the tongue "is set on fire of hell." Now, this is no mere strong
expression--no mere indignant vituperation--it contains deep and
emphatic meaning.

The apostle means literally what he says, slander is diabolical. The
first illustration we give of this is contained in the very meaning of
the word devil. "Devil," in the original, means traducer or slanderer.
The first introduction of a demon spirit is found connected with a
slanderous insinuation against the Almighty, implying that His command
had been given in envy of His creature: "for God doth know that in the
day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be
as gods, knowing good and evil."

In the magnificent imagery of the book of Job, the accuser is
introduced with a demoniacal and malignant sneer, attributing the
excellence of a good man to interested motives; "Doth Job serve God
for naught?" There is another mode in which the fearful accuracy of
St. James's charge may be demonstrated. There is one state only from
which there is said to be no recovery--there is but one sin that is
called unpardonable. The Pharisees beheld the works of Jesus. They
could not deny that they were good works, they could not deny that
they were miracles of beneficence, but rather than acknowledge that
they were done by a good man through the co-operation of a Divine
spirit, they preferred to account for them by the wildest and most
incredible hypothesis; they said they were done by the power of
Beelzebub, the prince of the devils. It was upon this occasion that
our Redeemer said with solemn meaning, "For every idle word that men
shall speak, they shall give account in the day of judgment." It was
then that He said, for a word spoken against the Holy Ghost there is
no forgiveness in this world, or in the world to come.