Now, we restrict its meaning to familiar discourse with each other by word of mouth. In both senses God requires us to be holy. Our language must be on all occasions chaste and pure. A holy heart employs a holy tongue He is deceived who thinks his heart is holy while his conversation is unholy. The state of the heart determines the character of the language.
Corrupt communication proceeds from a corrupt heart.
If we are holy in conversation we shall be careful not to say anything to the injury of anyone, unless the law of love requires it, in order to prevent him from injuring others. A holiness that does not save from evil speaking is of little worth. As a rule, if you cannot say something good of the absent, then say nothing at all. The holiness required must manifest itself in all our business matters. Men who borrow money through the influence of representations which they know are not strictly true, should not make any profession of holiness, nor even of justifying grace.