Important Questions for a Christian.
By Dr. Vaughn
How is it with your use of time? Are you diligent to improve its moments as well as its hours? Are you wasting none of it in purposeless trifling? Is your work earnest, and your very relaxation vigorous? Do the two parts of your day hang well together, its duties and its recreations, both alike being worthy of a Christian? How is it with your use of influence? Do you bear always in mind that as no man ought to "live to himself," so, in one sense, no man can do so? He must affect, he must influence, for good or else for evil, those amongst whom, or in whose sight he lives and moves, speaks and acts. Is "your speech," as St. Paul says, "seasoned with salt;"; not by the perpetual introduction of sacred topics, still less assumption of an unnatural tone or a studied manner, as though you warn others off, and exhibit yourself as their monitor or their reprover; but by that indescribable, yet most real evidence of a true faith and lofty aim, the avoidance of all that may do hurt to piety or to charity, and the maintenance of "a conscience void of offense both toward God and man?"—Dr. Vaughn.