"As new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. 1. Pet. ii. 2.

NONE are likely to profit by the word, but those who love the word; and those who love it, will have a desire after it Ps. cxix. 127. Believers have to learn from the images of nature, the mysteries of grace. The God of nature has kindly provided for all nature. The new-born babe soon discovers its wants; and, as if sensible of the provision it has brought with it, and which it has a natural right unto; it scarcely breathes the air, but it begins to hunt after" the milk," to which its tender appetite is naturally drawn. While the affectionate mother is pleased and delighted to administer to its wants, and assists the little hunter in finding its desired object; and gazes with a mother's pleasure upon, while she is imparting nourishment to, her tender infant. But great as a parent's love is toward their offspring, infinitely greater is the love of our heavenly Father to his babes in Christ. The desires of new-born babes after milk, are ardent, “As new-born babes, strong, and impatient. when pinched with hunger, and parched with thirst, manifest such an eagerness to obtain milk, so also should every child of grace evince a similar disposition by his love to, and searching after, "the milk of the word." SIRE it," saith the apostle, " that ye may grow thereby; feed on it, that ye may be strengthened by it. Nothing can satisfy the cravings of the infant like milk; neither will anything satisfy the Christian but Christ; hence he searches the word that testifies of him: John v. 39. The infant desires the milk just as nature has prepared it; so does the believer "desire the SINCERE milk of the word," without the least adulteration by art, eloquence, or any other mixture of men: Ps. xix. 7, 8. The desires of a natural babe are accompanied with endeavors to obtain the milk; a sight of the breast, merely, would not satisfy, but rather increase its desires. And such are the active desires of a sincere Christian after the word of God, that they can never be satisfied without it. Whenever you hear the word, "take heed how ye hear, " lest what you obtain be skimmed milk, which has been deprived of its nourishing and strengthening qualities. Mind that nothing is taken from it. See that it is not watered milk.

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"Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from troubles." Prov. xxi. 23.

A MAN has two ears, and but one mouth; and should never let out at his mouth more than half what enters in at his ears; he has two eyes, and but one tongue; and ought never to tell all that he knows; and should always think twice before he speaks once: Prov. xiv. 3.

"Whoso keepeth his mouth," will watch, not only what goes into it, but also what comes out of it; for we are exposed to greater evils from what comes out of the mouth, than from what goes into the mouth: Mark. vii. 20-23. It is well to think much and say little; and that man acts with wisdom, who never leaves his mouth unguarded; and holds "his tongue" with a strong curb and a tight rein. Such an one will save himself from many an aching heart; as well as prevent the reproaches of others. The man who knows how to speak and when to keep silence, evinces a wise head; and, what is still better, "keepeth his soul from troubles: " Prov. xiii. 3. Many have ruined themselves by their mouth ; and with their tongue have cut their own throat: Ps. Ixiv. 3, 8. Little words frequently produce great troubles; and, therefore, all who would keep their souls from troubles, must keep the door of their lips; lest their mouths should let out troubles; for sometimes there are many troubles in one word. When a word has once got out of the mouth, there is no getting it in again; nor any telling where it will fly; nor what will be made of it, if it has been spoken unadvisedly: Ps. xxxix. 1. You would do well to take out all your words and look at them before you speak them. Watch your words, keep your mouth, bridle your tongue, and examine your heart. We should never venture to talk about any one we cannot speak well of. Evil words are like poisoned arrows; and their wound is most fatal when inflicted on the back. It is as hard a task for some men to say what they ought, as it is for others not to say more than they ought. Irratability urges us to say too much; and a want of candor too little. Troubles prevented are better than troubles cured. Say the worst you know of a man, in kindness, to his face; and the best you can of him when absent

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"He that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. 1 Pet. iii. 10.

THE tongue is a very good servant, but a very bad master: Hos. vii. 16. One of the most dangerous and pernicious evils that we have to guard against is, an unruly tongue; and the snares into which men are brought by this little, ungovernable member, are sometimes intolerable to themselves, and ruinous to others: James iii. 6.

