Testimonies for the Church, Volume 2 - Ellen G. White

long prayers. These are no benefit to himself or to
others. Long and violent exercise of the vocal
organs has irritated his throat and lungs, and
injured his general health, more than his precise
round of rules for eating and resting have benefited
him. One overexertion or strain of the vocal organs
may not soon be recovered from, and may cost the
life of the speaker. A calm, unhurried, yet earnest,
manner of speaking will have a better influence
upon a congregation than to let the feelings become
excited and control the voice and manners. As far
as possible the speaker should preserve the natural
tones of the voice. It is the truth presented that
affects the heart. If the speaker makes these truths a
reality, he will, with the aid of the Spirit of God, be
able to impress the hearers with the fact that he is
in earnest, without straining the fine organs of the
throat or the lungs.
Brother D is deeply interested in his domestic
life; yet there is danger, in conversation, of his
cultivating the habit of concentrating his whole
mind upon the things which especially interest him,
but which cannot interest or profit others. He tries
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