Of the Government of the Tongue

James 3:6. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.

The Apostle James in this Scripture describes the evil of the tongue: The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.

1. It is a fire: It burns with intemperate heat; it causes the heat of contention; it sets others in a flame.

2. A world of iniquity: It was at first made to be an organ of God's praise, but it is become an instrument of unrighteousness. All the members of the body are sinful, as there is bitterness in every branch of wormwood; but the tongue is excessively sinful, full of deadly poison (verse 8).

Doctrine. The tongue, though it be a little member, yet it has a world of sin in it. The tongue is an unruly evil. We put bits in horses' mouths and rule them; but the tongue is an unbridled thing. It is hard to find a curbing bit to rule the tongue. There is a world of sin in the tongue. The Devil makes use of men's tongues for the promoting most of the wickedness which is in the world. I shall show you some of the evils of the tongue.

1. The evil tongue (travel a little over this world) is the silent tongue: It is wholly mute in matters of religion; it never speaks of God or heaven, as if it cleaved to the roof of the mouth. Men are fluent and discursive enough in other things, but in matters of religion their lips are sealed up. If we come into some people's company, we do not know what religion they are of, whether Jews or Mahometans, for they never speak of Christ; they are like the man in the Gospel, who was possessed with a dumb devil (Mark 9:17).

2. The evil tongue is the earthly tongue: Men talk of nothing but the world, their wares and drugs, or their rich purchase. Sons of the earth; they have the serpent's curse, lick the dust. John 3:31. He that is of the earth speaks of the earth: as if all their hopes were here, and they looked for an earthly eternity; these have brutish minds. Seneca being asked of what country he was, answered, that he was [reconstructed: a citizen of the world], a citizen of this world: So, many are citizens of this world, all their discourse and traffic is here. Their speech betrays them.

3. The evil tongue is the hasty or angry tongue: They have no command of passions, but are carried away with them, as a chariot with wild horses. I know there is a holy anger, when we are angry with sin: Christ had this anger when they made the temple a place of merchandise (John 2:15). That anger is without sin, which is against sin; but that is an evil tongue, which is presently blown up into exorbitant passion; this tongue is set on fire from hell. Isaiah's lips were touched with a coal from the altar (Isaiah 6). His tongue was set on fire from heaven; but the angry furious tongue is set on fire from hell. When the tongue is on fire, it is the Devil that lights the match. Ecclesiastes 7:9. Anger rests in the bosom of fools: It may be in a wise man, but it rests in a fool. More are drunk with passion than wine: Jerome. Water when it is hot soon boils over: So when the heart is heated with anger, it soon boils over in fiery and passionate speeches. 1 Kings 19:12. after the earthquake a fire, but God was not in the fire: So I may say of the fire of rash anger, God is not in this fire. Grace heats the heart but cools the tongue; makes it meek and calm. Passion transports it often, disturbs the use of reason; a brief madness; and if reason cannot act, much less can grace. Rashness of anger hinders holy duties. Hot passions make cold prayers. A wrathful spirit is unsuitable to the Gospel: It is a Gospel of peace, and it is sealed by the Spirit, who came in the form of a dove; a meek peaceable creature. You who are given much to passion, whose tongue is often set on fire, take heed you do not one day in hell desire a drop of water to cool your tongue.

4. The evil tongue is the vain tongue, that vents itself in idle words: as if a tree should bear nothing but blossoms, Psalm 10:7. under his tongue is vanity; his speaking is like a child's scribbling, vain and insignificant. Men want grace to ballast them, and make them serious. A vain tongue shows a light heart. A good man's words are weighty and prudent; his lips are as a tree of life to feed many; his speech is edifying: Proverbs 10:20. The tongue of the just is as choice silver. Gracious words drop as silver from him, to the enriching the souls of others: But, Proverbs 15:2. the mouth of fools pours out foolishness: like the water in a spout that runs out unprofitably and does no good. Many have a sea of [reconstructed: words], but scarce a drop of matter; they have words without wisdom. How many idle away the day of grace in frivolous discourses? A piece of gold sinks into the water, but a feather swims upon it. A wise man's words are like gold, weighty, and will sink into the hearts of others; but the words of many are light and feathery, and will make no impression. Matthew 12:36. Every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment. Words that are of no account will turn to a heavy account.

