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Intellectual, spiritual, social, and political life and death are in the tongue. Apply the proverb —

I. TO THE CHRISTIAN IN GENERAL. He prays with the tongue. He confesses with the tongue. He converses with the tongue.

II. TO THE PREACHER OF THE GOSPEL. The tongue of a true gospel minister produces life intentionally. The tongue of a true gospel minister may produce death incidentally.

III. TO THE SAVIOUR OF MEN. This is true of Him as a Teacher, as an Advocate, and as a Judge. Learn the awful responsibility attached to speech. Burner says of the incomparable Leighton, "In a free and frequent conversation with him for twenty-two years, I never heard him utter an idle word, or a word that had not a direct tendency to edification."

(John Sibree.)

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KJV: Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

WEB: Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.