Ohs. 5. From that the lohole body. An evil tongue hath a great influence upon other members. When a man speaketh evil, he will commit it. When the tongue hath the boldness to talk of sin, the rest of the members have the boldness to act it : 1 Cor. xv. 33, ' Evil words corru[)t good manners.' First we think, then speak, and then do. Men will say it is but talk. Be not deceived ; a pestilent tongue will infect other members.
Ohs. 6. From that tlie course, or wheel, of our nativity. Man's life is like a wheel. It is always in motion ; we are always turning and rolling to our graves : Ps. xc. 3, ' Thou turnest man to destruction, and sayest, Return, ye chikben of men.' The meaning is, they are turned into the world, and returned to the grave. It noteth also the uncertainty of any worldly state ; the spokes are now up, and now down, sometimes in the dirt, and sometimes out. The bishops of Mentz give a wheel for their arms ; it is but the emblem of our lives, and the inconstancy of every condition of life; when you see the wheel, improve the occasion to some good meditation. There is a story of Bajazet, as also of another taken by an ancient king of France, when they saw the wheel of the conqueror's chariot, they smiled, saying, ' Tlie upper spokes will come down again.' Here we are always moving, sometimes up, sometimes down, but still towards the grave.
Ohs. 7. The evils of the tongue are of a large and universal influence, diffuse themselves into all conditions and states of life. There is no faculty which the tongue doth not poison, from the understanding to the locomotive ; it violently stirreth up the will and affections, maketh the hands and the feet 'swift to shed blood,' Rom. iii. 14, 15. There is no action which it doth not reach ; not only those of ordinary con- versation, by lying, swearing, censuring, &c., but holy duties, as prayer, and tho.se direct and higher addresses to God, by foolish babbling, and carnal requests ; we would have God revenge our private quarrel. Pulpits are made stages and cockpits, on which men play their prizes and masteries, and set on private passions. There is no age exempted ; it is not only found in young men, that are of eager and fervorous spirits, but in those whom age and experience hath more matured and ripened. Other sins decay with age, this many times increaseth ; and we grow more forward and pettish as natural strength decayeth, and 'the days come on in which is no pleasure.' I say, when other sins lose their vigour, as being tamed and subdued by the infirmities of old
^ ' Peccatum quod alter incurrit operando, tuum facis obloquendo.'
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age, we see the spirit groweth more tart, nature being drawn down to the dregs, and the expressions more passionate. No calling is exempted. The tradesman in his shop abuseth his tongue for gain : Prov. xxi. 6, ' The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that love death ; ' the woman at home, in idle tattling, and vain censures. Ministers in the pulpit often prostitute the sacred- ness of their function to the corruption of the tongue, by preaching for gain, by being ' rash with their mouths to utter anything before Grod,' Eccles. V. 1 ; by being furiously passionate, &c. There is no temper so meek and humble but may be perverted. Holy Moses, the meekest man upon earth, was angry at the waters of strife, and brake out into ])assion : Ps. cvi. 33, ' He spake unadvisedly with his lips.' Meek Christians in a disease, how fro ward are they ! injurious even to God himself. David well prayeth in a great cross, ' 0 Lord, keep the door of my lips,' Ps. cxli. 3. Well, then, none of us should think these exhortations unnecessary. It is a vain scoff, and it argueth horrible slightness of spirit, to charge this only upon the female sex : through the strength and pregnancy of imagination or fancy, they may be given to talk ; but you see men, the best and highest, are apt to offend. The apostle saith, ' It setteth on fire the whole course of nature.' No part of man so noxious and hurtful ; no part of a man more fierce and unbridled ; no part more easy and apt to err.
Ohs. 8. A wicked tongue is of an infernal original. The prophets' fires, as I told you, were kindled from heaven ; like the chaste fires of the Roman vestals, which, if let out, were to be rekindled by a sun- beam. In all heats it is good to see whence they come ; heat in good matters out of a selfish aim, is a coal fetched not from the altar, but the kitchen. Calumnies and reproaches are a fire blown up by the breath of hell. The devil hath been ' a liar from the beginning,' John viii. 44, and an accuser of the brethren, and he loveth to make others like himself. Learn, then, to abhor revilings, contentions, and re- proaches, as you would hell flames ; these are but the eruptions of an infernal fire ; slanderers are the devil's slaves and instruments. Again, if blasted with contumely, learn to slight it ; who would care for the suggestions of the father of lies ? The murderer is a liar. In short, that which comethfrom hell will go thither again : Mat. v. 22, ' Who- soever shall say. Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.' Wrath being expressed in a word of reproach, you see how deadly and grievous it is. By nourishing an evil tongue, you do nourish and keep in hell flame, which hereafter will break out to your destruction.