command over it, however reKgious he may fancy himself, or be thought by others, is a self-deceiver, whose religion is vain^. It is therefore with great propriety that David specifies the control of the tongue as the first evidence of the fear of God ; " Whoso desireth life, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips fi'om speaking guile." Not only must all profane speeches and all impure communications be forborne, but every thing that is false and deceitful, or corrupt in any way what- ever. Every proud, angry, passionate, revengeful word must be suppressed, whatever may be the provocation to utter it : all calumny, detraction, uncharitableness, tale-bearing, must be avoided, and " the law of truth and of kindness be continually in the lips." God has said, that " of every idle word we must give account in the day of judgment," and that " by our words we shall be either justified or condemned ; " and therefore the fear of the Lord must of necessity cause us to " take heed to our ways, that we sin not with our tongue."]
2. In our actions —
[Sin is " that abominable thing which God hates:" and it should be universally and irreconcileably hated by us : " We must depart from evil, and do good." Whatever evil we may have been most tempted, and most accustomed, to commit, that is the evil against which we must most watchfully guard,
and from which we must most resolutely depart On
the other hand, we must be occupied in doing good. The doing of good should be the great business of life : first, the doing good to our own household ; then to all our neighbours ; then to the Church of God at large. The devising of good, and the executing of good, and the uniting with others in the good devised by them, and the stirring up all around us to do good according to their opportunities and ability ; this is a life worthy of a Christian, and necessarily flowing from the fear of God. If we truly fear God, we shall " abhor that which is evil, and cleave (be glued) to that which is good," and " be fruitful in all the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God."]
3. In our whole spirit and temper —
[A peaceful, loving spirit will characterize every child of God. " God is love;" and all his children will resemble him in this glorious attribute. True it is, that it is not always possible to be at peace, because some are so wicked and un- reasonable that they will take occasion even from our very peacefulness to injure us the more. Hence St. Paul says, "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." Whether we succeed or not, our constant aim and effort
^ See Jam. iii. 2 — 8.