A Bridle for the Tongue, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Of the filthy Tongue.
The greatneſs of the ſin of filthy ſpeaking, ſhewed in eight Particulars
foreign. Putridus Sermo; nam & a putrida radice pullulat.LEt us now proceed to treat of another evil tongue, and that is the filthy tongue, which we ſhould take heed of: The Apoſtle warneth us to beware of this ſin. Eph. 4.29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth: multitudes of men there are who delight in obſcene words, in filthy jeſting, and rotten communication, that ſpeak as if the devil had opened their mouths; the poiſon of Aſps is under their lips. Now conſider;
1. Rotten words are a ſign of a rotten heart within: the mind of man by nature is corrupt; falſe Teachers are called men of corrupt minds. 1 Tim. 6.5. Till a man be renewed in the ſpirit of his mind he is a man of a corrupt mind;Faecem ma…ttiae turbidam mali bibunt. Euripides. The heart being filthy, the tongue caſteth out ſtenches, inſtead of ambrocial odours. and he that hath a corrup mind, will ſpeak corrupt words: The Aſtrologers are ſaid to ſpeak to Nebuchadnezzar lying and corrupt words. Dan. 2.9. Where the Spring is corrupt, the Stream is corrupt; A Fountain cannot ſend forth ſweet and bitter water, neither can excellent ſpeech and filthy ſpeaking at once come out of the ſame tongue; Men do not gather grapes of Thorns, nor Figs of Thiſtles, ſaith our Saviour. Jude calleth wicked men corrupt trees; and Chriſt ſaith, a corrupt Tree doth not bring forth good fruit: but an evil man out of the evil treaſure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is evil; for of the abundance of his heart his mouth ſpeaketh, Luk 6.43, 44, 45. Filthy mouths may be compared to the dun-gate at Jeruſalem, Nehem. 3.14. thorow which the filth of that City was carryed forth:Such was the Port Esquiline at Rome, through which paſt nothing but filth and uncleanneſs. To hear a man vomit out filthy unchaſte ſpeeches, to hear words full of uncleaneneſs come out of a mans mouth, and running over with lewd and luſtful words, it is a note of a filthy perſon: The heart is the fountain of our words and actions; our words are as the Rivers flowing from it: the tongue is the Looking-glaſs of the ſoul; he that is a filthy ſpeaker, let him make what ſhew and profeſſion of Religion he will, he is but a diſſembler, & not yet ſanctified, nor is his heart purged; for ſpeech is the diſcovery of the mind; as there is no ſmoak without,foreign. Clem. Alex. except there be ſome fire within: ſo where there be foul and filthy words, there is an unclean heart: a troubled fountain yieldeth impure water, and a corrupt ſoul filthy words: the tongue of the Juſt is compared to choice Silver, becauſe his heart is precious; but the heart of the wicked is little worth, and his tongue is droſs and filth. Prov. 10.20. when mens breath ſtinketh, it ſheweth there is much corruption in the Stomack: ſo rotten communication in the tongue ſheweth that the heart of ſuch a one is rotten, that he lieth in the grave of ſin, and is rotten at core, rotting in its own filth.
2. Filthy ſpeakers do not onelyonly ſhew that themſelves are rotten, but they are in danger of infecting others; a corrupt tongue, like the Plague and other infectious diſeaſes, will infect thoſe that are in hearing of it: we often ſee that one Neighbour learns deceit of another,Lippire ad conſpectum Lippientis. Lips. de Conſtant. and one filthy companion learns rotten communication of another: Mans nature is quickly won to evil, ſins baits being ſo many; and ſin ſo pleaſing as it is to nature, it muſt needs follow that one corrupt ſpeaker will corrupt another. Corruption, as the Philoſopher ſaith,Ariſt. Phyſ. 5. is a meer changeing of a thing from that it was, from the better to the worſe; of this nature is a corrupt tongue,Bain in Eph 4.19. it changeth that which before was Morally good to be really bad; civility teacheth us to hide a ſtinking breath from others, and Chriſtianity ſhould teach us to hide the ſtink of our putrified ſouls.
foreign. Menander. Turpi…oquus est tanquam porcus, qui in luto ubi ponit pedem ibi ponit os.3. Filthy words are uſually an inlet to filthy actions; he that makes no conſcience of what he ſpeaks, will make little conſcience of what he doth: he that abſtaineth not from filthy words, will not ſtick at any filthy action if opportunity ſerveth: it is not credible he ſhould live well, that ſpeaketh filthily; the filthy tongue defileth the whole man: therefore the Apoſtle gives this caution: Be not deceived; evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Cor, 15.33. corrupt words fret like a Gangreen: he that can ſpeak filthy words without bluſhing, will be ready to commit filthy actions without ſhamefac'dneſs: A filthy ſpeaker is like unto a Hog, who in the dirt where he puts his foot, puts his mouth; and where he puts his mouth to muzzle, there alſo he puts his foot, lying down and wallowing in the mire: thoſe things which proceed out of the mouth, come fo…th from the heart, and they defile the man, ſaith our Saviour, Math. 15.18.
