If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
                                -- James iii.2

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
                                -- Ps. cxli.3

        What I never speak one evil word,
            Of rash, or idle, or unkind.
        Oh, how shall I, most gracious Lord,
            This mark of true perfection find?
                                                  C. Wesley

WHEN we remember our temptations to give quick indulgence to disappointment or irritation or unsympathizing weariness, and how hard a thing it is from day to day to meet our fellow-men, our neighbors, or even our own households, in all moods, in all discordances between the world without us and the frames within, in all states of health, of solicitude, or pre-occupation, and show no signs of impatience, ungentleness, or unobservant self-absorption, -- with only kindly feeling finding expression, and ungenial feeling at least inwardly imprisoned; -- we shall be ready to acknowledge that the man who has thus attained it master of himself, and in the graciousness of his power is fashioned upon the style of the Perfect Man.
                                              J. H. Thom