5. The evil tongue is the censorious tongue: James 4:12. Who are you that judges another? Some make it a part of their religion to judge and censure others; they do not imitate their graces, but censure their failings: Such a one is rash and indiscreet; such a one is a hypocrite; this comes from pride. Were men's hearts more humble, their tongues would be more charitable. The censurer sits in the chair of pride, and passes sentence upon another, and does reprobate him: This is to usurp God's prerogative, and take his work out of his hands; it is God's work to judge, not ours. He who spends his time in censuring others, spends but little time in examining himself; he does not see his own faults. I fear this is the sin of many professors, when they meet together to cast the stone of censure at others. There is not a greater sign of hypocrisy, than to be over-hasty in judging and censuring persons. A gracious heart censures himself, and has charitable thoughts of others; the hypocrite on the contrary.

6. The evil tongue is the slanderous tongue (Psalm 50:20): "You sit and slander your own mother's son." Slandering is when we speak to the prejudice of another, and speak that which is not true. Worth and eminency is commonly blasted by slander: holiness itself is no shield from slander. The lamb's innocency will not preserve it from the wolf. John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking, yet they say he has a devil (Matthew 11:18). Slandering Job calls the scourge of the tongue (Job 5:21). And Jeremiah 18:18: "Come and let us smite him with the tongue" — you may smite another and never touch him. Psalm 64:3: "Their tongues are arrows shot out." A slanderer wounds another's fame, and no physician can heal these wounds. Majora sunt lingua vulnera quam gladii, Aug. — the sword does not make so deep a wound as the tongue. The Greek word for slanderer signifies devil (1 Timothy 3:11). Some think it is no great matter to belie and defame another; but know, this is to act the part of a devil. The slanderer's tongue is a two-edged sword — it wounds two at once. While the slanderer wounds another in his name, he wounds himself in his conscience. This is contrary to Scripture (James 4:11): "Speak not evil one of another" [illegible]. God takes this ill at our hands, to speak evil of others, especially such as are eminently holy, and help to bear up the honor of religion. Numbers 12:8: "Were not you afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" "What — my servant, who has worked so many miracles, whom I have spoken with in the mount face to face — were not you afraid to speak against him?" So will God say. It is the devil's proper sin — he is the accuser of the brethren; he does not commit adultery, but bears false witness. The slanderer is still clipping the credit of his neighbor, that he may make it weigh lighter. Take heed of this; it is a sin our nature is very prone to, and remember it is no less sin to rob another of his good name than to steal his goods or wares out of his shop.

7. The evil tongue is the unclean tongue, that vents itself in filthy and scurrilous words. Men's language is such as if they came out of hell: this is forbidden (Ephesians 4:29): "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth." Better be born dumb than to have the devil in one's tongue. A sign of a great distemper, that the fever is high, when the tongue is black. A sign men's hearts are very evil, when such black words come from them. When I go in the streets, and hear the language of some, I think of the man in the gospel, who had the spirit of an unclean devil in him (Luke 4:33). Men's lips do not drop as the honeycomb, but they drop poison to the defiling of others (1 Corinthians 15:33). It is a sign when the face breaks out in sores and pimples, that the blood is corrupt; so an unclean tongue may be compared to a sink, where all the filth of the house is carried forth. We read that the lips of the leper were to be covered (Leviticus 13:45). It were well if we had such magistrates as would by their authority cover the unclean lips of those lepers in this city.

