on theBook of Jou f. 368 Chap. t 3. AnExpopion Ver never 'peak but when we arefiire to come off well and faveour skins ? Yes, at our peril we mutt fpeak when there is greatefi peril : fo did the ancient Prophets, fo did the holy Apoftles: Yet ( though another interpretationmay be givenofthat place in the Prophet, making the thence of the prudent in evil times to be their acquiefceice in the evils of punifhment which God brings, not their quietnefs with theevils of fin which men coal: mit : and fo their silence is oppofed tomurmuring againft God, not to their fpea king againft, or reproof of men) yet (I fay ) we may be filent from reproving men, r. When there is no pro- bability that the evil which we bring our felves into fhall be balanced with any proportionable good to others. 2. When thofe fins have been Efficiently witnetfed againa already,fo that men finnot for want oflight, but direìlyagainft it. In fuch a time as this we have noobligation to run upon, our owndanger. That's therule ofChrift ( Mat. ? 6.) Give not that which it holy unto the dogs, neither calf yeyour pearls before fwine, left they trample themunder theirfeet,and turnagain andrent yon.Wherewe fee ' as Chrift will not havehis word offered tome fort ofobftinate hardened finners (fhadowed under the names of fwine and dogs ) left they fhould abufe it, fo left they fhould abufe thofe that bring it. He provides, as for the honourof the - Gofpel, fo for the fafetyof thofewhopublifh the Gofpe!. 5. As itisa fealon for filence when the parlions and corrupti- ons of others are up, fo when ourown paftîons or corruptions are up. It hadbeen better for meek Mofes to have held his peace, then tohave fpoken when the people provoked him to anger , for then he fpake unadvifedlywith his lips. Paffion isan ill counfellour,and as had a fpeaker. Aman is not fit to reprove or fpeakangerly, when he is angry. Storms at the tongue are never fo feafonableas when there is a-calm upon the heart : He was a wife man, who whenhefaw a man angry, would advife him to fay over all the letters ofthe Alphabet, beforehe ventured to put any twoof them together or fpeak a word. 6, It is a'feafon forfilence,when menare not capableof what . we fpeak. Words are loft, not only upon a meer fot, a fool, a mad man, but upon fuchas are indifpofed to hear them. Abigail faw it was no time to fpeak to Phskslwhen he was drunken, and his heart merry with wine, therefore j etold himnothing, left moreltill !ba morning' lighr z Sam,25.36, Chritt tels his difciples (job.
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