"He that will love life," or what is the comfort of life, peace and quietness, "let him refrain his tongue from evil"-speaking; and carefully avoid slandering: Eccl. 5. 6. He that would not embitter his own life, and would avoid pulling down troubles upon his own head, must keep constant watch over "his lips that they speak no guile:" Ps. xxxii. 2. "Ps. xxxii. 2. Life without comfort, is not worth calling life; be careful, then, as you love your life, to attend to the prescriptions here given ; that you may lead a happy life in this unhappy world. that will love life, "let him so live as to make life com

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fortable and desirable:" Ps. xv. 1-3. If you love

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your life, and would wish to "see good days, to have your days peaceable and prosperous," refrain your tongue from evil;" speak evil of no one, though you may be greatly provoked. Should you ever be in an ill humor, never speak till you have allowed yourself time to repeat the Lord's prayer; and have resolved with poor Job: Chap. xxvii. 3, 4. Set a strong watch over your mouth, and guard your lips that they speak no guile. Suffer not deceit to escape them; be candid and sincere; and seek peace with all men: Ps. xxxiv. 12—14. Rather die than lie. By attending to the mouth and tongue, you will not only avoid troubles, but be delivered from them Prov. xii. 6. A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: Prov xiii. 2. Pleasant words are as a honey-comb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones: Prov. xvi. 24. Death and life are in the power of the tongue Prov. xviii. 20. By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words shalt thou be condemned: Matt. xii. 37. Let the constant tenor of your discourse evince that you are a Christian. If a man seem to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, his religion is vain,

"Blessed is the man that wa'keth not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." Ps. i. 1.

GOOD men walk by good rules; and a man may be known by the company he keeps : Prov. xiii. 20. The ungodly must neither be feared nor followed; whether they be angels or men. Our first parents dearly paid for walking in the counsel of the ungodly:" Gen. iii. 4, 5. And all who walk in the same counsel are also called ungodly men: Jude 4.

"Blessed is the man, "blessed Now, yea, and he shall be blessed, "that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly." We live in an ungodly world; surrounded by ungodly spiritual enemies: Eph. vi. 12: and ungodly men; who, having cast off all fear of, and obedience to God, are ever ready to counsel others to do as they have done: Prov. xvi. 27. The first step toward ruin, is to walk in bad counsel. Those who take the first step, soon learn to take the second; for having laid aside religion, and entered into the service of sin and Satan, they take up arms against God; and are found "standing in the way of sinners; " ready to pursue all manner of evil, while evil pursues them: Prov. xiii. 21. And having stood awhile in the way of sinners, they soon become qualified to take "the seat of the scornful; " and that being placed against the gate of destruction, they can step no lower, till they step inside: Prov. xix. 29. It is but a short ladder, of three rounds, from happiness to wretchedness; ungodly counsel; the sinner's way; and scorner's chair. Blessed is the man, who shuns both their counsel and their way; and the surest method to avoid both is, to shun their company; for if we walk with them, there is a danger of listening to them. He who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, is not very likely to be found standing in the way of sinners; for while he refuses to lend an ear to their ungodly counsel, he will certainly not do as sinners do; and by keeping out of the sinner's way, he will be kept out of the scorner's seat. Such an one is blessed while living; blessed when dying; and shall be blessed forever. It is not very difficult to tell what will be the end of a man, when we can see the way in which he walks.

"Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you; and will be a Father unto you. 2 Cor. vi. 17, 18.

WALK according to God's direction, and you will always be sure of God's protection. Do all that God commands; avoid all that he forbids; and fear not what man can do. Sin is so very infectious, that to mix with sinners is dangerous: Eccl. ix. 18. And, therefore, if you would not be infected by them, "Come out from among them;" avoid their company as you would the plague; have no communion with them; but keep at a distance from them: Isa. lii. 11. Never make sinners, who delight in their sins, your companions; for you will be more likely to become polluted by them, than they will to be benefited by you; therefore," be ye separate : Prov. xiii. 20, 21. Christ loved sinners, but he was separate from them; he neither did as they did, nor said as they said. Sin is such a filthy thing, that none can have anything to do with it without being defiled. "Touch not the unclean thing," under any consideration whatever. Satan knows how to paint and gild sin over, in such a manner as to make it appear like virtue; but still it is unclean. Pride, he calls neatness; covetousness, frugality; drunkenness, good fellowship; rioting, liberality; gambling, passtime; and wantonness, a trick of youth. "Touch not the unclean thing;" the gilding of pills does not alter the nature of them. Keep no company where Christ is not welcome. A Christian should not associate with those who would consider it an outrage on society to introduce the subject of religion; and whose conversation is such as becometh not the Gos pel of Christ: 1 Cor. xv. 33. If you would not be corrupted by them, "come out from among them;" lest you should become one of them. A man standing in the sun's rays, soon gets his skin tanned, imperceptibly. Was there no other reason, why we should separate ourselves from the ungodly, this should be sufficient, "Thus saith the Lord:" Jer. vii. 23. "And I will receive you; "let who will cast you off, the Lord will take you up: Ps. xxvii 10. "And I will be a Father unto you; yea, and a good Father too. No matter who

turns you out, if God takes you in.