THE POWER OF THE TONGUE:

OR,

CHAPTERS FOR TALKERS.

CHAPTER I.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HUMAN VOICE.

"HE that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction." (Prov. xiii. 3.)

"Many have fallen by the edge of the sword; but not so many as have fallen by the tongue." "Weigh thy words in a balance, and make a door and bar for thy mouth." (The Son of Sirach.)

INDIA reposes beneath the British flag. That mighty empire furnishes one of the brightest jewels in the glorious crown worn by our monarch. The teeming millions of India have advantages incomparably superior to those enjoyed by their fathers during any earlier period of their marvellous history. British ascendency in India was secured, and has been maintained, under God, by men who, with patient, loyal, and heroic hearts, employed to the utmost such resources as had been committed to

them.

Colonel (afterwards Lord) Clive, who had but recently laid aside his pen, and left the desk where he had toiled for bread, was surrounded by a mere handful of men, when, in 1757, he overthrew the immense forces of Surajah Dowlah, at Plassey, and thus laid the foundation of that colossal empire which has since then been raised there. The illustrious though not faultless men who succeeded Clive were also of heroic spirit. Often called to contend against fearful odds, they were yet found equal to every emergency. So it was, when in May, 1857, a hundred years after the battle of Plassey, the terrible military revolt threatened to sweep away every vestige of British authority, and deliver up the millions of India to a military despotism of the most appalling kind. During the early part of that year there were some indications of an approaching storm. But in May it broke forth to an extent, and with a violence, far beyond what the most timid had feared. Scores of thousands of Hindoos, trained to war by English officers, and supplied with the most approved weapons, were speedily in open revolt. The mischief was daily spreading. Many brave English officers and soldiers had already fallen, and many of their wives and daughters had been cruelly butchered. There were not, throughout the wide-spread territory, forty thousand armed men of British extraction. The Home-Government was ignorant of the outbreak. Most of those who might be sent to the rescue would have to sail fifteen thousand miles. Who could foresee what would happen before their arrival?

The little bands of faithful men were, in many instances, widely separated from each other. Their resources were scanty. But there was the spirit of true heroism, and the determination to employ to the utmost such resources as they had. They would not be forgotten. Aid would be afforded. Until its

arrival, they would hold India for their sovereign and country, whatever the risk. The honour of their native land, and the true welfare of countless millions, depended on the issue of the fearful struggle in which they thus unexpectedly found themselves engaged. The glorious diadem must not be torn from the brow of Queen Victoria by such ruffian hands; nor must the destinies of one-sixth of the human race be committed to such demon-like furies. Brave-hearted officers replied to the summons to surrender, "Never, while we have a bayonet or a man." Among the most distinguished heroes of that crisis were men who had long been known as the prayerful and devoted servants of God. Britain's sons triumphed. Our ascendency throughout India was once more re-established, to be employed henceforth, we trust, far more fully than heretofore, for the glory of God, and the true welfare of the Hindoos.

Those who love the Lord Jesus Christ, and desire the maintenance of His righteous and beneficent authority, and its extension throughout a redeemed world, have need to employ all the resources with which they have been entrusted. There is no occasion for despondency. The banner of the Cross

does advance, and will advance with increasing rapidity. Even in our own days many provinces have been recovered from revolt to professed allegiance, and myriads of hearts have rendered to their Lord a loving and holy fealty. St. John declared, "I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood and His name is called, THE WORD OF GOD. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean." Already do we behold the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom. He is going forth conquering, and to conquer. His people are arousing themselves for new effort, and pleading for the enlarged baptism of the Holy Spirit, that they may do exploits. We wait for the hour when "great voices in heaven" shall be heard, saying, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever." There is no occasion for despondency; but the militant host of God's elect cannot afford to allow any of their resources to remain unemployed; and more fatal still would be the neglect which permitted the foe to seize, and pervert to his ends, any of those resources. We are summoned to the battle-field, and required to do our utmost. Gigantic

systems of error, which burdened and blighted our earth at the time when Peter was preaching to the multitude at Jerusalem, still exist. These lofty and extensive fortresses still frown defiantly upon God's host. Most of the countless captives immured therein have never heard the name of the Great Deliverer. We cannot deny, either, that some provinces which in apostolic days were to a large extent recovered to their allegiance, at a vast expense of toil, and treasure, and blood, and over which, for a time, the royal standard of heavenly mercy waved gloriously, have been lost. They are this day in the possession of the insulting foe. We have to confess, with shame, that the crime, and ignorance, and wretchedness prevalent in Britain are appalling, and seem to threaten our national eminence, and our very Christianity. We fear not for the final issue of the conflict. "The Lord God omnipotent reigneth." The Redeemer lives. "He shall have dominion also

from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. His Name shall endure for ever: His Name shall be continued as long as the sun : and men shall be blessed in Him: all nations shall call Him blessed." But we have reason to employ to the utmost all the resources placed at our disposal. Among the most important of these is the human voice. Our almighty and benevolent Creator has employed, age after age, numerous and varied agencies to accomplish His gracious purposes. On the other hand, the arch-foe has ever been on the alert to press these, as far as possible, into his