Z20 Idle 4$dworldly talk to be denied. fandified, and not unprofitable : and alio they are 'glad to re- deem what time they can for ftveches of an higher and more excellent lubje6t. And the commonnefs of this fin of idle talk, yea with many that we hope are godly, (loth make me think that its thought to be a fmaller matter then it is ., and I doubt this conceit is it that makes it to be fo common. And therefore I fhall here give you fome of the Aggravations of this fin, that you may here- after judge of it as it is, and not be encouraged in it by falfe apprehenfions. 1. A cuflom of vain words, is a fign of a vain and empty mind : were the heart but full of better things, the tongue would be employed in better fpecches. Either the head , or heart, or bath is empty and vain, in that meafure as the tongue is vain, Ecclef.s.3. [ Adream cometh through the multitude of bufineft, and a fools voice is known by multitude of words ] Ecclef. 10 12. [ Thewordsof a wife mans mouth are gracious ; but the lips of a fool will fwallow up loimfelf] Ecclef. i o. i 4. [ fool U full of words] And therefore Solomon oppofeth the tongue of the jail and the heart of the wicked, Prov. 10.20. [The tongue of the jull is as choice [dyer : the heart of the wicked is little worth ] See Prov. I 7. 27, 28. Pfal. 37. 3o, 31. [The mouth of the righteous fpeaketh wifdom, and his tongue talked; of judgement] and whence is this [The Law of his God is in his heart: none of his Reps (hall Jude.] i It is a fign that a man hath little feeling of the greatnefsof his own fin, of the greatnefs of Gods Love in Chrift, of the greatnefs of the joy that is fet before him of the greatnefs of duty that lyeth on him, when he can fpend fo much of his time in talkingof sneer vanity. You cannot get a dying man, or a mans that's taken up with any great important bufinefs, to jeft and prate with you of idle matters. Its only alienated idle minds that can give way to a cantle of idle words : nay it is a fign that Confcience is not fo tender as it ought to be, when men can knowingly go on in a courfe of fin Doth not Confcience ask you what you are doing, and whether this difcourfe do tend to edification, and the cherifbing of grace? What Confciences have you that look no better after your tongues, but will let them wander fo
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