A Bridle for the Tongue, Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Divers conſiderations to ſtir us up to the bridling and moderating of our Tongues.
SEeing then that men moſt eaſily of all things do offend in their lips and tongues, then which to keep from failing there is nothing more difficult; what need have we to be watchful over our mouths, and careful to keep the doors of our lips, that we offend not with our tongues! It is a thing praiſe-worthy, in anger to keep our hands from fighting, in abundance of dainty meats to bridle our appetite from intemperance; in great proſperity to refrain from pride; but to offend with the tongue being ſo eaſy, and the way thereof ſo ſlippery, that not to offend in words is a vertue ſo rare, and a thing ſo ſeldom ſeen, as that the ſon of Syrach counteth it moſt marvelous, when he ſaith, Who is he that faileth not in his tongue? and St. James eſteemeth it a great perfection; If any man offend not in word, the ſame is a perfect man, and able alſo to bridle the whole body. Jam. 3.2. And to ſhew what great things may be done by the well ordering of the tongue, the Apoſtle compareth it to a Bridle or Bit of an horſe: like as the bit is but a ſmall thing in compariſon of the horſe, yet it turneth about, and ruleth the ſtrongeſt horſe at the pleaſure of the rider; ſo the Tongue is but a ſmall member in the body of man, yet being moderated with diſcretion, it bridleth the whole body. Now that we may the better be enabled to bridle and moderate our tongues, I ſhall propound theſe conſiderations.
God in his word gives a great charge Conſid. 1 to his people that own him for their God, that they look carefully after their tongues: He that leaveth not the eye, the ear, the hand at liberty, he leaveth not the tongue at liberty: A man may not do with his tongue as he pleaſeth. Prov. 4.23, 24. Solomon adviſeth, Firſt, keep thy heart with all diligence, &c. then the tongue, Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverſe lips put far from thee; what is ſpoken there of a perverſe tongue, is meant of all the ſins of the tongue, that have been ſpoken of, and many more that might have been ſpoken to: And ſeeing God doth ſo ſtrictly require that we ſhould keep our tongues from evil, and our lips from ſpeaking guile. Pſal. 34.13. It behoveth all thoſe that would be counted Gods people to take ſpecial care of it: He that keepeth himſelf from other ſins, and faileth herein, ſheweth the vanity of his Religion.
Let us conſider wherefore God Conſid. 2 doth ſo often repeat his commands for the right ordering the tongue, and his prohibitions againſt the ſins of the tongue. Surely he doth it for theſe ends. 1. That if men be careleſs at one time, they may be more careful at another; and if they paſs over it in one place of Scripture, they may meet with it in another. 2. Becauſe he knew how careleſs men were apt to be of their tongues, though they were the more careful in other things 3. He knew well the miſchiefs of it, what hurt it would be; therefore he is ſo frequent in commending the duty, like the Maſter of the family, often giving in charge to his ſervants to take heed of fire, becauſe he knoweth the danger of it if it break out. 4. Becauſe he knoweth what a matter it is to keep the tongue in good order: The Apoſtle ſheweth, that though a ſmall Bit will rule a great Horſe, and a little …udder will rule a great Ship, yet the tongue is very hardly tamed▪ Therefore God doth ſo often provide a Remedy againſt it.
We muſt when we leaſt think of it, Conſid. 3 be called to account for all and every ſin of the tongue: God will demand a reaſon why we did let our tongues looſe at ſuch a time, and ſuch a time, in ſuch and ſuch diſcourſes; and though mens Laws will not reach ſuch ſinners, yet Gods Laws will▪ and the Lord Jeſus ſaith, that for every idle word that men ſhall ſpeak, they ſhall give account at the laſt day. Mat. 12.36. Alas! how much vain diſcourſe proceedeth from men, that they take no notice of! but did men conſider this, it would make them more carefull then they are; did they conſider they muſt give account of their evil-ſpeaking to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead, 1 Pet. 4.5. God will enquire a reaſon why you ſlandered ſuch a one at ſuch a time; what anſwer will you give at that day? Conſider how God dealt with Aaron and Miriam for ſpeaking againſt Moſes; they ſpeak againſt him becauſe of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; that is the pretence. Numb. 12.1. but the true reaſon of their grudge is expreſſed. ver. 2▪ And they ſaid, Hath the Lord indeed ſpoken by Moſes only? hath he not ſpoken alſo by us? and the Lord heard it. And God doth not only take notice of it, but alſo he reaſoneth with them about it, how they durſt do it: Wherefore were ye not afraid to ſpeak againſt my ſervant Moſes? ver. 7, 8. and not only ſo, but conſider how God puniſheth Miriam; Firſt, ſhe is ſmitten with leproſie, then ſhe is put out of the camp of Iſrael: Men think it nothing to ſpeak againſt their Miniſter; but God will bring ſuch to account for it. Some do it becauſe they will not ſuffer the word of reproof to come cloſe upon their hearts, but put it off with railing: and others with Aaron and Miriam cry out, Hath not God given us the gifts of the ſpirit as well as to him? cannot we preach as well as he? This hath been the language of many men of late years among us: but God keeps an account of all the ſinful words of ſuch men. God by the Prophet Jeremy 1.6. ſheweth, that he did harken, but they did not ſpeak that which they ought to do, and that he took notice of it: and Malac. 3.17. there is a book of remembrance before the Lord; and as he remembreth the words of the wicked to puniſh them for it, ſo he remembreth the gracious words of his People to reward them for it; for they are written before him.
