Chap. 5. An Expofitionupon theBool¿,ofJ OB. Verf. 2i. 357 ancient reproaches Sc accufations againft the brethren, O, that we could revive the ancient imbraces and molt endeared affeEtions of the Brethren. Obferve, fecondly, It is a great mercy to be delivered from the Scourge of the tongue. The Apoftle (peaks of it as a wonderful mercy,that he was de- livered out of the Mouth ofthe Lion (2Tim4.17. ) Surely it is no ordinary mercy (though lying be very ordinary) to be delive- red out of the Mouth of a lydr. This is joyned in one promife,with deliverance from the moltdeadly inftruments of warre, lfa. 54. 17, No weaponformed again(t thee 'hallprorjer, that is, no wea- pon ofwarre,neither Sword nor Speare flail hurt thee.Then fol- lowes, Andover) tongue that(hall rife up againft thee in judgement thoufkalt condemne. 7hir if the heritage of thefervants of the Lord. The tongue ofa Ziba or ofaTertullus will devour and dellroy, as badasthe Sword ofaC efar or a Pompey. The holy (tory tels us,what woeful work the tongue had made upon Jofiph and Me_ phibofheth, ifthe good providence ofGod had not fpoken a good word for them. Laftly, Let me add one feafonableword ofadmonition, to thefe tongue- fcourgers;As the word is,They that (mite with the (word, [hall peril"' with the (word ; fo, they that finite with the tongue, (hall perifh with the toogue.The tonguesof the Saints are in Iòme fence,fharper and forer fcourges,then the tongues of wicked men. The word of God in their mouths, is a Two-edged Sword, yea (harper then any Two-edged Sword. A Prophet or a Minifier òfChrift, can ftrike as hard with his tongue, as ( and infinitely harder, then ) any Prophane wretch, or railing Rafhakeh in the world. Truth wellfit home, will wound deeper, than flander can. I (faith the Lord, Hof. 6 5. ) have hewed them by my Prophets, and (lain them by the words of mymouth. In the r t th ofthe Reve- lation; it is prophcfied, That firefhall gag out ofthe mouths of the two Witneffes, and devour their enemies, verf. 5. That is, the wordof their mouths, (hall be as a fire to fcorchand confume the gainfaying' world ; and with this inftrument their tongue ( for that only is Eatable for the work ofwitneffes;they are fa id to have tormented thofe that dwell upon the earth, ver, ao. Some inde d are Sermon-proofe, and Wordpreofe; They at prefent do even Iaugh at all our fpirituali Artillery Let whole volleys of threats t3r; difcharg'd upon them,let them be hackt & hewed all day long with
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