The due regulation of the tongue is thus presented to us as the last and most difficult attainment in holiness. This little member" boasteth great things," and operates on human affairs with a power corresponding to that of the helm in a ship. The most sedulous attention, therefore, should be paid to the directions of Scripture for its government; among which are the follow ing most important injunctions. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers." "But fornication and all uncleanness, let it not once be named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks." "Let your conversation be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that it may minister grace to the hearers." "If any man among you seemeth to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, that man's religion is vain." We have further the recorded examples of eminent persons in Scrip. ture, relative to this part of Christian duty. Thus David declared: "I will take heed to my way, that I sin not with my tongue; I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me." And, knowing his own weakness to keep his resolution, he prays for Divine assistance: "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." It is recorded as one of the characteristics of true wisdom, that "the opening of her mouth shall be right things:" and the conduct of the wise and foolish is very strikingly contrasted, as follows: "The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright, but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness." "Pleasant words are an honey comb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." In Heb. xiii. 15, we are exhorted "to offer to God the fruit of our lips, giving thanks in his name." And there isa most interesting promise recorded in Mal. iii. 16, 17: "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: and they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day that I make up my jewels, and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." But, if such be the precepts and examples recorded in holy Scripture, relative to "ordering our conversation aright;" what shall we say of the conversation generally prevalent even among professed Christians? Is it such as Scripture enjoins? Is it such as God and an enlightened conscience can approve? And how much do we lose of the most sublime and sacred pleasure, by our negligence in attending to the duty of religious intercourse! If the consideration that "the Lord reigneth," should make the earth glad, and the multitude of the isles to rejoice; every thing which tends to present to our minds our gracious Heavenly Father, in the various dispensations of his providence, "bringing light out of darkness," and "order out of confusion," making even the wrath of man to praise him, and causing all things to conspire to the accomplishment of his purposes of grace in the establishment of his kingdom in the hearts of men, should be considered interesting as a theme for the conversation of Christians. The consideration of the miseries which sin has introduced into our fallen world, the effects of which its inhabitants so awfully experience, will habitually chastise the giddiness of intemperate mirth in the mind of the Christian, and induce a hallowed tenderness of feeling. This feeling, however, is nearly allied to joys of the purest and most elevating nature; for the Christian, while he mourns over the moral wretchedness around him, is enabled by faith to anticipate the ultimate issue of all things; and can perceive, amidst the darkest scenes, the harbingers of that spiritual renovation which shall ultimately visit our long degraded race. Often does he, in the secrecy of his closet, experience a joy which the world can neither give nor take away: often too, in the solitude of the scenery of nature, his heart is elevated with grateful emotions to that ever present and presiding Intelligence who gives birth and movement to all things; and in the exercise of filial confidence he looks up to Him as his reconciled Father and Friend. But why should pleasures so pure and delightful be confined to moments of silent contemplation, when God has promised to bless with his presence those who meet together in his name? Why should we so often employ the noble powers of speech and intellect, on objects and events too trivial to be recorded in an ephemeral page, when we have subjects of thought and intercourse worthy of a place in the records of immortality? Why, in our hours of relaxation, should we conjoin with the melody of music, thoughts and expressions opposed to those which form the theme of the heavenly worshippers, and which we must unlearn before we can join their company? Why should we not more often, in social intercourse, express the feelings of our hearts in a song of grateful praise, to Him who is the well-spring of our comforts the bond of our union-the foundation of our hopes? Have we no mercies to record; no arguments to animate each other to the conflict with our spiritual enemies? The mind is formed to seek enjoyment, and this is not to be found in the listlessness of inactivity. Our די blessed Lord, on all occasions, discovered his knowledge of human nature, by his unerring adaptation of his instructions to its constitution; and thus the command, "not to set our affections on things on the earth," is coupled with instructions and motives to place them on things above. And if we would escape the frivolity, not to say scandal, generally prevalent in conversation, we must cultivate a taste for those sublimer joys of a spiritual nature to which we have easy access, and for the enjoyment of which we have so many opportunities. proportion as we acquire a relish for these shall we disrelish those of an opposite nature; and it is only a thoroughly formed spiritual taste that can be an efficient safeguard against their ever recurring temptations. In Among subjects well adapted to afford interesting topics of conversation may be mentioned, the proceedings of those philanthropic and Christian