4. Filthy ſpeaking is a thing very unbecoming the Saints and people of God, ſuch as by Baptiſme are given up to God, and have given their names to him, it is not ſo much as to be named among them as becometh Saints. Eph. 5.3, 4. it is a contradiction to the name of a Chriſtian: Now when the Apoſtle would not have us to name filthy ſpeaking, he meaneth no otherwiſe but with abhorrency, not ſo much as to name this ſin without deteſting of it: othewiſe Paul ſhould ſin in naming it, while he doth forbid it: as David would not take the names of heatheniſh Idols into his mouth. Pſal. 16.4. and the Hebrew expreſſeth ſins by words that ſignify the contrary vertue, as blaſpheming God by bleſſing, doth ſhew that the names of filthy vices are to be declined by the people of God.
5. Filthy ſpeaking is a note of diſordered affections; as fire here and there will faſten upon things that are next to it, if they are combuſtible; ſo this fire of Hell burning in the heart will faſten on the tongue, if it be not timely quenched: He that hath no rule over his own ſpirit, is like a City broken down and without walls. Prov. 25.28. as a City without fence lyeth open to be ſpoiled and ſacked by the Enemy ſo are they liable to the ſtrongeſt temptations, and moſt unruly expreſſions, who are ſway'd by their luſts and paſſions; if men diſcourſe laſciviouſly or ſhameleſly, doubtleſs what the Tongue ſpeaketh, the heart much affecteth. It is written of Commodus a beaſtly Roman Emperour, that he uſed to have the excrements of man to his Table in ſome of his diſhes with ſome of his meat, which made every one to abhor him; and it is noted by Naturaliſts that enquire into excrements, that Mans dung is the worſt of all other; the dung of Beaſts and Fowls is good for many u…es; but Mans dung is the baſeſt of all other, and the moſt unſavoury, and that which is moſt rejected. Ezek. 4.12, 13, 14. This is much like unto this filthy and beaſtly kind of ſpeaking: unclean mouths are like the raging ſea which caſteth up nothing but dirt and filthineſs;Jude ver. 13. ſo theſe men are ſtill foming out their own ſhame; as the waves of the Sea rage, ſwell, and beat one upon another, cauſing a froth, making a foame, and caſting it out upon the ſhore and Sea-banks to be ſeen of men; ſo theſe miſcreants full of all ungodlineſs, do often foame out their corruption, ſhame and filthineſs; the poiſon of their unclean hearts is to be ſeen and openly heard by the world: ſuch perſons like that creature that is called Ibi…, are alway feeding on dung and excrements, and are loathſome and abominable to all modeſt perſons.
6. They that give way to this ſin, do ſhew themſelves to be acted by another ſpirit, then by the ſpirit o… God; for in the Scripture when the pen-men of Holy Scripture come to ſet down ſuch actions as are in themſelves filthy, ſee with what modeſty they ſet them down: that unnatural ſin of the Sodomites, St. Jude onelyonly ſtileth their luſting after ſtrange fleſh, Jude. ver. 6. and ſo in divers other places of Scripture in like ſort: now when men ſhall profeſs themſelves to be the people of God, and yet give way to this ſin, they act moſt like unto the Devil, who is ſtiled in Scripture an unclean ſpirit: they are not guided by the ſpirit of God, but by the ſpirit of the Devil: the Devil is an unclean ſpirit by reaſon of ſin, not becauſe he doth filthy actions himſelf, but becauſe he ſtirreth up others to the practice of them: therefore if thou delighteſt in this ſin, thou art acted by the unclean ſpirit: We read of three unclean ſpirits like Frogs, that come out of the mouth of the Dragon, and out of the mouth of the Beaſt, and out of the mouth of the falſe Prophet, for …hey are the ſpirits of Devils. Rev. …6.13. So when filthy and rotten …ommunications do frequently come …ut of the mouths of men, it ſheweth …hey have much of the ſpirit of the devil in them.
7. It is a ſin that grieveth the ſpirit of God: thoſe that make profeſſion of Chriſt,Would any man converſe with a ſlovenly fellow that would be gaping till ſuch time as Flies might make neſts, and Spiders weave webs in his mouth? if any ſuch perſon were known, he would be abhorred: no leſs odious is he to God, that defileth his mouth with filthy ſpeeches; ſuch lips are an abomination to the Lord, and God will not Lodge there where the Devil muſt be his Hoſt. they muſt not think it enough to refrain groſſe deeds, and think that words are free, but muſt make conſcience of ſinful and rotten words, as of evil deeds. Therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, Eph. 4.29.30. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouths &c. and grieve not the Holy ſpirit of God: This ſinne is a filthy thing which the pure eyes of God cannot endure to behold: For as when we burn filthy ſavours in a Room where we lodge a Gueſt, we very much offend him; ſo doth it grieve the Holy ſpirit of God which dwelleth in us; if we ſend out of our mouths the ſtench of thoſe corruptions that are within us: God complaineth of the Jews, that he was wearied by their words. Malach. 2.
