The Light of Faith, Part 2 · Section 21
§. XXI. Of the gouernment of the tongue.
IN particuler, righteouſneſſeIn ſpeciall the bridling of the tongue. takes order for the tongue & deeds, and firſt for thy words ſet a watch before the doore of thy lippes, that no wickedneſſe breake thorough the hedge of thy te…th. Therefore if thou be vtterly purpoſed that thy mouth ſhall not tranſgreſſe, note what Dauid ſaid to God in his prayer, by the word of thy lips, I hauehave kept me from the pathes of the deſtroyer. Pſal. 17. 3. 4 The word of his lipps for the guidance of the tongue may bee caſt into theſe rules.
1 Take not vp the name of the Lord thy God in vaine: when thou ſpeakeſt of God or religi…, his word or workes, h…s mer…ies or iudgements, let there bee an honourable mention of them, and open thy mouth with all poſſible reuerence, fearing that great and terrible name, The Lord thy God, Deut. 28 58. breake not forth haſtily into the diſcourſe of holy things, till thou canſt ſee how ſome way God may be glorified thereby, a wiſe man will conceale knowledge.
2 Let thy ſpeech bee good to edifie withall, ſuch as may miniſter grace to the hearers, without corrupt or rotten communication. Auoyd filthy ſpeaking, fooliſh talking, and ieſtings. Remember alwayes that of our Sauiour, that For eueryevery idle word that men ſhall ſpeake, they muſt giuegive account thereof at the day of iudgement. Epheſ. 4 29. and 5. 4. Mat. 12 36.
3 Let no guile be found in thy mouth, hate lying lips, and double-hearted neſſe in ſpeech. Pſal. 34 13. Pro. 22. 23.
4 Goe not about as a Talebearer. Imponens, augens, maniſeſtans, in mala vertens, qui negat, autminui… …acuit, la…da…que remiſſe.Lev. 19. 16. Pro. 20. 19. and 11. 13. receiue not an euill report againſt thy neighbour. Pſal. 15. 3. Be far from all whiſpering and backbiting. Pro. 20. 19. Detract not from his good name, by impoſing a falſe crime, or reuealing a ſecret ſault without iuſt cauſe, or aggrauating too much that euill that is true by him, or deſpiſing the intent but not diſallowing his euill deed: by denying, or hiding, or diminiſhing, or, but coldly praiſing the good that is in thy neighbour.
5 Reproue thy neighbor plainly for his faults, but hate him not in thy hart. Lev. 19. 17. Pro. 28. 23. yet paſſe by meere frailties, Pro. 11. 12. He that is voyd of wiſedome deſpiſeth his neighbour, but a man of vndrſtanding holdeth his peace.
6 Auoide flattery in thy ſpeech bleſſe not with a loud voice the flatterer doth lay a net for the feete of his neighbour. Pro. 29. 5.
7 In others wrath and p…ſſion, giuegive thou a ſoft Anſwer, Pro. 15. 1. and in thy talke ſpeake what is acceptable, and auoide all prouoking ſpeeches Pro. 10. 13. 32, and 13. 23.
8 Be ſure thou iuſtifie not the wicked, nor condemne the righteous, this is an ab…mination to the Lord, Pro. 17. 15. Pſal. 15. 4: Amos. 5 15.
9 In diſcourſe miſpend not thy time,
In iudging and ce…ſuring others, Mat 7. 1. Iam. 3. 17.
In doubtfull diſputations about things indifferent which may intangle the weake, Rom. 14 1.
In curious queſtions Rom. 12. 3.
In vnprofitable reaſonings, ſuch as were genealogies, 1 Tim. 1. 4.
10 In the euill time bee ſilent, and forbeare the Communicating of thy ſecrets to any, Amos 5. 13. Mic. 7. 5. but when righteouſneſſe and charity call for thy ſpeech, know that ſilence is ſinfull.
11 Let no curſing nor ſwearing be in thy communication, nor thoſe exceſſiue ſpeeches I proteſt, I vow, I ſweare, as ſure I liue. &c but yea and nay: that is, barely affirme or deny as the truth requires Mat. 5. 34. 37. Iam. 5. 12.
12 Make a wiſe and diſcreet profeſſion of Gods truth with all reuerence, and meekeneſſe when it is required, 1 Pet. 3. 15.
13 Keepe on foote the memory of Gods workes both his iudgements and mercies, Pſal. 145 4, 5, 6, 7. then thy tongue ſhall be thy glory, as it is called by Dauid in Pſal. 30. 12. Thou haſt put off my ſackecloth and girded me with gladneſſe, to the end that my glory may ſing praiſe to thee, and not be ſilent: O Lord my God, I will giuegive thankes vntounto thee for euer.