called "The Pulpit." He is far from sorry that others should have an opportunity of knowing how greatly, as well as continually, he is injured by a publication which scarcely leaves him any property in the produce of his own thought and toil. Camberwell, December 2, 1839. CONTENTS. "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and SERMON I. IDLE WORDS. say unto you, MATT. xii. 36, 37. "But I That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." We shall not enter into proof that there is no disagreement between the doctrine thus inculcated, and that laid down in other parts of Scripture where justification is ascribed instrumentally to faith. The thorough harmony of statements, some of which speak of us as justified by our faith, and others by our works, has often been shown on the simple principle, that, as faith will necessarily produce good works, and good works can spring only from faith, it is virtually the same thing to which of the two we attribute justification. The reiterated assertion of the Bible is, that we shall be judged according to our worksnot as though our actions were to be procuring B causes of everlasting happiness, but because they will furnish decisive tests both of the reality and the strength of that faith by which we have apprehended the merits of Christ. And if works in general shall thus regulate the sentences to be passed at the judgment, there can be no reason why some particular action, or series of actions, should not be taken as deciding men's portions-the only important thing being, that the action, or series of actions, should suffice to demonstrate the truth, and illustrate the power, of the justifying faith. In our text, Christ gives men's words as determining acquittal or condemnation at the last; and the question which presents itself is, whether there be enough in the use of the tongue for evidence of character. We wish to devote a discourse to the consideration of this point. You observe that every idle, every useless word, is represented by our Lord as a thing for which we shall be reckoned with at the judgment, even as though it were marked by great criminality. But is this consistent with the principles which we necessarily ascribe to the divine administration? can such trifles as "idle words" be justly taken as tests of character, or evidences of faith? are they not inadequate to the office assigned them by Christ? We solicit your attention to these questions: if we can succeed in showing that an idle word is not too inconsiderable a thing to be taken account of at the judgment, it will follow, we think, in almost necessary consequence, that our use of the |