Fended in liis tongue, lie is more careful of liis words, and made a strict vow with him- self, that he would look better to them, Ps. xxxix. 1., "I said, I will tiike heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tonc^ue." Look to the former slips of your tonfrue, and how you have by your words provoked God, and that will be a good means to make you more cautious for the future. A mariner that hath twice touched upon a rock, and been like to be cast away, Avill be more careful how he comes there again. 3d Rule. Watch your tongue : most sin is committed for want of watchfulness. As the tongue hath a double fence set about it, so it had need have a double watch. The tongue, when it is let loose, will be ready to speak loosely ; watch it, lest it run beyond its bounds in frothy and sinful discourse, Prov. xxx. 32., *' If thou hast thought evil, lay thy hand upon thy mouth :" that is — say some — lay thy hand upon tJiy mouth, in token of repentance. But it may bear another sense : if thou hast thought evil, if angry malicious thoughts come into thy mind, lay thy hand upon thy mouth to stop thy lips, that thy thoughts come not into words.
4th Rule. If you would not offend in your tongue, ponder your words well before you speak, Eccl. v. 2., " Be not rash with thy mouth." Some speak vainly, because inconsiderately ; they do not weigh their words before they speak them. A talkative man doth not mind his words, but gives his tongue liberty; he may speak not only unadvisedly, but unholily, and give just offence.
5th Rule. If you would not offend in your tongue, pray to God to guard your tongue, Ps. cxli. 3., " Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth." Set not about this work in your own strength, but implore God's help ; " the tongue can no man tame," James iii. 8. But God can tame it; therefore go to him by prayer; pray, * Lord, set a watch before tlie door of my lips ;' keep me, that I may speak no- thing to grieve thy Spirit, or that may tend to thy dishonour.
6th Rule. If you would be kept from evil speaking, inure your tongues to good speaking. If you would not have tlie cask
haA'e a bad scent, put good liquor into it ; so, if you would not have your tongue run out sinfully, let it be used to good discourse; speak often one to another of Christ, and the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. The spouse's lips di'opped as an ho- ney-comb, Cant. iv. 11.
Motives. To beware of tongue sins.
1st Motive. If you have no care of your tongue, all your religion is vain, James i. 2 ". " If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, this man's religion is vain." Many an one will hear the word, and make a profession of religion, but cares not what liberty he takes in his tongue, to reproach and vilify others : this man's religion is vain ; that is, 1. He hath no religion, his religion is but a shew or pretence. 2. It is vain, because it is ineffectual ; it hath not that force upon him as religion ought.
2d Motive. The tongue discovers much of the heart ; such as the tongue is, such commonly the heart is. A lascivious tongue shews a lustful heart ; an earthly tongue a covetous heart ; a murmuring tongue a dis- contented heart. Tlie tongue is oft a com- mentary upon the heart.
3d Motive. To allow ourselves in the abuse of the tongue, cannot stand with
grace.
I know a good man may sometimes speak unadvisedly with his lips; he may fly out in words, be in a passion, but he doth not allow himself in it; when his pas- sion is over, he weeps, Rom. ^ni. 15., "that which I do, I allow not :" but, for a man to allow himself in sin, censuring, slander- ing, dropping words like coals of fire ; sure it is not consistent with grace.
4th ISIotive. The sins of the tong*ie are very defiling, James iii. 6., The tongue de- fileth. Defiling to one's self, and chiefly
defiling
to others. The tongue conveys
poison into the ear of another; sometimes bv false suggestions, raising prejudices in the mind of another against such a person; sometimes by jiassionate speeches, the spirit of another is j)rovoked.
5th Motive. The sins of the tongue are provoking to God, and prejudicial to us. \. Provoking to God ; Ps. cvi. 33. Moses s]>ake unadvisedly with his lips ; what was this unadAdsed speech? Numb, xx 10.,
NOT BEING WEARY IN WELL-DOING.
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" Hear now, yc rebels; mu5?t we fetch you water out of this rock ?" Though he were a faA'ourite, and God had spoken with liiin face to face, yet God pivos him a check for it ; it turned his smile into a frown. 2. Prejudicial to us ; Moses' rash speech shut him out of Canaan ; it may shut us out of heaven, of which that was but a type. Ori- gen notes, he had sinned most in his tongue ; and God punished him most in his tonjj;ue.