Circumspect Walking, Chapter 14 – Chapter 15
CHAP. XIIII.
Rules to carry our speeches wisely, as those that ayme at the Apostolicall rule of Christian circumspection.
1. COncerning the ground of them: Rules for speeches. 1. Let word… issue from a good foū taine.Labour to get a good heart, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speake.Mat. 5. …8. The heart of the wise guideth his mouth wisely, Prou. 16. 23. And, if the heart indite a good matter, the tongue will be the pen of a ready writer, Psal. 45. 1. Such as the heart is, such will bee the speech: and therefore hee that hath no care of his heart, cannot bee a good and carefull speaker. The Apostle requires gracious speech, Col. 4. 6. but that must come from a gracious heart: as Psal. 37. 30, 31. the mouth of the righteous will speake of wisedome, and his tongue will talke of iudgement. For the Law of his God is in his heart, and his steps shall not slide. and Pro. 31. 26. She openeth her mouth with wisdome, and the Law of grace is in her tongue. On the contrary, a gracelesse heart cannot speake well: Prou. 10. 20, 21. The heart of the wicked is little worth: the lippes of the righteous doe feed many; but fooles shall die for want of wisedome. The true reason, why many mend not their bad speeches, is, because first they mend not their heart.
2. Concerning the matter of speech:Let the matter be choise. 1. Because all must be wholesome so much as we may, therefore chuse the best matters to talke of, matters of religion, faith, hope, and the way to saluation: for wisdome alwayes chuseth the best. 2. If it be chosen or offered, it concernes either God, or our neighbours, or our selues.1. If it concern God, what. I. If it concerne God, or any part of his name, attributes, word or workes, wee must speake most reuerently, as those who are not worthy to take his name into our mouths. The precept is, Leuit. 19. 12. Thou shalt not defile the name of the Lord, but feare his glorious name, Deut. 28. 58. And they defile his name, who in common talke, lightly and carelesly vse his name, of God, or Lord, or any other of his titles in ordinary speech: and they, who are ordinary or idle swearers and cursers: and iesters in Scripture-phrases, who are farre from trembling at his word, Isa. 66. 3. and those that mocke at sinne and Gods iudgements, and abuse or are vnthankfull for any of his mercies. II. If the matter of thy speech concerne thy brothers person,2. If our neighbour▪ the rule is, to speake of the good thou knowest by him, behinde his backe: but of euill, not without calling, nor without griefe; and before him, or to him. Tit. 3. 2. Warne them that they speake euill of no man, but bee soft, and shewing all meeknesse to all men. Contrary wherunto is scoffing, deriding, cursing, railing, bitter and slanderous speeches, tending to the offence of any man: yea, if mens speeches may iustly offend vsus, wee must bee soft and calme, shewing all meeknesse, not rendring rebuke for rebuke, but passing by his sinne, espie in his person the image of God worthy to bee reuerenced and loued. If thou spea…e of his sayings o… actions, if they be euill, speake as little of them as may be, if they be doubtfull, construe them in the best part: for louelove is not suspitious, but hopeth all things. 1 Cor. 13. 7▪Praise God for his good actions: and as for sinnes in him, deale plainely and truly with him: Leu. 19. 17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother, but shalt plainly rebuke him, and not suffer his sinne vponupon him. Wee must not lie, dissemble, flatter, or sooth vp any in their sinnes, which is a most ordinary sin against this rule of wisedome. III. If the matter of thy speech concerne thy selfe,3. If our selues. speake modestly without vanity or boasting: Prou. 27. 2. Let another man praise thee, and not thine owne lips. Nay, we should rather extenuate and lessen the good in vsus, if wee must needs speake of it,1 Cor. 15. 9▪ as Paul, I am the least of the Apostles▪ and in an others person, I know a man, &c. 2 Cor. 12. 2.
