Rules for the Government of the Tongue, To the reader 3
To the Reader.
THe Tongue of man is the hearts interpreter, Quotidiana fornax noſtra eſt humana lingua. Aug. lib. 10 Confeſ. Mat. 12.34the inward motions of the mind have vent at the mouth, as ſparks from a Furnace, and the ſouls conceptions are brought forth by its buſie Midwifery; the Tongue is the key that unlocks the hearts treaſury, out of whoſe abundance it ſpeaks. Our diſcourſes are diſcoveries of what is within, as when the Pump goes we may know what water is in the Fountain, whether clear, or muddy, or when the clapper ſtrikes wee may gueſs what metal is in the Bell; the corruption of mens minds (not much unlike the inflammation of a Feavour) ordinarily breaketh forth, and bliſters upon their tongues; he that is rotten in his heart is commonly rotten in his talk, and as evil words corrupt good manners, ſo they diſcover corrupt manners; the foul ſtomack betrays it ſelf in a ſtinking breath. And where Grace is in the heart, it will manifeſt it ſelf in holy, heavenly, ſavoury ſpeeches; every true Chriſtian endeavours to derive not only Grace into his heart from Chriſts annoynting, but of that grace that was poured into his lips — they that feared the Lord ſpake often one to another.Pſal. 45.2 Mal. 3.16
And as words diſcover much the preſent frame of our ſouls, ſo have they no ſmall influence upon the ſettlement of their everlaſting ſtate, they are not a key only to open the hearts treaſury, but to let in, or ſhut out from heaven; Mat. 12.36, 37.Every idle word that men ſhall ſpeak (ſo ſaith the Word of truth) they ſhall give account thereof in the Day of Judgement, for by thy words ſhalt thou be juſtified, and by thy words ſhalt thou bee condemned. The Arrows of idle words, though ſhot out of ſight, and poſsibly quite forgotten, will hereafter drop down upon the heads of ſuch as drew the bow. Words are but wind, is the common ſaying, but they are ſuch wind as will either blow the Soul to its haven of reſt, if holy, wholſome, ſavoury, ſpiritual, and tending to edification, or elſe ſink it in the dead ſea, and bottomleſs gulf of eternal miſery, if idle, prophane, frothy, and unprofitable.
Upon theſe, and many other important and weighty conſiderations, it appears of what conſequence it is, that men take ſpecial care for a regular ordering of this unruly member; the Apoſtle James compares it to fire, and that had need be watcht, and well tended, for it is a good Servant, Jam. 3.6 Jam. 1.26but a bad Maſter; and he lays a mighty ſtreſs upon it, If any man ſeemeth to bee religious, and bridleth not his tongue, this mans religion is vain: the not bridling of the tongue, ſtains, and ſullies the moſt gay and fair profeſsion, and without this all is but ſeeming and vain religion; Prov. 13.3He that keepeth his mouth (ſaith Solomon) keepeth his life, the double guard of lips and teeth is not enough, there muſt be thine own watchfulneſs.—Where is that man that loveth not life, that deſireth not many days, that hee may ſee good? for the attainment of this bleſſedneſs the Pſalmiſt gives an excellent rule, Pſal. 34.12, 13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from ſpeaking guile; and therein he lays not a burden upon others which himſelf will not touch with his own finger, but his reſolutions are accordingly, Pſal. 17.3 Pſal. 39.1I have purpoſed (ſaith he) that my mouth ſhall not tranſgreſs; And I ſaid (that is within my ſelf by a ſetled purpoſe) I will take heed to my ways that I ſin not with my tongue; and becauſe his own watchfulneſs, and cuſtody might be inſufficient, and his tongue that unruly evil might poſsibly, like a wild pampered Horſe, break the bridle, he beggs of God that he would ſet a watch, Pſal. 141.3and appoint a Centinel, Set a watch (O Lord) before my mouth, keep the door of my lips.
This godly and reverend Author (whoſe name is well known, and precious to many of Gods Children by his former uſeful labours) hath beſtowed his pains (judiciouſly thou wilt ſay, if thy ſelf beeſt ſuch) for thy help in this ſo highly neceſſary, and ſadly neglected buſineſs, it is not long ſince hee publiſhed ſome Rules for the Government of the Thoughts, and Affections, which were (ſo it hath pleaſed God in his holy and wiſe Providence to order it) a preparative, and introduction to this excellent Treatiſe, that the Pot being waſht, and kept clean within, there might no ſcum ariſe, or boyl over at the brim, or the heart being taught to indite a good matter, the tongue might bee as the pen of a ready writer; God hath put this Book into thy hand, Read, Conſider, Meditate, Practiſe, get the Language of Heaven, while thou art in thy Journey, and God bring thee to the glory of Heaven at thy journies end. So counſelleth, ſo prayeth he that is
Thine in the Lord for the ſervice of thy ſoul, JOHN MERITON.