thy words thou shalt be condemned. For every idle word that men fhall speak they shall give account in the day of judgement. If any man feem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue; that man's religion is vain (a). The tongue is the great inciter to holiness and to fin. It is the hand that executes: but it is the tongue that perfuades. The tongue gives vent to the heart. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth Speaketh (b). There is no thought, evil or righteous, which the tongue may not be the inftrument of embodying in words: no purpose, finful or holy, which it may not be employed to encourage or to repress.

I propose to explain the nature of fome of the principal fins of the tongue. Our attention shall firft be directed to thofe which, when compared with others, appear the lighteft; and fubfequently to thofe which are the most heinous. Let me remind you however, that for any fin, however light it may appear, nothing but the blood of Chrift can atone; and that in proportion as fins appear comparatively light, they will probably be the more frequently re

(a) Prov. xviii. 21. Matth. xii. 36, 37. James i. 26. (b) Luke, vi. 45.

peated,

peated, and repeated without being followed by repentance.

I. Let us advert to those offences of the tongue, which may be comprehended under St. Paul's expreffion, foolish talking (c).

To this description belongs all levity of difcourfe upon folemn or weighty fubjects. Some perfons are fo indifpofed to fobriety of thought, and have fo long accustomed themselves to regard seriousness as border. ing upon ftupidity or gloom; that the graveft concerns lofe in their converfation every symptom of importance. Whatever be the topic under difcuffion, a flippancy of manner which they interpret to themfelves as gaiety, and a pertness of language which they suppose to be wit, are indifcriminately exhibited. The wifeft reflections are encountered with unmeaning laughter: and conclufions of the highest moment are repelled by a paltry effort at a jeft. Of another class, more numerous, and, if it be poffible, equally thoughtless, the conversation is altogether and uniformly idle. Day after day, at home and abroad, you hear nothing drop from their lips which

(c) Ephef. v. 4.

manifefts

manifefts a cultivated mind, or a defire of mental improvement. Every thing is trifling. In the multitude of words, for fuch perfons usually are inceffant talkers, you discover nothing but emptiness 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 least, if not despised. Now though reason and religion are very imperfectly understood, when they are conceived to discountenance innocent pleasantry, and cheerful relaxation in social converfe; and though it fhould be admitted that neither of the two sets of perfons which have been described 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 praife; there should be no mention of His power,

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of

of His love, of His wifdom, of His provi dence, 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 present life attract unwearied attention, all reference to the interests 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 itself should lose the power of pleasing 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 arife from impatience and discontent.

Of this description is hafty and peevish language in common life. In fuch language, and in the feelings which give birth to it, many persons indulge themselves to a greater or a lefs extent, who appear confcious 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 society their deportment is placid; their language that of mildness and self-command. Neither are they acting a part. On the whole the state of their minds corresponds at the time to their words and demeanour The flight degree of restraint which the prefence of a stranger, or of any perfon with whom they are not intimately acquainted, imposes, proves fufficient imperceptibly to repress any rifing emotion of ill-humour, or to call forth the mental exertions neceffary to quell it. But follow them into domestic scenes, and you no longer contemplate an uninterrupted calm. No furious ftorm arises: but tranfient clouds are continually obscuring the sunshine. Any little incident which croffes the inclinations, any occurrence which difturbs the cuftomary order of family proceedings, produces an expreffion more or lefs tinctured with anger. Trifling faults in the behaviour of any other member of the household excite stronger fymptoms of irritability. Scarcely has one petty source of vexation spent itself, when it is fucceeded by some new cause of temporary disquiet. The intervals of tranquillity are faddened by the apprehenfion that fome trivial circumftance,

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