Conſid. 4 As God will call them to account for their words; ſo according to their words he will judge them: By thy words thou ſhalt be juſtified, and by thy words thou ſhalt be condemned, ſaith our Saviour. Mat. 12.37. God will …dge men according as their words …ew either Holineſs or wickedneſs: …o Jude ſets down what God will do …to men for their evil words: God …ll execute judgement up… all,A man is condemned by his words: as though nothing did return into the condemnation of a man but his words; and indeed a mans worſt ſins be his words: The ſin againſt the Holy-Ghoſt conſiſteth in word; the Holy-Ghoſt is more on the tongue then all the members elſe. Capel. de tentat. part. 3. cap. 5. to convince all that …e ungodly among them, …f all their ungodly deeds, …hich they have ungodly …ommitted, and of all their …ard ſpeeches, which un…odly ſinners have ſpoken …gainſt him: this (if well con…dered) would be a ſtrong motive to perſwade men to …ake more heed of ſinning …n this manner: Solomon ſaith, A mans …elly ſhall be ſatisfied with the fruit of his mouth, and with the encreaſe of his …ips ſhall he be filled. Death and Life …re in the power of rhe tongue, and they that love it ſhall eat the fruit thereof. Prov. 18.20, 21. the ſcope of the wiſe man is to ſhew what influence the words of men have either to their weal or woe to eternity. ver. 20. the ſhall eat of the fruit of their tongue whether wholſom or poiſonous; an… ver. 21. Life or death, according t… their words. He that ſuffereth h… tongue to run at random withou… bridling it, ſhall have the fruit of i… even everlaſting death: The tongu… is either the beſt or worſt member i… the body next the heart: and ſaith th… wiſe man, Prov. 13.3. He that openeth wide his lips ſhall have deſtruction but he that keepeth his mouth, keepet… his life: Men are careful of nothin… ſo much as of their life; then woul… you keep your lives? keep you tongues: it is not without great cauſ… the ſpirit of God hath ſet down the… things ſo plainly in Scripture:Anacharſis being askt what was worſt and beſt in a man, anſwered, the tongue, if it be not ruled, it is the worſt; if well ruled, the beſt. Th… tongue, as one noteth; is a Tree o… life to them that uſe it well, a Tree o… death to them that abuſe it: It is fitl… compared to the Gates of a beſiege… City, whoſe ſafety or deſtructio… ſtandeth much in their careful or loo… cuſtody.
Conſider how God dealeth with Conſid. 5 …he deareſt of his children when they …ffend with their tongues. How did God deal with Moſes though an holy …nd good man, and the meekeſt upon …he face of all the earth? Numb. 12.3. …et when he is provoked by the peo…le, he doth not ſo order his tongue as …e ought to do. Pſal. 106.32, 33. they …rovoke his ſpirit, and he ſpeaks unadviſedly with his lips; ſo that it went ill with Moſes for their ſakes; the ſtory whereof you have Numb. 20.3. the people want water, and they chide with Moſes, ſaying, Would God we had died when our brethren died before the Lord: their diſcontent put that good man into a raſh and unadviſed ſpeech: when God bade him take the rod and ſpeak to the Rock, he gathereth the Congregation together, and ſaith unto them, Hear now ye Rebels, muſt we fetch water for you out of this Rock? ver. 9, 10. the ſpeech is ſpoken againſt the people, not againſt God, and …o not ſo great a ſin as in impatience and unbelief to conteſt with God for inſtead of his ſpeaking to th… Rock, he falls a chiding with the… and ſmote the Rock twice with hi… Rod, that Rod of God that had bud bed, bloſſomed, and bare Almonds One would think that Moſes committed a greater ſin. Numb. 11.21, 22▪ diſtruſting God, when he ſaid, Th… people among whom I am, are ſix hundred thouſand footmen, and thou haſ… ſaid, I will give them fleſh that they ma… eat a whole monethmonth: ſhall the flocks and the herds bo ſlain to ſuffice them, &c. yet all that God ſaith to it, is only this, Is the Lord's hand waxed ſhort? Thou ſhalt ſee now whether my words ſhall come to paſs to thee or not. ver, 23▪ what leſs could have been ſaid?Bernard. but to the other ſin of his at the waters of Meribah, he threatens a ſevere puniſhment: And the Lord ſpake to Moſes and Aaron, Becauſe ye believe me not to ſanctify me before the children of Iſrael, therefore