626 An HUMBLE ATTEMPT, &C. your sacred services. We had need be wise as serpents in this., case, and harmless as doves ; Mat. x. 16. V. Let your conversation be as fruitful and edifying as your station and opportunities will allow. Wheresoever you come, endeavour (if possible.) that the world may be the better for you. If it be the duty of every christian, much more is it the indis- pensible duty of a minister of Christ, to take heed that no cor- rupt communicationn proceed out of his mouth, but that which is goodfor edification, that it may minister grace to the hearers; Eph. iv. 29. In your private visits to the mémbers of your flocks, or to the houses of those who attend on your ministry, depart not (if possible), without putting in some word for God and religion, for Christ and his gospel: take occasion from com- mon occurrences that arise, artfully and insensibly to introduce 'some discourse of things sacred. Let it be done with prudence and holy skill, that the company may be led into it ere they are aware. The ingenious Mr. Norris's Little Discourse of Reli- gious Conversation, and Mr. Matthew Henry's Sermon of Friendly Visits, have many excellent and valuable hints in them for our use. It is to be confessed, that the best of ministers and chris- tians sometimes fall into such company, that it is hardly possible to speak a word for God and the gospel among them. Try then whether you cannot lead the discourse to some useful theme in matters of science, art and ingenuity, or to rules of prudence, morality, or human conduct. There is a time of keeping silence, and restraining our lips as with a bridle, evenfrom ever y thing that is piously good, while some sort of wicked men stand before us Psal. xxxix. 1, 2. The bestmen are sometimes dumb with silence, and dare not speak of God or religion, lest they should cast their pearls before swine, and gire their holy things to clogs, and lest they should provoke the unclean or the envious animals to foam out their impurities, or to turn again and rend them. But I doubt this caution has been carried much farther by our own cowardice and carnality of spirit, than David ever practised it in the xxxixth Psalm, or than Jesus Christ meant it in the viith of Matthew. Let us take heed then that we abuse not this prudent caution to a manifest neglect of our duty, and to with- hold our lips from the things of God, where providence gives us a fair opportunity to speak of them. Now and then take occasion to speak a kind and religious word to the children of the household ; put them in mind of avoid- ing some childish folly, or of practising some duty that belongs to their age. Let your memory be well furnished with the words of scripture suited to the several ages of mankind, as well. as to the various occasions of life, that out ofthe abundance of the heart your mouth mayspeak to the advantage gf all that hear you,
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