June 8

"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life."—Proverbs 15:4.

HOW many are the sins of the tongue—how many, and how deadly! From anger, from slander, from folly, from untruthfulness, from untender judgments, from impure and defiling speech, good Lord, deliver me.

There is, St. Paul says, a foolish talking which is not convenient. My conversation may be insipid, vain, unprofitable, trivial and idle. It may do no good to anyone. It may kindle no consoling, strengthening, inspiring thought. It is not seasoned with the salt of grace. It has not the earnestness and the spiritual quality which befit the Christian.

There is, St. Paul says again, a filthy communication which should never proceed from a disciple's mouth. It ministers to wantonness. It is suggestive of what is evil and unholy. It paints sin in gay and brilliant and enticing colours, so that its real ugliness is not recognised. All such speech I must abhor. I must not listen to it in others, nor tolerate it in myself.

There is, St. Paul says once more, a jesting which is not becoming in the believer and the saint. In whatever pleasantry and humour I may allow myself, I must ever be refined, noble-hearted, tender. There is a persiflage, a wit, a banter, a sarcasm, which is neither high-minded nor kind. It is enlisted in the service of sin and not in that of Christ.

My Lord, help me to-day to set a watch over my lips, that I do not offend against Thee with my tongue. The purest speech will need much purifying before it can join in the praises of Thy temple on high. For that worship I would tune my voice now, by the tones of prayer, by the defence of the right, by the accents of love.