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say," Our tongues are our own; who is Lord over us." Surely, if you feel aright, you will enter into the grateful emotions of him who exclaimed, "Awake up, my glory;— my heart is prepared; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory."

Consider, secondly, the influence which the Tongue is capable of exerting over the minds and characters of others.

Can you specify the country, or the age, or the condition of society, in which this influence has not been powerful? Conceive of the effects produced, even on a tribe of savages, by the simple and vehement oratory of a warlike chief. Conceive, if you are able, of the effects produced on a

democratic assembly of ancient Greeks

by the energies of Demosthenian eloquence. You have sometimes felt, perhaps, the willing subjugation of the soul to the fascinating and commanding talents of some master of the power of speech, who knew well the avenues which give access to the human heart. And long before it was possible for you to know what the word eloquence denotes, you felt the power of the living, and animating, and soothing voice. You listened to the music of a mother's most endearing accents, and to the joy-inspiring tones of a father's voice of love. And as your capabilities of thought began to unfold themselves under parental fosterage, you imbibed full many a sentiment,

and received full many an impression,

even while you were only in the act of acquiring the use of your mother

tongue. all your companionship, but the history of the reciprocal influences of thought and feeling, communicated through the medium of speech? The influence which in your early days you felt, without tracing it to its source, you have long since begun to exert, and you are daily in the habit of exerting, over the minds of those around you. Is that influence,-let me most earnestly and affectionately inquire, is that influence of a character beneficial, or is it of a character injurious to the dearest interests of your associates? Would they have

And what is the history of

been losers, or would they have been gainers, had they never listened to your voice?

Consider, thirdly, the awful responsibility connected with the employment of the Tongue.

Hear the declaration of Him who will hereafter occupy that throne, before which shall be gathered all nations" I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment; for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." It is, I conceive, as if our Lord had said :"The evidences of thy character shall be sufficiently gathered from the words of thy lips; so that, independently of

thine actions, there will be abundant materials for the decisions of the judgment-day." Even a philosophic heathen could say," Such as a man is, such are his words:" and He who knew, infinitely better, what is in man, said,-" "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." If the tongue, in one single conversation, or even in one significant expression, may be regarded as the index to the heart, what a mass of materials for the proceedings of the judgment-seat must be accumulating every day of life, as the words, whether thoughtfully or heedlessly, are falling from our lips! What an awakening consideration should it at all times prove,-that every word we speak is heard by Him

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