p. 19 | Evil Speaking

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 19, 1865

Evil Speaking.

This is a vice almost universal, even among those who profess godliness. It meets you everywhere. You cannot be in the company of even those considered good people long, without hearing something to the prejudice of some absent brother or sister. Some report or insinuation, or suspicion is breathed into your ear calculated to shake your confidence in some follower of Jesus. A reform in this matter is loudly demanded. The command is, Speak not evil one of another, brethren. If you have hitherto disregarded this command, ask for pardon and commence a reformation from this hour. The man who is on his way to Heaven is described as He that taketh not up a report against his neighbor. No matter under whose patronage he finds the report going about, he does not take it up, he lets it die, as all false and slanderous reports will when let alone.

A brother called at our house whom we had long known as an uncompromising follower of Jesus. We had heard that some differences had arisen between him and the pastor and some of the brethren of the church to which he belonged, and rumor said he had withdrawn from the church. We inquired "How the preacher was getting along." He replied "First-rate, the Lord is with him, and he is doing a good work." "How are brothers A. and B. doing?" "Never better." And so he had a good word, without insinuation, for every one of whom he spoke. I said that brother might go on professing holiness and I would stand by him. With such a person you feel safe. He will not betray you. There is no danger that he will, after sharing your hospitalities, and professing for you the strongest friendship, go away and report untrue and unkind things to your injury. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body.—Earnest Christian.