The Government of the Tongue, Chapter 4
CAP. IIII. What is to be done in speaking; and of wisedome.
WHEN we are in speaking, two thinges are to be practised: first, care must be had of the speach, that it be gratious: secondly, it is to be uttered with convenient bondes of trueth.
The speech is gratious, when it is so uttered,Col. 4.6. that the graces of God wrought in the heart by the holy Ghost, are as it were pictured and painted foorth in the same: for speach is the very image of the heart.
Ephe. 4.25. foreign.Contrarie to this is rotten speach, that is, all such talke as is voide of grace, which is the heart and pith of our speach.
And by this it appeareth, uEph. 5.3. Psal. 16.4.that no vice can be named but with disliking: & hereupon in Scriptures when by occasion a vice should be named, in token of a loathing thereof, the name of the vice is omitted, and the name of the contrarie vertue used in the roome thereof, as in these wordes: wIob. 1.5. 1. Kin. 21.10.For Iob thought: It may be that my sonnes have sinned and blessed, that is, blasphemed God. This being true, then by proportion the visible representation of the vices of men in the worlde, which is the substance and matter whereof playes and enterludes are made, is much more to be avoyded.
Gods graces, which we are to shewe foorth in our communication, are these: Wisedome, Trueth, Reverence,1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9. Modestie, Meekenesse, Sobrietie in judgement, Vrbanitie, Fidelitie, Care of others good name▪ but let us consider of them in order.
Wisedome in our speach is a goodly ornament. The Apostles when they waited for the Holy Ghost in Hierusalem, it descended upon them in the forme of fiery tongues:Act. 2.4. foreign. Prov. 6.23. & then it is said that they spake as the holy Ghost gave them utterāce in Apophthegmes or wise sentences. And he that governeth his tongue wisely, addeth doctrine to the lips, that is, so speaketh, as that others be made wise thereby.
This wisedome is then shewed, when a man can in judgement apply his talke, and, as it were in good maner make it fit to all the circumstances of persons, times, places,Prov. 19.11. thinges. A foole powreth out all his mind: but a wise man keepeth in till afterwarde. A worde spoken in his place, is like apples of golde with pictures of silver.
Now he that would have his speach to be wise, must first of all him selfe become a wise man. And the wise man of whome the holy Scriptures speake, is a godly man, and such an one as feareth God: because this feare of God is the beginning and head of wisedome:Prov. 1.7. eccles. 12.13. Psal. 14.1. & 38.5. Gene. as on the contrarie, the foole, whereof the Scripture often speaketh, is the ungodly person, that maketh no conscience of any sinne. And indeede such a one is the most senselesse foole of all. He that shall ever and anon be casting him selfe into the fire and water, and runne upon daungerous places to breake his legges, armes, necke: and further shal take pleasure in doing al this, is either a foole or a mad man. Now the ungodly man as oft as he sinneth, he indevoureth as much as in him lieth to pitch his soule into hel, & wheras he taketh pleasure in sinne, he sports him selfe with his owne destruction. Furthermore the man fearing God must have two things in his heart: a perswasion of Gods presence, and Awe.
The perswasion of Gods presence is, whereby a man is continually resolved, that wheresoeuer he is, he standeth before God, who doeth see even into the secrets of his heart. This was in Cornelius: Act. 10.33.Now therefore, saith he, we are in Gods presence to heare all things that are commaunded thee of God.
Awe in regard of God, is that whereby a man behaveth him selfe reuerently, because he is in Gods presence.
Awe is either in regard of sinne, or of chastisements.
Awe in respect of sinne, is when one is afraide to sinne, fearing not so much the punishment, as sinne it selfe, because it is sinne. For he feareth God indeede, which is of this minde, that if there were no Iudge to condemne him; no hell to torment him no Divell nor conscience to accuse him; yet he would not sinne, because Gods blessed Majestie is by it offended and displeased: and if he had it in his choyce, whether he would sinne or loose his life, he had rather dye then willingly and wittingly sinne against God. This awe being in Ioseph, was the cause that mooved him not to commit follie with Putiphars wife. cGen. 39.9.How then, saith he, can I doe this great wickednesse, and sinne against God?
Awe in chastisements is, when one humbleth him selfe under the mightie hande of God with all meekenesse and patience, when God layeth his hande on him more or lesse. When Shemi came foorth and cursed David, and flung stones at him, what did he? truely he stoode in awe of God, and therefore saide, d2. Sā. 16.10.What have I to doe with you, ye sonnes of Zerviah? for he curseth, even because the Lorde hath bidden him curse David, who dare then say, wherefore hast thou done so?
When a man is thus made wise, that is, righteous and fearing God, he is so guided by the spirite of feare, that he can not but speake wisely. Salomon saith, eProv. 10.31.The lippes of the righteous knowe what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowarde thinges. And againe, The heart of the wise guideth the mouth wisely. Contrarie to this is fond and foolish talke, an example hereof we have in Luke, where Pilate wanting the feare of God, saith, I finde no fault in Christ: let us therefore chastise him, fLuke 23.14.and send him away.