Sz ue [tl.ons and Anfweres 6. Cmmand. fword,but not fa many as have fallen by thetongue.Well it him that is keptfrom an euill tongue commeth not in the ongerthereof, which hath not drawnein that ycke ,neitherhathbeen bound in thebander thereof. For theyoke thereof as aycke of iron , and the bands therofore bonds ofbraffe. The death therofis an euill death, cÍ' hell were better than fut. hone. With moe fuch fpeeches in that chapter ifyou read it ouer.And in another rlace,Whofhallfer Cha.ax,x6, a watch before my mouth, & afeale ofwifedome vpon my lips /has I fall not. fodainly by them, & that my tonguedefiroyme not ? Fearfull therefore is the fault of the tongue as we plainely fee. weft. How do men vfe to kill by their tongues I Anfw. By flaunders,reproaches,mockes and taunts,faith your booke, & confider indeede the difpleafure ofGod againfl all theft: as againflthc firfl by an eaprcße lave Lcui.19.16, again(} it : Thou (halt not waike about with tales among the people , meaning , as í launderers, backbiters and quarell pickets doe, Alfo by the hatred of it which the Pfal, to r. Spirit of God worketh againfl it in the godly, as in David, who faith he will defiroy the vngodly (launderer which priuily flaundereth his neighboúr ; in Salomon who Leal.' 9'14. counfcllethin any cafe to refraine harkening to them and in mary others.Againflthe fecond by his law alfo publifhed in that behalfe : that we fhould not curfe the deafe, neither put a flumbling blocke before the blinde,that is no way reproach them wits their infitmity , but feare the Lord, for he is out God , as though he fhould fay, re- proaches of our brethren,andto feare the Lorde,aré neuerinone man together. And syrach 22,.20 it is a fpeech worthy noting, of the wife Syrach, That who fo calleth a floue at birdes Sec, frayeth them away,& hee that vpbraideth his friend,breakethfriendefhip. Yea marke what followeth,though thou drewefl afworde faith he,at thy friend,yet defpaire nor, for there maybe a returning to favour. If thou hauc opened thy mouth again(l thy friend,feare not, for there may be a reconciliation : but if upbraiding, or pride,or du.. clofingoí fecrets, or a traiterous wound doe let,then by thefe things,euery friend will Chad 3.15. depart. And againe, in another place: the man that is accuflomed to approbatious wordes will neuer bee reformed all the dales of his life, £uefl. Horrible I fee then it lea yytber to / launder or to reproach any with fach in rmi- ties as they haue,but a mocke I takenot to be in fo high a degree. Anfw. What degree foeuer it is in,it skillethnot,certaine and fure it is,that God abhorreth it. And 1 referrebut any heart that hath feeling to the firft words ofDau,4 in his Pfalmes,Rleffed it that man that bath not fit in the feote of the fcornefull. J bcfeeth Pfal.r. you if they be bleíled that haue not doneit,what are they that daily doe it ? The wi- ekedthought ofa foole isfinne, and the learner is and abhomination to men , faith Salomon. Pro.24.9.., Tea fcornefullmen bring acitie into afeare, hee that rebukethafcornerpurchafeth tohir,t- a9.8. f lfe fbame , and he that rebuleth the wickedgetteth a b lot. Rebuke not a fcorner leaf' bee hate thee,but rebuke awife man , and hee will loue thee. Wherefore notwithout leaf-on 8° feemeth the tranflation of Hierame, and the Greekes of the Hebrewe worde Lezim mockers,into peflilents,peflilent fellowes and huttfull , for fo they are indeede, even the plagues ofa common weak. Yet if we marke the vfuall caufe of mockes , it will make vs fee more into the vilenes of this finne. For it is vet lightly for dooing well, & refraining euill that the wicked mocke the godly,and is it not avile fpiritthat can- not abide vertue,but fo greedily thirfteth after vice ?Drirke not with thedrunckardes till thou bee drunke,&they mocke thee: [weare not with thefwearers , but admon Jh them,[; they mocke thee.Bee not vaine in words,in appareil, in behouiour,and they mocke thee.Heare the word,read theword,talke of the word,& by & by,O youngSaint,olde diuell,youwil to Heauen or your bones be colde,with a number fuch mockes and diuellifh murices. The degrees bee diuers,yet alldiuellifh,fome fcorne all admonition,and they woulde haue cuerie fat (they fay)íland on his owne bottome, and curry man to meddle with himfelfe,Some fcorne,but at that which toucheththéfelues,fhooting out their lippes, &refufing to be charmed.Some fecretly in hearten by a molt contcptuous conceite of that good thing whatfoeuer,which their crooked nature cannot like of.Others open- ly by verie vile fpeechés vttered againfl God and godlineire,againfltheir brethren,& what
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