Chap. x 2. AnExpofition upon theBoo(of JO$. Verfe2o. 293 He removeth and taketh it way , therefore he giveth (Exod.4. t o,)We find Mofes eloquent only toted Godhe twos not eloquent : he fpeaks very rhetorically to excufe his fervice for want of rhetorick. Lord (faith he) Iam not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor ¡Mee thou haft fpoken unto thy fervant (neither yefterday nor to day, that is, not at any time) but I am flow of fpeech, and of a flow tongue. But how doth the Lord anfwer him ? The Lord faid untohim, who bath made mans mouth ? As ifhe had faid, Seeing I make the mouth which is the inflrament of fpeech, or the _hop wherein words are made, I alfo can malk the mouth eloquent,&give thee words to (peak The Lord argues fur- ther with Mofes, who maketh the dumb ? Is it not I the Lord ? 1 who make the dumb, can make thee fpeak,and fpeak eloquent- ly too : I can give thee a flowing tongue. Therefore be not a- fraid to go on my errand : I who fend thee, will [tore theewith language todo the errand about which I fend thee : It Ilia be given thee in thatfame hour, what tofpeak, SecondlyObferve, Man is not mafler of his own tongue. God takes away the lip of the Orator. They (Pfal.12. 3,4.) bragged much of their tongues ; furely they thought it any thingwas their own, their tongues were, they could fpeak what they lift, who is Lordover us ? fay they, Yet they found a Lord over their tongues. God is Lord ofthe tongue two ways, pirft, Becaufe he will bring every one to an account for bio tongue: Thofe boafters (Pfal.12.) thought themfelves exem- pted from any fudi controle. Our tongues are our own, who is Lordover us ? who bath any thing to do withwhat we Beak ? who Iliall audit us for words and Rabies ? Yes,there is one will do it to a fillable. God gives the rule what we (hall fpeak,and he will call everyone to a reckoning for what he bath fpoken. Secondly, God is Lord of the tongue in reference to the power of fpeech. Man cannot fpeak what he would, or when hewould (Numb.23.11,12.) Balak had hired Balaara to curfe the people of God, and Oalaam had a good will to it, if ever man had, but Balak,found Balaam in another note, be only publifhed the glory of Ifrael, and prophefied their highefi blef- Gngs. Balak was extreamly troubled at this; and faith, What haft thondone unto me? I took thee to curfe mine enemies, andbe- hold-thou haft blefled them altogether. As if he had aid, what Pp 3 Balaam ?
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