Works, Chapter 14 – Chapter 15
CHAP. XIV. Rules to carry our ſpeeches wiſely, as thoſe that aim at the Apoſtolical rule of Chriſtians circumſpection.
1. COncerning the ground of them: Labour to get a good heart, Rules for ſpeeches. 1 Let words iſſue from a good fountain. Matth. 5.18.For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will ſpeak. The heart of the wiſe guideth his mouth wiſely, Prov. 16.23. And, if the heart indite a good matter, the Tongue will be the Pen of a ready Writer, Pſal. 45.1. Such as the heart is, ſuch will bee the ſpeech: And therefore hee that hath no care of his heart, cannot bee a good and careful ſpeaker. The Apoſtle requires gracious ſpeech, Col. 4.6. but that muſt come from a gracious heart, as Pſalm 37.30, 31. The mouth of the righteous will ſpeak of wiſdome, and his tongue will talk of Judgement; For the Law of his God is in his heart, and his ſteps ſhall not ſlide. And Prov. 31.26. Shee openeth her mouth with Wiſdome, and the Law of Grace is in her tongue. On the contrary, a graceleſs heart cannot ſpeak well, Prov. 10.20, 21. The heart of the wicked is little worth; the lips of the righteous do feed many; but fools ſhall die for want of Wiſdome. The true reaſon why many mend not their bad ſpeeches, is, becauſe firſt they mend not their heart.
2 Concerning the matter of ſpeech; Let the matter be choiſe.1 Becauſe all muſt be wholeſome ſo much as wee may, therefore chuſ… the beſt matters to talk of, matters of Religion, faith, hope, and the way to ſalvation; for wiſdome always chuſeth the beſt. 2 If it bee choſen or offered, it concerns either God or our neighbours, If it concern God, what.or our ſelves. 1 If it concern God, or any part of his Name, Attributes, Word, or Works, wee muſt ſpeak moſt reverently, as thoſe who are not worthy to take his Name into our mouths. The precept is, Lev. 19.12. Thou ſhalt not defile the Name of the Lord, but fear his glorious Name, Deut. 28.58. And they defile his Name, who in common talk, lightly, and careleſly uſe his Name, of God, or Lord, or any other of his titles, in ordinary ſpeech: And they, who are ordinary or idle ſwearers, and curſers, and jeſters in Scripture-phraſes, who are far from trembling at his word, Iſa. 66.3. and thoſe that mock at ſin and Gods judgements, and abuſe or are unthankful for any of his mercies. 2 If our neighbour.2 If the matter of thy ſpeech concern thy brothers perſon, the rule is, to ſpeak of the good thou knoweſt by him, behinde his back; but of evil, not without calling, nor without grief, and before him, or to him, Tit. 3.2. Warn them that they ſpeak evil of no man, but bee ſoft, and ſhewing all meekneſs to all men. Contrary whereunto is ſcoffing, deriding, curſing, railing, bitter and ſlanderous ſpeeches, tending to the offence of any man; yea, if mens ſpeeches may juſtly offend us, wee muſt bee ſoft and calm, ſhewing all meekneſs, not rendring rebuke for rebuke, but paſſing by his ſin, eſpy in his perſon the image of God worthy to bee reverenced and loved. If thou ſpeak of his ſaying… or actions, if they bee evil, ſpeak as little of them as may bee, if they bee doubtful, conſtrue them in the beſt part; for love is not ſuſpicious, but hopeth all things. 1 Cor. 13.7.Praiſe God for his good actions; and as for ſins in him, deal plainly and truly with him, Lev. 19.17. Thou ſhalt not hate thy Brother, but ſhalt plainly rebuke him, and not ſuffer his ſin upon him. Wee muſt not lye, diſſemble, flatter, or ſooth up any in their ſins, which is a moſt ordinary ſin againſt this rule of Wiſdome. 3 If our ſelves.3 If the matter of thy ſpeech concern thy ſelf, ſpeak modeſtly, without vanity or boaſting, Prov. 27.2. Let another man praiſe thee, and not thine own lips. Nay, wee ſhould rather extenuate and leſſen the good in us, if wee muſt needs ſpeak of it, as Paul, I am the leaſt of the Apoſtles; 1 Cor. 15 9.and in anothers perſon, I knew a man, &c. 2 Cor. 12.2.
