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sible, the regularity and the constancy of the morning and the evening sacrifice anciently offered at Jerusalem; and if offered by faith in him of whose atoning blood those sacrifices were the appointed symbols, they will rise to heaven as acceptably as the cloud of odoriferous and emblematic incense. If we thus lift up our ardent desires to God for communications which He alone can bestow, we shall not fail to receive the aid of heavenly grace, in restraining our lips from evil, and in exciting that spirituality of mind which is the best preparative for the hours of social intercourse. habitually converse much with God, we shall have the best preparation for conversing well and profitably with

If we

men. It will then also become easy and natural to us to offer such petitions as the Psalmist's, not merely in the hours of periodical devotion, but at every moment of solicitude and of danger, when aid from above may be especially required.

Lastly, Let us examine ourselves frequently, at the bar of conscience, in reference to the government of the Tongue.

Have we not, on this subject, occasion for very deep regret, and penitential abasement of spirit? How little have we honored God by the improvement of this noble faculty, his gracious gift! How little have we effected by the power of speech, for the spiritual benefit of those around

us! Were we to be deprived of this faculty, in any degree, by the effect of paralyzing disease, how heavy a burden might our consciences feel, from the recollections of our misimprovement of this invaluable gift? Are there not some who, instead of doing good, have occasioned incalculable evil by the abuse of the Tongue? "The tongue" of some "is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell." So let it not be with any one of us! May pardon be obtained for past offences and past deficiencies, through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus: and may there be granted, in answer

to prayer, the effectual aid of the Holy Spirit to control and sanctify the faculty of speech; that "not offending in word," we may attain the perfection referred to in our text, being able to govern, by most effectual discipline, the whole economy of "the outer man," to the glory of our God, and the spiritual and eternal benefit of all within the sphere of our influence.

V.

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CONDUCT.

Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye dɔ, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10: 31.

WE are in some danger of undervaluing such parts of Scripture as refer to circumstances in the primitive Church, to which no exact parallel can be found among ourselves. Yet frequently may we trace to these very circumstances the enforcement of principles, both of faith and of conduct, characterized by vital importance, and designed for universal

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