8. Filthy ſpeakers are very unfit for modeſt company: an obſcean and filthy word lighting on a weak heart, ſpreadeth and dilateth as doth a drop of oile in a cloth, and often ſo ſeizeth on the heart, that it filleth it with an hundred imaginations and temptations: for as poiſon enters into the ſtomack by the mouth; ſo doth the poiſon of our filthy words enter by the ear into the heart of others: ſuch therefore that take themſelves for gallant men for uttering undecent words in company, do abuſe the company, which ought to meet together as Bees for making hony by a ſweet and loving intercourſe; and not as a hive of Waſps that aſſemble together to feed on ſome putrid matter.
SECT. 2. Remedies againſt the ſin of filthy ſpeaking.
NOw if you will avoid this ſin of filthy ſpeaking, make uſe of theſe directions which may by Gods bleſſing prove remedyes againſt it.
1. Take heed of frothy jeſting: many people do ſo addict themſelves to a frothy kind of ſpeaking, that they know not how to be ſerious; and from fooliſh talking, and jeſting they fall to filthy ſpeaking, and can ſpeak ſo broad, that nothing in the old Comedy is more beaſtly: therefore the Apoſtle joyneth theſe together: let neither filthineſs nor fooliſh talking, nor jeſting, be ſo much as named among you. Eph. 5.4. Some mens luxuriant wits diſſolve them into a foreign,Scurrilitas foreign eſt vitium, quum quis in jucando & modum & decorum excedit, non habitâ ratione, aut honeſtatis, aut perſonarum, aut loci & temporis, aut geſtuum & motus corporis, aut aliarum circumſtantiarum. Polan. Syntag. or all manner of ſcurrilous ſpeech, to vex thoſe whom they have a mind to abuſe, ſo they can but make ſport to themſelves and others given to diſſolute mirth: the hearts of fools are delighted in the houſe of laughter; it hardens a man in ſin, and keeps a man from repentance, and the exerciſe of a contrite heart: the Devil delighteth, as one ſaith, in ſuch Muſitians as theſe are:Ball de Gubernat. linguae. Pleaſantneſs and Mirth muſt be uſed as Sleep and Reſt, when more grave and ſerious buſineſſes are diſpatched.
2. If you are guilty of this ſin, ſeriouſly humble your ſelves for it; take ſhame and ſorrow to you for this ſin, and cry out with the Prophet, Wo is me, for I am undone, becauſe I am a man of unclean lips. Iſai. 6.3. and pray with the Prophet David, Create in me a clean heart O God. Pſal. 51.10. then will your words be clean: pray that God would make you new creatures; then he will give unto you new tongues; when God turneth a people to him by true repentance, he doth return unto them a pure language. Zeph. 3.9. If thoſe that are given to this ſin do not mourn for it here, a time ſhall come that they ſhall gnaw their tongues for pain, and that for ever. Rev. 16.13.
3. See that your ſpeeches be Gracious▪ ſeaſoned with Salt. Coloſ. 4.6. That it may be good and profitable to the uſe of edif…ing, miniſtring Grace to the hearers. Eph. 4.29. let them be ſeaſoned with grace in the heart, and ſuch as may paint forth the graces that are in your minds: if there be grace in the heart, there will be grace in our wo…ds: Grace is the ſame to the heart of man, as Salt is to meats; it ſucks out the blood fi…ſt, which if left in the fleſh, it makes a ſtink and corrupts: ſo Grace ſoaks out that corruption that makes our words ſo unſavoury: now as Salt makes the meat ſavoury, ſo Grace makes our words ſavoury and gracious: Now if it be not thus with us, we had need do as the Prophet did, when the waters of Jericho were corrupt, that nothing about it came to perfection, but all was barren: he goes to the ſpring-head and caſt in ſalt there, and healed the waters. 2 King. 2.21. So let us go to the Fountain of Life and Grace, and beg of him to purify our hearts; and if we have the ſalt of Grace in our ſelves, it will ſpread it ſelf thorow every ſtream of our ſouls.
4. Shun the company of thoſe that are obſcene perſons, keep company in no wiſe with thoſe that are immodeſt: for as Goats do imbitter the ſweet Almond-tree, when they lick it with their tongues: ſo theſe rotten hearts and corrupted ſouls ſcarce ſpeak to any of what ſex ſoever, but they make as it were ſome breach upon their modeſty and chaſtity; for they have venom not onelyonly in their eyes,V…r pius lapides in ſe conjectos majo… patientia tulerit, quam obſcaena verba. Athanaſ. but even in their tongues and breath, as have the Baſiliſks: a good man cannot endure the company of filthy ſpeakers: One ſaid that a good man could with much more patience endure ſtones to be thrown at him then filthy words: on the contrary, frequent the company of modeſt and pious perſons, read ofted the Holy Scriptures; for the word of God is pure and clean, puifying and cleanſing them that delight in it: Some Phyſitians tell us, that they that are libidinous, by ſleeping upon the Herb Agnus-Caſtus, become chaſte: ſo reſting thy heart upon the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who is the immaculate Lamb of God, thou ſhalt find thy heart and tongue purified from all impurity and uncleanneſs.