CHAP. IX. What is to be done when we haue spoken.
* 1.1AFter a man hath spoken his minde, very few words more are to be added. He that hath knowledge spareth his wordes. In many wordes there can not want iniquitie: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
He that speaketh many wordes, speaketh either false things or superfluous, or both: as when a riuer ouerflowes, the water gathereth much slime: so many wordes, many faults. When a vessell being smitten makes a great noise, it is a token that it is emptie: and so the sound of many wordes shewes a vaine heart. The Gentiles haue said; that God gaue a man one tongue and two eares, that he might heare more and speake lesse. Valerius Maximus reporteth of Xe∣nocrates, that beeing in the company of some that vsed railing speeches, helde his tongue: and beeing asked why hee did so, answered, That it had re∣pented him that he had spoken, but it neuer repented him that he had held his peace. And the prouerb is, He that will speake what he will, shall heare what hee would not.* 1.2 To the framing of our speech Ambrose requireth three things: a yoke, a ballance, and a metwand: a yoke, to keepe it in staied grauitie: a ballance to giue it weight of reason: a metwand, to keepe it in measure and modera∣tion.
This rule must be practised carefully, for the auoiding of chiding, braw∣ling, and contention. Let nothing be done by contention, Phil. 2.3. Let students & schollers learne to practise this: for what shall an other mans opiniō hurt thee: though in reasoning he be not of thy minde in euery point.
Here take heed of the spirit of Contradiction, whereby some by thwarting and contradicting euery man, at length prooue either obstinate heretickes, or lewd Atheists, and make no bones to contradict the holy Ghost, and to call the scriptures in question, and dispute that there is no God.
* 1.3Nowe if a man speake necessarie things, though he continue his speech till midnight, as Paul did, it can not be called immoderate or superfluous talke.