3S4 CHRTSTI.IN MORALITY, biZ. rSRRM. XtiIrr. II. Gravity and sobriety in our speech is another part of that honourable conduct and character which'- we ought to maintain, and to which the holy apostle invites us. In the second chapter of Titus, ver. 7, 8. you have this direction of the apostle toTitus the evangelist; how he ought to behave himself, and what he speaks to him chiefly as a minister, may be given as a rule to aIl Christians whom he must instruct in all things, skewing thyselfa pattern ofgood works ; in doctrine, or in dis- course; skewing uncorruptness, gravity, and sincerity; soundspeech that, cannot be condemned, that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil to say ofyou. He gives all the christians at Ephesus the same advice, Eph. iv. 29. Let no corrupt communication proceedout ofyour mouth, but that which is good to the use of edjying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 'Talk of something that may improve. one an- other in knowledge, in virtue, in religion : And let each of us be-ashamed to think that we have been an hour or two in each other's company, andhave neither spoke nor heard any thing that is worth remembrance. How often; .after a visit among friends, must we take up this just and shameful, complaint. " Alas ! I have said nothing for their improvement, nor heard any thing for my own !" In Eph. v. 4. the apostle there secludes some sort of conversation from the lips of christians. Neitherfilthi- ness, norfoolish talking, nor jesting, Which are not conve- nient, which are we avnxov7u, not agreeable to our profes- sion. Foolish talking and jesting are here forbidden, as well as filthiness. By foolish talking, we may suppose such sort of language to be. intended, from which it is impossible any profit or advantage should arise to a wise or a good man. And byjesting, the apostle here designs such sharp and biting jests that wound the reputation of a person, concerning whom they are spoken. Such a turn of wit, as the original word signifies, that at the same time wounds a good name, and gives a bitter reproach. Not that every thing pleasantly spoken is supposed tó be unlawful ; or that the apostle any where forbids all man- ner of mirth and jesting in conversation ; for there are proper times and seasons for such sort of discourse And there may be valuable ends in it too, when it is inno- cently used, on purpose to recreate nature, and refresh
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