upon the Epiftle _of J A M B s. VERS.Z. by the frequent di!fwafions from vain boafiing of themfelves, and detracting fr11m others, in the fidl: and fecond Chapters : and 'cis an high Point of Grace, not to be fnared with the.- evils of our own times. 2 . • fis the bdl: difcovery of the hearr; fpeech is the ex– prefs image of it; Mat. I 2·34• Out ofthe (tbundance ofthe he~trt the mouth fpeak,.eth: When the heaH · is full, it over-flowtth in i fpecch. The fiory of loquere ut videam is common, Speak.. that I may fee thee; fo Socrates to a fair boy. . We know menals by their tinkling: Pja/.37. 30. The mouth ofthe righteom[peak._eth Wifdom, and his tongue t•dk._eth rudgment, for the L~w of the Lord is in his he11rt. Good men wil\ be always d·ifcovermg them., J felves, and give vent to the fulnefs of their hearts. 3· 'Tis ~he Hy– pocrites fin, they abfiain from groffer aCtions, but ufually offend in their words, in boafiing profeffioos, andproud cenfur-es: See [am. h26. 4; All of ns are apt to offend with the tongue many.ways ; moll of a mans fins are in his words : One reckoneth up twemy four feveral fins of the tongue,and yet the number maybe increafed; lying, rayling, [wearing, ribaldry, fcoffing, quarreling, .deceiving, boafiing, tatling,&c. At fidl indeed there was no other fin in Society but lying; but n0w to how many evils doth this one member fubfcribe i Tis obfervable·, that when the Apofile giveth us the Anatomy of wickednefs in v.l! the members of the body, he fiayeth longefi on the organs of fpeech, and goeth-over them all, Rom.3. 1 3; ~4, I 5. Their throat is tm open[epulchre, with their tong1Jes have thq ufed decrit,- .the poyfon of Arfs is under their ·lips: Whofe mouth is fu!l:of curjing ar.Jd bitternefs,&c. There is much need you fee of reforming and polilbing this member. So, ~rov. I 2.1 3· The fnare ofthe wic~ed is the tran!gre!fion of his lips; that is, not only ) _ by which he taketh others, but by which he is taken himfelf, to his , own ruine and ddl:ruCl:ion. 5•.!Tis a fin into which we.ufually / and eaGly. fall, partly by. reafon of that quick .intercourfe that is be- • btwee~ t1;e tonh.gueandh the huar~.wehfin in an ~nfl:antd; .and part 1 Iy . ).. ecau1e 1peec · is an umane_au, w ich is pworme· without a- ~our_; a~d fo we fin.that way incogitantly, without noting, or· Judgmg tt: Our tongues are our: own, P[al. 12. 4· Such natural ) atl:ions are performed without thinking of the weight and ' confe-· quence of them. And partly becaufe the evils of the tongue are .very pleafing, marvelouO.y compliant with nature. . Wellchen~I:a~ care 1 1l0tonly of your actio.ns.,but your fpeeches :~ · · . Z.z 3 ·· · Pfa!. 357
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