The Project Gutenberg eBook, Talkers, by John Bate

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Title: Talkers
With Illustrations

Author: John Bate

Release Date: January 31, 2010 [eBook #31143]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

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TALKERS:

With Illustrations.

by

JOHN BATE,

Author of "Cyclopaedia of Illustrations of Moral and Religious
Truths," etc., etc.

"Sacred interpreter of human thought,
How few respect or use thee as they ought."--COWPER.

London:
Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.C.;
and Sold at 66, Paternoster Row.
1878.

Hazell, Watson, and Viney, Printers, London and Aylesbury.

PREFACE.

The power to talk, like every other natural power of man, is designed
for profit and pleasure; but in the absence of wisdom in its government,
it fails to fulfil either.

The revelations of human life in the past show that the improper
employment of this power has brought upon individuals, families,
churches, and empires some of their most grievous evils. The revelations
of human life in the present show that this power is still unwisely
used, and the cause of similar lamentations and woes. Every man in his
own circle, to go no farther, may learn the sad effects following the
abuse of the faculty of speech. That member of the body, when "set on
fire of hell" (and how often is this!) what conflagrations it brings
about wherever its sparks and flames are spread! As a lucifer match in
the hands of a madman, when struck, may be the occasion of blowing up
castles or burning down cities, so the tongue may "set on fire the
course of nature."

Not only are talkers the cause of evils on such a large scale, but of
evils which, while not so distinguished, are still evils--annoyances
that mar the happiness and disturb the peace of individuals and
soci