8. The evil tongue is the lying tongue (Colossians 3:9): "Lie not one to another." The Cretians were noted for liars (Titus 1:12): [illegible] "The Cretians are always liars." It becomes not Christians to be Cretians. Nothing more contrary to God than a lie; it shows much irreligion: in heart there wants the fear of God, which should bridle lying lips. Lying is a sin that does not go alone; it ushers in other sins. Absalom told his father a lie, that he was going to pay his vow at Hebron (2 Samuel 15:7), and this lie was a preface to his treason. Lying is such a sin as takes away all society and converse with men: how can you have converse with him that you cannot trust a word he says? It is a sin so sordid, that when the liar is convicted he is ashamed. God's children have this character: they are children that will not lie (Isaiah 63:8); the new nature in them will not suffer them. The liar is near a kin to the devil; and the devil will shortly claim kindred with him (John 8:44): "The devil is a liar and the father of it." He seduced our first parents by a lie (Genesis 3:4). How does this sin incense God? — he struck Ananias dead for telling a lie (Acts 5:5). The furnace of hell is heated to throw liars into (Revelation 22:15): "Without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and whoever loves and tells a lie."

9. The evil tongue is the flattering tongue: that will speak fair to one's face, but will defame. Proverbs 26:25: "He that hates dissembles with his lips: when he speaks fair believe him not." Dissembled love is worse than hatred. Some can commend and reproach, flatter and hate: [honey in their mouths, but a sting of malice in their hearts.] Better are the wounds of a friend, than the kisses of such an enemy. Jerome says, "The Arrian faction pretended friendship; they," says he, "kissed my hands, but slandered me and sought my ruin." Many have dissembling tongues; they can say, "Your servant," and lay snares (Proverbs 29:5): "A man that flatters his neighbor spreads snares for his feet." You often think you have a friend in your bosom, but he proves a viper. To dissemble love is no better than a lie; for there is a pretence of that love which is not. Many are like Joab (2 Samuel 20:9): "And Joab said to Amasa, 'Are you in health, my brother?' and he took him by the beard to kiss him, and he smote him in the fifth rib that he died." Impia sub dulci melle venena latent. For my part, I much question his truth towards God, that will flatter and lie to his friend: he who counterfeits love to his friend is worse than he that coins counterfeit money. God will bring such a one to shame at last (Proverbs 26:26): "Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shown before the whole congregation."

10. The evil tongue is the tongue given to boasting (James 3:5). The tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. There is a holy boasting (Psalm 44:8). In God we boast all the day; when we triumph in his power and mercy. But it is a sinful boasting, when men display their trophies, boast of their own worth and eminence, that others may admire and cry them up: a man's self is his idol, and he loves to have this idol worshipped (Acts 5:36). There arose up Theudas boasting himself to be somebody. 2. Sinful boasting is when men boast of their sins (Psalm 52:1). Why do you boast yourself in mischief, O mighty man? Some boast how wicked they have been; how many they have made drunk; how many they have deflowered: as if a beggar should boast of his sores; or a thief boast of being burnt in the hand. Such as boast of their sinful exploits, will have little cause to rejoice or hang up their trophies when they come to hell.

11. The evil tongue is the swearing tongue (Matthew 5:34). Swear not at all. The Scripture allows an oath for the ending of a controversy, and to clear the truth (Hebrews 6:16). But in ordinary discourse to use an oath, and so to take God's name in vain, is sinful. Swearing may be called the unfruitful work of darkness; there is neither pleasure nor profit in it; it is like a hook the fish comes to without a bait. (Jeremiah 23:10). Because of swearing the land mourns. Some think it the grace of their speech; but will God reckon with men for idle words, what will he do for sinful oaths?

Obj. But it is only a petty oath? They but swear by their faith?

Answ. Sure they which have so much faith in their mouth, have none in their heart. But it is my custom. Is this an excuse or an aggravation of the sin? If a malefactor should be arraigned for robbing, and he should say to the judge, Spare me, it is my custom to rob on the highway; the judge would say, You shall the rather die. For every oath you swear, God puts a drop of wrath into his vial.

Obj. But may some think, what though now and then I swear an oath, words are but wind?

Answ. But they are such a wind as will blow you into hell, without repentance.

12. The railing tongue is an evil tongue. This is a plague-sore breaking out at the tongue, when we give opprobrious language. When the dispute was between the Archangel and the Devil about the body of Moses (Jude verse 9), the Archangel dared not bring a railing accusation against him; but said, The Lord rebuke you. The Archangel dared not rail against the Devil. Railing often ends in reviling, and so men bring themselves into a praemunire, and are in danger of hell-fire (Matthew 5:22).

