you be one of those, " who will not hear the voice of the charmers." (Ps. lvii. 5.)
II. It is recorded of this man, whose hearing and speech were restored to him, not that he simply spoke, but that "he spoke right." Hence we are taught toplace a particular guard on our tongues, which St. James pronounces to be " a world of iniquity." (St. James iii. 6.) He speaks right, who announces the praises of God, who. speaks on things that regard salvation, and whose tongue is not employed in conversation on vain or idle affairs or in detractions or murmurs. Examine how you employ your tongue, and remember the assertion of the psalmist, " A man full of tongue shall not be established in the earth." (Ps. cxxxix. 12.)
III. Christ upon this occasion also, "charged them that they should tell no man," in order to teach His followers to shun the applause of men; "But so much the more, a great deal did they publish it, and so much the more did they wonder." (Mark vii. 36.) They were not in this instance disobedient to Christ, because Christ did not command with an intention of obliging them, but only did what humility required on His part, whilst they by honoring and glorifying Him, performed on their part the duty of gratitude. On this occasion it was said of Christ, " He hath done all things well," in order that you may learn to seek perfection in every thing, and not to do well some things only, and neglect others. " In all things," writes St. Paul to his Corinthian converts, " let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of God." (2 Cor. vi. 4.)
