14. The evil tongue is the cruel tongue, that speaks to the wounding tlie hearts of others. The tongue is made almost in the fashion of a sword ; and the tongue is sharj) as a sword, Ps. Ivii. 4., " Their tongue is a Kharp sword." Kind, loving words should 1)0 s])<)ken to such as are of a heavy heart, Joh vi. 14., " To him that is afflicted ])ity shouhl be shown." Healing words are fit- test for a broken heart : but that is a cruel, unmerciful tongue, which speaks such words to the afflicted, as to cut them to the heart, Ps. IxLv. 26,, " They talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded." Hannah was a woman of a troubled spirit, 1 Sam. i. 10. " She was in bitterness of soul, aiid wept sore." And now Eli, ver. 14., " S:ud unto her, how long wilt thou be drunken ? Put away thy wine from thee." This word was like pouring vinegar into the wound. When Job was afflicted with God's hand, his friends, instead of comftu't- ing him, told him he was an hypocrite. Job xi. 2. These were cutting words, which went to his heart : instead of giving him cordials in his fainting, they use cor- rosives. This is to lay more weight upon a dviuff man.
15. The e\'il tongue is the mui'muring tongue, Jude 16., " These are murmurers." ^lurmuring is discontent breaking out at the lips ; men quarrel with God, and ta.\ his providence as if he had not dealt well with them. Why should any murmur or be discontented at their condition ? Doth God owe them any thing ? Or, can they deserve any thing at his hands? O, how uncomely is it to murmur at providence ! It is fittest for a Cain to be wroth with God, Gen. iv. 6. (1.) Murmuring proceeds from unbelief. When men distrust God's promise, then they murmur at his })rovi- dence, Ps. CA'i. 24, 25., " They believed not his word, but murmured."' When faith grows low, then passion grows high. (2.) JNIurmuring proceeds from pride. Men think they have deserve<l better ; and, be- cause they are crossi d, therefore they utter discontented expressions against (iod. He who is humble bears any thing from God ; he knows his punishment is less than his ein, therefore saith, " I will bear the indig- nation of the Lord," Micah vii. 9. But
pride raises discontent; and hence comea murmurings. Murmuring is a sin that God cannot bear, Numb. xiv. 27., " How long shall I bear with this evil congregation that murmur against me ?" The munnurer discovers much ingratitude; a murmuring tongue is always an unthankful tongue ; he considers not how much he is a debtor to free grace, and whatever he hath is more than God owes him ; he considers not that his mercies outweigh his afflictions ; tliere's more honey than wormwood in his cup ; he considers not what God hath done for him, more than such as are better than he ; he hath the finest of wheat, when others feed, as Daniel, on pulse. The murmurer, I say, doth not consider this ; but, because he is crossed in some small matter, he re- pines against God. O ingratitude ! Israel, though they had manna from heaven, to satisfy their hunger, angel's food, yet mur- mured for want of quails ; not content that God should supply their want, but must satisfy their lust too. O unthankful ! Is- rael's murmuring cost many of them their lives, 1 Cor. x. 10., " Neither murmur ye, as some of them did, and were destroved of the destroyer." Their speeches were venomous, .and God punished them with venomous serpents.
16. Tiie evil tongue is the scofflng tongue. The scoffer sits in the chjiir of scorners, and derides religion ; surelv the devil hath Uiken great possession of men, when they have arrived at such a degree of sin, as to scoff at holiness. It was foretold as a sin of the last times, 2 Pet. iii. 3., " There shall come in the last 'days scof- fers." Some scoff at the authority of scrip- ture, the Deity of Christ, the immortality of the soul ; this is the worst sort of tongues When men have laid aside the veil of mo- desty, and their consciences are seared, then they fall a scoffing at religion ; and when once tliey are come to this, their case is dcKperate ; no rej)roofs will reclaim them; tell them of their sin, and they will liate you the more, Prov. ix. 8., " Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee." Such a man is on the threshold of damnation.
1 7. The evil tongue is the tongtie given to cursing, Ps. x. 7., *' His mouth is full of cursing :" a wishing some gieat evil to be-
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SELECT SERMONS.