13. The seducing tongue is an evil tongue. The tongue that by fine rhetoric decoys men into error (Romans 16:18). By fair speeches they deceive the hearts of the simple. A fair tongue can put off bad wares. Error is bad ware, which a seducing tongue can put off. The deceit lies in this; a smooth tongue can make error look so like truth, that you can hardly know them apart: as thus; in justification: Christ bears infinite love to justified persons; this is a glorious truth; but under this notion, the Antinomian presses libertinism: believers may take more liberty to sin, and God sees no sin in them. Thus, by crying up justification, they destroy sanctification. Here is the seducing tongue; and error is as dangerous as vice: one may die by poison as well as a pistol.

14. The evil tongue is the cruel tongue, that speaks to the wounding of the hearts of others. The tongue is made almost in the fashion of a sword; and the tongue is sharp as a sword (Psalm 57:4). Their tongue is a sharp sword. Kind, loving words should be spoken to such as are of a heavy heart (Job 6:14). To him that is afflicted, pity should be shown. Healing words are fittest for a broken heart; but that is a cruel, unmerciful tongue which speaks such words to the afflicted, as cut them to the heart (Psalm 69:26). They talk to the grief of those whom you have wounded. Hannah was a woman of a troubled spirit (1 Samuel 1:10). She was in bitterness of soul, and wept sore. And now Eli, verse 14, said to her, How long will you be drunken? Put away your wine from you. This word was like pouring vinegar into the wound. When Job was afflicted with God's hand, his friends, instead of comforting him, told him he was a hypocrite (Job 11:2). These were cutting words, which went to his heart. Instead of giving him cordials in his fainting, they used corrosives. This is to lay more weight upon a dying man.

15. The evil tongue is the murmuring tongue (Jude 16). These are murmurers. Murmuring is discontent breaking out at the lips. Men quarrel with God, and tax his providence, as if he had not dealt well with them. Why should any murmur, or be discontented at their condition? Does God owe them anything? Or, can they deserve anything at his hands? Oh, how uncomely is it to murmur at providence! It is fittest for a Cain to be wroth with God (Genesis 4:6).

1. Murmuring proceeds from unbelief. When men distrust God's promise, then they murmur at his providence (Psalm 106:24-25). They believed not his word, but murmured. When faith grows low, then passions grow high.

2. Murmuring proceeds from pride; men think they have deserved better, and because they are crossed, therefore they utter discontented expressions against God. He who is humble bears anything from God; he knows his punishment is less than his sin; therefore says, "I will bear the indignation of the Lord" (Micah 7:9). But pride conjures up this devil of discontent, and hence come murmurings. Murmuring is a sin that God cannot bear (Numbers 14:27): "How long shall I bear with this people that murmur against me?" The murmurer discovers much ingratitude. A murmuring tongue is always an unthankful tongue: he considers not how he is a debtor to free grace, and whatever he has is more than God owes him; he considers not that his mercies outweigh his afflictions — there is more honey in his cup than wormwood; he considers not what God has done for him more than such as are better than he; he has the finest of wheat, when others feed as Daniel, on pulse. The murmurer, I say, does not consider this, but because he is crossed in some small matter, he repines against God. Oh, ingratitude! Israel, though they had manna from heaven to satisfy their hunger — angels' food — yet murmured for want of quails; not content that God should supply their want, but must satisfy their lusts too. Oh, unthankful! Israel's murmuring cost many of them their lives (1 Corinthians 10:10): "Neither murmur you as some of them did, and were destroyed of the destroyer." Their speeches were venomous, and God punished them with venomous serpents.

16. The evil tongue is the scoffing tongue. The scoffer sits in the chair of scorners, and derides religion. Surely the devil has taken great possession of men, when they have arrived at such a degree of sin as to scoff at holiness. It was foretold as a sin of the last times (2 Peter 3:3): "There shall come in the last days scoffers." Some scoff at the authority of Scripture, the deity of Christ, the immortality of the soul: this is the worst sort of tongues. When men have laid aside the veil of modesty, and their consciences are [reconstructed: seared], then they fall to scoffing at religion; and when once they are come to this, their case is desperate — no reproofs will reclaim them. Tell them of their sin, and they will hate you the more (Proverbs 9:8): "Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you." Such a man is on the threshold of damnation.

