It is not necessary that you should eat salt by handfuls, if I may use so homely an expression, or that you should be always talking of religion : but your speech should at all times be sea- soned with salt; and your intercourse, even about the most common things, should be such as to shew that religion is the one spring of all your actions, and the governing principle of your whole lives. In this way you will approve yourselves to God as good and faithful servants ; and under that character will you be acknowledged by him in the day of judgment.]
3. In the forming of a just estimate of our character before God —
[Our actiojis will not suffice for this ; but our ivords will. To have our outward conduct blameless is an easy thing, in comparison of what it is to have our words rightly directed for the glory of God and the good of men. The heart will be pouring forth that which is contained in it. And accordingly we find, that worldly characters, whether male or female, how- ever exemplary they may be in their outward conduct, rarely speak any thing but about the world. They have no disposition to converse about the things of God : they have no heart to praise the Saviour, or to commend him to the love of their fellow-men. Perhaps, during the course of their whole lives, with scarcely any exception, their communications with others have been earthly and carnal ; and in this respect they have far more resembled the ungodly world than the saints of God. But, if we bear in mind this declaration of our Lord, and con- sider its aspect upon us, we shall tremble for our appearance before him. Look well to it then, brethren, that " no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers^."]
Address —
1. Those who have been inattentive to their words —
[The generality say, "Our lips are our own: who is Lord over us '^?" But know, that "ye are not your own: ye are bought with a price :" and all your faculties, whether of mind or body, are the Lord's : so that you are bound to " glorify him with your body and your spirit, which are his'." I call upon you, then, to watch with all possible care against light and un- profitable conversation of every kind : and endeavour, with all earnestness, to improve your own minds for the purpose of instructing others, and to convey to all within your reach that knowledge which shall " make men wise unto salvation, through faith that is in Christ Jesus."]
g Eph. iv. 29. 1' Ps. xii. 4. ^ 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20.