Rules for the Government of the Tongue, Title page – To the reader 1
RULES FOR THE Government of the Tongue: Together, With Directions in ſix Particular Caſes.
1 Confeſſion of our faults to Men.
2 Confeſſion of Chriſt before Men,
3 Reprehenſion of faults in others.
4 Chriſtian Communication.
Ʋrbanity and
Eloquence.
5 Conſolation of the Afflicted.
6 Self-Commendation, and a Disproof of Perfection in this life.
Added, as a Supplement, to the Rules for Governing
1 The Thoughts,
2 The Affections,
In the Precepts for Chriſtian Practice, or, The Rule of the New Creature, new model'd.
By Edward Reyner, Miniſter of the Goſpel in Lincolne.
Pſal. 17.3. I have purpoſed that my mouth ſhall not tranſgreſs.
LONDON, Printed by R. I. for Thomas Newberry, and are to be ſold at his ſhop at the three Lions neer the Exchange. 1656.
To the Reader.
Chriſtian Reader,
I Would not trouble the Preſs or thee, with any thing, but what I conceive may bee uſefull and practical for thy furtherance in grace and obedience; the matter whereof, I hope, will not be burnt, when it is tried by fire, though the Paper may; but that it may bring forth fruit in thee, that will remain to promote thy comfort, and my account in the day of Chriſt.
The good acceptance which my former book (entitled, Precepts for Chriſtian Practice, &c.) hath, as I hear found with ſober-wel-minded Chriſtians, and the advice of ſome judicious friends, do incourage mee to make this plain peece publick. Though Satan ſeeks to caſt an odium upon the holy and precious truths, wayes and ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt; yea and upon the Books that are written for the Declaration and Defence thereof, to bring them all into contempt. For Satan feareth that ſuch Books may do poor ſouls good and his cauſe hurt; which ſhould bee our indeavour to promote, as it is his deſign to hinder. This is a common Experiment, that as in Preaching, ſo in Printing; Satan and his Agents oppoſe that moſt, which may in probability, through Gods bleſſing, be inſtrumental for publick profit. But the God of Truth, who loveth Righteouſneſs, will throughly plead the cauſe of his own Truths and Wayes; and of the reproaches of his ſervants, from the Tongues and Pens of their enemies in due time. Yea the day approacheth wherein God will judge mens Hearts, Tongues and Books, according to his Goſpel. Then they who have ſpoken or written of the matters of God, and of his Miniſters, the thing that is true and right, ſhall bee approved; and thoſe that have done otherwiſe ſhall (to ſay no more) bee reproved. Books, as well as any other works may help men forward either to Heaven or to Hell; and advance their Salvation, or aggravate their condemnation. A man may do more good or more hurt by writing than by ſpeaking; becauſe, what is ſpoken is tranſient, and paſſeth away; but what is written is permanent, litera ſcripta manet, and ſpreads it ſelf further by far for time, place and perſons, than the voice can reach.
