_----- Chap. 29 Expofirion urn the Book of o n. Verf. 9. 493 our, unlelle well bridled, Nor is any bridle thong enough to hold it, but the bridle of Gracç. Grace is both fpur and bridle tp the tongue Grace like a fpur provokes us to fpeak for God, and .for the good of others, to fp :ak ï.avoury words which may mini- (er Grace to the hearers and Grace, like a bridle, flops usfrom fpeaking what may greive the fpirit of God, or be either infetious or cffenfive unto others. None rule 'their tongues well without Grace, and force who'have,Grace cannot rule them well. And hence the Apoflle fames (Chap. 3. z.) concludes, not only that , he who offends not in word , is a gracious man,(feeing it is poffible, yea very ufual, for a man tobe fo who yet offends in word). but he faith fuck a one is a perfe&man, that is, he huh attained co a very great, if not the greatefl degree of Grace. And'becaufe by`our readtnefs to fpeak, we are continually ready to fin; `there the fame Apoflle commends, ïlownefs to fpeak (James I. s 9) Let every man be fwift to bear, flow tofpeak : VVhen the tongue bath got loote, it is not cafee to flay ir. They in the Palm thought their tongues in their own power , and proudly put the que(fion (Pfal. 12.. 4.) With our tongue wewill prevaile, our lips', are our own, Wbo is Lora overoes ? Wemay anfwer ; their tongues. were Lords over them; and having gotten the bridlewould on whether theywould or no. Many a mans tongue is toohard for bis whole man. He hath,t great command over bimfelf, that can, command it. We take it ill, if others filence us ; but it were well (in manycafes) if we could like there Priñces refrain talking, . and filence our felves. I find thisword applied the (butting up- of the rainio the Clouds, which is no eafiething, the Cloudsbe- ing fo quickly moved and crufhed like fponges with the wind asalfu to the reflraining and floppingof fire beginningto kindle, . that it break not out into a flame.. To retrain fpeaking is often. as hard and as beneficial as to re(lrain a fire from burning, or.to lock up' the Clouds from immoderate or unfcafcnable raining. 7he Princes refrainedtalking, Audlaid their hand upon their mouth. There words fpeak the fame thing, the not fpeaking of the ?rinccs in jobs pretence, or their utmoR fileace. VVe have the famecxpre(lìon as well as fence (Chap. el. 5.) tilfafkmeanai be aflonifhd, and lay your hand -upon your month, That is, fpeak no more,,
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