Sound Speech by F. W. MORSE.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 14, 1863

Sound Speech.

By F. W. MORSE.

"FOR if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?" are the words of the bold ambassador to the Gentiles. Paul evidently believed it to be his duty to labor with earnest diligence to prepare himself for giving instruction.

We hear him charging Timothy to study to show himself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth; to give attendance to reading, to exhortation and doctrine; to meditate and give himself wholly to the work, that his profiting might appear in all things.

While Paul was a close student, he was at the same time a plain, outspoken man, as we see by all his writings; in fact we are taught by all Scripture example to use significant, pointed words, that convey a distinct meaning, and that will be profitable and edifying. Trifler, remember that the angel secretary is a faithful scribe; and by thy words shalt thou be justified or condemned.

Again, we should beware lest by man-pleasing words, we compromise with Satan, and sheathe the sword of the Spirit. If we attempt to palliate or obscure the enormity of sin, we clothe virtue in the habiliments of vice, and bury truth in the filth of iniquity.

The servants of Christ are commanded to fight with valor, and give no place or quarter to sin or Satan; to contend earnestly for that all-convincing faith once delivered to the saints, by which they were able to subdue kingdoms, work righteousness, escape the edge of the sword, from very weakness advance to strength. This, brethren, is the kind of faith we need in these last days, when the whirlwind of war is arising from all the coasts of the earth. Faith is the mighty shield of the plain, honest Christian.

But those who despise correction, and hate reproof, make lies their refuge, and hide themselves under falsehood: they put away the living word, and fall down to Baal in a covenant with death and hell; and when the overflowing scourge passes through, they shall be trodden down by it.

Says the Lord by his holy prophet Isaiah, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter."

There is no intermediate ground between the limits of good and evil, right and wrong, error and truth.

"He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad," is the language of the Saviour.

Those who love sin and error desire their teachers to bolster them up with pillows of ease and security; but this is abomination in the sight of God. Jer. xxiii, 29.

"Is not my word like as a fire, saith the Lord, and

like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" v. 31. "Behold I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that smooth their tongues, (margin) and say, He saith," &c., That is, those who speak smooth, pleasing words, and say they are from the Lord, prophesy falsehood in the Lord's name, and speak forth the deceit of their own hearts; and for this heinous sin the Lord will hold them responsible. His face is against them while they pursue such a course.

Those who beseech souls in Christ's stead, represent the interests of Heaven; hence words which they use should be those of Him who hath sent them—the mighty Potentate of Heaven, the Ruler of the universe.

Unsoundness of speech in a minister of God is an outbreaking sin, a glaring iniquity, in the light of Heaven. Sanctimony in the pulpit, and mischief-breeding, unsound words outside of it, are inconsistent.

F. W. MORSE.

Deerfield, Minn.