All Chriſts ſervants who keep the word of his patience, Phil. 1.17.are ſet for the defence of the Goſpel; and they muſt contend earneſtly (or, foreign. Jud. 3. 2 Cor. 13.8.conflict one after another) for the Fath which was once (for all) delivered unto the Saints. Why ſhould they not do all they can for the Truth (in theſe dayes of Apostaſy, Hereſy, and Blasphemy) now that Satan and his manifold Inſtruments do all they can againſt the Truth? that is, by writing as well as by ſpeaking by Pen as by Tongue. Satan doth furiouſly drive on a Malevolent deſign to draw poor ſouls into deluſion, and thereby unto deſtruction, by diſperſing ſcandalous, railing, Truth-perverting ſoul-poiſoning Pamphlets (which come forth of the Preſ…, like perſons out of a Peſthouſe, with a plague-ſore running upon them, to infect all that take them into their hands, and are taken with them.) why then ſhould not Chriſts Miniſters, 2 Cor. 5.20.(who are his Embaſſadours) factor for Chriſt, and as ſtrenuouſly plead and promote his cauſe, Iſa. 44.5.in the Preſs as in the Pulpit; and ſubſcribe with their hands unto the Lord, and to his truths and waies, as well as confeſs them with their mouths? Good books, that tend to build up all that read them, in faith, holineſs and obedience, Pſal. 46.4.are like that River, the ſtreams whereof make glad the Citie of God; Joh. 12.and like that Box of precious Ointment, which Mary brake and poured on Chriſts head, the odour whereof filled the houſe; like cluſters of ripe Grapes, paſſing under the Preſs, the Juice whereof is fit to be tranſported to all Nations. So the pious labours of Gods ſervants paſſing under the Preſs are fit to be diſperſed abroad among Chriſtians, far and neer. Mr. Cotton.The Penning and Reading of godly Books (as a Reverend man of God, now with God, ſaid) is a ſingular improvement of the Communion of Saints; as whereby wee injoy ſweet and gracious conference with the Saints, though unknown to us, though abſent in place, and diſtant in time (yea many ages before us) and ſo partake in the Communion of their moſt precious Gifts; as if they were preſent with us; or as if wee had been long acquainted with them, I doubt not but it hath been a cordial to ſome of Gods ſervants at death, to think and ſay to God in their manner and meaſure, as Chriſt did in his — Father, Joh. 17.4.I have glorified thee on the Earth, I have done the work thou gaveſt mee to do, to wit, by writing as well as by speaking, by Books as by Sermons.
When I had the former Treatiſe under my hand, this came into my mind, that to adde to the Government of the Thoughts and of the Affections, ſome Rules for the Government of the Tongue might bee ſuitable, ſeaſonable and profitable. But I, labouring under ſome bodily Infirmities, laid the Thoughts thereof aſide; yet afterwards God revived them in mee, and made my ſpirit willing to undertake the work, and aſſiſted mee graciouſly in it, bleſſed bee his Name.
And now, Reader, I preſent it to thee; and put it into thy hand as a Goſpel-Grammar, to teach thee, not variety of Tongues, but Sanctitie and Excellency of ſpeech. The Art of ſpeaking well, that is, the Language of Canaan or of a Chriſtian. Do not only look on this Book by Peruſal, but live it by Practice (to wit, to the Rules deſcribed therein) and it will lead thee towards Perfection in ſome good meaſure on earth; though the full attainment therof, bee kept as a Reſerve for Heaven.
The Lord accompany this Book with his Preſence and Power, that it may bee effectuall to tame that unruly Member thy Tongue, and to make thee a good Linguiſt in the School of Chriſt; Pſal. 16.9. with Act. 2.26.then will thy Tongue be thy glory indeed.
To this end I beg a concurrence of thy Prayers with mine, at the Throne of Grace, that God would bleſs it, and make it a bleſſing to all that read it. That the fruit of it (like the Trees that grow on the banks of the holy waters, Ezek. 47.12.) may bee for Meat, to nouriſh heart and lip-Graces in them; and the Leaves for Medicine, to heal all their Tongue-vices. No member of the body is ſubject to ſo many Moral Diſeaſes, as the Tongue is. It is either the beſt or the worſt member of all.
I wait on God to fulfill his promiſes, upon which hee hath cauſed mee to hope, Pſal. 119.49.as the Lord ſhall command the bleſſing upon thee in all that thou ſetteſt thine hand unto. Deut. 28.8.— he will bleſs all the work of thine hand, verſ. 12. yee ſhall rejoyce in all that you put your hand unto. Deut. 12.7. which imply a generall bleſſing upon all that Gods ſervants do — whatſoever they do ſhall proſper, Pſal. 1.3. Joſh. 1.8
They ſhall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble, Iſa. 65.23. Their labour ſhall not bee in vain, or without fruit, for want of a bleſſing from Heaven.
This is my deſire, my confidence and my earneſt expectation. Faithfull is hee that hath promiſed, who alſo will do it. Reader, if thou reapeſt any benefit by my poor labours, give God the praiſe, and give mee thy prayers,
Who am Thy Servant, for Chriſts ſake, and for thy ſouls ſake. EDWARD REYNER.