institutions which are effecting so many important changes in the civil, social, and moral condition of our species, changes all tending to increase the happiness of mankind. Few things are so well calculated to inspire, among the young especially, honourable feelings, and to lead to praiseworthy and Christian conduct, as those eminent examples of almost every variety of excellence which the annals of missionary labour have exhibited. Those in whom the perusal of Plutarch's Lives could produce, an unconquerable wish to serve their country even with their life, might have been led, with these examples of a higher order of excellence to serve their God with equal zeal, though at the hazard of every thing which was endeared to them by earthly associations. A spirit of union among Christians is greatly strengthened by their engaging in the social exercises, of devotion. They thus mutually draw nigh to Him" of whose spirit we have all received," and the com. munications of which we may hope at such hallowed moments more abundantly to enjoy; communications through which our Saviour accomplishes that interesting object of his intercessory prayer, even "that we all may be one," dwelling and increasing in love. No Christian can seriously review the seasons spent in convivial intercourse, in its general tenor, without regret, or can have enjoyed the blessedness of Christian communion engrafted upon the delightful intercourse of domestic life, without being led to the conviction how much superior are the latter enjoyments to the former; and yet how few traces of amendment in this respect can we discover? Believing, however, that with many there exists a latent desire for an improved state of social intercourse among Christians, I would beg leave to suggest the following hints, which appear to my mind calculated to conduce to its accomplishment. As the arrangements of domestic intercourse depend more immediately upon the heads of families, upon them chiefly must rest the accomplishment of the desired reformation, and therefore to them more particularly are submitted the following suggestions. 1st. Habitually, and more especially, previously to the reception of guests, let prayer be offered to God for the presence of his Holy Spirit, to kindle in their hearts the flame of devotion, and to suggest and bring to their remembrance, thoughts calculated to cheer, elevate, and purify the mind. 2d. It is desirable to read and treasure up something calculated to afford matter for interesting and improving remarks. 3d. Some topic might, on particular occasions, be selected for investigation or discussion, in the general view of which those present might be expected to agree, and which their united contributions of thought might clear up and enrich. 4th. It might be made a specific CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 275. subject for conversation, whether any new plan of benevolence could be devised, or any additional stimulus given to existing ones. 5th. As there are many interesting analogies between the kingdoms of nature and grace, and many important lessons to be learned from the daily occurrences of life, it is of importance to cultivate a habit of quickly perceiving, and with facility communicating, these lessons of heavenly wisdom. 6th. When a taste for religious conversation is in a great measure to be formed, or the habit to be strengthened, let it be practised in the smaller and more select society of those friends who most relish it, by which means a capacity and inclination to introduce it more generally into society will be acquired. 7th. As fruitfulness in every species of moral excellence; must be derived from a vital union with our Redeemer, if we would shine in the beauty of holiness, in the presence of our friends, we must frequently retire from the world to hold communion withGod; and then,descending from this holy mount, we may hope in some degree to retain the heavenly impression in our intercourse with our fellow-creatures. 8th. For Christian friends uniting in the social circle, to sing a psalm or hymn, would have a tendency to collect the thoughts to a common centre-even that of infinite perfection, the well-spring of eternal joy; and unitedly to bow before the throne of God previously to separating, would tend to throw a hallowed sacredness around our joys, and to strengthen all the bonds of mutual affection. Trusting that these remarks have been written in the fear of God, and committing them to his blessing, it is the earnest desire of the writer that those who take a similarview of the subject would conjoin their exertions and prayers in promoting the common object. 4 U Y. S.. Tothe Editorofthe Christian Observer. I CANNOT but consider it as an important circumstance, that a man of Sir Astley Cooper's eminence should have publicly given his opinion on the injurious effects arising from confinement, over-application, and the want of air, exercise, and liberty, in the modern system of female education. The subject is so important that the attention of parents, and especially of religious parents, cannot be too widely or too seriously called to it. Sir Astley Cooper's remarks are as follow: "At schools, in general, too little exercise is taken by the scholars. Boys, however, will have it; but not so with the girls: they are frequently compelled to sit from morning till night engaged in learning music, drawing, geography, French, nay, even Italian, and I know not what else, without paying the slightest attention to the preservation of their health, and thus impairing constitutions which might have been rendered strong and robust. It is not my wish to discourage the cultivation of the human mind in any degree, nor even to prevent the fairer sex from attaining those accomplishments which so frequently render it the grace of life, and ornament of society; but I think it the extreme of folly in compelling children to pass hours over pursuits for which they have no taste, such as making them learn music when they have no ear, while their health