XII. ON CONVERSATION.

SPEECH is a medium of communicating our wants and wishes, of relating what has happened to us, of expressing our pains and pleasures, and of asking for sympathy. It commands, entreats, consoles, and delights us. It instructs in matters of fact and of experience, in worldly, intellectual, and spiritual knowledge. It tells of courtesy, and kindness, and affection, and conduces to the happiness of social life. It is a kind of music, and the best kind, for it breathes in sweet sounds a definite meaning. Without this faculty man might be a gregarious, but could not be a social creature. Were he deprived of it, language might still exist, and ideas be interchanged by written signs, but poetry and eloquence would be no more. It is only as the copy of human utterance, the echo of the flexible tones of the living voice, that they exist in writing. Its oral modulations extinct, the language of books would become as mechanical, as void of energy and interest as algebraic signs.

The reciprocal influence exercised by individuals, by means of this faculty is immense. Speech resembles a weapon, in wielding which, personal dexterity and strength are displayed. The power of some people's eloquence lies in their particular claims upon our affections, of others in the influence of their station, genius, or character, that of every one is greatly aided by coincident circum

stances.

Every man possessing the common feelings of humanity, can realize the effect of Veturia's expostulation upon Coriolanus, when memory repeats the tender tones of his own mother's voice. He who has been impressed by the pomp and ceremony which attend a sovereign's address to the assembled legislators of the country, is thereby assisted in imagining the effect produced by the harangues of an Alexander, a Cæsar, and a Napoleon. And even when some British senator holds attention enchained, a listener can form more distinct ideas than before of the incomparable powers of a Pericles and a Demosthenes. The preaching of a venerable servant of God, whose days have been spent in labours of love, presents to us the most lively picture of apostolic zeal.

It is a reference to something or other which has gone through our own ears to our hearts, that gives the eloquence of history power to affect us.

Eloquence adds the most seductive charms to temptation. He who had baffled the wiles of

Circe, could escape only by stopping his ears from the songs of the Sirens.

Many a Christian who has in other instances successfully combatted the allurements of the world, has yielded to the delusive representations of affectionate and fluent sophistry. Many a one who in fasting and prayer has sought with tears the grace of meekness, finds pride and passion again aroused by the provocation of some unkind or insolent expression.

Holy Scripture tells us, that none of our faculties are so difficult to guide and govern, as that of speech, and abounds in warnings, precepts, and observations, concerning its use and abuse.

We are in danger of being contaminated by the idle and wicked conversation of others. We are in danger of being betrayed or surprised into the use of sinful language, into various kinds and degrees of light, false and injurious speech.

Every Christian must often have formed and renewed the resolution, "I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue." His heart's best affections being directed heavenward, his tongue cannot express the folly and vanity of worldly-mindedness. Yet being sanctified only in part, and having indwelling sin still to contend with, his inadvertent language will generally afford to observers an indication of the present prevalence of sin or grace in his heart. To love one's neighbour as one's self, is a permanent and invari

able obligation, and it is a humiliating token of remaining enmity against God, that every casual variation of health and spirits, should affect the benevolence of our feelings and behaviour. It is natural it should be so, and that it is so, affords hourly testimony, that without the continual aid of God the Holy Ghost, the Christian can do no good thing. Trusting to long-established habit, or depending upon his own resolve, without the prayer of faith, his efforts are vain. Complacency founded upon fluctuating circumstances, must fail with them. But thankfully acknowledging as God's gifts, all that tends to soften, to sweeten, and to cheer his earthly lot, and resting in conscious helplessness upon the Rock of ages, the Christian will endeavour to still the vacillations of his own inconstant spirit, with the contemplation of his immutable Saviour.

Self-suspicion is the result of self-examination. When in company there arises any discordant jar, the Christian will not first suspect his associates of ill humour or ill manners; when any unexpected reproaches are addressed to him, he will not haughtily repel them: he knows that he is often greatly wanting in brotherly love, he knows that in many things he deserves rebuke, and his first impulse will be, to inquire of his own soul, Is it I that am in the wrong?

Speech is not only delightful as affording utterance to our wants, expression to our feelings, and

refreshment to our spirits, but also as a means of social endearment, of mental improvement, and of spiritual edification.

Improvement may be gained by conversing with persons of every station in life, and of every degree of intellectual ability. Every body knows something, most people know many things better than ourselves. Not only by observing and moralizing upon them, but by conversation with a child, or even with an idiot, some information may be acquired.

The every day intercourse even of the most retired life furnishes abundant opportunities of gaining knowledge concerning persons, things, and events; useful maxims, hints, or inferences for the direction of business or behaviour.

Those who heard from the inspired lips of patriarchs, prophets, and apostles the oracles of God, and far more, those who attentively listened to the words of Him who spake as never man spake, might form notions of the excellent use of speech such as our minds never can attain. Yet the highest we can reach are formed by hearing the same sacred words repeated by the ministers and stewards of God's word, or sweetly spoken by some private Christian, who knowing their inestimable worth, would fain win other hearts to feel it too.

When our minds are refreshed and our spirits gladdened by the converse of some wise and pious