Yes! it is secret evil in our hearts, which produces this habit of speaking harshly, uncharitably, ill of our neighbor; and if we watch ourselves closely, we shall find it to be so. Let us observe our feelings, note our thoughts carefully, when we are saying or about to say something to the prejudice of another. Let us observe if we do not discover a hidden feeling of dislike, or, envy, rivalry, bitterness, or petty revenge, which prompts us to speak. It must be so: it cannot be otherwise. Words come from thoughts, and thoughts spring from feelings. Where there is only love, and kind feeling in the heart, it is utterly impossible for a hard thought to enter the mind, or an unkind word to come from the lips. All this evilspeaking, then, is from an evil heart: there is the impure fountain: cleanse that, and the stream will be clear and pure. As it is written, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. A good man, out of the good treasure of the heart, bringeth forth good things; and an evil man, out of the evil treasure, bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you," said the Lord, "that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."[1] My brethren, let us ask ourselves, how many idle words and evil words we shall have to give account of, at our day of judgment! How many times in the week, do we make unkind and uncharitable remarks about our neighbors, about even our friends (so called)! How often are sly inuendoes thrown out against them! How often are bad motives ascribed to
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