is neglected and their constitutions are ruined by the confinement to which they are subjected. The mischiefs thus arising from the false system of education at present pursued in this country, so frequently come before my notice, that I wish what I have said to be generally sknown, in order that future misery smay be prevented, and the physical education of our youth be better gainstəmi „isnoiter å ød et yung SUA directed. Exercise should not be taken so as to fatigue the body; when children feel themselves weary, they should rest a little till they recover. When the state of the weather prevents them from taking exercise in the open air they should play in a large airy chamber, and be allowed to dance in the evenings, taking care that the perspiration excited should not be checked by any improper means, as is too often done with thoughtless and giddy children; and by this means they will be brought up with constitutions invigorated, so as to ward off the attacks of a disease to which they were predisposed. I do not exag gerate when I say that within this last year I have seen five hundred cases of scrofulous affections: never a day passes over my head without my seeing a case, and frequently three or four. This very day I have seen more; and if asked how many boys among them, I should answer, Not one. What is the reason of it? Why, boys will take exercise, and thus are less liable to the complaint; whilst girls are not allowed, and, therefore, if predisposed to it, are almost always attached by it. "It is a mistake to suppose, that the air of the coast in the wet and cold seasons is of any advantage to scrofulous children: it is only in warm and dry weather that any benefit will be obtained. Extreme cold suppresses the progress of scrofulous complaints, but in moist weather the symptoms return. In the latter part of the spring and autumn the sea shore is desirable; but in cold weather it is not. The bleakness of the air of the sea shore is unfavourable to the constitutions of children tainted with scrofulous complaints. Air, exercise, and nourishment, are the three great points to be kept in view in the treatment of scrofulous affections. jn bewerteth as liga as badbara sud J But what, you will say, nothing about medicine? Gentlemen, you may lay it down as an axiom, that there is no specific for the cure of scrofula; and he who says that there is, attempts to gull mankind by the assertion of what is not true. Medicines occasionally given with a view to improve the digestive powers, and regulate the secretions, are good; but attention to the three points I have just mentioned are of primary importance." Sir Astley Cooper's remarks are confined principally to the alarming increase of glandular affections among girls and young women; but this dreadful disease is not the only evil which in all probability arises from the methods adopted in modern education from that rage, I mean, for accomplishments, by which," to adopt the words of Sir Astley Cooper, "health is neglected and constitutions are ruined" owing, as he observes," to the confinement to which girls are subjected." To what, it may be asked, are we to ascribe the no less lamentable increase of nervous affections, and the general languor and debility which almost universally prevail among young women in genteel life; who are too often so unequal to any exertion, that the order of nature is inverted, and, instead of being able to assist their parent, the mother, after all the wear and waste of human strength, is obliged either to nurse, or at least to watch with careful solicitude, to prevent "the winds of heaven from visiting too roughly," the sickly plant which she has reared. Whence also does it proceed, that so few young married women in the same rank of life are able to nurse their offspring without injury either to themselves or their infants. To prove that these are not mere empty declarations, let any one divide his own circle of acquaintance into two classes, that of healthy, vigorous, and active young women, and those who are sickly, nervous, and debilitated, and, I firmly believe, he would be shocked as well as distressed at the sad preponderance of the latter. The natural order, within the last half century, has been reversed. Formerly the languid and the drooping formed the melancholy excep tion amidst the group of gay and animated companions; but now the exception is found in the girl who is possessed of that health and strength which can enable her without injury to support exertion and fatigue. It was noticed by Dr. Warren, at the time of his greatest celebrity, that "half of the young women he was called to visit were made ill by accomplishments;" and since this period the evil has been gradually, but constantly, increasing. I may be told, and perhaps with propriety, that many causes cooperate to occasion this decline of strength and vigour among genteel females: and each objector may allege that cause which, having fallen under his own observation, has con sequently engaged most of his atten tion. Nor would I deny the influence of many such existing causes, but I would still maintain, that the manner of bringing up girls, both at home and at school, gives a tenfold effect to them all. So far from furnishing any power of resistance, it lays them open, by a debilitated constitution, to mischief from every other quarter. And for what is this invaluable blessing of health and strength so readily sacrificed? Is it that the powers of the mind may be the more invigorated? I would ask in reply, When do those powers sustain so great an injury as when brought • under the influence of a nervous weakly frame? Or is this sacrifice made with the intention that the reason may be more strengthened, the judgment more matured, or the fancy better regulated? Is it that the temper may be more subdued, the seeds of inherent corruption repressed, and the kindlier affections fostered? Is it, that by such la course of tuition the pupil of the school-room should be formed not only to be a rational, interesting |