CHRISTIANS are required to lay aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and all evil speaking. A compliance with these requirements will cause humility to rule the life, and this child-like purity and tractability of motive will readily receive the wholesome instructions of the word of life; yes, will prize dearer than life itself the cutting admonitions of that word which is ‑quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword.‑ He who thus appreciates the true testimony is watered thereby, and rapidly forwarded in the divine life, and is denominated by the apostle a lively, or sparkling, precious stone in that glorious edifice, of which Christ is the chief corner stone. But those who resist the word, resist the ordinances of God, and that to their own peril and shame; for the great Master-builder ultimately subdues and crushes them in hopeless ruin. Such, in truth, is the end of those who disobey the gospel, cleave to their fleshly lusts and unholy conversation. The remnant church in these last days should be the representatives of holy principles. To this end God has set his hand to the refining work, and his people will shortly be rid of every dishonoring element. Then indeed will they stand as the fit medium through which the power and glory of God’s closing proclamation to a rebel race shall be disseminated in a manner that shall lighten the earth, and gather in every honest soul, just before the unmitigated judgments of God are poured out. Says Peter, ‑I beseech you, dearly beloved, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.‑ By such abstinence our words, thoughts and purposes are purified, and by our well-doing the ignorance of foolish men is put to silence, and we become free in the Lord; for we move in his counsel. But there is another freedom, a spurious sort, which those who speak evil of dignities exercise, termed by Peter ‑a cloak of maliciousness.‑ Those who cherish this counterfeit usually take a stand similar to that taken by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram of old, and meet at last a similar fate. They are stubborn, rebellious spirits, with little ability, except to raise the war-cry against those who deal out the pointed testimony of God’s word against their idols. All the restraints of the gospel are soon broken by them, and they are thus left to exercise the freedom which their master bestows upon them, who goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Our Saviour was reviled, yet reviled not again. He bore our sins in his own body upon a tree, and endured scourging, that we might be healed. He left us an example that we should follow in his steps. Imagine the Redeemer of fallen man walking about with pipe or tobacco in his mouth! The task is too great. The imagination cannot draw such a picture—not for a moment.