[Nothing is more offensive than an open sepulchre h ; or more venomous than an asp ; yet both the one and the other fitly represent the effusions of a carnal heart : " Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak :" deceit, calumny, invective, yea, in many instances, the most horrible oaths and execrations will proceed from it1. Hence that awful descrip- tion of the human tongue k — From tvords we are ready also to proceed to actions, yea, even the most cruel and atrocious. Who that sees with what readiness nations engage in war, will question the declaration in the text ? Hazael revolted at the idea of murder, when warned of his readiness to commit it ; yet notwithstanding his present feelings, how " swift were his feet to shed blood1!" How many at this day are impelled by shame even to destroy their own offspring ! How frequently do men engage in duels on account of the slightest injury or insult ! And in how many instances might we ourselves, when irritated and inflamed, have committed murder in an unguarded moment, exactly as others have done, who in a cooler hour would have shuddered at the thought ! The instance of David, who, though " a man after God's own heart," murdered Uriah, and many others with him, to conceal his shame, is sufficient of itself to shew us what the best of men might commit, if left to themselves"1. Well we may apply to this subject that humiliating language of the prophet" — Thus, God himself being witness, instead of walking in " paths of peace " and safety, we all by nature prefer the " ways which bring des- truction and misery" both on ourselves and all around us0. The whole of our state is properly summed up in this, that " there is no fear of God before our eyes ;" so entirely are our understandings blinded, and our hearts alienated from him, by means of our innate depravity p.]
This humiliating view of our state should lead us to consider,
II. The inferences to be deduced from it —
Those which the Apostle suggests in the text will suffice for our attention at this time :
h Matt, xxiii. 27.
» No less than four expressions, and those exceeding strong, are sued to declare the evils of the tongue.
k Jam. iii. 6.
1 2 Kings viii. 12, 13. with ib. ver. 15. and xih. 7.
m 2 Sam. xi. 14 — 17. " Isai. i. 5, 6. ° Ps. xxxvi. 1.
p ver. 1G. and 17. relate primarily to the evil which men do to others, though they may include what they do to themselves. See Isai. lix. 7, 8.