17. The evil tongue is the tongue given to cursing (Psalms 10:7): "His mouth is full of cursing" — a wishing some great evil to befall another. Cursing is the scum that boils off from a wicked heart. Though it is true, the curse causeless shall not come — it is not in man's power to make another cursed — yet to wish a curse is a fearful sin. If to hate our brother be murder (1 John 3:15), then to curse him, which is the highest degree of hatred, must needs be murder. To use an execration or curse is for a man to do what lies in him to damn another. Some wish a curse upon themselves — so the Jews: "His blood be upon us," etc. — and so do your "God-dammes," as if damnation did not come fast enough. "As he loved cursing, so let it come to him" (Psalms 109:17).

18. The evil tongue is the unjust tongue, that will for a piece of money open its mouth in a bad cause. The lawyer has Linguam venalem — a tongue that will be sold for money (Psalms 82:2): "How long will you judge unjustly?" Some will plead any cause, though never so bad: though it appears the deeds are forged, the witnesses bribed, there is perjury in the cause — yet they will plead it. When a man pleads a bad cause, he is the devil's attorney. As God hates false weights, so a false cause. Better be born dumb than open one's mouth in a bad cause. Oh, what times are we in! Many pervert justice, and for enriching themselves, overthrow a righteous cause. These are worse than they that rob, for they fleece men's estates under a color of law, and ruin them under a pretense of doing justice.

Use 1. Branch 1. See what a blow we have sustained by the fall; it has put out of frame the whole course of nature. Original sin has diffused itself as a poison into all the members of the body. It has made the eye unchaste, the hands full of bribes; among the rest, it has defiled the tongue — it is a world of iniquity. That which was made to be the organ of God's praise is become a weapon of unrighteousness.

Branch 2. If there be so much evil in the tongue, what is in the heart? If the stream be so full of water, how full of water is the fountain? If there be a world of iniquity in the tongue, how many worlds of sin are there in the heart? "Their inward part is very wickedness" (Psalms 5:9). If the tongue, which is the outward part, be so wicked, the inward part is very wickedness. "The heart is deep" (Psalms 64:6). It is such a deep as cannot be fathomed — deep pride, hypocrisy, atheism.

The heart is like the sea, where is the leviathan, and creeping things innumerable (Psalms 104). If the skin has boils or leprosy in it, how much corruption is in the blood? If the tongue be so bad, how diabolical is the heart? It is the heart that sets the tongue to work. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. There are the seeds of all atheism and blasphemy. The heart is the Trojan horse, out of which a whole army of sin comes (Matthew 15:9): "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries — these defile a man." If a branch of wormwood be so bitter, then how bitter is the root? Oh, what a root of bitterness grows in a man's heart! Some say they have good hearts, but if the tongue be so bad, quid Cor? If I see a smoke come out of the top of a chimney, what a fire burns within? "A wicked man walks with a perverse mouth — frowardness is in his heart" (Proverbs 6:12, 14). Solomon shows the reason why the mouth is so perverse: frowardness is in his heart. The heart is a storehouse of wickedness — therefore called the evil treasure of the heart (Matthew 12:35). Original righteousness was a good treasure, but we were robbed of that; and now there is an evil treasure of sin. The word "treasure" denotes plenty, to show the fullness and abundance of sin that is in the heart. The heart is a lesser hell, which is matter of deep humiliation. The heart is like the Egyptian temples, full of spiders and serpents.

Use 2. Reproof. It reproves such as abuse their tongues in all manner of evil speaking, lying, slandering, rash anger. The heart is a vessel full of sin, and the tongue sets it abroach. O how fast do men's tongues gallop in sin! They say, they give God their hearts; but let the Devil take possession of their tongues. (Psalm 12:4) Our lips are our own, who is Lord over us? Who has anything to do with our words? Who shall control us? Who is Lord over us? There's no engine the Devil makes more use of than the tongue. What errors, contentions, impieties have been propagated this way to the dishonor of the high God? David calls his tongue his glory (Psalm 57:8): Awake my glory. Why did he call his tongue his glory, but because by it he did set forth God's glory in praising him? But a wicked man's tongue is not his glory, but his shame. With his tongue he wounds the glory of God; it is set on fire of Hell.

