March 17 AM

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Colossians 4:6.

"There shall not an hoof be left behind," said meek Moses to the stubborn monarch. All that belonged to God's children must go with them for his service. So the whole man; soul with all its faculties, body with all its members, Jesus claims for his glory and service. The tongue, though but a little member; words, though but as wind; speech, though but as sound; yet the name, the work, the love, the glory of Jesus are hereby greatly advanced in the world. As salt not only preserves from putrefaction, but seasons flesh with an agreeable flavour and relish, so doth grace in the heart the speech.

To a heart warm with the love of Jesus, and alive to his glory, why is the vain conversation of carnal company so disagreeable? Truly, the Christian is out of his element. He fears getting harm. An embargo is laid on his tongue. It is his glory to shun, rather than seek such company. If through connections in life he cannot totally refrain from such company, it is his wisdom to restrain his speech: "To keep his mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before him, that he sin not with his tongue." But always to season his speech, by the grace of Jesus, to the glory of his name.

But when saints meet, what should be the end of their conversation but Jesus? The free favor of God in him to poor sinners: the glorious doctrines of grace in Christ: their perfect consistency and blessed tendency: the comfortable work of grace from Jesus upon our own souls; how began, carried on, and how it is with us now: these should ever be our delightful subjects. But this by no means to catch applause, as though we were not in ourselves poor sinners, hanging upon, and hoping in Jesus from day to day. The precious promises of grace in Christ Jesus, how immutable and establishing! The salvation of grace by Jesus, how unconditional and absolutely certain to every believer! Conversing on such subjects, how savoury and relishing! Speech thus seasoned, how becoming and profitable to gracious hearts! When it is not so, it is a sad sign that the soul is like salt that has lost its savour, and calls for great searchings of heart. "For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt." Mark 9:49.

Then while I am a pilgrim here,

What should my tongue employ

But God's free grace and Christ's rich love,

Poor sinners' chiefest joy.

Lord, warm my heart, unloose my tongue,

To tell thy wond'rous fame,

No subject is so sweet to me

As thou, my loving Lamb.