Learn, before all things, to be silent, when your usual ill temper would instigate you to speak; learn first to endure and to forgive, when others show their weaknesses-to accommodate yourself kindly to their wishes, when you can do it without great disadvantage to yourself and others. Think often, that by anger and reproof and appearance of ill will we improve nothing, but commonly make matters worse; that every thing is to be accomplished by goodness and charity, but nothing by harshness and defiance. Remember on every occasion when the judgement and principles of others differ from your own, that you may be entirely right in your conduct, your knowledge, or your experience; at the same time that others in totally different situations, with different views, knowledge, or experience, may be equally certain of the truth and correctness of their persuasions; that a single mortal like yourself cannot know every thing perfectly; and that even if you alone did so, it would be folly to try to oblige every one to adopt your inclinations, views, and taste. God Himself is the author of the endless variety among human spirits. You cannot make all to think, will, and act precisely like yourself; you cannot mould all men after your own model-you are not God! Bear with others as they are to bear with

you; and think not they must put up with that in you, which you do not tolerate in them.

If you hate, you will be hated-if you despise other people, they will despise you; if you are haughty to them, they will be haughty to you. Put off your vices-love others, and every one will love you make every one who comes in contact with you happy for the moment, if it be only by a friendly word-and every one will seek occasion to assist in making you happy.

And may this also be my endeavour, O Holy God! Thou who givest power, and blessing, and success to all that is good-grant me also the strength of Thy grace, that I subdue myself;

may

and, through love of Thee and of Thy creatures, acquire that bond of perfectness, which is most precious in Thy sight.

XIX.

DISCRETION IN SPEECH.

46

COLOSSIANS iv. 6.

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

WORDS are deeds! of my words, as well as of my conduct, must I render an account to Him who judgeth the heart. How careless have I hitherto been with regard to what I said;-how thoughtless in the ordering of my speech towards my friends, no less than towards my enemies? Has my tongue been able, on some occasions, by a judicious word to bring together again separated friends; to soothe the suffering with consolation; to warn the erring; to deter the villain from his audacious course ?-how many other things which might have contributed to the peace or salvation of a neighbour, has it omitted! How often has it been dumb, when a single word would have given pleasure to some one, without any detriment to myself! How often has it spoken-when to have

been silent would have best ensured my own tranquillity and the harmony of others!

Words are deeds! By words we execute the weightiest matters in the world-we effect the most good, or the greatest evil. Neither riches, nor birth, nor civil consequence-but speech is the principal power by which man works out his will. Not the sword, but the word, is the sharpest weapon, with which we can either attack or defend. This power-this weapon-is granted to every mortal by his Creator. Hence each is obliged to render an account of the right use of the gift to the donor of it.

Our words are the balsam which we pour out as a lenitive to the pain of an aching heart-they are also the poison by which we destroy the happiness of a whole family. Through a word, we raise the humble, and abase the proud. It is the tongue which creates and exasperates enemies, or procures new friends and confirms old ones. Speech is the great comprehensive bond by which human society is held together, and people are linked with people. By words we give our commands-by words sorrow is appeased, anxieties are soothed, the erring are set right, domestic concerns are regulated, joys are expressed, reverence is manifested, devotion is winged to Heaven :-but through words likewise passion is armed, hypocrisy becomes dangerous,

innocence is seduced, honesty is put in fear, malice is instigated, truth is set at nought-hell is established upon earth.

If to the wise man-to the Christian-not even the most apparently trifling act of his life must be indifferent; if he must reflect with himself, in regard even to the smallest matter: Is this becoming of me?'-how important to him must be that speech, which he daily and hourly exercises!— speech, through which he makes himself known, by which he discloses his mode of thinking, and the worthiness or the meanness of his mindspeech, by which he turns other men to his advantage, and leads them to their happiness or ruin.

If I consider all the good or evil that I can occasion through the communication of my thoughts in speech-in commands, directions, criticism and conversation; and all that I have, in truth, occasioned ;-if I think over this in its whole extent, I cannot but be terrified at the levity with which I have often given my orders, uttered my wishes, made my opinions known, or pronounced my judgment. I perceive, that I have often, in my words, lost sight of the dignity after which my soul aspires; I perceive, that I am myself to blame, if I have enjoyed less esteem among my acquaintances, among my fellow-citizens-less respect, even among my own relatives, than I would willingly have en