_Direct._ VI. Avoid idleness, if you would avoid idle talk.[541] The drones of the commonwealth that have nothing else to do, but visit, and compliment, and prate of other men's matters, and that can have while to sit whole hours together, upon no business, are they that are most guilty of idle chat. Idle gentlemen, and beggars, and idle gossiping women, and old men that are void of the fear of God, and children that have no business to do, are they that can sit talking away their time to as little purpose, as if they had been all the time asleep. All idle persons swarm with the vermin of idle thoughts and words.
_Direct._ VII. If you would avoid idle talk, avoid idle, talkative companions: or if you cannot avoid them, answer them not, but let them talk alone, unless it be to reprehend them, or turn them to more profitable talk.[542] For when you hear vanity, it will incline you to speak vanity: and these ungodly persons "speak every one vanity to his neighbour," as if their tongues were so their own, that no lord might control them, Psal. xii. 1-6. The philosopher could say, That which you would not hear, do not speak; and that which you would not speak, do not hear. Most are like parrots, that will oftest speak the words which they oftest hear. How hard is it to avoid idle talk amongst idle talkers! One vain word draws on another, and there is no end.
_Direct._ VIII. Avoid vain works, if you would avoid vain words. For a man that engageth himself in vain employment, doth lose all the words as vain, which he useth about that employment. What a life then do they live, that have an unlawful calling! When their very business and trade is sin, the adjuncts, the words about it, must be sin, and so all their lives are a continued sin. I had rather therefore be the basest drudge, than one of these men. Especially stage-players should think of this: and those that spend whole hours, yea, half-days, if not nights, in gaming, or vain and sinful sports: what abundance of idle words do they use about them! every cast of the dice, and every card they play, hath an idle word; so that a sober man would be weary and ashamed to hear them.
_Direct._ IX. Plunge not yourselves into excess of worldly business, as some do, that undertake more without necessity, than they can discharge: for such necessitate a variety of thoughts and words. And all that are spent in serving them in those their vain employments, are vain; though the work for the matter of it be not vain.
_Direct._ X. Let not a vicious mind make that seem necessary or convenient which is vain. Carnal hearts that are acquainted with no better things, think nothing vain that pleaseth their sensual inclinations, or which their carnal interest doth require. A man-pleaser thinketh civility obligeth him to observe his unnecessary visits and compliments, and to answer idle talkers, and not sit silent by them, nor contradict them: and so it must be a point of good manners to break the law of God: and as they think it uncivil not to pledge every drinker in his healths, so not to answer every twattler in his talk.
_Direct._ XI. Take heed of a proud, self-conceited mind, that thinks too well of your own discourse. Get but humility, and you will rather choose to hear than to speak. But when all your fancies and impertinencies seem some excellent matters to you, then you are with child till you are delivered of them, and then all must reverence and silently attend your pride and folly; or be taken as neglecters of you for disregarding it.
_Direct._ XII. Avoid passion and passionate companions: for passion is talkative, and will not be checked, but resisteth the restraint of reason, and multiplieth words that are worse than vain.[543]
_Direct._ XIII. Take heed of an inordinate jesting vein:[544] for it habituateth the mind to foolish levity, and knows no bounds, and breeds idle words, as thick as putrified flesh breeds vermin: and it is the greater sin, because it is ordinary, and with a certain pleasure and pride, and glorying in vanity, and sinful levity and folly.
_Direct._ XIV. Understand particularly what service you have to do for God or men, in every company you come in, and so fit your words to the present duty and company.[545] For those words are vain and inconvenient in one company, that are necessary or convenient in another. If you be to converse with the ignorant and ungodly, turn your discourse into a compassionate way of instruction or exhortation. If with men wiser and better than yourselves, inquire and learn of them, and draw that from them which may edify you.