Use 3. Confutation. Branch 1. It confutes the Catharists, and Perfectists, that plead for perfection in this life. If the tongue has so many evils in it, how are they perfect? (Proverbs 20:9) Who can say I have made my heart clean, I am pure from sin? He makes a challenge to all the world. But the Perfectist says, he is pure from sin: Like Isidore the Monk, Non [reconstructed: habeo], Domine, quod mihi ignoscas; I have nothing, Lord, for you to pardon. If pure and perfect, then they put Christ out of office; he has nothing to do for them as an advocate; they have no need of his intercession. But, (Ecclesiastes 7:20) There is not a just man upon earth, that does good, and sins not. Indeed, that sins not in doing good. In the grammar, with the present tense is joined the imperfect: with the present state of grace is joined imperfection. There's not a just man on earth, that sins not; indeed, I may say, that sins not in his tongue. Moses was noted for the meekest man alive; yet he spoke unadvisedly with his lips: Hear you rebels. Moses could not plead perfection. Paul was an elect vessel; but there fell out a sharp contention between him and Barnabas; and they grew so hot in their words, that they parted each from other; and we do not read that they had any more friendly visits (Acts 15:39). Paul himself was not perfect. Sin is like the wild fig-tree in the wall; cut off the branches, and stump, yet some sprig or other will spring out again. How proud and supercilious are they who hold they are perfect, when the holiest men alive, at some time or other offend in their tongue? There is no perfection on this side the grave. Perfection never begins till the life ends. Only the death of the body will free us from the body of death.

Branch 2. It confutes the Arminians; those patrons of free will: they say, they have power to their own salvation; they can change their heart. The Apostle says, The tongue can no man tame (James 3:8). If they cannot bridle their tongue, how can they conquer their will? If they cannot master this little member, (tongue,) how can they change their nature? Alas, as Saint Austin says, Cathedram habet in Coelo, qui corda docet in Terra; He has his pulpit in Heaven, that converts hearts. But what reply will men make at the last day, when God shall say, You had power to convert yourselves, why were you not converted? You could have come to Christ if you pleased; but why did you not? It was wilfulness. Ex ore tuo, out of your own mouth I will condemn you.

Use 4. Caution. Take heed to your tongue; have a care that you offend not with your tongue. (Psalm 34:14) Keep your tongue from evil. A sin we are very prone to, to lash out with our tongues. There's the fire of lust in the eye, and the fire of passion in the tongue. (Psalm 39:1) I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I offend not with my tongue. A hard lesson! Pambus said he was above twenty years learning that Scripture, not to offend with his tongue. The tongue is an unruly member; God has set a double hedge before the tongue, the teeth and lips, to keep it within its bounds, that it does not speak vainly. O, look to your tongue. When a city is besieged, he that keeps the gates of the city, keeps the whole city safe; so, if you keep the gates or doors of your mouth, you keep your whole soul.

Rules for the well ordering and regulating your words, or the governing of your tongue, that you do not dishonor God therewith.

1st Rule. If you would have better tongues, labor for better hearts. It is the heart that has influence upon the tongue. The heart fills the tongue with words, as the cistern is filled from the sponge. The way to heal the tongue, is to better the heart. The vapors that trouble the head, come from the stomach. If you would cure the head, apply something to the stomach. If the stomach were better, the head would be better; reformation must begin at the heart. In a watch, when the wheels are out of order, they mend the spring thereof; so when the tongue is like a watch that runs too fast in vain, sinful talk, mend the spring; let your heart be bettered. If the heart be vain and earthly, the tongue will be so. If the water be foul in the fountain, it cannot be clear in the vessel. If the heart be holy, the tongue will be so. Look to your heart; get a better heart, and a better tongue.

Question. How shall I get my heart bettered?

