an evil word may become the instrument; how that may be also progressively spread and truly, evil too frequently spreads faster and wider than good. The tongue, we know, was given us by our Creator for good, like all other talents by Him entrusted to us; and remember, we are accountable for its use: Our Lord has plainly told us, that we shall be judged accordingly: "by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."* Words, no less than deeds, are a measure of the state of the heart; and as our heart is, so will be the judgment upon us. Consider, therefore, and watch over your daily conversation : see that you are not hindering and dishonouring the doctrine of God your Saviour; see that you are doing your utmost to spread and to adorn it: speak in time, as you hope to speak in eternity, to the honour and glory of your Lord. We may gather from the sacred volume, that one of the happiest employ *Matt. xii. 37. ments, peradventure the chief employment, of the redeemed in the courts above, will consist in their united praises of God and the Lamb; in the pure and perfect harmony, with which they will celebrate together the wisdom, love, and power of Jehovah; with the company of angels, and archangels, and all the family of heaven. This world is our state of preparation for such exalted bliss and glory. Let us then be daily preparing, by "all holy conversation and godliness :" "let no corrupt communication proceed out of our mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."* Let us watch and pray, against all words of hatred and anger, of discord and contention, of levity and licentiousness; and especially, against every word, that may bring dishonour upon the name of the Almighty, upon the Saviour or His gospel, upon the Holy Spirit, by which we are sanctified and "sealed unto the day of redemption."† * Eph. iv. 29. † Eph. iv. 30. Be that name hallowed upon earth, and that gospel adorned, which we hope to hallow and adorn through the ages everlasting. R SERMON XI. THE PROUD RESISTED THE HUMBLE BLESSED. 1 PET. v. 5. God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble. IN the foregoing clause of this verse, the Apostle exhorts all Christians to put on, as a garment, a lowly demeanour; “be clothed with humility." Be of a meek and humble spirit; let this be your wellknown character; appearing openly in all your conversation and dealings with men. Give no person occasion to impute to you an arrogant and haughty bearing; on the contrary, let your holiness be seen and acknowledged of all men, as becometh the disciples of Christ. St. Peter subjoins two most powerful reasons, to convince us of the importance, the absolute necessity of humility. The first is, that "God resisteth the proud." There is no denying or doubting, that Jehovah is the Sovereign Ruler of the world; almighty, uncontroulable, irresistible; "He doeth whatsoever pleaseth Him;" the absolute disposer of all events; the work that He willeth to prosper, shall prosper; and that which He opposeth, shall be blasted and destroyed. And thus, upon whomsoever He bestows the countenance of His love and favour, "that man shall be blessed in his deed;" those whom He promises and engages to protect, shall be impregnably safe in the midst of dangers and of enemies; yea, even though a host of evil-minded men and of wicked spirits, were conspiring together to persecute and kill. And, on the other hand, the man who lives under the displeasure of the Almighty, shall Eccles. viii. 3. |