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manifefts a cultivated mind, or a defire of mental improvement. Every thing is trifling. In the multitude of words, for such perfons usually are inceffant talkers, you discover nothing but emptinefs and folly. Not only are all religious enquiries and obfervations excluded; but all difquifitions tending to the enlargement and communication of knowledge are difcouraged at leaft, if not defpifed. Now though reafon and religion are very imperfectly underftood, when they are conceived to discountenance innocent pleasantry, and cheerful relaxation in focial converfe; and though it fhould be admitted that neither of the two fets of perfons which have been deferibed, are guilty of intentional criminality in their customary mode of discourse: yet furely it deferves the confideration of every man whether speech, one of the most eminent gifts of God, ought not to be employed to the glory of the Giver and the good of mankind; and whether the glory of God and the good of mankind are promoted by foolish talking. Does it conduce to the glory of God that, while the actions of your fellow-creatures dwell on your tongue, and form the theme of your praise; there should be no mention of His power, R

VOL. II.

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of His love, of His wifdom, of His providence, of His great and wonderful works? Does it contribute to your own benefit and to the welfare of others that, while the petty concerns of the prefent life attract unwearied attention; all reference to the interefts of eternity fhould be chased away by levity, or extinguished by filence: that difcourfe to be entertaining must guard against being inftructive; and that mirth oitfelf fhould lofe the power of pleafing as foon as it begins to be rational? The lips of the wife difperfe knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not fo. The tongue of the wife ufeth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness (d).

II. Another clafs of fins of the tongue includes those which arise from impatience and difcontent.

15. Of this description is hafty and peevish language in common life. In fuch language, and in the feelings which give birth to it, many perfons indulge themselves to a greater or a less extent, who appear confeious of the guilt of violent tempers, and are rarely, perhaps never, known to be hur

(d) Prov. xv. 2, 7.

ried into the extreme of paffion. In fociety their deportment is placid; their lanAguage that of mildnefs and felf-command. Neither are they acting a part. On the whole the ftate of their minds correfponds at the time to their words and demeanour. The flight degree of restraint which the prefence of a stranger, or of any person with whom they are not intimately acquainted, impofes, proves fufficient imper28 ceptibly to reprefs any rifing emotion of ill-humour, or to call forth the exertions. neceffary to quell it. But follow them into domeftic fcenes, and you no longer contemplate an uninterrupted calm. No furious ftorm arifes: but tranfient clouds are continually obfcuring the funshine. Any little incident which croffes the inclinations, Many occurrence which difturbs the customary order of family proceedings, produces an expreffion more or less tinctured with anger. Trifling faults in the behaviour of any other member of the household excite ftronger fymptoms of irritability. Scarcely has one petty fource of vexation spent itself, when it is fucceeded by fome new caufe of temporary difquiet. The intervals of tranquillity are faddened by the apprehenfion that fome trivial cir cumftance,

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cumftance, unforeseen until the moment when it takes place, will fpeedily intervene to disturb the ferenity of the hour. Thus domeftic comfort is perpetually invaded by little uneafineffes, little bickerings, little difagreements and at length perhaps falls a facrifice to the multiplication of inconfiderable wounds. Is this to be kindly affectioned, tenderhearted, one towards another? Is this to walk in love? Is this to imitate the gentleness of Chrift? Who art thou, who thus takeft offence, if fome trifle interferes with thy wishes of the moment? Who art thou who weighest in such scrupulous fcales the looks and words of every inmate of thy abode? Doft thou expect that all things fhall be conducted, that all things can be conducted, in uniform fubfervience to thy humour? Are no compliances, no offices of accommodation, no facrifices to the convenience and reasonable defires of others, due from thee? Haft thou fo little regard for the feelings of thofe under thy roof, as continually to harrass and diftrefs them? Is the affection of thy family of fo fmall value in thine eyes, that needlefsly and for objects of no moment thou hazardeft the diminution of it? Exa mine thy bofom, that thou mayest detect

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the pride and the selfishness, by which it is infefted. Seek the grace of God: for only by divine grace can it be purified.

But fome men advance to bolder manifellations of impatience and discontent. Not only is their fretfulness querulous vehement and acrimonious in domeftic and in focial life: but, after tormenting man, it fhrinks not from infulting God. They repine at his difpenfations: they murmur against his Providence. If their plans fail of fuccefs, the firft ftep is, whether with reason or without reafon, to transfer from themselves to others the charge of neglect and imprudent management. What is the fecond? To complain that they never profper like other men; that numbers, far lefs deferving than themselves, have better fortune that they have peculiar reason to complain of hard measure at the hand of Providence in fhort, they approach as nearly as they dare to the blasphemous affertion, that the Ruler of the Universe is tyrannical and unjuft. What! fhall not the Giver of all good diftribute his bounties according to his own pleafure? To whom are you indebted for life and all its blef fings? To whom do you owe thofe facul ties of the understanding with which you

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are