HOMILETICS. Ver. 4.-Unbridled speech. "Our lips are our own," etc. If it be true, as we often say, that "actions speak louder than words," it is also true that speech is a. kind or action, and that words often speak more than the speaker means to utter. Light, thoughtless words, void of serious meaning, sometimes flash a light into the inmost chamber of the heart; they could not ha.ve been spoken if kindness, good sense, justice, humility, dwelt and ruled there. Profuse professions are often interpreted by the rnle of contrary. \Vhen Judas said," Hail, Master!" he branded him.elf as a traitor, hypocrite, murderer. The text may not mean that these words are audibly uttered. The Bible speaks often of what men say in their heart. The temper and spirit which go with an unbridled tongue are expressed thus: "Our lips are our own." I. 'l'ms IS A GREAT MISTAKE. Responsibility is not annihilated or lessened by our refusing to acknowledge it. \Ve are responsible for our words as much as for the rest of our life. Our lips are not our own, because we ourselves are not our own (1 Cor. vi. 10, 20; Ps. c. 3, Revised Version). God "giveth richly all things to enjoy;" but he can give nothing away; a.II is his still, and cannot cease to be his (1 Chron. xxix. 14; Rom. xii. 1). Responsibility to use God's gifts in a way pleasing to him a.nd to his glory increases with the preciousness of the gift. ·who can reckon the value of speech? That without which reason would be not only dumb, but blind, deaf, paralyzed-the chief bond of human society, the instrument of truth, instruction, command, persuasion, comfort, converse. All life is "in the power of the tongne" (Prov. xviii. 21). For good or for evil, even a short speech often loug outlives the lips thnt uttered it. Not only "what is written remains." Books and writings decay and perish, while" winged words" fly from land to land, o.nd Jive on through ages. A great trust is mnn's gift of speech. H. A MORE COMMON MISTAKE THAN MAY BE THOUGHT. Thus boldly, coarsely spoken, it is indeed the language of atheism. But think of the enormous amount of idle, unprofitable, unkind, unjust, insincere talk poured forth every day; not to speak of what is wilfully false, impnre, or malignant. What doc:s o.11 this mean but utter forgetfulness of respousibility to God for our use or this great gift? Passing sncl, too, it is to think how it runs to waste; of all the wonls of counsel, comfort, kindness, prayer, praise, thnt might be spoken, but nre not. 'fhe dulness of conscieuce on this point is astonishing. Yuu may meet often with Christians who positively pride themselves on "speaking their mind," no matter at what cost to others. People who would think it unpardonably wicked to strike a hard blow with the fist, thiuk nothing of giving a stab with the tongue, which perhaps years will not heal (Jas. iii. 6): Ill. It is not enough that we see the sin of unbridled speech, the reckless impiety of supposin" "out· lips are our own." Let us take to heart oun RESPONSIBILITY to our brother°man, above all, to our Saviour, for our use of this noble faculty and price- less gift. "The fruit of our lips" (Heb. xiii. 15). may be a ".~acrifice" in oth~r ways as well as praise. Remember our Lord's warnrng (Matt. xn. 36, 37). Meditate on what we owo to the words of those who have taught. counselled, cheered, and helped 78 THE BOOK '. OF PSALMS. [PS, XII, 1-8,
us; to the words of inspired men; above all, to the words of the Lord Jesus. "A word spoken in season, how good is it I" A kind word, a faithful rebuke, an honost avowal of faith and conviction, a manly protest ngainst impure or ill-natured speech may be the turn:ng-point for good of some young life. "Let your speech be alway with grace" (Col. iv. 6; Eph. iv. 29, 30, where note the remarkable reference to the Holy Spirit; Ps. xix. 14).