"Good and up

the grace which sanctifies and saves. right is the Lord; therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment; and the meek will he teach his way." And they whom he teaches are wise indeed! Entreat the God of all grace, for the sake of Jesus who died for sinners, that he would grant you his Spirit to work in you all his sovereign and gracious pleasure.

What might not be expected if professors of religion were as diligent in supplication, as many are in hearing the word? If Divine instruction were sought, and its guidance submitted to in our worshipping assemblies, the most happy revival would take place; heavenly light would spread, and Christian love would abound; our families would feel the beneficial effects, and all around us would be edified and improved.—“. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

SERMON XVI.

SALUTARY DISCOURSE.

PROV. XV. 4.

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.

IN some respects, man hath no pre-eminence

above a beast;" in others, he far excels. The immor tality of the soul, and its capability of happiness, are his chief distinction; and next to these the faculty of speech, the power of expressing thoughts by words. This power is peculiar to man; and that it should ever be abused is an affecting proof of human degeneracy:-" The tongue is a fire; a world of iniquity:"-" the tongue no man can tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." But, in opposition to this, "a wholesome tongue is a tree of life."

The text is a proverb, a wise saying, which contains much in few words. The first clause may be read-" the healing of the tongue," by which is meant, words of healing; or, in language still more divested of Hebrew peculiarity, salutary discourse or conversation. And this is And this is "a tree of life:" the language is metaphorical, but instructive: it is expressive of beneficial effects, and of these effects renewed and permanent. Possibly the allusion may

be to the tree of life in the garden of Eden: in this view it suggests, that becoming conversation creates a sort of paradise; it is allied to Heaven, it diffuses peace and love, harmony and happiness in all directions. This, however, appears to be the plain sentiment of the text that salutary discourse is highly beneficial. In attempting to illustrate and improve this truth, we shall notice its exemplification in JESUS CHRIST,-in MINISTERS of the Gospel, and in private CHRISTIANS.

I. See it exemplified in JESUS CHRIST.

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"God who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." How dignified his character, and how kind his whole deportment! Attend to his public ministry, listen to his social and private converse; one spirit of wisdom and love appears in the whole. Even his enemies were constrained to testify-" Never man spake like this man." Grace was poured into his lips, and truth and holiness invariably proceeded from them. He gave the clearest discoveries of the Divine perfections and counsel : "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." By the wisdom and authority of this Teacher, the Divine law was vindicated in its purity, explained in its spirituality, and applied in its power. A future state was explicitly taught, and the unseen world revealed, in the ministry of Him who "hath brought life and immortality to light." And especially, to Him we are indebted for the solution of that infinitely important questionHow God may be just, and yet the justifier of the ungodly! The answer we have in his own person and sacrifice, in the substitution of himself in the

sinner's stead, in the perfection of his obedience, and the merit of his death. "The good Shepherd gave

his life for the sheep:" "he gave his life a ransom for many."

The great object of the Son of God was the redemption of lost men, and all that he did and said tended to this point. He found the world in a deplorable state of ignorance and degeneracy, but he came to enlighten and to save. He taught men that they were sinners, but it was in order to engage their application to himself as the only and all-sufficient Saviour. He could say, "The words which I speak, they are spirit, and they are life;" and his disciples, from the fullest conviction, were constrained to affirm, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe, and are sure, that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

All his words were words of healing. It is true f he reproved, and sometimes with pointed severity; but it was as a skilful surgeon, who probes the fes tering wound in order to an effectual cure. Who can read the words of Jesus without perceiving, that while he faithfully rebuked the proud and impenitent, he affectionately encouraged the humble; he tenderly soothed the afflicted, and comforted the broken-hearted.

What a "tree of life" was the "tongue" of the Saviour! His words breathed blessings wherever he was; they dropped salvation; they promised and secured its eternal enjoyment. And these words are with us, they are on record in this blessed book, revealed to our faith, and given as the ground of our hope. May we receive them" with all readiness of mind," and affection of heart! May" the word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom and may its healing efficacy be felt, its transforming influence largely experienced!

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II. The text is exemplified in MINISTERS of the Gospel.

They are the servants of Christ, they speak his words; and are they not words of healing? Consider the Apostle Paul: as a Christian Minister he affirms, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth." Was not his tongue "a tree of life?" Was not he a public blessing? He diffused abroad, in the widest circles, the healing virtue of evangelical truth, and could say, "Now thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ; and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place."

Ministers, in the present day, may learn of him; for he learnt much from Jesus, and imbibed much of his spirit. On them it is particularly incumbent to hold forth the word of life," not only in the pulpit, but in their social converse and in their private walk. All saving efficacy is in Christ; evermore, therefore, may he be exhibited, and his grace applied! For as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness" for the cure of the afflicted Israelites, "even so must the Son of man be lifted up" for the salvation of a lost world, "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." What avails any message but this, to the healing of the souls of men? "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord"-" Christ crucified; the power of God, and the wisdom of God." It has invariably been found, that where the glory of the Redeemer has been concealed, as "God with us," and his sacrifice undervalued as a ransom" for transgressors, the great ends of the Christian Ministry have failed of their accomplishment. Men have been amused, but not regenerated; they have been flattered in their pride, but not converted from their sins. Of infinite importance, therefore, is the sentiment which the Apostle