734 Chap. 26. Au E'xpofrition upan the Beokof J O R Vert ,l may be preferred in the heat ts and acceptations of all men with whom I have todoe, before the world. And that this was his purpo1e, we have his fence fully from his own pen (t Car. lo. 32, 3 3 ) give none if nce,neither to the 7ewes,nor to the G, ettte nor to the (ourch of God, even at I pleafe at/ men in all things, not fecking mine own profit, but the profit of many that they mej be favrd. There are five things to be taken notice of, that we may utter words to- profit. Firft, The matter or what we fpeak.Thofe words which have so worth in themfelves can never profit others While the Pro- phet (H:( 14. 2.) exhorteth the people to repenczrce, He 'inch, Take tank, word,, that is cho} ce words, (elect word, cot fider what words you take with you when you tune to the Lad, and plead with him for mercy, laying, talc away ad in qie ty, and re- seive to gracoonfly. And as we are to take word, with us. cho\, re words to expreffe choyfe matter in when .re ;peake to the Lord, fo alfo in proportion when we fpeake to Men, as from the Lord. Secondly, We mutt confider to .vhom we are to utter wo ds, we mutt nor (hoot at randome, or with-wc a marke Some doc- trines are general!, but there ought to be a fpecistl application of General! doctrines. Other Doctrines are p,culrar to tome. We tnuft nor caí+ pearks before twine, nor give childrens bread to dvg,. And we mutt he ?s careful! that we (peak nor to children, that is, to the truely Godly, as we (hould doe to dogs and (wine (for fo the Scripture calli them) prophane andungodly men. Thirdly, We molt confider the leaton or tame when we (peak. Thofe words will rake at one time, which will not at another. Thete is as much care to be had, and as much skill feene in a due timeing ofour words, as of our a&ons. Four(hly, We mutt confider the q'lmntttm, or the meafure of words uttered, we may over lay and over chsrge thofe to whom we fpeake ; Every one cannot bear a ftrorg (bower offpeech, or words pnwred out like a f Tod upon filch Our d£laine (as M)fra f id his did, Dent. 3 a 2) mutt dropae durable, ourfrith tntni 411l11 as the dew, att the tonal raine upon the tender hearbe, and asp the /bowers uo'n the rare.- Fifthly, We mutt confider the manner in which we utter words: whether to tpeoke as aBaretabat,or as a 71oanarges,whe- cher
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