That "heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad."* And again, "A word spoken in due season, how good is it!" Our Lord says that "every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." Our words are heard in heaven. "There is not a word in my tongue," exclaims the Psalmist, "but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether."§ Those were solemn words which we have already quoted in a previous chapter-so solemn, that we may be excused for repeating them here: "You were my friend," exclaimed the unfortunate youth, hearing for the first time of the gospel of Christ, as he lay, fever-stricken, upon the bed of death,-"You were my friend, and you never told me this. For years we have walked and talked together, and you never spoke to me of Jesus." Are there none in like circumstances who might say the same of us? It is a fearful thought. "How many opportunities," was the touching lament of another young person, at the point of death,—“How many opportunities have I neglected of speaking a word for Christ, and *Prov. xii. 25. + Prov. xv. 23. entreating poor sinners to come to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!' I humbly hope that God will forgive my silence, for his dear Son's sake, and strengthen me henceforth to be more earnest and faithful in his cause.' We cannot doubt God's forgiveness, asked as it was in the name of Jesus Christ; but she had little opportunity of glorifying her Saviour upon earth, as we trust she is now glorifying him in heaven. A few hours after having given utterance to the words above recorded, she fell asleep, and so passed away. Oh, let us take heed to exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day; for "the night cometh when no man can work." "Do you remember," said a friend, after a separation of many years, "what you once told me about the little star which you saw shining over the sea at Sandrock? I often recall to mind your words when I look at it, and think of you." Oh, how earnest was the wish at that moment that the words had been better worth remembering. We are never perhaps so truly happy as in the free interchange of thought and feeling with those we love, and who love us; when the sentiments of the heart spring to the lips, and out of its abundance the mouth speaketh. Great is our influence at such seasons; great need have we then of David's prayer-"Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer!" How good it is to lay up God's words in our hearts, talking of them when we sit in the house, and when we walk by the way; when we lie down, and when we rise up! How sweet to realize that exquisite passage in Malachi, at the third chapter and the sixteenth verse: "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name." As we pass through the world, God will often let us speak a word for him, if we ask him, and are careful to look out for opportunities; and make it perhaps a word of power and comfort 66 a word in season to him that is weary, for He only can stamp it upon the hearts of others, and make the fruit of the lips to grow. May all those who hear the sound of our voices, * Isa. 1. 4. as we pass among them, be comforted, and cheered, and strengthened, and made wiser, and better, and more holy. May they learn from our words, as some did from Isabel's hymns, to be kindly affectioned one towards another, and to put their trust in God. And "whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."* CHAPTER IX. LETTER-WRITING. "Letters which are links that bind The absent to us; letters which have power Doubts of God's goodness, like ill-omen's birds, THE effect produced by letters is incalculably great. Absence softens the heart, and inclines it to receive many a warning word, many a solemn admonition, which it would most probably resent if spoken by those near, even though they might be dear. Letters have often been God's messengers. If ever we are permitted to do any good by means of them—and we may be, if we try-let us remember that it is all of Him, and that there is nothing left for us but self-renunciation and praise to Him. How useful has the kind, judicious, well-timed letter of a Christian friend frequently proved! The author of "The Listener," and many other good books, traces her first serious thoughts to |