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MISCELLANEOUS

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 10, 1861

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 19, No. 2.

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MISCELLANEOUS.

By Joseph Clarke

The apostle James makes it clear that the tongue is as the helm of a ship; then let us beware lest Satan guide this helm, piloting for himself.
Speak evil of no man. If we cannot muster courage to tell this scandalous report to the offending brother, let us be silent; or if a reporter suggests to us the failings of another, let us send him to the offender, or silence him with the Scripture above quoted.
When one has seen the evil of a sin, and thoroughly repented of it, then he can warn others.
Stop the leaks in a ship and the pumps will soon free her so that she will float; so an individual or church must cease to sin before they can arise.
System is necessary in mechanics, agriculture, trade, &c. Wo to the individual or church who esteems it less so in religious matters.
Are you afraid of an enemy? Pray as David did, "O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness." 2 Sam. xv, 31.
Our inward struggles turn the scale; the fountain supplies the rivulet.
Satan can flatter us; God does not flatter, but slays the proud.
Saul spared Agag, contrary to the command of Samuel, the prophet of God, and so Saul lost his kingdom. Perhaps he did not realize that it was as fatal to disobey the prophet Samuel as the prophet Moses. O, Lord, open our eyes to see, our ears to hear, our hearts to feel. Brethren, have we no Agag here?
Solemnity of mind, and thoughts of God and his majesty, tend to humility; while levity of mind tends to, or fosters pride.
A man's pride shall bring him low. Prov. xxix, 23. Truly when we see the effect of extravagance, and its victim writhing in agony of want and disease, ordering the costliest coffin for a panacea of his wounded spirit, well has the wise man spoken.
Error and truth are often so closely packed together, that to the mass of mankind they seem identically the same; but the experienced workman knows how to find the seams in his quarries; and although the gold may be hidden beneath much rubbish, yet the fire will discover it. So he who desires to know truth from error, has only to bring the lamp of truth close to his work, and he will see as through the glass of the word, which brings hidden things to light, and makes very clear what was before very obscure. Thus Daniel by fasting, prayer, and study of the word, was most remarkably illuminated. This glass brings distant things near, hidden things to view, and makes darkness light.
The single eye makes the whole body full of light; that is, he who only desires to glorify God, he who has no self to gratify, no private ends to attain, no lusts to satiate, no character of his own to maintain, but who has given up all wholly to God. Such a person is always free, his spiritual sight is always clear, his ears always open, his garments always white, his purse is always heavy with fine gold.
Charms. We hear in ancient heathen legends, of amulets, worn to ward off evil, said to possess certain singular powers, called charms, capable of performing wonders. These, had they been literally true, are infinitely outdone by the triplet of christian virtues, love, faith, and humility. These virtues when proportioned and exercised, protect, strengthen, and adorn the character, make enemies into friends, misfortunes are made into stepping-stones, and afflictions are transformed into a paved walk to glory. This triplet of virtues is a solver of doubts, an explainer of mysteries, a lantern in the dark, and a guide in every labyrinth of life; and the closer it is worn to the heart the surer and more certain its good effects. It is a casuist for the decision of doubtful questions; a discerner of right and wrong; it has tears for the mourner, and smiles for the gladsome heart, it gives ears to the deaf, sight to the blind, a staff to the lame, and a balm to every disease; it is a quencher of distrust, and a radical cure for jealousy. These are but a meager list of its virtues.
The casuist is one who can correctly decide in difficult questions, as to right and wrong in human actions, such as often trouble the tender conscience; for in the varied walks of life there are multiplied instances in which circumstances are so linked, and right and wrong are so interwoven, that discernment is indispensable to a proper course, and an instantaneous decision is often called for; so that it is of the greatest importance that every Christian be a good casuist, in order to escape the wiles of the enemy; especially is this true, now, that the seductive influences of the world are more numerous than ever, forming as it were a net-work of error, so woven and spread, as to envelop the entire world, and he who would escape its meshes, must be a skillful casuist, and present truth is capable, with the Spirit's aid, of doing this. Even the simple may be made wise.
Parents, do not speak before your children of their virtues. Keep your children humble; it will do them no harm. Extolling, or even relating their feats before strangers, in the presence of your children, has a bad effect upon them. Strangers see it, if you do not. A pert child is a nuisance to society. Such children had better not have been born. Let others note their virtues, you had better cure their faults. Or if you speak favorably of them, do it at a proper time, with the greatest caution.
SPECIAL PLEASING.—"How can I," says Bro. Earthy, "be always just in time? To be sure, I generally put work a little before sundown, though the boys have some chores to do after that. Now the brethren have been at me about a little affair that happened a few weeks ago. I went to town to mill on Friday, and one thing hindered after another, the blacksmith broke his word and disappointed me, and how could I help it? I was, it is true, a little late home."
Says Bro. Flint, "Suppose you should go to town on some very important errand, for instance, to save a dying man, would you stop to shoe your horse, or any thing else? would you not try your horse's feet on rough and smooth, wet and dry, to save the life of the poor man? Well, now, I keep from sin for eternal life; and if I can lead a holy life while I do live, it is of little consequence to me whether my present life is lengthened out or not. Then it is proved that I must lead a spotless life, at all hazards, but as to saving my present life, that is of little consequence, comparatively. O Bro. E., that you could see the awful gulf that opens just by your feet! But God alone can cure your blindness. I pray him to remove the veil that hides God from your sight."
"It is impossible for me to live out such strict ways," says Bro. Earthy.
"I have no time to lose," says Bro. Flint. "Choose for yourself. If the Lord be God, serve him; if you prefer your own way, take that, only say I am clear; say that I have done my duty, in faithfulness and love to you. I greatly desire your salvation, but I desire more to glorify God by clearing myself from your blood."
Let us see, not who will be greatest, but who will love God the most, who will have most love to the brethren, who will give the most according to his ability, who will be most strictly honest, who will improve his talents to the greatest advantage; who will be wisest to win souls; for "he that winneth souls is wise," Prov. xi, 30, who will honor God the most by humility and the fear of the Lord.
Joshua did not say, We will try to serve the Lord—but, We will serve him. O for a will to do right, a will sanctified and holy!
There are various ways of defining "change of heart," but the best explanation I ever saw was this: "Christ came to change the current of our thoughts." Now look at yander river, and imagine that the current was changed and flowed up stream. Would you say the current was changed, if a part of the stream was running one way, and a part the other way? So of him who still gives place to sin and Satan. Can he suppose his heart is changed? Even if he has many good thoughts and ways, while all is mixed with sin, can he say his heart is changed? Is he not rather striving for this change?