THE POWER OF THE TONGUE: OB, CHAPTERS FOR TALKERS. BY BENJAMIN SMITH, AUTHOR OF 66 VICE-ROYALTY," "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." PROVERBS xviii. 21. LONDON: JOHN MASON, 2, CASTLE-STREET, FINSBURY; SOLD AT 66, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1863. PREFACE. Ir sometimes happens that a mine, rich in ore, but imperfectly explored, has to be forsaken. To leave the place where the labourer is fully convinced there are large stores of wealth, which superior skill and strength might have secured, is humiliating and painful. The miner, though he may have brought to the surface a little precious ore, feels disappointed as he observes how greatly his performance has fallen short of his desires and hopes. Regret of a similar kind is experienced by the writer of the following chapters, as he lays down his pen. He doubted not, when he commenced his task, that truth of incalculable importance was here to be obtained. At the entrance of this mine, in ancient and indelible characters, and written by a Hand unerring because Divine, was many a legend such as the one selected to adorn the title-page of this volume: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." We are thus assured, on the highest possible authority, that the subject is closely connected with our real and endless blessedness. General experience and observation furnish abundant illustration of this lesson. There was no room for doubt. When, however, the attempt was made to grasp the priceless |