The III. Chapter.
MY brethrē, be not euery man a mas¦ter, [ A] remēbrynge how that we shall receaue the more damnacion: for in many thinges we synne all. Yf a man synne not in worde, the same is a parfecte man, & able to tame all the body. Beholde, we put bittes into the horses mouthes yt they shul∣de obeye vs, and we turne aboute all the bo∣dy. Beholde also ye shyppes, which though they be so gret, and are dryuen of fearce win¦des, yet are they turned about with a very smale helme, whither soeuer the violence of the gouerner wyll. Euen so the tōge is a lyt¦tell member, and bosteth great thinges.
Beholde how gret a thinge a lyttell fyre [ B] kyndleth, and the tonge is fyre, and a worlde of wyckednes. So is the tonge set amonge oure membres, that it defileth the whole bo¦dy, and setteth a fyre all that we haue of na∣ture, and is it selfe set a fyre euen of hell.
All the natures of beastes, and of byrdes, and of serpentes, and thinges of the see, are meked and tamed of the nature of mā. But the tōge can no man tame. Yt is an vnruely euell full of deedly poyson. Therwith blesse we God the father, and therwith cursse we¦men which are made after the similitude of God. Out of one mouth proceadeth blessyn¦ge and cursynge. My brethrē these thinges ought not so to be. Doth a fountayne sende forth at one place swete water and bytter al¦so? Can the fygge tree, my Brethren, beare oliue beries: ether a vyne beare fygges? So can no fountayne geue bothe salt water and freszhe also. If eny man be wyse and endued with learnynge amonge you, let him shewe [ C] the workes of his good cōuersacion in mek∣nes that is coupled with wiszdome.
But yf ye haue bitter enuyenge and stry∣fe in yor hertes, reioyce not: nether belyars agaynst the trueth. This wiszdome descen∣deth not from aboue: but is erthy, and natu¦rall, and dyuelishe. For where enuyenge and stryfe is, there is vnstablenes and all māner of euell workes. But the wiszdom that is frō aboue, is fyrst pure, thē peasable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good frutes, without iudgynge, and without simu¦lacion: yee, and the frute of rightewesnes is sowen in peace, of thē that mayntene peace.