Chap. 3 t. An Expofition »pan the Book" of j o s. Vert. 30. ly called incendiaries, yet this fire maybequench't,and thefe Bel- lowes may be brokenand made breath.lefle as to the kindlingof the flames ofcontention. Indeed the oppofition of moft asagainft other corruptions, fo againft thisofevil) (peaking is not to conque1 ;though they make fome offers to bridle their tongues, and lay they will not fuller their mouth to fin, yet their tongues are their Mafters.I will give you a two- fold reafon why the oppofition which many make againft this evil! of the tongue, or any other evil! is not to victory. Firft , Becaufe'cis wecke and flight ; A carnal] mans refitting ofevil! is like his defiringof good; He defireth good,but àttaines it not,becaufehis delires are wecke and cold,there is no ftrength, no heate in them:thus alto he oppofeth evil) but cannot prevaile, becaufe he oppofeth it faintly. Secondly 'Tisnot only weakebut falle and treacherous ; He is not reali and hearty in it ; ?ob let himfelfe in good earneft a- gainft his tongue, when it was ready tobreake out finfully, and he did it prevailingly. His was ahearty, and therefore an effe- dual! refiftance. While fome decryboth evill workes and evil! words,they delight in them,and hold fecret correfpondence with them. ?ob oppofedhis tongue really, and he had his will ofit ; Thfuff"ered not bit mouth tofin. Fifthly, Obferve. Themoistb,or tongue of man, it a very great andcommon ïafru. ment offn. That's the general] truth ofthis verfe. The tongue is an en- gine ofmore mifchiefe both to our (elves andothers thenany o ther member of the body. The Apoftle faith ( Eons. 3.13. ) of naturali men, Their Throat is an openfepuieher. Which fimilitude Rands in two things ; FirR, becaufe there comes a ¡tench out of their throats by filthy ill- fented and unfavourywords;Secondly, becaufe theygape after and devoure the credit and good name of their neighbours. The tongue of man being rightly ufed is his glory, WhenDavid faith ( Pfd. 57.8.) Awake migiorv, bee calls his tongue toawake. The tongue is mans glory becaufe it liftech up the glory ofGod ; and as the tongue of a godly mania his glory, fo the tongues ofwicked men are their flume, they L 1 1 I, pro. 625
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