ye ſhall not bring the congregation into the Land which I have given them; the reaſon is conceived to be this:Jerem. Dyke Tract of the miſchief of ſcandals. though the former ſin were in its own nature greater, yet that is thought to be private between God and Moſes, and ſo no ſcandal in it; but the latter was publique before all the people, and ſo a ſcandal in it; God not ſanctified, but his name diſhonoured: Now if God expreſs ſo much ſeverity againſt this good man for one unadviſed ſpeaking with his lips; how will he deal with thoſe that live in ſuch ſins all their dayes? but though God puniſheth his ſin, he ſaveth his ſoul, when they that give way to this ſin continually; ſhall periſh for ever. God will not bear with ſin in any of his beſt ſervants. Job had diſcovered ſome impatience in his ſpeech, Job 3. and before Job ſhall be reſtored, he ſhall come and acknowledge, and confeſs his ſin; Once have I ſpoken, but I will not anſwer, yea twice, but I will proceed no further; Job 40.5; and chap. 42.3. he confeſſeth, he had utterered that he underſtood not, things too wonderful for him, which he knew not; Wherefore ſaith he, I abhor my ſelf, and repent in duſt and aſhes. ver. 6.
Conſid. 6 Conſider there is much ſin in an unbrideled tongue: Solomon ſaith, In the multitude of words there wanteth not ſin. A Babler is a waſter of words to no purpoſe▪ as the Stoick Philoſophers falſely called St. Paul foreign. qui libens verba fund…at H. Stephen. in verb. foreign Such a one is like one that throws away good ſeed waſtefully, and glorieth in it.Prov. 10.19. but he that reſraineth his lips, is wiſe. In many words uſually are many ſins; ſo that the more liberty a man giveth his tongue, the more ſin he committeth; and the more he refraineth his tongue, the more truth of Religion he ſheweth: The wiſe man l kewiſe tells us, that an unbrideled tongue is a ſnare to a man: A fools mouth is his deſtruction, and his lips are the ſnare of his ſoul. Prov. 18.7. A ſinner is ſnared not only with the works of his hands, but alſo with the words of his tongue: and when the Devil prevails with a man to draw him into theſe ſins, he eaſily draweth him to the committing of other ſins.
To take heed to our tongues is a Conſid. 7 note of true wiſdom: He that refraineth his lips is wiſe. Prov. 10.19. A fool uttereth all his mind, but a wiſe man keepeth it in till afterwards. Prov. 29.11. A fools voice is known by multitude of words. Melior est ind ſcreta prudentia quam ſtulta loquacitas. Aul. Gell. lib. 1. cap. 15.Eccleſ. 5.3. The vertuous woman openeth her mouth in wiſdom. Prov. 31.26. Every one would be counted wiſe: Look carefully then to the performance of this duty, and this will evidence thee to be wiſe. A man by natural wiſdom may get much power over theſe ſins, but much more by the wiſdom that is from above. He that hath knowledge, ſpareth his words. Prov. 17.27. It is an argument of wiſdom to know what, when, and how to ſpeak: Solomon was the wiſeſt of men, and he gives many leſſons for the well-ordering of the tongue; it is an argument of much wiſdom to be well skilled in this duty.
Conſider how much miſchief cometh Conſid. 8 to paſs by reaſon of an unbrideled tongue, and that firſt unto others; as,
1. When men go about with their tales one to another, ſpeaking that which ought to be covered with the mantle of love; hereby they ſet one houſe after another one fire, till almoſt all the Town be in a flame. An ungodly man diggeth up evil and in his lips there is a burning fire: a froward man ſoweth ſtrife, and a whiſperer ſeparateth chief friends. Prov. 16.27, 28. ſuch a one takes as much pains in his evil way, as another doth in digging in Mines and Quarries in the bowels of the earth: ſuch a mans tongue is ſet on fire of hell, and it ſetteth others on a flame, even chiefeſt friends. He that repeateth a matter, ſeparateth very friends. Prov. 17.9. A fools lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for ſtroaks. Prov. 18.6. contrary to the practice of him that deſireth to make and keep peace; he will make the beſt of things, and not repeat matters from one to another: this the Lord hateth. A falſe witneſs that ſoweth lies, and him that ſoweth diſcord among his brethren, they are an abomination to the Lord. Prov. 6.19.
