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Items of Thought

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Feb 21, 1865

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 25, No. 13.

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Items of Thought.

By Jos. Clarke

Do your duty now this moment, and you will do it every moment.
You are as accountable for moments of time, as for grains of gold.
You think your trials the greatest of all; just so thinks the little a-b-c-darian about his lessons in the alphabet.
It is easier to censure others, than to correct ourselves.
Theory is more speedily gained than practice; but it comes first, and must always precede practice, but cannot supply its place. The two are distinct, but always appear to best advantage when united.
We sometimes pity the weakness of others, but our turn comes to be pitied also.
Boasting is generally followed by mortification, and sometimes by shame and failure.
A strong, cheerful heart makes misfortune light, especially if that cheerfulness and strength is rooted in a good conscience.
Old people complain often of loss of memory, as the effect of age; when it is often the consequence of neglect and want of culture.
Temperance and a studious habit often perpetuate youth.
We cannot stay the decay of nature, but we may hinder it.
Filthy people are generally ill-natured.
Cleanliness and cheerfulness are very near of kin to each other.
A good natured man if converted makes the most useful Christian.
An ill-natured man if converted, becomes good natured, or apostatizes after staining the cause by his churlishness.
Churlishness is not sobriety; neither is lightness, cheerfulness.
Extremes meet, but they generally meet in ruin.
Moderation should be distinguished from modern conservatism.
Expediency should be distinguished from weakness, and truckling to circumstances, and self-interest, and popularity.
Confessions should not be spoiled by justifications.
It is better to be thought too little of, than too much.
Humility is better than a gold mine.
The proud person despises the humble, but the humble restrains his contempt, and changes it to pity.
Long residence in a place, enhances the influence of a good man, and calumny fears to dart her forked tongue at him, lest she might be called a viper.
An error is soon committed, but we can have a lifetime to regret it.
A stranger must not expect to escape the scrutiny of his new associates.
It is better to err in the behalf of pity, than listen to the call of self-love.
“Let me die” was the language of Jonah when he was dissatisfied with God’s directions; and the same prayer is made now by modern Jonah’s when in like predicaments.
He who acts as the Devil’s servant, must be satisfied with the Devil’s wages.
Satan cares not for your pledge, if he can but get your work.
Those whom God calls, Satan hinders if possible, and urges out those who should stay at home. Jos. Clarke.