CONFIRMED CHRISTIAN. 527 pleasure, or profit, or honor,which is his idol, are indeed the reign- ing passions in him. Ahd his grief, and fear, and anger, are but the servants unto these ; Acts xxiv. 26, 27. XXXVII. 1. A Christian indeed is one that keepeth aconstant government of his tongue; he knoweth how much duty or sin it will be the instrumentof. According to his ability and opportuni- ty, he useth it to the service and honor of his Creator; in speaking ofhis excellencies, his works, and word; inquiring after the knowl- edge of him and his will ; instructing others, and pleading for the truth and ways of God, and rebuking the impiety and iniquities of the world, as his place and calling doth allow him. He bridleth his tongue from uttering vanity, filthiness, ribaldry, and foolish and uncomely talk and jests; from rash and irreverent talk of God, and taking of his name in vain; from the venting of undigested and un- certain doctrines which may prove erroneous and perilous to men's souls from speaking imprudently;, unhandsomely, or unseasonably about holy things, to as to expose them to contempt and scorn ; from lying, censuring others without a warrantable ground and call ; from backbiting, slandering, false-accusing, railing and . reviling ; malicious, envious, injurious speech which tendeth to extinguish the love of the hearers to those he speakèth of; from proud and boasting speeches of himself; much more from swearing, cursing, and blasphemous speech, and opposition to the truths and holy ways of God, or opprobrious speeohes, or derision of his servants. And in the government ofhis tongue, he always beginnethwith;his heart, that he may understand and love the good which he speak- eth of, and may hate the evil which his tongue forbeareth; and not hypocriticallyto force his tongue against or without his heart. His tongue doth not run before his heart, but is ruled by it; Ephes. iv. 15. 29. 31. v. 3, 4. 6. Psal. xxxvii. 30. xv. 2, 3. Prov. xvi. 13. x. 20. xxi. 23. xviii. 21. xv. 2. 4. Psal. 34. 13. Prov. xxv. 15. 23. xxviii. 23. Matt. xii. 31, 32. 34. 2, But the weak Christian, thoughhis, tongue be sincerely sub- ject to the laws of God, yet frequently miscarrieth and blemisheth his soul by the words of his lips, being much ofter than the con- firmed Christian overtaken with words of vanity, meddling, folly, imprudence, uncharitableness, wrath, boasting, venting uncertain or erroneous opinions, &e., so that the unrulinessof his tongue is the trouble of his heart; if not alsoof the family, and all about him. 3. The seeming Christian useth his tongue in the service of his carnal ends, and therefore alloweth it so much injustice, unchari- tableness, falsehood,and other sins, as his carnal interest and designs require; but the rest perhaps he may suppress, especially if natu- ral sobriety, good education and prudence do assist him; and his
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