RIGHT SPEECH by Willard W. Stebbins

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 8, 1862

RIGHT SPEECH.

By Willard W. Stebbins

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: In view of the solemn time in which we live, and the singleness of heart with which we must live before God and the world, it becometh us in connection with all our other duties, as children of God, to study to know how our speech should be ordered before him. To this end then let us pray that our heavenly Father would teach us in this respect.

Says David; Psalm, l, 23, Whoso offereth praise, glorifieth me; and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God. It is the last clause of this verse that I design to notice chiefly. It is evident that when we bow humbly before the great Sovereign of the universe, and with strong faith and confidence lift our voice in fervent effectual prayer, we glorify God. And also when we stand in the congregation and witness to his unspeakable goodness and love, we are offering praise, and thus glorifying his name. And when the world is speaking evil of the truth, and we in meekness and fear try to defend it, think you not that we praise and glorify his name? The last feature in the verse quoted embraces a promise realized only upon the condition that our conversation is right. Unto such will the promise be fulfilled at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Brethren and sisters, if our salvation is secured in part by having our words in perfect conformity to the will of God, let us earnestly pray and strive for this to be accomplished. The Lord has promised wisdom to direct us, and we know, by happy experience, that the Lord is not slack concerning his promises, but is ever ready to hear and answer our prayers when offered in faith. We read, Prov. xiii, 3, He that keepeth his mouth, keepeth his life; but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. What are we to understand by this? Simply that if we keep our lips from speaking guile, having our conversation and words just right in the sight of God, we shall see the salvation of God; but if we do not bridle our tongue, but let the carnal mind prevail, we shall have the opposite, destruction.

Our Saviour says, Matt. xii, 36, 37, "But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Oh! do we fully realize these words? Do we as a people that profess to believe in the speedy appearance of the person who spoke these words, and also that our cases are soon to pass in review by our great High Priest and Mediator, take heed as we ought to this warning of our Saviour? O, let us lay aside all idle conversation, and inasmuch as it is by our words that we are either justified or condemned, walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called.

Says Paul to his Philippian brethren, Phil. i, 27, "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ. . . . That ye stand fast in one spirit with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel. Also, Eph. v, 4, Paul in speaking to the saints of the sins that should not be once named among them says, "Neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks."

Oh! how is the cause of Christ wounded, and the truth hindered, when the professed disciples of Jesus and especially those who have professed to receive the glorious light of present truth, are found indulging in this sinful and soul-destroying practice. O, let us, who are of the day, whenever we are tempted to resort to foolish talking or jesting, either with the converted or unconverted, flee to God for grace and strength to resist it, and let no corrupt communications proceed out of our mouths, but that which is good, to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Eph. iv, 29.

I fear that we as a people come far short of this. O, let us raise the standard, and, in the name of our Master, strike a death-blow to this so common a temptation to mankind. Let us pray fervently that our speech may be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that we may know how we ought to answer every man. Col. iv, 6.

Brethren and sisters, I firmly believe that if we take heed to this admonition we shall know the will of God more perfectly concerning us. Let us pray day and night as did David of old, Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O, Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

But let us not forget, while we consider this failure, to remember also our many evil besetments. Let us strive for a complete victory over them all, and afflict our souls in the day of atonement, confess all our sins that they may all be blotted out when the time of refreshing shall come. May the Lord help his dear people to arouse from a state of stupidity and lukewarmness, and gird up the loins of their mind, put on the whole armor of God, and go forth with their lamps trimmed and burning. I humbly ask the prayers of God's dear saints that I may overcome all my sins, keep all the commands of God, adorn my profession with a holy life and godly conversation, that I may at last be found among the number in whose mouth will be found no guile, and sing the song of redemption on mount Zion.

WILLARD W. STEBBINS.

Wileyville, Steuben Co., N. Y.