THE GOSPEL MESSENGER--March 1889

We sometimes see flourishing advertisements in the secular papers, or sent out in circulars with big letters at the head, "Look out for the horse thief." "Look out for the burglars," "Look out for pick-pockets," and such like, and then this heading is generally followed be a kind of description of the age, stature, and features of the thief, burglar, and pick-pocket. This puts men on their guard against such characters, and many, especially officers of the law, are on the "look out," watching to apprehend these pests of society and bring them to justice.

But what shall we say of the tale-bearer? Is anyone on guard against his mischief? Are any on the "look-out," watching for him? Will the officers of the law apprehend him? Can he be brought to justice? Look out for him; he has longed been advertised, and though it is but a brief description that is given of him, it is true, and it is so fully and clearly identifies him that few can fail to know him.

The first mention made in the Scriptures of the Tale-bearer dates back more than three thousand years from this present time. Then there was a prohibitory law of God to his chosen people, which saith, "Thou shalt not go up and down, as a tale-bearer among thy people."---Lev. xix. 16. To do so was to violate God’s command, and bring strife in Israel, and judgement upon the transgressors. A tale-bearer is one who makes himself very officious in communicating such intelligences as will separate friends or cause mischief in society. And when such a sinful habit is cultivated, or indulged in, by church members one toward another, it brings bitter feelings, strife, confusion, and sometimes division in the church, never to be healed. It is a great sin; it is a deadly evil. It is a shame, and a reproach to the Christian name, and he who hath professed that worthy name should flee from it, shun it, and be forever on his guard against it, and against him who is guilty of such a sin against Christ.

But let us have a faithful description of him such as the Holy Ghost has moved holy men of God to write. "A tale-bearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter."---Prov. xi. 13. In the above text is not only given what a tale-bearer is, but also the opposite character. "A faithful spirit concealeth the matter." A tale-bearer therefore, is one who is unfaithful to his brethren and friends. He is under the influence of a bad and deceptive spirit. He is unfaithful to the cause of God. He sows discord among brethren. He separates chief and intimate friends, and keeps a general feud in society and bad feelings among neighbors. His words are often sharp and cutting, inflicting deep wounds. As saith Solomon, "The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly."---Prov. xviii. 8. The wounds inflicted by the back-biting, secret influence and dissimulation of a skillful tale-bearer are deep and lasting. They go down into the innermost parts beyond the sight of men, becoming deeper and deeper and more incurable every day. No wonder, therefore, that inspired men of God have so pointedly warned the church of God against such pestilent and dangerous characters. Solomon was so well acquainted with the evils growing out of the words of a tattler and tale-bearer that he give repeated warnings against him. "He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with the lips."---Prov. xx. 19. Hence it appears that a regular tale-bearer "goeth about" in society and among neighbors to flatter, find out and tell things that ought not to be told. He does not go about to "warn the unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, or support the weak" ones among Christians, or in the church, but he goes about to feed prejudices, promote strife, and bring personal confusion where peace and love formally existed. "Therefore meddle not with him," nor be meddled with by him, and then you will find as Solomon saith again, "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out, so where there is no tale-bearer, strife ceaseth."---Prov. xxvi. 21.

It is indeed very fortunate for any community, neighborhood, or church to have no tale-bearer in it. Or if any such calamity or scourge has fallen upon a church by which strife has originated and been promoted among brethren, it is a great mercy to them when such a pest is removed from among them. Strife will then cease. A better feeling will prevail. Peace, unity, and love will be cultivated, and these graces will perfume the social atmosphere like sweet and pleasant odors in the breeze. Everybody around will breath the wholesome odor and enjoy its health-giving effects. The tale bearer is gone, or has never been there. "The fire" of jealousy, evil-surmising and evil-speaking has gone out. There is no tale-bearing fuel to keep it burning.

We are expressly told in the Scriptures, "That to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose."---Eccl. iii. 1. "There is a time to keep silence and a time to speak." It is therefore of the utmost importance that even when we know a thing to be truth that we also know whether it is a time to be silent or a time to speak that particular truth.

In speaking or telling anything there are a few that ought to be well considered., the first of which is that we ought to speak or tell the truth. The next thing is that there is a necessity for us to speak or tell that truth. "A word spoken in due season, how good is it?" There is also a savory influence exerted by the manner in which even the truth is spoken. "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pitchers of silver." It is spoken in love, and in a right spirit. It is fitly spoken and well adapted to the case. It is "spoken in due season" when it will do good, and it is spoken in the spirit of meekness and love. It has a good effect upon those to whom it is spoken. "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."---Col. iv. 6.

There are many points of gospel doctrine and order that we would do well to consider a little more than has been usually done.---M.