The Government of the Tongue, Title page – To the reader
A DIRECTION FOR THE GOVERNment of the Tongue according to Gods word.
PRINTED BY IOHN LEGATE Printer to the Vniversitie of Cambridge. And are to be solde by Abraham Kitson at the signe of the Sunne in Pauls Church-yard in London. 1593
TO THE READER.
CHristian Reader, lamentable and fearefull is the abuse of the tongue among all sorts and degrees of men every where. Hence daily arise manifold sinnes against God, and innumerable scandals and grievances to our breethren. It woulde make a mans heart to bleede, to heare and consider how Swearing, blaspheming, Cursed speaking, Railing, Backbiting, Slandering, Chiding, Quarrelling, Contending, Iesting, Mocking, Flattering, Lying, dissembling, Vaine and Idle talking overflowe in all places, so as men which feare God had better be any where, then in the companie of most men. Well then, art thou a man which hast made little conscience of thy speech and talke? repent seriously of this sinne, and amende thy life, least for the abusing of thy tongue thou crie with Dives in Hell,Luke 16.14. Send Lazarus that he may dippe the tippe of his finger in water and coole my tongue. And if thou be one which hast had care to order thy selfe in speech and silence according to Gods word, oh, doe it more. For what ashame is it, that men with the same tongue wherwith they confesse the faith and religion of Christ, should by vaine and ungodly speech utterly denie the power thereof? And for thy better helpe herein, I have penned these fewe lines following, concerning the Government of the tongue. Vse them for thy benefite, and finding profite thereby, give glorie to God. M.D.XCII. Decemb. 12.
W. Perkins.