Guarding the Tongue Against Careless Words

There are some lines, crude and homely enough, but sensible enough, written by Mr. Will Carleton, the American, which I am very fond of recalling:- “Boys flying kites haul in their white-winged birds; You can’t do that way when you are flying words. ‘Careful with’ is good advice, I know ; ‘Careful with words’ is ten times doubly so. Thoughts unexpressed may sometimes fall back dead; But God Himself can’t kill them when they’re said.” Oh! young men and women, learn to hold the tongue. You may do injustice by a thoughtless word to some- one that you will be sorry for all your days (James iii. 5, 6).-REV. C. SILVESTER HORNE, M.A. The Art of Sermon Illustration