II. Its effects —
1. These are defiling —
[Sin, as soon as ever it is conceived in the heart, defiles the soul : but when it is uttered by the lips, " it defileth the whole body." Utterance gives solidity and permanency to that which before existed in idea, and might have passed away : and, inasmuch as the tongue has every other member at its command to execute, according to their several powers, the things it has divulged, the whole man is become a partaker of its guilt and defilement'1. And, though all its communications are not equally polluting, yet is there a stain left by means of them, a stain which nothing but the Redeemer's blood can ever wash away.]
2. Destructive —
[To such an astonishing degree has this fire gained the ascendant, that it has " inflamed the whole course of nature." Look at individuals ; what malignant passions has it kindled in them! Visit families ; what animosities, and inextinguishable feuds has it produced! Survey churches; and you will find the unhallowed fire burning even in the sanctuary of Gode ; and sometimes too, even in the very censers of his ministers f. Cast your eyes round upon whole nations; and you will perceive that, times without number, it has kindled the flames of war, and spread desolation through the globe6.]
To prove that this account is not exaggerated, we shall point out,
III. The reason of its producing these effects —
The tongue " itself is set on fire of hell" —
[Satan is the source and author of all the evils that pro- ceed from the tongue. Does it falsify ? behold it does so at the instigation of that wicked fiend, " the father of liesh." Does it discourage men from the prosecution of their duty ? It does so as the devil's agent1. Does it accuse and scandalize the people of God? Who but Satan is the author of such calumnies k? Does it disseminate error? the propagator of that error is Satan's minister, however he be transformed into
d Eccles. v. G. Mark vii. 20—23.
e By means of heretics, cavillers, and proud disputers, and others who cause divisions and dissensions.
f Alluding to Lev. x. 1.
e What has not been perpetrated during the French Revolution under the influence of those two words, liberty and equality !
h Acts v. 3. John viii. 44. ' Matt. xvi. 23.
k Rev. xii. 10.