3. Concerning the manner of our speech.3. The manner. First, because eueryevery mans speech by nature is corrupt,1. Sauory. therfore striue to make it gracious, and powdred with salt, Col. 4. 6. that is, well seasoned and sauoury, not sauouring of the flesh and corruption, but wee must driue out or drie vp the corruption of them, with the salt of grace. Against many, who powder their speech with oathes, and curses, and filthy rottennesse, or fondidle speeches, sauouring of the filthy sincke and puddle within. Secondly, it must bee iust and sincere,2. Sincere. the truth of our heart, Psal. 15. 2. without dissimulation or lies, seeing God made the tongue to expresse the heart. A fearefull thing it is, that most mens speeches are turned into meere complement. 3. Most earnest in things heauenly.Thirdly, it must bee more earnest, ioyfull, and comfortable when thou speakest of heauenly things, than of earthly: not iesting, or foolish talking, but rather giuing of thankes, Eph. 5. 4.
4. Concerning the end of our speech:4. The end of our speech, edification. It must tend to edification▪ Eph. 4. 29. to feed many, Prou. 10. 21. and minister grace to the hearers. It must bend it selfe still for God, the defence of good men and actions, and the disgrace of sinne. Better no speech, than to no good end. And yet many in their light, and idle speeches say, why, I hope I doe no harme. Yea, but what good doth it? Shame will not let thee say, thou intendest edification. Therfore looke well vntounto it.
5▪ Concerning the measure of our speech:5. The measure. First, wee must not speake too little,1. Not too little. and omit gracious speeches when occasion is offered, as many dry and barren hearts and mouthes, hauehave not a word for God and goodnesse, that hauehave words enough, and more then enough in any other argument; like idols in good things, that hauehave mouthes,Psal. 115. 5. and speake not; or as if they were possessed with dumbe spirits, and not suffered to speake any good. Tell such a one of a good farme, or bargaine, or natural things, and they sauour and rellish them well enough: whereas a good motion strikes them dumbe, and makes them as fishes out of their element. Neither,2. Not too much. secondly, must our words be too many: for in many words are many sinnes.foreign. The foole multiplieth words, Eccles. 10, 14. and Prou. 29. 11. A foole powreth out all his minde. But he that hath knowledge, spares his words, Pro. 17. 27. and he that refraines his lips, is wise, cha. 10. 19. It is folly to lay on more words then the mat…er requireth, and argueth impotency of minde, and car…ies a shew or demonstration of passion, and excesse of affection, or pride in speaking.
6. Concerning the season of our speech.6. The season. All our words must be seasonable, as well as seasoned, that is, fitted to circumstances, times, places, and persons. Wisdome will seeke a season for good words: for there is a season wherein the prudent will keepe silence. Amos 5. 13▪ And how good is a good word in due season? Pro. 15. 23. It is like apples of gold, and pictures of siluer. Husband men obserue seasons in sowing, and so must hee that lookes for an haruest of his speeches. Abigail would not speake to her husband Nabal in his drunkennesse, but when he had slept out his wine. EueryEvery man is not capable of eueryevery good speech, nor no man at all times alike. There is an vnaduised opennes, against which our Sauiour by his example armes vsus, Ioh. 2. vlt. Hee would not commit himselfe to some, who are said to beleeue in him, because hee knew what was in man. Silence is best where no good can bee done, as Christ was silent before the high Priest: and Rabsecai must not bee answered. To meet a man in the heat of his passion with good words, is to meet a Beare robbed of her whelps: but let the passion be calme, and then tell him how disguised and vncouered he was, he will perhaps beleeue it.
CHAP. XV.
Motiues to looke to our tongue.
1. BEcause a good man cannot bee an euill speaker:Motiues to gouern the tongue if the speech be naught, the religion is vaine, Iam. 1. 29. Lying and accusing is the diuels work. 2. Watching of good speech keepes out euill, which ingendereth to euil. Take vp Dauids resolution, Psal. 39. 1. I thought I will take heed to my wayes, that I sinne not with my tongue: I will keepe my mouth bridled, while the wicked is in my sight. And this is necessary, because the tongue is an vnruly member, as fire, and by this meanes shall become our glory, Iam. 1. 6. 8.& our brothers shield. 3. God hath a time to call to reckoning the words that are thought but wind, Psal. 50. 20, 21. euen eueryevery idle word, Matth. 12. 36.