3 Concerning the manner of our ſpeech. Firſt, becauſe every mans ſpeech by nature is corrupt, 3 The manner. 1 Savoury.therefore ſtrive to make it gracious, and powdered with ſalt, Col. 4.6. that is, well ſeaſoned and ſavoury, not ſav…uring of the fleſh and corruption, but wee muſt drive out, or dry up the corr…ption of them, with the ſalt of grace. Againſt many, who powder their ſpe…ch with oaths, 2 Sincere.and curſes, and filthy rottenneſs, or ſond idle ſpeeches ſavouring of the filthy ſink and puddle within. Secondly, it muſt bee juſt and ſincere, The truth of our heart, Pſalm 15.2. without diſſimulation or lyes, ſeeing God made the tongue to expreſs the heart. A fearful thing it is, that moſt mens ſpeeches are turned into mere complement. 3 Moſt earneſt in things heavenly.Thirdly, it muſt bee more earneſt, joyful; and comfortable when thou ſpeakeſt of heavenly things, than of earthly; not jeſting or fooliſh talking, but rather giving of thanks, Eph. 5.4.
4 The end of our ſpeech, edification.4 Concerning the end of our ſpeech: It muſt tend to edification, Eph. 4.29. to feed many, Prov. 10.21. and miniſter grace to the hearers. It muſt bend it ſelf ſtill for God, the defence of good men and actions, and the diſgrace of ſinne. Better no ſpeech, than to no good end. And yet many in their light and idle ſpeeches ſay, why, I hope I do no harm. Yea, but what good doth it? Shame will not let thee ſay, thou intendeſt edification. Therefore look well unto it.
5 Concerning the meaſure of our ſpeech: Firſt, Wee muſt not ſpeak too little, 5 The meaſure. 1 Not too little.and omit gracious ſpeeches when occaſion is offered, as many dry and barren hearts and mouths, have not a word for God and goodneſs, that have words enough, and more than enough in any other argument; like Idols, Pſalm 115.5.good things, that have mouthes and ſpeak not; or as if they were poſſeſſed with dumb ſpirits, and not ſuffered t… ſpeak any good. Tell ſuch a one of a good Farm or bargain, or natural things, and they ſavour and relliſh them well enough, whereas a good motion ſtrikes them dumb, and makes them as Fiſh…s out of their element. Neither, ſecondly, 2 Not too much foreign.muſt our words bee too many; for in many words are many ſins. The fool multiplieth words, Eccl. 10.14. and Prov. 29.11. A fool poureth out all his minde: But hee that hath knowledge, ſpareth his words, Prov. 17.27. and hee that refrains his lips is wiſe, Chap. 10.19. It is folly to lay on more words than the matter requireth, and argueth imp…tency of mind, and carries a ſhew or demonſtration of paſſion, and exceſs of aff…ction, or pride in ſpeaking.
6 Co…cerning the ſeaſon of our ſpeech. 6 The ſeaſon.All our words muſt bee ſeaſonable as well as ſeaſone…, that is, fitted to circumſtances, times, places, and perſon…. Wiſdome will ſeek a ſeaſon for good words: For there is a ſeaſon wherein the prudent will keep ſilence. Amos 5.…3.And how good is a good word in due ſeaſon, Prov. 15.23. It is like apples of gold, and pictures of ſilver. Huſbandmen obſerve ſeaſons in ſowing, and ſo muſt hee that looks for an harveſt of his ſpeeches. Abigail would not ſpeak to her Husband Nabal in his drunkenneſs, but when hee had ſlept out his win…. Every man is not capable of every good ſpeech, nor no man at all times alike. There is an unadviſed op…n…eſs, againſt which our Saviour by his example arms us, Joh. 2. ult. Hee would not commit himſelf to ſome, who are ſaid to beleeve in him, becauſe hee know what was in man. Silence is beſt where no good can bee done, as Chriſt was ſilent before the High Prieſt; and Rabſhecah muſt not bee anſwered. To meet a man in the heat of his paſſion with good words, is to meet a Bear robbed of her whelps; but let the paſſion bee calm, and then tell him how diſguiſed and uncovered hee was, hee will perhaps beleeve it.
CHAP. XV. Motives to look to our Tongue.
1 BEcauſe a good man cannot bee an evil ſpeaker; Motives to govern the tongue.if the ſpeech bee naught, the Religion is vain, Jam. 1.29. Lying and accuſing is the devils work.
2 Watching of good ſpe…ch keeps out evil words, which ingendreth to evil. Take up Davids reſolution, Pſalm 39.1. I thought I will take heed to my wayes, that I ſin not with my tongue; I will keep my mouth bridled, while the wicked is in my ſight. And this is neceſſary, becauſe the tongue is an unruly member, as fire▪ and by this means ſhall become our glory, James 2.6, 8.and our brothers ſhield.
3 God hath a time to call to reckoning the words that are thought but wind, Pſalm 50.20, 21, even every idle word. Matth. 12.36.