the spirit of meekness that was in Christ to bear it quietly. He, when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not. 1 Pet. ii, 23. Paul says [Eph. iv, 31, 32], "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, be put away from you, with all malice, and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another." Especially should speaking evil of others be avoided. We are commanded to do to others as we would that they should do to us. When anything is done that touches our reputation, we feel it very sensibly. How careful then should we be, that we do nothing to injure the reputation of others, especially of brethren. Yes, we ought to be very careful what we say of others in their absence. Backbiting is set down by Paul [Rom. i, 30] in the category of the worst vices. How distressing to those who love the brethren, to hear their faults, either supposed or real, become the topic of conversation by other brethren, when those spoken against are absent. These things ought not so to be. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. All unchaste conversation, jesting, and foolish talking should be laid aside. These corrupt the heart and tend to increase our vanity. How unseemly are these things among those who profess to be looking for the speedy coming of the Lord! All our words should be serious. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good, to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers, is the language of God's word. O let us abuse this noble gift of speech no more. By using it aright, we may by the help of God, awaken the careless, instruct the ignorant, reprove the erring, comfort the sad, and lead souls to Christ and heaven. May all our words be useful, and acceptable to God.