2. He doth others much miſchief in wounding them in their credits, and in their eſtates: A man of an evil tongue is a Beaſt in the ſhape of a man; for his tongue is the tongue of a Serpent, under which lieth nothing but venom and poiſon: nay he is worſe then a Serpent, for it cannot hurt unleſs it be preſent to ſee a man, or to bite him, or to ſtrike him with his tail: but he which hath not the rule of his tongue hurteth men as well abſent as preſent; neither Sea nor Land,Ball de Gubern. linguae. nor any thing can hinder him, as One well noteth.
3. It hurts others, when thoſe that are naught themſelves give evil counſel to others, and are an occaſion of making them as bad as themſelves: So Ahab; who ſo bad as he? notoriouſly wicked, yet one worſe then himſelf ſtirreth him up to more wickedneſs, and that was Jezebel his wife. 1 Reg. 21.25. her tongue ſtirreth him to do more evil then he hath in his heart. Ahab having a mind to Naboths Vineyard was troubled; Jezebel bids him be merry, and tells him ſhe would give him the Vineyard of Naboth; ſo ſhe writes Letters in Ahabs name, and ſendeth them to the Elders and Nobles in the City dwelling with Naboth, commandeth them to proclaim a Faſt, and ſet Naboth on high among the people, as if his wickedneſs were ſo great, that God were highly diſhonoured by it; then muſt Naboth be falſely accuſed of blaſphemy, and ſtoned to death. And as it bringeth much miſchief to others, ſo it bringeth greater miſchief upon themſelves, both from God and men. Sometimes mens unruly tongues call for ſtrokes upon themſelves from God; For the ſin of their mouth, and the words of their lips, let them he even taken in their pride, and for curſing and lying which they ſpeak, conſume them in wrath, conſume them that they may not be. Pſal. 59.12, 13. Thus the Prophet by th… ſpirit of God imprecateth a dreadful judgement upon them; The froward tongue ſhall be cut out. Prov. 10.31. yea God ſhall cauſe their own tongues to fall upon them, that is the miſchief of their own tongues. Pſal. 64.8. A prating fool ſhall fall. Prov. 10.8. his mouth calleth for ſtrokes from God and man. Prov. 18.6. A rod is for ſuch a fools back: ſometimes mens evil tongues bring miſery upon them from men. Violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. Prov. 10.11. David would cut off him that ſlandereth his neighbour, and expell out of his family, him that worketh deceit and telleth lies. Pſal. 101.5, 7.
Moreover, let us conſider the excellency Conſid. 9 of a well-order'd tongue. Prov. 10.11. it is compared to a Well of life, to a Spring of living water: The mouth of a righteous man is a Well of life, a Spring that ſhall never be dryed up; it is compared to refined ſilver; The tongue of the juſt is as choice ſilver, of great worth. ver. 20. He likewiſe compareth the good and wiſemans tongue to a Table richly furniſhed that feedeth many: the lips of the righteous feed many, ver. 21. when he that hath no wiſdom to guide his tongue dies for want. ver. 20. He ſets the righteous mans tongue againſt the wicked mans heart; that as the one is very excellently good like choyce ſilver, ſo the other is ſtark nought, little worth, very refuſe; and that becauſe out of the heart proceedeth all evil; and he that hath nothing of grace in his heart, muſt needs have a very bad tongue. Again, he ſets the lips of a wiſe man againſt the wicked mans heart Prov. 15.7. the lips of the wiſe diſperſe knowledge, but the heart of the fooliſh doth not ſo: that is, A good mans lips are like a good ſeeds man, ſowing good things for his own good, and for the good of others he hath to do withall; but where the heart is naught, no good can come from ſuch a man. and Prov. 12.18. There is that ſpeaketh like the piercings of a ſword, but the tongue of the wiſe is health. the one is a cutting tongue, the other is a wholſom medicine; the profit of it reacheth to many others, but the refreſhment and comfort returneth into a mans boſom; a wholſom tongue is a tree of life. Prov. 15.4. Trees (as One well noteth) bring forth fruit for others, not for themſelves;Ball de gubern. linguae. but he that uſeth his tongue lawfully, ſhall reap the fruit which he beareth: Trees are often planted and dreſſed by one, when another enjoyeth the fru t: but he that governeth his tongue well, ſhall poſſeſs that fruit which none can take from him: Trees bring forth fruit once in the year; but the due uſe of the tongue is continually fruitful for the comfort of him that uſeth it: The fruit of Trees is one and the ſame; but the fruit of the tongue rightly exerciſed is divers, among which the ſpecial is eternal life.