“The sweetness of the lips increaseth learning” (Prov. xvi. 21).
Life is very largely made up of words. They are not so emphatic, perhaps,
as deeds. Deeds are more deliberate expressions of thought. One of the
most remarkable authors of the New Testament has said, “If any man offend
not in word, the same is a perfect man.” It is very often a test of
victory in Christian life. Our triumph in this often depends on what we
say, or what we do not say. It is said by James of the tongue, “It is set
on fire of hell.” The true Christian, therefore, is righteous in his ways
and upright in his words. His deeds appeal to men; but in speech he is
looking up, for God is listening. His words are sent upward and recorded
for the judgment. I believe that this is an actual fact, and I can almost
fancy that the skies above, which seem so transparent, the beautiful blue
ether over our heads, is like a waxen tablet with a finely sensitive
surface, and receives an impression of every word we speak, and that then
these tablets are hardened and preserved for the eternal judgment. So we
should speak, dear friends, with our eyes ever upward, never forgetting
that we shall some day meet the words that we have spoken.