snare ;"- -a fear of boldly avowing the principles of the Gospel, and maintain

ing the honor of the cause of Christ. "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words," said the Lord Jesus, "of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels."

Fourthly, Let us remember, that it is incumbent upon us to conduct our social intercourse, so as not only to avoid doing evil, but also to effect all possible good.

Not satisfied with saying merely,"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth ;-the Apostle added," but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." The

Christians of Colosse are also thus exhorted:-"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." It is as if the Apostle had said:" Let there be in your conversation a principle of holy vitality, which may prove that your hearts are alive to God: let there be in it a corrective principle, preventing the tendencies to that which is corrupt,too often apparent in social intercourse let there be in it the virtue of a powerful stimulant, exciting the minds of others to all that is pure and salutary, while it imparts to conversation a zest most gratifying to the spiritual taste." And ought we to feel at a loss for materials to conduct, on these

principles, the interchange of thought and sentiment, in the house of friendly intercourse? What was the subject on which the two celestial visitants conversed with our Lord, on the Mount which was the scene of his transfiguration? What was the class of subjects on which Jesus usually conversed with his disciples? What were the subjects most interesting to the minds of those primitive Christians, who "continued steadfastly in the Apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers,-eating their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people?" No dejection sat on their countenance; no melancholy brooded over their minds; no

moroseness could be detected in their demeanor ; no insipidity rendered unattractive their conversation; yet we cannot doubt that their chief and favorite topics of discourse were connected with "the decease accomplished at Jerusalem," and its wondrous and glorious results. What other subjects could be in their estimation equally interesting, when, with one mind and one heart, they counted all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus their Lord; and were chiefly solicitous to live to his glory on earth, and to dwell eternally in his presence in heaven? O that we could imbibe more of their spirit, and then would it be easier to imitate, in some degree, the style and character

of their heavenly conversation! Were this attained, what incalculable benefits might we not diffuse throughout the sphere of our social intercourse!

Fifthly, Let us connect with our best directed efforts our most earnest prayers for divine aid.

A most appropriate prayer is to be found in an effusion of the inspired Psalmist:-"Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee, as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." Our daily prayers, including petitions such as these, should have, as much as pos