The Government of the Tongue, Chapter 11
CAP. XI. Of Silence.
WIse and godly silence is as excellent a vertue as holy speech: for hee knoweth not howe to speake, which knoweth not howe to holde his tongue. The rule of our silence must be the lawe of God. By meanes of which, wise consideration must be had, whether the thing which we hauehave in mind be for Gods glory and our neighbours good: which done, wee are answearably to speake to be silent.
Here must be considered the things of which silence must be used, and the persons before whome▪ The things are many. First, if any trueth be to the hinderance of Gods glorie, or of the good of our neighbour, it must be concealed.
The concealing of the trueth, is either in whole or in parte. In whole, when the speaking of the least worde is hurtfull:Aug. li. ad Consen. As for example, the father and the sonne are both sicke at once: the sonne dieth first, the father asketh whether his sonne be dead or not: if it be said no, an untrueth is told: if yea, then the fathers griefe is increased, and his death hastened: therefore silence is the best. In dayes of persecution holy Martyrs hauehave chosen rather to suffer death then to reueale their brethren, that hauehave bene of their priuate assemblies with them.
The concealing of a thing in part is, when a man speakes a little of the trueth, and concealeth the rest. Which is warranted in all good and lawfull proceedings, which manifestly tend to the glorie of God. When Samuel … David, he answereth the Lord and saith, … …an I goe? for if Saul … of it he will kill me. Then the Lord answered, … with thee, and say, 1. Sā. 16.1, 2, 3.I am come to … sacrifice to the …, and call for … to sacrifice, and I will … thee … had shewed King Zedekiah how he might escape death, then the King said unto him, Let no man knowe of these wordes, Iere. 38.24, 25, 26.&c. but if the princes understand that I have talked with thee, and they come unto thee, and say unto thee▪ Declare unto us what the King hath said unto thee, &c. then shalt thou say unto them, I humbly besought the King that he would not cause me to … to … house to die there. And afterward he so answered, and the matches was not perceived. The like was practised by … Actes. 23.6.
Secondly, thou art to conceale thine owne secrets. Sampson revealing his owne secret, Iudg. … overthrewe himselfe▪ If thou desire ease by revealing, then …ell them but … fewe and to such as are faithfull.
That which thou wouldest not hauehave knowen, … … for howe shall another keepe thy counsell, when thou canst not doe it. Keepe thy friendes … likewise, if it be not hurtfull: and let ministers conceale the sinnes and wantes that trouble the conscience of such as are dying. Let Magistrates conceale thinges done in the Senate▪ especially concerning warre, least they be reuealed to the enemie.
If God bring any strange thing to passe, speake not boldely of it, but in silence wonder▪ Iob at the consideration of Gods Majestie in his workes, saith, Beholde, Iob. 39.37.I am vile: what shall I answere thee? I will lay my hande upon my mouth. Na…b and Abehu for offering incense with strange fire before the Lord were both distroyed with fire: which beeing done, Moses told Aaron that God would bee sanctified in them that come neere him, and be glorified before all the people: and then the text saith,Levit. 10.3. but Aaron helde his peace. When Peter had taught the Gentiles, and after returned to Hierusalem, they of the circumcision contended with him: he then rendreth a reason of his fact, which being made, they were silent. For so the text is, When they heard these thinges, Act. 11.18.they helde their peace, and glorified GOD. When Gods judgementes befall men among us, if wee speake any thing we must judge charitable. Blessed is hee that judgeth wisely of the poore, Psal. 41.1.the Lorde shall deliver him in the time of trouble.
Thirdely, the infirmities and sinnes of our neighbours are alwayes to bee concealed, unlesse it be in the case before named, that wee finde our selues called of God to speake. He that covereth a transgression seeketh love. Prov. 17.4.If God in merciemercy cover his sinnes, why shouldest thou reveale them. Salomon saith, It is the glorie of a man to passe by an infirmitie.Prov. 19.11.
Fourthly, all unseemely matters, all thinges unknowen, thinges which concerne us not, things above our reach are in silence to be buried.
The persons before whome silence must be used, are these. I. Malitious enemies of religion: Give not that which is holy unto dogges, Mat. 7.6.neither cast your pearles before swine. This was among the rest one cause of the silence of Christ before Caiaphas and Pilate. Mat. 27.14.II. Secondly, before Magistrates in their open courtes: where such as come before them are not to speake till they bee bidden. Then Paul after that the governour had beckened unto him that he should speake, Act. 24.10.answered. III. In the presence of our elders and betters, who must have leave and libertie to speake first,Ecclus 32.8. and must of others be heard with silence. The practise of this was in Elihu to Elithaz and Bildad. Iob. 32.6. Ecclus 7.5, 11A companie of men (as some say) is like to the Alphabet, in which are vowels, halfe vowels, and mutes: vowels are olde men, learned, wise, expert: halfe vowels, are young men and women, who are then onelyonly to speake when they are asked; mutes, are the same parties, who beeing not occasioned, are in silence to heare their betters.Tit. 2.9. And here all servants and children must remember when they are justly reprooued, to be silent, and not to answere any thing againe. IIII. Fooles and pratlers are not to be answered, unlesse it be to let them see their follie.