The Lord let none of Samuel's words fall to the I ground. Every thing that he said made an impression-carried conviction with it. This could never have been the case had he spoken hastily and carelessly. He had a realizing sense of the importance of speaking God's word faithfully-of bringing home to the consciences of his hearers the message he had for them. We are not prophets, but we are told, " If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." How searching that is ! Do I speak as one who has God's mind to deliver ? What quietness, deliberateness, that consciousness will beget! How all confusion will be avoided ! and even in questions where we are not at one, but are seeking God's mind, all appearance of strife and debate would be absent. Much time would be spent in prayer, quiet pondering all that was before us, and God, who delights to help His children when in conscious weakness, would manifest Himself in a very real and precious way. Blessed be His name ! He knows how weak we are, and how easily we slip into the ways of men, and recognizes underneath much apparent confusion a real desire to gain His mind. But let this not make us indifferent to His way. Let remember that " in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin," and so be sober and careful, coveting earnestly that "sound speech " so helpful to all.