XXVII. GENERAL TEXTS CONCERNING THE TONGUE.

Cautions in the use of the tongue-We are accountable to God for its right use-Evils from the tongue.

1. How should our speech be regulated?

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. (4 Col. 6.)

2. Does the regulation of the tongue often preserve from

troubles?

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from troubles. (21 Pr. 23.)

3. What was the Psalmist's resolution?

I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle. (39 Ps. 1.)

4. Does God know every word we utter?

There is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. (139 P. 4.)

5. Will God punish those who abuse their tongues?

They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? (12 P. 2, 3, 4.)

6. Whence do our words flow; and what account shall we have to render of them?

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man, out of the good treasure of the heart, bringeth forth

good things; and an evilman, out of the evil treasure, bringeth forth evil things: but I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (12 Mt.34, 35, 36.)

7. Do many evils arise from a talkative disposition?

In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin; but he that refraineth his lips is wise. The tongue of the just is as choice silver. (10 Pr. 19, 20.)

Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. (10 Ec. 11.)

8. What are the evils of the tongue ?

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 it is set on fire of hell. (3 Jas.5, 6.)

9. Is it often employed for very opposite and inconsistent purposes?

The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? (3 Jas. 8 to 11.)

10. Is great care of the tongue necessary when employed in the worship of God?

Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few. (5 Ec. 2.)

11. Is the government of the tongue a test of our sincerity?

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. (1 Jas. 26)

12. Should we pray for God's assistance against the sins of the tongue?

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. (141 P. 3.)

13. Are we required to avoid all the sins connected with the tongue?

Put off all these ; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him. (3 Col. 8, 9, 10.)

XXVIII. PURITY-SANCTIFICATION

-IMPURITY.

Purity commended-Impurity forbidden - Blessings of the former, punishment of the latter-Reasons for holiness, -The means and end of sanctification.

1. Are we by nature unholy?

We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. (64 Is. 6.)

2. What is the seventh commandment?

Thou shalt not commit adultery. (20 Ex. 14.)

3. How did Christ explain the extent of this command? Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (5 Mt. 28.) 4. What was the inscription which God ordered to be placed on Aaron's mitre?

HOLINESS TO THE LORD. (28 Ex.36.)

5. Must the heart be sanctified?

Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. (I. Pet. 3.15.)

6. Must every appearance of evil be avoided?

Abstain from all appearance of evil: and the very God of

peace sanctify you wholly. (I. Thes. 5.22, 23.)

7. Is holiness necessary for happiness and heaven?

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. (12 Heb.14.)

8. What blessing did Christ pronounce on the pure?

Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. (5 Mt.8.)

9. What fruit does the truc Christian bring forth?

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (6 Ro. 22.)

10. Will God punish the impure?

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (I. Cor. 3. 16, 17.)

11. What do those, who were once "enemies" to God "by wicked works," become when they are reconciled by Christ?

Holy, and unblameable, and unreproveable, in his sight. (I. Col. 22.)

12. By what argument does St. Paul exhort the Romans to holiness?

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service, (12 Ro, 1.)

13. What effect should the gracious promises of God pro

duce?

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, (II. Cor. 7. 1.)

14. Is the perfect holiness of God one of the most powerful recommendations of purity?

As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation : because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (I. Pet. 1. 15, 16.)

15. What is the will of God concerning us ?

This is the will of God, even your sanctification; that ye should abstain from fornication; that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor. (I. Thes. 4. 3, 4.)

16. Why did Christ suffer ?

That he might sanctify the people with his own blood. (13 Heb. 12.)

17. What did Christ pray for his disciples?

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (17 Jn. 17.)

18. Is the aid of the Holy Spirit necessary?

And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (15 Ас. 8, 9.)

19. Is the death and resurrection of Christ a powerful motive to holiness?

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body; that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (6 Ro. 11, 12, 13.)

20. Is the union of saints with Christ productive of holiness?

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. (1 Eph. 4.)