perhaps; people professing and calling themselves Christians, meet together from time to time, and spend many hours in discourse; and what is it? what have they done all the while? "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin, "saith Solomon: that is, the temptations are many, and it seldom, in fact, happens that more is not uttered than is good; and therefore he adds, "He that refraineth his lips," or is not a great talker, "is wise." But be it so that you have told no falsehoods, and sworn no oaths, and slandered nobody, surely you ought not to rest content with that; what have you done with the talent committed to your stewardship—hath it been hidden in earth, or used? Have you done any good by your discourse? When people make what should be only recreation and relaxation the chief business of life-when the main part of people's time is spent, as sometimes is the case, in visits of pleasure, and a perpetual round of what is very much miscalled societythen I believe the benefit, either conferred or received, is very small, as compared with the time lost, and the duties neglected: but where persons whose hours are wont to be rationally and usefully employed, meet together after an honest day's work, if I may so express myself, for social intercourse; certainly, these seasons, though all

*Prov. x. 19.

labour is laid aside in them, may be, and doubtless they often are, not only some of the pleasantest, but some of the most useful seasons of people's lives. It is a point gained, and no mean one, if people, as I have said already, can but reanimate one another by their mutual cheerfulness and if we can confer together freely on the subject of our common studies, or common employments; and elicit or convey any instruction, or make any observations which may throw a light upon those common pursuits-or if we can amicably discuss our differences of opinion with our neighbours, on topics of general interest, -all this is as it ought to be: the time may be very well spent under the circumstances which I have supposed, and people may both give and get much that may be serviceable, and may return to their special duties and occupations much refreshed. And though I have not supposed that religion is the professed topic they are employed upon; and though I have admitted that the noblest use of speech is the declaration of God's praises, it is still very possible to speak on any lawful subject both in a charitable and in a pious spirit; and if so, though it is a matter of merely temporal interest that is debated, such a tone and manner will be preserved, and such sayings will be dropped, that the conversation will, both in a moral and a religious view, be profitable,

and the parties will separate with good and charitable feelings towards one another; and then, where discourse is thus ordered, it certainly will not be such as that the parties will by their words be condemned. But it is a sad thing to think that people should spend much time together, and no man be the better for his fellow Christian. At least here is opportunity thrown away; and people might well take themselves to task, and ask themselves what they can allege, when God shall inquire why so much that needed not to have been uttered at all, was not suppressed in order to put something solid and profitable in the place of it, and so to have "redeemed the time." For certainly, habitual trifling, if it goes on to nothing worse, indicates a mind empty of good thoughts and serious views; and of such a state of mind it will be no easy matter to give an account in the day of judg

ment.

III. I proceed now to the means through which the duty demanded of us may be discharged.

Observe, then, the thing to be done is to "keep the door of our lips," and to be useful by our speech habitually and constantly, not upon set occasions only, but in the midst of all the bustle and clashing and jarring of daily life-when our attention is distracted-when our passions are

engaged when we are in the midst of snares and temptations, suddenly arising to display our wit or excuse our folly, or hide our faults, or to return evil for evil; and when, moreover, an answer must be given upon the instant, and before we have time for deliberate consideration of what it might be best to say,-observe this, I pray you; for if such be our case, it is very clear that nothing can keep us but habitual grace, and that we must have our defences prepared beforehand.

1. Then, first, you must "make the tree good, that the fruit may be good." "Wash thine heart from wickedness," saith the scripture, "that thou mayest be saved.”* Nothing can be done if this be left undone; and especially it is quite vain to hope by any other means to curb or guide the tongue. "How can ye, being evil," says Christ to the Pharisees, "speak good things?" † Your speech must be always with grace, seasoned with salt; that is, your inward man must be thoroughly imbued with right principles, and then you will know how you ought to answer every man," and will speak wisely, even when you have least time for actual reflection, but not otherwise. Be it, then, your daily prayer, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from + Matt. xii. 34.

* Jer. iv. 14.

thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from

me.

."* There can be at least no deliberate falsehood-no profane, no profligate, no malicious discourse, whilst the soul is actually sensible of having the eye of God upon it, and the inward affections are devoted to things "pure, lovely, and of good report.' And though it is recorded once of such a man as Moses, that under great provocation" he spake unadvisedly with his lips," it is clear that that was a singular exception to the general tenour of his behaviour; and it will always be so with those who resemble him, by a constant walk with God, and an habitual waiting upon him by prayer.

I do not say, that if you do this, you will never be overtaken in a fault; but I say it will be but seldom in a general way your whole discourse, and your replies under provocation, as well as your more deliberate sayings, will be such as become the Gospel of Christ.

2. However, we must be special in our supplications upon this subject. It would be useful, I mean, if knowing, as we ought to do, what besets us most easily and leads us to sin, we would every day of our lives beseech Almighty God to keep us from " offending in word" in this or that particular manner, in which we can remember we have been wont to offend lately, * Psal. li. 10, 11.