withering to the dearest joys of life. We have shown that violent
anger, revenge and most of the malignant passions originate from the
bad use of the tongue; and that if we would live long and see good, we
must give heed to our ways by following the injunctions of the text.
We now propose a further discussion of this subject, addressed
particularly to the young.

A single spark of fire has often wrapped a city in conflagration.
Great effects not unfrequently flow from small causes. The apostle
James says, see chap. iii--"Behold also the ships, which though they
be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet they are turned about
with a very small helm whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the
tongue is a little member and boasteth great things. Behold how great
a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of
iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the
whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature, and is set on
fire of hell. For every kind of beasts and of birds, and of serpents,
and of things in the sea is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind. But
the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly member full of deadly
poison." The apostle, in the above quotation, has reference to those
who have so long indulged in evil speaking that it has become, as it
were, an incurable habit. If any man makes a practice of slandering
his neighbors, and disturbing the peace of the community, it is
immaterial to what church he may belong, or what os-tentatious
professions he may make, he is, notwithstanding all this, destitute of
christianity.

It is a painful fact that the religion of the present day is too much
accommodated to the fashions and customs of the world. Let a man, for
instance, use profane language, or get intoxicated, and he will