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‘Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt.’
Col_4:6
I. General conversation—domestic, social, literary, political. It is open to a Christian man as much as any other, and with the same freedom, to use it. But here lies the mark of a Christian’s conversation upon all subjects. He comes to it with a mind imbued with holy thought; with a sense of the presence, and the love, and the providence of God. That is an undercurrent, which runs deep and silent in his mind; which crops up at times more than he himself is aware of. Or rather I should say it is an essence which gives a universal flavour, which others discover more than himself. It is ‘the ointment’ which ‘bewrayeth itself.’
II. Conversation for discussion.—Discussion of religious subjects requires great care. It soon runs into controversy; and controversy may pass into dispute; and dispute may end in anger. I doubt whether it is often profitable. Certainly it is useful, and even safe only, when very strictly guarded. Let me lay down one or two plain rules about the conversation of discussion.
(a) Do not let it slide out into common conversation, carrying the same tone. Let it be definite; hedged round; and lifted into a higher atmosphere.
(b) Do not enter upon it without a little secret prayer for guidance, and self-command, and charity.
(c) Avoid what is personal of every kind.
(d) Do not let it diverge and speak about people.
(e) Put the Bible all along in its proper place.
(f) Often stop to examine your motive.
(g) See and confess the good in everybody and everything.
(h) Dwell on the points of concord.
(i) Stop immediately that love begins to go out, and pride and temper to come in.
(j) Humble yourself really, not affectedly, at the end.
III. Conversation to do good.—It generally requires an effort to introduce religious conversation. Very few good things come without an effort. Why is the conversation in a family—not only on religious, but on all subjects—generally less intelligent when they are alone than when strangers are present? Simply because less effort is made to make it good. How often are we almost punished for our slowness and indifference in introducing a religious subject by the welcome we receive when we do it. And much more attend to the spirit of the word. It is more than the word itself. Make it plain that you have a real, loving intention. Put yourself lower than the person to whom you wish to do the good. When you speak of anything wrong, never say ‘you,’ always ‘we.’ And throughout let something of Christ be seen and felt in it. ‘Alway with grace, seasoned with salt.’
IV. Spiritual conversation—the conversation of real Christians for mutual comfort and edification. It is, unfortunately, very rare, and I am afraid that there is one word, at least, in which we fail to a likeness of that stage of the ancient Church when ‘they that feared the Lord spake often one to another.’ And yet there is nothing, perhaps, so helpful, so pleasant so preparatory to heaven, so true a part of the ‘Communion of Saints,’ and so honouring to God, as that converse of heart with heart and soul with soul, when the theme is heavenly and the spirit is Christ-like!