Exposition of Proverbs 11-12, Biblical commentary · Chapter 12 · Verse 18
Verſe 18. There is that ſpeaketh words like the pricking of a ſword: but the tongue of wiſe men is health.
THere is, a brood and companie of ſinfull fooles, which ſpeake words like the prickings of a ſword, that is, dangerous, and pernicious, which pierce deeper to the hurt of mens names and ſtates, then the edge and point of a ſword doth to ones bodie. But the tongue of the wiſe is health, their ſpeeches are holeſome, and helpefull both to themſelues and others.
Doct. 1 No weapon is more hurtfull then a wicked tongue. Among all the complaints which the godly, and Gods owne ſpirit make againſt the wicked in the ſcriptures, they ſeldome complaine of any thing more then of their virulent and peſtiferous mouthes. It is ſaid of flatterers that their words are more gentle then oyle, and yet they are ſwords: Pſal. 55. 21. It is ſaid of falſe accuſers, ſuch as Doeg was, that their tongues are ſharpe raſors that cut deceitfully, Pſalm. 52. 2. It is ſaid of falſe witneſſe bearers, that they are like hammers, and ſwords, and ſharpe arrowes: Prou. 25. 18. It is ſaid of all ſorts, and of eueryevery one of them, that their throate is an open ſepulchre: they hauehave vſed their tongues to deceit, the poiſon of aſpes is vnderunder their lippes, Rom. 3. 13.
Reaſons. 1 Firſt, they cauſe ſwords to be drawne, and bloud to bee ſhed, and men to be ſlaine, and much miſchiefe to be wrought. Ahimelech and his brethren the Prieſts, were killed by the tongue. Naboth and his ſonnes were killed with the tongue. Our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe was killed by the tongue, as Peter chargeth vponupon thē that procured his death: Him hauehave ye taken by the hands of the wicked, and hauehave crucified and ſlaine: you deſired a murderer to be giuen you, and killed the Lord of life, Act. 2. 23. & 3. 15.
Secondly, the ſword, or any other weapon can onelyonly hurt them that are preſent, and in place neere to it: but the ſtroke of the tongue will light vponupon them moſt daungerouſlie that are abſent, and farre off: no place or diſtance can helpe againſt it: and one man may doe miſchiefe thereby to a great multitude. Doeg with one breath deſtroyed the whole citie of Nob, both man and woman, both child and ſuckling, and yet was not preſent at it. 1. Sam. 22. 19.What a ſlaughter would Haman hauehave made throughout the whole Perſian Monarchie, if the Lord had not wonderfully preuented it?
Thirdly, when men be aſſaulted with weapons, others will bee rcadie according to their power and opportunitie to ſuccour and defend them, or to pitie them for the wrong and violence which they ſuſtaine; but a malignant tongue cauſeth others to ſmite thoſe whom it ſmiteth, either by reporting that which it affiirmeth, or by beleeuing that which it reporteth.
Fourthly, the ſword can onelyonly wound the bodie, and take away the naturall life, and when the breath is gone the paine is ended: but a peſtilent tongue may poyſon the ſoule, and depriue men of euerlaſting life, and bring vponupon them perpetuall torments for euer.
Vſe. 1 Admonition to be warie how we carrie our tongues, that they be ſafely put vp from doing of hurt, and neuer vnſheathed, but when we are to ſtricke at ſinne, and to skirmiſh with Sathan. It is not good to make frayes with our brethren, and to draw vponupon their names: If we cannot vſe our weapons better, the Lord will binde vsus to the peace, and take order that his people may goe more ſafely by vsus.
Inſtruction to auoide the companie of ſuch ſinfull hackeſters that are neuer without ſuch deadly weapons. What can a Chriſtiā doe or ſay, or omit, that will not ſet their tongues on worke? And how can they open their mouthes to ſpeake with their tongues, but that they muſt needs ſpit venome? If they be angrie, their bitter raylings, and reuilings ſhall hauehave ſharp points, & keene edges: if they be merrie, they will perſecute with taunts and girds, & biting ieſts: howſoeuer they be diſpoſed they will vomit our impious othes, and blaſphemies, or ſuch other corrupt ſpeeches as will either bring griefe, or infection. 2. To be alwaies armed, and wel fenced againſt thē, becauſe we ſhall hauehave neceſſary occaſions diuers times to bee in preſence with them. That therefore wee ſeeke protection from God by prayer, as the Prophet did, ſaying: Deliuer me, O Lord, from the euill man: preſerue me from the Pſal. 140. 1. 3.cruell man: which ſharpen their tongues like a ſerpent: adders poiſon is vnderunder their lippes. And withall let vsus put on innocencie: for that will repell their ſtrokes, and ward them off, that they ſhall neuer hurt vsus deadly. True it is that none are ſo much laid at, as they which are moſt blameleſſe, the greateſt accuſations, and threatnings, and ſcoffes are againſt them: but yet they eſcape beſt of all others, becauſe they are leaſt liable to all thoſe kind of curſed ſpeakings.
Doct. 2 But the tongue of wiſe men, &c. It is the propertie of good men to vſe their lippes to doe good with them. This point hath been in ſome part, alreadie handled in the ſecond clauſe of the ſixt verſe, and we purpoſe, if it pleaſe God, to ſtand more largely vponupon it in the fifteenth chapter verſe 4. where is ſaide that a wholſome tongue is a tree of life.