The power of human speech for good and evil.
There is, perhaps, no other power given us by God which more evidently distinguishes us from the beasts, than the power of intelligent speech. And perhaps we have no power that can do more to help and bless others. And yet this also is true—no other faculty is more degraded by sin. One is led even to exclaim, "What shall be done unto thee, O thou deceitful tongue, thou lovest all devouring words!"
I. THE POWER OF MAN'S SPEECH FOR GOOD. Describe the power of Demosthenes to sway an Athenian audience to patriotic enterprise; or Peter the Hermit calling for a Crusade; or Father Mathew pleading the temperance claims. Show what a gentle-voiced, sympathetic woman can do at the bedside of the sufferer.
"Words, sweet words;
A blessing comes softly from kindly lips."
II. THE POWER OF MAN'S SPEECH FOR INJURY. The few words of a king, a ruler a statesman, have often loosed the dogs of hateful war. The lecturer can persuade young souls to deny God and righteousness and truth. Men, and women too, can by the blandishments of speech, become tempters, drawing others into sin. The Bible has metaphors suggesting the good and evil of our speech. "The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters;" "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in framings of silver;" "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life;" "My speech shall drop as the rain, and distil as the dew;" "There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword;" "Their tongue is an arrow shot out, it speaketh deceit; one speaketh peaceably to his neighbor, but in heart he layeth in wait." The Apostle St. James makes the bad tongue to be a "spark of hell, lighting upon earth the flames of perdition." Everything else may be tamed, but the "tongue can no man tame;" it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
III. THE PRACTICAL POWER OF CHRISTIANITY ON MAN'S SPEECH.
1. The foundation of the restraint of speech is a change and renewal of the heart.
2. Then there should be formed a very resolute and sincere purpose to win the rule of it. The matter should come forcibly before us. The habits we have formed must be considered; the indulgences of the tongue must be tested; our life in the light of our speech must be judged. And there must be constant watchfulness, with keen recognition of occasions of failure. Prayer may well be directed to winning power over our tongue.—R.T.