3. And what shall I say of careless words, for they are words so often spoken even by the very best among us? We speak the words, and often we regret them as soon as spoken. But we are too proud to recall them. It may be that a word which we have carelessly spoken may be remembered years after, when we ourselves have passed away. Besides which, careless words, needless words, and impure words pass upwards before God, and He hears them and notes them down against that day when men shall give an account of every idle word. "By God’s eternal dwelling-place, Those words went floating by, And still the echo wanders on Throughout eternity. And whispering yet within thy heart, ’The still small voice’ is heard, And thou shall cry, ’O God! forgive My needless bitter word!’" Yes, reader, God may forgive the words, and will do so, as He has promised; but, as that verse says, "the echo wanders on throughout eternity." And the consequences wander on too. And though God may have forgiven the utterance of the word, yet since it was idly spoken, you will have to "give an account thereof at the day of judgment." It has been said, that the words spoken here "wander on" through eternity, and that we shall one day confront again the words which we have spoken in the flesh. How careful then ought we to be of every idle word! How particular that none escape us! For think of the torment it will be to the purified soul to meet in the everlasting city with the echoes--even though they be but the last dying echoes--of the idle words which the lips have spoken on earth. *EXCUSES.* "Make not vain excuses; God gives strength to all, Sets His guardian angels Round us, lest we fall. In the hour of trial Call upon thy Lord, Fight thy battle bravely, Think upon His Word, ’I will never leave thee, I am ever near, In My strength go forward, Cast away all fear.’" _E.C.O._