parties, as a general rule, are unfriendly to the
health both of body and soul. The most profitable kind of social
intercourse is the informal meting of small circles, of which a
sufficient number are pious to give a direction and tone to
conversation.

6. _When in company, labor to give a profitable direction to
conversation._ If there are elder persons present, who introduce general
discourse of a profitable character, let your words be few. It is
generally better, in such cases, to learn in silence. When an
opportunity offers, however, for you to say anything that will add
interest to the conversation, do not fail to improve it. But let your
ideas be well conceived, and your words well chosen. "A word fitly
spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." The interest of
conversation does not depend so much upon the multitude of words, as
upon the matter they contain, and their appropriateness to the subject.
But, when no other person introduces profitable conversation, take it
upon yourself. If you will study to be _skilful_ in the matter, you may
turn any conversation to good account. This was one of the peculiar
beauties of our Saviour's discourse. Whatever subject was introduced, he
invariably drew from it some important lesson. If you are on the alert,
you may always give a proper turn to conversation in this way. I do not
say that conversation should always be exclusively religious. But it
should be of a kind calculated to improve either the mind or heart, and
it should at all times partake of the savor of piety. "Let your speech
be always with grace, seasoned with salt." No proper opportunity,
however, should be lost, of making a direct religious impression. If the
solemn realities of divine things were always present to our minds, as
they ought to be, we should never be at a loss to speak of them in a
becoming manner. When you meet with persons who are living without hope,
lose no proper occasion to warn them of their danger, and show them the
sinfulness of their lives, and the guilt of rejecting the Saviour. But
this should be done as privately as possible. Speaking to them abruptly,
in the presence of company, often has a tendency to provoke opposition,
and harden them in sin. However, this caution is not always necessary.
If there is much tenderness of conscience, admonition will be well
received, even in the presence of others. Great care should be taken, on
both sides, that you neither injure them b