A particular .Addrf to Ming Perfns. 253 and the readieft to acquire habits, may in SF, x M. this cafe be careful to contract good ones, by IX. which a grave, faber, religious, pure, and charitable manner of fpeaking, will quickly become familiar, and even natural to them ; and that they may induftrioufly avoid in the beginning of life, all profane and vicious forms of fpeech, which the mouths of fome are fo accuftomed to, efpecially in the in- fiance of rafh fwearing, that they fall into them without any thought, or confidering that they do evil : Yet idle cufloms do not alter the nature of things, the difference of moral good and evil remaineth unchangeable ; profanenefs and impurity do not become in- nocent by being often pra tifed, and a con- traded habitual inconfideration of their ma- lignity increafeth inftead of leffening it. But in the Taft claufe of this verfe, the Pfalmift diffuadeth his children from one fort of evil fpeaking, keep thy lips from fpeaking guile, which every man will acknowledge to be a juft rule, who is not loft to a fenfe of all that is worthy and honourable. It is not needful on this occafion to enquire into the original obligation of moral truth or fincerity, whether it ftandeth upon the fame foot, and be of equal authority with the firft of all virtues, fo that it is abfolutely, and univerfally in
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=