Answer. Get a principle of grace infused: grace is like the salt cast into the spring: grace changes the heart, and sanctifies all the members of the body; it sanctifies the eyes, and makes them chaste; it sanctifies the tongue, and makes it meek and calm. When the Holy Ghost came upon the Apostles, they began to speak with other tongues (Acts 2:4). When God's Spirit comes on a man with a sanctifying work, he speaks with another tongue; the speech is heavenly; grace makes the heart serious, and that cures the levity of the tongue. When the heart is serious, the words are savoury.

2 Rule. If you would not sin in your tongue, call to mind how you have formerly offended in your tongue, and that will make you more watchful for the future. Have not you spoken words that have savored of discontent or envy? Have not you been guilty of censuring and slandering? Have not you been disguised with passion? Has not your tongue outrun your discretion? Have not you spoken words that you have been sorry for afterwards, and have caused either shame or tears? O observe former failings, how you have sinned in your tongue, and that will be a good help for the future. David certainly made a critical observation upon some of his words, wherein he had offended: words of pride (Psalm 30:6): In my prosperity I said I shall never be moved. And (Psalm 116:14): I said in my haste, All men are liars: Even Samuel and all the prophets, who promised me the kingdom, they are all liars; and I shall die before I can come to enjoy it. David having observed how he had offended in his tongue, he is more careful of his words, and made a strict vow with himself that he would [reconstructed: look better to them]. (Psalm 39:1) I said I would take heed to my ways, that I offend not with my tongue. Look to the former slips of your tongue, and how you have by your words provoked God, and that will be a good means to make you more cautious for the future. A mariner that has twice touched upon a rock, and been like to be cast away, will be more careful how he comes there again.

3 Rule. Watch your tongue: most sin is committed for want of watchfulness. As the tongue has a double fence set about it, so it has need of a double watch. The tongue when it is let loose will be ready to speak loosely; watch it, lest it run beyond its bounds, in frothy and sinful discourse. (Proverbs 30:32) If you have thought evil, lay your hand upon your mouth: That is (say some) lay your hand upon your mouth in token of repentance. But it may bear another sense: If you have thought evil, if angry malicious thoughts come into your mind, lay your hand upon your mouth to stop your lips, that your thoughts come not into words; do not speak what you think. If you have in your heart conceived evil, let not your tongue be the midwife to bring it forth; lay your hand upon your mouth. The spiritual watch must be kept daily: watch and pray: It is not enough to pray against sin, but you must watch against it. Look to your tongue that there be no wild fire got into it. The Jews sealed the sepulchre and set a watch: so seal up your lips, by a holy vow, and then watch them that they speak no evil.

4 Rule. If you would not offend in your tongue, ponder your words well before you speak. (Ecclesiastes 5:1) Be not rash with your mouth. Some speak vainly, because inconsiderately; they do not weigh their words before they speak them. He must needs make wild work in printing, that should print his letters and never mind how he sets them. He that speaks rashly, speaks rudely, and discovers either indiscretion or sin. Words spoken in haste may be repented of at leisure: As it is with a man's going; if he goes carelessly, and does not mind his way, his foot may be in a slough before he is aware: so with a man's speaking, if he does not mind his words, but gives his tongue liberty, he may speak not only unadvisedly, but unholily, and give just offense.

5 Rule. If you would not offend in your tongue, pray to God to guard your tongue. (Psalm 141:3) Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth. Set not about this work in your own strength, but implore God's help. The tongue no man can tame (James 3:8). Man that can tame the fiercest creatures, lion, wolf, elephant, yet cannot tame the tongue; but God can tame it; therefore go to him by prayer: Pray, Lord, set a watch before the door of my lips; keep me, that I may speak nothing to grieve your Spirit, or that may tend to your dishonor. God is the great Lord-Keeper, he keeps the heart and tongue. Pray, that his fear may be a golden bridle to check us from speaking evil; then we are safe when we have God for our guardian.

6 Rule. If you would be kept from evil speaking, inure your tongues to good speaking. If you would not have the cask have a bad scent, put good liquor into it: so if you would not have your tongue run out sinfully, let it be used to good discourse; speak often one to another of Christ, and the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. The spouse's lips dropped as a honeycomb (Song of Solomon 4:11).